Like the Stars in the Sky

Chapter Fourteen

Sebastian

"I have no idea who or what that was. Was it even real?"

I sat at the edge of Piper's bed in the hospital wing. She'd been filling me in on what had happened that night in the Undercroft.

"I'm sure the restricted section has answers." I grinned at her, joking.

"You're funny." She gave me a pointed look. "But, absolutely not. I'm sure there are answers in the book. It all feels...connected somehow."

"Ominis and I will help you tomorrow. But for now, you need to sleep." I stood, realizing the time. It was late, nearly two in the morning.

"Thank you, Seb."

I smiled at the nickname she'd started using more frequently.

"I'm glad you don't hate me anymore. I don't know what I would have done without you." I felt a nervous shiver go through me. It almost felt like I'd just confessed something to her. She smiled up at me.

"Me too."

I felt my cheeks blush a little looking at her. I smiled, and turned away. I walked back down to the Slytherin common room.

---

"Where have you been?" Ominis sat waiting for me in the common room.

"None of your business, Ominis. What are you doing up so late?" I said almost absentmindedly, sitting down in a chair near him.

"It's my business if you've made a mess I have to clean up." He ignored my question.

"Do you really think so little of me?" I looked over at him, slightly offended.

"Have you forgotten our entire sixth year? All I did last year was keep you from being expelled, Sebastian. I'm being realistic." Ominis gave me a very annoyed and pointed look.

"For your information, I didn't do anything against the rules." I snapped at him.

"Oh Merlin, what a relief." He said sarcastically. "What have you been doing then? Silence from you is never a good sign. I haven't heard from you since the match."

I sighed, deciding to tell him the truth. "I spoke with Piper."

"You what? That was the one thing I told you not to do!" He stood, seemingly ready to strangle me.

"We're friends again. It's alright, Ominis."

"Are you sure?" He hesitantly sat back down, lifting his wand, illuminating my face in red wand light.

"Yes, I'm sure. I'm not an idiot."

"You are with her." He said it almost under his breath, as if he half didn't want me to hear it.

"What do you mean by that?" I was taken aback.

"I mean that you are as dense as a troll when it comes to your feelings, Sebastian." Ominis put special emphasis on the word 'feelings'.

"What do my feelings have to do with Piper?"

"My point exactly." He sighed, annoyed with me.

"What are you talking about, Ominis?"

"Do I really have to make you understand your own bloody emotions, Sebastian?" He sighed again.

I said nothing, waiting for him to go on.

"I just mean to say that I don't need vision to know the love-sick look on your face when you see her. I've never known you care for someone the way you care for her."
"What are you saying?"