Like the Stars in the Sky

Chapter Eleven

Piper

As I walked back up to my dormitory, I fingered the small object in my left hand. I didn't have to look at it to know what it was. A shard of ancient magic. I didn't know what had pulled me to it, but it felt different from the ancient magic I'd felt before. My head felt empty, I still hadn't processed everything that had happened. What were those shadow creatures? The cuts on my back stung, and I'd tried the healing spells I knew, but nothing would soothe the pain. I tried my best to ignore it and hope that it would go away. I still needed to figure out what the book my father had sent me to find had written in it. I stopped for a moment. Sebastian and I had almost kissed. Somehow that was the most shocking thing to dawn on me. I felt something in my stomach, and I smiled to myself. I quickly shook the feeling, starting up the stairs to my room. That had meant nothing. Right?

---

As I looked over myself the next morning in the mirror in my dormitory, Sebastian's comment of me always looking too put together rang through my head. Why did I care what he thought about me? I smoothed my skirt. It was too un-wrinkled. My shirt was tucked into it too crisply. I turned haughtily from the mirror, trying to forget Sebastian.

---

Samantha and I walked down to the Great Hall together, and I decided to trust her with what had happened the night before. I told her about my father's letter, the strange book, the room beneath the castle, and about Sebastian. She seemed the least shocked about what had happened with him.

"I knew it! He obviously has feelings for you."

I blushed at her words. "He doesn't. That meant nothing."

She scoffed. "Merlin, you are oblivious. Mr. 'I don't do girlfriends' Sallow spends practically every waking moment with you."

"He really doesn't."

"If he isn't with you, he's watching you like a hawk. Do you not remember how hard he worked to earn your trust at the beginning of the year? Why do you think he went through all that effort?"

"We're just friends!" I felt my face get even redder than it already was.

"He tried to kiss you, Piper! Friends don't do that." She gave me a pointed look. I sighed in response.

"I'll drop it. For now. But you better keep me updated."

I laughed, nudging her playfully. "I will."

Mr. 'I don't do girlfriends' Sallow was all I could think about. I wasn't an exception, and never would be. Maybe it was true that he did spend a lot of time with me, but it was different. He wasn't the kind of boy to commit. I knew this, but some secret stupid part of me deep down hoped that he actually was.

I spotted him immediately sitting at the Slytherin table across the Great Hall from me. I felt a little flip in my stomach at the sight of him. I shook the feeling quickly. I couldn't deny he was handsome. I knew from the whispers and longing glances from other girls around the school that he was desired by many. I let myself agree that he was good looking. He was tall and muscular. His carmel brown hair perfectly framed his molten honey eyes, and his freckles gave him a boyish charm even on his stupidly too handsome face. I could see all of these things, but just because I couldn't deny it, it didn't mean I felt anything for him. I set myself on this, choosing to ignore any fluttering feelings I felt looking at him.

I watched him for a moment. He sat next to Ominis at the mostly empty Slytherin table. He was pouring over a book, not looking up, which I was grateful for. I didn't want to be caught staring at him. I was looking at him so intently, that I almost didn't notice the spot next to him being filled by one Imelda Reyes. I only noticed her when she wrapped her hands around this arm, leaning into him. He finally looked up, but only to talk to her. They were laughing. I felt something flip in my stomach, but this time it wasn't that of looking at a cute boy, but of something else, but I couldn't place my finger on it.