Aftermath ✧ Sebastian Sallow

chapter nine

Misery by The Maine.

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Amelia's Perceptive

The Undercroft was cold in the early Sunday morning. Every heavy breath of mine conjured a small cloud of steam. I had already past an hour attempting The Patronus Charm and my body was exhausting itself, but I was so close to it. 

"Expecto Patronum" I cast again starting to pull all of my energy into my wand. I watched the white glow slowly drip from my wand, but failed to take a form. 

"You were very close that time, I felt it." Ominis echoed from across the room. He had been pacing back and forth near the paintings. "It is clear that you have the power to perform the charm. But it sounds like your intention isn't strong enough. Remember you need to force on a memory of pure happiness for it to be successful."

I sat down on the floor in exhaustion, needing a moment of rest before another attempt. Ominis was correct, it was the intention that I had been struggling with. 

Every memory that felt like it should be happy just didn't seem to be enough. It had been the exact thing that worried me when I couldn't master it on my own.

"Do you mind sharing what memories you are trying to use?" Ominis asked shyly. "If they are too personal, I understand not sharing. I just want to see if I can help."

"I trust you, Ominis," I admitted, "The first memory I was trying was when I defeated Ranrok, I was really happy for a moment. But then I see Professor Fig." 

The memory wasn't strong enough. The final moments with Professor Fig end up taking over and I am quickly overcome with more sadness than happiness. Even a victory had felt like a failure when I looked back on it. 

"Obviously that wasn't working," I sighed, "So then I tried to think back to my parents when they had given me some flowers in our garden back home before they left. I still remember the colors of the pansies fresh in my small hands and how at the time, as a muggle, they were the most magic thing I've ever seen. But then I remembered that was the last time I saw them, and I felt sad again," I tailed off.

I didn't want to keep talking about my family frankly. 

They were very personal moments, but I did trust Ominis. I didn't care if he knew about them so long as he could help me with the charm. He stood there silently processing the information. I turned my head watching him continue to pace back and forth. 

"You're right, you are filling yourself with sadness at the memory of a happy moment. Glory and family aren't working," He said holding up his own chin as he spoke, "Have you ever fallen in love?"

"Fallen in love?" I asked with a laugh.

Ominis stopped his pacing and was just looking in my direction. 

"So no?" He assumed.

"I mean, of course, I have." I scoffed insulted by his assumption until I pandered at the thought "I mean I think so?" 

"Well try it with that? It might be worth a shot?" Ominis said walking closer to my side of the Undercroft. 

I stood up, building the energy in my gut, focusing my thoughts on Ominis' advice. I could see the stars above and feel the chill in the air as I thought back to my memories. Garreth standing before me, hand gently around my waist, and the spark of electricity between us the moment our lips touched. My first and so far only kiss. I channeled all of the energy into my hand as I pushed out the thought into motion.