Florina's POV:

Back at Severus's office, which to get to in of itself was a waste of time as the two Professors fought on who's office should we discuss the task at hand in. 

That is until I shot to Severus "Who is wasting time now?"

That was not very smart either as it opened a new chain of arguments between the two. It was until Bubbles held my hand, "Miss Flora, come with Bubbles. The Professors see you walking away and they follow you."

That logic seemed strange to me but when I started walking, they actually stopped arguing and David sped up ahead of Severus to catch up to me which earned him an annoyed huff from the potions master.

"Alright, now that we are finally here. From where shall we start?" I sat on a chair near Severus's desk while he sat behind his desk which left David sitting opposite me and Bubbles with Rose behind me.

"Hand me the book," the potion's master ordered sternly.

Handing him the book, he took out his wand and murmured, "Tergeo" as the thick layer of dust was wiped clean leaving the very fragile book cover and the title visible.

"The trail of peccatorum," I murmured under my breath reading the title "What does that mean?" I wondered.

"The trail of sins, it's in Latin," Severus shot not taking his eyes off once from the book, "Honestly Woods how did you study Latin and not know that very common word?"

My gaze fell to the floor and Bubbles held my hand lightly patting it. I gave her a weak smile as I watched the cranky Professor read quickly under his breath in pure Latin.

After a few hours of the dark haired wizard reading the book and not willing to explain what he found out so far, watching him got boring. Sometime later, David stood up, sighing heavily "Where is the loo?"

Severus was so immersed in reading that he didn't hear the question the first time. That made the other impatient wizard repeat his inquiry more forcefully. The potion's master pointed to a small door to the right.

*****************

"So you are saying that the trail of sins is not just an ironic title on Agrippa's family lust for treasure, it's an actual place," I said trying to piece out all the information the potion's master threw at us.

He nodded and went on faster, "Not just a place Woods, a curse."

"According to this book, there once was a gentleman by the name Evilingston whom met up with Mister Cornelius Agrippa one day. Mister Agrippa saw him frantic and crying about a sin he committed as he repeated over and over 'I have to warn them. I have to stop it'. When asked about the sin he wouldn't tell him out of fear of changing the future."

"After mister Agrippa, invited Evilingston to his house and calmed him down, they started to chat. That's when Evilingston ordered Agrippa to record whatever he was about to tell him."

"Mister Agrippa had the same gift as you Woods, he had an eidetic memory," I nodded as he went on "Over the course of a few years, Agrippa started to record everything that Evilingston tells him to until they ended up with over ten thousand pages that was split up into two books."

"The author here explains that one of the books was destroyed in that era. It was destroyed by a group called the AML-" 

I interrupted much to Severus's disapproval, "What's the AML?"

"If I know I would have told you Woods," he shot me a look and went on "The other book however was protected by Evilingston's curse."

"What is that curse sir?" I asked.

"The curse was the eternal pain and misery that was handed down generation after generation to the Agrippas. That is what lies on the cover of Evilingston's book", he turned the book to us. 

There was a picture of the book's cover and in it laid the words 'Whomever tries to break our charm a colossal treasure awaits, fail to retrieve our treasure, a tremendous curse dominates'. 

Once we all read it, he placed the book on the desk "we can gather from this line that Evilingston charmed the book to protect it from getting destroyed. He was frighten that his second book would get destroyed, just like the first one."

"The Agrippas read the first part of the charm and and were determined to find that treasure. But as we gathered from the second part of the charm, if anyone fails to retrieve the treasure, a curse would befall and that's exactly what happened to the Agrippas. They were cursed with eternal misery."

David and I nodded when Severus paused. Once the potions master was sure that we are still keeping up with him, he continued. 

"But that's not all, in the book, Evilingston told a tale of a greedy man who wanted to horde some sort of glory for himself. He was going to achieve that by sacrificing his daughter to Satan whom Evilingston refers to as Lucifer the Great"

"The tale ended with Evilingston revealing that he was that man and regretting his sin. But because he defied Satan, him and his family has to live with 'his curse' for eternity. It's also said that his family and his descendants will be cursed for eternity because of that sin."

"Does it say what the family's curse is?" David asked coldly.

"No it doesn't," the potion's master responded sharply "However it is mentioned here that Evilingston spoke about his family's curse in great detail in his book."

I sighed, "So let me get this straight sir, there was a curse that befell the Agrippa family because they tried to decode the secrets of a book."

 He nodded. "The person who wrote the book was evilin-something". "Evilingston", he corrected impatiently. 

