Prince In Darkness Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 21: Consequences

*Alora POV*

"Don't you think we will get caught?" Ominis asked as we closed in on the castle.

"You know, we had like three days to worry about this and you're just now asking the difficult questions Ominis?" I said sarcastically.

"Well, it's not like we had much time! Three days really isn't enough."

"No, you're right. But come on now.... Your supposed to be the smart one out of the bunch."

He chuckled, "Very funny....now seriously. What's the plan, are we just going to roll up to the castle and bang on the doorbell hoping they let us in for a summer retreat?"

I laughed, "Oh my dear Ominis, you underestimate me."

"And that's why maybe now I'm regretting this-" he said shakily.

"Relax! Don't you trust me?" I said, stopping him.

He sighed, "Yes.....don't make me regret this, Alora. Using this damn time turner already makes me feel uneasy."

I turned to the castle, "Well Ominis, there are plenty of other bushes you can throw up in if needed."

He rolled his eyes, "How can I forget.... Your just like Sebastian. The jokester. And a smart-ass."

I pinched his arm playfully, grabbing his arm to motion for him to move along. We were getting close to the castle.

We came down a small hill, the exact area where the pier would be. A small boat was latched to it by ropes. The same boat usually the first years would take when they came to Hogwarts for the first time. How I wish I could have experienced that but regardless, my first time here was still as magical as ever.

The second we got down the hill, Ominis feet hit the floorboards of the pier, hearing the creaking sound from the weight.

"Are you sure about this?" He asked worriedly.

I reached the end, pulling the ropes away as Ominis just stood there awkwardly. 

"Of course I am, you know how to swim don't you?" I teased.

"Please tell me your joking-"

"Come on Ominis, I wouldn't make you swim all the way to the Underground Harbour. I'm not that mean-"

"Oh I don't know, for all I know your taking me out there to drown me."

I sighed, "Oh for Merlin's sake, please." I said softly. He didn't budge. I could tell he was uneasy since we'd be in water, but we didn't have time to waste. I dropped the remainder of the ropes in the boat, meeting him at the beginning of the pier. Reaching my arm out to take ahold of his hand.

"Please, I won't let anything happen."

He bit his lip anxiously, putting his wand up to see.

"Fine, but if you tip the boat even for a moment, I swear-"

I giggled, grabbing his hand and forcing him down the pier. He was pushing back at me slightly feeling the weight from the resistance.

"Here... sit down and I'll guide you into the boat, okay?"

I jumped in, hearing him huff from the slight break of waves.

Once I was steady enough, I grabbed his hands. Pushing him towards me as he found his seat inside.

He was very uncoordinated. Wobbling around like a cat that was afraid of the water with its claws out. I snorted, trying not to laugh.

"Not another word!" He yelled at me. Finding his seat from across from me, grabbing onto the edges for dear life.

"My lips are sealed!"

*

It was silent as I rowed across the lake. Occasionally having to stop for a minute or two to give my arms a break.

We were so close but the depths in which the Harbour were deep within the rocks.

I sighed in frustration, wishing this wasn't taking so long. I knew Ominis wouldn't know which direction to turn so I didn't even bother asking for help.

"What's wrong?" He asked.

I dipped my fingers in the water, feeling the coolness glaze my fingertips.

"Nothing.... My arms are just tired."

"Are we getting close?" He asked quietly.

I sighed, "Almost..... this lake seems shorter from the shore unfortunately."

"Hm..... almost everything is these days....."

I frowned at him. Confused from his comment. 

"What are you referring to now?" I paused, grabbing the ores again to rebegin the cycle of pushing us further into the middle.

He sighed, "All I'm saying is..... things aren't what they seem. Things change."

"Obviously, that's why we are in this mess. Trying to undo the change-"

"You can't always do that though Alora, you can't always change what's already been done-"

"I know that Ominis, but doesn't mean I can't try to help him-"

"He did this to himself-"

I groaned, knowing this conversation was getting nowhere again. "Why are you so against him all a sudden when you were the one who wanted to come!"

A deep silence fell in between the two of us as the glare was deafening. His white orbs penetrating me, testing me. 

"He's my best friend Alora-"

"Then why are you fighting me on this?"

"Because........... there are some things that are out of our control. You can't change the fact he actually killed his family, Alora. There was no going back from that."

He gulped, looking away from me in despair. 

I released the breath I had been holding, I didn't want to be on odd ends with him, but he made it awfully hard especially since we were doing all of this for him. 

"Look....... I get it. I understand you are trying to make me see the bigger picture in this. That Sebastian........." I sucked in a deep breath, feeling the tears brim my eyes when I pictured his face. ".......I know that, he shouldn't be let off the hook. What he did was not the way things should have happened. Okay? Okay, I understand that!" I said, pointing to myself.

His eyes turned to me, hearing me drop the ores inside the boat in frustration. 

"But damn it......... he doesn't deserve to spend the rest of his life in a dark place where no good is going to come from it. He can change."

"How.......how is he going to change when he never suffered any type of consequence-"

I bit the inside of my cheek, rubbing my eyes from the tears threatening to fall.

"You don't think this wasn't eye opening enough? He's in a jail cell......... right now..... Ominis."

"And you think that's going to be enough?" He asked finally. 

"Yes...... I do."

He nodded his head, admitting defeat that this conversation was over. 

I knew deep down he didn't want Sebastian to deal with going to Azkaban, never being able to see him again............ but at the same time, he was battling something that I've been dealing with from the very beginning. 

Consequences should lead to punishment, not rewards. 

I looked behind me, seeing a familiar face waving at me brightly from the docks. We had drifted farther from what we thought.

My favorite house elf, the sweetest of them all and my animal caregiver. 

Deek.