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Chapter Nineteen
DEVASTATING NEWS
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For the next few days I stood in the undercroft with Sebastian as he conjured all sorts of things for me to practice on. On the third day of being down there I successfully managed to vanish a chair. Sebastian unfortunately happened to be sitting in the chair when it had vanished causing him to fall to the ground.

I couldn't help the laugh that escaped me at the look on his face as he fell. I gave him a cheeky smile as he glared up at me playfully. "I see you mastered the spell," he comments once he stands back up and dusts off his robe.

I nod my head, "Yeah," I say the smile not leaving my face. "You looked like you were bored so I thought about making the chair you were sitting on vanish." I explain. "It was pretty funny."

He laughs along with me now, "It probably was."

My eyes find him and for just a moment the sadness flickers back into them before it is gone, replaced by joy. "If you tell Ominis and Anne about this they will never let me live it down." He says.

I smirk up at him, "Oh, is that so?" I ask and I turn around and pretend that I am leaving the undercroft to go and find our friends. "Perhaps I should go find them now."

Sebastian rushes up behind and and grabs ahold of my arm, "Wait," he says and I shift my body around to look back at him. "I know we said no presents this year, but I got you something."

I furrow my eyebrows, "What? Why?" I ask him. "Now I feel bad because I didn't get you or them anything."

He shakes his head, "I didn't expect you to." He must realize that he is still gripping my arm as he looks down at it and releases his hold on me. "I shall send it to you over the break."

I nod my head, "Fine, then I'm going to get you all something as well." I tell him. He starts to object to this but I stop him. "I will feel bad if you got me something and I didn't get you anything."

He nods his head and puts his wand back into the pocket of his robe, "Come on," he says holding out his hand for me. I take it and look up at him, "we can't be late for Transfiguration."

I let out a groan as he leads us to the door that exits the undercroft. "I've been dreading that class all week." I say once we make it back to the defense against the dark arts tower. "I don't want to preform that spell in front of everyone, especially Professor Black."

Sebastian lets go of my hand as soon as he sees other students giving him weird looks. Instead we walk side by side towards the classroom. "It won't be that bad." He tries to reassure me.

"The last time we did something like that was with boggarts, and that turned out terrible for everyone." I tell him as we walk down a flight of stairs.

"Yes, but this time we won't be facing our greatest fear, just vanishing a book or something."

We reach the classroom and I see the eager look on students faces as they walk inside. Maybe none of them had as much trouble with the spell as I had. Sebastian sees me hesitant at the entrance of the classroom and steps back outside of it towards me. "It'll be fine." He says placing his hands on my shoulders and staring directly into my eyes. "You've practiced that spell, you know it. You can do it."

I nod my head feeling a bit more confident in myself, "You're right," I say with a small smile appear on my face.

He leans back away from me and give me a smug smile, "I usually am."

"What did I just walk in on?" I hear the voice of Anne from beside us.

We both turn to her and Sebastian drops his arms from my shoulders and takes a step back. "Just a little pep talk to Lila." He informs his twin.

Her eyes stare into his and then shift over to mine in question. I nod my head, confirming what he said was true. She gives me a look like she doesn't believe it.

"Oh poor Gareth," I hear another female voice say from behind Anne. Ava. She stands beside Ominis with Poppy next to him. "Who's going to tell him that you moved on from him already?" She asks looking over at Poppy. "I heard that he was rather excited that you had a crush on him."

I feel my face turn a bright shade of red, "No, no can we just forget all about that?" I say feeling embarrassed.

Poppy glances at me, "So you like Sebastian now." She states. It wasn't a question more like an observation. "Is it because I dared you to kiss him?"

Her voice is loud and a few nearby students stop of look at me and then to Sebastian who is still standing beside me. I can't bring myself to look at him, I'm too embarrassed. "Who said I like Sebastian?" I try to defend.

"I did." Anne says raising up her hand.

Out of the corner of my eye I see Sebastian shift his weight from one foot to the other. Is he nervous? I see Ava and Poppy nod their head at that. "Why would you think that?" I ask Anne.

Ominis lets out a sigh, "Please Lila, I'm blind and even I can see it." He says and I feel myself grow even more embarrassed. "You've been acting different ever since we played that game in the library last week."

I step away from the group and through the entrance of the classroom, "I'm just going to go sit down." I say awkwardly and then turn around and run into the wall. I ignore the looks from the students in their seats and find mine towards the back of the classroom.

Garreth is already sitting at his behind mine. "Hey, did you master that spell?" He asks once I take a seat.

I turn around in my chair and look at him, "I did." I say as the rest of my friends join in and take their seats beside me.

"Hey listen, Lila, would you want to go to Hogmeade with me this afternoon?" He asks and I see Anne, Poppy, and Ava glance up at stare at me. "Why is your face so red?" He asks noticing my embarrassment.

I hear Ominis let out a quiet laugh from beside me, "Oh... um it's just hot." I say and then close my eyes as I cringe at my own words, "And sure," I say, "that sounds great." I wasn't sure if he understood what I meant so I try again, "Yeah, I'll go to Hogmeade with you."

I see a huge smile form on his face at my words, "Great, I'll meet you by the gate after potions." I nod my head and turn back around as Professor Weasley and Professor Black walk into the room.

I hear Ominis whisper something to Anne but I can't make out the words. Sebastian doesn't say anything to me until the professor starts calling on people to demonstrate the spell. She has laid out a few objects for us to vanish.

"Now, last week I was informed that some students were practicing the spell and I don't know whether it was an accident or not but the librarian's desk vanished." Professor Weasley says and I cast a sideways glance at Sebastian who is trying to cover up his smile with his hands.

She calls on the first student, a Gryffindor boy. Sebastian leans over to me and I lift my head up to him, "So you're going on a date with Weasley?" He asks.

