Side Effects |a Sebastian Sallow story|

Three Cheers for Seventh Year

"Come on we're going to be late! Wouldn't want to set a bad example to the first years as prefect now would you?" 

Kathryn grinned at Poppy Sweeting's tease as she continued to button up her checkered vest before reaching to grab the golden shield pin from her vanity to securely place it on the collar of her robe. 

After reaching academic achievements in all of her classes in Sixth Year, Professors Weasley and Garlick asked Kathryn if she were interested in becoming a prefect for her Seventh Year. She had of course accepted eagerly and was grateful for the opportunity to have another accomplishment to put on her employment applications. 

Double checking over her appearance in the mirror and readjusting a few stray hairs, Kathryn turned to face Poppy with a smile before hooking their elbows together and heading out of the common room. 

"I hope I don't look as nervous as I feel." Kathryn chuckled, shuddering her body as if to get rid of the nerves. Logically, she knew that it wasn't much to be nervous about, tonight was just about escorting First Years to their common room and showing them their dormitory. It should be easy, but for some reason she had a nagging feeling in her chest that was making her think otherwise. 

Poppy gave her shoulder a few pats, "Just relax, you'll do fine. This will be a cake walk compared to other things you've done." she reminded, picking up her pace a bit as they got closer to the great hall and causing Kathryn to be pulled forward abruptly.

Kathryn winced, "Slow down Pop, you'll take my arm off!" she gasped, alarmed at the now even faster pace the other girl seemed to be dragging her. 

"Oh you're fine!" Poppy scoffed, "Besides, I always miss out on the pasties at the feast and this year I'm determined to get one." she continued, a determined look on her face.

Laughing, Kathryn let go of Poppy's elbow and took her wrist instead, "Well then why didn't you just say so?" and then broke off into a light jog and pulling the other girl with her this time. 

When they entered the great hall, Poppy broke off and headed to the Hufflepuff table, wasting no time in her eagerness to acquire a pastie.

Kathryn however faltered only slightly, choosing instead to take a glance at the Slytherin table to scan over the faces in hopes of spotting one in particular, to no avail. 

She knew it was a possibility that Sebastian Sallow would most likely not be attending Hogwarts again, but Kathryn couldn't help but feel a pang of disappointment anyway. It wasn't healthy to constantly search for someone who wouldn't show and she knew that, but Kathryn has felt an unexplainable empty space since the end of her Fifth Year following that last conversation she had with Sebastian in the undercroft. 

"No matter what happens from here, I'm glad we met." 

His words echoed in her head since he said them. Kathryn had returned after the battle with Ranrok and Ominis had told her that Sebastian was gone. He had apparently packed his belongings and left nothing behind, not even a note. Ominis sat with her at the memorial for Professor Fig and promised to keep in touch after the end of the year, but after two weeks the correspondence had fallen off and Kathryn hadn't spoken to Ominis much since. 

During Sixth Year, Ominis also focused on his studies but he kept to himself and rarely attended anything social unless otherwise obligated. Sebastian had been the glue that held them together and without him, Ominis and Kathryn had nothing to say as they both became the holders of Sebastian Sallow's darkest secrets. What was there to say? 

Kathryn had tried reaching out to Ominis, just to check in with him and see how he was doing, but he never replied to her letters. She understood he needed space and Sebastian's betrayal had hurt him deeply and she concluded that by extension, associating with her would also be a painful reminder of everything Sebastian had done.