Alex struggled out of her beanbag's death-grip to sit upright and look over to where Luna was still buried and staring at the ceiling. "Right, but they can't move across the ground."
"No, they are rooted in place." "So, what if the inferi ritual worked on magical trees?"
Luna didn't say anything.
"I mean, if it did work, then I could keep trying to subdue it for as long as needed without having to worry about it attacking."
More silence.
"Luna?"
Luna struggled out of her own beanbag, a small smile on her face. "It might work. I've never heard of inferi trees before, but if it does work, it would solve your problem."
Alex nodded happily.
"But, Alex, how are you going to find a dead tree? I don't think that killing a tree for practise is a good idea. Killing trees is bad." "Oh!" Alex rolled over on her beanbag and stretched out to reach behind it. "That's not a problem. Look at this!" She handed the The Dendromancer's Doomsday Book over to Luna.
Luna started reading it and her eyes went wide. "Wow, Alex, this is amazing."
"I know, right?" Alex beamed. "So, can we do it?" Luna smiled. "Yes, I think we can."
Alex grinned.
Lord Slytherin, Success! I spent ages looking through the Necromancy section of the Black Library (I practically know it like the back of my hand now) and I found a ritual that can do what you asked, but the ritual is Black family magic so only I can do it. Is that a problem? I do feel I'm qualified for it. I can sneak out at some point if you need it. My father would never notice.
Respectfully,
Heiress Alexandra Black,
Alexandra Black stood in the Black library and shook with rage.
Heiress Black,
That sounds wonderful. I suggest we meet up some time soon to discuss this further.
However, while receiving your news is welcome, something has come up which disturbs me greatly and which directly concerns you. I've received intelligence from a reliable source that your father may be considering purging the Black Library of all books that he considers 'dark'. I don't need to tell you what a loss that would be to our culture and our world's hard earned understanding of magic.
I don't believe he is planning to act immediately, but knowing how much you value your library, this isn't a situation that I could just sit on.
I believe your father still brings you to the Winter Festival at Greengrass Manor? That would be a perfect opportunity for us to meet and to talk about both these matters. I also shouldn't need to say that if I am to help you, as you are currently helping me, then our knowledge of your father's intentions must remain absolutely secret. Yours,
- Lord Slytherin
She gripped the parchment in front of her so tightly her fists went white. How could he? Her own father! Didn't he appreciate the fifteen hundred years of history in this room? He was supposed to be Lord Black! He was supposed to protect the family legacy, not tear it apart. If she could be Lord Black, she'd rather die than let someone defile their ancient library!
She reread the owl again. If it was true, and she had no reason to doubt that it was, then this was the last straw. Her eyes narrowed. She wouldn't let her father get away with it. No, not if she could do anything about it and it seemed Lord Slytherin did have an idea about what to do about it. "Can you believe it?!" Alex paced the room in her nightdress while Luna sat crosslegged on the bed, scratching a purring Amethyst behind the ears.
"I mean, how could he?!"
Luna's face was completely unreadable. "Gah! I just want to—" "—Alex."
Alex paused, mid rant.
"You told my lord you could do something that you've never tried."
"Huh?" "The ghost binding ritual. Have you ever done it?"
Anger drained out of her. She felt her ears heat up. "Um…"
"You remember what happened to the doxy when you didn't do the inferi ritual correctly? What do you think my lord would think if that happened to his friend?"
Alex paled. "I…I didn't think…" She gulped. "So… we try it, first?"
Luna's expression slowly morphed into a smile. "I think that would be a very good idea."
"But where are we going to find a ghost? And one who won't mind us doing tests on them?"
Luna tilted her head to one side and hummed. "Oh, I doubt we'll find one who'll let us do it willingly."
"Then what are we going to do?"
"Well, obviously, we find a ghost who we don't mind forcing and perhaps accidentally destroying."
Alex frowned. "But who…" Her expression turned into one of sickening horror as realisation dawned. "Oh no! Hell no! I'm not going anywhere near him again!" She shook her head violently causing her long black hair to fly all over the place. "Absolutely not. No. No way. Not a chance."
The rain pattered on Alex's hooded head as she and Luna, already under the effects of ageing potion, crept towards the lighthouse in the dead of night. "Really, you'd think someone who 'had no need for money' would have some decent wards, wouldn't you?" Alex muttered, trying to ignore the feeling of dampness creeping in through her thick, specially bought, non-enchanted robes.
"Maybe he just saves all his money for other things?" Luna suggested in a voice far too cheerful for the weather.
"What other things?"
Luna put a wet finger on her blue mask where her chin would be. "Maybe on whatever goes on in the shop with the snake skin nailed to the sign?"
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