Chapter 2

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"Excuse me miss, I'm lost, would you help me find my way?"

I turn around and look up, already knowing the person I'm going to face.

He is taller than I remember, and his shoulders have grown wider. He looks down at me, as I remain at the same high as when we met for the first time. His face, covered in those freckles I know a little too well, has gotten a little more sharpened and has the shadow of a fresh cut beard. His brown eyes look at me intensely, taking all the changes I also went through all the time we were apart. His lips slowly curve in a smirk.

I let out all the air I didn't know I was holding.

"Sebastian? What are you...? When...? Oh, for Merlin's beard!" I take a step forward and lean to hug him, but I stop myself, as I realise we never broke the physical barrier before. Instead, I start to play with my fingers. "You didn't write back." It slips off my mouth, regretting at the moment saying that.

Because his eyes turn to look so sad the moment I said it, but he doesn't look away, still with a little smile in his face

"I know. I'm sorry, there was a lot happening but well... I'm here now." As he has read my intentions before, he takes the step that's separating us and hugs me, wrapping his arms around my waist, pulling me tight and burying his head in my neck. "I've missed you" It leaves his mouth as barely a whisper.

I take my time assimilating all of this because it's too much. Just yesterday I was wandering this same castle, sad and angry at the same time, missing one of my dearest friends and also being mad at him for not talking to me and now... He is here. In Hogwarts. In his uniform. With his usual messy hair and that easy smile. After what feels like a long moment, I move my arms and I return the hug. And I let that feeling sink in my body. The feeling that he is really here, present body and soul, and this is not a dream or an illusion. He is not in danger, and he is hugging me.

"I've missed you too." I stare at the ceiling, holding my tears back.

Tears because I was so worried and my anxiety is going down all of the sudden and it's too overwhelming. And tears of joy, because I really thought that maybe I won't be seeing him again.

We hold the hug a little more, and then he lets me go. We stare at each other, smiling in a comforting silence.

"So... Would you walk me to my class? I have Transfiguration, and if you walk me there, I won't get detention, miss prefect." He says as he points at my prefect batch.

I roll my eyes and smile, feeling nervous all of the sudden, given the ease in which he is teasing me. I want to ask him a lot of things, but we do have to get to class.

"Fine Mr. Sallow, but I won't be so kind next time" I say it playfully, getting right back at him, as I grab my bag and start walking, already feeling like the time we have to speak is too short.

I look at him from the corner of my eye as we walk (slowly) to the Transfiguration Courtyard. He is also staring at me and looks the other way when I catch him.

"Tell me April, how have you been? I'm sure you will have a lot to tell me." He turns his head to fully face me then.

"Ah yes, it has been quite some time." We are walking close to each other and I can feel the ghost of his fingers right next to mine, but they don't touch.. "I don't know how to answer that if I'm being honest... A lot to process last year."

He glances at me with an understanding look.

"Yeah, I get that... I'm sorry for not being here."

And even so this is the second time he apologises, it's strange. I get the odd feeling that there is more that he wants to say, given the way he looks at me, but he's closed up. And I fear maybe it's because of all the time that has gone since the last time we spoke face to face. Maybe he doesn't consider me as close as we were back then? And in the most selfish way, it bothers me, because maybe this way I will never know why he suddenly disappeared .

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