DELGADO || Sebastian Sallow (Hogwarts Legacy)

Part 36 - Pictures and Arrows

ꕀꕥ〡~𐀔~〡ꕥꕀ

❝I always protected you, Delgado—even when we were enemies❞

______________________________

-
The present-
Year 1891 - Gaunt mansion - secret office
;Sebastian and angella at the pegboard;

We both stared at the picture in Sebastian's hand, then exchanged a puzzled glance.

"What does this mean? Why does he have a picture of you from Christmas Eve?" Sebastian asked, his brow furrowed.

"If I knew, I'd tell you," I admitted with a sigh. "But I have to disappoint you. All I know is that Marvolo was at the poacher camp that day. It was the first time he saw me, and ever since, he's been looking for me..." I took the picture and pinned it back onto the board.

My finger traced the path leading up to various articles, stopping on a Spanish one. I began reading it aloud, slowly, as Sebastian tried to follow along. I had taught him some Spanish, but the flood of words was overwhelming, making it hard for him to grasp the full meaning.

When I finished, my hands trembled, and the article slipped from my grasp, landing on the floor. Sebastian quickly picked it up and reread it, repeating the Spanish words he recognized under his breath.

Then his eyes met mine, and I saw the realization dawn in them.

"This is about your parents' accident..."

I simply nodded. No words came. I wanted to speak, but my voice had abandoned me.

Sebastian exhaled heavily and sank into a chair, his gaze sweeping over the board. Every paper, every picture, every article. Suddenly, he shot up, walked to the far left side, and yanked a photograph down for a closer look.

"Fuck..." he muttered, his voice tight with disbelief.

He thrust the picture into my hands. I stared at it—three young people standing near the fireplace in the Slytherin common room. On the left, a pale blond-haired man. On the right, a brown-haired man. And in the middle... my mother. All of them wearing Slytherin uniforms.

"My mom..." I barely managed to whisper.

Sebastian gave me a rigid look. "Do you have any idea who these men are?"

I shook my head slowly. "Do you?"

He pointed at the blond man. "That's Mr. Gaunt." Then his finger moved to the other. "And that... that's my father."

I looked up sharply, meeting his gaze. "Don't mess with me, Sebastian. This isn't funny."

He snatched the picture back, studying it even closer. "I'm not joking, Ang. That is my dad, your mother, and Mr. Gaunt. At Hogwarts. Seventh-year students, judging by their robes."

"They were... friends?" My voice was laced with disbelief as I took the photo from him again. "I didn't even know my mom went to Hogwarts. Another secret... just great."

I slumped onto the table, staring at the floor, feeling the weight of the unknown. "I'm starting to think I never really knew my parents at all," I murmured. "Maybe there's something wrong with me..."

Sebastian was beside me in an instant, lifting my chin gently with both hands. "Don't you ever say that again, Angelina. There's nothing wrong with you. Your parents tried to protect you from a life they knew you needed to avoid. But after their sudden deaths... they couldn't stop you from being pulled into it."

I blinked away the tears threatening to spill. "I just wish I could ask them about everything. Not even my aunt has the answers I need."

Sebastian sat beside me on the table. "You and me both. There are so many things I wish I could ask my parents... especially now that Solomon is gone. Maybe one day, we'll find a way."