I didn't know where to go. I knew no one. And if who I thought was in that room was actually there, no where was safe.
Unless...
No. It's insanity.
But what choice do you have?
I was told it would always be there for me if I needed it to be. So I scooped up Eloise and took her for her first ever apparition.
I regretted it, because the poor girl got so, incredibly sick and I wondered what on earth it did for the baby in my stomach, but I didn't have time to dwell on it for long.
"Sorry, baby girl, I'm sorry." I muttered to Ellie, stroking her hair as I ran... well, tried to run.
The familiar sights struck me and I almost felt nauseous myself. But I had to find Professor Weasley.
She must have heard quickly of my arrival because she intercepted me in Central Hall before I could even think about going to her classroom.
"Olive! What are you doing here?" She said, taking in my obviously very different appearance from when she last saw me. Especially because I had a toddler on my hip.
"I'm sorry, Professor. I need help. It's... it's important. Can I talk to you in private?"
"Certainly." She said with a raised brow and I followed her all the way to her office.
"Please, sit. I'm afraid I don't have anything for little ones here." Professor Weasley said, gesturing at the chairs opposite her desk.
"Oh, don't worry about her, Professor. She'll be alright."
Professor Weasley gave me a concerned look but nodded. "Alright, Olive. What's going on? You look like a ghost has walked through you."
I took a deep breath, trying to collect my thoughts. "I don't know where to start, but I think Sebastian is in serious trouble. He told me to hide, I can't go home... I didn't know where else to go."
She leaned forward, her expression growing more serious. "Olive, you were always been a mostly reliable and responsible student. If you're in trouble, I'll do my best to help you. But I need to know what's going on."
I hesitated for a moment, my gaze falling to my swollen belly, worried they wouldn't ever get to meet their father. "Someone has been infiltrating the Ministry for months now and Sebastian was adamant there was something happening but no one was listening to him. When Leander Prewett didn't show up for work, he took matters into his own hands and I followed him, when we got to Leander's house... I'm certain Marvolo Gaunt was there... and a girl we went to Ilvermorny with, she's a Veela and... I don't know... it's like they're working together. Sebastian told me to leave, to stay safe and I don't know what he's going to do. I'm really scared."
Weasley glanced at Eloise, who was still looking a bit unsteady after the apparition. "First, let's ensure the safety of you and your daughter, Olive. You will stay here at Hogwarts. It's one of the safest places in the wizarding world, and I'll arrange for additional protection spells around your quarters."
"Thank you, Professor."
"And as luck has it, we actually have a spare living quarters. They've stopped offering Magical Theory as a class. So the room for that teacher is empty. You can both stay there."
"What? P....Professor Fig's class? It's not a class anymore?"
"Yes, Olive," Professor Weasley replied. "When he died, they struggled to find another teacher to replace him, so Headmaster Black decided to stop it. It's a comfortable space, and it should provide you and Eloise with the privacy and security you need."
My saliva became thick as I realised just what Professor Weasley was offering to me. I stared at her, the offer sinking in. Staying in Professor Fig's former quarters...
"Th-thank you, Professor." I choked out, my throat feeling as if it might close.
She led Eloise and I to the faculty tower and handed me the key to the room, leaving us to it.
It felt eerie. The room had been cleared out, but it still felt like his. His essence lingered, a reminder of the dedicated teacher who had once occupied the space. I couldn't help but feel a sense of happiness for the sanctuary it offered Fig but also sadness for the loss of the man who had called it home and mentored me when I needed it most.
As I entered the room with Eloise in my arms, I marveled at the coziness. It was furnished with warm wooden furniture, bookshelves filled with old magical tomes, a lot that used to belong to Fig, and a large window that overlooked the Hogwarts grounds. The familiar scent of aged parchment and enchanted candles hung in the air.
I put Eloise down to get comfortable and let myself cry. The tears flowed freely as I stood in the room that once belonged to Professor Fig. The emotions that had been building up since we separated from Sebastian and the frantic apparition with Eloise all came crashing down. I sank into one of the chairs, my body shaking with sobs.
Eloise wandered over and tugged at my skirt. She looked up at me with her innocent eyes, her small face etched with concern. "Mummy?"
I reached down and scooped her into my arms, holding her close. "It's okay, sweetie," I whispered between sobs. "Mummy's just a bit scared right now, but we'll be okay."
