Chapter Text
The Beginning or the End
Ranrock was dead.
Professor Fig was dead.
The other Professors were off fighting his league of loyalists and warriors as they carried out the dying wish of their Martyr. Honestly, so many lives were lost in this war, she had lost count of how many had died at her hands. It fueled her nightmares. That and the possibility of losing her friends she’d made this year. Blair used both hands, holding onto her wand as she tried to contain the power of the repository. She looked beside her, seeing Ominis slide down the cavern rock, his face contorted in rage.
“Sebastian hurt his leg.” He snapped irately, “Hecat’s got him. Nearly had to use Stupefy to stop him from chasing after you.”
Blair grimaced, her midnight black hair swirling around her. “I don’t know if I can contain it, Ominis.” Even as she spoke, her radiant white magic was starting to turn red at the end, “The corrupted magic is too strong.”
Ominis scowled, the wind picking up and causing his hair to become tousled and disheveled. His eyebrows were scrunched together as the thoughts plagued his mind of what to do and what to say. But there was nothing he could say to change the fact that the corrupted magic was stronger than her.
“I’ve known you for not even half a school year.” He raised his voice a bit so she could hear him over the magic rushing around them, “Honestly at the beginning you pissed me off because you were never supposed to know about the Undercroft. Sebastian is my best friend and a blabbermouth.”
Blair frowned at this, “Is this supposed to motivate me?”
“No, just figured I should clear the air before you kill us.” He replied coolly.
Anger flared through her, “Do you think I want us all to die?”
“Yes.” He said simply, “You can either let the repository win or you can channel the pain and overcome it.”
Blair looked at him incredulously although it was lost on him. He could feel her glare, but he smiled instead like there was nothing wrong in the world. As if a swirling mass of magic created from painful emotions wasn’t hurdling towards them. She didn’t want to say goodbye to everyone. Not yet. Her and Sebastian were on the path to becoming more than friends soon—he kissed her yesterday! Ominis was…a sarcastic arsehole like usual, but they were friends. Sort of.
Professor Fig gave up his life for her to make it this far. She’d overcome four different trials and learned to harness her own ancient magic. She could do this. With a final shout, Blair put everything she had into fighting against the final repository’s magic. The wind was slicing everything in its path, she already had a bad cut on her arm, and her Gryffindor robe also had a large cut down the side. Ominis wasn’t fairing much better as he was tired and worn out, but didn’t complain once. His lip was bleeding and there was a gash on the side of his head. His palms were torn up either from sliding down the rocky cliffs or from stumbling earlier when he’d lost his wand. Thankfully, it looked like he had it back. Or his wand found him again what with it being nearly sentient and clingy to its master.
If only they didn’t have to be in the middle of this war. If only they could have been born in another time. Blair shook her head, hot bitterness making her blood pressure rise. Pointless thoughts. She could whine after she’d contain the magic. And she was almost there, the white magic was steadily shooting up to overtake the last of the resistance.
“Blair!” Ominis shouted and darted for her, wrapping his arm around her waist tightly as the white magic overtook the wicked source. An earth-shattering noise and blinding light filled the cavern, causing her to fall back against his arms with her eyes closed tightly.
A moment later, it was gone. Chatter filled the room, but died quickly. She could smell roast beef and chicken instead of dirt and putrid air. Blair opened her eyes, mystified and disoriented to see the Great Hall. Students filled the room of all ages, but none that she could recognize.
At the Slytherin table, there was no Sebastian to look at her with a haughty smile and tell her about the latest book he’d snuck from the Restricted Section. She didn’t see Imelda or Violet. No Nerida or Priscilla. At the Gryffindor, she didn’t see Garreth stealing ingredients for potions. There was no Natsai chastising him for it or Cressida trying to charm her food into staying hot. Blair didn’t see Poppy trying to feed a Puffskein under the table or looking for pieces of fish to feed Persephone later. Even at the Ravenclaw table, Amit wasn’t spouting random facts with Sophronia. They Wizards and Witches sitting down were as unfamiliar as could be.
Blair felt Ominis loosen his hold around her, but she heard him mutter under his breath, “Who are these people?”
She looked up towards the head table where the Professors ate to look for Professor Hecat or Sharp. Instead, they were new faces as well. The one that stuck out immediately was an elder gentleman. He had long white hair that came to the middle of his back with a beard that was just as long. His grey-blue robe was simple, opting for comfort rather than glamour.
