endgame // sebastian sallow

2: Dormitory Girl Talk

Chapter 2: Dormitory Girl Talk

"Guess who finally learned how to cast a first non-verbal spell this summer!"

I yawned tiredly, flipping down the spell book resting on my knees as I sat on my four-poster bed and avoided Cressida Blume.

Avoidance toward Cressida Blume wasn't intentional. She was a good dormitory roommate, but once you let her talk, it meant hours of non-stop talking.

I sighed, still staring at the ceiling, pretending like my thoughts weren't distracted by having zero communication with Sebastian Sallow all day besides Charms.

"Eherm,"

I lost traces of my thoughts as I sensed the stare of Cressida on the bed beside me; her eyes peeking from the rounded glasses on her freckles.

"You know, you can at least show a pinch of emotion toward my success!" Cressida scoffed from the ignorance, "Not everyone is as skilled as you!"

I closed the spell book and sat up toward the edge of my bed, gazing over at Cressida with made-up enthusiasm.

"Cressida, I am happy about your goal," I forced a smile, "You know, you could've just asked me for help."

"And where would the fun in that be?" Cressida complained, "I wanted to learn on my own."

I sat there, feeling a blankness settle over me, unsure of how to respond.

"I, uh...well," I scratched the back of my neck, awkwardly. "...well, good for you, Cress. It was a long journey, but success!"

Within the awkward exchange, I was glad the dormitory door opened, and in entered the sight of curls.

"Agh, my mother is no fun," Natty huffed out a complaint. I watched as she set the parchments she carried onto her bed in stress.

Natsai Onai — Natty, for short. She must've been the most owl exchanges I had this summer. There was a sort of friendship comfort I grew on her and her mother, you know, when her mother was in a good mood, which wasn't often.

There were a handful of times I got to hang out with her this summer around Hogsmeade visits, alongside Poppy, until Miss Onai would send a howler to Natty for a return.

"What's up your sleeve now, Natty?" Cressida asked, twirling her frizzy hair between her fingers.

I needed to maintain the scrunch in my face from the tone of voice from Cressida. Sure, she was our dormitory roommate, but I haven't forgotten her attitude in the diary entries.

Haunts the back of my mind.

Sometimes I debate if letting Amit Thakkar tell on her was a better option —

"With the privilege of being part of the faculty, my mother has convinced Professor Sharp to add me to Advanced Potions." Natty sighed.

The spell book I was once holding in my lap became decor from the interaction and I raised a brow. "Is that not a good thing?"

Cressida blurted a 'blagh' reaction with her tongue from the potion mention. She wasn't fond of the class, hence, why she was not in it.

"It shall be a good thing," Natty sat on the edge of her bed and I watched her posture lower from her murmurs. "-you know, if I had actually ace'd my O.W.L marks like you." She pointed at me.