Out of the Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Sixty******

******Warning: This chapter contains sexually explicit adult content.******

I paced outside the Quidditch Pitch. I could hear the sounds of the crowd, the talking, the gasps, the cheers. Lucan calling out the plays and the scores.

I hadn't entered. I had tried. A couple different times. I started to panic and then I just came right back out. I had told Will I would sit with him. I wondered why he hadn't come to find me. Maybe he was enjoying the match with Vicky. Blegh.

The sounds were bringing me back to the Tournament. I couldn't handle the anxiety of it all. I thought I had been avoiding this due to my memories with Sebastian and that was true but only a small fraction of the real issue.

I still had no healthy ways to combat anxiety and panic attacks. And they still crippled me. Always with the worst timing.

I stopped pacing and took a few deep breaths. The score was tied and a remarkably close match. I had to go in and finish watching it. My friends would never forgive me if I didn't.

I turned and entered, making my way up the stairs into the Slytherin stands. I spotted Will's crazy black hair waving in the chilly early spring breeze, next to him, Vicky with her nose turned up as per usual.

Will had a lovely green Slytherin scarf on that nearly matched my own. I sat next to him in the open seat, breathing heavily and trying to remember that this was a school Quidditch match and NOT the tournament. I was safe. With my brother.

"Hey! You made it. Finally." Will said as I sat. "This is great! These teams are good." He smiled and I tried to match it.

"Yeah. It's the biggest rivalry in the school so I figured it would be a good match."

"How come you're late?" He asked, not seeming too concerned with the answer.

"Oh. I just.... Wasn't feeling well. But I'm fine. I know my friends need me to support them so I'm here." I looked up to watch Imelda fly right by, slinging the Quaffle to a teammate who zig-zagged through two opponents and winged it back to her as she was now open and she elegantly scored.

Imelda threw her fist in the air, triumphantly, looking stunning on her new broom that Albie's colleague from Italy had gifted her after she helped time trial all his new inventory.

"Woooo! Go MELS!" I yelled loudly, clapping, hoping she would hear and know I was here to support her. Her eyes shot right at me and a broad smile crossed her face. Good, she saw.

"Your boyfriend is really good, by the way." Will spoke to me sounding cheeky.

"Which one?" Vicky said sniggering at me.

I shot her a glare. I could have blown her up with just my eyes if I wanted to. But she wasn't worth it. She wasn't worth the dirt on my shoes. For the life of me, I couldn't understand why Will was with her.

"Come now, Vick, that was rude." He turned slightly to her and poked her on the nose to which she giggled. "You should apologize to my sister."

"Sorry, Rachel." She said with absolutely no conviction.

I ignored her.

"So, Garreth is doing well, you say?" I looked around for him and he was flying through opponents and directing his team. He was thrown the Quaffle and his team flew in a protective V alignment to shield him all the way to the goal and he scored too.

I clapped loudly in support, but I didn't yell too loudly because I didn't want to offend Imelda.

"Seekers getting close yet? Any drama?"