After The Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 4

"Professor Eleazar Fig"

Siren had just made out the sounds of students rushing towards the great hall as Fig's name bounced off the walls. It has been nearly an hour since she had woken up, and the nurse had already done a once over on her. Siren had hurriedly pulled herself out of the rickety bed and the nurse had tried to push her back down, but Siren insisted she was fine.

"I dare say he was a beloved professor to many of you, certainly a long standing colleague to his peers. A famed adventurer and renowned seeker of knowledge, he built a reputation - charging into the unknown - brazenly disregarding both discretion and safety. Providing, perhaps, a rather unfortunate lesson for us all."

Much to Siren's contempt, she had allowed the nurse to perform another once over before the nurse allowed her to follow after her fellow students.

"His devotion to adventure was rivaled only by his dedication to Hogwarts - and, of course, to his wife. Mari - Miri-am, whom we lost much too soon as well."

Siren had crept into the room, all other students had already been seated as Professor Black began his speech. Siren took a seat at the very back of the Hufflepuff table, a goblet magically appearing in front of her. Some of the Hufflepuff students felt the shift of the bench, looked back at her, and smiled brightly before turning back to the Headmaster.

Professor Black stuttered for a few moments before professor Weasley, who had also noticed Siren's presence, took the stand.

"Professor Fig represented the best of all of us. He could be deviously clever. Possessed a brilliantly inquisitive mind. And - was the most loyal of friends. But perhaps it was his remarkable courage for which we will all be forever indebted to him. If not for Professor Fig - Well, I can say with confidence that if not for him, many of us, let alone Hogwarts, would not be here today." Siren's thoughts traveled to the first time she had seen him, standing up in the courtroom. Willing to take in this broken girl, teach her to become whole and great. "Those that knew him best," Professor Weasley's eyes landed on Siren, " will agree that we must now honor him as only Hogwarts can - by wisely, resourcefully, justly, and bravely facing all that lies ahead."

"To Professor Fig!" Black bellowed, raising his goblet to the air. The other teachers and students all followed suit, one by one, standing, and raising their goblets to the enchanted ceiling of the great hall.

Siren drank from her goblet as tears ran down her cheeks. Warm arms wrapped around her and she immediately recognized the sweet floral scent of Poppy. She smelled of honeysuckle in the summertime and that alone brought so much comfort. Poppy sat on the bench next to her and Siren twisted to pull her into a full hug. Before long, more and more arms made their way around her and Poppy. Pretty soon, her sobs turned into laughter at the absurdity of it all. But she rested in it, relishing in all the love and comfort she could handle. Eventually all the bodies that surrounded her began to dissipate. The student's all began to leave the great hall to retire to their common rooms for the night. She had begun to follow them when chocolate brown eyes trapped her from across the room.

"Are you coming?" Poppy asked, noticing her hesitation."

"Yeah," Siren nodded, "go on ahead, I'll be there in a minute." Poppy followed her gaze. A blush of understanding appeared on her face as she left through the large door.

A few more students made their way out of the great hall until it was just her and Sebastian. He started to make his way over to her, but Siren looked over to the warm fire, nodding towards it. He seemed to understand immediately and waited for her to catch up with him before they made their way to the flames' warmth.

"Can't believe we lost fig, I didn't know him as well as you did, but I know he was a good man." Sebastian spoke up first, his eyes shifting between the flames and Siren's eyes. "Glad Weasley spoke for him. She honored him well. Fig will be well remembered." There was a beat of silence and Siren watched him as he stared into the flames. "I wish the same could have been done for my uncle. I know I really messed up, but... I wonder if there is a chance Anne would meet me."