Shadow of the Key | Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 52: Welcome Back (Again) - Part I

Long chapter ahead to make up for my absence ♡ Take breaks and hydrate!

Chapter 52: Welcome Back (Again) - Part I
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Amelia's POV

Cheers, whoops, and hollers rang in the air as soon as Amelia and Sebastian entered through the large double doors of Hogwarts and headed into Central Hall, loud enough that she couldn't hear her own heart loudly thumping in her ears.

"There's the Hero of Hogwarts!"

"Sebastian Sallow's a hero now, too!"

Amelia and Sebastian awkwardly chuckled at the mass group of students cheering them on. What else are you supposed to do when you're suddenly greeted with cheers and praise by the entire school?

So much for heading to the Undercroft first thing.

They had planned to keep everything under wraps, but it's rather difficult when you attend a school where word gets around easily. And looking around at the entire student body swarming them, everyone now knew.

Hopefully, not all the details. The last thing Amelia needed was for anyone to look at her like some sort of mythical creature.

Amelia recognized a lot of people in the mix.

Her eyes first landed on a grinning Garreth Weasley, who had his arm around an ecstatic Poppy's shoulders while casting a spell that set off fireworks in the air, lighting up the atmosphere in a kaleidoscope of colors.

Then there was Imelda Reyes and the Slytherin Quidditch team all clapping Sebastian on the back. Imelda seemed more elated to have her Beater back than anything else.

Valencia bore the brightest smile on her face as she clapped and proudly exclaimed, "That's my sister!" Behind her, Andrew Larson had his arms wrapped around her waist and was resting his chin on top of her head with a smile of his own that spread ear to ear, his cheeks tinted a light pink.

Adelaide Oakes, who wore the complete opposite of a smile, stood next to a fist-pumping Slytherin boy with a book clutched to her chest, hard glaring in Sebastian and Amelia's direction.

That made Amelia chortle.

And behind the crowd stood Clive Caine. He was leaning against the wall with his arms and legs nonchalantly crossed. It appeared as though his face was void of emotion, but as Amelia looked closely, she could see the corner of his lip tipped up ever so slightly.

Two notable faces were absent though—Anne and Ominis.

Hm. Wonder where those two were at.

Amelia didn't ponder on it for too long though. There was something she needed to do before the thought became lost to her.

Amelia turned to Sebastian and gently tapped his shoulder as he conversed with his Quidditch team. "I need to go talk to Clive."

That got Sebastian's undivided attention when he abruptly whipped his head towards her with furrowed brows. "About what?" he asked skeptically.

Amelia leaned in to speak low in his ear, "Neither of us would be standing here if it weren't for his help. I owe him my gratitude."