Me and the Devil: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter THREE - Defense Against the Dark Arts Class

The following morning came more quickly than I would have liked. The early morning sun twinkled in through the large windows of the Gryffindor bedroom and tickled my nose. I rolled onto my side and tugged the blankets up higher over my head.

It wasn't until one of my roommates dropped a particularly large book on my side table that I braved the light and peaked out from my blanket cave.

"Come on Atley! You don't want to be late now do you? UP!" She squealed, pulling at her stockings and jumping up and down as she pulled up her skirt. Florence, I believe her name was. I had briefly met all of my roommates my first night here but hadn't spoken to them much since. I was always back late after they had already curled up in bed and I spent most of my free time exploring the halls, studying in the library or practicing some of my defensive charms under the big tree near the quidditch field. I occasionally found myself in the owlery which - aside from the smell - was quite a relaxing spot.

Groaning deeply I kicked my blankets off and rolled lazily off the bed, my foot getting caught on a single sheet. I toppled over and landed squarely on my bum.

This is going to be a wonderful morning.

I had never considered myself a morning person, but getting out of bed never used to be this difficult. It started around two years ago and I had hoped a magical school would be able to distract me, but with no luck. Being at the most magical place on earth was more than exciting - in fact I couldn't quite put into words how extraordinarily happy it made me. It was more to do with my lack of sleep since arriving, or more specifically, since the dragon attack. If I was able to drift off, it was a fitful sleep at best.

My nightmares were relentless.

Often times I found myself back in the flying carriage Professor Fig and I had been due to arrive at Hogwarts in. He was showing me the canister his wife had sent to Osric and I would delicately touch the smokey glow only I could see. The canister would open and just as I was about to reach in and trace my fingers across the cold metal of the key a loud CRASH - BOOM - RIP would tear through the air, shattering our carriage and killing Osric in the process. A dragon.

My dreams replayed his death a lot and I would often wake up screaming, covered in a thick layer of sweat and breathing hard as if I had just ran all flights of stairs at Hogwarts. Marlene, who's bed was next to mine had rushed to my side on more than one occasion. She would hold my hand and rub my back as I attempted to ground myself to my surroundings. She never said a word, just watched me knowingly, a comforting glint in her eye and warmth in her smile. I was thankful she didn't ask for more. I wasn't sure I could give it. She only spoke to me after the third night in a row I woke in a fit of screaming. I apologized profusely for waking her. Thankfully she was the only one who woke to my screams. The others seemed to be VERY deep sleepers. Still, I felt insatiably guilty that my terrors were ruining her sleep schedule. She promised that she really didn't mind and was happy to help. When I assured her once again that I was fine, just having bad dreams and apologized again, she offered to teach me a silencing charm that I could cast around my bed at night. I wasn't very good at it yet though and it would fade away by morning.

After quickly splashing some water on my face, pulling my hair back into a braid and tugging on my uniform, I followed my roommates out the portrait hole. As they turned to head down to the Great Hall for breakfast, I headed straight for my first class of the day.

Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Winding my way up and down the staircases and over the necessary bridges, I arrived around fifteen minutes early. The castle was still entirely too new and even with the enchanted book Professor Weasley had given me that led the way, I found it hard to find all my classes in a timely manner. Or at least without getting distracted by the countless moving portraits, enchanted instruments, flying keys and roaming cats.