Me and the Devil: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter SIXTY TWO - Ranrok and Rookwood

Ominis had grumbled over his shoulder, and after a quick kiss to my forehead, Sebastian dipped his hand to mine and interlaced our fingers. The large pink bags bounced against his leg as we walked.

The streets were slowly starting to fill with timid shoppers, a few of them glancing over their shoulders as they walked while others continued upon their day as if troll attacks were the norm.

The light danced across the stones and moss below our feet, winding up the edges of the buildings and dipping just below the roofs. Shadows kissed the corners and a few cats sprinted down the roads into the alleyways.

Ominis had left us in the dust, winding his way around the people and pushing into the Three Broomsticks a block or so ahead of us.

A deep, gravel-y voice crushed the silence of the alleyway to our left and I froze in my tracks, Sebastian nearly tumbling backward as our hands were still locked.

"Whoah Barlowe. You alri-" Blood rushed back into my limbs and I tugged him quickly around the corner, pressing my cheek to the cold stone.

Sebastian clued in quickly and pressed his shoulder to mine, concern stabbing daggers into the back of my head.

"You said you could get to the child when they came to Hogsmeade."

There was no mistaking it now and I peered around the corner for final clarification.

Ranrok.

The fierce goblin in heavy armor that wielded the dark magic against Professor Fig and I in the Gringotts vault was scowling and spitting at a wizard in a tall top hat. Another man in a bowler hat and striped vest stood with his arms crossed, smirking slightly.

"You said that all you needed was a distraction."

I felt the heat of Sebastian's chest to my back and breath on my ear as he peeked over my shoulder. The pounding in my heart sped even faster.

The man in the top hat spat back. "I just watched a student take down your 'distraction'."

Sebastian's breath caught and his fingers flexed against my arms, pulling me backwards slightly. I held my ground, straining to hear the rest of their conversation.

"Who is this child...?"

"All you need to know is that if you cannot get to the child, then you have no value to me."

"Please Atley." Sebastian's whispers curled over the tip of my ear. "Let's go."

"You need me." The top hat man took a step toward the goblin, finger raised but Ranrok tilted his head, gaze drifting over his shoulder towards Sebastian and I. We stumbled back into the street, scrambling to right ourselves.

"Go."

We took hurried steps down the cobblestone path and Sebastian darted in front of me, walking backwards.

"What was that goblin doing with Victor Rookwood?"

"Rookwood?" Shivers crept over my skin.

"The crime ring leader? Ultra bad guy? Thieves, poachers, thugs."

"Ranrok is working with Victor Rookwood?" Gears spun and flung around my mind.

Why?

Sebastian's jaw slacked as he exhaled before his jaw clenched. "I knew I'd recognized him. Ranrok..."

Shuffled, hurried steps slapped against the stone in the alleyway behind us and Sebastian grabbed my hand. Tugging me into the Three Broomsticks quickly.

The doors flung open and the few of the patrons shot us worried looks before sinking back into their chairs, into their drinks. A short goblin with tired eyes watched us with a creased brow as he stepped out the door behind us.

"This way." Sebastian spotted Ominis at the bar and curled into the seat next to him, tucking the pink bags onto the floor. The muscles in his jaw clenched and unclenched as he attempted to calm his breathing. I hopped onto the stool next to him and let my fingers run over the worn wood there, trying to do the same.

"About time. You know, some would say it rude to snog in public."

"We were not snogging Ominis." Sebastian bit a little too firmly and Ominis' smile dropped at the tone.

"I'm sorry."

I reached a hand in front of Sebastian's chest and placed it over Ominis' hand, rubbing my thumb before Sirona was walking up to us from behind the bar.

"Welcome. Butterbeers coming right up. Mr. Gaunt here was just telling me how you both took down a troll." She turned to pour two large glasses with the foaming liquid and slid them over the counter to us.

"Three of us." Sebastian corrected.

Sirona nodded. "Trolls in Hogsmeade... that's never happened before. Normally we only have to deal with-"

I could hear the pants of at least two grown wizards as the doors behind us slammed open, hitting the walls and nearly splintering the wood.

"How timely..." She sighed and walked around the bar, face stern and fingers flexing against her apron pocket.

Sebastian's spine stiffened as he watched over my shoulder and placed a palm against my back, standing slowly and stepping between me and whoever had just entered.

"Was that Lodgok I saw leaving just now?"

Victor Rookwood.

I straightened my spine and ran my hand down slowly to my own wand. Ominis had turned his nose towards the commotion but hadn't moved from his stool.

"Hmph. Your clientele's not what it used to be Sirona."

"Not to worry Victor. Once the two of you leave, the caliber of my clientele will greatly improve."

The air was ice around us and I could feel the shift of the other patrons as they turned in their seats to watch.

"Come now, no need for theatrics..."

The clip and clop of his boots vibrated the floors beneath our stools as I felt him take a couple steps towards the bar. Sebastian's hand dropped from my shoulder and wrapped tightly around his wand, fingers shaking slightly.

"I'm only here for this one anyway." I could practically hear the shift in Sebastian's breathing and turned to see Victor pointing a curved finger directly at me. He sneered.

"My friend is enjoying a well earned butterbeer." Sirona spoke calmly.

"I only want a quick word." Rookwood took a threatening step towards me and I was on my feet. Many of the other patrons rose quickly too, grasping for their wands, including Ominis.

Sirona raised her own wand from her pocket and took a step between Sebastian and the goons. "Perhaps you didn't hear me. I said... my friend is busy."

Victor glared around the room, lip quivering at each raised wand in his face. "One would think you'd all had enough bloodshed for one day... Come, Theophilus. The Three Broomsticks isn't what it used to be. Let's take our Galleons elsewhere."

The two men turned their backs and walked toward the door, Sebastian took a step after them but I caught his arm.

Victor paused just at the entrance and glared back at me directly. "Can't drink butterbeer forever." He grinned and let the large wood doors slam behind him.

After a moment, the tense shoulders of the patrons relaxed back into their chairs with rampant chatter and Sirona turned back to the three of us with tired eyes.

"Seems you've made an unfortunate enemy. Watch your back. Rookwood and Harlow are worse than any troll you might encounter."

"We could take them." Sebastian sneered and I tightened my fingers against his arm.

Sirona eyed him closely before her gaze shifted over Ominis and I.

"Let's hope it never has to come to that."