The Hope beneath the Dark - Sebastian Sallow

15. Great Expectations

I woke up still in Sebastian's room, naked under the sheets. I scanned around and startled when I noticed Ominis sitting on the edge of his bed across the room.

"Oh, Merlin! What are you doing here?" I let out, covering myself.

"Good morning to you too! Have you slept well in my room?" Ominis laughed as he got up. "Look, I was just heading out... and don't worry, I didn't see anything."

"Sorry, yes of course it's your room. I think I'm just feeling a bit confused!" I admitted. "Where is Sebastian?"

"He had an early quidditch practice, but he told me you fell asleep last night and he decided to let you rest." Ominis explained. "He said your clothes were on the nightstand."

Ominis smirked as I was sitting on the bed, reaching for my folded clothes with one arm. I got up too and got dressed, making sure my mom's pin was still attached to my clothes.

"I guess last night ended well for you two?" Ominis asked with a knowing smile.

"Ask me about it later. I haven't been awake long enough to dive into my thoughts and feelings!" I scoffed. "But yeah... it went well!"

"Good to hear! I'm heading out to meet someone now. I'll see you later." Ominis informed me, walking towards the door.

"Will you not join me for breakfast in the Great Hall?" I asked.

"I would, but you slept through it." He replied. "I just came back from there to check if you were up. I had some reading to do anyway before leaving."

"Oh well... thanks for that, I guess!" I answered.

"Didn't want you to think Sebastian bailed on you again and well, he had to leave early so..." Ominis opened the door. "Oh and by the way, you snore like that train you missed back in June!" Ominis teased me.

"Low blow!" I chuckled. "Say hi to Poppy, would you?" I teased him before he left the room.

I finished getting dressed and headed back to my room.

Gladly, no one was around to witness my walk back from the boy's room to mine. Imelda was surely at the practice with Sebastian and Freddie. I believe there will be tensions amongst the teammates. I Would probably find Nerida in the stands, where I might join her. I had nothing better to do except to study, and I was not particularly eager to do so.

I showered and put a warm dark purple long-sleeved sweater and black pants. It was getting a little chilly outside, not enough to wear a coat yet, but too cold to wear anything short-sleeved without shivering after a certain time.

I grabbed a book with me, that I would read in the stands while watching the quidditch practice, in case I didn't run into anyone to chat with. Great Expectations was my mom's favorite book, so it was Tom's if I believe what he told me. The story he told me about meeting my mom in the bookstore and gifting her this book reminded me that I brought a copy with me. In fact, it was a copy my mom gave to me, so it might even be the very book my father gave to her.

Ominis mentioned I skipped breakfast, but it was still early. He meant I skipped our usual hour. I swung by the Great Hall and there were still students taking their last bites. I sat at the end of the mostly empty Slytherin table and ate a few things quickly before heading off to the quidditch field.

As I walked through the castle on my way to go outside, I heard footsteps and giggles behind me.

"Oh, hello Maude!" Adelaide Oakes exclaimed as she got to my left. "I saw you came to the party last night?"

"Yeah, I swung by for a while, but I haven't seen you." I replied.

"How could've you? You came and left rather quickly!" Charlotte Morrison teased me, walking to my right.