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Sebastian checked the time and was disappointed to discover that they had about thirty minutes before they had to leave the Three Broomsticks if they wanted to make it to Hogwarts in time for the curfew.
Of course, he was no stranger to sneaking into the castle at ungodly hours when he had been out exploring the valley, loosing track of time. But today, he wasn't alone. Ominis had come with him. Unexpectedly, he had accepted Sebastian's invitation, that he had extended without really think his friend would agree to come with him.
After his conversation with Eva he needed to unwind a little. Well, it started as a conversation but ended with them arguing. Both so flustered that they physically collided when trying to leave the Undercroft at the same time. The new fifth year had stop dead in her tracks while he glared at her one last time before leaving. That had been the last time they talked, or really seen each other.
Sitting at the counter, a pang of something he couldn't really identify start to form at the pit of Sebastian's stomach. He wasn't feeling guilty, not at all. After all his new friend was being truly stubborn and ignorant.
"Are you trying to burn a hole through my walls?" Sirona asked, holding a chuckle in, her question bringing him back to reality. "Your poor friend here as being trying to grab your attention".
"Do not worry Sirona, I'm used to him not listening to me" said Ominis with frustration, his eyebrows furrowed. "Honestly Sebastian, if I had known that I was coming here just to sit next to you while you... do whatever you are doing right now I would have stayed in the common room".
"Sorry, sorry. I was just thinking, no need to get all dramatic mate" he tried to joke, but his friend was clearly unamused.
"Are you going to tell me what is on your mind, so I at least know...."
Ominis words were interrupted by the doors opening with more force then necessary, and when Sebastian turned his head to look at whomever was so eager to come inside, his stomach drop. Eva was standing there, with one of her many battle outfits, her eyes scanning the room until they briefly landed on him and she started taking long and quick steps towards him.
He panicked, he wasn't ready for whatever conversation or confrontation was about to happen, he wasn't done skulking around.
But as the Hufflepuff approached he realized her eyes weren't really on him, but behind him. Once again, he turned his head and saw Sirona, that was looking at the new fith year, a mix of surprise and worry on her face.
"Are you okay dear?" the Three Broomsticks owner asked, an eyebrow lifting, scanning the new comer "I know my butterbeer is amazing, but well, that was quite an entrance".
Already at the counter, Eva's cheeks turned slightly pink and she looked embarrassed for a moment before clearing her throat and speaking in a serious tone.
"I'm... I'm sorry Sirona, it's just that..." her voice was so soft and unsure that he could barely hear her, a striking contrast with the urgency she had when entering the establishment. "I really need to talk to you, in private" she added, side eyeing both Sebastian and Ominis.
Now that she was closer to him he could see faint and small scars slowly disappearing form her skin, not doubt the work of a wiggenweld potion. So she had been battling around. Not that he cared, not at all.
Sirona looked at the girl sceptically, unsure of what to do, but Eva's eye were big, begging and... watery? With a sigh, the older witch looked at the boys.
"Young friends, do you mind watching the counter while I'm gone? Tell any patrons that come in that I'm just upstairs and that I'll be back".
"Yes, you can count on us." Sebastian really liked the woman, so he was glad to help her. And the issue, whatever it was, seemed pressing.
"We do have to leave in twenty-five minutes", added Ominis, the freckled boy nudging him with his elbow.
"It will only be a moment, right?" Sirona turned to the young witch. She nodded slowly, although she didn't look so sure.
Both boys stayed silent as the girl followed the owner, Sebastian noticing how Eva stopped for a moment at the bottom of the stairs before slouching her shoulders and continuing with heavy footsteps.
"That was weird, she didn't even acknowledge you." Ominis said, looking at Sebastian quizzically, well, not looking. "You would think that after having you show her the Undercroft, going together to do Merlin knows what through the valley, she would at least say hi. What was that about?".
The Slytherin huffed. "I already told you I'm sorry, I should have asked you first, no need to bring up all the time".
"You are only sorry because I caught you red handed, but don't change the topic. What was that about".
Sebastian shifted in his seat, uncomfortable. For some reason he believed Ominis wouldn't take his side if he told him how things played out. But that was silly, because he was totally in the right, right?
"We aren't on speaking terms right now, haven't seen each other for some days actually".
"Oh? It did seemed weird that people were saying she took Thakkar on one of her adventures, I thought that you would have volunteered immediately to go with her. How did you manage to loose a friend you just made?".
"What? Thakkar, Amit Thakkar?" The Ravenclaw wasn't that brave and not that good with offensive spells, a terrible adventure companion in his opinion, she had better options. "And why do you care? I thought you didn't like her".
" I do think you both have the same inexplicable talent to get yourselves in trouble, and I don't think that you need someone encouraging your idiotic behavior..."
"Hey!"
"... but I thought you liked her."
What? Like her? Well, as a friend, of course. She was capable, more than, taking into account that she had just recently discovered her connection to magic. She was talented, won their first duel without even sweating. And she did have a liking to rule-breaking, something he loved too.
"Again, Sebastian, I would appreciate it you didn't ignore me when I'm talking to you".
"Sorry."
-------
Eva found herself following Sirona upstairs, her mind a mess. Her body felt lighter, her wounds and bruises probably healed by know, but her heart was heavy. She had noticed Sebastian staring at her when she arrived. She didn't expect him to be there with Ominis, she wasn't ready to talk to him just yet, not after their argument, not after what he said to her, not after what he said about...
The young witch shook her head, there were more pressing issues right now. She looked at the older women as she guided her to a private room, feeling her stomach twist, her mouth impossibly dry. Merlin, how was she going to tell her? That she was the reason her dear friend was dead.
Sirona closed the door and turn to her, "Are you sure you are okay? You look dreadful. As this something to do with Lodgok? I was pretty sure he would help you but he can be a little rough around the edges, specially with wizards and witches but..."
