The Hope beneath the Dark - Sebastian Sallow

11. The man beneath the letters

Considering that all yesterday, I was feeling anxious about meeting the stranger who's been sending me letters, I woke up surprisingly calm this morning.

I went to bed particularly happy last night, feeling on a high. Freddie and I shared an amazing kiss for the third time now, and it just felt amazing. I told him I liked him, and that was true, but I wasn't sure I if liked him as much as he'd want me to. I decided that I wanted to find out and give it a try, so I guessed Freddie and I were kind of dating now?

Before leaving with Ominis in the afternoon, I spent the whole morning in my room of requirements, studying and taking care of my creatures. I should take Poppy here soon; she would be amazed!

What I loved the most about this room was that no one could come and disrupt my peace. It allowed me to take a break from whatever could be happening outside theses walls. Today precisely, I wanted to be left alone. I knew I should talk to Freddie soon to discuss what we may or may not be, but today the only thing occupying my mind was the unknown encounter awaiting me at the end of the day.

When it was time for lunch, I waved Deek goodbye and headed down to the Great Hall. I met Adelaide on the way, and we continued to walk together, catching up a bit. I wouldn't say we were friends, but we were saying hello and talked a little anytime we bumped into each other. She told me a bit about her summer that she spent part of with his uncle. Apparently, he was still expressing how glad he was that I rescued him. He didn't know how much time he would've been there before someone found him, and maybe even worse could've happened to him.

Once in the Great Hall, she waved at me and headed off to sit at the Hufflepuff table and I, at the Slytherin table at my usual spot. I was hoping Freddie wouldn't be here, but he was. Not that I didn't want to see him, but I didn't want to have to deal with my love life today. My focus was to find out who was behind the letters I received. I've been wondering about it all summer and answers couldn't come quick enough. Freddie switched place with Nerida today, her and Ominis sitting next to one another, and Freddie was sitting next to where I'd sit, in front of Ominis.

"Hey beautiful!" Freddie smiled at me as I sat down besides him. "Where were you all morning?".

"I was studying and catching up on things. What did I miss?" I said, looking in Ominis direction.

"We were out at the quidditch pitch, watching the first unofficial practice for those who wished to play this year. Tryouts are next weekend." Nerida informed me. "It was messy, as many people from different houses were there, but quite funny to watch!"

"Yeah, Imelda and Nellie have already been fighting about who's going to win this season!" They both hope to be captain of their team." Freddie added.

"Oh, I know, both of them never shut up about quidditch!" I exclaimed. "Will any of you be trying out? I don't know... I might be tempted to try and get the full Hogwarts experience!"

"Well, as you could guess I will not be trying out for quidditch." Ominis scoffed. "But I'm happy to hear about your interest. It should be a healthy distraction for you this year, and I've heard you know your way pretty well around a broom."

"I don't like playing quidditch, but I'll sure be cheering for our house at every game!" Nerida let out.

"As for me, I was a chaser back in 5th year, so I hope to retrieve my position. You didn't have many opportunities to see me on a broom, but I'm pretty fast." Freddie said, putting his right hand on by thigh.

He was seeking validation in my eyes that I was fine with his touch, to which I nodded with a slight smile.

The four of us kept talking for a while, way after most students had left the Great Hall. Nerida was slowly accepting not to be spending all her time with Imelda anymore. Truth was that she even seemed kind of happier, more outgoing. I always thought she was introverted, but it was possible she was just focusing so much on Imelda, maybe even idolising her, that she hasn't grown close to much other people. She was now spending a lot of time with us, and with other friends too. It has been only two days since we were back, but I noticed her hanging out around the castle with Charlotte Morrison, Grace Pinch-Smedley and Adelaide Oakes.