After The Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 5

Siren had slept like the dead that night, and she couldn't have been more thankful. With the start of the O.W.L.s, she knew she needed to be at her best. She had started the day remembering all of the flowers she had left in the hospital wing and made it her mission to get them transferred to her room first thing.

"Where are you off to so fast?" Poppy asked as she pulled a blueberry muffin off of one of the trays around the common room.

"My flowers in the hospital wing." Siren explained as she laced up her second boot. "I remembered I had completely left them all there, hopefully nurse Blainey didn't throw them all away." Poppy laughed.

"Oh don't worry, she can sometimes be a bit prickly, but she is kind. I doubt she would do anything like that. Do you need any help?" Siren thought for a moment.

"Honestly, I would love some help. I can't remember how many vases there were, but it would probably take about three to four trips by myself, and it is NOT a short walk."

"We can help!" a voice piped up from across the room. Siren smiled as Adelaide and Evie made their way over to her. "We saw the waves of people showing up with flowers, helping you transport them is the least we could do." Adelaide smiled.

"Oh count me in!" Lenora called as she pulled on her robe and ran up to them.

"Oh why not." Sacharissa drawled as she threw away the core of the apple she had been eating.

"I suppose I could help as well." Charlotte sighed, putting down a book she had been reading. Siren couldn't help but smile brightly at the group of girls she had just rangled up to help her.

"Well, I certainly appreciate all of the help. Let's get going so we can get started on our OWL studies. I am sure you all are stressing just as much as I am." There was some collective banter as they made their way out of the common room, up the stairs, across the halls and to the hospital wing. Siren was once again thankful for the group she had acquired. After seeing all the flowers again in person, she couldn't imagine trying to bring all of that back by herself.

"Oh Ms. Song!" Nurse Blainey greeted her, her face actually seeming to light up at the sight of her. "How are you fairing, feeling better?" Siren nodded.

"Much thank you. I definitely feel so much more well rested after last night."

"Good to hear! If you need anything, please do not hesitate to come to me." Siren nodded her thanks as the students made their way over to the flowers and began to pickup the canisters one by one. Siren quickly grabbed the copper vase as well as the potion bottle from Garreth. She was pleased to see the flowers had not died... or come to life. During the walk back to the common room, she couldn't help but giggle at the parade of flowers that circled down the grand staircase.

ᑐ🝐 ⠁⭒*.✩.*⭒⠁･｡ﾟ . *:｡･:*:･ﾟ

Sebastian had been on his way upstairs to head to the Great Hall when he too saw the parade of flowers making their way down the stairs of the Grand Staircase. He noticed Siren trailing the end with the large copper vase he had chosen to put the flowers in. He quietly cursed himself for not thinking about the size of it when using it for the flowers. He waited until she was passing him on the landing before he jumped in line behind her.

"Hey Song!" he called, but before she had a chance to see what was happening, his hands had swung around and grabbed the copper vase from her arm, leaving her with just a little potion bottle stuffed full of orange flowers. "I'll take that."

Siren spun around to face him, her bright blue eyes looking up at him in shock before softening.

"Oh please Seb, I can carry it." Twice now. Twice she has called him that, and both times, it had made something in his chest flicker.