I composed myself enough to realise I still had a daughter to look after, who was likely very hungry and getting tired. So I conjured a cot for her and made my way down to the kitchens I was quite familiar with during my time here.
I did earn myself a few strange looks from students making their way down to the Great Hall for dinner, obviously only used to seeing Professors and other students, not toddlers and heavily pregnant women.
Upon reaching the entrance to the kitchens, I hesitated for a moment, wondering if the house-elves would recognise me. I had spent my fair share of time down here stealing food for Sebastian during my time here.
Before I could even take out my wand to tickle the portrait, it swung open, revealing a house-elf. They looked up at me with wide eyes and squeaked, "Miss Raywood! You returned!"
"I did. I was wondering if it would be possible to grab some of the leftover food for myself and my daughter." I asked sweetly.
"Leftovers? No, that won't do. We will make a fresh and delicious dinner for you and the little one."
I couldn't help but smile at the house-elf's eagerness. "Thank you so much. That would be wonderful."
The house-elf beckoned for me to follow, and I carried Eloise on my hip as we entered the bustling kitchens. The warmth and aroma of magical cooking filled the air, and the house-elves scurried about, preparing a feast I didn't expect or frankly think I even deserved.
Eloise was wide-eyed with wonder as she watched the house-elves work their magic, and they even let her stir a bubbling cauldron of soup with a tiny wooden spoon, making her laugh with delight.
In no time at all, a table was set with an array of dishes. Roast chicken, mashed potatoes, steamed vegetables, and a decadent chocolate cake for dessert. The house-elves had even thoughtfully included a highchair for Eloise, who was eyeing off all the food.
We enjoyed a delicious dinner together, though I couldn't bring myself to eat much, and Eloise ate with the enthusiasm only a toddler could muster, making a delightful mess in the process. It was a rare moment of comfort and normalcy in the midst of the chaos that had enveloped us quickly over the past 24 hours.
"So, Miss Raywood got married?" My favourite elf asked.
"I did." I chuckled.
"To Mr. Sallow?"
I nodded. "Yes, to Sebastian."
The house-elf beamed. "Congratulations, Miss Raywood! We did miss you. Is Mr. Sallow here too?"
I sighed, my smile fading. "No, he's not here. It's... complicated. Sebastian could be in trouble, and I had to come here to keep Eloise and myself safe."
The house-elf's large eyes filled with concern. "Trouble? Oh dear. If there's anything we can do to help, please tell us."
I appreciated the house-elf's offer of help, but I knew that the situation was too dangerous to involve anyone else at the moment. "Thank you. I'll keep that in mind."
After we had eaten, the elves packed up some leftovers for us, just in case we got hungry later. I thanked them profusely for their kindness and hospitality, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for not only remembering me, but welcoming Eloise in too and looking after us with such care
With Eloise now comfortably full and sleepy, I carried her back to Professor Fig's former quarters and laid her down to sleep, conjuring up pyjamas for us both and sliding into bed myself.
But sleep, as it often was for me, was elusive. I stared at the chiseled ceiling, my eyes tracing along the cut cornices and carved decorations.
The room was filled with a soothing silence, broken only by the occasional rustle of Eloise turning in her sleep. The darkness outside the window had deepened, and the castle seemed to settle into a calm, almost mystical stillness.
I didn't realise how long I didn't sleep for until a gentle knock on my door disturbed me. I shrugged on a robe and quietly crept to the door to answer it.
"Hey."
I thought for a moment I was hallucinating. I was incredibly sleep deprived, after all.
"What are you doing here? Are you hurt? How did you find me? What happened?" I whispered loudly, yanking my husband by the tie into the room.
"You forget we have trackers." Sebastian chuckled, softly closing the door behind him.
I cocked an eyebrow and looked at him feeling really overwhelmed and confused. "I tried to track you but it didn't work."
"You can switch it off. I recommend you do it now. I know Hogwarts is safe, but I'd feel better if you did that. Also, good call coming here. Did you cause as much of a ruckus as I did coming back?" He said, kicking off his shoes and tossing himself onto the bed.
"Sebastian, what the fuck is going on? You're acting way too casually for someone so terrified he begged me to hide not even a day ago." I said, getting to the point and avoiding his question.
"I told you, I'll handle it. I just had to check on you both and make sure you were alright."
"Sebastian." My tone turning stern, he was frustrating me. "It's Marvolo, isn't it?"
