Seeing You Again: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Six

Amara

"This is going to be so much fun!" Natty chimes as we get ready.

Sneaking her into our Common Room was easy, given that most of Hogwarts is at either the Slytherin or Gryffindor parties tonight. Natty didn't waste a second when we told her which one we were attending, and I'm glad. I haven't seen her since she was in the infirmary. We talked via letters, but that was it.

She made a miraculous recovery, and she's the same Natty she was before I ran away. Her black hair is neatly braided, and her dark brown eyes are glistening with excitement. She put on a red sweater and paired it with a pair of black leggings. "My mom is going to hate this," she giggles like the rebel she is.

"She won't find out," I say while trying to coax the nerves from my stomach.

Standing in front of the mirror, I pick at the free lint on my mustard-colored loose-fitting sweater. Pulling on the sleeves, I release a shaky breath. Buttoning my form-fitting jeans, I bend over to tie my casual sneakers.

"How did we get this exclusive invite anyway?" Natty asks no one in particular.

"Who do you think?" Poppy giggles.

When I stand, I meet her knowing gaze in the reflection.

"Take a wild guess, Natty. Who was the boy that we would always find Amara with? The same boy who would escort her back to the entrance when they would stay out too late? He just so happens to be the same one that she secretly likes but won't do anything about."

I give her an unamused look as she fixes her hair. "Oh, I see," Natty snickers. "Sebastian Sallow, trouble himself."

"It's not like that," I defend while spinning around.

"Natty, you should see the way Sebastian looks at Amara. It's absolutely swoon-worthy." Poppy collapses on my bed and kicks her feet.

"Natty, you should see the way Ominis looks at Poppy. It's absolutely swoon-worthy," I tease back. Poppy sits straight up, her black turtle neck sweater now wrinkled. "How did the two of you start hanging out anyway?"

"Oh, yes. Do tell," Natty adds.

"It's nothing extraordinary. We shared the same Caring of Beasts class last year. He struggled with the first lesson, so I volunteered to tutor him. Since then, we became friends. And that's it."

"That doesn't explain the shared glances or the blushing," I smirk at her, and she blushes right on cue.

"He's handsome. How can I not look at him like he's the most wonderful person in this world?" And there it is.

"At least someone is willing to acknowledge their feelings." Natty nudges my shoulder, and my eyes roll.

"Okay, let's go. I'm tired of the third degree. Sebastian and I are friends, that's it."

"Uh-huh, sure." Poppy and Natty giggle as we walk down the stairs and head toward the Slytherin Common Room.

The path to the Slytherin Common Room is as mysterious as the house itself. I've only been here once, and I barely remember the way. It really makes you wonder just how cunning and resourceful they are. Our surroundings darken, giving the ambiance a slightly eerie feeling. The hall is lit by torchlight, and they cast shadows along the cold stone walls. Poppy's boots clack against the stone tiles as we approach the end of the hall.