In the year 1900, Penelope Silverthorn returns to Hogwarts after eight years of leaving only to find herself struggling with everything she left behind, including Sebastian Sallow, who is betrothed to another.
EllaSallow
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Chapter 44: The Unspoken Farewell
"How many pennies in the slot? Giving us up didn't take a lot." Duncan Laurence
Sebastian Sallow rested half of his weight on the patterned walls of the Faculty Tower. His broad frame filled the doorway entrance, crossing his arms over his chest as he stood with a calming posture that bordered tiredness, yet, arrogance.
The man's gaze was fixed on Penelope. There was a hint of something like guilt in the depth of his dark eyes, despite the attempt to conceal it and he blinked a few times at her sight.
"S-Sebastian," It was the only words Penelope Silverthorn could gather in the state of rupture and denial between the events.
It didn't make sense. Nothing made sense. Not at the moment at least.
Sebastian stiffened, the delicate brown eyes flickering toward Cecil before he cleared his throat and uncrossed his arms, taking a few inching steps forward.
Step back, Pen. You don't want him near you. Penelope told herself — but so, it was too late. The longing nights being with him, the reconciling, the love — how could she possibly walk away?
Penelope loves Sebastian.
Penelope's heart seemed to plummet to the pit of her stomach with each step. Even with the sight of him, a sea of emotions gripped her nervous system and her mouth became dry; her lips parted with trembles.
A baby.
Sebastian Sallow is a father.
He would have the children he always wanted.
Not with me — never with me.
Sebastian just stared up and down at her, almost observing her features. As if, it had been a while of seeing her. His brown eyes mixed with a hue of honey, and Penelope wondered if it were the light that made them change color.
"You were," Penelope couldn't even say words. Her throat itched with each sentence, it was hard to hide it. "You were on leave."
She watched as he looked to the side, his eyes lowering to the floor. Sebastian's eyebrows furrowed, thinking and he turned back again to face her.
"Yes, I was." His expression was unreadable. He turned to Cecil. "But I had to come back early due to...certain circumstances," Sebastian told her.
There was a lot running behind the deep pit of Penelope's mind, but the emotions were too heightened. The proper concentration was impossible to manage.
"Certain Circumstances." Penelope's voice cracked at the repeated words. Her eyes blinked, preventing herself from crashing. "A baby, Sebastian."
