Invisible String - Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Eighteen: Unforgivable Fifth Years

"Poppy, it's nothing, honestly," I stammer, hands shaking under my robes. Sebastian kept his hand on my back, but I barely felt it. Poppy's eyes were locked onto mine, her glare more forceful than I'd seen it since we'd faced those poachers in the Snidget cave.

"Abbi, cut it out. I'm not sure exactly what is going on, but something is. And I deserve to know."

Sebastian tried to step forward, tried to shield me from Poppy's cold glare. She had given me a run for my money with how well she could do.

"Honestly, Poppy-"

"Do not get involved, Sallow."

I chewed my lip. I knew I couldn't tell Poppy everything. What Sebastian had done to Solomon could never be known, or he'd be carted off to Azkaban. The killing curse was different, it was the only spell any of us used without the recipient being a willing participant. But would she understand about my taking the Cruciatus Curse? My casting of the Imperius Curse? What I'd done to Victor Rookwood?

"I- it's just- it's complicated."

That was the understatement of the century. Complicated was my relationship with Sebastian. Complicated was trying to juggle my studies, Quidditch duties and responsibilities. Complicated was being responsible for saving the entire wizarding world in my fifth year.

This?

This was a bomb, waiting to explode.

I was quick to look from Poppy to Ominis and Sebastian. Ominis ran a hand over his pale face, a quirk I was used to seeing whenever he was frustrated. I'd brought it out of him so many times two years ago, while running around with Sebastian and I knew what he was about to do.

My stomach twisted like the snake that represents my house, insides slithering around uncomfortably and I felt myself getting dizzy. I didn't want to tell her. Poppy was never supposed to know how dangerously close to the Dark Arts I'd fallen.

"Tell her."

"Ominis," Sebastian hissed. "Are you going insane?"

"She's going to figure it out," he said simply. "The two of you aren't very good at hiding it."

He was right, of course. Sebastian and I had a hard enough time containing ourselves while reading about the Imperius Curse. Sebastian had been able to cover up his knowledge because of the book she'd had in front of her at the time. But he and I both knew that had been luck. This magic left traces on our souls, and the two of us together had brought those traces to the surface.

The snake continued to slither inside my stomach as I looked at Ominis one more time who nodded gravely. Sebastian stepped closer to me but I was now focused on Poppy. She was looking between the three of us, brows knitted together.

I half debated covering it up by telling her Sebastian and I were dating. It would explain certain behaviors easily. But I knew she'd see through that- it had always been difficult to directly lie to Poppy. She knew more than she let on, always.

I let out a sigh, and made sure to keep looking her in they eye. She'd know about Crucio. She'd know about Imperio. She would know about Avada Kedavra. But I would never tell her about Solomon. I couldn't. I'd take the fall for the use of that spell.

Rookwood deserved it, and I still didn't regret that, in spite of everything.

"Poppy, there's a reason we suggested the study group. And it- it wasn't just because we thought you wouldn't be comfortable with Ominis." I was scared. I could lose my best friend right here, with the next words from my mouth and I wasn't ready for that. I didn't want to lose her.