Me and the Devil: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter THIRTY TWO - Boggart Three

Sebastian offered to spend some time in the Undercroft with Ominis but he quietly refused. After leaving the Scriptorium he hadn't muttered a single word and I was starting to worry - the shaking hadn't stopped and I watched with aching limbs as he walked slowly away to the Slytherin common room with Sebastian a few paces behind.

I didn't sleep at all that night, muscles still tensed from the pain of the curse. Visions of Sebastian's trembling hand reaching to me and Ominis' tortured face kept my lids wide open.

I didn't want to know my nightmares tonight.

Everything felt surreal and slightly fuzzy as we stepped into Defense Against the Dark Arts class once again the next day. After having willingly been in front of one of the unforgivable curses, a deep feeling of guilt planted itself in my stomach, roots growing around my intestines.

Not only that, the further we got into this Boggart lesson, the quieter the students in the classroom got. I could see the toll it was taking on Professor Hecat too. Her wrinkles around her eyes seemed to multiply with each class and she tried her best to keep things upbeat, with little luck.

Sebastian walked in alone and sank into the chair to my left. His familiar smile was gone and he sighed deeply. 

"Ominis still isn't talking to me."

"He will." I hope. "He just needs some time. I know he will understand. He's still mourning his aunt."

Sebastian nodded slowly. Only a moment later though did a spark slowly light up behind his eyes as he leaned in to whisper in my ear. "You'll love it Barlowe. The spellbook? It's incredible." 

Ominis took his seat to my right half a moment later, dropping his textbook onto the table with no regard for the echo it cast through the room. He placed his wand gently next to it before turning to me.

"Atley darling, how are you this morning? How do you feel?" He was careful to keep his voice low.

"I'm fine. Just didn't sleep much."

I noticed as he rubbed his thumb over the knuckles on his opposite hand. "If the aches persist, I would suggest the lenio charm... Should you need anything, I hope you know you can come to me. At any time."

"Thank you Om-"

"Wow. You three look like someone got hit by the knight bus!" 

I nearly had to physically hold my eyes in place to keep them from rolling.

Sebastian kept his head down, now scribbling away at a parchment in front of him. "Lee, to what do we owe the pleasure."

The smug black haired boy ignored him and leaned his weight against the table in front of me, far too close. I could smell his toothpaste as he spoke. I nearly choked.

"Just wanted to ask Miss Atley Barlowe here a question." He leaned even further forward and I sunk lower into my chair. "How'd you like to accompany me to the Three Broomsticks this weekend? Perhaps we could even- ditch the crowds in the evening."

Sebastian's grip on his quill tightened, knuckles turning white. He placed the quill down and leaned back in his seat. "She already has plans Aster."

Lee paid him little mind and kept his eyes on me, roaming far too freely. "Do you?"

"I do."

"Pity." He stayed frozen in his spot in front of me and I could feel even Ominis growing more tense by the second. "Next time."

"Probably not."

His lips twitched and he leaned back to stand in front of our table. "We'll see."

Long after he had walked away, Sebastian was still flexing his hands, keeping them low below the table.

Class was started promptly with an announcement from Professor Hecat. She explained that we would be doing three student's boggarts and only three student's boggarts today, after which we were to be dismissed early.

A couple of Gryffindor girls went through without much fuss and Ominis was called to the front of the room last. 

Instead of having students stand in a line and going one after the other, she had been locking the boggart in the cabinet between each, presumably to give the student she called next time to ground themselves. I much preferred this method.

Ominis sighed deeply but walked up with his head held high and wand out. He rubbed at his shoulder and prepared for the professor to open the door.

I heard a couple of kids murmuring behind me that it was entirely unfair that he wouldn't even be able to see his boggart. Red hot rage sprinted through my veins and I shot them a threatening glare, teeth clenched and eyes heavy. Their lips snapped shut and they looked to the floor. Sebastian placed a warm hand on my arm and kept me from saying more.

I hoped they were right though.

Hoped that Ominis wouldn't be able to see his fear - whatever it may be, wouldn't have to experience the pain Sebastian and I had gone through. 

I knew that was entirely wishful thinking though.

How could we be that lucky?

The colorful blob was once again whirling and curling in on itself at the front of the classroom.

Ominis shifted the grip on his wand and tilted his ear towards the sound.

Waiting.

waiting

waiting

My heart dropped.

Standing nearly just as tall as Ominis himself,

was his best friend.

Sebastian. 

Quiet gasps cracked around the room, breathy and deep.

Sebastian stumbled back against our table at the side of the room, nearly missing. His shoulders fell and his throat bobbed as he watched.

Ominis opened his lips to speak, knowing by the shift and whispers of the students around him that it was time.

"Rid-"

"CRUCIO."

The Sebastian in front of Ominis lunged deeply, 

red sparks dripping from it's wand.

I flinched.

Ominis stiffened - immediately recognizing the voice - but yelled through the rest of the spell, chest heaving. 

"RIDDIKULUS!"

The figure burst into millions of tiny bubbles, drifting gently down and popping on his skin.

The room was deathly silent.

Ominis turned quickly from the cabinet and walked straight past Sebastian and I.

Right out the door.