Recollection

Eleven

Sebastian's POV

What was once a safe haven for practicing unsanctioned spells and reading books swiped from the restricted section, the Undercroft was now just an empty tomb of memories. Memories that one third of the trio couldn't even remember. It had been a place where Eliza, Ominis, and Sebastian had spent many late nights sharing secrets and deep feelings. Sebastian mourned the loss of the one place the three of them were able to express complete vulnerability without feeling judged. Now that the secrecy of the Undercroft was compromised, Sebastian felt as if he truly no longer had any safe place to hide within the castle walls where he could let his guard down.

Sebastian had once been one of the most popular students that walked the corridors at Hogwarts. However these days in the matter of social opinion he was a pariah. Everyone knew the true story of what had occurred in the Feldcroft catacombs but in the nature of teenagers, rumors spread rampant making Sebastian out to be some kind of lunatic drunk on the power of dark magic and thirsty for his next kill. Aside from Ominis, Oliver, Isaac, and Andrew, there were only a handful of students he had been acquainted with since his early days at Hogwarts who didn't seem to entertain these rumors and while he had the support of a few professors and staff members, not everyone seemed to be rooting for his success. Professors Shah and Ronan walked on eggshells around him during class. acting as if he was a loose cannon that was ready to fire at any given moment. He also couldn't shake the feeling that he was constantly being watched by those waiting for him to slip up.

Sebastian especially had the attention of Ambrose Black and his pack of wolves, his friends and other students who were desperate to kiss his ass in whatever way they could. Though it was Phineas Black who wore the mantle of 'Headmaster,' it was his nephew who practically ran the school. Ambrose had the power to get Sebastian locked back up. Part of Sebastian wondered why Ambrose hadn't already orchestrated a story to get him out of the picture. He knew of the history between Sebastian and Eliza and knew there wasn't a line Sebastian wouldn't cross to save her. Perhaps that was what Ambrose was waiting for. He knew it was only a matter of time before Sebastian slipped up on his own. From the moment he met Ambrose back in their first year, Sebastian quickly learned that Ambrose enjoyed playing mind games with others. He watched Ambrose manipulate their peers into doing his bidding countless times. In their early years at Hogwarts, it started off rather innocently as getting other students to do his homework but escalated as they got older into getting others to carry out acts of violence on those who crossed him. Ambrose never liked to get his hands dirty himself. Sebastian has to play cautiously and outsmart Ambrose if he is to have any chance at helping Eliza.

Ever since their run in with Ambrose in the Undercroft several days ago, Sebastian had spent every possible second he could in the library, practically all but sleeping there. He would only find it in himself to pull away to attend his classes and be back in his dorm by curfew, not because he wanted to but because he had to based on the terms of his probation. The library had always been one of Sebastian's favorite places in the castle. The endless supply of books had always given him something new to learn about. These days he found a new appreciation for the quietness of the library as well. In the halls he became a verbal punching bag for insults from other students but in the sanctity of the library however, people kept their distance from him. If anyone did decide to yell at him, they would quickly be kicked out by Madame Scribner for disturbing the peace. It seemed Scribner herself also had a newfound appreciation for Sebastian which honestly surprised him. Now that he was staying out of the restricted section and wasn't terrorizing the space after curfew, Scribner seemed like this newly matured behavior of his.

Sebastian buried himself in every book that so much as even mentioned the topic of Legilimency. He already had a basic understanding of the skill but now thirsted to know everything there is to know about the subject, hoping somewhere he would find anything that would help bring Eliza's memories back. Of course he was itching to get into the restricted section for the more advanced books on Legilimency as all of the ones available to students were falling short of giving him any ideas on how to reverse Eliza's situation. He would need to find another way in eventually. In addition to keeping his nose out of the restricted section, Sebastian also made sure to abide by curfew to keep Ominis at bay. You would think having your best friend as Head Boy of your house would come with advantages around the rules, however if anything Ominis prided himself in keeping Sebastian in line more than any other student.