Shadows of the Past

Rebuilding Bridges

The following morning greeted me with a familiar but diminished ache, a testament to the healing that had begun. Rising from bed, I dressed with a sense of lightness, a smile naturally gracing my lips for the first time in what felt like ages.

Over the past year, my interactions with Anne and Ominis had become sparse, like fragments of a fading memory. Leaving Sebastian behind meant leaving them too. The rift between us felt palpable, yet understandable. Anne, being Sebastian's sister, naturally gravitated towards loyalty to her kin, while Ominis, burdened by his perception of my influence on Sebastian's choices, maintained a cautious distance.

With Sebastian reentering my life, the necessity of repairing the fractures between Anne, Ominis, and myself became undeniable. I had to set aside my pride and extend the olive branch of apology.

For the first time in what felt like an eternity, I found myself not reaching for the firewhisky to numb the ache within. Hastily, I dressed and made my way downstairs. The hour was still early, the sun barely cresting the horizon, yet I knew Sebastian would already be awake, awaiting my presence in the common room.

As I descended the staircase, Sebastian's warm smile welcomed me into the common room. "Good morning, darling," he smiled, his eyes alight with affection as he leaned in to plant a gentle kiss on my cheek.

"Did you sleep well?" he inquired, his voice soft and caring, his concern evident in the gentle furrow of his brow.

"It was better than usual," I responded, a faint smile playing on my lips.

As questions clamoured for attention in my mind, I made a conscious choice to set them aside, embracing the happiness of the moment.

"If we're going to sort things out, I need to talk to Anne and Ominis. I can't have you without them," I explained, voicing my concerns.

"I agree," Sebastian nodded, his expression serious. "You're not going to have any problems with Anne. I think she always secretly hoped we would work things out," he reassured me, a hint of optimism in his voice. "But Ominis tends to hold on to things," he added, his tone tinged with caution.

"I think I can handle him," I said with weary optimism, steeling myself for the conversation ahead. "The undercroft?" I suggested, knowing it offered the privacy we needed. "It's probably the most private place we could talk."

"Yeah, good idea. I'll send an owl. I don't know where they are right now," Sebastian agreed, his voice tinged with uncertainty. "They must be off somewhere together again," he added, a hint of discomfort flickering across his features.

"Anne and Ominis?" I asked, surprised. "Are they together?"

"They won't admit it, but I think so," Sebastian confessed.

"Well, let's head to the undercroft before they do. I wouldn't mind some alone time with you beforehand," I suggested with a playful smile, eager for a moment of intimacy before facing the inevitable conversation.

As we strolled towards the undercroft, our hands intertwined, I found myself unfazed by the curious glances and murmurs of passing students. With Sebastian beside me, their opinions mattered little.

The sound of our footsteps reverberated through the grand halls, stirring memories of our fifth year, when the castle had been our playground.

"Do you remember running from Peeves down this hall in fifth year?" I reminisced, a hint of laughter tugging at my voice.

"How could I forget?" Sebastian chuckled, his laughter echoing mine. "You fell straight on your face right after we turned that corner. I swear, I couldn't catch my breath from laughing so hard," he recounted, a fresh wave of amusement washing over him.