Swallow your pride

Lesson

Yarra's Pov

The time has come to say goodbye to the Aurelius and Isadora. Yarra cried, squeezed, kissed both of them. She inhaled their scent. She will leave them for the first time and it broke her heart. She turned to Ominis and begged him, "Take care of them, especially protect them from your brother." Ominis nodded in agreement to her plea, his expression solemn.  "I will," he promised, his voice hoarse. "I'll do everything in my power to protect them. From Marvolo and anyone else who threatens them. You have my word."

Sebastian patted Aurelius on the head before taking Isadora in his arms. He squeezed her and Yarra noticed a tear in the corner of his eye. Yarra felt a pang of sadness in her heart. Sebastian's gesture towards Isadora betrayed the pain he was feeling. She knew that he loved Aurelius and Isadora as much as her. They were his children as much as they were hers, and yet he would be separated from them because of Marvolo's scheme. "It won't be for long," she said to Sebastian, her voice low. "We'll find a way to resolve this." Sebastian's gaze met Yarra's as she spoke, his expression a mix of pain and determination. He nodded, his jaw set tight as he held Isidora closer.

Sebastian placed a kiss on Isadora's forehead and placed her on the ground next to Aurelius. He went to the door and opened it. Yarra kissed children one last time, then took the suitcase and backed towards the door. She was blowing them an air kiss, "Mommy loves you." she said with tears in her eyes. The children looked after her in confusion and tearfully called after her, "
mommy, mommy.." Yarra hesitated at the door, her heart aching at the sight of their children. They were so young, so innocent in all of this turmoil and heartache. She could see the confusion in their wide eyes, hear their small voices calling out to her. With a tight throat and tears in her eyes, she smiled gently at them.
"Everything will be alright," she whispered, hoping she was telling the truth. "Mommy loves you both."

Yarra and Sebastian went out. Yarra leaned against the closed door. The weight of the situation finally hit her, the tears that she had been holding back now streaming down her face. Sebastian stood in front of her, his own pain mirrored in his eyes. He reached out tentatively, drawing her into an embrace. She buried her face into his chest, her body trembling with suppressed sobs.

After a while, Sebastian spoke, "Now we're apparating to Hogwarts. Hold me tight." Yarra's sobs quieted as Sebastian spoke, her face still buried in his chest. She nodded, her grip on him strengthening as she prepared for the discomfiting sensation of Apparating.
"I'm ready," she muttered hoarsely against his chest, her body still trembling slightly.
Sebastian drew his wand and whispered the words for Apparation. A tight tug at her navel jerked her body just before the world spun around her in a dizzying array of colors and shapes. Her stomach churned, as if the very air was squeezing past her. Then, just as quickly as it had started, the sensation ceased. Yarra stumbled slightly as her feet planted on solid ground, disoriented and nauseous. Sebastian steadied her, his arms still around her as she regained her bearings.
"Alright?" he asked, his voice soft.

Yarra took a deep breath, her head still spinning slightly. "Yes," she murmured, regaining her composure. "Just... never enjoyed Apparating very much." She looked around, recognizing the familiar surroundings of Hogwarts. As they walked down the halls of Hogwarts, Yarra felt a strange mix of nostalgia and detachment. So many memories came rushing back to her, a kaleidoscope of events and emotions. It felt like a lifetime since she had last been here, like a completely different world.
She glanced over at Sebastian, walking silently beside her. His presence offered a small sense of stability and comfort in the whirlwind of emotions she was feeling.

They arrived in front of the gate of the Great Hall, behind which they could hear a commotion. Sebastian stopped, turning to Yarra with an uncertain look. "This is going to be weird for both of us." Yarra nodded silently, her eyes flickering nervously towards the Great Hall. She could hear the sounds of laughter and chatter from within, a stark contrast to the turmoil she felt within herself. Sebastian's words echoed her own thoughts. This was going to be strange, confronting a world she had left behind so abruptly. Sebastian took a step closer, taking her hands in his. "I will have to go to the teacher's desk... We will have to maintain a relationship between us like a teacher and his student, at least in public."