Out of the Shadows // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Sixty-Nine

*Warning: This chapter contains heavy emotions and deals with grief.*

"Wow." I stood there stunned. Staring at her. I remember her. From the prophecy ball in the Hall of Prophecy.

"Yes. Wow, indeed." She was staring at me, looking concerned.

"Um, have we met before?" I asked her.

"Yes. I was there when you were born. I knew you until you were about two years old. You must not remember as you were so young."

"Oh." I didn't know what to say. What to do. I was lost in a sea of emotions and questions. "Well, you just missed my brother."

"I meant to." She stated firmly.

"Oh." I said again. I was baffled by this woman. "But you... wanted to see me?"

"I wanted to see one of you. Not both of you."

"Oh. Ok." I spoke. "Well, that's very confusing, isn't it? Can I offer you a rock to sit on? Or... I mean, I don't know what the protocol is here. I'm... very confused."

"I'm sizing you up to be truthful. Deciding if you're a threat or not."

"Me? You're deciding if I'M a threat to YOU? When you came up out of nowhere and began confronting me. That is.... Slightly on the ridiculous side. Well, let me clarify for you. I'm no threat unless threatened. So, maybe you should take a few steps back and tell me what you want from me."

Her face scrunched up. "You are extraordinarily like your mother."

"I... I am? How so? Please tell me about her!" I was filled with a desire to know my mother suddenly.

"Stubborn. Strong-willed. Independent. Strong. And you look just like her when she was your age. When she first met and fell in love with you father."

I was absorbing everything she said, drinking it up like water. I knew she could see it in my eyes.

"Come. There's a place in Irondale we can sit and have a drink, talk." She turned and strode away. I followed somewhat reluctantly but I was endlessly curious.

We sat in a small pub in Irondale. One I hadn't noticed before. It reminded me of the Hog's Head. Small. Seedy. Good drinks though. And cheap.

I took a big sip and then sat quietly, waiting for her to say something but she just stared at me.

"You look so much like her. Your mother was a very dear friend of mine. I was inconsolable when she died. Right now, it's like she's come back to life for me. I apologize if I'm struggling."

"No, I understand. You are kind of that for me, too. I saw you... in a prophecy ball at the Ministry and you were with my mother. So, it's like a real-life tether to her has appeared right in front of me."

"Yes. I am exactly that. Your mother made me her Secret Keeper and I have chosen no one to impart her secrets to since that day. Are you familiar with The Fidelius Charm?"

"I am. It is rare. The information has to be extremely valuable to want to undertake such a charm. I can only imagine what secrets my mother...."

"You. And your brother. And every vision I ever had about the two of you. And every prophetic dream she ever had about you two. All of it. It's imbedded in my soul. And I haven't shared it with anyone."

"Ok. So, my question is why now? Why me? What are you doing here?"

"I believe that's three questions."

My face never changed. I just waited for her to answer.

"Truthfully, I had been trying to find you for quite some time. At least, one of you. But after a few years, I had given up. Until the Prophet had a fastidious article about a teenage witch saving the wizarding world with her special powers. I was intrigued. Thinking maybe I'd found you. I waited. I regretted it. The Ministry sunk their claws into you and you went to Azkaban. I thought it was over. I honestly thought.... Well, that doesn't matter. But you were pardoned. I was confused again and tried to find you again, but you had moved... or not come home. I couldn't tell which. So, I watched and waited. I couldn't understand your disappearance. Then again, I'd never been to Azkaban. Who was I to judge? The Prophet informed me of a Triwizard Tournament at Durmstrang and low and behold, not one twin, but both were in the picture. You were reunited. My urgency was spurred. It seems you rarely escape the castle on your own, so I have not been able to track you down. I noticed the two of you frequenting that garden, but I could never get in. Honestly, it is mere coincidence that I showed up tonight with you on the outside of it and your twin already gone. Luck of the draw, I suppose."