The next morning, all of the other girls were finishing up packing for the Christmas break. Cressida kept avoiding my gaze, for which I was thankful, and kept to herself. Natty was so excited to visit her mother's family in Uganda that she could not possibly be quiet, which helped to make me forget about that bit of awkwardness. We all dined together at the Gryffindor table for breakfast before I saw them all off to the carriages to catch the Hogwarts Express.
Poppy joined us at the castle entrance, and both she and Natty hugged me goodbye, promising to write of their holiday adventures. I watched as their carriage headed off to Hogsmeade, the bittersweet feeling of not having family to spend the holidays with momentarily settling in my heart.
Ominis tapped me on the shoulder. "Promise me you'll keep Sebastian out of trouble while I'm gone," he insisted as I turned to face him.
"I thought you were staying for the holidays?"
He rolled his eyes. "Mother and Father insisted I join the family. I suspect an engagement will be announced for Corvinus, and they want everyone there for the happy occasion." His voice dripped with sarcasm as he mentioned his eldest brother's name.
"How positively thrilling," I replied dryly.
He smiled, but there was no humor in it. "I don't know which I look forward to more: my father's temper or my brothers reminding me how much of a mistake I am."
I reached for his hands, his own pain becoming my own with the touch. "You are no mistake, Ominis," I assured him, my voice laced with emotion.
He dropped my hands, his arms threading around my waist tightly. The gesture surprised me, but I returned it warmly. Here stood a boy—a man—whose own family would never value him for himself, not just because of his disability but also because of his beliefs. I wished so much that I could change everything for him. We stood like that, his body relaxing with each passing second, until the next round of carriages arrived. As we pulled away, a few other students were watching us curiously, but none of them said anything.
"抖阴社区 me about Anne," he implored as he stepped toward the carriages.
"I promise."
He smiled again, better than previously, but it still didn't reach his clouded eyes. Without another word, he stepped up into a carriage with a few other students. The door closed, and I watched it leave until it was out of sight.
For the second year in a row, it amazed me how quiet the castle became as the students emptied out of it for those last two weeks of December. Being able to walk the corridors with my own thoughts was actually quite nice. Specifically, I thought of Anne. Though she'd remained the same for the past several weeks of giving her phoenix tears, she'd also seen no improvement. I knew we were living—quite literally, in Anne's case—on borrowed time, and I had been reading the book on Ancient Magic almost every night before bed with not much in the way of new information. Sebastian and I had already made plans to spend the next two weeks working together to see if there was anything more we could learn.
Speaking of Sebastian, I thought, it was time to head to Hogsmeade. I donned a fur-lined cloak for the fairly short walk, my heart light in anticipation. The Highlands were covered with snow, especially in high country. Though the Black Lake had not frozen over since I'd first come to Hogwarts, it had ice along its banks. This year certainly felt much colder than the last. I thought back to the beginning of this school year, and how Hogsmeade had been bothered by beasts and beings of all kinds. It had been quiet there, of late. Perhaps whatever entity was causing the chaos had focused attentions elsewhere after the troll incident in October. We had heard of nothing but a few unicorn and thestral sightings since, and those may have merely been coincidences.
I was surprised Sebastian wasn't waiting for me in the town circle when I arrived. Checking the time, I figured I was a bit early, so I sat on a bench and waited for him. Another fifteen minutes passed with no sign of him, however, which certainly was unlike him. Though he didn't seem to hold the same regard for school, I could count on one hand the number of times he'd been late meeting a friend.
After another thirty minutes, I was particularly worried. Standing, I went to the Hogsmeade Post to send him a note that I had waited almost an hour and would be at the Three Broomsticks if he still wanted to meet. Looking around outside once more, I headed for the tavern, feeling a bit jilted. Had he changed his mind about meeting me?
As I entered the Three Broomsticks, Sirona smiled in greeting, "Good afternoon, my friend!"
I sat at the bar, putting on my best face "I hope this day finds you well, Sirona."
"I'm surprised you're not with Mr. Sallow," she remarked playfully, raising an eyebrow as she poured me a Butterbeer. "He was in here this morning talking about the lovely day he had planned to spend with you."
My heart sank. Something definitely wasn't right. "We were supposed to meet over an hour ago, but he never showed."
Her brow furrowed. "Well, that's odd. Perhaps something came up?" She leaned her elbows on the bar in concern.
My thoughts immediately went to Anne. Had she taken a turn? "I'm sorry, Sirona. I must go." I threw a few Galleons down as I got up.
"No apology necessary," she reassured me. "If I see Mr. Sallow, I'll let him know you're looking for him."
"Thank you," I smiled gratefully before rushing out of the tavern.
Though we'd been practicing Apparition for a few weeks, I didn't quite feel ready to use it, so I opted for the Floo Network, grabbing some powder and speaking clearly, "St. Mungo's." The green flame transported me there, and I had barely arrived before I was running to reception to ask if Sebastian was there.
The receptionist told me no, but I had the nurse walk me back to her sleeping form, anyway. She looked quite peaceful. "Has there been any change?" I asked.
The nurse shook her head. "She sleeps quite a lot, but not much change for better or worse."
Before I could say anything more, Anne stirred at our voices. She opened her eyes halfway, spotting me and smiling softly. "Good evening, sister."
The term of endearment she'd taken to calling me filled me with warmth. "Anne." I leaned down and hugged her gently.
"What brings you here?" Her voice was raspy from sleep but clear.
"I'm looking for Sebastian. We were supposed to meet in Hogsmeade and when he didn't show, I assumed the worst," I explained. "I'm glad I was wrong."
She reached for my hand, squeezing it. "I'm still here, thanks to Alaris and you."
I squeezed back. I had planned to visit her in two days' time, so I hadn't brought anymore phoenix tears with me. We sat and talked for a bit, Anne confirming that she hadn't seen Sebastian since the previous weekend, before I promised to visit again on Tuesday, as planned. Anne was understanding, suggesting I check Feldcroft, but clearly worried that I would not find him there, either.
After finding no sign of him in the Sallow cottage, I headed back to Hogwarts, checking both the Undercroft and the Room of Requirement. Knowing that it was likely we had missed each other, I sent him yet another owl, expressing my concern for him. I no longer felt as if he'd stood me up, but that something horrible had happened.
I was able to catch a Slytherin girl in the corridor—a third-year whose name I couldn't remember—who was staying in the castle for the holidays. For five Galleons, she agreed to check his dormitory, and when she came back empty handed, the pit in my stomach grew.
By now, it was late in the evening with no trace of him. I wrote Ominis, who immediately returned my letter with his own, saying that Sebastian had left for Hogsmeade early that morning, being rather secretive about the date he'd planned for us, cursing his family for refusing to let him leave, and promising to send word if he heard anything from his friend. I also sent word to both Natty and Poppy of his sudden disappearance, not expecting to hear anything until the next day. Professors Weasley and Ronen were away for the holidays, so I couldn't ask them for help as Heads of House. I knew that he and Professor Sharp had a good relationship, but I also couldn't find him. I promised myself that I would make sure to find a professor—any single one who could help—the next day before retiring to the common room, dejected. I lay in bed that night, staring at the canopy and unable to sleep until the early morning hours.
Whereare you, Sebastian?