DELGADO || Sebastian Sallow (Hogwarts Legacy)

Part 11 - Unspoken words and Goodbyes

ꕀꕥ〡~𐀔~〡ꕥꕀ

❝Something inside me ached at his words❞

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"So... you know about that," I said softly, my voice barely above a whisper.

Marvolo nodded. "And it's one of the many reasons I hate that guy." His jaw tightened. "He's dangerous, Angella. You shouldn't be around him."

I opened my mouth to respond, but Poppy stepped forward, fury blazing in her eyes.

"And what about you, huh?" she snapped, her breath ragged. "You have a bad reputation too, Mr. Gaunt! What about that? We all know you've hurt people! So maybe we should stay away from you as well!"

Marvolo turned to face her, something dark flashing across his expression. His gaze bore down on her with quiet menace.

"That's right, Sweeting," he said, voice low and almost amused. "You should fear me. Don't make me your enemy."

Poppy swallowed, but she didn't back down. "I'm not scared of you," she said firmly. "I've been through worse my entire life. Men like you can't harm me anymore."

A flicker of something—respect, maybe—flashed in Marvolo's eyes, but before he could react, he reached out toward her. Poppy took a step back, prepared to run, but Ominis was faster.

He stepped in front of her, shoving Marvolo back.

"Don't touch her," Ominis warned, his voice sharp. "Or I will curse you."

His dominance came out of nowhere—an unshakable force, slicing through the conversation like a blade.

Marvolo just chuckled darkly, unfazed. He clapped a hand on Ominis's shoulder, smirking. "Relax, little brother. I'm not going to hurt your girlfriend."

Ominis didn't move. "Yeah? I don't believe you." His voice was cold. "Did you tell Ella what you've done? Or what you did to me in the past? Or is that something you'd rather she not find out?"

Silence.

Marvolo didn't respond. He didn't even flinch. He just stared.

Ominis exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "That's what I thought."

He turned, prepared to walk away.

But Marvolo suddenly spoke, his tone softer. Almost... uncertain.

"Don't worry, man," he murmured. "I've done things—bad things—my whole life. But I've changed."

Ominis scoffed, but Marvolo wasn't looking at him anymore. His gaze drifted downward, fingers tracing over the scarred bark of a tree beside him.

"I've found something better to put my energy into now," he continued, his voice barely audible. "Something worth my attention. I'm not harming anyone anymore."

A pause.

Then, so softly I almost didn't hear him:

"I'm just trying to figure out if I can fall in love...

...Without losing a woman to them."

His parents.

"Without losing her to my past."

A lump formed in my throat.

"I'm not the type to speak about love," he admitted. "I don't do romance. I don't do dates. I'm not a man you can be seen with in public. But I'm trying to be him. I want to be him."