Shadow of the Key | Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 2: Late Night Conversations

Amelia's POV

Since their luggage was already brought to their respective dorm rooms, the four of them sat in the common room in front of the warmth of the fireplace, the only thing illuminating the dark space as it was already nightfall.

Amelia and Anne sat next to each other on the couch going through their books for their new classes while Ominis sat in the armchair next to them, eyes closed and head leaned back as if he was simply just resting. Sebastian was sitting on the floor between Amelia and Anne, back resting against the foot of the couch as he read his copy of Pride and Prejudice that Anne had gifted him for his birthday, before the school year began.

After a while, Anne let out a faint yawn and began putting her books back into her bag, "I didn't get much sleep on the train, I'm gonna head off to bed. Coming with, Aime?"

She lifted her face away from her DADA textbook and lightly shook her head, "I actually did get some sleep on the train so I'll hang out here for a bit longer. I'll be in there in a bit."

Ominis slowly opens his eyes and blinks a few times before he's steadily rising to his feet, "I think I'm going to head off as well. Unfortunately, my Transfiguration class is pretty early in the morning."

"No worries Omi," Amelia says, "I'll meet you at breakfast in the morning. If I wake up on time."

He gives a small nod with a soft smile and tilts his head down towards Sebastian, "Don't let this one stay out too late."

Sebastian doesn't even lift his head up from his book, too captivated by the texts within his pages.

"I'll make sure he heads back when I do," she reassures.

Anne raises from the couch, hand clutching her bag and begins walking towards her dorm with Ominis in tow, both of them saying their goodnights and heading off in opposite directions.

"Didn't realize you were my babysitter now."

Amelia looks down at Sebastian who was staring right up at her, his black reading glasses pressed to the bridge of his nose.

"I've technically been your babysitter since fifth year, do you need a reminder?" She remarks.

Sebastian's eyebrows furrow and looks as if he was trying to pierce daggers into her very soul, "No thank you."

"You know I'm joking," he turns his head back to his book then, "kinda."

He whips his head back towards her, "What's that suppose to mean?"

She closes her book and slides down onto the floor next to him, their shoulders barely brushing each other, "You don't remember the several times we were out past curfew fighting goblins and dark wizards? Or sneaking into the restricted section at midnight? Or how about sixth year when I came with you at two in the morning to sneak into Professor Sharp's office to steal Polyjuice Potion so you could sneak into Madam Scribner's personal chambers-"

"I got it, I got it." Sebastian chuckles, "For the record, I only went in her chambers that one time because she took the key to the restricted section with her. And she was out that night."

"Still a bit strange," she raises an eyebrow.

"Trust me, I'd rather not do that again. Last thing I need is a month-long detention scrubbing the bloody kitchens for snooping through her personal space."

"Actually going to try to stay out of detention this year?"

"I never said that."

Amelia laughs, "Of course. Well, your 'babysitter' is always here if you so desire to go on another one of your late night adventures. Though if I get detention because of you, I'm telling the entire school you have boils. I do know the spell for it."