Aftermath | Sebastian Sallow

2: Chapter 27

Thestrals are rather interesting beasts once you get to know and care for them. Being able to see them is just the beginning.

At first glance they may be shocking or intimidating. Though, like most beasts, they will be more scared of you than you are of them.

Professor Howin has done an outstanding job in taking care of the beasts surrounding Hogwarts. Including the Thestrals, which aid in transportation to and from for students and Professors.

However they are not contained, rather tamed. Free to roam the land as they please. The stables are kept for readying them for the carriages, and also care.

Felix had decided to start caring there for Hades, but also as a reprieve.

Sure enough, when I walk closer there, I see his large shadow of a figure looming next to the thestral. Both a sight of dark beauty. Both a symbol of what they are, what they have been. Not contained, tamed.

"Thought I would find you down here." I say to him, nearing closer. Hades let's out a huff though Felix remains with his back faced towards me.

"Not many other places I would be." He is not his calm self, not even after spending this night together with us. Not after drinking the fire whiskey with us.

Something is wrong.

"What is it, Felix?" I ask him, continuing to walk closer to where he is standing. As I'm able to see the side of his body finally I notice he is stroking Hades on his neck, down his back. His movements become slower. "Is it.." His hand stops. "It's the dark matter, isn't it?"

"There's nothing to worry about." He says shortly, and picks up the soft brush next to him to start working again on the thestral's leathery back. Felix has always liked to do simple tasks like these himself I've noticed, rather than use magic. I really think it does help him focus his mind on anything other than the trauma that slumbers inside of him.

"You know you can talk to me, if anyone understands, it's me." I plead with him.

"I said I'm fine." He turns his head to me, and I see it in his eyes. They're storming, swirling with a mixture of dark charcoal and static grey. He sighs at me, and the mixing in his eyes eases. "I'm sorry. I am okay though, I've done this for a long time."

"I know.." I say quietly, recalling all the stories of what Xaiden put him through growing up. The "training" that he was forced to endure. Which consisted of Xaiden torturing innocent witches and wizards, unbeknownst to Felix who thought he was merely helping individuals with their pain. I turn my body to walk away, then stop. "I would hate for you to think that you're all alone, again. You're not alone, and you know that. If you need me I am here for you."

I begin walking away from Felix, to head back to the castle. "Thank you, Y/n." I hear Felix behind me and turn my head to look back at him over my shoulder once more. He continues brushing Hades' back.

The common room is dimly lit as I descend the stairs from our main entrance. Across the way I see a head of auburn hair sitting in a chair with his back faced towards me, and I smile to myself. Exactly the person I want to see after this long night.

"There you are." I say lightly to him, the crackling fire dancing across his face. He looks exhausted from the night of drinking tonight, and probably from helping Ominis make his way all the way back to their dorm.

"Hey you. I was wondering when you would make it back." He smiles lazily at me. I walk to where he is sitting and find my way into his lap. Sebastian wraps his arms around me, and we both watch the fire burn.

"I'm guessing Ominis found his way back safely?" I ask him, running my hand along his arm.

"Ahh. That he did, I was able to stop him before he tried planting a goodnight kiss on Anne. Don't tell that brother of yours.. how was it, anyway?" Sebastian nuzzles his face into my hair, and squeezes me a little tighter.

"To be perfectly honest? I'm not sure he's dealing that well. Although he says he's fine."

"I think he's acting like his normal brooding self. Anything other than that is unlike him, and disgusting to see how he is with Anne." Sebastian says in annoyance, but I'm not in the mood to play along. "Hey.. I'm sure he'll be fine."

"Yeah.. I'm sure he will be too.." I agree with him, though my mind is a million miles away thinking about the potential harm it could cause. I know Felix is much stronger and capable of handling the magic than me, but that doesn't mean this isn't dangerous to deal with.

"I love you." Sebastian whispers to me. I turn my head slightly to smile at him, then lean against him as we sit in a comfortable silence.

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"Don't you believe in my abilities? I've more than proved myself to be capable of controlling this." Felix argues with Professor Sharp a week later. Felix had not shown up to training at all, and asked that Felix meet us in the potions classroom to talk.

"We are unsure what the effects of the extra dark matter you now possess might be, and therefore we need to keep exercising your magic." Sharp argues with him, leaning over his desk with his hands pressed against the surface.

Felix laughs at Sharp, much to my surprise. "You have no idea the kind of control I have. You have no idea the training I've already been through. If anything what I've done with you is more for her." He gestures at me. "Don't be a fool. I don't have to do this if I don't want to. I'm of age, I get to speak for myself and determine what I can and cannot do."

"Felix.." I begin to say to him.

"I don't even have to stay here. I don't have to stay at this bloody school. I have a home, away from here." Felix throws his hand up in Sharp's direction and turns on his heel to walk out of the classroom.

"Felix!" I yell after him.

"Enough." Sharp says to me, and I look towards him. He is also watching Felix quietly. "Let him go. He's more stubborn than you are, but just as smart as well. He will come to.."

"Are you sure of that?" I ask him, and he turns to look back at me.

"I am, because you'll make sure of it. I will help you." Sharp sighs and looks at the texts before him. Since our findings of my families lineage and secrets, Sebastian and I had been bringing back more detailed scrolls and artifacts to study with Professor Sharp.

"There's something I need to discuss with you. Away from Felix for now. With his temperament I'm not sure sharing this information is the best idea." Sharp sits down in the chair of his desk to rest. I can tell that training extensively and vigorously is taking a toll on him.

"What is it?" I ask, and he motions for me to come closer. I push myself off the opposite side of his desk and make my way around, viewing the texts over his shoulder. "Okay.. what am I looking at?"

"Well, I think that Sallow boy might prove of some use to help decipher this. I believe what we're looking at though.. is a Repository." Sharp says, looking up at me.

"What? A second Repository? It can't be. There is only one.. well, there was only one." I trail off.

Sharp grunts at me and looks back down to his desk. "I thought you'd be wiser than to limit your belief to what you think you know by now." He grumbles at me, and I roll my eyes.

I leave the classroom and begin walking through the halls, planning to meet my friends at the Great Hall for supper. I find myself wandering further than the Great Hall, though. Deeper into the depths of the castle.

Before I know it, I'm standing at the top of the stairs leading down to one place I've avoided for a very long time. Avoided along with other mixtures if feelings that I fought with for so long, a depression I had to pull myself out of.

I take a deep breath, and as if my body is moving without connection to my mind, I start stepping down the stairs. Almost as if it's performing off of memory.

When my mind catches up to my body, I take a look around me. I'm standing directly in the center of the Map Chamber.