Invisible String - Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Fourty: The Killing Curse

"-I just don't know where Black and Malfoy get off, thinking they can dictate our practices. If I want us on the pitch, we'll be on the pitch. If I don't, then we won't. I swear those idiots will be the death of me."

"Gits," I groaned, hoping this would placate her as we entered the correct corridor and made our way up a couple flights of stairs before finding the appropriate door.

Pushing open the classroom door, I smiled genuinely to see a jade green bottle with a single shimmering red rose placed on the desk I usually occupied. Imelda had stopped talking as she looked where my gaze had fallen, and Poppy, who had entered behind Imelda and I, giggled lightly.

She moved around us, dropping her bag into the chair in front of mine, and began pulling out scrolls of parchment. The essays on the Cruciatus Curse she had finished for us.

I gulped at the memory of the curse, grateful that while Sebastian and I had gone to get me a new wand, Poppy had offered to complete my essay, allowing me to take my mind off of the events I'd experienced and turned my attention back to the flower. Stumbling forward, I picked up the glass gingerly, my fingers touching the delicate petals and relishing the way they felt like silk beneath my fingers.

The blush that crept its way up to my cheeks was welcomed.

"Another flower, eh?" Imelda asked, coyly from my left. "Do I even need to ask who that's from?"

"I think you know who it's from, Reyes," Sebastian called out, as he entered the room.

I turned and smiled at him, my magic picking up on his instantly as it approached and I shivered. He was feeling powerful at the moment, making my magic swirl excitedly around me veins and I wanted to know why. I wanted to feel whatever he was feeling. I quirked a brow at him subtly as he approached and wrapped an arm around me, placing a gentle kiss to my forehead.

Imelda's mouth dropped open.

"You finally stopped being idiots then," she said, grinning.

"I don't know what you're on about," Sebastian replied, but smiled regardless.

Ominis had slunk into the room behind Sebastian, his face pulled into a pinched expression, a piece of parchment clenched in his fist. Poppy had reached for it, and Ominis extended it to her, letting his fingers linger on hers as they exchanged the brown paper.

Her head snapped up and mouth opened just as Professor Hecat entered the room from her office. Imelda squeaked and rushed to sit next to her partner, shooting me a glance that clearly said she wasn't done questioning me as she did so. I rolled my eyes and pulled Sebastian into the seat next to me, ripping a piece of parchment and scribbling on it quickly as Hecat called for attention.

"Thank you all for your hard work over these essays," Hecat was saying as she descended the stairs from her office. "This is hard work, but it is vital that you understand."

"I still don't see what we are needing to understand, Professor," Leta Lestrange said, making my teeth grind as I scribbled my note.

Sliding it across the desk, Sebastian took it. His fingers brushed mine and I sighed lightly.

What is it? You feel powerful.

"What you are gaining from these lessons, Miss Lestrange, is bountiful knowledge on how to defend yourselves. It is important to know what we are capable of doing to each other if we want to know how to protect ourselves."

"It seems like we are learning about casting them," this time the voice of a Ravenclaw boy- Ryan, I think- said, his voice almost accusatory.

"I will not teach you how to cast them, Mister Fortescue. Do not accuse me of such."