Spellbound Souls

Chapter 8. Healing Together

Cassandra

It was a grim sight. Sebastian was throwing punch after punch at Leander, who was already bleeding profusely. I begged Sebastian to stop, but he didn't seem to hear me at first. His eyes were filled with fire, and all he could focus on was Leander. Eventually, he pulled back.

Now, I had to decide what we were going to do, and quickly.

"Go," I told Sebastian. "Go to the common room, and don't let anyone see you."

Sebastian's eyes were hazy, devoid of any emotion. He just nodded and stormed off.

I kneel down beside Leander. He is coughing, blood dripping from his mouth, nose and head. I take out my wand, take a deep breath, and cast the Vulnera Sanentur spell. Immediately, the wounds begin to heal. I scoot back to give Leander some space. Slowly, he sits up, staring at me with wide eyes.

"How did you do that?" he asks, his face filled with surprise and confusion.

"I taught myself," I reply, preparing to make some sort of arrangement to convince him not to tell anyone what Sebastian has done. But before I can speak, Leander stands up, looming over me.

"Sallow is going to regret this," he says, his tone determined. Shite. What can I do to prevent him from going to the professors? I never learned how to use Obliviate. Even though I'm not sure where I stand in my relationship with Sebastian, I don't want him to get expelled. It pains me to admit but I need him by my side. I quickly stand up.

"Leander, think," I plead. "If you go to the professors, they'll ask what you were doing in the halls past curfew. You'll get in trouble too."

"I'll get detention at worst. Sallow will have to leave the grounds. I only see winners here," he replies, resolute.

With the thought of Sebastian leaving, something stirs inside me. He can't leave. I need him. I feel the ancient magic flow through my veins, and in the dark corridor, I lit up. My veins become visible, small electric sparks and blue lights coursing through my body. I push Leander against the wall, and fear fills his eyes.

"I wanted to play nice, but you leave me no choice," I say, my voice firm and determined. Sebastian has to stay with me in the castle.

"I have burned countless others to nothing more than a crisp. If you so much as breath a word about Sebastian, you will meet that same fate. Do you understand?" I demand. Leander nods nervously, too terrified to speak. He runs back to the Gryffindor tower without another word.

As the fiery burns dim and my skin returns to its natural tone, I catch my breath. Having the power to wield ancient magic is great, but this experience has knocked the wind out of me. I never knew I could do this. I thought it only happened in combat, but apparently, it can also happen when I feel emotionally threatened.

***

"Have you seen Sebastian?" Ominis question rips me from my thoughts. I got up early to eat alone and to avoid gazes from my fellow housemates.

"I don't think he was in bed last night and I'm starting to worry." I swallow before I can give Ominis an answer, deciding whether I should tell him about last night. But the only answer I can give him right now is very blunt. "I'm sure he's fine."

Ominis sits down next to me and his expression is strong.

"I thought we promised to tell each other everything from now on." I sigh, Ominis is right. If I want to maintain this friendship and this bond of trust we have, I have to tell him.

"We got into an argument and he stormed off," I begin. "When I stepped out of the Undercroft, I heard this tumult. Sebastian was on top of Leander, fighting." I stop a moment to breath, tension thick in the air. Ominis doesn't move but he listens closely.

"After I interfered, I told Sebastian to go to the common room." Ominis chimes in "What happened to Leander?" I know Ominis doesn't care for Leander, he probably wants to shake Sebastian's hand and thank him for beating him up.

"I healed him, but..." now I'm really unsure if I should tell Ominis about me threatening Leander.  Might as well. "He wanted to report Sebastian." Ominis flares his nostrils and he clench his jaw. "That absolute tosser," Ominis scoffs.

"You might like what I'm about to tell you Ominis," I take a deep breath.

"I told him I would incinerate him if he breathed a word about this." Ominis takes a few moments to respond. He then bursts out in laughter.

"You did not," he gasps between laughs. Because of Ominis laughter, I have to laugh too.

"I did!" I confirm, still chuckling.

"These are the moments I wish I could see. I would've given anything to see his frightened face." Ominis's laughter subsides, and he straightens in his seat.

"But that still leaves the question, about where Sebastian went?"

***

As I was searching for Sebastian in the Slytherin dungeon, I stumbled upon him in the boy's lavatory. His robe was laying on the ground and he was leaning on the sink with his arm, staring at his reflection in the mirror. He looked like hell. As I stood behind him, I waited for him to notice me in his reflection. It only took a second and he turns around.

I want to yell at him, asking him how many times he's going to disappear. Instead, I feel relief. Relief he is still standing in front of me.

"Are you okay?" I ask, my voice filled with genuine concern as I take a step closer. He turns to face the mirror, meeting my gaze through the reflection.

"Yes, I'm fine, Cassandra," he replies, his voice firm but his eyes betraying a hint of pain.

Sebastian avoids eye contact, and his tense posture speaks volumes. It's clear he's not fine, despite his words. I step closer, my hand reaching out to touch his arm gently.

"You don't look fine," I say softly, searching his eyes for any sign of what's troubling him.

Sebastian hesitates, then sighs, dropping his gaze to the floor. "I just... I don't know how to fix this, Cassandra," he admits, his voice barely above a whisper. "I've messed everything up, and I don't know if I can ever make it right."

I feel a pang of sympathy for him, knowing that he's been struggling with his own demons ever since he returned to Hogwarts. Despite everything, I still care about him, and seeing him like this breaks my heart.

"We'll figure it out together," I say, trying to offer him some comfort. "But you can't keep shutting me out, Sebastian. We're in this together, remember?"

Sebastian nods, but I can see the uncertainty in his eyes. He's afraid, and I can't blame him. We're both facing an uncertain future, and I don't know if we'll ever be able to find our way back to each other.

But for now, all I can do is be there for him, to offer him whatever support he needs to get through this. And maybe, just maybe, we'll find a way to heal together.

"I thought you needed space," he says softly. I let out a small chuckle.

"Yeah, turns out, I can't seem to stay away from you." Sebastian turns his gaze to me, eyes filled with unshed tears but also hope. He smiles and before I can protest, he pulls me in for a hug. In Sebastian's embrace, I feel safer than I ever have before.

I break off our hug and take a small step back. I pluck some twigs out of his hair.

With a smile I ask him where he has been. He chuckles.

"I slept in the Forbidden Forest," he answers.

"You did what? You know how dangerous that place is!" I scold him.

"You're one to talk. You almost lived there in our fifth year!" He's right. I can't lecture him for this. I spent many, many hours in the forest. Fighting all sorts of enemies and dangerous creatures. Poachers, dark wizards, giant spiders.

"I'm sorry," I say.

"You're adorable when you worry about me," he gives me a sly grin. This arsehole. Last night I told him I needed space and now, I just want to be with him all the time, hold him forever.

"I am really sorry," he speaks softly.

"I know," and I give him a kiss on the cheek