Out of the Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Twenty-Two

"Um."

I couldn't answer. I didn't know how to start. I felt my heart beating in my ears. Sweat was beginning to prickle my palms.

"Seriously, Rachel, what the FUCK is this?" He shook the parchment at me. Oh, he was mad. His eyes were filled with anger and betrayal.

I decided honesty was the best policy. I started to speak as slowly and calmly as I could.

"I was researching the Keepers to see if there was anything on ancient magic. When I was looking through the results on Charles Rookwood, I came across a descendant of his that cursed a student at Hogwarts while he attended. The Rookwood Curse. He was expelled. The student died. But not before a Healer came close to finding a cure. This potion it seems. With possibly a spell added to it for potency. And possibly another spell after that... and some other bits... I wrote them down..." My voice was fading.

"So. You just happen to stumble on my sister's cure and DIDN'T TELL ANYONE? You didn't tell ME?!"

"I don't know that it's her cure! I don't know enough about what I found or how to do any of that and I was scared!"

"Scared? SCARED?! How do you think Anne feels being cursed every day of her life? How do you think I feel knowing my sister could die at any moment? And you're scared?" He was fuming with righteous indignation.

And I was beginning to feel resentful about it. I didn't do anything wrong.

"Yes. I was scared. Because the last time we went hunting for a cure for your sister, we murdered someone! And you were almost sent to Azkaban over it! Or did you conveniently forget that part? I WAS FUCKING TERRIFIED! I can't go through that again, Sebastian!" Tears were welling in my eyes as I unleashed.

"You left." I said softly. "You left. And I was all alone." I couldn't even look at him. The tears were sliding down my cheeks and I watched them splash on the Undercroft floor. Dripping softly off my face.

Suddenly, there were hands on my cheeks, thumbs wiping my tears away. "I'm sorry, darling." he said softly. "Please don't cry."

He pulled me to his chest, wrapping his arms tightly around me and squeezing gently.

I snuggled into his chest, wrapping my arms around his waist, wiping my eyes and nose all over his shirt. Good. I thought devilishly. He deserved it.

"It's ok. I understand. I'm sorry I blew up. It's just... I've been searching for so long. I just... I can't believe you found something. I can't believe it..." He was half mumbling to himself. "Anne's cure." He sounded amazed.

"You found a cure?" Ominis had silently entered the Undercroft during our squabble and was standing by the gated doorway.

I pulled away from Sebastian immediately, wiping my tears and clearing my throat.

"Ominis. Hi. Um. What are you doing here?"

"Well, it is MY Undercroft. Besides that, it's late and I was wondering why neither of you returned to the common room. Thought I would check here." His voice clear and soft but I had a feeling he witnessed more than he was bargaining for.

"So, I'll ask again, Rachel. You found a cure?"

"Um, maybe. I just found that information about Henry Rookwood and thought it might be worth looking into. Much of it was foreign to me though. I could hardly understand the instructions. And it's missing parts. They couldn't figure out what was missing. I just thought... it was worth saving." I said cautiously.

"It was." They both answered at the same time. I smiled at their mutual admission.

"I wish you had told me." Ominis said and then huffed a sigh. "But I guess I can understand your reasons for holding back. Last year was a nightmare come to life." He shook his head, trying to dispel the memories.