My cheeks fill with heat as I sheepishly look away, avoiding eye contact with the brown eyes brunette. "Oh come on, you know Im only joking" he says as he sits beside me. I know he's only joking but bloody hell why am I so flustered?
"Sebastian I-"
"I got your letters" he states. I wince at the words, feeling hurt over the realisation that he ignored my letters, never responding back.
"Why didn't you write back?" I say as I look him in the eyes. I see a sense of guilt, perhaps even sadness in them.
"I-"
"I'll give you guys a minute. Im going to find Natty. Do you need anything Rosie?" Poppy says, cutting off Sebastian before this awkward conversation becomes more awkward with Poppy's presence.
"Im okay, thanks Poppy." I say, giving her a small smile.
Sebastian watches as Poppy exits, sliding the door closed behind her. I watch as he stares at his twiddling fingers.
"I wrote to you all break Sebastian. Why didn't you write me back? Do you know how worried I've been?"
"I know. And im sorry Rosie. Its just-" he stops twiddling his fingers and looks me in the eyes. "It's been hard" he says.
"I understand Sebastian but don't you realise how much I care about you? I've only ever wanted to help you. Thats what friends are for."
"I know but you don't understand. Everyone around me ends up getting hurt because of my actions. I couldn't bare the thought of hurting you."
"So you decided to just ignore me and pretend I didn't exist? After everything weve been through?"
"I wasn't trying to ignore you. I wanted to write to you. Every damn day. But I couldn't bare the thought of you worrying about me. Im not your problem to fix."
"Sebastian." I say as i feel my eyes begin to water. "You know I'd do anything for you". A tear rolls down my cheek and Sebastian raises his hand, cupping my cheek as his thumb wipes the said tear.
"You're too pretty to be crying over a useless boy like me." He says. I let out a saddened laugh as stare at him as I notice his eyes becoming glassy. "I just don't want you getting caught up in the mess that is my life." He says, almost as a whisper. So quiet unlike the shattering of my heart.
"Enough of this depressing nonsense." He says, disregarding the conversation as removes his hand from my face and straightens himself up in his seat. "How are you? You said in your letters you've been exploring the London city? Any recommendations?".
It amazes me how the boy can shift the mood so quickly. A minute ago I was shedding tears and the next minute im laughing at him as he reanacts the Queens Gaurds that he claims to have seen when he was younger on a family trip to London. I watch as he marches around the carraige, saluting a random boy that walks past. "Stop you nusence! Youre scaring off the first years!" I say, giggling as the boy awkwardly runs off. "Speaking of first years" he says, sitting back down in his seat. "Excited for the annual Slytherin prank?".
"Oh gosh please don't tell me youre going to tell all the first years about the merpeople that don't exist and how if they 'stare long enough theyll appear'" I say, using my fingers to quote the words he once said. "Precisely what Im talking about. It tradition!". He replies as I roll my eyes. "These poor first years don't know what thehre getting themselves into" I say. "Youre telling me." He says.
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The train stops at Hogsmede station and an abundance of people begin to exit the train. Some familiar faces are noticed through the crowd however most seem new to me. I walk off the train, Poppy and Sebastian at my sides.
A sudden wave of fear washes over me as the crowd seems to thicken and I take a step back as a way to calm myself down. I take a deep breath and look to Sebastian as he notices something is off with me. Poppy, who seems unphased and distracted by the rush of getting to the carriages that take us to Hogwarts, continues on, not noticing my sudden holt in movement.
"Is everything okay? You look like youve seen a ghost. Dont tell me Peeves is hiding behind the station walls" he says with a laugh. I nod in response as I feel my heart rate quicken, thumping through my chest. "Just didn't expect it to be so crowded. Considering the way I arrived last year, this was unexpected" I say. "Come on, lets sit down and wait for the crowd to pass" he says as he grabs my hand, guiding me back through the crowd and towards the back of the station. He places his hands on my shoulders, gently pushing me down to sit on the cold floor. I press my back against the brick wall behind me as Sebastian kneels infront of me.
