𝐈𝐍 𝐓𝐇𝐄 𝐒𝐇𝐀𝐃𝐎𝐖 𝐎𝐅 𝐇𝐄𝐑 || 𝐒𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐨𝐰

Chapter Eighteen: Astronomy Class

Chapter Eighteen

The morning after Matty had visited Feldcroft, she had a lot on her mind. Not only was she still concerned for Anne and Sebastian but everything with Isidora was now coming to light as well. She had never really paid much attention to all the markings on the walls in the Undercroft but now that she had thought about it, they were probably from Isidora.

And yet again, the Ministry not doing anything about the goblin problem even though it was directly affecting wizarding hamlets was also very suspicious.

Like any other situation, Matty liked to be well informed but she hated to pry, she didn't like being perceived as a nosy person but without knowing the proper information, she didn't think she could do much to help anyone.

So, the first thing she did the next morning was go to find Esme. Matty remembered Esme mentioning that she and Anne were roommates before Anne was cursed and so she hoped Esme had some answers for her.

While walking into the Transfiguration courtyard, she spotted Esme reading on one of the benches and walked over. "May I sit here?" Matty asked.

Esme looked up from her book to see Matty and nodded her head. "Be my guest." She said, closing her book. "What brings you around?"

Matty pursed her lips. "Well, I'm not sure if we should talk about it out here, perhaps in the Undercroft?" She asked, tilting her head a bit. She had hoped Sebastian or Ominis let it slip to Esme that she knew about the Undercroft and thankfully, Esme didn't seem to question it and just nodded.

"Sure, if you need to." She said, standing up and dusting off her skirt. "May I ask what all of this is about though?"

The two started walking back inside, thankfully the Undercroft wasn't too far from here. "I just need to ask some questions—and tell you about yesterday when I went to Feldcroft," Matty answered as the two of them walked to the Undercroft. "A lot happened and quite frankly I need some answers to a few things."

Esme glanced over at Matty with a bit of a confused look on her face but she knew Matty had no ill intentions. Sebastian had returned to the Slytherin Common room late last night and was a bit upset as well but he didn't give any details. Esme was hoping it had nothing to do with something Matty did.

The two girls entered the Undercroft and Esme immediately turned around to face Matty. "So what happened? Sebastian got back late last night and he seemed upset. Tell me it has nothing to do with you." She said, crossing her arms.

Matty shook her head. "It has something to do with me, but nothing I did." She answered, wanting to make it clear that she hadn't done anything to upset Sebastian. She sighed and started to explain. "We went to Feldcroft yesterday so I could meet Anne, and try to cheer her up a bit but Solomon started a fight and Sebastian got upset—rightfully so."

Esme immediately sighed, hanging her head, and pinching her nose. "That man never knows when to back off." She muttered angrily, her accent being much more prominent when she was upset.

"That's what I've heard from Sebastian but I didn't think he was like that until yesterday," Matty said, agreeing with Esme. "Neither of them thinks that the other can stop and it's causing problems."

Since Esme had become a trusted friend of Sebastian since she started attending Hogwarts, she often heard about the Sallow family drama. It seemed like between her, Sebastian, Anne, and Ominis, the four of them had enough family problems for the entirety of the school. She knew exactly what Matty was talking about—Solomon was not a kind man.

"What did Sebastian do after the argument?" Esme questioned.

"Sebastian brought me to where Anne was cursed and explained to me how it happened," Matty answered, deciding to leave out the part about them exploring Isidora's house. She was surprised Esme hadn't noticed the triptych yet. "But that's honestly why I asked you to come down here. I was hoping you'd know a bit more about what happened to Anne. I know I shouldn't pry like this... But there is a good reason why I need to know."