The Potions Master //Hogwarts Legacy//

Time

Time seemed to have been standing still. Time itself was never the same since that fateful day. She couldn't quite explain why, or how time had suddenly become so different, but it was not hard to notice. Maybe that's what happens when you grow up. You realize how precious your childhood memories are and how fast they seem to have gone by. When you realize that, you realize time has become slower.

Winona stared at the face of her old friend with shock, unable to speak. 10 years. It had been 10 years since that day. Professor Fig had died, Ranrok had been defeated, and the girl was no longer a girl anymore. The remainder of her time at Hogwarts didn't feel the same as it had. It seemed that her friends had also been cursed with time as well.

Those kids. She would laugh to herself. When she got her acceptance letter at the age of 15 she believed her life would suddenly make a turn for the better. Her parents would finally accept her, her sister would see her as an equal. Those sweet, innocent kids. Oh how she thought life would be great. All the smiles she received as she entered The Great Hall for the first time constantly remained in her mind. She'd be put in the same house as her twin sister. She'd learn how to be a true witch just like her family. She'd make friends, live a great life. Finally. Those poor, foolish, naive little kids.

You don't live a normal life in the wizarding world. Something always happened. Something always went wrong. For the few that actually had good things happen, they would leave. Not before they experienced something negative in their lives. Such as Poppy and Natty.

Natty left to go work for the Ministry of Magic. She was a powerful leader and a very bright witch. Last that Winona had heard of her, Natty had left for the United States to help with the Women's Rights Movement. Poppy works with different beasts. She had been influencing many witches and wizards to work with more beasts and to not be afraid of them. Ominis had married. A witch from Brazil whom he'd actually become infatuated with. The issue was that she wasn't Pureblood, which his family practically demanded he marry. So in order to be with her, he ran away with her. Every so often she'd receive a letter from him detailing his life in Brazil. His last letter explained that he and Daniela were expecting their first child.

As for Sebastian, he had taken over the Defense Against the Dark Arts position at Hogwarts. He had become as antisocial as her. Only sending letters every few months. So his appearance at her front door at that very moment had her stopped in her tracks. He didn't change much from his school years. Save for the stubble on his face and the dark circles around his eyes. He smiled brightly at the girl and leaned against her doorway.

"Nona." He called her by her old nickname. "It's been a long time. You haven't changed much." He extended his hand for her to shake.

"Neither have you." She commented softly. His smile was still as charming as the day she had met him. She shifted uncomfortably, wondering what exactly he wanted. It had been some time since his last letter. Why couldn't he have just sent one rather than come all this way to see her?

"San Bakar's tower huh?" He chuckled at her place of residence. The tower was old and needed some TLC but it truly felt like a sanctuary there. It reminded her of how Hogwarts had once made her feel. "You've cleaned the place up nicely." She supposed he was right. She wasn't going to live in an untidy place.

"I guess." She offered for him to enter. "Tea?"

"Yes please."

The next hour was pleasant. They sat together drinking tea and catching up on each other's past. Sebastian still had his charm. Listening to him tell stories about his students seemed to drag her in, further and further. He adored his position as a Hogwarts professor, as noted by his rather larger smile when he spoke of it.

Professor Hecat had retired 3 years ago and the position for Defense Against the Dark Arts was offered to him. "I initially declined," he stated. "I was going to search for Anne, but she had actually sent me a letter. She found out about my offer and told me that I needed to take it. To move on with life and stop looking for her."

"She still hasn't come back?" Winona asked in astonishment. She could understand Anne's anger, but to hold a grudge for so long was surprising to her. Especially for someone like Anne.

"No, and I don't think she ever will. She talks to Ominis. I learn about her well-being from him." He frowned. "Speaking of, have you heard the news? Ominis and Daniela are expecting!"

The change in subject was obviously something he wanted. Winona could tell that Sebastian couldn't bare the thought of possibly never seeing his sister again. "Why yes, I have! They're going to be great parents! Ominis especially!" Sebastian nodded, his smiled faltering. Winona noticed this and leaned closer. "Sebastian, what's wrong?"

"You haven't heard? Well, I suppose you haven't. You don't get out much and we don't hear from you often, but the news is everywhere. We don't know how it happened, Professor Weasley worries that a student let them in." He rambled on.

Winona couldn't figure out what he was talking about, so she grabbed his arms, forcing him to look at her. "Sebastian, what happened?"

It was quiet. The air was still. She waited with bated breath for his answer. She felt as if her chest was going to cave in. "Some dark wizards broke into the castle." He stated, eyes staring at the ground. "They... there was nothing we could do. Everyone was panicking and-"

"Sebastian," Winona's voice shook with fear. "What happened?"

"Professor Sharp is dead."