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

🥀 - Chapter 59 -🌹

(Helena's perspective)

I sat with Sebastian in a small gazebo at a table for two. The place I'd chosen for lunch was a quaint little restaurant called The High Hope. Hidden high in the mountains, it offered a breathtaking view. The dark green tables were round, decorated with a delicate flower pattern, while white chairs added a soft contrast. Lily and magnolia flowers hung gracefully from the gazebo pillars, swaying gently in the mountain breeze.

Evander had once told me about this place. He'd hoped to visit it with me, but we never got the chance. So, I asked Sebastian to come with me instead. It wasn't far from Hogwarts, you could even spot the castle in the distance. After Ominis had apparated away with my father to Azkaban, Sebastian had been eager to leave, worried that Alaric's henchmen might soon come looking for him.

After saying goodbye to my family and my mother, I Apparated to the manor. Sebastian and I changed into comfortable clothes and made our way to The High Hope. We ordered drinks and sandwiches, and as we waited for lunch, we sat in silence, taking in the view.

Sebastian cleared his throat and finally spoke.
"So, um... Lena, there's something I need to talk to you about."
I glanced at him, offering a small smile. "Yes, Sebastian?"
"I, uh, I talked to Anne... about this. She thinks it's better to tell you than keep it to myself."

That got my attention. I sat up straighter. "What is it about?"

He leaned back, stuffing his hands into his pockets.
"It's... it's about me," he said with a shrug. "And I don't know if it's something you want to hear. It's not exactly... happy."

I leaned forward, smiling gently.
"You've been there for me these past weeks. Let me be here for you now, Seb."

The waiter arrived with our drinks. We nodded in thanks, took a sip, and I placed my glass down.
"You can tell me anything. You know that," I said, reaching out and taking his hand. "It's not like today could get much sadder anyway." I laughed softly.

He gave me a faint smile and squeezed my hand with his other.
"Promise me this stays between us. No one else can know... what I've been through."
"I promise," I said without hesitation.

He placed his hands on his lap and began to speak.
"My time in Azkaban... it was terrifying, Helena. I saw things, things that weren't real. Hallucinations, cursed illusions, shapeshifting objects. They made me watch while I was bound in chains. Once, I killed a guard... after they showed me Anne being murdered right in front of me. It was unbearable. I tried to fight it, but the more I resisted, the worse it got."

"I had nightmares every night, panic attacks all the time. It never stopped. But the worst thing they did, the thing that broke me, was using you against me. They'd make me watch you get hurt, tortured, even killed. Over and over. Every time, it felt real. Like I lost you again and again. That was the worst pain."

He paused, his voice quieter now.
"They used the Cruciatus Curse on me often. Or they sent me to the Dementors when I lashed out. Every time I saw someone else get hurt, I'd fight the guards. Eventually, they dragged me to the dungeons... tried to force me to become an Animagus. I don't even remember all of it. There are gaps in my memory. I don't know if I... if I killed people."

Our moment was interrupted when the waiter arrived with our sandwiches. We gave polite nods and accepted our cutlery, offering quiet thanks. The silence hung heavy until a flash of movement caught my eye. I turned and saw a blue butterfly fluttering toward us. I laughed softly, pointing it out.

Sebastian chuckled, his mood lifting slightly. We both watched the butterfly dance above us, then disappear toward the cliffs beyond. Our eyes met again.