All The Magic We Made (Sebastian Sallow x Fem!OC)

Who You Gonna Call?

Twists and turns through the narrow paths of the cave lead me to the outside, to the edge of what I assume is the Forbidden Forest, as the letter instructed. If there's even a chance that Jackdaw's ghost is still waiting there, I'll have to take the chance to find the truth.

I stand just mere feet away from the line that crosses into the Forbidden Forest---despite all the toil already experienced, I don't feel like getting hunted in a dangerous forest I've never been in. I cup my hands around my mouth, elevating my voice as I shout, "Richard!"

Almost immediately, a wisp of a transparent silver glow starts swirling in front of me, shaping itself into the form of a boy around my age.

"Could it be? Has someone finally solved my puzzle after all these years?" he says in awe, his voice sounding faraway---in the literal sense. It sounds like his voice is echoing from a distant place.

"Richard Jackdaw?" I ask cautiously, taking a step closer.

He bows quickly. "At your service."

"I..." I blow out a breath, my mind swimming with questions. "You have some explaining to do."

"I do? You're the one who solved my puzzle---excellent work, by the way," he says, crossing his arms. "What are you doing here? Actually, who are you?"

"Isla Andrysiak," I say. "A former Auror---Helen Thistlewood---told me about the map you stole from Peeves, and then Anne told me about this cave here, and I'm afraid I'm more confused now than when I started."

"You saw Anne?" His expression falls, a sadness falling over his eyes. 

I nod.

"Broke my heart to go on without her." He shakes his head, looking down. "Probably best for her in the end. How...how is she?"

A sadness falls over me as well when I realize I'll have to break the news to him. I never want to be the one to deliver a message such as this, but he deserves my honesty. "They think she was responsible for your murder. I saw her in Azkaban, she..."

"Azkaban?" he says, his expression forming into one of horror. "Responsible for my murder? But how did they...why would she...what did they do to her?"

"She's alive," I assure him. "She's just...I don't know. She's not the girl you knew."

"I can't believe this. I thought she'd written me off," he says, beginning to pace. "I've spent years, travelling the world, and..."

"Trying to mend your heart," I say softly. He only nods in response.

"I only came back here on a whim," he admits. Then he straightens, a determined look setting in his eye. "I must speak to the Auror you mentioned. I need to help Anne."

I nod. "Helen Thistlewood. She was hurt after our visit to Azkaban and, I don't know, she just Apparated away. I'm not sure where she is now."

"Not to worry, I'll be able to find her. I must, for Anne," Richard says with resolve, straightening. "Thank you for your help, Isla, thank you for telling me this. I must be off, but I shall not forget this."

He disappears with that said, promptly. A weight lifts off my chest, feeling lighter than I had all day. Anne is innocent. Richard knows the truth. I know the truth. I don't know if Helen will be okay, or what's gonna happen to Anne, or if all of this will be resolved, but I do know that I did my best. And I like to think I helped in some way. And for once, I'm okay with that. It's enough.

AN: i know i knowwww this chapter is a short one. i just kind of wanted to wrap up this lil quest here so we could get back to the school and GET MORE SEBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBBB I MISS MY HUZZZZZZZZZZZZZZ