Before he could speak, a tiny man that appeared part goblin to her, spoke out, “The defenses are perfectly in tact. You two—how did you Apparate here?”
Blair held her wand up, pointing it towards the elderly man. He commanded the most presence which mean he was likely in charge. “Where is the Headmaster? The Professors? Where is everyone?!”
“Expelliarmus.” Her wand was thrown from her hand as the spell was cast from a wizard towards the front of the Gryffindor Table. His hair was a shaggy brown color that was unkempt over his forehead and came down to the back of his neck. He had clear blue eyes even from this distance and circular round glasses. It was too far to see, but Blair thought she saw a scar on his forehead in the shape of a lightening bolt. The wizard looked protective of the old wizard, “That is the Headmaster—are you bloody insane?”
A concoction of fear, confusion, and anger swept through her. She used her ancient magic to throw the kid back, watching as he tumbled across the room towards the professors. “That is not Headmaster Black.”
A laugh escaped from somewhere along the Slytherin table. She looked quickly, only to see a pale blond haired kid grinning maliciously. “Try landing on your feet, Potter.”
“Headmaster Black?” The Wizard she had previously pointed her wand at walked towards them, stepping down the podium stage, but they were still a considerable distance away—about twenty feet. “If you’re referring to Headmaster Phineas Nigellus Black, he died almost seventy years ago.”
Blair looked over at Ominis. He had a knack for figuring out whether people were telling lies or not. She watched as his lips pulled down in a permanent frown, “He’s telling the truth.”
“Are they dangerous? We need to evacuate the Hall if they are.” A woman stood next to the wizard. While she looked kind, the older woman also looked stern as she wore a large crooked hat on her head. “What are your names children?”
Blair narrowed her eyes, “Blair Bishop.”
“Ominis.” He proclaimed in a hard voice. “Ominis Gaunt.”
The room went silent although to be fair—everyone’s eyes and attention were already keenly focused on the two students who had appeared out of no where; bypassing the Anti-Apparition charms put in place.
“Gaunt?” The blonde boy stood up and walked towards them. “The Gaunt line ended in the early 1920’s. Who are you to claim the title as an Heir of Slytherin?”
Ominis’ lip curled in dismay, “My patience is waning. I don’t have to explain myself to the likes of you.”
“You and me both.” Blair remarked, clenching her fists.
She saw the shaggy haired boy before her start to stand up, holding his wrist. “Professor Dumbledore, what are you going to do?”
Hearing the question, Blair took on a defensive stance. “I’m sick of this. This isn’t Hogwarts. T—This isn’t right.”
“Blair, hold—”
Ominis was caught off as the exhaustion and fear made her emotional. Her magic was starting to escape her, becoming uncontrollable as she didn’t have the mental capability at the moment to contain it. She had absorbed more power from the final repository than she knew what to do with.
Blair saw a similar blue cast of magic being sent towards her from the wand of the supposed Headmaster. She didn’t have her wand, but she had her own magic. Feeling the familiar tug of magic inside her, she launched an attack on the wizard called Dumbledore. Their magic both clashed as she held her own without the need of a wand. Gasps of fear and amazement echoed around the room.
“She’s as strong as the Headmaster?!”
“What kind of magic is that?”
“Are we in trouble?”
“Blimey, she’s in a league above her own.”
“You wield old magic.” The Headmaster reflected, his eyes shining with unasked questions.
Blair glared, “Aren’t you observant?”
“And yet I can tell you’re tired. Exhausted from wherever or whenever you came from.” He observed with a pointed glance.
Whenever? This caught Blair off-guard. Did he know something? That momentary disruption in her train of thought allowed the Headmaster to overpower her and she felt her body go limp as his magic sapped the strength from her.
Ominis caught her before she could fall. It was the first time she’d ever heard him raise his voice with an astounding ferocity. He almost sounded protective as he bellowed mercilessly, “No one touches her!”
Her eyelids fluttered close, too tired to continue. It didn’t make sense. How could this be Hogwarts? She knew no one. She recognized no one with the exception of Ominis. What happened to the final repository? Were they able to stop the goblin rebellion? What about Sebastian? Is his leg okay? With the magic and energy sapped out of her body, Blair felt herself succumbing to oblivion. She was vaguely aware of Ominis holding her bridal style as her feet were not longer touching the floor. He’d keep her safe. It would be alright.
And then it all went black.