In the Shadows of a Legacy // A Sebastian Sallow story

Chapter 32- devastation//flashback

TW: Drugs/SA
Poppys POV;

I anxiously made my way through the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts, my footsteps echoing in the silence. The weight of concern hung heavy on my shoulders as I navigated the familiar path to the Slytherin dungeon. My blonde-haired friend, was supposed to meet me in the library over an hour ago, but she had mysteriously disappeared without a trace.

Whispering the password, the stone wall slid open, granting me access to the Slytherin common room. As I stepped inside, the room was bathed in a mesmerizing glow, courtesy of the moon's reflection on the Black Lake. The soft, ethereal light danced across the emerald green decor, lending an enchanting aura to the surroundings.

I scanned the room, hoping to catch sight of Ophelia amidst the sea of green and silver. The crackling fire cast flickering shadows on the walls, creating an eerie yet captivating atmosphere.

Taking a deep breath, I approached a group of Slytherin students huddled together, engaged in a hushed conversation. Their gazes flickered towards me, annoyance and curiousity glinting in their eyes. I mustered up the courage to inquire, my voice laced with concern, "Excuse me, have any of you seen Ophelia? She was supposed to meet me in the library, but I can't find her anywhere."

"What the hell are you doing here, Hufflepuff?" A dark haired witch spat. My eyes narrowed at her.

"Have you seen her or not," I asked again, my voice edging with worry.

"No, now get lost bitch."

I rolled my eyes and walked up to Ophelia's dorm. Ophelia always seemed to be disappearing last year, but this year after losing Sebastian, she mostly holed up in her room or in her Vivarium. Ominis and I tried to keep a close eye on her, especially after her incident on the bridge. My heart broke a little more as I recounted the details of that fateful night. Ominis had cried in my arms aftewards. Hopelessness and a deep sorrow etched into his very soul as he recounted the events. We had both vowed to each other to be there for our friend, even if it meant putting our own budding relationship on hold.

Now whenever Ophelia was unaccounted for, fear consumed me. I was terrified that I would walk in on her, with slashed wrists again or worse. I could feel panic sneaking into my chest, causing my heart to beat even faster as I quickened my pace to her dorm. A storm of images plagued my brain of what I might find.

"Ophelia," I knocked on the door. I waited only a moment before barging in. Clothes scattered the floor, along with crumpled up pieces of paper. I scanned the room for any sign of my friend and checked the bathroom, but she was nowhere in sight. I was starting to hyperventilate but pushed myself to keep searching for any clues of where she might be. Her bed was unmade, with wrappers strewn across it. In the middle sat a box of chocolates, most of them had been eaten. I searched under the covers and found a crumpled up letter. I smoothed it out and read the words,

Dear Ophelia,

I have dreamed about you for years, please enjoy these chocolates and meet me in the astronomy tower in one hour.

-L.P

My heart was beating out of my chest as I leaned down to sniff the chocolates which only confirmed my suspicions. 'Fuck," I muttered. I grabbed the note and the chocolates and ran for help.

Ominis dorm was not far away, I didn't even knock on the door before barging in, "Ominis," I cried as soon as I saw the boy sitting at his desk, his fingers tracing over the pages of his book.

"Poppy?" The startled boy stood up walking towards me.  "What is it? what's wrong?"

"I-I," I tried to take a deep breath and focus my rushing thoughts, "Ophelia she didn't show and the chocolates."

Ominis strong hands held my arms at the side, "Focus darling, deep breath, what's going on?"

I took a moment to steady my racing heart, the words tumbling out as soon as I composed myself, "Opehlia didn't show at the library, so I went to check on her and I found this note and"

"What note?" he questioned, his brows furrowing. I quickly placed the note into his hands.

"Darling, I can't see."

"Oh right, sorry," I mumbled, before reading the note aloud. "And I found these chocolates and wrappers." Ominis leaned down and sniffed the chocolates.

"Let's go," He said gruffly, pulling me out of his dorm. The red light from his wand leading the way.

We raced towards the Astronomy tower, taking the stairs two at a time. Ominis quickly casted a patronus to professor Weasley, telling her what we both suspected and where we were headed.

I could hear my heart beating as we neared the top of the tower, bile raising in my throat as I heard grunts echoing through the tower. I tried to focus on the task at hand, tears already pooling in my eyes. I glanced over at ominis as we ran, his face was red with anger and he looked like he was about to shred someone to pieces.

Finally we made it to the top room. A gasp escaped my lips at Leander laid on the floor over my friend his shirt off and panting. Before I could even react Ominis had stormed over and kicked Leander off of Ophelia. His leg hitting him directly in the gut.

"What the fuck!" Leander squealed as Ominis's fists connected with his jaw over and over again.

I stood there frozen as Ophelia rushed over and tried to pull ominis off. "What the hell ominis stop it! I love him." She screamed.

I shook myself out of my daze and ran over to Ophelia and pulled her away from Ominis. I took off my robe and placed it around her shoulders, she was shaking wearing nothing but a bra and her skirt.

I held her back as she cried. My heart breaking with each of her sobs. She had been drugged and didn't even realize the horrors that had happened to her yet.

The sound of fists hitting Leanders face over and over again reverberated through the room as I held Ophelia to me comforting her. I murmured over and over again how sorry I was.

"What's going on here!" Professor Weasley stormed into the room her wand raised, with Professor Onai and professor Sharp close behind her.

Professor Sharp ran to Ominis and pulled him off of Leanders bloody and unconscious body.

My eyes met Professor Weasleys as she surveyed the area in horror. My gaze expressing the tragedy that had just taken place. Ophelia sat in my arms silently crying and shaking.

Professor Onai ran to where I laid on the floor with Ophelia, "Come we need to go to the infirmary." She coached, her hands guiding Ophelia.

"No, no I need to stay with Leander!" Ophelia cried. Her face was red and swollen.

"You need to go to the infirmary first." The professor wrapped her arms around Ophelia, gently guiding her away. She continued to comfort Ophelia as she led her out of the room.

Professor Sharp was still holding back Ominis who had begun crying, cursing Leander and threatening to crucio him until he was nothing. His hands were bloody, cuts marring his knuckles. My heart aches for him too, mirroring the own torture I was feeling.

"Tell me everything." Professor Weasley spoke softly, her hand reaching down to help me off the floor.