A Legacy of Pain: Filling the Void

Chapter 18: Shades of Grey

Last time: Elizabeth showed up at the Hufflepuff Common room after what happened in the scriptorium to seek out Poppy. The hufflepuff girl ushered the ravenclaw through the party going on in the common room to her room. There the two spoke and reconciled as Poppy comforted her friend. Eventually Elizabeth fell asleep surrounded by Poppy's scent while the other girl went to get her food. A returning Poppy climbed into bed with her and quietly admitted her feelings for her friend, knowing that Elizabeth couldn't hear her in her sleep, before drifting off herself. The next morning Elizabeth decided to send a letter to Emery Grey asking to meet with him the next weekend before spending the day with Poppy.

***TRIGGER WARNINGS*** Sexual situations between minors, talk of past child abuse, panic attacks

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In the week that had passed since the investigation of the scriptorium; Elizabeth felt the happiest she had in weeks. Poppy and her were speaking again and had spent quite a bit of time together, she had returned to sleeping in her dorm, she had helped Natty to rescue little Archie Bickle, and she hadn't felt the desire to hunt down her enemies like she had been doing too aggressively before. The biggest downside was Sebastian. With her and Poppy spending time together again; it meant she was spending less time with him. She was still sure to make time for him and had seen her boyfriend every single day the past week. Yet, she was no longer hunting loyalist camps with him every night and would switch off which days she ate her meals at the Slytherin and Hufflepuff tables.

Elizabeth had thought she had found a healthy balance between spending time with her boyfriend and her best friend; yet things still felt a bit tense and she was unsure why. About half way through the week Sebastian had informed her that Anne's and his birthday was this upcoming Sunday, the day after the meeting she had set up with Emery was supposed to happen. She had been surprised he had waited to tell her until the day was so close; and so was Ominis.

They had a bit of an argument that evening when he blew up after she told him she wouldn't be able to join him in Feldcroft until his actual birthday on the ninth since she had made plans for that Saturday already. Luckily things had calmed down when Ominis took her side and called Sebastian out for waiting so long and then yelling at her for having already made plans when she was unaware of Sebastian's intent. The pale blonde had also apologized himself for not saying something; though she reminded him quickly that he had thought Sebastian had already told her so it wasn't his fault.

So it was that she found herself entering the Undercroft with a package in hand on Saturday morning to meet with Sebastian before him and Ominis would make their way to Feldcroft. "Sebastian, I'm glad you agreed to meet up before you left." Elizabeth greeted the boy with a wide grin and chipper voice. Despite the tension that had formed recently in their relationship; she still loved him and the sight of him made her pulse quicken as it always had. The ravenclaw strode up to the brown eyed slytherin to give him an affectionate hug and a kiss on the lips before stepping back. "I wanted to give you this but thought it might be best to do so away from your Uncle."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow as he smirked at her when she handed over the package wrapped in a thick black decorative paper with a stylized snake enchanted to slowly coil around the present drawn on in silver ink. "Why wouldn't I want to meet with you before I leave? I wish you were coming with me though." The boy sighed before turning his attention to the gift. "I must say, you've piqued my interest with that comment, Liz."

Without any further words he delicately unwrapped the gift with care that surprised Elizabeth. Once the paper was off he set it on a nearby table before looking down at the now revealed tome, with a few pages of parchment with her translation notes tucked inside, in his hands. The book was thick and bound in black leather with the words 'De Natura Deliciarum Obscurarum: Historiae Artes Obscurae' inlaid on the cover in silver. Upon reading the title, Sebastian raised an eyebrow as he looked at her with a devilish grin that sent a thrill down her spine. "Thank you, I know how reluctant you are to part with knowledge. I can see why you wouldn't want my uncle to see this. 'Of the Nature of Dark Delights: A History of the Dark Arts'? Are you trying to say something to me Liz?" He teased her as he set the book down on the table so that he could pull her into a close embrace.