Me and the Devil: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter FORTY - Silver

(Another song for you to listen to after the page break! Heroes - cover by Peter Gabriel)

The persistent, inadvertent tapping of Ominis' wand against the wood of our table was about the only thing I could concentrate on the rest of class. And it seemed I wasn't alone. The entire classroom was at odds with itself, some students seemingly unfazed while others like Ominis and I could only stare blankly ahead or in his case, fidget with whatever was nearest his fingers.

Professor Hecat had brushed off the chaos and continued on with the lesson as if nothing had happened but it was clear she knew she had lost the attention of at least half of her students. 

By the end, the second half had lost interest and were chatting excitedly as they packed up their books. 

Ominis nudged my arm. 

"Let's go get him." He sighed deeply, running a hand over the strap of his book bag. 

I lifted Sebastian's book and bag over my arm along with mine and my shoulder screamed at the weight.

"I can't believe Sebastian just- punched him."

"He was only trying to put that insensitive deviant in his place."

"I know... but- I promised Anne I would keep him out of trouble and quite literally the next day... I already failed."

Ominis grinned to himself and I almost missed it. "Believe me darling, I doubt she actually expected you to fulfill that promise. She knows her brother too well."

We reached the entrance to the Headmaster's office hall and found our scruffy, freckled maverick sitting on the bench just outside, arms crossed and staring blankly at the floor.

While I had been more than happy to see Lee knocked flat on his ass, the sight of a battered Sebastian sparked a match of irritation over my chest. It felt misplaced, I shouldn't feel such disdain for him doing something I wanted to do myself, but I did. Perhaps it was the blood on his lip, or the slightly swollen jaw. I didn't like seeing him hurt, especially not when I felt I could have stopped it from happening altogether.

My feet were moving before my brain and I stepped swiftly towards him, Sebastian only managing to stand quickly before I was in front of him.

"Sallow, you dumbass." I slammed my hands against his shoulders but he caught my wrists and grinned.

"Careful fighter." 

He leaned his head in close to mine and I felt his breath on my nose. "I'm not the enemy here." I scoffed and wiggled my wrists from his grasp. "This has to be the oddest 'thank you' I've ever received!" He laughed.

His smile twisted the key to my heart and I couldn't help as my irritation dripped slowly away, replaced by a tinge of gratitude. "It was a good punch." I smirked reluctantly.

His face brightened. "Attagirl."

Ominis sighed, a tired mother completely over her wild children's antics. "I hope you two know, I have no plans to incriminate myself just for the sake of joining you in detention."

"No one said you had to." Sebastian re-crossed his arms, leaning his weight against the wall.

"No, but you were thinking it."

Sebastian shrugged and mumbled something like "your loss".

"What did Black say?" I slung Sebastian's bag off my shoulder and handed it gladly back to him.

"He wasn't too surprised to see me. Gave me detention for tomorrow night. Said I ought to know what to do by now."

I raised a brow and crossed my own arms. "Do you get detentions a lot?"

"Just enough to keep me rounded." He grinned and I heard Ominis groan. "Lunch anyone? I'm starving."

---- 

The rest of the day continued without much excitement and after the last class, our trio reconvened in the courtyard.

"Why don't we take a walk to our spot by the lake? I want to give my Patronus another go." Ominis suggested.

He had seemed extra eager ever since out trip to Feldcroft where Anne had given him a few tricks to try and he ran them over and over to us as we left the school grounds.

The walk was quick and comforting and I smiled at the sun as it warmed our skin. The little rocky spot was snug and waiting just for us as our bodies tucked up and over the hill. Sebastian slipped quickly into the book I recognized from the Scriptorium, nose to the pages but glancing up every now and then to watch Ominis who had made himself comfortable standing right in the center of the rock.

I seated myself to Sebastian's left and tucked my legs up under my chin, wrapping my arms around them and watching Ominis intently.

The thin boy was muttering to himself, eyelids closed and wand pressed tightly into his palm. He planted his feet shoulder width apart and wasted no time getting right into the charm-work. I smiled to myself at his eagerness.

"Expecto patronum."

Nothing.

He frowned but tried again, closing his lids and furrowing his brow.

"Expecto- patronum."

He tried again

and again

and again.

Sebastian eyed me, worry flagging his features before turning his face back into his book, biting his lip in thought.

I sent a silent thought up to the heavens, or Merlin or whoever or whatever was listening. Something twisted inside me, hugging my soul and pulling at the strings of my heart - Ominis needed this win. Deserved it.

I'm not sure how long we sat like that. Sebastian in his book, Ominis in concentration and me in my thoughts.

The sun was quickly dropping and the air chilled slightly. Rays of oranges and reds and yellows shimmered over the soft movement of the lake ahead of us and blanketed the castle in the distance. Each tower a different warm hue. 

Seconds, minutes and hours ticked over our heads but we sat silently, cradled within our own thoughts.

I watched as Ominis took a large breath, brought his fingers to the lapel of his jacket and ran them down, only stopping over the little pocket on his chest and tapping it lightly.

He smiled gently to himself, seemed to let the past attempts fall from his shoulders and lifted his wand.

The world around us seemed to hold its breath.

"Expecto- patronum!"

SILVERY-WHITE-BLUE

Blinding light burst from his wand and the force of it knocked Ominis back a step but his smile grew as he felt the magic lapping at his fingers. 

My breath caught as I watched, Sebastian dropped his book into his lap, lips twisted up into a small grin.

The silver wisps danced along the breeze and twisted over and over 

until it took form.

Sebastian let out a quick cut laugh as the two of us watched in awe.

Ominis' had done it

a perfectly cast Patronus charm.

I felt something catch in my throat and my nose felt warm.

Ominis' wide grin and tear-y pale eyes highlighted perfectly with the silver glow, his wand hand shaking slightly.

"What is it?" His voice was barely a whisper.

I turned my face to Sebastian, giving the two friends the space to speak. My heart warmed - I had never seen Sebastian look so proud. His voice shifted as he spoke.

"It's a raven mate. Your Patronus is a raven."