A Change of Heart // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 3

That night, Florence laid awake staring at the ceiling of her small apartment. A million thoughts run through her head. What could a prophecy have to do with the ancient magic she'd moved?

Florence decided to call in sick to work on Tuesday, telling Poppy she'd probably come down with whatever she'd had the day before. She had a slow morning, lazing around her apartment trying to distract herself with small tasks like scrubbing the window sills before deciding to head down to The Leaky Cauldron in the early afternoon to distract her mind. To her surprise, she saw Sebastian already there, sitting in a back corner by himself. The table was strewn with paper and a quill and he looked deep in thought as he sipped on his butterbeer. She decided to approach him and sat down in front of him. He didn't even flinch, continuing to scratch his head as he wrote something down with the quill.

"You're here early." She finally said, startling him a little. He quickly pushed all his papers to the side and threw them into a small bag beside him.

"Oh, Florence. You startled me. Here, let me get you a butterbeer." He stood up and walked to the bar. Florence tried to peer in his bag to see what was so secretive, but she couldn't see anything amongst the vast amount of paper. She decided she trusted him enough to tell her what it was when he was ready.

He returned with two butterbeers and gave one to Florence.

"So, you haven't told me much about this prophecy yet? It's kept me up all night." Florence pried.

"I don't know much and I don't know where it is. I'd heard a villager talking about it at Marunweem. When I approached him about it, he said his son, a Hogwarts student, had overheard Professor Onai telling Professor Black about a prophecy she'd created." Obviously, being third or fourth hand information, Florence didn't know how much to believe.

"I think I need to find the prophecy." Sebastian stated.

"Are you mad?" Florence accused. "I thought we agreed to never touch this stuff ever again and I am the only one who knows it's location, not even the Keepers. It's safe. Who could possibly be after it again?"

"Something inside me feels like this is really important, Florence. I don't know how else to explain it." Sebastian said, looking down at the table, picking softly at the jagged wooden edges of it.

Something about him saying her name sent Florence's stomach into a frenzy. She felt bubbly. She also knew that when he believed in something, he went in with his full force. Maybe it was important.

"So, what do you want me to do?" Florence asked.

"I need you to come with me." Sebastian stated, his eyes met hers and she saw seriousness and worry in them.

Florence was taken aback by his request. He knew she had an established life here in London. A career. Friends. Her parents. She'd told him all of this last night.

"You have to be kidding me..." she began.

"I'm not. I am deadly serious. Look, think about it overnight. I'll come see you tomorrow and if you say no then... I will work it out on my own somehow."

He bid her goodnight and swiftly left, taking the bag and papers with him.

--

Florence continued her usual routine in the morning, meeting Poppy and walking to work after an awful nights sleep. Even washing her face three times didn't scrub the dark bags from under her eyes.

"So, how are you feeling now? I was a wreck all Monday." Poppy said.

"You know, I still feel a bit uneasy. But... not from illness though." Poppy threw Florence a strange look like she thought she was mad. "Alright, please don't kill me. I caught up with Sebastian."