After The Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 6

Sebastian was shaking. Ominis gripped onto his arm, his fingers digging into Sebastian's skin through his robes. Hecat used her wand to toss the Boggart back into the cabinet, the door slamming behind it. "You are all dismissed." The class erupted in hushed whispers as they gathered their things to leave the classroom. Siren still stood in front of the now closed cabinet, staring at her own reflection as Hecat placed a hand on her shoulder.

"Sebastian, who was that." Ominis whispered harshly into his ear. Sebastian swallowed as he began to shake his head.

"I don't know." Ominis swung his other hand around, pushing Sebastian harshly against the wall.

"Don't lie to me Sebastian. Please."

"Ominis," Sebastian whispered. He had never seen his friend this frantic, but he also knew why. "You know who it was." Ominis released his grip, running his fingers through his hair, messing it up from the meticulous style he usually kept it in.

"Marvolo" Ominis spit the name harshly, as though it were a curse.

"Sallow, Gaunt, if you could please leave and close the door behind you." Professor Hecat was looking over at them now, Sebastian only just now realizing they were the only ones left except for Siren, who still stood motionless.

"Professor... is she okay?" Sebastian asked, concern pulling him closer to her. Just a couple steps forward and he could see it in the reflection. Her expression was emotionless, and he could just make out wisps of green swirling from her eyes.

"The spell seemed to have gotten to her the same time she did the counter. Don't worry, a spell from a Boggart is weak. It will not last long." Sebastian's jaw clenched again as he took in her dazed eyes.

"Can we-" he began before Professor Hecat cut him off.

"I need you two to leave."

"Professor, we can't just-"

"Leave..." Her voice had taken on a stern tone as the realization finally struck him. Professor Hecat had also known who he was. Marvolo had still been her student just three years prior, and his brother was currently standing behind him. Sebastian's jaw clenched as he took her in one more time before he grabbed Ominis's arm and pulled him from the room.

"Sebastian..." Ominis's voice lulled from behind him.

"Let's go." Ominis was breathing heavy, face frozen in a pained expression as though his thoughts had taken over. He had to get him to the Undercroft. Sebastian practically dragged him down the stairs and around the corner. It wasn't until he had tapped his wand to the entrance that he realized his own breaths were heavy and stuttered. The clock hands spun and the door swung open. They stumbled down the stairs and through the gate. Once they reached the bottom, Sebastian crumpled against the wall, the stone the only thing keeping him standing. He watched as Ominis began to pace back and forth, his hands expressing what must have been going on in his thoughts. For a moment, their breathing and Ominis's footsteps were the only things breaking the silence of the undercroft as they tried to collect themselves and their thoughts.

"Maybe-" Sebastian breathed," Maybe nothing happened. The Boggart doesn't show what happened, it just shows what you are afraid of. Maybe she is just afraid of him."

"Use your brain, Sebastian!" Ominis spit, his previous sadness switching over to a fiery anger. "She only learned of her magic THIS year. Before that, she was practically a muggle." Ominis paused before his tone once again reflected the sadness ripping at the both of them "You know what my family does to muggles..."

Sebastian squeezed his eyes shut, rubbing his hands over his face as he tried to wipe away the thoughts, the imagery that had begun to force itself into his mind.