Sebastian paused for a moment, staring at me as if he was debating telling me the truth. "Yes."
"And Francesca."
"Yes."
I was grateful he decided to be completely honest with me and not try and hide it.
"And I hope the next words out of your mouth are 'and I've reported it to the Ministry and I'm staying out of it my beautiful wife and mother to my daughter and unborn child' or else I'm going to be mad."
Sebastian pursed his lips and remained silent, looking at me, his brown eyes looking sympathetic.
"For Merlin's sake, Sebastian..." I pinched the bridge of my nose in frustration and sighed.
"I'm an Auror, Olive. I can't just dip out when it's convenient." Sebastian stated quite matter-of-factly, like I should know that.
"But is it not a conflict of interest given your history with the both of them? Marvolo put you in the hospital, Sebastian, you almost died!"
"Yes, thank you, Olive. I needed reminding of that." He said, his voice heavily laced with sarcasm. He was making me angry.
"Don't start this shit, Sebastian. You shouldn't have to work on this. I will march in there and speak to Spavin myself. In fact, I'll beat him to a bloody pulp if I have to. You can't go. Not now. I'm days away from giving birth, and I don't fancy doing it alone or in Hogwarts. So you will stay." I barked.
Eloise began to stir and Sebastian clicked his tongue, scooping her up and soothing her back to sleep. Once she was fast asleep again, he placed her back and tucked her in, turning to look at me again.
He took a deep breath and spoke more calmly, though he still seemed angry. "Olive, I love you, and I love our children. But as an Auror, I have duties I need to do or I won't have a job anymore. I promise I'll be as careful as possible, and I'll stay in contact with you. But I can't abandon my responsibilities."
I clenched my fists, feeling tears welling up in my eyes. "Sebastian, I'm terrified of losing you again. You almost died once because of them, and I can't go through that again. Not now. I need you more than ever... I cannot do this alone."
Sebastian's anger seemed to soften as he looked at me. He crossed the room and took me into his arms, holding me tightly. "I know, Olive. I know how scared you are, and I hate that I'm putting you through this. But I can't do nothing. It's not just for work, it's to protect you and our children."
I buried my face in his chest, my tears dampening his shirt. "I just wish things were different. I wish we could have a normal life for once. Just once."
Sebastian kissed the top of my head, his voice soft and soothing. "I know. I want that too, Olive. But we'll get through this. Once this is over, I promise you things will finally be normal."
I nodded into his shirt, trying to stem my sobs to not wake Ellie again.
"Come on. Let's sleep." Sebastian suggested, taking my arm and tucking me back under the covers. He stripped himself almost bare and slid in behind me, pulling me close against his warm chest, his hand finding it's way to my gown and shifting it up so his palms could rest on the child that was almost ready to meet him.
I nestled into his embrace, feeling the rise and fall of his chest with each steady breath as I finally let myself surrender to sheer exhaustion. The stress, the fear, and the overwhelming emotions of the past few days had taken their toll, and my body craved the solace of sleep.
But when I woke up to the sun tickling my face, the familiar warmth was gone and I felt my heart sink. I had hoped with whatever tiny bit of it I had left that he would have changed his mind. But he'd left. He did leave me a folded up piece of parchment on the bedside table though.
I snatched it up quickly and unfolded it, noticing Sebastian's usual messy scrawl was even messier than normal.
"Good morning, love.
I'm sorry I'm not there this morning.
I wish I could hold you and tell you in person how much I love you. But I had to go.
Please know that I didn't leave because I wanted to, but because I had no other choice. I will do everything in my power to be safe and return to you and Ellie as soon as possible. I promise.
Take care of Eloise and our new little one, and know that I am thinking of you constantly. You three are my whole world. I'm doing this for you.
All my love,
Sebastian."
Tears welled up in my eyes as I read his words and I felt frustrated, my heart aching. Why couldn't he just listen to me? It was like he wanted some revenge, a sense of justice for what those two had put us through.
I clutched the parchment to my chest and let the tears flow freely again, allowing myself a moment of vulnerability before I knew I had to gather my strength to be there for Eloise.
Another knock at the door snapped me out of my emotional breakdown and I walked over to see who could possibly want me now since it very clearly wasn't Sebastian.
"Oh. Good morning Professor."
"Please Olive, you aren't a student anymore, you can call me Matilda."
