Shadow of the Key | Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 3: Clive Caine

Amelia's POV

Nightmares flooded her dreamscape like a torrent. Any time she'd wake up from them and fall asleep again, the same nightmare replayed in her head, over and over. She didn't want to take another Calming Draught for them, but after the third nightmare of the night, she caved in.

After she was finally able to get some sleep, she woke up and was met with the shimmering sunny waters outside of her dorm window. While it was sometimes difficult to determine if the sun is even out in the dungeons (usually in the winter time), the summer sun was shining down on the lake like a beacon.

She turned over towards Anne's bed to find it completely empty. She must already be at breakfast. Checking the clock on the wall, panic began to set in.

It was 8:43 AM. She was late.

She quickly pulled herself out of bed and transfigured her pajamas into her school uniform; a white button-up blouse with a Slytherin vest and a matching striped tie. Her dark grey skirt fell just above her knees and she opted to wear boots this time instead of her usual slip-ons with knee high socks. Seventh years have the option to attend classes without their robes, so she decided against wearing one.

She mentally kicked herself for not showering first, but she really didn't have the time.

If she hadn't ate all of those chocolate-covered strawberries that Sebastian had given her on the train yesterday, she probably could've been able to skip breakfast and head straight to class. She scarfed those down before they even arrived at Hogwarts.

She walked up to the standing mirror and quickly fixed her hair, the usual half-up, half-down with a black bow in the back to hold it in place. Merlin, those eye bags are awful.

She conjured up a toothbrush and toothpaste and started brushing her teeth while grabbing her books, quills, ink, and parchment needed for the day from the drawers of her desk when something caught her eye.

In the bottom of the last drawer were all of Sebastian's letters that she kept.

Sure, she had written to other people over the summer and kept their letters as well, but she left those back home in America at her aunt's.

Sebastian's were the only ones she brought back to school with her.

A lot of them were about how he was doing at Gaunt manor, would write down some of the blind jokes he'd tell Ominis, how he learned how to cook, and in one of them he even mentioned that he'd been practicing making his own spells.

But one of them was shorter than all of the rest, and as she pulled it out and read it, her heart began to flutter all over again.

August 16, 1892

Dearest Amie,

I know I just wrote to you, but as I was walking around Cragcroft with Ominis, I spotted a beautiful strawberry garden that immediately reminded me of you. I knew I had to go pick some to try. Though I don't believe the lady that lives there appreciated me stealing from her.

As soon as I ate them, I knew why you liked them so much. I can see them becoming my new favorite snack.

I'm missing you more than usual.

Your partner in crime,

Sebastian Sallow

P.S. Ominis says hello.

Out of all of the letters that Sebastian had written her, that one was probably her favorite. As much as she wanted to read the other letters, she was already running late.