The Sallow Saga (Volume 3) A Hogwarts Legacy Fanfiction

Chapter 4. A Clash with the Past

The start of the working week rolled around far too quickly. Overall, everyone had concluded that skydiving from a great height, as a competitive sport; was something that had been greatly missing from wizarding sports! Everett and Sebastian had set aside all their differences when it came to rallying each other on. The outcome on Saturday saw Cassy score third, Sebastian second but Everett's prowess could not be beaten! The arrow tip at the end of his broom handle would kiss the blades of grass before he would start to level it out by adjusting all his weight toward the back end of the broom. It had been a day filled with adrenaline rushes and more laughter than they had all had in some time. Even Ominis, once he had gotten over the initial terror of his first swan dive, felt compelled to try again, his screams of terror replaced with cries of laughter and thrill after the fourth experience.

In comparison to such events, Sunday seemed to go by in a lazy haze; swiftly replaced by the start of the working week. It was still dark outside when Sebastian opened his eyes. Sensing something was amiss, he rolled on to his right and noticed that Cassy's side of the bed was empty. Casting 'lumos', Sebastian's wand lit up the dim room and there, barely balancing on the thin window ledge, head rested against the cool windowpane, was Cassy.
Quietly, so as not to waken her, Sebastian slipped out of bed and down the stairs. As he passed through the living room space, he pointed his wand in the direction of the grandfather clock he'd brought over from his uncle Solomon's old cottage in Feldcroft. The clock showed it was five o'clock. Ducking into the kitchen, Sebastian filled a glass with some milk, before padding back up the stairs with care, and approaching his beloved.

"Cassy?" He whispered, gently giving her shoulder a little shake, "Cassy? Is everything okay?"
Cassy murmured in her sleep but didn't budge. Sebastian rested the glass of milk down on the bedside table and returned to her side, with the intent to lift her carefully and rest her down in bed. As his hand rested against her arm, he jolted in surprise. Her skin was ice cold to the touch. Resting the back of his hand to her cheek, Sebastian swallowed back his concern, it was like she had bathed in a tub of ice.
"Cassy?" His voice more urgent than before, Sebastian shook her shoulder more firmly.
The hint of a frown passed over her features, as her head lolled heavily onto her other shoulder, still she slept on, deeply.

Throwing caution to the wind, Sebastian lifted Cassy off the windowsill and sat her down in their bed, pulling the blankets over her, rubbing her arms and sides to generate some warmth; desperately trying to ignore the gnawing sense of uncertainty. After a small while, Sebastian sat back, biting his bottom lip with ill-hidden concern. Lighting his wand with the 'lumos' cast, he hovered the soft light over her face, and he felt his chest tighten; her lips were a purply blue hue, her skin as white as snow. Not thinking twice, Sebastian closed his eyes and allowed his mind to reach out to hers.

As the tendrils reached out, the usual protective hue of ethereal ancient magic blossomed around her, blocking his mind from penetrating hers. Sebastian frowned deeply, focusing his energy.
'Please!' he begged the unknown magic, 'please, I mean her no harm, I just want to know what's happening!' how long he sat like this, he couldn't say; begging and pleading with the forces surrounding Cassy. Finally, he accepted defeat, exhausted with the strain he'd put his legilimens skills through; his head thumping. Cassy remained still, the only sign of life being the gentle rise and fall of her chest as she breathed.
Hesitantly, he looked down at his arm. The summoning charm he and the rest of the group had etched into their arms after Marvolo's attack, had all but faded in the last few months of sparse use. Would the enchantment still work? Would the rest of the group respond?

Unable to ignore his panic any longer, he rested the tip of his wand against the mark on his arm. Instantly the enchantment caused the spiral design to shimmer a silvery hue, channelling a warm, tingling sensation up and down his left arm. He'd barely lowered his wand before several heavy clatters and curses could be heard from downstairs.
"Up here!" He called, lighting the candles in the bedroom.
There was a small stampede as Garreth, Poppy, Natty and Ominis hurried up the stairs, rubbing sleep from their eyes and yawning widely.