The Sallow Saga - Vol. 1 - In the Shadows of a Legacy [a HL fanfiction]

Chapter 9. Back to School

Cassy hastily locked the door behind Sharp and tried to helped Sebastian up. It wasn't the easiest of tasks. Curled in a foetal position, he took up much of the living space, holding himself tightly while sobbing uncontrollably. After several attempts, with no success, Cassy sat down awkwardly beside him on the floor and gently ran her hands through his hair. Still, he continued to sob, with each wave of grief causing him to curl up tighter.

After an hour had passed, Sebastian eventually showed signs that he was calming down. Shivering all over, he pushed himself upright and rested his back against the side of Cassy's bed.
"Sebastian..." Cassy started, but paused as he lowered his head.
"I'm so sorry, Cassy;" he whispered, weakly.
"You have nothing to apologise for!" Cassy assured him, "Sharp was out of order, there was no need for..."
"Not for that!" Sebastian interrupted, "for everything! You, Ominis, Ann – you all warned me, you all begged me to stop before I lost myself completely to the dark arts... I ignored you all. I was so ignorant! Pig-headed! Stupid!" He started to pull at his hair as insult after insult fell from his lips.
"Enough! Sebastian!" Cassy pulled his hands from his hair, but a fit of palpitations had taken over him.

Leaping up, began to pace the room, calling himself every name under the sun! His breathing was ragged and laboured. It was like he had entered a fit of madness, he suddenly began clawing at his throat, unable to breath properly. Gagging, Sebastian scrabbled at the collar of his shirt. He turned wildly around to Cassy with a look of sheer desperation. Cassy rushed toward him, and hastily unbuttoned the top two buttons of his shirt, it was no use though as wave after wave of panic washed over him.

"Sebastian, please! Focus on me! Tell me, what can I do to help?" Cassy pleaded, but her words fell on deaf ears.
Biting her bottom lip, a sudden burst of inspiration came to mind.
Placing her hands either side of his head, Cassy forced Sebastian to focus on her.
Slowly and deliberately, she said, "Sebastian... read... my... mind!"
His breathing strained, and his bottom lip trembling, Sebastian desperately tried to gather a form of composure to enter the needed trance like state; it was no use though. His emotions were too unsettled and overpowered him. His legs began to buckle.
"I can't!" he whispered faintly, "I'm so sorry...".
As his body began to rock and sag down to the ground, Cassy out of desperation acted on impulse. Still holding his head, she leant in and kissed him hard.

Sebastian's eyes widened as the sudden act of intimacy caught him completely off guard. He held his breath as he felt Cassy's lips on his. His mind was in turmoil, yet this intense moment of contact felt like she had cast protego on them both. Everything began to calm down around him. The swarm of negative memories returned to the recesses of his mind. Caught up in the moment, he delicately wrapped his arms around her. His hands moved up her back and ran through her hair. In turn, he felt her relax her grip on his head and mimic his movements, her fingers curling around the curls in his locks. As they brought their bodies closer, Cassy suddenly tensed up.

Slowly they pulled apart, both a little breathless. Sebastian looked into Cassy's eyes, he still had a few strands of her hair, entwined around his fingers. Carefully, he let them fall back into place and stepped backward. Cassy cleared her throat, "Sebastian, I can't..."
Sebastian nodded, "I understand," he said hoarsely, "I'm still under review, I'm... Thank you..." he whispered, before hastily opening the door. He paused briefly, letting the cool night air dry of the tear streaks on his face and settle his temperature; he looked back at Cassy who looked shaken and flushed. Smiling faintly, he hurried back to his cottage.

As the door shut behind him, Cassy collapsed on to her bed. What on earth had she been thinking?! All sense of accomplishment had gone from her mind as she envisioned the look of disappointment on Natty, Ominis, Sharp, Professor Weasley and Minister Spavin's faces if they were to learn of what had just occurred. Refusing to let the guilt overwhelm her, she took several steadying breaths. No, that stolen moment would remain a secret between her and Sebastian, no one else needed know, for now at least. Still, the memory of his lips on hers, the warmth of his breath and the caressing feel of his hands in her hair; all lingered. Gathering her thoughts, Cassy shook her head and closed her eyes. With her mind in turmoil, she fell into an unsettled sleep.