Shadow of the Key | Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 4: Just Helping

"Amie..."

A nudge.

"Wakey wakey..."

She felt warmth on her knee, a gentle knee shake.

"Time to wake up, sleepyhead."

Harder knee shake.

"Amie, wake up."

She slowly came to consciousness, her head resting on one arm while the other dangled to her side. She raised her head and blinked a few times. She was in an empty classroom. As soon as she yawned, the warmth she felt on her knee retracted and looked to her right to find Sebastian gazing at her with a soft grin.

"Good morning, sunshine."

"I..." She looked around the empty classroom and turned back to him. "Did class end?"

"A couple minutes ago," he put his book back into his bag, "You pretty much fell asleep as soon as you sat down. There was no waking you."

She groaned and palmed her face, "I need more sleep."

"That's why I didn't wake you right away," he leaned a bit closer to her, "What's going on Amie? Why didn't you sleep well last night?"

She turns and gazes at him, his eyes flickering to both of hers as to look for an answer.

She hesitates, "My dreams have been worse lately. It's just the same one over and over again. It wakes me up every time."

His eyes and face flicker with concern. She had told him about her recurring nightmares of the night she lost her parents during the summer before fifth year. It was something they could relate to.

"Has it been every night?" He inquires.

"Most nights," she answers, "But last night it was just nonstop."

"Did you take a-"

"Calming Draught, yes," she interrupted.

He gives her a small nod, "I have more if you need them."

She dismisses him with a quick wave, "No need, I got some from Val when we got here."

"Good," he holds her gaze, "And Amie?"

"Yes?"

He looks at her with pure sincerity, "You know you can come to my dorm and fetch me whenever you're having nightmares," he smiles but there's a flicker of pain in his eyes, "I'm sometimes awake too. We can talk in the common room or even sneak down to the Undercroft and just talk."

She returns his smile, "I'll keep that in mind."

He lifts his gaze from her eyes and scans her hair, shaking his head in disapproval and twirling his index finger in the air with a grin, "Turn around."

She gives him a questionable glance, "Why?"

"I said turn around," he commands.

She furrows her brows in confusion and slowly turns on her stool so her back is facing him. Suddenly, she feels his hands running through her hair, causing her breath to hitch. She can faintly hear the fabric of her bow coming undone.

"Your hair is a mess," he chuckles.

She can't even say anything as he runs his fingers through her hair, undoing knots and straightening it out. She was grateful in that moment to have her back towards him as she can feel the heat rising in her cheeks down to her chest. His touch felt like he was leaving fire in his wake and she didn't know what to make of it.