Consuming Darkness: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 2: 7th Year Begins

-Ronnie-

   It was the first day back at Hogwarts. The sorting ceremony went well and we got a handful of new Slytherins. I didn't see Ominis or Sebastian at the ceremony but when I walked into the common room they were there sitting on the couch. Sebastian was watching everyone file into the common room, his eyes searching. My heart did a flip seeing him again. I knew I missed him and thought about him every day but I hadn't expected to have such a physical reaction to seeing him again. He had written me a few letters but I had only responded once. I hadn't wanted him to know how much I was struggling, and with how we had left things at the end of 6th year, I wasn't sure where we were in terms of our friendship. I still cared for him deeply, but there was also a lot that had happened that we hadn't talked through and then he had ignored me as much as he could. But seeing his face... woke something inside of me that I had worked so hard to bury. I wanted to run to him, hug him, and let myself feel relief and comfort in his presence, but I didn't.

   His eyes locked with mine. Brown eyes that looked like glowing amber bore directly into my soul, and I felt as if he had frozen me where I stood. Then he smiled at me and I melted, moving toward him, pulled in by some invisible force. My body almost seemed to ache to be closer. What was wrong with me?!

   "Veronica!" Ominis called as I got closer and he turned his head in my direction. Ominis looked more mature, older.

   They both stood when I reached the couch they had been sitting on. Sebastian had grown taller, and more masculine. His jawline was more defined and I noticed that mine were not the only eyes that were on him.

   "Hello, Ominis!" I replied cheerily and hugged him quickly.

   "Ronnie..." Sebastian smiled and pulled me into an embrace that caught me off guard. The sound of my nickname on his lips made my heart race. His body felt amazing against mine, he felt familiar, safe, comforting, warm. It was something I hadn't felt in so long. He smelled of books and pine and home. I relaxed into him. Oh, how I had missed him.

   "Sebastian..." I whispered. He buried his face in my hair and sighed, and for a moment we stayed like that, and for a moment I felt peace. Then I realized where I was, and I backed away only to begin fidgeting with my wand in my pocket.

   "How was your summer?" Ominis asked breaking the tension between Sebastian and me.

   I could feel Sebastian's eyes on me but I forced myself not to meet them. The question felt loaded. I had barely written to either one of them. Ominis was once one of my best friends and we had begun to mend it after all of the dabbling in the dark arts before the close of 6th year, so the lack of letters that I had written him made me feel guiltier than the ones I hadn't written to Sebastian.

   "It was good," I answered, still refusing to look at Sebastian. "I spent the summer with Poppy and her Gran. Took care of loads of magical beasts, and practiced my flying and magic here and there. I also got some reading in. Nothing too exciting," I shrugged.

   Sebastian snorted out a laugh and I finally looked at him. My stomach did a flip, he was so handsome, more handsome somehow. "Sounds like you were pretty busy," he teased. I knew what he was saying. Too busy to write. I knew that's what he meant. 

   "I'm sorry I didn't write to you guys. It was pretty uneventful. I did read all of your letters!" I apologized as guilt gnawed away at me. I wanted to find solitude and wanted to escape this conversation with them.

   "Well, I'm glad that you had a peaceful and uneventful summer Veronica. If anyone deserved it, it was you," Ominis said graciously with a slight nod and it felt like the weight lift slightly.

   I turned to Sebastian who still had not taken his eyes from me. His face was unreadable as he watched me respond.

   "Thank you Ominis, it really was just what I needed," I lied. It should have been what I needed but I couldn't find peace, just darkness, rage, and then finally numbness.

   "We missed you," Sebastian admitted and looked at the ground sheepishly.

   "Are you feeling better Sebastian?" I asked, keeping my voice as level as possible.

   "Yeah, I am, just taking it a step at a time. I still haven't spoken with Anne..." he trailed off and looked lost.

   "I'm sorry..." I put my hand on his arm. It felt bigger, more toned, even with his robes covering it. I shut my eyes and shook my head slightly to clear my thoughts.

   "You alright?" He asked me with a knowing smirk.

   Oh, my heart couldn't take this. I hadn't expected to be so distracted by him.

   "Yeah," I laughed. "I'm going to turn in for the night. I'll see you guys tomorrow." I turned to leave.

   "Goodnight Veronica!" Ominis called.

   I turned back to see Sebastian watching me go, his face was still hard to read but when he noticed that I caught him staring he smirked. I turned around and headed to my dorm, rolling my eyes, and my cheeks reddened. I should not be reacting to him in such a way, he had also decided to not talk to me last year. Just because he had written me a few letters did not make up for the fact that he had shut me out, and just because my heart fluttered when he was near did not mean that I had to be near him. 

   I spoke with Imelda some before she left to go talk with others in the common room and I was finally left alone. I sunk into my bed. My head was swarming with thoughts. I didn't know which one to pick up and address first so I instead stressed about all of them before sleep took over.