Shadow of the Key | Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 17: Occlumency

Author's Note: This is a longer chapter so make sure to take breaks if needed!

Amelia's POV

Amelia had practically spent the entire day in the library after her conversation with Niamh Fitzgerald that she didn't even meet with everyone in the Undercroft that night.

She knew her friends would panic after her confrontation with Harlow, so she had sent an owl out to Valencia saying she'd be in the library studying and that she'd relay to the group what she had learned the next day.

She was determined to find this Benjamin Burke person.

With the confirmation that the locket actually exists and that she has a chance to put her magic someplace else without killing herself over it, especially something small and easy to conceal, her mind was on nothing else except discovering the location and secrets of this key.

But she had scavaged every book in that damn library and came up with nothing. Even rechecking other books that she had looked at until Madam Scribner was threatening to give her detention if she didn't get out and head back to the dormitories.

Where could that book be? Why is a family directory so hard to find?

But she still had the information she needed for now. The locket exists. It can contain her magic. It can possibly take it without taking her own life. Some Benjamin Burke guy had done research on the locket.

She was still on the edge about Harlow. He's been quiet for a while now and that scares her.

She's not even sure what would happen if she does get that locket and puts her magic inside of it. Would he still come after her? If he learned she no longer possessed that magic, would he kill her?

Well. She'd just have to kill him first.

All of these thoughts ran through her as she practically sprinted into the Great Hall for breakfast. She wasn't going to tell them there, too many eyes and ears everywhere, especially Clive.

Fuck Clive.

Her friends didn't even notice her until she basically threw her bag on the ground and plopped violently next to Sebastian with heavy panting, nearly crashing into him. Sebastian gives a surprised expression and a mumbled 'woah' as he pushes her back upright.

"Merlin," Sebastian chuckles, "Did you run laps around the school or something?"

"Feels like it," she pants, holding her abdomen to fight the cramp.

"How are you this out of shape, Amie?" Anne asks with an amused eyebrow raise, "Aren't you the Hero of Hogwarts or something?"

"I swear to Merlin Anne," she groans at the name call.

"Why did you sprint here? You know there's Floo flames right?" Ominis asks while taking a bite of bacon.

"I was thinking about stuff," Amelia grabs a muffin and bites into it.

"About?" Sebastian asked with a curious expression.

"Secret stuff."

"You found out something?"

"I did," she takes another bite and continues with her mouth stuffed, "but I'm not discussing it here."

"Looks like we'll all have to go under later," Ominis implies.

"That's the plan-"

"Attention, students!" Headmaster Black's voice bellows.

Everyone immediately quiets down and turns their heads to the pathetic excuse of a Headmaster with curious faces towards the front podium.