Out of the Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Fifty-Four

*Warning: This chapter contains a violent scene with dark magic and bloodshed.*

"Well. This is it." I spread my arms wide and motioned around the room. "The Slytherin Common Room." Will's eyes were big as he took it all in. He followed me over to the glass windows that looked out into the Black Lake.

"Stand back. And watch this." He stood slightly behind me and watched with bated breath. I cast a few basic spells at the windows until suddenly the giant squid's tentacled arm slapped against the window, hard, shaking the glass. Will jumped a little. I giggled.

"That's the giant squid that lives in the Black Lake. He's just saying hi." I smirked at him. He looked a little shocked. "But that's the wildest it gets. The uppers try to tell the first years that you can see mermaids. But they never come up to the windows. Random fish. Seaweed. The occasional slap from the squid. That's about all, though. I mostly find the windows relaxing to sit by and do my homework."

A small smile crept across his face. "I like it." He spoke. "What else is there?"

I showed him the fireplace and the giant Salazar statue. The entrances to the dorm halls for boys and girls. And how the stairs turn to a slide for the girls' side when a boy tries to go on them. He was warned so he didn't get hurt and just slid down laughing. "This place is great." He said, laughing with me.

"Yes. It really is. It's been my only constant over the years. Always here to comfort and protect me. I love Hogwarts." I sighed deeply, my brows furrowing together.

"What's wrong, sis? You look so sad. While saying something happy... " He poked me in the side a little to which I gently grinned.

"Well, the people in my life tend to let me down... a lot. But the places don't. They're always there. But I won't have Hogwarts soon enough. It'll be yet something else I've lost." I turned my sad eyes to him and he was looking sad too. "But I have you. I'm so glad for that." I extended my hand and he entwined our fingers. We both huffed out relief. Our connection filling us.

"Do you know where you are rooming? So you can unpack?" I asked him.

"Yes." His brow furrowed. "They... put me with Ominis and Sebastian. Are you going to be ok with that?"

"Oh, I'm fine with it if you are. You're the one that has to live with the traitors." I smirked. He smiled back but his brows furrowed. "Look, Will, I won't cause any issues. I want you to be comfortable. You need to feel at home here too. I will cause no issues with your living situation. In fact, if you all ended up being friends, it would be for the best. Please, don't worry about me. I'll be fine." I came close and leaned into him and he put his arm around me to squeeze me reassuringly.

"Don't worry little sis. I already feel at home as long as you're here."

"By the way, you always call me little sister. What makes you think you're the older one?" I poked him.

"Well, I'm obviously the more mature one. And I'm LITERALLY bigger than you. Also, you told me I was listed first on the birth certificate. So, I just assumed..."

"Oh. Well. That's logical. At least the last part." I nudged him and we both smiled.

"Well, I guess we should unpack and get dressed in our robes for the first dinner back in the Great Hall... everyone else should be arriving soon, too." I said and reluctantly let go of his hand.

"I can meet you here in the common room in a bit then and we can go together. You can show me where to go. This castle is MUCH bigger than Durmstrang."

I giggled. "Oh, yes, it is! I spent my first several months totally lost. I'll help you. See you soon, baby bro." I winked at him.