The Legacy of Our Love

Chapter 14

*A/N* Inspiration for this chapter comes from the song Afraid of Quiet by Lydia The Bard and Ben Tomalin. Can be found on Spotify.

ASRA

When the first light of dawn began to creep through the windows to the dormitory, I realized I hadn't slept a minute. Stiff from lying motionless all evening, I rolled achingly from the bed, brushing my hands across my weary expression in an attempt to clear the exhaustion.

This was it. Today I had to go back. My mind hadn't stopped racing since last night, when I was reminded of the journey by a letter from Professor Fig providing permission for Sebastian and Ominis to accompany me for the weekend. He had seemed pleased with my request, detailing that he was happy I had found friends I could confide in at the school.

Meanwhile I was positively spiraling over the thought of stepping one foot inside that house.

I can't do this.

I can't do this.

But I have to do this.

I had to hurry if I was to meet Sebastian and Ominis at the front of the school in time. I began immensely regretting my decision to wear a dress for the photo as I struggled to pull the skirt over the petticoat. It was a simple sage green piece overtop a cream long sleeve blouse, with a waistcoat for added warmth, and minimal frills. That being the main reason I purchased it. I barely finished lacing the boots in time to dash from the common room as fast as my dress would allow, slipping on my gloves with difficulty while holding my overnight bag.

I welcomed the chill autumn air with the plethora of layers I was dressed in as I caught sight of Sebastian and Ominis standing beside a Thestral drawn carriage just outside the gate.

"Just in time Devorak. You look... lovely." Sebastian trailed off as he caught sight of me, his gaze shamelessly drifting across my figure, forcing a flush to my cheeks.

"I feel like I'm drowning in fabric." I groaned before handing my bag to the Ministry employee on the back of the carriage, ignoring the heat burning in my cheeks from the compliment. My comment earned me a laugh from Ominis which he failed miserably at stifling.

"I don't think I've seen you in a skirt yet this year, do you have a particular aversion to them?" Sebastian chuckled.

"They're simply impractical!" I exclaimed. "It's not that I dislike them, they just prove far too difficult when I'm called away to traverse my way through some new test or trial."

"Seems reasonable to me." Ominis shrugged before opening the door to the carriage. "Shall we be going? As much as I enjoy wasting the photographer's time, I'd rather him not be too vexed with us upon our arrival."

"Alright, alright." Sebastian relented, offering a hand to help me into the carriage, which I accepted, having to navigate my skirts through the narrow doorway with difficulty before taking a seat on the velvet cushioned seats.

The texture under my palms brought back a sickening flash of sitting in the carriage with Professor Fig and George Oseric at the beginning of the year. My hands clenched around the cushion, holding on for dear life as I was overwhelmed with the memory of the sensation of falling from hundreds of feet in the air.

Sebastian and Ominis joined me shortly, grounding me from the flashbacks and taking the seat opposite of me as the driver prepared the carriage for flight. I struggled to keep my anxieties at bay, the memories of how poorly my last time in a carriage had gone, and the thought of returning to my childhood home creating a dangerous stirring of panic in my chest.