Chapter Text
A warm breeze drifted over the three figures settled on a rolling hill. Two sat atop a broken stone wall gazing at the picturesque village sprawling just below them.
One figure, a brown haired boy kept his gaze fixated on one house with a lone grave marker beside it. Though he felt that only minutes had passed, reality tended to have different ideas as Sebastian Sallow had sat in the same spot in the same position for nearly an hour. Only his closest friend sat silently beside him like a sentinel. Ominis Gaunt's face was etched in concern for his best friend. It wasn't like Sebastian to be this quiet and brooding for this long. Though, after the excitement of the last school year, he almost welcomed the change. He had almost lost Sebastian so many times in a bullheaded pursuit of a cure for Anne, Sebastian's sister and twin, after being cursed by a dark wizard.
"Are you alright?" Ominis broke the tranquility around them with that innocent question.
"Yes, I'm fine." Sebastian muttered. Though, Ominis felt him tense up and almost immediately seem to withdraw further within himself. Ominis turned his gaze in Sebastian's direction hoping maybe to pick up something, anything from Sebastian. He was about to touch Sebastian's shoulder when he heard something whizzing between them.
"Drat...Ellie!" Sebastian snapped,
"Trying to take someone's ear off with that rock?"
"Sorry" Elysia Halstead called as she jogged down the hill towards Sebastian and Ominis, "I was just practising some wandwork"
"You really cannot stay still, can you?" Ominis rolled his eyes and sighed, "I did not realize a Ravenclaw could be so restless"
"Well, I'm staying still now, aren't I?" A wicked smirk flashed over Sebastian's face as he pushed himself off the wall, scooped Elysia up and twirled with her. The squeals of shock and delight rang in Ominis' ears. He raised his wand and watched as the shapes danced in front of him. She was so loud and so restless. It drove him nuts but it also facinated him that someone could have that much energy and curiosity.
"I'll hex you!" Elysia screamed as Sebastian put her down and started poking and pestering her.
"Not if I get you first" The laughter continued until the sun started to set and the three friends settled on the rock wall, wishing the summer wasn't going to end the next day.
"I'm leaving..." Sebastian said suddenly, "I won't be returning to Hogwarts with you two" Ominis turned his head towards Sebastian's voice, shock written over his face. He opened his mouth to say something but not before Elysia croaked something out. "What are you talking about? Why not?"
Sebastian's gaze fell on the house that he once shared with Anne and his uncle Solomon. No one has heard from Anne since that day and Solomon was buried in front of that tombstone. "I just can't go back there. Not after everything that has happened" Ominis stood up and faced Sebastian, anger written across his face, "We risked our lives for you. We stood by and we could have turned you in but didn't. And this is how you repay us?"
Tears streamed down Elysia's face as she grabbed Sebastian's hand, "Please, don't go" she begged, "There must be enough between us for you to stay" Sebastian pulled his hands away from her's, his gaze wavering for just a split second before hardening once again, "I'm sorry, but no. My mind is made up"