I don't know if they will accept this 27/10

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You pulled your head out from the Pensieve, gasped, and tried to assimilate what you had just seen in Isidora's memories.

"She took away the pain!" said Sebastian who sounded more excited than surprised "I knew it. I knew there was a way to help Anne" he walked back and forth talking to himself more than to you.

His steps echoed in the cold ground of the Undercroft and you looked at the portrait behind you.

It felt wrong, the situation was bad. That canvas was empty, but why? Isidora should be there.

"Something isn't right, Sebastian." You said without looking away from the painting.

"What do you mean? You saw what she did?" he walked closer to you and pointed at the Pensieve. He thought you were talking about Isidora's memories, which didn't seem right either, but it may be smart to deal with one crisis at a time.

"No. Not the memories, the portrait. I think the reason Isidora hasn't appeared is because she can't."

"I don't follow" he stood next to you and looked at the portrait.

"This is the view from her home on Feldcroft, she was supposed to be here" Something felt odd but you couldn't figure out what was it.

"So someone destroyed a bit of enchanted canvas... " he didn't think it was important, Sebastian just shrugged and pointed back to the Pensieve "But we found the memory! " he sounded proud and you didn't understand why.

You didn't think that the memories were better than being able to talk to Isidoras, but unfortunately, it was what you had.

"Yes, yes you are right." you lied.

"We saw what she wanted us to see. We saw what she could do. What you can do!" you suddenly realized where he was heading the conversation and you didn't like it.

"I don't know how to do what Isidora did." And even if you knew, you weren't sure you wanted to. It felt wrong, you didn't know why but you felt unease about it.

"Well, then you shall learn. The Keepers can teach you" he was very optimistic, of course, he didn't know the Keepers as you did. If it was their decision, you wouldn't even be facing the trials yet.

"I don't know if they will accept this. They despised what Isidora was doing. They believed it is an unpredictable form of magic. One that should be wielded with great care, if at all"

"If at all?" Sebastian wasn't satisfied with your explanation "You have overcome all of their challenges. You have more than proven yourself."

If only the Keepers could see it that way, you thought. Maybe you would have already defeated Ranrook if they trusted you as much as Sebastian did.

"You can wield it. You have the ability" he would keep pushing, there was no stopping him now. You knew he tried to encourage you, but the way he looked at you, his eyes begged you to try. Those deep brown eyes you couldn't get out of your head since the first time you've met them.

You took your eyes away from his to try to think straight, you looked back at the empty portrait and hoped Isidora could show up at least just for a conversation. You didn't want to defy the Keepers, not with so much at stake, and certainly not without Isidora's side of the story.

You knew the Keepers didn't trust you, not completely. They were being careful with you, perhaps afraid you would take the same path Isidora did. But what were they so afraid of? Perhaps, if you explain Anne's situation to them they would listen. But if they shut you out completely for trying to take her pain away? What if they decide to stop the trials? Then Ranrook would beat you and he'll destroy the Wizarding world.

Would it be worth the risk? The overthrow of the wizard kind just for the remote hope of gaining the ability that could help Anne?

You felt like Sebastian was able to read your mind or perhaps you were thinking out loud because he just knew what he said next.

"Please. Talk to the Keepers. If not for Anne... then for me" Even though he was behind you, his voice sounded muffled, even pleading.

You felt his puppy eyes begging at you as if his gaze could burn your neck. But you didn't want to see Sebastian, you knew you would yield for him, anything he would ask of you, you would do it.

You tried to clear your thoughts, to act with your brain and not your heart. So you took a deep breath and looked back at him.

Your sights encounter and his eyes were already shining even before you nodded.

Sebastian gave two steps and ended the distance between you. Before you knew it he had his hand on you, one on your lower back, the other copping your check, and his lips on yours. You could feel his smile against your lips. It was a quick kiss, sweet and tender, a token of his gratitude to you.

He placed his forehead against yours as he spoke in a whisper "I knew I was right about you, my kindred spirit" and gave you a little pick before he withdrew. He smiled at you and then walked away excitedly.

Sebastian left you all alone in the quietness of the Undercroft, hoping that you could live up to his expectations and cursing the damn moment you fell in love with Sebastian Sallow.

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