Exile || Sebastian Sallow

35 | The Hogwarts Christmas Party (Part 1)

35 | The Hogwarts Christmas Party (Part 1)

Sebastian's Perspective

Ever since our secret exposure yesterday, Belle had barely shown herself around the castle and spoken to our friends. I understood how she must be feeling, so I didn't press her further when she pleaded with me to let her go last night after crying her eyes out on my shoulders.

I knew she needed space to breathe, and that she would reach out to me when she needed to. Hells, I knew I would too if I had lost my best friend's trust, the same night that everyone else found out we were dating.

It didn't nearly bother me as much as it bothered her. I was used to having my reputation tarnished. Sometimes you had no choice but to get used to it, and the little cuts that your friends, more than foes, would leave on your skin.

For her, though, I knew it would be a first. Not counting with me. After all, everyone had placed their trust in her. Lila Diggory, most of all. The only one in our friend group who was bothered about our secret relationship. The death glares she gave me across the hallways were impossible to ignore and all I could do was shrug and move on.

I cared more about my girlfriend than the ghost of my past long gone. Honestly, I didn't even know why I was so attached to Lila back then. Must have been the convenience of the timing when she fell into my peripheral vision.

Belle needed some space and I reckoned I should let it go, but I hadn't seen her at all today so my concern for her was gnawing at my skin.

"Ominis!" I called, jogging down the short steps of the bustling Slytherin Common Room to catch up to him. He stopped and turned at my voice. "Have you seen Belle at all today?" I asked when I reached him.

Ominis raised a brow and crossed his arms. "Seen her? No."

I blinked. "Did you just make a blind joke willingly?"

"No," he deadpanned, but even that sounded like a jest.

"Fine, let me ask the proper way since you're so set on it, Gaunt." I shook my head at Ominis's amused impatience. Something must be in the holiday air this evening for even him, the one who often answered with grumbles and annoyance, to spew out jokes. "Have you spoken to her at all today?"

Ominis sighed, his cheerful demeanour dimming. "I haven't spoken to her since yesterday. I assume it is not easy for her to see everyone at this moment."

I sighed too. "I'm worried is all."

"She will be alright. She always comes out stronger than before."

"Right, of course," I accepted.

Her absence amidst such a cheerful hour felt wrong. The party in the Great Hall was starting in half an hour, and students were already trickling out of our common room to head there, all of them geared and dolled up in their best holiday or school sweaters.

Ominis and I had already changed into our green sweaters, which Anne had so painstakingly begged us to wear for the party so we would all match. It looked like our Slytherin sweaters, except with a reindeer wearing a hat for a crest. It could have been worse.

Yet, my girlfriend was nowhere to be found. I had hoped to run into her, exchange smiles across the hall, and touch her with my gaze alone. But nothing.