A soft laugh blew air over your ear as you gave a stretch of your paws.
"I do like spending days like this," Ominis whispered, nudging against your head.
"Me too," you admitted with sleep settling over your mind again.
You had chosen an area not far from the castle, but secluded so no one would see a house cat lounging with a leopard. Though you both took the forms of cats, they were vastly different.
"It's nice not having worries or years worth of homework to do."
He chuckled. "I can imagine."
You peaked out from under your lids, seeing him smelling the air as he tensed.
"Sebastian's prowling again?"
"He's nearby, but I think he's learned his lesson about scaring you while you sleep."
You huffed as you moved your head to lay across his paw. "It's his own fault."
"Was not. You shouldn't have clawed me that deeply!" His voice drifted your way, getting you to look over seeing the silver fox just before he was tackled by the red one.
"You shouldn't have said anything," Anne teased, bouncing away from her brother and sat down next to Natty. "You lose. You owe us a butterbeer."
"That's not fair, I was defending myself!" Sebastian looked towards you. "You're helping me buy them."
"No, I'm not. I just wanted to relax in the sun. You wanted to play hunter/prey."
Poppy raced over, breathing heavily. "Professor Fig," she started almost wheezing, but she said enough.
You climbed up to your feet and shifted, getting her to sigh. "Is he hurt?"
She shook her head as the Sallow twins, Natty and Ominis shifted.
"He needs to talk to you."
You didn't wait for more information, before you raced off towards the school, your friends trailing behind you.
Your time as animals had given you opportunity to explore the area well and an agility to avoid tripping over vines and branches.
Too many things could have gone wrong. The repository, your father, Ominis's parents.
It was better to get the information quickly.
Fig was waiting at the castle gates with an official looking man and Sharp.
"Ah, here she is."
You slowed to a walk, noticing their eyes turn to you. "What's this about?"
The man you didn't know, clocked your friends, before speaking. "May we speak in private?"
"Uh?"
Fig gave you a smile, motioning for you to follow. "We can use my office."
Sharp stopped your friends from following, which made you look back worriedly, seeing them mirroring it.
For added security, the man you didn't know placed a spell on the room to prevent people from listening in.
"Am I in trouble?"
Fig shook his head, a small smile showing on his face.
"This man is Richard Jordon, an auror," Sharp mentioned.
The man taking it as his que to begin, he took a step towards you. "We're having a problem with a Hamlet, I'm sure you're familiar with, Feldcroft. Specifically in Rookwood castle."
Confused, you glanced to Fig. "What does this have to do with me?"
"We can't see the cause of the destruction, but I know you can see things others can't. We think you might be able to help us."
"Destruction?"
"Rookwood castle had been destroyed and sucked up completely. It's eating its way towards the town."
Your eyes bugged. "I can definitely see how that's a problem."
"I need you to go to that town and stop it if you can. It's protected by aurors right now and they have been able to slow it enough for us to evacuate the towns people."
"When do you think it's best to leave?"
"As soon as possible. So please, get ready quickly."
"I'd like to go with her," Fig said quickly as you headed towards the door.
"Very well."
When you opened it, you saw three figures outside, hidden by the disillusionment charm.
You hurriedly shut the door.
"Such nosey friends I have," you teased as you headed down the stairs.
"Are you in trouble?" Ominis asked, breaking his spell.
"No, there's just an issue in one of the Hamlet's the aurors think I can help with," you answered quickly leading them from the room.
"So, they came here to request your help?" Sebastian asked, earning a sharp shushing. "What? This has to be huge. What's really going on?"
"I'm going to talk to the keepers. They may have more insight."
They followed you down. Anne, who hadn't been down in the map chamber, looked around in awe.
"I was wondering when we'd see you. Charles told us about the destruction of his castle."
"What?!" Sebastian asked stepping closer to see your face.
"Sebastian, please. I'm trying to find this out too. I will explain everything." His heckles soothed so you looked to the keepers. "Can our magic go unstable after long periods?"
