SHADOWS OF SORROW [S.S]

34 - In the Shadow of Distance

[not proofread]

"I am honestly at a loss for words." Professor Weasley was slowly circling in front of her desk, deciding not to look at someone in particular in her classroom. The friend group that has returned from the Forbidden Forest about an hour ago was sat at individual tables, everyone wringing their hands or just blatantly looking at their lap, nibbling on their lips with a sort of guilt when they were not at fault to begin with. Headmaster Black was sat in Professor Weasley's Chair, chin propped up upon his intertwined hands on the heavy oak surface of the desk. His eyes rather distant as he watched the floor and small set of stairs on the other side of the room, leading to the door as if he just wanted to leave and go back to bed. It was still the middle of the night, Sebastian's best guess, probably about 2 or 3 in the morning.

"In light of these recent events, I think it is normal to feel perplex. At least I am but the same probably goes for you." Professor Weasley looked at each individual student, one after another, sensing the sheer number of emotions bottled up in this very room with just one glance. Nobody dared answer anything. It's not like they had anything to say anyways, so the friend group kept quiet. Amaya was taken off Sebastian's hands the moment they stepped through the gates, as if they all knew and were just waiting for the group to return to the castle. They haven't seen the witch since, stuck in this room with the judging attitude of Headmaster Black and the sheer disappointment Professor Weasley brought forth. "I think it is vital to know what happened. Beginning to end, the more detailed the better. Otherwise we can't decide what we are to do going forward."

Weasley finally stopped her constant pacing, even making Black look up from his fixated spot for a small second. "Considering the rather frequent talks I had with Miss Rosewood and Professor Fig, I am well aware of her situation. The problems she had when it came to controlling her magic.. It was only a matter of time until she'd burn out, everyone was aware of that. But this;" She looked around the room, as if she expected them to return her gaze. "This is entirely different. A self-appointed search party, wandering through the Forbidden Forest in the middle of the night and then handing over a completely and utterly traumatized, hurt and almost lifeless student!"

Every single word that left Professor Weasley's mouth had such a harsh ring to it, Sebastian could feel himself twitch at each one of them. Traumatized. Hurt. Almost lifeless.

"I am not pointing a finger at anyone since we do have to thank you for bringing Miss Rosewood back safely. Consider this gratitude when I say you won't be punished for everything you did wrong in the process and all the rules you broke upon doing so. There are experienced and wise witches and wizards at this very school for a reason. Not just to teach you lot how to wave around a wand and fly through hoops. They are also here to ensure your safety and the safety of wizardkind as a whole. Former Aurors! Former Unspeakables! And STILL you chose to wander of on your own. Did you not have any single voice of reason in your heads before playing heroes?"

"That is quite enough Weasley." The flinching faces of each student in the room suddenly changed to surprise as Headmaster Black stood up from the chair, shushing Professor Weasley with a simple glance. "This is not the time to have this conversation. Disciplinary actions will of course be discussed sooner or later but we can't lose focus now even if it's hard or let's say... a rather emotional topic for some." The Headmaster rounded the desk as he straightened his cuffs in thought. "The thing that is of importance now, is the health and well-being of Miss Rosewood. In order to help we need to understand what even lead to the state she is in."

Sebastian looked at Riva across the room with a sort of disbelief at the things that were coming out of Black's mouth. It was most definitely not like him to be here and most certainly not like him to even care about a student personally. It was always Professor Weasley who took action, never him. Riva just slightly shrugged, not daring to give any more indication of their shared confusion. "So please." Black reached out a hand as he gestured around the room, as if he was giving up the stage for the group. "Enlighten us. What happened in that forest?"