Hogwarts Legacy: Shades of Silver Lining

Ch.3.2 The Cursed Magic

A/N: Thank you Bagel for beta reading! (@accio-bagel on tumblr, fantastic artist and a wonderful person 🫶)

Pt.2 word count: 4670

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Her impression of the Slytherin dormitories in the dungeons was vague—Alyn heard they were dark, cool, and luxurious all at once. The room on the third floor of the Three Broomsticks, where Sebastian had led her away from prying eyes and ears, looked nothing like his supposed dormitory back at the castle. Every surface in the room—walls, floor, ceiling—was clad in warm-coloured wood. Each step brought a quiet cosy creak from the floor; between the bed and the large desk, a patterned rug lay with stacks of books piled to the window ledge.

"Welcome," Sebastian commented, sounding rather devoid of excitement.

Turning back to the closed door, Alyn glanced at the timeworn mirror. She was able to wash her face downstairs—while enduring Sebastian's reassurances that everything was under control now—and make her curls a little less chaotic, but her amber eyes looked swollen, from both lack of sleep and smoke-induced tears.

"Have a seat. I just..." Sebastian quickly organised his bed, tossing a few things onto a chair, flattening the blanket, and arranging an assortment of pillows at the head.

"So now—we just wait?" Alyn questioned gloomily.

"What do you suggest?" Sebastian's tone sounded purely rhetorical. There was nothing realistic she could suggest. Get a new wand and—run? To where? Abandon everyone who trusted her, leave behind even that irritating Sebastian, who'd somehow assumed the role of Auror in only a couple of weeks?

"Alyn, one more time." Sebastian paused when he saw her still standing near the door, looking at him grimly. "There's nothing he can actually charge you with. Even if that's what you think he wants, he—"

"He tried to take my wand," Alyn pointed out, recalling an action she considered an outright accusation.

"To examine," Sebastian said offhandedly, and her gaze grew only darker. "Didn't even insist, did he?"

"How did he manage to sway you in no time? What's he even telling you?" Alyn folded her arms tightly, restraining her frustration so fierce it was ready to explode. "Weren't you just on my side?"

"Firstly, no one's swayed me, alright? Secondly, I am on your side. Look, it's good he cares about what people think. Most of them are backing you." Sebastian paused, his eyes searching Alyn's cold-as-stone expression for any sign of understanding. "I'm just trying to help you keep perspective."

"Oh," her eyebrow arched slightly, "Since when did you become Mr. Perspective?"

"Since I've come to understand," Sebastian's voice rose as his fists clenched by his sides, "How stress can twist one's perception."

His sharper tone did help his words break through the bubble of frustration Alyn was trying to defend. She pressed her lips tightly as his words echoed in her mind, sinking in. Much as she hated it, he wasn't wrong—not entirely, at least.

Sitting down on the hastily made bed, Alyn watched as Sebastian, just a step away, tore a small piece from a scroll of parchment. "I'll call Ominis," he said in a softened voice, dipping the quill in ink and bending over the desk.

"No, hold on." Alyn reached out a hand in his direction. "I don't want to draw Foster's attention to him as well."

"Too late for that," Sebastian looked at her briefly before returning to his writing. "You'll be talking about his brother's visit, won't you? Foster's well aware of your contacts, especially in Hogsmeade. If Ominis doesn't show now, he'll still be here later—alone. We've got time to talk without the rest of them. I'll tell Echo to wake him. He's very good at it, just as at flying fast. I should really learn the Patronus charm... it'd be fastest."