Hogwarts Champion // Triwizard Tournament

XVII

CONFRONTING THE PAST

The next morning, I woke up to the sound of Grace and Nerida packing their bags to go home for the break. The familiar sounds of zippers and rustling fabric filled the dormitory, pulling me from the depths of sleep. I groaned softly, feeling the warmth of my blankets cocooning me, wishing for just a few more minutes of blissful slumber.

However, the reality of the day ahead quickly caught up with me. With a reluctant sigh, I pushed the covers aside and sat up in bed, rubbing the sleep from my eyes. The room felt emptier somehow, knowing that my friends would soon be leaving for the holidays.

Grace turned to me with a sympathetic smile. "Sorry to wake you, Sera. Wish you were coming with us."

I offered a half-hearted smile in return, feeling a pang of loneliness as I watched them gather their belongings. "Me too," I murmured, my voice tinged with wistfulness.

Nerida glanced over from where she was folding her clothes. "You'll be alright, Sera. Besides, you've got Sebastian to keep you company, right?"

I hesitated, unsure of how to respond. The thought of spending the holidays alone with Sebastian was both daunting and strangely comforting. With a shrug, I managed a weak smile. "Yeah, I guess so."

As Grace and Nerida bid me farewell and left the dormitory, I couldn't help but feel a sense of unease settling over me. The prospect of spending the break without the familiar presence of my friends weighed heavily on my mind, leaving me with a sense of uncertainty about the days to come.

Upon entering the common room, I discovered Sebastian engrossed in a book, seemingly unaware of my presence. I stood there for a moment, a rush of emotions and thoughts swirling within me. Eventually, I couldn't resist the urge to join him. I settled down beside him and asked, "What are you reading?"

Sebastian finally tore his attention away from the book and turned toward me. His eyes met mine, and a faint smile played at the corners of his lips. "I'm going through books on previous tournaments, trying to see if I can discern any patterns that might give us a clue about the next challenge."

"Any luck so far?" I inquired as I peered at the book.

Sebastian shook his head with a faint chuckle. "No, but look at this."

He scooted closer to me on the couch, turning the book to show me some of the perilous trials from past tournaments. My eyes widened as I read about the challenges described in the pages.

"Those are..." I began but couldn't find the words.

"Terrifying," Sebastian finished for me. "I can only hope you don't have to go through any of those."

I teased him, "Scared I can't handle it?"

Sebastian quickly replied, "No, it's not that. It's you representing Hogwarts, Slytherin, for that matter. I just want to see us win."

"Us?" I asked with curiosity.

His gaze met mine, and he clarified, "You. I want you to win."

He looked away momentarily and back to the book. The silence between us lingered until the rumbling of my stomach broke it. Sebastian glanced down at my stomach and then back up at me.

"Sounds like you need some nourishment," he playfully remarked.

Closing the book, he placed it on the table and extended his hand towards me. I took it, and he helped me to my feet.

"Unfortunately, the Great Hall doesn't fill with food like it normally does when everyone is here. Hogsmeade is the only place to get food, unless you're a skilled cook," he said with a playful smirk.