Invisible String - A Sebastian Sallow Story

Chapter XXX

Sebastian wasn't sure how long he sat there, at the bottom of the hill below his home, screaming into the night. He only stopped when his voice was giving out from the strain of his cries. Deep down he knew that there were only three likely explanations if her and Poppy had been separated: she reported back to Hogwarts for something urgent, she had been captured, or she was...

Sebastian couldn't allow himself to think that way. Surely if she was gone he would've heard something by now. However, a lingering thought continued to gnaw at him: why did Solomon leave Feldcroft in the midst of an attack?

Hoping for the best, Sebastian decided that returning to Hogwarts now would be the best course of action, all things considered. So as he rushed back up the hill, he decided to double check nothing had been stolen from his home by Rookwood's men.

Sebastian was horrified, stepping back inside the small home. Luckily some of his neighbors had drug the dead poachers out of his home - the ones he had killed - so all that was left was the mess. It appeared to him that they had been looking for something, but what that was he did not know. He checked under Anne's bed, making sure the box of trinkets from his parents was still there, and intact. After a brief glance over the house, he couldn't pinpoint what they'd have been looking for, and nothing seemed out of sorts.

As he turned to leave he found a book, lying on the floor in the rubble. A copy of "The Tales of Beedle the Bard" that he had never seen before, lay in the chaos. Sebastian recalled his own family's copy of the book, with its sage green cover and gold lettering. This one was dark purple, with a rabbit on the front. Odd.

When he lifted it from the ground, Sebastian was horrified to see that the cover gave way to a cavern, instead of the children's stories. Inside was stuffed full of letters, tied together with string, along with money. Sebastian decided for time's sake, he could investigate it later, but whatever this was being hidden by Solomon, must've been what they were after. Placing it inside his enchanted pockets, he headed back to the school, hoping perhaps to find answers on what had happened.

Knowing that she so often was with Professor Fig when things went awry, he decided to start with the older man's classroom as the best place to start. Tossing in the floo powder, he quickly found himself inside the castle, staring at the door to the magical theory classroom.

Just as he was about to barge in, the door swung open and a very disheveled Elezar Fig stood before him, coat on and a determined look upon his face. Upon seeing the young Slytherin his eyes grew wide, startled to see someone so close to his door this time of night.

"Mr. Sallow? What are you doing out so late this evening? Should you not be back in your common room by now? Why are you covered in soot?" he asked, seeing the boy's freckles temporarily being hidden beneath ash from all the fire spells he had cast defending his home.

"Something has happened - I am not sure what exactly... I am trying to find her." he tried to explain as the old man's face twisted in confusion.

"What do you mean something has happened? Where is your young Miss? I was just looking for her. We don't have much time as the Goblins-" Fig started to speak but was interrupted as Professor Ronen charged at the pair, full speed and very much out of breath.

"Elazar there you are! I tried looking in your quarters but you weren't there - Mr. Sallow? What are you doing out of your common room?" Professor Ronen asked.

"I, I was off school grounds running an errand. I planned to meet my family, along with our friend at my home in Feldcroft. When I apparated there, the entire hamlet was under attack and there was no signs of anyone. My neighbor said that Poppy Sweeting had warned my family to leave, and that Solomon abandoned them amidst a firefight, and I assume she had been separated from her. I came here searching for what happened and where she is." he explained to them both, worried starting to sink in.