Aftermath ✧ Sebastian Sallow

chapter fifty-two

I See Everything by La Dispute

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Sebastian's Perceptive

It had been an unsurprisingly sleepless night. Ominis had been the first to fall asleep as he stretched out next to the fireplace. He was always to first to fall asleep regarding how uncomfortable the setting was. 

Then it was difficult to tell which girl fell asleep first, both Amelia and Anne had protested that they weren't tried and shortly after fell asleep on the furniture. 

I sat in my own chair for most of the night listening to the dying fire and watching over everyone. As the sun finally began to rise my legs grew restless and I decided to take a walk.

I was anxious about what the rest of the day would bring. The last time that I had thought I had the solution to Anne's curse, I ruined every relationship I had made and nearly lost everything. Nightmares still threatened me when I fell asleep. Everyone that I cared about was pushed away from me and it took months for life to just begin to feel normal again. It still felt like there was nothing I could do to mend things myself.

Amelia kept insisting that I had helped her by talking through her notes. And that using her ancient magic on me helped her control it better. Yet I still felt like we were all suddenly putting too great of a burden on her. 

Especially me.

More than anything, I wished I had been there more. She and Ominis had been working since the beginning of the school year to try and figure out a cure. She had almost gotten herself killed for the sake of trying to find a way to cure Anne. 

Each time that I attempted to help her with researching the horcrux, she would give me an excuse to prevent me from helping.

The only task that I was given to help had failed. I was supposed to find Anne by using the letters that she wrote to Adelaide. But Ominis was the one that she went to first. All I did was ruin another relationship for nothing.

As I walked through the cold winter town I found myself taking the Floo back to Hogwarts for a quick trip. Despite how early it still was, the kitchens were busy with the smell of fresh baked goods and breakfast being prepared. Even if there wasn't much that I'd be able to do the rest of the day to help, at least I could make sure everyone started off on a good step. Or at least that's what I was telling myself as I snuck back with a mountain of food.

It was a small act of service and not nearly enough to make up for all of the mistakes I'd made along the way, but it still felt like something I could do.

The sun was finally higher when I got back to the small home in Feldcroft. Ominis stood quietly in the kitchen as he began to work on putting on pots of water. Anne was still curled up in her chair where she had slept before, but her eyes were open as she smiled and held her finger to her lips as a silent warning. Amelia was still asleep on the couch across from her and the two seemed to be working quietly in an attempt to not wake her yet.

I nodded before quietly making my way to the kitchen and laying out the assortments of goods collected. I did my best to remember everyone's favorites and silently handed out everything. Ominis stood next to the water as he waited for it to boil on the stovetop, likely to pull it off before the whistle of the kettle grew too loud. 

He looked as anxious as expected as he kept pitching at the bridge of his nose. I squeezed his shoulder in an attempt to silently reassure him before heading toward the living room.