Touched

Shadow of a Debt - Sixth Year

Sebastian POV

"I need to talk to you," Sebastian rushed to say when he finally spotted Professor Rowley walking the halls after class the next week. Sebastian was out of breath. Rowley was fast when he wanted to be. "Where have you been?!"

The man whipped around, his coat spiralling around him, when he heard Sebastian's voice - and his face lit up.

"Thank Merlin," he exclaimed, placing a hand on Sebastian's back briefly. "Follow me, let's go to my office."

Sebastian did so eagerly. With each of his strides, Rowley took two smaller ones, even though they were the same height. He had a certain swagger in his step that made him look almost ludicrous.

Once they reached his office behind the defence against the dark arts classroom, he motioned for Sebastian to sit down on a small mustard couch. When he did, he fell into it, and it had him sink almost to ground level. He looked up, surprised. Rowley was humming to himself while boiling some water for the kettle.

So odd.

Now that Sebastian had finally reached Professor Rowley, he didn't know where to begin.

"How are you settling back in?" Rowley asked, before Sebastian could say anything, pouring some of the tea into two cups. Sebastian felt small in the plush chair. He wringed his hands together under the coffee table, where Rowley placed a cup and then sat down opposite him.

"I'm okay," he said, and then shook his head. "Actually, I'm a mess," he admitted, with a dry chuckle.

"Understandable," the Professor responded, nodding his head almost aggressively. "You look thin. Have you been eating and drinking properly?"

Sebastian looked down at himself, and he didn't notice a difference. Although it had been eighty four days - he squeezed his eye shut, thinking of the number and trying to push it out of his head. He opened his eyes and nodded.

"Yes, I have been."

Rowley's face softened, suddenly. He cocked his head to the side like Ominis did when he was listening. "You look just like your father, you know," he said.

Sebastian didn't say anything for a moment. He avoided the man's gaze.

"You know," Sebastian started. "I never expected someone would get me out of there.." Sebastian trailed off, and then shook his head and came out with it. "Thank you, so much. I can never repay you for what you did."

"Oh you can," Rowley argued. "You can stay healthy, and you can work towards a normal life after what's happened. Your parents would've wanted you to be happy. And although it seems very difficult to see any happiness right now - you will."

"Were you very close to them?" Sebastian asked, his voice small. The professor stood, and walked over to a small dresser on the other side of the office. He picked up a frame that sat there, and handed it to Sebastian.

It was his parents. His mother was more beautiful than ever, his father standing with his arm around her, his eyes twinkling. Sebastian stared at the photo, unsure what to say. If he could say anything at all.

"When you and Anne were born, they fell in love," Rowley said, very seriously. "Turn the frame around." Sebastian did as he said, and seeing the photo he gasped and placed his hand on the photo, tracing the outline of it.

"That's your father and myself there," Rowley explained. "Look at him! He didn't know how to hold two babies at the same time. He didn't think he could. But if only you could've seen.. you. You two were the most precious babies I'd ever seen! And they loved you both more than anything."