"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...
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I had been in such a fugue, I had completely forgotten the plans we made for our seventh-years.
Of course, Juliette remembered. It was her idea. Why not cover all the darkest curses while the curse-breaker is with us?
How bloody brilliant.
I stepped out of the way of my students, taking the extra moment to straighten my hair. When the path was clear, I paced to meet Juliette at the front of the room.
"Miss Fontaine,"
Speaking her name for the first time in days was like swallowing glass.
"A quick word in my office?"
I started for the stairs without waiting for her response. I couldn't bear to look at her beautifully perplexed face a moment longer. Whispers from our early Ravenclaws followed us up the stairs to my office door –
"Uh oh. Mum and dad need to have a talk."
"You think he's asked her to marry him yet?"
"Would we have two Professor Sallows then?"
Merlin. Perhaps I can ask Juliette to demonstrate the Killing Curse on me, instead.
I left the door open to avoid further embarrassment.
"Miss Fontaine, we need to postpone this." I spoke in hushed tones only she could hear.
"Why?" A flicker of pity in her eyes told me she already knew bloody well 'why.' She was practically glowing from a week of uninterrupted sleep, while I was one foot in the grave.
"I cannot do this to you. Not after—"
"Yes, you can," She interrupted firmly.
"No, Miss Fontaine, I won't do it."
She recoiled, as if offended by my refusal to puppeteer her in front of my students.
"Would you prefer to use the Cruciatus on me instead?" she cocked an eyebrow, challenging me.
How could she be playful at a time like this?
I sighed. She wasn't going to give this up, and I was powerless against her in more ways than one.
"No. I will take the Cruciatus... I deserve it."
"Sebastian Henry Sallow," she reached across the space between us and took my hand in hers, drawing the little circles on the back of my hand that always calmed me right down.
"You do not deserve any of it. It will be quick. I will take the lead, just as we planned." She exchanged her gentle caress of my hand for a tight squeeze before adding, "And please never call me Miss Fontaine in private, ever again."
