🥀 Roses and Novels | Hogwarts Legacy Fanfic | Sebastian, Ominis and Evander

🥀 - chapter 44 -🌹

(Helena perspective)

My hand brushed against Sebastian's as I rested my head on his shoulder. He quickly pulled his hand away and shifted his attention elsewhere. Without saying anything, he stepped out of our embrace, gave me a small smile, and disappeared into the bedroom across from mine, closing the door behind him.

Not long after, Ominis came up the stairs.
My robe was still loose from the embrace with Sebastian, and I quickly tightened the cord and sat on the edge of my bed.

He stepped inside my room and gave me a nod.
"I've sent two of my father's contacts to investigate. They'll see what they can find out, Helena."

I let out a long breath and nodded.
"Thank you, Ominis."

He took my hand and gently pulled me off the bed, standing close. His eyes searched mine for something deeper.
"Are you okay?"

"Yes," I whispered.

"Did he come see you?" he asked, his tone serious.

Of course he knew. He recognized Sebastian's scent lingering on me. He noticed everything.

I nodded slightly and leaned into a hug. Ominis wrapped his arms around me, resting his forehead against mine before pressing a gentle kiss there.

"He's back," I said quietly.

Moments later, the loud dinner bell rang from the kitchen. I sat at the long dining table between Ominis and Sebastian. Ominis sat at the head of the table, I was to his left, Sebastian to his right.

My plate was full of warm, delicious food, and I was starving. After days of being imprisoned in the dungeon, I hadn't had a proper meal, and my body craved nourishment.

The silence was deafening. Only the clink of cutlery, the sounds of chewing, and the occasional scrape of a knife echoed through the room. My heart was pounding so hard I feared they might hear it. I kept my gaze on my plate, hoping the food would disappear faster than I could taste it.

Every few bites, I glanced sideways to catch Ominis staring, at me, at his plate, at Sebastian. He hadn't touched his food yet.

I ate quickly, not just because I was hungry but because I needed to escape the awkwardness. Everything felt off... not like it used to be.

Lifting my wine glass for a sip, I caught Sebastian's gaze across the table. He was staring at me with wide eyes. I quickly set the glass down and focused on my fork. Ominis finally picked up his utensils and began eating.

Sebastian chewed a bite, then washed it down with a big gulp of wine.
He cleared his throat.
"Yeah... this isn't awkward at all."

I coughed, nearly choking on my drink, then laughed.
That sarcasm, it was so Sebastian.

"I was wondering how long it would take you to say something," Ominis replied flatly.

I looked over at Sebastian again. He leaned back in his chair, wine glass in hand, a small smile on his face as he talked to Ominis. I found myself staring, his hands, his arms, how the veins popped through his skin. On his left ring finger, he still wore the ring I had given him. His black blouse was unbuttoned a few notches from the top, and his jawline looked more defined in the light. His freckles were more visible now, and those brown eyes... I had once kissed those lips.

I stared too long. He noticed.

My face flushed red, and I sank into my seat. He grinned at me, eyes flicking from mine to my lips, then casually took another sip of wine. He turned back to his conversation with Ominis, whose plate was nearly clean now.

I wished I could crawl under the table.

I quickly tossed the napkin from my lap onto the plate and stood up. The movement startled both of them.

"I have to go!" I said abruptly and rushed out of the dining room and into the garden.

I sat down at the small table in the rosarium and pulled out ink, a feather quill, and parchment from the cabinet. I needed to write Anne. Immediately.

Letter:

Hello lovely sweet Anne,
H.E.L.P.
Sebastian is here in the manor...
and I'm dying from these nerves.
Come save me!

—Love, Helena

I waved my wand, and the note vanished into the air. Inside the cabinet, I kept my reading book and a small lamp. The rosarium was always my escape. The book I was working through now was about magical creatures from another dimension.

Ten minutes later, a new letter appeared on the table.

Letter:

Hi there, nervous beautiful Helena,
O.M.W.
You got this, girl! I believe in you.
Listen to your heart: if it feels right, do it.
If it scares you... don't.
See you tomorrow x

—Love, Anne

I smiled. Tomorrow was my birthday, and we had plans to go to Hogsmeade to celebrate with the girls. Now that I was back at the manor, I was sure Ominis had something in mind as well.

Half my book was already finished when I looked up at the clock on the garden wall, 11:30. Time for bed.

The moon was full and bright white, large and close to the earth. A dark cloud drifted slowly across its glow, and I heard rustling in the bushes behind me. I turned quickly.

A white wolf stepped from the shadows.

"Sebastian..." I said softly.

He walked over and sat beside me on the ground, his gaze fixed on the moon. Together, we watched the stars and the sky. He let out a quiet howl.

I reached out and stroked his big, soft head. He licked my hand in return. I knelt beside him and wrapped my arms around his furry body. He pressed into me with warmth and comfort before darting off into the woods.

🙟•◦ 🎕 ◦•🙝

I couldn't sleep.

Too many thoughts ran through my mind,the past few days had been overwhelming. My life felt like a novel packed with drama, mystery, and pain. I sat on the window sill, gazing at the stars and the moon. The universe had always given me peace.

Tears slipped down my cheeks.

These last two years had been difficult. I had endured so much, seen things I wouldn't wish on anyone. But in the darkness, I had also found moments of beauty.

Reaching under the windowsill, I pulled out a small black journal hidden behind the stove. With ink and quill in hand, I wrote down my thoughts. This was already the fourth book I'd filled since my first day at Hogwarts.

Tomorrow would be my birthday. A new chapter. A new age.

All my life, I had lied about my age, without knowing. Now that I had met my real parents, I knew the truth. I had always believed I was two years younger. But ever since I saw my birth certificate in my mother's hands, I knew.

Tomorrow, I would turn twenty.

Yet, I didn't feel twenty. I still felt like a girl, still discovering, still learning, still growing.
Just now taking her first steps into the world.