Legacy of Magic

Chapter 7

As the soft glow of evening settled in, Eloise bid Sebastian goodnight, watching him walk off into the twilight before heading inside. The cottage felt warm, a contrast to the cool night air, and she was immediately greeted by the crackling of the fireplace where Archie played with a toy dragon. Mrs. Bickle, bustling in the kitchen, looked up from chopping vegetables and offered Eloise a welcoming smile.
"Good evening, dear," Mrs. Bickle greeted warmly, her voice gentle but curious.
"Good evening, Mrs. Bickle," Eloise responded, stepping into the kitchen. "Do you need help with anything?"
The older woman shook her head, waving a hand in dismissal. "No, no, dear. Supper's nearly done. But I'm more curious about what you've been up to." She winked playfully, and Eloise felt her cheeks grow warm. "Sebastian was waiting for you to come back all day. Is there something going on between you two?"
Eloise's heart skipped at the question, and her face flushed a deep shade of red. "Oh, no! We're just... we're just good friends."
Mrs. Bickle chuckled, clearly unconvinced. "Oh, I was young once too, you know. I remember how the hearts of youngsters work—like yours and Sebastian's. Both of you are at that age where courtships begin."
Her words, although meant to be light, made Eloise's blush deepen. She tried to brush it off with a laugh, but Mrs. Bickle continued, her eyes twinkling with nostalgia.
"I met my late husband at your age you know," Mrs. Bickle reminisced, stirring a pot on the stove. "And by the time we finished school, we were soon married. There's no need to be embarrassed, Eloise. I see how close you and Sebastian have become, and he's a good boy. Always kind to Archie."
Eloise fumbled for words, her mind racing. "He... he has been kind. We've just spent a lot of time together this summer." She tried to sound casual, but she couldn't deny the truth lingering beneath the surface.
After Mrs. Bickle turned her attention back to cooking, Eloise's thoughts drifted, unable to stop thinking about Sebastian. She recalled the way her heart fluttered when he called her "El" for the first time, how her pulse quickened every time he took her hand. And then there was the lake. The memory of him shirtless, sunlight glinting off his skin, made her feel something unfamiliar, something she hadn't let herself fully acknowledge before.
Was it possible that she was developing feelings for him?
Eloise's chest tightened, and her mind turned to Anne. Her visit to St. Mungo's had been difficult, and the things Anne had confided in her weighed heavily on Eloise's heart. Anne didn't have much time left. Eloise's throat tightened at the thought. Losing Anne would destroy Sebastian, break him beyond repair. She had to find a way to help. There had to be a solution, some way to save her. Her pondering was interrupted by Mrs. Bickle's voice
"Supper is ready. Archie, you better have washed yourself already"
Eloise sat at the cozy dinner table with Mrs. Bickle and Archie, the warm glow of the fire casting soft shadows across the room. The meal was simple but hearty—roast chicken, buttery potatoes, and fresh bread. Mrs. Bickle told stories of her late husband, laughing fondly at his old habits, while Archie, as always, asked far too many questions, making Eloise laugh between bites.
However, Eloise tossed and turned in bed that night, her mind swirling with thoughts about Anne and Sebastian. The weight of what Anne had confided, the looming dread of the unknown, and the possibility of Sebastian being devastated if his sister's curse couldn't be reversed—it all crushed her heart. She barely slept, the night stretching endlessly as she wondered how she could possibly help the two people she cared about most.
The next morning, Eloise stumbled out of her room, dark circles under her eyes. She found Sebastian already waiting for her by Mrs. Bickle's garden, as he had been doing every day. His sharp brown eyes caught hers immediately, and she saw his gaze flicker over her face, taking in the bags under her eyes. He raised a brow and smirked.
"Well, you look awful. Did you spend the night wrestling a dragon?"
Eloise rolled her eyes, half amused. "You really have a way of making a girl feel special."
Sebastian chuckled, but there was a flicker of seriousness in his expression. "What kept you up, then? Or is it that you didn't want to tell me about visiting Anne yesterday?"
Eloise stopped dead in her tracks, her heart thudding. She stared at him, wide-eyed. "How did you... did you follow me?"
