A Tale of Shadows | Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 02

A week had passed since I received my 'invitation' to the Department of Mysteries. And today, I was expected at the Ministry. It was still unclear what was awaiting there for me. I would lie if I said I was not nervous and a little afraid.

I had asked Ominis if he knew what this was about and he had told me that he would not be able to tell me anything. The things that went on at the Department of Mysteries were not shared with anyone outside of their own Department. He had said that even the Unspeakables were not fully aware of everything that was happening down there.

When I had asked him if the Head of the Department was at least aware of everything that was happening there, he had answered that it was not likely the Head of the Department was aware of everything going on down there, for good reason. Ominis' lack of insights made me feel like they had made a mistake with inviting me there.

My magic was not common knowledge. Neither are my adventures during my fifth year at Hogwarts. People knew about some of them, like my fights with the poachers. But everything involving Ranrok and Rookwood was kept a secret from pretty much everyone that was not directly involved in the things that had happened. The people that were involved, swore to never speak about it to anyone else.

But what if they had somehow found out anyway? What if the research they were going to do was on me? I was pretty sure that research on people was not allowed, even in the wizarding world. But with the little knowledge people had of what went on in the Department of Mysteries, I could not rule it out as a possibility.

That's what scared me. I was glad I had told Ominis about it. That way, at least someone was aware of where I was going. We had made plans for tea in two days. If I would not show up for it, he would come looking for me. He had promised me that, when I had told him about m y concerns.

I was currently making my way towards Level 9. I had set foot in the Ministry only a handful of times. I tried to avoid it at all costs. I did not like being here. There is a reason I was not working for the Ministry. I stood in the elevator, waiting for it to reach Level 9.

A few people had looked at me funny, but I tried not to let it bother me. It was obvious I did not belong here. Most people had been wearing Ministry uniforms. The witches all wore dresses or skirts and had their hair done in perfectly beautiful updos. Then there was me. I was wearing a white blouse with a brown strapless bodice, grey pants and brown boots with a wand holster attached to my upper leg. My light brown, curly hair was cut short and hung loose.

"Level 9 Department of Mysteries."

The elevator came to a sudden stop. I was the last one here. Either not many people work at the Department of Mysteries or they don't work office hours. I exited the elevator and immediately found myself in front of a desk, with a witch sitting behind it. It seemed like there was nothing else in this room but the desk, the chair and the door to the elevator. The witch at the desk looked up after hearing the elevator door closing behind me.

"Miss Fawley, I presume."

She sounded off. No emotion in her voice. I gave a nod, not sure what to say. I was not told who I was going to meet here. Nor was I told anything else, besides a date, time and place where I should be. I honestly don't know anything.

"The Unspeakable will be here shortly."

The Unspeakable? Did they not have names? Did they not know each other's names? Ominis had told me this Department was filled with mystery and secrets, but it sounded like they were not even allowed to know each other's names. Or they were not allowed to use them for some reason. Maybe it was to protect themselves?

I almost had a heart attack when a door appeared to my left with a loud whooshing sound. I was still recovering from it, when the door opened and a familiar tall man appeared in the door frame. A smirk appeared on his face when he noticed the state I was in. A smirk that I have seen a thousand times. A smirk he loved to use against me .A smirk that, even after all those years, made my heart skip a beat. And I hated him for it.

"I see some things never change, Miss Fawley."

It took me a few seconds to recover from my heart attack and my surprise at seeing the man in front of me. It has been years since I have seen him. Had Ominis known he was working for the Ministry? The man in front of me had changed. But he also had not changed at all. He had the same brown wavy hair, and those same warm brown eyes. His face was still filled with a million freckles, though some of his lingering baby fat had gone. He had gotten taller. Taller even than Ominis. He looked even more beautiful than in my memories.

"Sebastian."