"Not as far as we know, but the magic at Rookwood castle had been tampered with by Ranrock. There's no way of knowing if he missed one and broke it's container," Percival answered. "If it is, I can't imagine the devastation it'll cause."
"According to the auror, it's taken Rookwood castle and slowly heading towards Feldcroft," you said, with Sebastian trying to step forward again, but was held back by Anne. "They're taking me there once I'm ready."
"What?" Ominis took your other side, his brows pinched. "It's too dangerous."
"If I don't go, it'll take out Feldcroft. The aurors are slowing it and have evacuated the town."
He made a small noise to let you know he didn't like this idea, but didn't press it.
"It does seem ancient magic is the probable cause of the disruption, but we won't know for sure until you visit and tell us," Bakar replied, getting you to sigh and nod.
"You're not going alone!" Ominis said, quickly catching your wrist. "This could be a trap as much as it could be ancient magic."
"Ominis-"
"You already told us where to go. We will go there and wait for you to show up. There's a floo network right outside," Sebastian said as Anne nodded.
Grumbling, you nodded. "Fine, meet us in Feldcroft and don't let anyone see or hear you."
Ominis squeezed your wrist, before following the twins out of the chamber.
"Let's hope none of us get hurt."
"Your friends are capable," Nimah replied, smiling at their retreating backs. "Besides, they could be what saves your life in the end. It's best to let these things run their course."
You huffed as you turned to leave.
"Good luck!" They called after you.
Richard apperated you and Fig to Feldcroft, seeing a large dome of magic being held by many different aurors, but what was worse was the angry swirl of magic violently thrashing just inside it.
"By your expression, I'm guessing they were on point?" Fig asked, grabbing Richard's attention.
"Oh, yeah. It's not as bad as Isadora's, but its still substantial."
You nearly jumped when you felt a hand slip into yours.
"Let's go, but out of safety for the Hamlet, we can only keep the barrier open for a few seconds," Richard said as he led the way towards the large dome.
"Do you want me to go with you?" Fig asked, glancing at you.
"No. No one should follow me in. There's no guarantee it wouldn't hurt someone who did."
Fig nodded, but the hold on your hand tightened, silently defiant.
You moved closer, feeling the hand let go.
"Alright, ready?"
You nodded, taking a deep breath as Richard pointed his wand at the barrier, creating a hole large enough for you to fit through.
You moved in, your hair immediately swirling due to the wind the magic was making.
You looked back as the barrier closed, Fig's worry made you smile sadly. "I'll be okay."
He gave a nod and smiled the best he could as you turned and began towards the crater.
You slid down the side, trying to be careful, but you hit into something soft and warm.
"Are you okay?" Ominis asked, the disillusionment charm falling, quickly followed by Sebastian and Anne's.
"What are you doing in here? Didn't you hear what I said-"
"Given what happened last time, I wasn't going to let you come in here alone," Ominis clarified, helping steady you when you slipped on rubble.
"And we're just nosey," Sebastian teased, but the smile fell when he saw how terrified you were. "You're turning into a teacher. We can defend ourselves."
"I wasn't-"
"You came in here thinking you weren't going to survive this, didn't you?" Anne asked, getting both boys to look in your direction.
"What?" Ominis asked softly, his voice trembling. "Did you-"
"No, not die. But, you can't see the magic that's swirling around our heads. It's strong."
Sebastian nodded. "Which is why having back up is important. We can protect you while you do your thing."
You couldn't exactly expect the aurors to let them out, it would be devastating.
"Fine, but just keep protego at the ready. Please?"
Keeping a hold on your hand, Ominis followed you, ready to protect you if needed as the twins trailed behind.
You found the mass of magic by a broken repository.
With Ominis beside you, Anne on the other and Sebastian at your back, you began to force it back into a cage.
The strain making Ominis's hand tighten.
The moment you had it enclosing, it exploded, shooting hot air your group, which Anne and Ominis instantly protego-ed.
The air became thick, almost painful to breath as Ominis tried to cover your body with his as much as he could.
Dust and smoke obscured anything outside the shields.
