The Turning of Time ~ Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Nineteen

October 27, Gryffindor vs. Hufflepuff Quidditch

I wake up to the sun shining through the window, the room added it for me after a week of struggling to wake up on time when the room was in pure darkness. I shuffle my way to the fully stocked wardrobe and grab my quidditch gear. I slowly make my way to the restroom for a quick  shower to help wake me up. Thinking about everything and nothing all at once. I shower quickly and head to my always stocked kitchen. Thank you House Elves, I should visit them again soon. I grab a muffin and some juice, too nervous to eat more than that. I sit down and stare out the nook window. It overlooks the gorgeous lake, shimmering and bright in the full sunlight. Nothing like the first night. Fall is now in full swing, orange leaves, pumpkins everywhere and brisk nights. If I could hang out with my friends I imagine we would be warming up with some Butterbeer and I could actually walk around with Sebastian. 

I soak it it all in as I eat. 

Once done I wash and put away my dishes. I walk to the fireplace, grabbing my purse on the way and floo powder to the stadium entrance. The usually empty stadium is now packed, I can hear the roar of the crowd from here. The walkways are just as packed. I make my way to the locker room, not paying attention to the sights or sounds around me. Trying to get my head in the right space for switching from a practice mindset to a game mindset. I can see the locker room door when someone grabs my arm and spins me away from my destination. My hand has already grabbed my wand and it's now digging into their chest. My eyes catch up to my movements, and realize I'm facing Garreth. My wand hand drops quickly back down to my side. My frozen breath returning in a rush.

"What the heck Garreth? I could have killed you!" I whisper yell. I gently put my wand away as garreth takes his hand off and retreats slightly.

"I'm sorry, y/n." He pauses clearly still flustered from having a wand pointed at him. He continues.

 "I never got a chance to talk to you after the party, and then the nurses office. I know you have your reasons." He pauses and I see his arm rubbing the back of his neck as his face is slightly flushed.

"I just wanted to make sure you're ok and to see if I could help in any way." After what happened at the party I'm surprised he wants to speak with me at all. 

"I'm fine. Really." Now without my wand my hands feel restless, I start to play with the hem of my sleeves. The now awkward silence fills my ears. I glance up at him and see he looks about as uncomfortable as I feel. I know I should have said something to him sooner. Just like I should have said something to Poppy, Natty and maybe even Ominis and Amit.  Honestly, I haven't known how. How do you talk to someone about what happened? Especially, when they weren't even there and it was aimed at them? Or the person you used to cause the harm? Talk about complicated. With my own impending doom coming, I didn't have the mental fortitude to even attempt to have these conversations. But now? With him in front of me and less than a week until Halloween, I should at least try. I should make amends with one person.

"Actually, I did want to talk to you about something."  I ball up my fists as I try and gather my wits.

"I'm... sorry. I'm truly sorry for those couple days. I-I never"

*mhm* I try and gather my failing voice

"I never liked you the way you liked me. I was using you. I was mad that you knew Poppy liked you and you still wanted to be with me. With what seemed to be like any means necessary. Even though you should have known it would most likely cause problems in our friendship. Even though, now that doesn't even make sense, since it wasn't really Poppy. Which makes everything more confusing and frustrating." I cross, uncross, then cross my arms, while looking at a speck of dust on my shoe as I struggle to get out a mediocre apology.