Invisible String - Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Four: Unexpected Lessons

I sat at the back of the classroom in Defense Against the Dark Arts, anxious for the lesson to actually begin. Professor Hecat, the elderly witch who had once worked for the Ministry of Magic as an Unspeakable, looking around as the class gathered in. Her usual blue robes had been traded out this year for a deep purple, her white hair seeming to glow even more as a result. I kept my eyes fixed pointedly on her, willing her to begin the lesson.

I needed to get used to the idea of actually facing my trauma over battles. Sure, I could still outmatch anyone in a practice duel, that much had been made clear last year during the final Crossed Wands match of the year. But try as I might, I could never quite get the haunting memories of Professor Fig's final moments - or the other one - out of my mind.

Try as I might, justify it as we did, I couldn't help that flash of green light that flashes through my mind at any moment of the day. I swore I could still hear his shout of the incantation, still see the green jet as vividly as I had that day. If I focused on it too much, I could still feel the icy cold hands of the Inferi touch my arm.

I shivered.

That's enough, stop thinking about it.

I felt the chair next to me shift and I looked down, realizing my books were strewn all over the desk. "Oh, sorry," I said, sheepishly. "Let me just move these-"

"It's okay," his voice said back. He lowered himself into the seat beside me, his new school robes still perfectly pressed, his wand set upon the desk, book bag thrown off his shoulder to the floor, landing with a soft thump.

I looked from the floor slowly, almost like I could change who was sitting in the chair next to me if I took long enough to look at him. Why is it now, two days in a row, he's seeking me out? We had agreed.

I finally met his eyes. Sebastian Sallow was looking at me with an air of unease, like he was expecting me to explode on him at any moment. Truth be told, I did have half a mind to pick up my books and march all the way across the room to park myself at the next empty desk I could find. But as my eyes darted around for an escape route, I was forced to realize there were no more empty seats.

"It was the only seat left," he spoke in a whisper, "I'm sorry."

I let out a sigh, a normal occurrence with him, it seemed. "It's fine, Sebastian."

Professor Hecat cleared her throat at the front of the class and I looked away from Sebastian, praying that I could make it through this class without anymore distractions.

"Welcome, seventh years, to your final term in my class," Hecat spoke gently. Every single eye was focusing directly in on her, curiosity and nerves abuzz through the entire class. Each student perked up slightly as she spoke. "This year, we will be focusing in more on what you will be facing in the real world. It is true that for many, you can go your entire life without any incident or real need for defensive magic. However, it is my job to prepare you to face the worst that magic has to offer."

Every student glanced around the room, as if looking for the threatening witch or wizard looming over their shoulder. I chanced a sideways glance at Sebastian and found that his eyes were locked on Professor Hecat, his jaw clenched tightly.

"With that being said," she continued, "This term I will be teaching you more in depth about how you could expect a dark witch or wizard to attack. Yes, that means we will be learning about each of the three Unforgivable Curses."

I snapped my eyes away from Sebastian, head whipping towards Professor Hecat, my jaw hanging open. The class was buzzing with noise, everyone talking in hushed whispers to each other, some with excitement, others with dread. I saw Ominis in the front row, head hung low at his desk, and knew exactly what he would be thinking. Sebastian's hand curled into a fist around his wand reflexively and I swung my head fully towards him this time. He was looking right back at me. We both wore the same expression on our face.