evermore || sebastian sallow

chapter 1 - invisible string

chapter 1 - invisible string

Two weeks later

I felt the heavy weight of my heart inside the trunk I dragged behind me, clutching it in trembling hands.

I almost wished I didn't leave the Great Hall so soon because I was alone during that whole carriage ride. The thestrals were a nice company though, despite what they represented and the reason I could see them in the first place.

The whistle of the Hogwarts Express, there in the distance, was almost a nice reprieve of a sound to my clinking shattered soul.

Almost.

I stopped walking, my heels suddenly too aware of the rough pebbles I stood on. I swallowed, looking up at the summer sky that was wholly unaware of the storm brewing inside of me. The warm breeze felt like a lover's touch on my cheeks. I closed my eyes, savouring the song of the wind.

I knew what I was going back to once I reach those train tracks. I knew what I was going back to once those train doors close on me.

My role as one of Rowena Ravenclaw's direct descendants... what will my parents say? I never got to master my magic.

I was going home, yet...

Hogwarts had felt more like home to me these days. 

Shit, I never even got to tell my friends about my family history! What will they think of me when they find out?

Ugh, I'm going to die.

In my defense, I suppose, it was always a secret I had to carry. My family did tell me not to tell people. I still don't know why, but I can't disobey them. 

But I've built so many friendships over the course of my first year at Hogwarts—despite starting as a fifth year—that these secrets I've been holding back were making me paranoid as hell.

I was going to miss my friends so much. Natty, Poppy, Amit, Imelda and Ominis, and hells, even Garreth and his questionable experimental potions.

And Sebastian...

I shook my head out of that thought.

We were still best friends, that was sure. But I couldn't help but feel like there was a crack in the pavement where we now stood that could never be mended. I felt as if he just refused to say anything to be nice.

I wanted to save Anne. I wanted to save him, too. But I couldn't.

All that pain and suffering felt like it was for nothing.

I missed Professor Fig so much. I wished he was here to give me some fatherly advice.

Get it together, Y/n. It's over.

Familiar giggling and chatter shook me out of my misery. I opened my eyes and plastered on a smile, holding back tears I'd been wanting to shed for the past two weeks.

"Poppy! Natty! It's so good you're here," I exclaimed, a show I was willing to put for my friends to not sour their mood.

Poppy hugged me first, then Natty, both giving me a good squeeze.

"We know, Y/n. You don't have to put on a brave face for us. It's been a crazy year," reassured Natty, palms on my cheeks. "Okay?"

I could feel Poppy's sympathetic eyes on me too. I loved them so much.