Omnia Vincit Amor | Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 26: Like Old Times

Chapter 26: Like Old Times

"Ah, I missed doing this—ow!" Sebastian, slightly invisible, yelped after his companion elbowed his arm.

"Can't you hold yourself from speaking?" Equally, relatively invisible Lucy hissed. "You'll blow our cover."

He chuckled again, earning him another jab. "—Ow!"

Like before, they sneaked in through the Undercroft, accessed from Isidora's house. The plan was: traipse towards the headmaster's office, corner Headmaster Black and leave him no choice but to let them borrow the timepiece, leave through the same procedure.

But before they could even reach the nearest Floo Flame, they were confronted by a professor who saw them through the Disillusionment charm.

"If it isn't my favourite person," the professor greeted, looking at Lucy's faint form.

"Natty!" Lucy whisper-squealed and wrapped her arms around her Gryffindor friend.

"Keep quiet, she said," Sebastian mocked.

A glare was shot his way before Lucy focused on Natty. "What are you doing here?"

Natty panned her head left and right, ensuring nobody was nearby. Conveniently, it was dinner time, so students and other professors were still in the Great Hall.

"It's best we talk in my office," Natty suggested. "This way."

Being in the Defense Against the Dark Arts Tower, Lucy initially thought Natty ended up replacing Professor Hecat, a likelihood she had foreseen since observing her moves in Crossed Wands.

Her breathing spiked when they passed the hallway ornated with tapestries, and now stood in front of a classroom she spent most of her fifth-year in.

Opening the door for them, Natty let them in first.

The classroom was exactly like how Lucy remembered it. Nothing had been changed. The only difference was—the area emitted life that it once lost.

"So... this is yours now?" Lucy could not help asking as they walked down the aisle, her eyes wandering around.

"Yes," Natty replied gingerly. "I'm teaching Magical Theory."

"Professor Fig's class," Lucy specified.

Natty glanced backward at Lucy, wearing an apologetic look that immediately evaporated when Lucy exhibited a heartfelt smile.

"I'm sure Professor Fig's happy to know someone's finally continuing what he left behind."

Up until they graduated, no one had taken over the class, and Lucy thought the administration would just allow the course to die with Eleazar Fig. But it seemed, years later, the position had been reopened and offered to Natsai Onai.

"Thank you, Lucy," Natty softly uttered before unlocking her office, allowing them inside.

While some decorations remained, new furniture, in hues red and gold, embellished the room — signifying how a true Gryffindor Natty was.

Natty gestured towards the chairs in front of her desk, waiting for them to take their seats before taking hers. "Now. To discuss what you both are up to."

Lucy fidgeted on her seat as she struggled for an alibi.

Sebastian, however, spoke direct to the point. "We need the Time-Turner from the headmaster's office."