"With all due respect... Matilda, it doesn't feel right coming out of my mouth..."
She let out a small chuckle before her stern facade returned.
"I actually came past because Faris Spavin has contacted me. He said your presence is required at the Ministry today."
I looked back into the room at Eloise who was still asleep, blissfully unaware of the shit storm brewing in her parents lives.
"I... Eloise, I can't take her there, it's not safe... and how does he even know I am here?" I mumbled.
Professor Weasley sighed. "He really insisted. If you are comfortable, I can see to it that Eloise is well taken care of in your absence."
I don't know how I felt about leaving Eloise here alone. She didn't know anyone. How would she feel? What would Sebastian think?
But it sounded like I didn't have a choice, really...
I turned back to Professor Weasley. "Alright... will she be safe? Really?"
"I promise. I'll have the Magical Theory classroom transfigured into a space for her. I heard your little elf friend from the kitchens took quite a liking to her. I'm certain she'll be thrilled to be with her today."
I nodded, grateful for her offer. "Thank you, Professor. I appreciate your help."
With a heavy heart, I started to get ready for the day, realising that, like Sebastian, I really didn't have a choice. Eloise stirred in her sleep, and I leaned down to kiss her forehead gently before slipping out of the room, leaving her in the care of the capable Hogwarts faculty.
As I left the castle and Apparated to the Ministry of Magic, my mind was spinning with thoughts. I was worried about Sebastian and his insistence on doing this himself.
Inside the Ministry, I went straight to Faris Spavin's office and found him sitting behind a large desk cluttered with parchment and quills. He looked up as I entered, his expression too plain and casual for my liking.
"Ah. Female Sallow," he said, gesturing for me to take a seat.
I hated being called that.
I settled into a chair, my hands folded across my stomach. "What do you want, Spavin?"
He sighed, running a hand through his thinning hair. "Look, I'll get straight to the point. Sebastian's missing."
"He's... what? I saw him last night. How can he be missing?" I said, leaning forward and placing my hands on his desk.
Spavin leaned in closer. "We received a distress signal from his tracker in the early hours of this morning, he indicated to us he was in trouble. We sent someone out but there was no sign of him and now the tracker is off."
My heart pounded in my chest, and fear clenched at my insides. "No sign of him? What do you mean?"
"He might have been ambushed," Spavin replied. "But there's no trace of Sebastian."
Suddenly, I was standing. I don't know when that happened.
"So what are you doing about it? I could give birth any second and you're telling me he's missing?" I was practically yelling at him now.
"Well, we're keeping an eye on the tracker in case it reactivates."
Spavin's response felt infuriatingly inadequate. I clenched my fists, struggling to contain my anger and fear. "Keeping an eye on the tracker? That's it? Sebastian might be in danger, and you're just waiting for something to happen?"
Spavin's expression darkened, and he leaned back in his chair, his tone becoming more serious. "Olive, we're dealing with highly skilled and dangerous individuals. Rushing in without a plan could make things worse. We're coordinating with our Aurors, and—"
"That's not enough!"
And I left without being dismissed. Fuck Spavin. Fuck the Ministry of Magic. Fuck it all.
I was feeling almost as reckless as Sebastian and I headed straight back out to Leander's house where Marvolo and Francesca were last. But it looked empty from where I stood and offered no clues about Sebastian's whereabouts.
There was one more place I thought to look. I really didn't want to. The thought alone made me feel ill, but I knew that if Marvolo had Sebastian, I'd be lucky if he wasn't already dead. Marvolo wanted revenge, and I'd be surprised if he hadn't already gotten it.
So, I steadied myself... and I closed my eyes... and I focused.
And when I opened them again, I was standing in the expansive gardens of Marvolo's home in Dorset.
"Not now. Stay calm." I told myself, feeling my heart race faster and my vision begin to tunnel.
You're here for Sebastian. You're here for Sebastian. You're here for Sebastian.
I composed myself enough to try and stick to the overgrown path that lead to the back of the home, my own footsteps absolutely deafening.
Then, I heard a faint rustling in the bushes nearby. My pulse quickened, and I raised my wand, ready to defend myself if necessary. But when the figure emerged from the shadows, I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding.
"Miss Olive!"
"Kolbi?" I whispered, crouching down to greet the house elf.
"Miss shouldn't have come here, you are with child." she said, taking my hand in her own and stroking it softly.
