Closure (Sebastian Sallow x MC)

Chapter 16

I spend all night rolling in my bed, not getting much sleep. Poppy even mutters at some point that "my thoughts are too loud". Whatever that means.

After the match, we did go to The Three Broomsticks to celebrate. But I was too absent; I'm pretty sure even Sirona noticed. The moment Poppy and I arrived to our room I started rambling about what I had heard in the locker room of Slytherin. I'm not usually the one to freak out and pull all my thoughts into words with someone. But, for some reason, that information is too much for me to handle.

To my shock, Poppy is pretty chill about this new information. She said I shouldn't worry about it because she is sure I misunderstood it, or that if it is really what I think, Sebastian will tell me eventually. Still, even after what seemed like more than an hour talking about it, I am really insecure about it.

And I shouldn't be. I myself have said before that I don't intend on doing anything about my feelings about Sebastian so, this should be good news, right? If he is interested in somebody else, that means that I will have more opportunities to get over it. And, still, I'm sad. It's not like this was going to be anything more than unrequited feelings, but imagining Sebastian with somebody else makes my chest sink and my stomach hurt.

But I can't let all of this affect my relationship with him. We owe each other a good friendship, and I will do anything that's in my hand to maintain it.

The next morning arrives without ceremonies. I see the light slowly coming into our room and I wait until the sun is well up in the sky to get up.

I drag myself out of the bed, more tired than I should be to go in the search of ingredients, and I dress myself. I put on comfortable clothes, opting for some high boots and trousers, so I can get into tricky sites if needed. If I lied to my friends telling them that I needed supplies, I may as well take advantage of this unplanned escapade. I had some recipes lying around in the Room of Requirements anyways, so maybe I can finally try them.

After redoing my braid and washing my face in hopes that that will wake me up, I take my little bottomless sack and I go to the Great Hall and wait for Sebastian there. It must be really early when I arrive, because the breakfast isn't even ready. In the meantime, my owl delivers the last letter from my mom, and I entertain myself with it.

After a good time, the breakfast suddenly appears on all tables and, no longer after that, students start to enter. Sebastian arrives not much later.

He takes a seat in front of me. "Good morning. You are early."

I put the letter on my sack. "Yeah. I wanted to make the most of the day." I observe him as he takes some food for his plate. "Are you sure about this? Don't you have better things to do?" Like spending time with that girl.

"April, don't worry, I'm doing this willingly." He takes a sip at his coffee. "It's the least I can do after you almost got murdered in my game."

That makes me chuckle. "I almost forgot to thank you for saving my life." I rest my head in my hand. "So, thank you."

"Eh, don't make such a fuss. It's my job, after all."

"Well, but you were there; not somebody else."

He smiles to himself. "I guess I was."

***

We take the Floo Powders to go to a little cabin next to a swamp. It's pretty far away from the castle, and it's too cold to make the trip by broom. I reached this chimney back in fifth year, when I was searching for Giant Purple Toads, and it's a good spot for finding ingredients, such as insects and various herbs.