The Shadow Trio | Year 7: Running from the Light

Part 12 - Cepheus the Sinful

I would highly recommend listening to the songs "Mine" and "Dark Signs" by Sleeptoken during this chapter. 🖤

As I ascend the wooden staircase of the Astronomy tower, my mind replays the last time I saw Sebastian in the Undercroft. He stood before Ominis and me, furious, while accusing us of meddling in his affairs when all we ever tried to do was help.

He disappeared for twenty-four hours. We never doubted once that he wasn't on his usual bender, digging himself so deep into a hole that neither one of us could pull him out, and that's why we sent Poppy to rescue him.

Poppy Sweeting is my best friend. Well, aside from my two iconic Slytherin's of course. After helping each other in fifth year, we grew incredibly close. It probably helped that I am also an animal lover just as she is, creating a mutual hobby to hunt down poachers for sport.

She's a friend that I can count on to hold all my secrets and offer brutally honest advice, while also giving me the playful, bubbly relationship that I so desperately needed. She gets along with the boys too, sharing Ominis' sense of humour and occasionally touching Sebastian's heart. I think she reminds him of Anne.

As I reach the final step of the never ending staircase, the large, gothic arches are exposed to the outside, the crisp, nighttime air greeting me with goosebumps. Sebastian stands at the wrought iron railing, looking out towards the quidditch pitch. His fluffy hair subtly blows in the wind, as his fingers tap anxiously on the cold metal.

It's quiet up here, the only sounds that can be heard is the howling of the wind along with my loud thoughts, the castle is sound asleep for the night. I step onto the wooden platform of the round turret, triggering Sebastian to turn to greet me.

"Good evening, Princess." He says with a half-smile. His usual tan skin looks pale in the moonlight, the bags under his eyes hinting at a rough night with one too many bottles. He continues, "I'm glad to see that you received my owl. I know this isn't our usual spot, but the stars are shining extra bright tonight and I didn't want to miss it."

He raises an eyebrow as his smile becomes more conniving. "Also... I know Ominis wouldn't be able to sneak up on us here."

I shoot Sebastian a look of disdain, clearly irritated by his deliberate attempt to get me alone, and away from our friend.

"Oh, don't be like that." He takes a few steps towards me, extending his arm, inviting me closer into the moonlight. His black longcoat subtly flaps in the wind. "Take my hand, Love."

I sigh and place my hand delicately in his. His gaze falls to my wrist, once again observing the charm bracelet that he gifted me. He rubs his thumb over the silver metal, The edges of his full lips curling into a soft smile. The hardships of his evening of drinking once plastered on his face, begin to soften.

He sighs, "I'm sorry, I should have never snapped at you the other day. It's Ominis, he's been on my case lately."

With my hand in his, he begins guiding me over to the railing. "Remember in fifth year how we had so many secrets between the two of us?"

He leans against the cold metal and looks up at the starry sky. I mimic his stance, staring out at the Quidditch pitch, reminiscing about all the games that I watched Sebastian play over the past year as Slytherin's star player. "Oh, how I miss those private, intimate moments... things are better between us when we keep Ominis in the dark, wouldn't you agree?"

His arrogance drives me mental, but he's not wrong, the two of us get along best when we're sneaking around the castle corridors in the dead of night, getting into what ever mischief we can find. Ominis is the moral compass that leads Sebastian and I away from the path of expulsion.