A Cruel Fate of Endless Devotion

Chapter nineteen: Regret

"I can't do this. I can't hurt her" Sebastian thought as Melody took a few steps back, bracing herself for the spell he was about to cast.

As she looked at him with tears welling up in her eyes, he closed his eyes, unable to look at her. He never wanted to cause anyone the pain he was about to inflict.

As he squeezed his eyes shut he thought about Anne. While she lay dying, the goblins that cursed her raided, pilfered, and murdered more innocents. He thought about how cowardly Uncle was and that refused to lift a finger to help find a cure. He was surrounded by people who had turned their backs on him. As anger arose in him, his fingers curled around his wand. It was then that he thought of his parents. How the Ministry of Magic barely lifted their finger to investigate their deaths. Their murderers remained unknown after they were murdered in cold blood. Before he realized what he was doing, the curse left his lips. From his wand flew red sparks.

As Melody's horrifying screams echoed throughout the room, his heart dropped into his stomach. As he watched her writhe around in pain, his eyes filled with tears. Tears flowed down her face.

"You've done enough" Ominis's ice cold voice echoed over and over again.

"You've done enough."

Sebastian gasped loudly as he sprung up from his bed. His heart was beating erratically, his hands shaking as he stood up. The nightmare had been vivid and haunting, replaying the moment he had cast the Unforgivable Curse on Melody. The pain in her eyes, the anguish in her voice, haunted him even in his waking hours. Sebastian's hands trembled not just from fear, but from the guilt that consumed him, as he realized the true impact of his actions.

"I'm so sorry, Melody," he whispered to himself as he cried into his hands. "I'm so sorry"

**********

Sebastian hesitated before walking into the hospital wing. He knew Ominis was furious with him. His own best friend hadn't spoken since they left the scriptorium. He couldn't imagine how angry Melody was towards him. While he stayed to study what Salazar Slytherin left behind in his scriptorium, Ominis took Melody down to the undercroft to rest. By the time Sebatian got there, they were gone. His study desk was left with a note saying he had taken her to the hospital wing.

"This is a bad idea. I should go. Maybe if I wait outside the Hufflepuff common room I can see her then" Sebastian thought as he stood outside the hospital wing.

"What if she never wants to see me again? How would I explain that to Anne? She would hate me too. Oh merlin, what have I done?"

"Mister Sallow, are you lurking in the shadows?" Nurse Blainey laughed as she caught a glimpse of his uniform while grabbing some supplies from the closet. "Another Quidditch injury?"

"Umm no. I was umm... I was looking for Miss Sterling" he said as he gathered his courage to face her.

"Oh that poor girl. Your friend Mister Gaunt said she was walking back from lower Hogsfield when some of Rookwood's lot came out and attacked her. She was hit with the torture curse. She's lucky not to have been hit by worse"

"Props to Ominis for coming up with a cover story"

"She's in bed number four" the nurse said before ushering to finish her morning tasks.

Sebastian took a deep breath and decided to gather his thoughts before approaching Melody. He knew he needed to apologize sincerely and explain the circumstances that led to his actions. Additionally, he planned to ask for her forgiveness and offer to make it up to her in any way she deemed fit.