Like Moths to a Flame // Sebastian Sallow [Book One]

Chapter Five: The Two 'R's

Sebastian was having a hard time focusing on Mr. Hill. More so than usual, that was. The man tended to blather on.

"Yes, I think I can find you a nice hat to complement your robes. Bring out the brown in your eyes. I could give you a discount." Mr. Hill adjusted his spectacles on the tip of his nose. "It's the least I can do. If you boys hadn't taken down that troll, my illustrious establishment would have been done for, I am quite certain! But enough about that, who is your friend?"

Sebastian stopped twirling the handle of his wand in his palm.

"He's a new student. A fifth-year. Damien is his name."

"Oh, a fifth-year? A transfer from... hm, not Beauxbatons?"

"I'm not sure, actually." Naturally, Sebastian had heard rumors, but he didn't want to spread gossip, particularly to Mr. Hill of all people. The man had loose lips.

"Well, wherever he came from, Hogwarts is lucky to have him." 

Mr. Hill glanced up as the door chimed and Damien strolled into the shop. He appeared to be in good spirits, despite his disheveled robes. Tendrils of hair had escaped his loose bun, framing his face. He tossed Sebastian a winning grin.

Sebastian rubbed the back of his neck to distract himself from Damien's dazzling smile. He cleared his throat, then said, "Mr. Hill was just singing your praises."

"I was happy to help." Damien and Mr. Hill nodded to each other in greeting and started a conversation.

Sebastian didn't much care for talk of fashion, so he turned around to study the mannequins behind him. The newest fashions were never something his family could afford, but Ominis was always talking about this or that design, oddly enough. While he couldn't technically see clothing, on account of his blindness, he could feel it. In fact, he often asked Sebastian to inform him whenever he found any velvet outfits.

Luckily, Damien didn't take too much longer with Mr. Hill. It sounded like he had picked out some robes as a gift for saving the shop.

Sebastian waited for Mr. Hill to walk behind the counter before speaking. "I'd say we've earned a butterbeer or two, wouldn't you? Might help me forget that I was almost pulverized by a troll."

Damien chuckled. "I'd say that I agree with you."

"Perfect! The Three Broomsticks is just this way."

They left the shop together, Sebastian leading the charge. He glanced up at the sky and realized it was later than he thought. He wondered if Ominis would be annoyed or concerned if Sebastian didn't meet him after his next class like they had planned. Probably both.

Breaking the silence, Sebastian said, "Assuming it isn't utter bedlam in there, you might even meet Sirona, the owner. She's a good one to know."

They were nearly there when Damien stopped abruptly in the middle of the street. His brow furrowed and his eyes narrowed. Sebastian didn't notice at first, but upon closer observation he came to realize that Damien was reacting to a man in a top hat strolling down the alley in front of them.

Was that... Victor Rookwood? Did Damien know who he was? Sebastian obviously did. Rookwood had certainly made a name for himself in the Greater Hogwarts Valley, but Sebastian didn't think that Damien would be well-acquainted with those rumors just yet. Not this soon.

Damien glanced briefly at Sebastian, gesturing with a nod to his right. Sebastian followed suit. They backed themselves up against the nearest wall, hidden from prying eyes.

Rookwood was trying to be discreet, but failing rather miserably. And it quickly became clear why he didn't want to be seen. He was meeting with a goblin.

Sebastian clenched his hands into fists. What in Merlin's name was going on?

Rookwood stood in front of the goblin, shoulders taut, with a hand on his wand in its holster.

Sebastian had never been overly fond of goblins, particularly now, but this one looked more menacing than most. Its eyes were a dark red and framed by unruly eyebrows. The goblin looked as if it - alright, he - always wore a permanent scowl on his face.

The goblin's sharp, pointed teeth bared, he growled at Rookwood, "You said you could get to the child when they got to Hogsmeade. That all you needed was a distraction. I gave you a distraction."

"I just watched a student take down your distraction," Rookwood scoffed in response.

The goblin frowned, but didn't press further. 

That frown jogged something in Sebastian's memory. Why did it look so familiar? 

"Who is this child? What are you not telling me?" Rookwood said.

The goblin waved his hand in dismissal. "All you need to know is that if you cannot get to the child then you have no value to me."

Sebastian stopped listening to their heated conversation as Damien began breathing loudly beside him. Come to think of it, his breaths were coming rather quickly. Was he... hyperventilating? If so, why? 

Damien glanced back at Sebastian, eyes wide, and muttered under his breath, "Let's go!"

Well, hm. Why was Damien reacting in such a manner? Should Sebastian be concerned? Did it have something to do with this child that Rookwood and the goblin were discussing? It didn't seem very likely, but why else would Damien seem so panicked? 

Once they were out of sight, Sebastian swiveled around and addressed Damien. "Did they see us?"

"I don't think---"

Sebastian didn't let him finish. "What was that goblin doing with Victor Rookwood?"

Damien stared off into the distance, deep in thought. Apparently. He took a deep breath, then said, "Ranrok is working with Rookwood."

Ranrok! Sebastian couldn't believe his ears. It was one of Ranrok's Loyalists that had cursed Anne, even though he didn't know the exact one. 

"The goblin from The Daily Prophet. I knew I'd seen him somewhere," Sebastian mumbled. 

It was too quiet. Far too quiet. In unison, Damien and Sebastian glanced over their shoulders.

"Quickly! Let's get inside the Three Broomsticks," Sebastian said.

Sebastian's mind raced as they bolted down the alley. Why were Ranrok and Rookwood working together? And how did Damien know who they were? 

Whatever the case, Damien was clearly hiding something, and Sebastian was going to find out what and why. Sooner rather than later.