Passionate Professors || Sebastian Sallow

Part 1 | Ch. 31 - Magical Theory

Satisfied with my research on the Imperius Curse for now, I paced the creaky floor of the Restricted Section. I was trying to think of anything that might lead me to information about my dream when it finally dawned on me. With Herita Longbottom teaching Magical Theory and taking over for Professor Fig, she might have heard of such odd magic in her studies. She also knew about my ancient magic abilities, maybe she could tie those into the dream. Her gift for taking an obscure idea and running with it was unmatched.

I wandered the empty halls of the Defense Against the Dark Arts Tower hoping to run into her. When I approached the Magical Theory classroom, her record player was scratching a song I'd never heard, guiding me to where she was stationed. She was still working diligently at her desk in the office at the back of the room. I knocked gently on the doorframe, trying not to startle her.

"Gianna dear! Good evening." She was caught off guard, putting her quill down. I glanced at the mess of parchment scattered across her desk. "Just trying to get ahead on grading, I'm such a procrastinator these days." Herita shook her head at herself.

I laughed, "me too, I should follow your lead and get started on my students' assignments soon before I fall behind."

"What can I do for you dear? You look rather puzzled." She cocked her head, her black braid swishing off her shoulder. I hadn't realized the confusion was plastered all over my face.

"It's a really long, complicated story but I was hoping you could help me with some...magical theory." I began, not really knowing how to explain what I needed without telling her everything.

She perked up at the mention of the subject she taught. "You came to the right place. Let me make us some tea."

I took a seat across her desk, sipping the warm chamomile that she brewed for us. She tidied up the work she had spread across the wooden surface, making room for her elbows to rest and giving me her undivided attention.

"So, tell me, what do you want to know?" Herita raised her eyebrows as if I was going to give her some sort of riddle to solve, which I guess I kind of was.

I sipped from the floral teacup once more before setting it down on the desk. "Is it possible to have dreams that are actually...someone else's memories?"

She paused mid sip as a flicker of fear scathed across her eyes. "That is very rare magic."

Between her reaction and my desperate need for answers, I decided that I had to tell her everything from the beginning. There was no way she could help me without it. I started with Sebastian and I's friendship in school and how it developed into a romantic connection, how we lost touch over the years because of someone blocking our communication and trying to protect him. How now that we're trying to make up for missed time, I began to have my suspicions about his best friend, Ominis Gaunt. I described the dream in detail, how I was a fly on the wall, watching as Ominis put Sebastian under the Imperius Curse.

Herita sighed deeply, contemplating on what to say next.

"Do you think it has anything to do with my ancient magic abilities?" I questioned, leaning in closer, desperate for an answer.

"I'm not sure, but this could lead us down a slippery slope." She muttered as she strode over to a tall bookshelf, her fingertips running across the worn spines. She lingered on one, removing it out quickly and holding it close to her chest. "Surely you've heard of Legilimency and Occlumency?"

"Of course, I have it in my seventh year coursework to teach. Legilimency is essentially navigating someone else's mind and Occlumency is the opposite, closing the mind off." I fired off, it was a lesson I remembered learning in Professor Hecat's class.