"The professor and I froze, unable to move or speak yet sharing a solemn understanding. We discovered something we did not even realize we were searching for: An Ancient Magic wielder."
Eight years after the events of the repository, Sebastian Sallo...
It was not the Coporeal form I remembered. It was a shimmering butterfly, no larger than a chocolate frog, that fluttered in front of Professor Sallow as if it had not a care in the world.
The whisps from his wand continued to feed the Patronus, inflating it to the size of a large bird-of-prey, the details on its wings finally clear enough to see. Whimsical swirls forming hearts and floral patterns adorned its wings in the most unnatural way. It looked nothing like any butterfly in existence, common or magical.
It suddenly dissolved, breaking apart into dozens of smaller butterflies that worked together to swarm the pseudo-dementor. The creature shrieked and rasped against the charm, but it was no match for the professor. Sebastian maintained his focus on the Patronus until it had completely banished the pseudo-dementor back to its wooden home. With a flick of my wand, three locks latched back into place.
The fog cleared and I could breathe again. Sebastian stared longingly at the chest, his jaw tight, eyes shimmering.
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"A butterfly?" That is a curious Patronus, professor." Miss Padgett interjected, batting her long, black eyelashes at him.
Alright, it's not cute anymore.
"It didn't used to be a butterfly...it changed a few years ago." The professor's voice was soft, distant. He was still gazing at the chest with a small smile on his face. It was quite unsettling, considering what was in it.
"How is that possible?" Miss O'Brien asked, a wistful smile on her face as she stared at the professor. She was not even trying to hide it.
"Honestly, don't you two read!?" Miss Yaxley rolled her eyes at her vapid, spellbound classmates. "Charms of Defense and Deterrence indicates that the Patronus is subject to change based on significant events in a person's life. For example, moments of profound personal growth, a great loss, or falling in love."
Thank you, Miss Yaxley, for speaking my fears into existence.
Sebastian's patronus changed when he fell in love. If that was the case... was he thinking of happy memories with another woman? The woman tattooed on his arm?
