Invisible String - A Sebastian Sallow Story

Chapter XXVII

 "Mr Sallow! Mr Sallow!" Poppy banged on the door of the home the girl had described as Sebastian's frantically as she looked over her shoulder. Taking her advice she tucked the journal away, no longer fully trusting Mr. Solomon as she continued trying to get someone to open up. Eventually the door swung open.

"What is Merlin's name?!" The very angry face of a man poppy could only assume was Sebastian's uncle opening the door. Poppy noticed the way he shared the same brown eyes as Sebastian and Anne but his hair was much darker, with streaks of gray and he had a beard.

"Poppy? Poppy Sweeting?" A timid voice called out behind the man as Poppy pushed her way inside with no regard.

"Anne! Mr. Sallow! We need to leave. I need to get you both out of here." She said frantically.

"Not until you tell me what the hell is going on here Miss. Just because you go to school with my niece and nephew doesn't mean you can just barge in here on a Friday nig-" he started but Poppy interrupted.

"Please! She's is in trouble and there are about a dozen of Rookwood's men most likely headed here this instant. She sacrificed herself so I could escape and warn you both. Please don't let that be in vain. I need to get her help and you need to leave before it gets too dangerous. We haven't got long! Sebastian will be so angry if the girl he loves gets hurt!" She explained hoping to appeal to Solomon's better nature. Realization crossed the older man's features and then his eyes hardened.

"Have you no proof for what you speak? I refuse to leave my home on the words of a student." He explained.

"Uncle Solomon, if she is in trouble we need to help her. You can't possibly leave her to Rookwood's men all alone. I trust poppy... if she says we need to leave-" Anne tried to reason but it seemed in vain as Solomon interrupted her.

"I don't care what you think, we aren't leaving" he said stubbornly.

"I am. I am no longer a child and you cannot keep me here. If you want to stay here and fight poachers, be my guest" Anne said, grabbing her coat and following Poppy to the floo flame near the home.

"Anne, get back here!" Solomon called behind her but the girl broke out into a faster walk.

"Anne, we have to hurry... she also found more information about your curse. Let's get to Hogwarts and we can go from there "Poppy explained as they approached the floo network, disappearing in time to miss the poachers that ascended on the hamlet, charging towards the Sallow residence.

Solomon, deciding not to fight, went into the home, grabbing what possessions he knew were irreplaceable before apparating away from the home.

He heard something about Hogwarts, knowing he would have to appear off school grounds before heading towards the school due to its charms. So he started after the girls, hoping that his fear of his nephew's sweetheart and miss Sweeting discovering his knowledge of Anne's curse was just in his head...

As Poppy and Anne made their way into Hogwarts, ascending to the hospital Poppy filled her in on what had happened. About the poachers in the area, that Rookwood had been the one to curse Anne, and that she had made out with the journal detailing what exactly he had done to her. How Sebastian's love had bravely faced a small army of men on her own to ensure Poppy could escape. The only thing she neglected to tell Anne was that Solomon might've known the whole time...

Handing the girl the journal they discovered,Anne shook almost violently realizing that it hadn't been goblins to curse her this whole time and that there was more to the story. The two quickly rounded the top of the stairs, rushing into the hospital ward.