Me and the Devil: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter SEVEN - Ominis

Some days were better than others. This was not that day. Or night rather.

After stepping back into my room after a day with Sebastian, I fought off my demons relentlessly in an attempt to get a wink of rest. Talking about my parents and Sebastian's parents earlier had really kicked my emotions in the gut and they were down for the count.

I missed them. GOD did I miss them.

But I couldn't miss them.

I didn't often let my mind wander to memories of them. It had been two years but the pinch of it all still felt like a stab and a twist directly in the heart. Sometimes it felt as if I didn't deserve to remember the good times. I often clung to that feeling to get me through the crashing waves.

After hours of choking on my breath, I eventually gave up, threw my covers back and as quietly as I could pulled on some thick corduroy pants, a warm sweater, my softest pair of socks and my battered pair of boots. I needed to clear my head. Tiptoeing to the door, I moved as silently as I could - cursing myself for not having learned disillusionment yet and making a mental note to go to the library to read up on it later in the day.

I crept down the winding staircase and across the common room. I didn't know what time it was, but by the lack of light out the window and the silent crackling of the fireplace warming no one, I imagined it couldn't be much later than 3am.

I wasn't sure where I was going. I hadn't thought much further past getting out of the room and into the ghostly halls of Hogwarts. Once through the portrait hole, I hugged the shadows and ducked under the frames lining the halls.

Outside. I'll just get outside the castle and figure it out from there.

Thankfully there wasn't much to worry about at this hour except for Peeves and the occasional grumpy painting. The Prefects had all finished their shifts and were more than likely sleeping - readying for the school day to come. I had snuck out plenty of nights before but never wanted to underestimate the secrets of the castle - there could always be someone or something watching.

I never took the same path twice - partly due to my intent to keep secret but more likely because I still didn't know my way around the damn castle. Hall after hall, staircase after staircase. If there was one positive to this maze, it was that I would surely get my recommended daily exercise in just walking from class to class.

After crouching for what felt like hours, I finally found an exit and crept through. I stood and stretched my spine, groaning quietly as it cracked in protest.

The night was cool but the light was warm. That was something else I loved about this place - the impossible was totally possible here. What felt like a logical contradiction would instead present itself as a comforting norm to the Wizarding World. I was still trying to wrap my mind around it all.

Getting lost in the moonlight, I closed my eyes to breath in the fresh air.

"Please tell me you're not a professor..."

A voice from my right shoulder shocked my spine and I jumped five feet in the air.

"Holy shit!" I remembered that I was still trying to be quiet and hushed myself "holy shit."

"My apologies. I didn't mean to startle you."

Leaning gracefully against the stone of the castle right behind the door I had just come through was a boy around my age with shockingly blonde hair, pale skin and a kind smile. While it was hard to see in the light of the moon, his eyes looked brighter than natural.

He snaked his arm out to me and I noticed it was slightly off to the right of my body. Taking a step in that direction I took it and shook firmly.

"Ominis. Gaunt." The boy smiled.