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

🥀 - chapter 50 -🌹

(Helena perspective)

The afternoon sun faded slowly over the Rosarium as I sat with Sebastian's gift in my lap, reading his letter for what felt like the hundredth time. I had watched the first memory from the vial three times already, each time hoping I'd understand something more. And I did. Bit by bit, it started making sense.

I felt foolish for not seeing it earlier. It had always been there, clear as day. But I never let myself believe it. I didn't think he loved me, for me.

I whispered his words to myself again and again.

"I've missed you."
"Delicious."
"Do that again if you dare."
"Don't push me to my limits, Fig."
"You're my friend."
"It's okay, sunflower. I'll always be here."
"You know I love you... my kindred spirit."
"You better change your attitude, Fig."
"Don't touch me."
"Sunflower, you better stay away from me today."
"I can't handle myself."
"Seeing you in this... it's just very hard for me."
"I want to do this right. You. Us."

It was all right there. Every line, every look. Why couldn't he just say it out loud? Why couldn't he just tell me?

🙟•◦ 🎕 ◦•🙝

(Ominis' perspective)

Dinner was quiet. Painfully quiet.

I sat at the long dining table with Sebastian on one side and Helena next to me. No one said a word. Everyone else had gone home to be with their families. I'd sent the staff off myself, tonight was for us. I'd cooked a full pot of spaghetti, one of her favorites.

Helena didn't lift her gaze from her plate once. Her eyes were red, dull, and tired. She'd been crying, clearly. No more Sallow shirt, thank Merlin. Now she wore a soft brown suede top with a long white skirt, her hair braided and pinned neatly up.

Sebastian looked composed. A grey sweater hugged his broad shoulders, his black trousers neat. His beard was gone, freshly shaved. He spun his fork silently with every bite.

There was tension in the air. Something had happened while I was gone.

"Did I miss something important today?" I asked, breaking the silence.

Neither of them answered. They just kept eating.

I took a slow sip of wine. "Good to know you two are back to being friends again. The secrets are back, I see."

Helena nearly choked. Sebastian coughed and cleared his throat.

They glanced at each other, blank-faced, then both looked at me.

Helena spoke up without meeting my gaze. "We don't have any secrets."

"Yeah, right..." I muttered with a chuckle.

After dinner, I summoned the thestrals, Athena and Olivia. Helena climbed up behind me on Athena, her arms wrapped lightly around my waist, her head resting against my back. Sebastian rode solo on Olivia, flying beside us, his expression unreadable as the wind whipped around us.

I glanced sideways. His eyes flicked toward us like we were the enemy.

He pulled ahead, rising higher into the night.

It was a long flight, about thirty minutes, before we landed between towering mountains and thick pine trees. I conjured some meat for the thestrals and whispered for them to stay nearby.

🙟•◦ 🎕 ◦•🙝

(Helena's perspective)

I stepped off Athena and watched as Sebastian dismounted Olivia and gave her a gentle pat on the nose. The whole ride, I'd watched him from a distance. My best friend...