Trial of Time: A Hogwarts Legacy Story

(P1) Chapter 23 - The Aftermath

Ciri POV

"You're avoiding me."

I hear an all too familiar voice behind me as I'm studying in the library. I turn to see Sebastian, looking more disheveled than usual with noticeable bags under his eyes.

"Is that a question or a statement?" I attempt to joke. Apparently it doesn't land well, as he sighs heavily, plopping down in the seat next to me.

"I mean it, Cirilla. Ever since..." he trails off, sadness filling his eyes as they break away from mine. 

I shut my book and reach out, embracing him fully into a hug. I hear him begin to softly sob into my shoulder.

"You're not scared of me, are you?" he asks, pulling away and wiping tears from his eyes. I shake my head. "Of course I'm not scared of you, Sebastian. You only did it to save me and Anne. I'm sorry if I've been distant lately, it's just..."

I sigh. "I've been worried so much about the situation with Ranrok and Rookwood, I guess I've been isolating myself from everyone, just trying to study and prepare myself as much as I can to face them."

"Yeah, Natty and Poppy said just as much. That you haven't hung out with either of them, that you spend most of your time here these last two weeks," he shrugs, seemingly agreeing with their conclusion.

I feel the tears start to well up in my eyes. "I'm so sorry, Seb. I'm such a horrible girlfriend, I... didn't think much about how you might be feeling after..."

Sebastian nods, reaching out to brush a loose strand of hair from my face. "I understand, love. I know you've been going through a lot as well. I just... I wanted to make sure it wasn't me."

"I'll do better. I promise."

"I know you will. And I'm always here if you need help with any of this."

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Sebastian POV

My thoughts haven't exactly been the greatest place to be since Solomon's death. I've been trying my best to distract myself with schoolwork and Ciri, and practicing for Quidditch tryouts since there have been rumors of its return next year. Unfortunately, the nightmares have only gotten worse.

As much as I've tried to justify it, to rationalize that Solomon was literally trying to murder Ciri and would've stopped us from trying to save Anne, it still seems to haunt every facet of my life now.

That is, until one night that I'm hanging out alone in the Undercroft. I hear the gate slam open, and slow footsteps padding down the stone stairs.

"Ominis? Ciri? Is that you?" I ask slowly.

After a moment, Ciri limps through the doorway, covered in blood and cuts. She seems to be holding her abdomen, and I can't manage to see the severity of the wound until I run up to her.

"What in the bloody hell happened?!" I remove her arm from her stomach, spotting a deep gash running across it.

"I went to another mine to meet Lodgok and-" she croaks, wincing in pain. "He's dead. Ranrok killed him and took Bragbor's journal. He knows the location of the final repository, Sebastian!"

"You went to another mine without me?! Ciri, we talked about this!" I panic, searching through my knapsack for any Wiggenweld. I find one, and hand it to her.

"One Wiggenweld isn't going to be enough for this. We need to take you to Nurse Blainey," I insist. The stubborn girl shakes her head, "We can't! I don't have time, and we can't afford to be questioned by Blainey and Weasley. We need to go to Professor Fig."