Invisible String - Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Nineteen: The Invitation

Tall boots, soft blue trousers, a white open neck blouse, beautiful brown and gold embroidered corset, tan gloves and thigh holster for my wand on, I pulled on a deep blue traveling cloak I'd found in some abandoned castle my fifth year. Hair pulled back into a braid, desperately hoping I looked okay, I'd entered to common room and made my way over to the window to wait.

The giant squid passed by the windows, always preferring to show himself when the room was empty, I smiled softly as he floated through the water.

"Ready to go?"

I turned, meeting Sebastian's eyes. He was dressed in a brown tweed traveling coat, dark trousers, new crisp white top and black jacket. His hair was perfectly tousled, eyes burning with delight as he took me in.

He was breathtaking.

"Absolutely," I answered with a soft smile. "Brooms or Floo Powder?"

"Floo," he answered, holding his arm out for me. I blinked twice before taking it. He lead me up the stone stairs and out of the common room, leading us to the front doors of the castle and out onto the grounds.

The sun was rising steadily, casting a soft yellow glow over the entire grounds. The grass was still wet with morning dew, and a thin layer of fog lay over the rolling grounds. The music of morning bird calls echoed from the forest just beyond the grounds and the air was fresh. I relished the feeling of the cool breeze in the air, knowing fall was just around the corner.

I dropped his arm and paused for a moment to savor this calm morning. So many times I'd come up from the cove to this weather, experiencing them by myself. Today, I was glad to have Sebastian with me. I'd hoped he was enjoying it as much as I was.

"You coming or what, Crane?" He called out, and I looked round for him. He was by the fountain in the middle of the court yard, smirking at me. I glared playfully at him.

"Taking a moment to enjoy this, thank you, Sallow."

Joining him, we walked to the gates together, shoulders brushing every couple of steps. He'd so readily given me his arm in the dungeon common room and now I was terrified to reach for it. As we approached the Floo Point at the front gates, he pulled a small bag from his pocket, taking a pinch of the green sparkling powder inside before handing it to me to do the same.

"See you in a minute," he winked at me, before throwing the powder into the flame. Touching it, he looked at me as he spoke clearly, "Feldcroft Tower!"

With a small whoosh, he vanished. Waiting for a fraction of a heartbeat, I stepped up to the flame and repeated his words. Immediately I was spinning, faster and faster as I was transported from Hogwarts to the small hamlet of Feldcroft. When I started slowing down, I braced myself for the impact that came with hitting the ground, knees ready, eyes still shut tight.

The impact was gentler than I expected and I quickly realized it was due to the fact that my feet never hit the ground fully. As quickly as I had appeared, I was ripped from the spot and into a strong pair of arms. A hand was placed over my mouth as I was drug backwards. I was thrashing against my captor, kicking the air as I struggled against the grip.

"Would you stop kicking?" Sebastian hissed in my ear, his voice low and I immediately froze, sensing the danger.

I fell limp in his arms and he released me. Whipping around to face him, I took him in. He was crouched, his wand in his hand, his jaw clenched tightly. His eyes were dark, brows scrunched together in that familiar angry expression he got when people he cared about were in danger.

Grabbing my own wand from my holster, I crouched down beside him, and scanned the grassy fields. "What happened?"

"Poachers," he growled. "Mentioned Rookwood castle and waiting for others."

"How many?" I said, the familiar ringing filling my ears as my veins started to ache with the strain of ancient magic.

I had the sinking feeling in my stomach that this was connected to the poaching ring that Poppy and I were trying to look into.

"I don't know- you showed up right as they were walking over the hill. I didn't want us to be spotted this early in the morning."

I looked back to him, a brow raised. "Why would it matter if they spotted us?"

"Not me I'm worried about."

"And why's that?" I snapped angrily, trying to keep my voice low. I didn't need him to protect me from poachers of all things- a fact he knew quite well.

He laughed through his nose as he looked back at me. "I'm not the one who took down the last poacher ring, am I?"

I glared at him. "I can handle them if I need to."

He stood up slowly, ignoring my comment. I scanned a the area with him and was truthfully quite thankful that I didn't see anyone. I had to tell Poppy about this, and I wanted to loop Sebastian in on her terms.

"Let's get to the house," I whispered to Sebastian, brushing some dirt from my coat and holding my wand tighter.

He nodded once, and moved quickly across the field. I took deep breaths as we walked, forcing the ancient magic to quiet in my veins. We were here to talk to Anne. There was no need for that dangerously tempting magic at all.

I spotted their small home and the adjoining small gravestone at the front of the house. Solomon's grave stone. Sebastian didn't so much as glance at it as he approached the front door.

"Seb," I whispered, thankful that he'd turned to look at me. His eyes were still darker than their usual warm brown, and I knew it wasn't good. "Seb, breathe, okay? You can't go in there all charged up like this."

He grabbed for my hand and I readily gave it to him. His hold was tight as he stared into my soul. I saw his chest rising and falling rapidly as he tried to shove the darkness back inside.

I decided on my next action in a split second.

Holding my breath and stepping close to him, I stood on the tips of my toes and into his freckled face before leaning in and pressing my lips yo his cheek in a gentle kiss. His hand tightened on mine as my lips made contact with his skin and I heard his breath catch.

Pulling away, I looked into his eyes again and thankfully saw his brown eyes were closer to their regular chocolate instead of the near black they were a moment ago. He was still clenching his jaw a little but I smiled to see that darkness was retreating back into him.

"Thank you," he said softly, as he worked his jaw. I nodded, still smiling at him.

He touched my cheek gently with his fingers before stepping away from me abruptly and shaking himself. He faced the door again, raised his hand and knocked on the wooden door three times.

A moment of nothing.

A quiet scrape of a chair from inside the house.

A clank as the door was unlocked.

And then, there she was. Her face no longer pale with deep purple under eyes. Her body fuller, as though her muscles were filled out again, no longer malnourished. Her hair that I had only ever seen pulled back in a bun, now flowing freely in deep chocolate waves. Her eyes were the same exact color as Sebastian's. She looked absolutely radiant.

"Sebastian. Abbi. It's good to see you."