Invisible String - A Sebastian Sallow Story

Chapter X

"Oh how I missed Hogsmeade" Anne said as she walked with the girl towards Madam Snelling's. Ominis and Sebastian were trailing behind the girls, giving them some privacy but maintaining a close eye on things in case any unsavory characters lingered. After yesterday Sebastian didn't need to be told twice to keep an eye out for danger.

As they walked up the final steps and were about to head in for Anne to finally get her bands sorted out again Sebastian stopped them saying "I need to go run an errand nearby but I am leaving you girls in Ominis's very skilled hands. I will be back soon." Before he sauntered away.

"That was... odd." Ominis spoke, rolling his eyes before moving closer to Anne. The girls shared a look knowing that it was more likely to do with the fact he still had an aversion to anything associated with a haircut, but they kept that knowledge to themselves.

"Ominis are you also getting a trim?" She asked trying to change the subject from her lovers jumpiness. Anne looked anxiously for his reply. He sighed, running a hand through his messier than usually tresses as they made it inside. He wasn't given the chance to answer her question as Snelling was all over Anne in moments, whisking her away, saying that she was more than thrilled to finally be fixing the girls hair again.

When she finally noticed the rest of their party she moved to giving two quick air kisses on the girls face and pushing Ominis towards a seat without asking. He stopped her halfway there and said "I actually think I may change things up Madam... try something new. Let it grow a bit." The girl couldn't help but notice how Anne beamed at his decision to shed more of the Gaunt persona.

"You know, I think that's a wonderful idea dear. Something more like the other Sallow... why didn't he stop by... no matter. I still stand by that was some of my best work." She continued rambling to Anne, who agreed the stylist did a good job on her brother's untamed locks as Ominis and the girl awkwardly stood off to the side together.

"Did Sebastian tell you where he was going?" She asked him.

"Getting a Christmas gift for you I presume." He said with a shrug.

"What have you got for Anne?" She asked him, genuinely curious the response. He shifted his weight to his other foot unsure how to answer.

"How can I be sure that you won't tell her?" He asked and she laughed.

"I could tell you what I have, and what else I intend to get Sebastian as collateral. Especially if you help me with the later" she said, offering a compromise. Ominis's sigh let her know he accepted her response and he leaned in close to her ear to let her know what he had done for Anne.

"I found a two way mirror that I had placed in a small compact so that Anne can still see me from time to time when we return to school. I know I can't... I know I can't see her but I figured that if she was able to see me that would help provide some comfort perhaps..." he said slowly loosing confidence now saying it out loud. After all, he couldn't help but think how narcissistic it sounded now that he said it to another person.

"Ominis that is truly heartfelt" he heard her respond with sincerity in her whispered hush. "I am sure Anne will absolutely adore it... I know she misses you a lot. She writes about it in her letters" she told the boy who's face lit up knowing that Anne missed him.

"Alright, now that I have embarrassed myself enough, what have you gotten for our mutually shared, always up to no good companion?" He asked her, hoping to draw the attention back to her and Sebastian, and not him and Anne.

"Right. Well, I am sure you are aware I possess... special magical abilities. I spoke with the keepers, those that protect this magic, and one also had the same talent as I. He instructed me on how I could use my affinity to conjure items. I used that ancient magic to make something for him." She told him quietly given Madam Snelling standing not too far away.