Sebastian crossed his arms over his chest, leaning casually against the garden gate. "I didn't need to. You came back looking gloomier than ever. It wasn't that hard to figure out."
Eloise felt her shoulders sag. She'd been so careful, or so she thought. "Since you're still calling me 'El,' I take it you don't hate me for it?"
Sebastian's smirk softened into something more sincere. "I could never hate you, El. But why didn't you tell me? You know you didn't have to hide it."
She looked away, guilt twisting inside her. "It was Anne's request," she admitted quietly. "She... she wasn't ready to see you. And I couldn't go against her wishes."
Sebastian's face fell. He turned slightly, gazing out over the garden, his jaw tight. "How is she?"
Eloise took a deep breath, carefully leaving out the most painful part about Anne's prognosis. "She is... alright given the circumstances. She wanted me to tell you that she doesn't hate you, Sebastian. But she's not ready to see you yet. She doesn't know if she'll ever be."
He closed his eyes for a moment, the words hitting him like a physical blow. When he opened them again, they were darker, more distant. "That's... better than what I expected, I suppose." His voice was soft, resigned. She wanted so badly to hug him, but held herself.
"I'm sorry for keeping it from you. I just wished I could do something to fix things between you." Eloise whispered, her heart aching as she looked at him. "I've always wanted a sibling, and it breaks my heart to see the two of you like this."
"You are too kind. Too much for your own good I would say. But sometimes things just can't be fixed. It is not your responsibility to try to mend my relationship with Anne. You don't need to carry this on your shoulders as well. You already have enough to deal with." Sebastian met her gaze, and for a brief moment, the sadness between them felt overwhelming. His eyes, normally so sharp and full of mischief, seemed clouded with emotion. Eloise wanted to reach out, to erase it somehow. Anything to make him smile again.
She suddenly had an idea.
"Would you like to go somewhere with me?" she asked, a sudden spark of excitement lighting up her voice.
Sebastian blinked, surprised. "Where?"
"It's a secret," she said with a teasing smile. "Come on, you'll see."
Before he could protest, she grabbed his hand and tugged him toward the cottage, her heart fluttering at the familiar warmth of his touch. Inside, Mrs. Bickle was preparing lunch, but Eloise was already asking, "Do you have a picnic basket we could borrow? And maybe some snacks for the road?"
Mrs. Bickle, always happy to oblige, nodded and smiled. "Of course, dear. I'll pack something for you in a moment."
Just as Mrs. Bickle turned away, little Archie came bouncing over, his eyes wide with excitement. "Sebastian! Are you going to marry Eloise?"
Eloise's cheeks instantly turned the color of a ripe tomato. "Archie!"
Sebastian looked equally horrified, his eyes widening as he stammered, "What? No! Where did you—Archie, why would you even think that?"
The little boy shrugged, grinning mischievously. "Mama said last night that she met my dad when they were your age, and they got married right after they finished school! Are you going to marry after you finish school too?"
Eloise felt like disappearing into the floor as she exchanged a mortified glance with Sebastian. She couldn't decide if she wanted to bury herself in a hole or toss Archie into the lake.
"We're just friends," Sebastian said quickly, though the way he said it, almost too quickly, made Eloise's heart twist painfully in her chest.
Mrs. Bickle returned with the picnic basket just in time, dragging Archie by the collar as he giggled to himself, still amused by his teasing.
"Well, I see you've already been given some advice, hmm?" Mrs. Bickle said with a knowing smile.
Eloise practically snatched the basket from her hands and rushed to the fireplace, motioning for Sebastian to follow, trying desperately to pretend that conversation hadn't happened. Her cheeks still burned from embarrassment, and Sebastian wasn't helping matters by staying unusually quiet.
"Where are we going?" Sebastian asked again, though there was a slight edge to his voice now.
"It's time to show you *my* Undercroft," Eloise said, feeling her pulse quicken as she took his hand again, this time unable to ignore how it sent a shiver up her spine.
The Floo powder sparkled in the hearth, and with a quick breath, she said, "The Room of Requirement."
They were whisked away in a swirl of emerald flames, Eloise's heart pounding not only from anticipation but from everything that lingered between them—things that words hadn't touched yet. But perhaps, in the quiet comfort of the Room of Requirement, they would find some answers.