Okay, now she wanted to puke, feeling a new kind of pain extend from her chest through her arms.
"Sirona, I... I don't know how to say this... Lodgok did help me, he has been helping me. Yesterday he sent me an owl asking to meet at some mines. I- I went today, he was waiting for me" she said quickly, fearing that if she stopped even for second, she would find herself unable to continue. " But, Merlin, Ranrok was there too, and he was upset with Lodgok for helping me. I tried to, but I couldn't, I- I wasn't quick enough, I didn't react on time..."
She felt tears forming in her eyes, while the woman looked at her in disbelief, shocked marking her features. Eva felt the words die in her mouth, unable to say what she needed to say, but it seemed like Sirona understood what she was trying to tell her.
"I'm sorry..." was all she could add.
Sirona slowly rise one of her hands to her face partially covering her mouth with her finger tips, while the other was firmly gripping her apron, clearly unable to fully process the information. The girl watched as her chest started to raise and fall with heavy force, her eyes turning watery as silent tears started to come out of them.
Unsure on what to do, Eva just stood there, feeling her own tears falling down her cheeks.
After a couple of minutes the older witch finally let a ragged breath leave her body, ready to talk.
"And, it's was today, right?"
"Yes, just this afternoon."
"Did he suffer?".
"No, I don't think so, it all happen pretty quickly".
Sirona looked at her, clearly in pain. Merlin, how she wished she could take that pain away.
"And how are you? Didn't Ranrok try to hurt you?"
"Yes, but the mine started collapsing, so I managed to get out."
"For Merlin's beard, I am glad you are okay."
She shook her head. "It's nothing, I wish... I wish I could have..." her ranting interrupted by Sirona's arms embracing her. Unexpected, awkward, but much needed.
"You are so young, my friend, you shouldn't be carrying the weight of the world on your shoulders. It wasn't your fault".
This time, Eva's tears came in at full force, feeling her body shake with the force of her sobs.
------
Ominis was getting impatient, torn up between fulfilling their promise and getting to the school on time.
Sebastian was fidgeting by his side, although he suspected it wasn't because he was actually worried about curfew, but rather wanted to know what conversation was taking place upstairs.
He had been unable to get anything out of him other than "we just had a disagreement". Knowing his friend, he either was really upset or the Slytherin and the Hufflepuff's argument was over the most petty, stupid thing ever. No in between.
His ears picked up the sound of footsteps coming down the stairs. Turning his head towards the sound he said "Finally."
-------
Sebastian had been looking at his feet, fidgeting, arms crossed and turning around slightly on his barstool, his mind a couple of floors up, wondering what was going on. When Ominis spoke he looked up, seeing both witches coming down the stairs. In true Sebastian fashion, he was about to make a smartass quip about their tardiness but then he saw their eyes. Red, wet and puffy, as if they have been crying.
Once they reached the main floor Sirona clapped her hands with force. "Dear patrons, I regret to inform you that we will be closing for today, I will not be serving more drinks. Take your time finishing the ones you already have but please once you are done..." Various small protest started to be heard across the establishment. "Do not worry, tomorrow we will be opening as usual, but today I need to rest" last part added more as a whisper.
Ominis started getting up, but Sebastian was unsure on what to do. Yes, he appreciated Sirona, but he wasn't sure he could call her a friend, much less ask her what had happen. On the other hand, Eva was his friend, yes, but they hadn't talked in days, purposefully avoiding each other, so he felt he couldn't ask her either.
"Thank you boys for taking care of everything, next day you come by, I'll invite you to a couple of butterbeers".
"Uh, thank you Sirona, really, but there's no need to..."
"Nonsense, I know how much you like them. But for now you should be getting back to Hogwarts, probably should use floo powder if you want the arrive on time".
The Hufflepuff, that had been standing silent besides Sirona looked around. " Do you need help closing?" Always so willing to help, even if no one asked her.
The older witch sighed and turned to her, "No, I can manage and you, my friend, need to rest. The first time we meet those dark circles weren't under your eyes".
That was true, thought Sebastian. In the last months Eva had been looking more tired, paler and slightly thinner. He had heard rumors that sometimes she wouldn't even comeback to the common room to sleep, spending her nights elsewhere. A ping of worry started to grow through his chest. Maybe he should talk her.
Sirona hurried them three out of the Three Broomsticks, reminding them to take the floo system directly to Hogwarts. "These are dangerous times to walk around the valley at night, be safe." She made a point to look directly at the Hufflepuff.
Eva sighed, and before she was able to leave, Sebastian spoke.
"Uh..." What the hell was he planning to say.
The girl looked at him, furrowing her eyebrows.
"Is everything with Sirona alright? That looked serious." He cared, even if they weren't talking right now.
Eva huffed, seemingly upset at his questioning. "It's not for me to tell, and either way, I don't think you would care about what someone so ignorant has to say." With that, she turned around and disappeared in the night.
"What? Why would she call herself ignorant?" Ominis was bewildered.
"Why do you think she is calling herself that?" trying to avoid the i word, it was a bad word.
"Come on Sebastian, I know you are smarter than that. Anyone with two working braincells would understand that".
"I... why would I know?" Guilt was eating him from the inside, his tone betraying him.
"Please, don't tell me you called her ignorant..."
"......."
"For Merlin's sake, Sebastian. No wonder she is so upset with you."
"I had my reasons" he tried to defend himself, "if you knew the whole context..."
"I don't really know if I want to know... We should really be going back, I'm not getting detention, not with you".
His blind friend lifted his wand and started walking down the street with the pulsating light sporadically illuminating the houses and shops scattered around town. Feeling sorry for himself, Sebastian followed behind.
Okay, maybe he was done skulking around.