"Right. He wrote it with the help of someone from the Agrippa family". 

"Cornelius Agrippa yes," he nodded. 

"They wrote two books together. The first was destroyed ages ago by a group called the AML and the other has a curse that later dominated the Agrippa family." He nodded once more.

"And now," I came forward "You are saying that the reason Evilin—that person." 

"Evilingston, Woods!" the potion's master corrected forcefully "Honestly it is not that difficult."

"Yes...whoever that person is, the reason he wrote the books in the first place was to document all the mysteries of the dark ages along with a sin he committed. A sin that resulted in a curse that was put on his own family." He nodded for the third time.

David let out an impatient sigh, "To sum up Woods, time traveling sinner man. Two cursed families. One book."

"Two cursed families?" I asked puzzled.

"The curse on the Agrippa family because of the book and the curse on Evilingston family that made him go to the past and write that book," Severus explained.

"The curse that started it all," David said dramatically as the onyx eyed wizard rolled his eyes. Both my fairy and Bubbles snickered. The house elf earned a dirty look from the sallow faced wizard.

"So what's that book called sir?" I asked.

He lifted his head, "Portrait of Markov."

Nodding I let out a weighted breath, "And what do we do now?"

"We go to the trail of sins and retrieve the book of course," he said simply.

"Sure!" David exclaimed sarcastically "Does it even say where that 'trail of sins' is? Even better, does it say how to handle the book once we miraculously find it?" he pointed out, annoyed.

Severus nodded, "It doesn't explain that in great detail but the last record of the place according to the book points out that it's in the Peccatorum forest, deep in Antarctica."

"What?!" both me and David said in unison.

Severus nodded his expression remained indifferent as if he told us we are going for a stroll in the park. Both me and David glanced at each other before Severus said calmly, "Once we arrive at our destination, I will be explaining our exact mission to you all. We are running out of time."

"Sir, why is it so urgent to go and retrieve the book?" I inquired puzzled "Even Professor Dumbledore asked us to carry on with this mission immediately."

"In here, it's revealed that the book can only be retrieved on a full moon," he explained getting slightly uneasy.

"But sir that's fine though," I argued "If we weren't able to retrieve it this month on full moon, we can always do it next month."

"That's the most ignorant thing I have ever heard," the potions master shot coldly "If it was such a common task, then why bother at all with it. We can do it next year for all you care."

I looked at my feet embarrassed while David said coolly, "Well then, explain to us why do we need to do it now instead of your meaningless insults."

Severus sighed heavily, "The author of trails of Peccatorum believes that this book isn't always available for anyone to just find at leisure. Rather it chooses to appear and disappear at will. Except on the 25th of September and it has to fall on a full moon. The odds of those two ever occurring at the same time is astronomical. It can be years before those two occurrences happen on the same day."

"Is there a reason for that?" David asked immediately.

"Yes", Severus responded sharply, annoyed at the continued wastage of time "The book was charmed on that specific date and time. Evilingston further protected his book by giving it free will. Morphing it into a sentient being almost. However he couldn't give it full control once he saw how monstrous his book became. Hence the reason why it appears on a full moon."

I nodded and so did David. Severus stood up "That's why it's prudent for us to arrive and find the place where the book will be before the time it supposedly appears on. We leave in half an hour so I suggest you pack up food and heavy clothes for the journey."

"Food shouldn't be a problem but clothes..." I trailed off embarrassed to go on. Truth be told I didn't have as many winter clothes and going to Antarctica will require some heavy duty clothes.

The potion's master was confused and kept staring at me to finish my sentence but I just couldn't and cast my eyes to the ground. David however somehow understood and whispered, "I have got what you need Woods."

Surprised, I nodded at him smiling softly and both got out with the little house elf and Rose whom I noticed haven't said a word to me this entire time. 

Maybe she didn't want to distract me and want my full attention to be on the Professors . 

Deep down however, I felt that that wasn't the true reason. Rose cannot stay completely silent for an entire meeting, there has to be something else. I made a mental note to find that out as soon as I be alone with her.

"How do you plan on getting food?" David asked calmly pulling me back to reality.

I shrugged, "The kitchen."

Confused, he said, "What do you mean?"

"You are about to find out," I turned to Bubbles who surprisingly was looking in the direction of Rose smiling weirdly. Her peculiar behavior made me wonder if she can see her. 

Deciding to ignore that thought, I crouched to her level and gave her a wide grin, "Bubbles, can you please do something for me?"

