A Troubled Time / Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 16

Lucy basked in the beautiful night sky. She had on some of her old, tattered robes that seemed to accumulate, though she sensed the house elves fixed the rips and tares when they did the laundry. She let a sigh escape her lips as she let her surroundings fill her senses. The air smelled of a mixture of trees, moss, and swamp water. It wasn't the best smelling of the three vivarium she had, but the atmosphere made it worth it.

Lucy snapped her eyes open, feeling a nudge on her arm. Lucy smiled, gently caressing the small animal. Lucy wasn't sure if the people who couldn't see these creatures were lucky or unlucky.

"Maybe they're lucky since they haven't seen death first hand, but unlucky not being able to see your beauty." Lucy gently ran her hand over the baby's head and down his back as he moved closer to her, a sweet sound emitting from his mouth. It seemed like the Thestral had been purring as if he was a cat, but in his own version.

Lucy let a big smile form on her face, watching as the baby Thestral curled up next to her, resting his head on one of her crossed legs. Deek had instructed her to try using a breeding pen and acquire two Thestrals. This small baby curled up against her side, was the product of it all.

Lucy jumped hearing a screech from behind her. She turned her head, seeing her owl flying into the vivarium with a letter in his beak. Lucy watched as he dropped it in her lap, before flying to the row of auto-feeders. She watched as he landed on the side of one, eating some of the pellets that sat inside.

Lucy smiled widely, seeing a letter from Anne. She immediately ripped it open, reading through the letter.

I can't believe you crashed a ghost party! I swear you are finding so many secrets so quickly. I'm also shocked that you went through the scriptorium and found Slytherin's spellbook. Sebastian told me about it right away, but I'm still wary. Please be careful, I'm not sure what would come from the book, but I don't want anyone to risk their lives for me. Also, I've thought about your offer. With the break from Hogwarts coming up soon and the thought that I'll be surrounded by arguing from Sebastian and my uncle, I think I must take you up on that offer. Though, I will only ask that you keep this between us. I will need some time to prepare, find out my uncle's plans so I can sneak away. I'll write to you again soon. Please be safe! You're doing some pretty dangerous things.

Anne

It had been about two weeks since she wrote to Anne, telling her about her adventure with Sebastian and Ominis. She stood up, once the baby Thestral had moved, making her way outside of the vivarium.

Lucy stalked down the stairs, attempting to stay quiet as she passed Deek in his resting area, sleeping soundly on the bed she had for him. She walked down the second flight of stairs, leading into the lower level room. Next to the sofa bed she had for herself, sat a desk. She opened the top drawer, setting Anne's letter inside with the others she had. She didn't keep all of the letters she received, only the ones that she enjoyed remembering. She had the get well soon notes she received the night she was in the hospital, all of the notes Anne had sent to her, the two sending various letters to each other. She had some from Natty and Poppy. Of course, she also saved the ones she had from Sebastian.

She sighed, looking at the piles she had separated for each person. She couldn't stop her hand from skimming over Sebastian's note. She hadn't seen much of him since the scriptorium, but she had a feeling he was somewhere studying that book with all he could. He did say that's what he would do, after all.

Lucy shook her head, closing the drawer and pulling out a blank paper, beginning to write,

Anne,