I nodded, realising the risks I had taken by coming back to Marvolo's home. But I couldn't let fear dictate my actions, not when Sebastian's life was in danger. "I had to, Kolbi. Sebastian's in trouble, and I need to find him."
Kolbi's ears drooped even further, and she clasped her hands together. "Terrible things happening here, Miss. Master, he's up to no good. They've been doing dark magic, summoning dark creatures. They want revenge."
Dark creatures?
"Can you take me to him?"
"Uh... Kolbi can try, Miss."
I nodded, my heart pounding even faster.
"Please, Kolbi, do your best." I urged.
The house elf nodded. "Miss Olive, follow Kolbi."
Kolbi led the way through the overgrown garden, moving with surprising agility for a creature of her size and had my fat arse struggling to keep up. She guided me through hidden paths and overgrown bushes, keeping to the shadows as we approached the mansion. The closer we got, the more ominous the atmosphere became.
Finally, we reached a hidden entrance to the mansion, concealed by thick ivy. Kolbi gestured for me to follow her inside. I could feel the weight of the unknown pressing down on me as I stepped through the entrance.
"Master has them in the cellar. Kolbi must go, Kolbi cannot be seen with you. Good luck, Miss Olive."
I crept closer to the overgrown entrance and heard faint sounds. Screams and laugher.
I descended the dark, narrow staircase into the depths of the mansion. The air grew colder and more oppressive with each step, and I couldn't shake the feeling that I was descending into a place of pure evil.
As I reached the bottom of the stairs, I saw it. The cellar door, slightly ajar, with dim, flickering candlelight seeping through the cracks. The sounds of laughter and what sounded like incantations grew louder.
So I casted the disillusionment charm on myself and pushed the door open as quietly as I could.
When I got inside and inched closer, I saw him. And Leander Prewett.
Leander was unconscious on the ground, and though I could see he was breathing, it was very shallow.
Sebastian looked like he wasn't too far from it too. He was bound by the wrists and ankles, but this time he wasn't strung from the ceiling.
Marvolo was having fun with them.
I tried to keep my shuddering breaths as quiet as possible, as I stood to the back of the room, working out just what the fuck I was going to do now...
Petrificus Totalis?
Or Avada Kedavra...
No. Look what happened last time you did that on an unsanctioned mission. I couldn't do that. It was too risky.
"I knew you'd come sniffing. I told him we should keep him alive for a while longer." A husky voice whispered in my ear as I felt a wand press hard into my neck.
My heart sank as I realised that Francesca had detected my presence somehow. I had walked right into the trap.
She removed my charm and grabbed me by the throat, dragging me straight towards Marvolo.
"Ah, there you are." Marvolo said, his stare eying me up and down. "A real shame. You really defiled her, Sallow. You took what should have been mine."
"O-Olive... why?" Sebastian said, almost pleadingly and I noticed tears welling in the corner of his eyes. "Ellie..."
"Shut up!" Marvolo barked, casting a silencing charm on Sebastian so he couldn't speak anymore.
Francesca's grip on my throat tightened, and I struggled to speak, my voice coming out in strained gasps. "L-let. Them go. You have me."
Marvolo laughed, a sick, twisted and sardonic chuckle that had my blood running cold. "We are beyond that now. You're used goods now. Married and pregnant by him. It's frankly disgusting. No, this is about revenge. I should have fucking killed him when I had the chance. It's taken me four fucking years to get to this point, and I will not fuck it up this time."
He walked towards me and his hand wrapped around the back of my head, yanking me forward out of Francesca's grasp. He threw me down onto the floor and bound me with the same charm as Leander and Sebastian and snatched my wand, tucking it into his pocket.
"You thought changing your name and running off to another country would save you both... it just bought you time. I always knew where you were, Olive. Why do you think Francesca here was so interested in him from day one? She was my little sleuth. You see, the Pollard's are quite a prestigious family in America... half Veela's too. The Gaunt's know them well... "
My eyes widened... we were told we were safe. That moving was going to protect us.
But it didn't.
Sebastian, still bound and silenced, looked at me with tear-filled eyes, his expression filled with a mixture of fear and absolute helplessness. I wanted nothing more than to comfort him, to assure him that everything would be okay, but at this point, it truly didn't seem like everything was going to be okay.
Especially when I felt a twang of pain in my abdomen after being thrown to the floor.