Invisible String - A Sebastian Sallow Story

Chapter XXIV

I have been conversing with Dorran as several members of his herd have gone missing over the last few days. He planned to look further south along the coast, asking if we would be willing to scout the Feldcroft region in search of clues since you've become familiar with the area. If we leave after potions we should hopefully be back in time for dinner.

With urgency,

Poppy Sweeting

Also, bring your broom, I would like to practice my flying.

She couldn't help but sigh reading the message passed to her during class as she left the greenhouse with Sebastian. He sensed her frustration, pulling her gently into his side as he wrapped an arm around her shoulder. Pulling her slightly off to the left side of the stairs when they entered the library annex, he set their books down on the ground as she ran a frustrated hand through her tangled hair.

She had gotten in late the previous night from helping Amit with an astronomy table. The day before it was Imelda with a broom trial. And Natty the day before while trying to rescue a boy taken by rookwood's men. This had led to a series of days where she had improperly taken care of herself simply out of exhaustion. The night before specifically had left her unable to take the time to run a brush through her hair, resorting to throwing it in some messy style along with her wrinkled clothes. Looking down for the first time all day she realized she had forgotten her robes in her dorm that morning, suddenly feeling the chill without them. How could she forget something so simple? Why was it always her responsibility to drop everything for the sake of others to forgo rest? In fact, she couldn't recall the last night in which she got a full night's rest.

A silent tear slipped down her cheek as she did not have the strength any longer to fight her exhaustion. Knowing this brief pause was useless, as professor Sharp would most certainly give her and Sebastian detention if they didn't show up in the next few minutes for potions class. However... a small part of her liked the thoughts of having a night off from her responsibilities, even if it was served in detention. She could be there with Sebastian, and not feel the weight of the world on her shoulders... No. She couldn't think like that. Now was not the time to give up. Taking down Rookwood was a priority .

"Hey, hey, what's wrong? What did that note say?" Sebastian asked in a soft tone, drawing her into his arms as she started to shake. The last thing she saw before being pulled into his worn Slytherin robe was the concerned look he sported. His bushy eyebrows raised, chocolate brown eyes full of worry and the corners of his plush lips slightly downturned. She both loved and hated that he could always sense how close she was to breaking . Rubbing circles onto the small of her back he tried to calm her, and do so before they got in trouble for being late to potions.

It finally dawned on him as he felt the warmth of her skin through just her vest and dress shirt that she wasn't wearing a robe. He figured she had taken it off for herbology, but looking around he realized she had forgotten it entirely. When he pulled back some, looking down to see her face he also noticed she was wearing two very different shoes : one brown and one black. The eye bags she sported along with the obvious exhaustion clueing in him that she was simply just stretched too thin.

"Who was it this time?" He asked her, knowing whoever passed the note must've once again been asking for her assistance with a task.

"Poppy." She mumbled into his light green blazer.

"Ah. How urgent is her request?" He inquired, knowing that while he already had plans for the afternoon he could arrange for Ominis to entertain her while he was down at the Craigmire coast once their class let up.

"Quite. The centaurs who helped us save the snigits need help. They've had several members of their herd captured by poachers. Finding them may help me locate or get more information on Rookwood since it's his men." She knew Poppy's request was well intended, and that ultimately she would go help, didn't mean she was thrilled with it cutting into her ability to rest. Mentally she had hoped to steal Sebastian away, simply just to nap in his dorm bed while he poured over research for Anne.

"That sounds like it could be dangerous. Wouldn't it be wise to wait until tomorrow? It will be the weekend, and you can hit the road after a full night of rest." He suggested, knowing there was no point in trying to discourage her from going at all.

"We are simply trying to locate them, we will let the centaurs handle it once we locate where they are being held. Just some stealth digging then returning. Should be back before supper." She said reassuringly and Sebastian got the vibe it was more for herself than him. She was well aware he trusted her and her ability.

"If you believe you are up to it..." he said.

"I am. Besides we are searching the Feldcroft region... would you like to come with us? We could eat with Anne and Solomon perhaps." She suggested.

While normally he would be jumping at the chance to see his sister, he was unsure how long it would take for him to complete his errand, one she specifically couldn't know about .

"I uh, actually promised Sirona I would go collect something for her from the far southern coast... I may not be back in time for dinner..." he said sheepishly. He felt horrible rejecting her attempt to spend time with him, as they had seen each other much less since being back at school between his working on the weekends and her constantly running errands outside the castle.

"Oh." She spoke very deflated.

"You go see them, and I will join you all when I am finished. How does that sound?" He offered a secondary plan and she seemed to accept his proposal.

"Let's go to class before we are late. I can see you and Poppy off as well." He stood in front of her, sliding his school robe off, delicately wrapping it around her shoulders and clasping it in the front, before stretching out his hand.

She accepted both, allowing him to slide his warm robes over her shoulders, as his woody masculine smell surrounded her as their fingers intertwined.

One class then a small errand with Poppy before she could rest. How bad could it truly be?

"Be careful, please ." He spoke against the skin between her eyebrows as they stood near the front gate to the castle.

"I always am." She said, clear exhaustion in her tone, but still undeterred by her heroic nature.

"Usually, you are, I will agree. But I mean it... please. No unnecessary risks..." he said, unsure why he felt that sinking feeling in his stomach once more. Last time he'd felt it, she came home, hole through her chest, bleeding out in his childhood bed. Taking in a shaky breath he moved her to look at him by lifting her cheek in his hand. "I need you to come back to me in one piece." He explained with a shaken breath.

When she noticed the look of concern in his eyes she softened, pulling him in by the back of his head, slotting their lips together. Feeling him sigh into her mouth, she opened her lips, letting him slide his tongue inside. He gave little regard to Poppy standing only a few feet away as he pulled her closer by the waist.

Eventually Sebastian pulled away, eyes stinging slightly before he cleared his throat, trying to keep himself from allowing tears to properly form in his eyes. "Promise me you'll come back." He all but demanded, tone pleading with her as their fingers remained locked together.

" I promise ." She told him, seeming more confident than she had before.

While Sebastian still had a lingering bad feeling he decided to press one last kiss to her lips, stepping back as she mounted her broom, giving him one last wink before her and Poppy prepared to set off.

"Keep her safe Poppy, you know how she always needs to play hero." He said, trying to break the tension in the air.

"Of course. Not even a scratch. I promise". Poppy told him, looking off to the horizon as they both set off in search of captured Centaurs.

Sebastian took a few steps to the left, feeling the weight of the coins in his pocket as he also left the castle grounds using the floo flame.