He Couldn't Be That Bad? // Sebastian Sallow and You (spicy)

24. Making Misfortune

Sebastian and I take our time flying the entire path from Hogsmead to Aranshire. Carefully observing each thicket of trees, each rocky outcropping, every dip and divot in the road that could slow us down. I scowl all the way up and all the way down the steep hillside that reaches above us to the right and the dangerously steep fall to our left.

The final stretch is the river that winds up from the south east and curves up and around to the west. It's not a long journey by any means. But there are plenty of places to hide, and the road is wide and exposed.

With the moon only a faint sliver in the sky, any light it could have provided is intermittently blocked by thick heavy clouds looming above.

When we get to the long raised bridge just before town, I dip my broom down, inspecting the underside of the crossing for lurkers. But when we find nothing suspicious on any part of the path, the anxiety in my chest only tightens.

We fly behind the train station and decide to wait in the shadows there. Madame Karpe's cart is already waiting to be loaded, enchanted to take itself to the destination once full. She said that once the carts go inside the carriage house outside the shop, the enchanted doors will close. Keeping everyone and everything out.

"I wish we could have found something, it would be handled already." I dismount my broom a little harder than I should have. The nerves careened up my legs with the jolt of pain.

Sebastian dismounted smoothly and easily slunk into the shadows. Flicking his collar up to his ears again. "So either the trip will be uneventful–"

"Unlikely." I counter.

"Or the thieves already have three other raids under their belt, and have made themselves quite the experts." He jovially.

I give him a flat, unamused look.

He returns my glare with a devilish grin. "Should be fun."

"As fun as a root canal." I look up and down the track. The white light from the train approaches from the south, and it's ahead of schedule. Potentially something in our favor, if the thieves haven't had time to set up their position yet.

The train comes screeching to a halt in the station, a loud hiss as steam lets loose into the air. Doors from the cargo cars slide open and teams of workers and elves begin unloading goods. Several trunks are loaded into the wagon and they are so heavy several men need to cooperate to place it.

"Should we be invisible?" I wonder aloud. "Maybe just seeing us there will be enough to scare them off?"

"Then we should definitely be invisible. I'd love to surprise them." Sebastian's eyes gleam.

Unable to see what else was loaded before a large covering was strung over the cart, its contents bubbling the tarp up at odd angles like a misshapen tortoise shell. It starts rolling along the path on its own towards Hogsmead, but it's so heavy the wooden wheels are already making solid divots in the soil.

"That answers my question, thank you." I say, and boldly step out towards the cart. My mask securely over my nose, the hood pulled over my head, I don't look back to see if Sebastian is following me.

Once the cart is crossing the stone bridge, I fall into step behind it. But it's moving at a quick enough pace that I don't really want to jog, so I pull out my broom and idly fly behind it. I jump at the sound when the cart hits every single bump and dip in the road.

Sebastian appears with a flick of his wand. He's sitting on the back of the cart facing me, feet dangling lazily over the side. He doesn't look the least bit concerned about the potential danger we're likely traveling towards.