"Rosie look at me" Sebastian says as he sits cross legged, taking my hands in his own as I look into his eyes which are filled with worry and concern. "You're okay. Ive got you." I nod in response and close my eyes, beginning to take deep breathes in an attempt to calm down. Moments pass and I feel myself slowly beginning to feel more sane. Sebastians thumb rubbing over my knuckles as he consistently reminds me that hes here with me. Grounding me back to reality.
I open my eyes, staring back at him. "Thank you. I just got overwhelmed." I say with a sad smile. "Anytime, Darling" he says with a grin. I let out a small laugh paired with a blushing smile and my eyes fall to the sight of our hands intertwined. "Theres my girl, smiling and laughing again. Im hilariously funny, I know, what can I say other than youre welcome?". I rolled my eyes and shoved his shoulder "Youre ego is bigger than Hogwarts itself Sallow" I say. "Dont act like you dont love it" he smirks. This boy and his annoyingly sexy smirk. Annoyingly sexy? I did not just think that.
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Time passed and Sebastian and I had soent much longer than we inteded sitting on the ground of Hogsmede station, talking the night away and waiting for the crowd to die down. Sebastian and I were the last to leave Hogsmede station and got the last carriage to the castle. Once we arrived, the house elves took our belongings as we headed to the Great Hall to attend the annual sorting ceremony. We watched from the Slytherin table as new first years began being sorted into their houses.
As nervous as I was, it was good to be back. Good to see familiar faces I missed dearly. I was sat with Imelda who eagerly greeted me once I had returned. Imelda grew on me last year. Perhaps because we had the same attitude. Typical slytherins I suppose. As the sorting ceremony begins to finish, the houses begin heading to their common rooms as the prefects guide the first years and show them around the castle. Imedla and I walk down the Grand Staircase, heading towards the Slytherin common room. "I'll tell you what. I did not miss these blasted stairs" I say to her as we wind down the endless steps. "I just don't understand why flying inside the castle is forbidden. It seems theyve really ruined all the fun." She replies "On a positive note. I hear that quidditch might be making a return this year. What do you say? Joining the team?" She asks.
"I dont know Imedla, I doubt im worthy."
"Are you kidding me? You beat all my best times last year. If anything, quidditch wouldnt be worthy of having YOUR skills." She says. Wow. Imelda giving me a compliment? Now thats rare.
"I'll think about it" I reply.
"Well let me know. After all, I am the captain. Let's just say I can assist in the decision making of who joins the team or not" she shrugs. I laugh at her as we begin nearing the common room.
We enter the room and take in the scenery. Whilst its familiar, I find myself roaming the room, taking in the furniture, the lighting and the people. This feels like home. A home away from home.
"I'm going to get some sleep. Need to prepare myself for the hours of boredom we will be facing in Kowaga's class tomorrow. Ill see you in the morning?" Imelda asks, walking towards the area where the girls sleep. "See you the " I smile, watching as she disappears for the night.
As I approach the large windows outlooking the great water view, I spot Sebastian and Ominis standing with a group of first years.
"And these windows. If you stare long enough, you'll see REAL merpeople" Sebastian states as Ominis snickers behind him.
These bloody boys.
Sebastian notices me watching and speaks up saying, "Rosie there you are! I was just telling the new Slytherin scouts about the merpeople, care to join?". "Ahhh yes the merpeople" I reply. "Took me 9 hours of staring out the window to notice them on my first year. Beautiful creatures they are" I state, going along with their little prank. Ominis cannot contain it anymore as he bursts out laughing, shortly followed by Sebastian and I joining in with the random fit of laughter. The first years look at us uncomfortably before awkwrdly wandering off.
"Gets me every time" Sebastian says, slapping his knee as he takes a deep breath to recover from the laughter.
"Now that, is something I will never get tired of" says Ominis.
"You boys find the simplist thing's hilarious and everytime, it baffles me" I say shrugging. "Now if youre finished with your pranks. I have some beauty sleep to attend to." I say, turning my heels and heading towards my room.
"Goodnight" the boys say in snyc.
"Goodnight" I wave.
YOU ARE READING
The Legacy • Sebastian Sallow
FantasyA new year at Hogwarts has commenced and as Rosie takes on the life of a sixth year, shes faced with more revelations from her troubled past. More trouble lies ahead. But perhaps this time, she won't have to face it alone. That is if she can come to...
