Closure (Sebastian Sallow x MC)

Chapter 3

Sebastian's POV

I can't help but notice she is beautiful.

Even with the most casual clothes she looks stunning. I always thought that yellow suited her, but seeing her wearing green makes something for me.

In the time we have been apart, she has changed. I have always known she is attractive, but I'm more aware of it now. She has always been bigger than the other girls at the school, but now she is also curvier. She is fuller in places that I just shouldn't be noticing, nor even staring. And even though she isn't the small kind of girl, I just like her more that way. It suits her. I realise now; her hair is longer too.

But there's one thing that remains unchanged: her eyes, her light green eyes. The kind of eyes you can feel staring at your insides.

Though, her gaze has changed. Her eyes are always a bit sad, even when she smiles. I can't help but feel responsible for that. I don't know everything that she went through in her first year here, but I know the things she endured for me. The moment we became friends, she was as loyal as her house claims to be. She accompanied me all through the dark journey I followed, trying to prevent me from doing it, and simply being at my side and caring for me when she failed in doing so. She tried as hard as me to help Anne, and I know she suffered after not being able to do anything. She took pain in my place, a pain that didn't correspond to her to take, but she did it anyway. And even if I don't know everything that hurts her, if I could do anything to take it away, I would do it, no second thoughts.

"Where do you want to go?" She asks, her hands behind her back, swinging on her feet.

So damn cute.

"I thought we could walk next to the lake?"

"Sounds good to me." A little smile.

"Nice. Shall we?" I move my arm up, signalling the way.

We start walking through the castle, taking the shortest route to the main gate. Ironically, that's where we met back in fifth year for our first outing together to Hogsmeade.

"How was your day?" I ask.

"It was pretty busy actually. The first years almost drove me crazy; they are so lost in the castle." She smiles to herself. "And Poppy was so talkative today. She usually is, but today was extraordinary, so I didn't get bored."

We cross the bridge leading to the Central Hall.

"Yeah, I had noticed that, she talked to me a lot too. She said she and her grandmother saw a dragon this summer? I don't know... she said a lot of things." I open the door to the Central Hall and hold it open for April.

She laughs. "That sounds like Poppy." She falls silent for a moment. "And how was your first day back?" She looks at me then, with soft eyes.

"Oh, interesting at least. I almost killed Ominis this morning when I first talked after waking up, he didn't remember I was here." April chuckles at that. "The rest of the morning was pretty ordinary, you know?" We pass next to the door leading to the greenhouse. "Ah, also, after the classes I went to see Professor Sharp. Apparently, he's going to be my tutor, helping me to catch up with extra lessons." I sigh, tired already at the idea.

"Well, it seems fair. I went through that too."

"Yeah, but like... You needed it more, you know?" I smirk at her, winning myself a punch in the arm. "I suppose I deserve that."

"I'm being generous here, so don't push your luck." She says playfully.

We take the exit of the castle and walk through the gardens in a comfortable silence.