She jumped enthusiastically, "Anything for my Miss Flora." David chuckled.

"Will you get us firm food from the kitchen. Maybe biscuits, chips, anything that we can stuff in a bag ln—", 

David interrupted "Not literally Woods, we can stuff a ham in a bag, doesn't mean we can take it" he turned to the trembling elf "Hey elf, what your Miss Flora is trying to say, get us anything that won't spill alright."

She shivered frightened from the tall man that glared in annoyance at her. 

I shot him a look then turned to her, "Bubbles, please bring them to my quarters." 

Gradually, her innocent smile came back and nodded excitedly. With a single clap, she disapparated.

Sighing, I got up and turned to David, "You really need to work on your delivery."

He rolled his eyes, "Whatever Woods, she got it, didn't she?"

"With you scaring her, no she didn't. House elves are very sensitive creatures, while yes they will do whatever we ask of them out of fear, they won't be loyal to us. It's the treatment that makes them willingly do whatever we want."

"Alright, alright. Whatever gets you to end your stupid speech," he turned away walking in the opposite direction presumably back to his quarters.

"He is such a sore loser, won't even try to admit I am right," I whispered to Rose when he was gone. She gave me a faint smile but, now that my attention was on her, something was definitely wrong.

Heading to my quarters, I packed every winter item I owned - which wasn't a lot - in a medium sized duffle bag. I was planning to shrink it once I got everything ready.

'Sweater, turtle neck, winter boot, hmm...what else?' I was revising in mind in case I forgot anything.

"Hey Rose, will you give me a hand?" I turned to her. 

She was sitting on the edge of the bed, her wings dimmed and not fluttering, universal sign that she wasn't herself. I quickly stood by her side and sat down holding her hands.

"Hey Ro," I said softly "Are you alright? You have been awfully quiet."

She turned to me her eyes tearful, "I am alright" she croaked.

I brought her closer and hugged her tightly, what's gotten into her? Why was she acting so strangely?

While hugging her, I whispered softly, "Rose, please don't cry. If you are scared because of that journey, it will be fine. Well, all of us are worried but it will be rewarding in the end right. Getting to know the secrets of the past, it's not too bad. And besides I have two of the most skilled wizards by my side. Honestly I don't really know about David, but Severus surely is capable, is he not?"

She shook her head as she slowly left me, "No Florina that's not it. I am not concerned now that I know Severus is with you."

"David will too," I pointed out lightening the mood. She chuckled.

I rubbed her hands in mine grateful that she calmed down, "So what is it?"

She lifted her head wiping her tears away, "I....I cannot tell you Florina. All I can say is please try to be careful. I just have a horrible feeling about this whole thing" she jerked her head suddenly "Don't touch the book. Actually no...promise me that you won't touch it."

I scrunched up my face confused, "What do you mean by that? Wait...do you know what's in it?" 

Realization then hit me. That's it! She is afraid of me touching the book because she knows about it. Maybe she even knows who Evilingston is. No, that is too far, that cannot be...can it?

"Ro, will you please explain? Why can't I touch the book? I hope you don't say it will burn me or something," I said inching closer to her.

She shook her head, "The book won't hurt you no. Well....I don't exactly know what might happen if you came in contact with it."

She turned away from me "Why would he write all of that in a book though? Why didn't they tell me about it? The curse WAS his fault, was he trying to rectify what he did?" she was muttering under her breath thinking loudly.

I didn't want to stop her but I was watching her intently as she went on, "No it cannot be! Is he trying to create a loophole?"

Suddenly she exclaimed, "That's it! By creating a loophole, the curse will be broken by his descendant. But who will break it? Is there even anyone left from his bloodline? No matter, no matter", she turned to me joyful, "Florina! you will finally be..." she stopped abruptly when she realized I was with her. 

She was more horrified that her muttering was loud enough for me to hear. She clasped her hand over her mouth in horror.

Author's note:

Hey Guys! I hope you like this chapter too far, honestly it was the hardest to write. I wanted to make sure it's not too convoluted but yet not too simple to understand. I want you guys to start theorizing and let's see who will decode the mystery lol ;)

So the question of the day is, Do you have any theories so far about the story as a whole? What do you think of my original characters? Are they interesting? Answer your questions in the comments below and I will reply to each one 

If you are enjoying this story so far, then please help support it by clicking that lil VOTE star on the bottom. Make sure to tune in for the next chapter ;)

Have a wonderful day! See ya all in the next one :) Love ya!