The Hope beneath the Dark - Sebastian Sallow

40. Seeking comfort

Sebastian's POV

"Sallow!" A male voice shouted out my name as I was about to enter the Slytherin common room.

I turned towards the voice, another Slytherin now standing right in front of me after he jogged to me.

"Talking to me?" I answered, half-annoyed.

"Come on man... Have you seen Maude in the last hour?" Freddie Abbott questioned me.

"My girlfriend was having a class with you. Wasn't she?" I sighed, my hands on my hips.

"Well yes, but she... Left early." He informed me with a hesitant grin. "I'd say, more like stormed off the classroom."

"What? She wouldn't just leave... Did something happened?" I questioned him.

"I wouldn't know for sure... But the new teacher came in, and she just suddenly seemed furious. She got out and ran out." Freddie explained.

"I haven't seen her, but she's probably gonna be in the Great Hall for lunch." I said, already turning in the direction of the Grand Staircase.

"I'll come with you." The boy followed me.

The Staircase was already crowded with students heading for their mid-day meal. We made it next to the Houses Hourglasses, where I quickly scanned around in case Maude would be passing by.

"Didn't the professor went after her, or sent someone to?" I asked as we went through the first set of doors.

"No, she didn't make any comment either. She just went on with the lesson like nothing. It was odd to be honest." Freddie confirmed.

Freddie and I went on each side of the Slytherin table, looking for Maude, but once we checked, we only found our usual crowd.

"Have you seen Maude?" I asked Ominis and my sister.

"No, but we just got here. She should be here shortly." Anne replied.

Freddie turned to Imelda, Nerida and another Slytherin boy, putting a term to the longest social exchange we had in a while.

I sat down on the bench, a bit worried knowing that something clearly bothered Maude. She wouldn't just leave during a lesson. Even last year when she was out fighting poachers or on a quest, she would simply not show up in the first place, when she had to go during daytime.

"Did something happened? You looked worried." Anne remarked.

"Maude left mid-class, and Freddie said she was furious." I said, while my head was still turned to watch every student making it inside the room.

"Odd." Ominis thought out loud. "I take it she didn't like the new Muggle studies teacher."

"Have any of you seen her yet?" I asked, still focused on my surroundings.

"No. I have that class, but only on Thursday morning." Anne claimed.

I heard Ominis and Anne chatting in the background, but their voices were getting more unclear as a loud ringing noise seemed to be taking over in my head while my eyes followed a particular silhouette making it's entrance in the Great Hall.