Under Your Scars || Sebastian Sallow x MC

Chapter 3 - The Professor

Juliette POV

Earlier that day...

Relief flooded over me when I returned to the map chamber for the first time in nearly 6 years. The portraits were still intact, the Keepers sound asleep. 

The first to wake at my approach was Professor Bakar.

"Well look who it is, Miss Fontaine. How long has it been?"

I indulged in his small talk as the other keepers awoke. Rackham did not look nearly as delighted to see me and must have sensed the tension in my demeanor. He interrupted my niceties, 

"I have a feeling this is not a joyous reunion, Miss Fontaine."

"I cannot say, Professor."

"Hmm. What has brought you back to Hogwarts?" 

"Well, I've been having these dreams. I'm at Hogwarts. There are bodies everywhere, students and professors slain. I go to the caverns and there is an explosion of ancient magic... and more death. So many students dead and I couldn't save any of them!" I could feel my hands shaking. Describing the dreams was painful. They were as vivid as if I had lived them, and I'd been reliving them every night for weeks. 

There was also Sebastian. I had thought that his inclusion in my dream was just coincidence, that my past, present and future had overlapped in my subconscious. Until today. I decided to keep this small detail to myself, for now. 

"It is not wise to dwell on dreams." Professor Fitzgerald spoke gently, as if to comfort me. "What is it about these dreams that prompted your return?"

"I did not want to dwell on them, but I can feel it when I'm awake. It's hard to explain, like Hogwarts has the answer to a question that hasn't been asked yet." 

I explained how I have been using ancient magic traces in my work, and how sometimes I can feel the traces pulling me from countries or continents away. 

"This pull toward Hogwarts has been getting stronger for the last 2 years. I couldn't ignore it any longer. I came to investigate and found traces all over the castle. I've been following them since I arrived this morning but they never lead to anything. Well, they lead into several common rooms, the library, the boathouse, the clock tower. But they're only wisps of magic that eventually evaporate into nothing." 

I felt myself rambling again, losing myself. I took a breath and asked the question I came here to ask, "You don't suppose... there's remnants from the repository still floating about?"

The Keepers pondered this for a moment.

"It's possible. Perhaps it is something new," Professor Rackham posited.

"Do you know of any artefacts that have been brought into the castle?" Professor Rookwood asked.

"I considered that, too. I've asked the Headmistress and she said they've only acquired a few muggle artefacts, a few collections of books, nothing particularly ancient. I do plan to keep searching in case there is something we've overlooked." 

Professor Rackham looked skeptical, as if he knew that there was more I was not telling them. I knew I had to tell them, but I was not ready to admit that I had failed as a keeper. My secret was exposed. He continued, 

"Hm. Niamh is right, dreams are not always accurate predictors of the future. Yes, it would be wise to remain vigilant. But it would not be wise to anticipate catastrophe. Is there anything else... unusual?"

There it was. I hated how I always felt as if everyone can see right through me.

"Yes... My magic is... acting up. It started as these sparks in my fingertips but now my eyes are glowing and sometimes it shoots out of me without my wand. It seems to happen when emotions are high, but sometimes it happens at random. I can usually control it but... others have seen it and... "