After The Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 8

Siren felt hot tears start to escape as she exited the Undercroft through the clock. Head down and eager to leave, she bumped right into a chest.

"Oof!" a voice grunted and Siren gasped.

"Oh Ominis, I'm so sorry." Siren apologised, wiping viciously at the tears even though Ominis couldn't see then.

"Siren, are you alright? You sound like you're crying." Of course he could tell.

"C'mon." He said ushering her over to the doors that led to the transfiguration courtyard. The cool air washed over her, clearing her mind enough to breathe. He led her over to the stone bench underneath the large tree and they took a seat. Without Ominis even needing to ask, she opened up to him.

"Sebastian still thinks I have the ability to help Anne. But Ominis, this power scares me. I watched someone who had the same ability as me use her powers to do horrible, unthinkable things. She could take pain away but then she would consume it, and then what was left of them... was nothing. They were soulless... and I can't risk doing anything like that to Anne." Ominis let out a long sigh.

"Sebastian means well, he always does when it pertains to Anne. I think he truly believes in you, but he doesn't understand exactly what you are going through. He doesn't know what the power feels like, like you do. I- can sense it from you sometimes. Just now, when you left the undercroft, I sensed it from you then. Your magic feels different from anything I have experienced before, so while I don't know what you are feeling, I can understand your warryness."

"These powers are new to me, I've had them for less than a year. I need time to learn them before I try anything that has the potential to harm Anne." Ominis hummed a note of agreement.

"I want Anne healed just as desperately as Sebastian does, but, as we've seen, he tends to grasp at any string of hope like it's a fully formed rope. I hate to give him any more leeway than I already have, especially after everything he has done and put us through, but he loves his sister, truly, and I... unfortunately... appreciate him for that." Siren couldn't help but let out a soft chuckle as she wiped at more tears.

"Thank you Ominis." Siren wrapped Ominis in a hug and although his body was initially tense, he quickly reciprocated it. She couldn't believe how close  this boy had become to her.

She thought back to the first day she had walked through those doors at the great hall.

The moment she had turned around and sat in that chair, she had seen the boy who she had met only once before. Her blood had run cold. His icy eyes weren't looking at her. She hadn't thought he could see her, and his gaze aimed at the foot of the stage instead of at her almost confirmed her suspicion, she had three years prior.

"I sense a growing sense of ambition, an eagerness for power. Perhaps you belong in Slytherin." The hat had wondered aloud and Siren couldn't help the shake that her head had immediately done at the suggestion.

"Oh? The hat had softened its voice just above a whisper. "Why is that?" Siren had sat there just for a moment, gazing back over at the table, the blonde boy's smile had faltered. Could he actually see her? Had he realised who she was?

"I - I don't want to be in darkness anymore, I want to be in sunlight." Siren responded softly, hoping only the hat could hear her.

"I see." the hat had said, bringing its voice back up to echo through the room, "I also understand your loyalty to a friend delayed your arrival here this evening. Better be Hufflepuff!" Siren sighed in relief as she had made her way over to Professor Weasley who transfigured her robes. The blonde boy with the icy eyes had been scowling. Their later interactions confirmed he hadn't recognized her from their past, and she had no intention of reminding him. That part of her life had been closed and she intended to lock the door behind her.