Aftermath ✧ Sebastian Sallow

chapter thirty-three

Ominis' Perceptive

The Grand Hall was loud as always as my head began to pound against my skull. Sebastian was kind enough to join me at the Slytherin table for dinner most nights since Amelia was no longer joining us. Most of the time she avoided the Grand Hall and the few times she did come would remain at the Ravenclaw table with her housemates. Sebastian invited me a few times to sit with him at the Hufflepuff table, but even he wanted a break from the Hufflepuff girls.

"Bad day?" Sebastian asked quietly, noticing that I hadn't touched anything on my plate. I nodded sheepishly as I rubbed my temples. "Any ideas why some days are worst than others? Is it maybe something that you think about?"

I ran over the issue a few times already. The headaches began when we left the Forbidden Forest from what I could recall, but that was part of the issue. I could recall the events clearly up until I began carrying Poppy. But afterward, I couldn't remember much until Sebastian killed Harlow and Amelia apparated back to Hogwarts. It was like time skipped forward and my head struggled to process the information. 

There were events I knew happened, such as Amelia using her ancient magic, yet the memory was difficult to recall. 

"It happens when I think about Amelia a lot, but I don't know why," I confessed at the realization.

Even mentioning Amelia gave me a headache at times. The few times that I attempted to write to her often hurt my head. At first, I assumed that was just writing in general, but I had no issues writing for class or letters to home, just writing to her. Every time I thought about her there was a dull ache as if something was incomplete. 

"Interesting," Sebastian muttered to himself before changing the topic, "Before I forget I need you to come on a double date with me this weekend to Hogsmeade."

"No." I answered quickly, "I'm not interested in being set up with Evangeline Bardsley, thank you very much."

"I'm not an idiot. I know that you aren't interested. But please do it for me?" Sebastian begged quietly, "You insisted that I not break off this relationship until we find Anne. I can't keep being alone with her or I am going to lose my mind. Just join us for the company, please Ominis?"

I sighed realizing he was right. It seemed like I had to talk Sebastian out of breaking up with Adelaide on almost a daily basis as of late. The least I could do is try to help by simply being around. 

"Fine, I'll go," I growled back.

"Thank you Ominis," Sebastian smiled as he spoke, and lightly kicked my shoe under the table. 

It was around that time of the night that a flock of owls arrived dropping letters. Too many of them to recognize any of the individual sounds. A thump hit the table in between us as Sebastian pushed it closer to my side just grazing my fingertips. 

"For you," Sebastian announced pushing the letter across the table. 

My fingers found the parchment that was already written in braille. Most people didn't write to me in braille, even my own family, I needed to cast a charm regularly to read anything that was sent to me. My fingers quickly traced over the raised bumps,

Ominis,

Please meet me by the Owlery when you receive this. Come alone.

Anne

"Who is it?" Sebastian asked chewing through his food.

I could feel my heart rushing against my chest. "It's from home," I lied, "I should go write back. I'll see you back in the dorms."