Aftermath | Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 25

"Are you sure you want to do this?" Sebastian asks as we walk to the woods behind the beasts classroom meeting Highwing for our trip. We're both clad in black dress robes in preparation for our destination. We're now standing alongside Highwing, ready to mount her back. I turn to face him.

I reach my right hand up to cup his left cheek, and offer him a small smile. "I'm as ready as I'll ever be Sebastian."

"Alright, ladies first." He motions to Highwing. In response she kneels forward allowing me to grasp her back and mount. Sebastian follows behind me, not so gracefully throwing his leg around her.

"Still not used to flying after your grand adventure with her? I thought the two of you really hit it off." Before he can answer, Highwing shoots into the sky. Sebastian's grip around my waist tightens. Once we're gliding through the air I turn to face him and he has a look of sheer terror. I burst out laughing at him and he buries his head into my neck growling, which tickles me. The ride is quiet between us, I think he's allowing me space considering where we are headed.

It had been a week since my last training session with Professor Sharp. I still hadn't heard back from him regarding the concerns in the South and what the ministry has had to say. As much as I'm growing restless in that department, I want to do something that I've been running away from for a long time. We're headed to the cemetery where Professor Fig was buried alongside his wife, Miriam.

After overcoming the guilt and terror I've felt surrounding his death for so long, I wanted to give him a proper goodbye. I had skipped his memorial at Hogwarts after he passed away. Being in that room surrounded by everyone that loved him, hearing them talk about him and feeling the guilt that I did- I knew I couldn't bear it. Who knows what kind of chaos I would have caused.

Today would be the day I remedy this. I owe it to him after all.

We descend towards the cemetery, the sun is setting so I'm hoping it doesn't cause too much commotion to see Highwing within the community surrounding us. As we dismount Highwing, I conjure two large bouquets of peonies and hydrangeas. Sebastian falls off of Highwing's back behind me. "Bloody hell!" I hear him shout and turn oaround to face him, trying to hold in my laughter. "Sorry. Go on ahead I'll be here when you're ready for me." He says standing up and brushing himself off trying to play it off. I give him a curt nod then continue on.

It takes me a moment to find Fig's gravestone as I am making my way through the rows and rows of them. I finally spot Miriam Fig's gravestone, and turn my head directly to the right of it. I freeze as I read the engraving. "'Eleazar Fig. 1824-1891. Reunited at last with his loving wife, Miriam.' Oh, Fig." I reach out and gently place my hand on top of his gravestone. "You deserve so much more, but I don't think any amount of words could measure to the impact you had on all of our lives." I bend down to place one of the bouquets in front of Miriam's grave, then turn to sit in front of Fig's. I hold the flowers in my hands, close to my chest.

"You were such a devoted husband to Miriam, always patient and understanding with the many adventures she had. You both shared the same fascination with discovery, and for that you were so wise. Everyone's love for you was only a mirror image of the love and care you generously gave to us all. And you.." Tears start falling down my face and my lip quivers. "You were more than a mentor to me. You were like a father, one that I never had." I reach down to lay the bouquet underneath his gravestone, then I wipe the tears from my eyes.

"I know that you initially helped me so you could understand Miriam's final pursuit before she passed. I truly believe you honored her. I am so sorry. I also know that it was your choice to help me as well. I am forever grateful-" My voice cracks and the tears start trickling down again. "I am forever grateful for all the knowledge and strength you passed on to me. I swear to you that I will never let you down. This magic that I wield, I will use to protect and uphold all that is good in this world. Your efforts will never have been for nothing. I cannot begin to explain how grateful I am to have had you in my life for the time I did, and I wish we had more time together. But I think I will find peace in knowing you and Miriam really are reunited in the afterlife. I hope you rest well." I feel a hand on my shoulder and look up to see Sebastian standing behind me, staring down at Fig's grave, where I turn my head to look at again.

"That was beautiful." He says softly. I turn and start to stand, Sebastian offering a hand out to me and I accept.

"You think so?" I ask him while wiping the remaining tears from my face with my sleeves and smiling bitter-sweetly at him.

"Yes, I do. I think he's listening somewhere and is so proud of you for everything you two went through together. And I also think he's proud for how much you've healed now." He reaches up with both hands to hold either side of my face. "I think he would want you to find happiness after all." He leans forward and presses his lips to my forehead, staying there for a moment. Then pulls me into him holding onto me tightly. I snake my arms around his waist.

We remain there in silence until the darkness of the night envelopes us.

Sebastian and I return to the castle and start sneaking a back way down to the dungeons to avoid any prefects. I don't exactly care about getting caught, they can piss off especially right now. But I also don't want to stir up any trouble for Sebastian who I know is very protective of me.

We're rounding a corner in the dungeon hallway before Sebastian grabs around my waist and pushes me behind him. "What is-" I begin to fuss at him.

"Shh. Look." I follow his gaze and see Professor Weasley leading a boy I have never seen before, in Slytherin robes, to the entrance of our common room. He's tall and has dark, tousled hair. He looks like he's pretending to listen to her then turns his head right in our direction. Sebastian pulls me back behind him hiding us out of sight around the corner. "What was that about?" He looks at me curiously obviously talking about the boy picking up on our presence so immediately.

I look back at him with the same wide-eyed expression he has on his face and whisper back. "I have no clue."