Ten years after I began at Hogwarts, Sebastian Sallow is back. And he's Professor Sallow now. He disappeared after the fall of Ranrok and Rookwood, after I lost Professor Fig, and after Ominis and I couldn't keep him from losing himself. But I never...
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"April?" I think I hear Sebastian say. It sounds like he's under water.
>>>The form of a fearsome dragon of fire lights up my memory.
A high-pitched ringing has taken over my mind.
>>>The piercing sounds of battle in my ears. Spells that lacerate my skin.
My vision can't focus. Or won't.
>>>Light shoots from wands all around me.
Everything feels like it's moving in slow motion.
>>>My sense of fear is dislodged by a mass of guilt for endangering anyone else.
Headmistress Weasley's form disappears into the green floo flame.
>>>I can hear my own voice echo in my mind, screaming out for Professor Fig.
Thiago walks past me, flashing me a smile, and I think I hear his voice but I can't make out the words. He puts his hand welcomingly on Minister Spavin's shoulder and says something. They smile and each take turns disappearing into the floo.
>>>Devastation all around me.
"Let's go, Snidge" I think I hear Sharp say into my ear as I watch Ronan's form disappear a few feet from me.
>>>Devastation and death.
It feels like Sebastian takes my hand. His touch pulls my eyes back into a clearer focus of reality.
>>>Devastation and death and Sebastian is gone.
He is pulling me toward the floo point and it still feels like I'm moving through molasses.
>>>Devastation and death and Sebastian is gone and Ominis and I are broken.
Sebastian whispers something to me as I can feel my body get sucked through space itself and reappear in a long, damp hallway I would recognize anywhere. My heart stops.
No. No no no. No one else was supposed to come down here.
Two more cracks sound the arrival of Sebastian and Sharp behind me. Instinctively, I turn behind me in the slow motion molasses air and push Sebastian backwards, saying frantically, "you shouldn't be here!!" His look of confusion registers only as I'm already turned to run ahead to Professor Weasley. She's still talking. She's going on and on but I can barely make out what she's saying with the ringing and the molasses and the feeling under water.
"Indeed, the repository was completely destroyed by Ranrok," she explains.
No no no. It was destroyed by me.
Weasley continues, "and we left the cavern in quite the state of chaos and disrepair all those years ago."