Finally, when everything settled, you saw the repository was gone, but you were in the side of a cave.
"Uh? What happened?" Sebastian asked, looking back at you.
You shrugged. "This hasn't happened before."
"Well, it could have caused it when you sealed the magic. But, let's go tell everyone the good news," Anne said, glancing around.
You wanted to point out the magic was gone, but decided to just follow the group out of the cave, seeing no aurors, no Fig and no Hamlet, just a large empty field.
"The air smells different," Ominis whispered as he held up his wand.
"We don't know either," you admitted once you seen fear replace shock.
Everything had changed, none of the villages were there anymore as you walked towards Hogwarts.
"I've got a bad feeling," Ominis said as you noticed the Quidditch pitch was gone.
"You're not the only one," you whispered as you pushed open the door to Hogwarts, seeing it deserted.
"Okay?" Sebastian said, drawing the word out. "Where is...everything?"
You continued towards the great hall, Ominis freezing for a second. "What's wrong?"
"I hear voices, but none I recognize."
Taking a deep breath, you pulled the door open, the noise drawing everyone's eyes to your group.
Your eyes saw four figures where you've only seen in pictures.
"Good lord," you whispered, instinctively taking a step back.
"What?" Ominis asked.
"We're about to meet Godric, Helga, Rowena and Salazar," you answered softly, as they headed towards you, getting Ominis to tense as you moved back from the door.
The four of you stood in front of the four of them. They were watching you closely, taking in your clothes and the snake patches on your robes that were similar to the green on Salazar's.
"From a different school?" Godric asked.
You nodded, grateful to Natty for telling you so much about her school and hoped they wouldn't question the lie. "From Uganda. Our parents were from here originally and had us out there due to no school. When they heard this one was starting, they transferred us."
Salazar looked at each of his companions. "And you just happened to be dressed in robes we haven't given out yet and don't recognize?"
"These are the kind of clothes in Uganda. They told us about the patches, they picked the ones they thought we'd be in."
"We'll be the judges of that," Salazar replied standing up. "First, I want to know your family status."
As if rehearsed, Godric, Helga and Rowena sighed together.
"We're all purebloods," Sebastian said quickly.
He started hissing, his eyes darting between all of you, his eyes landing on Ominis when he hissed back.
Parseltongue, huh? I guess he would want to know that.
"Very well, I'll take you in my house."
He said that with such a tone that it made you shiver.
"Follow me, I'll lead the way."
You knew where it was, but you were surprised when he walked into it with you. The students waiting wore older style wool robes covering their tunics.
"We're way over dressed," Anne whispered as Salazar swooped over to the middle of the room.
"Now, to make things clear for our new students and to know what's required of you," he said waving his hand seeing a girl stand up, her eyes glowing green.
"The Imperious curse," Anne whispered, horror clearly heard, making you grateful you were too far from the other students for them to hear it.
Ominis unconsciously took a step closer to you.
"Tell us your name," Salazar said, his voice dripping in venom. "And your blood status."
"Amara Apollo. I'm a half blood."
Ominis was now pressed into your side.
"In this school we only accept purebloods. Your parents will get the message," he said pressing the tip of his wand to the girl's chest, pulling a glittering mist from her.
You inhaled, drawing Salazar's attention as your eyes remained glued to her magic now stuck to his wand. He pressed it to his chest, stealing it as his eyes flickered.
"Avada Kadavra!"
The room flashed green and the girl fell to the floor as the room cheered.
Salazar looked around at all the shocked faces of the new students, his eyes landing on you after you had fixed a neutral expression.
He smirked as he moved closer. "Clean up this mess." He stopped in front of your group. "You're certainly welcomed in my house. I look forward to watching you grow."
He left the common room, making you let out the breath you had been holding, as everyone else moved to go to their dormitory.
"Poor girl," Anne whispered once the room was empty.
"Why did he say that stuff to you?" Sebastian asked.
"Salazar has ancient magic. He stole her magic before killing her."
"Great, supercharged psychopath."