Hogwarts Champion // Triwizard Tournament

VII

BONDS AND BREWS

The next morning dawned with a sense of unease lingering in the air as I made my way to the Great Hall for breakfast. As I entered the bustling hall, the familiar sights and sounds of Hogwarts greeted me, but the tension of the previous evening still weighed heavily on my mind.

Spotting Grace and Nerida at the Slytherin table, I hesitated for a moment, unsure of how to face them after the events of the previous night. With a heavy heart, I decided to leave them alone, opting instead to find a spot along the table where I could sit alone and gather my thoughts.

As I settled into my seat, I tried to push aside the lingering hurt and resentment that simmered within me. The chatter of fellow students and the aroma of breakfast filled the air, providing a comforting backdrop to the tumultuous emotions swirling inside me.

After finishing my meal in silence, I gathered my belongings and made my way to Professor Hecat's classroom to meet Sebastian. Despite the lingering tension between us, I knew that we had to set aside our differences and focus on the task at hand.

Entering the familiar classroom, I found Sebastian already seated at one of the desks, his expression unreadable as he glanced up at my arrival. Without a word, I took a seat opposite him, steeling myself for the inevitable confrontation that awaited us.

The air between us crackled with tension as Sebastian handed me the book, his expression impassive. With a sigh, I accepted it, my fingers grazing the worn edges of the pages as I flipped it open to the designated chapters.

"Read chapters 3 through 8," Sebastian instructed, his voice devoid of emotion.

I couldn't help but roll my eyes at his authoritative tone. "Yes, Professor Sallow," I replied sarcastically, my words dripping with sarcasm.

Sebastian's jaw tightened at my retort, but he said nothing, choosing instead to bury himself in his own work. The silence stretched between us, thick and suffocating, as we each delved into our respective readings.

As I pored over the pages, my mind churned with a jumble of conflicting emotions. Despite my frustration with Sebastian, I couldn't deny the value of his knowledge and expertise. Perhaps, buried beneath his cold exterior, there lay a sliver of genuine concern for my success in the tournament.

With a resigned sigh, I pushed aside my pride and focused on the task at hand, determined to make the most of our time together, however begrudgingly. As the minutes ticked by, the sound of turning pages filled the air, punctuated only by the occasional rustle of movement as we worked in uneasy silence.

"So," Sebastian started, "Why were you sitting alone at breakfast this morning?"

Sebastian's question caught me off guard, and I hesitated for a moment before responding, unsure of how much to divulge. But in the end, I decided to be honest.

"I was sitting alone because I... I had a bit of an argument with Grace last night," I admitted reluctantly, feeling a twinge of embarrassment.

Sebastian's eyebrows shot up in surprise, but then a smirk played at the corners of his lips. "Let me guess, she said something that rubbed you the wrong way?" he guessed, a hint of amusement in his voice.

I couldn't help but chuckle bitterly at his accurate assessment. "You could say that," I replied dryly.

Sebastian's laughter echoed through the empty classroom, his amusement clear as he struggled to contain his mirth. "What on earth did you do to make Grace so mad?" he asked between laughs.

I sighed, feeling a mixture of frustration and resentment bubbling up inside me. "I may have... overheard some of her thoughts," I admitted reluctantly, avoiding Sebastian's gaze.