I find myself shaking my head, "No," I tell him in a soft whisper. "Not a date, we're just hanging out."

He doesn't seem to believe me as he raises his eyebrows and gives a slight nod, "Of course, I mean you like him and he obviously likes you so it is a date."

"No it's not..." I trail off as his words hit me. "You think he likes me?" I ask.

Ominis who sits on the other side of Sebastian leans over his shoulder to glance my direction, "Are you sure you aren't the blind one?" He asks. "First you don't see that you obviously like Sebastian and now you don't even know that Weasley likes you."

Anne gets called up and I think about Ominis' words. There was no way I like Sebastian. I mean I did but only as a friend, nothing more. I have a slight crush on Garreth but he doesn't like me. Poppy likes him more than I do and I don't want it hurt her. Perhaps I'll help him realize this and maybe he likes her as well.

Anne performs the spell perfectly and the headmaster congratulates her. Sebastian is next. Much like his sister he has mastered the spell. A few more students go and then I hear Professor Weasley calling my name. I forget how to breathe for a second as I lift my head up and find the eyes of everyone in the classroom focused on me.

Sebastian leans over to me, "You got this," he says and I slowly nod my head. I take my wand out of my pocket and make my way to the front of the classroom. I imagine myself performing the spell and nothing happening and all of the students even the professors laughing at me.

I shake my hands to try to shake off the nerves. Professor Weasley gives me a warm smile. She directs me on where to stand and showing a prices of parchment that I am to vanish. I feel Professor Black's eyes staring down at me, which only makes me more nervous.

Raising up my wand, I point it at the paper. "Evanesco," I say firmly and the light emits from my wand and hits the paper and it is gone in a second. I breath a sigh of relief. I did it. I find myself smiling as I make my way back to my seat.

Sebastian smiles back at me, "See, I told you you could do it." He tells me and I sit back down. "You were stressing for no reason."

⋆˖⁺‧₊☽◯☾₊‧⁺˖⋆

The last day before the holiday break, I spent with Garreth Weasley. We had went to hogsmeade after class a few days ago and it was fun. He was funny and often time I found myself laughing when I was around him.

We stood now outside the Three Broomsticks having just had butterbeers. We started our journey back to the castle. We would need to be leaving soon.

I glance up at him out of the corner of my eye, not wanting him to know that I am staring. His red haired was combed back and he wore a red sweater that matched his house colors.

We made the walk back in silence. While we were in hogmeade I was shopping for my friends a present but nothing stood out to me. I didn't have much money on me anyways. Garreth turns to me as we approach the gate.

"I got this for you," he says holding out a box in his hand. It a small wooden box that sits in the palm of his hand. "I got it while you were looking at the shirts."

I eye the box and then bring my focus back up to the boy, "But I haven't got you anything." I say still not reaching for the box.

He sends me a smile, "Then you can get me twice as much next time." he jokes and I smile at him, "No, but seriously, you don't have to get me anything. I just saw this and thought you would like it."

I take the small box from his hand and look down at it as my fingers lift up the lid. Inside is what looks like a ruby encased in gold vines with flowers. A pendant to a necklace with a golden chain. I pull it out and it glistens in the fading sunlight. "Wow, it's beautiful." I tell him. My eyes find him and he is smiling happily.

"Here, let me," he says as he takes the necklace from me and secures it around my neck. My hand automatically reaches up to touch it as I turn to face him. "Thank you." I tell him.

We part ways shortly after, him going to Gryffindor tower and me heading down to the dungeons to gather my things. It doesn't take me long to pack up a few pairs of clothes. Anne isn't in our dorm, she must be at dinner before we have to head out.

I exit the dorm and head down the stairs into the common room and see her in there talking to her brother and Ominis. I was going to walk up to them, but I heard Anne say my name. She wasn't speaking to me, she was talking about me.

Normally I am not one to easdrop but it is kind of hard not to when your best friends are talking about you. "I heard Leander saying that Weasley got her a necklace." Anne says as I see her glance up at her brother. "But from what I hear, it is nothing compared to the one you have." she reassures him.

Sebastian has a necklace? Is that what he was talking about in the Undercroft a few days ago?

"She's been spending a lot of time with him lately." I hear Sebastian say bitterly. I can't see his face but I can tell by the tone of his voice that he is upset.

"Well they are friends." Ominis says and then for a split second his unfocused eyes glance over in my direction and then they are back on his firend. He knows I'm here.

"No, she admitted to having a crush on him. And we all know that he has one on her, they are probably dating." Sebastain aruges.

"I don't think so," Anne starts. Sebastain looks up at her, "I don't think she completely likes Garreth anymore, I think she is starting to realize she likes someone else."

Ominous nods his head, "I agree with Anne," he says causing the brown haired boy to look at him, "She has acted different since the truth or dare game."

I decide that I have had enough of them talking about me and I make my presence known. "Hey guys," I greet them as I take a seat on the couch beside Anne. Sebastian and Ominis sit on the chairs by the fireplace.

They all look up at me and smile, "Hey." they all say.

I see Sebastian's eyes linger on my neck and I subconiously reach up to grab hold of the pendant. Anne sees this and glares at her brother, "That necklace is pretty." she comments.

Sebastian lets out a scoff, "Gryffindor colors." he says, "Of course he would go with his house colors."

I look down at the pendant and notice it is his house color, "So what if it is? It's still pretty." I argue with him.

"Green suits you better." he replies.

Ominis place his hand on Sebastian's shoulder, "Alright, that's enough." he says to him. "Lila is allowed to wear whatever she pleases."

Anne shifts in her seat to look at me better and I see that she has a huge smile on her face. "Alright, so tell us, do you still like Garreth?"

I stare at her for a moment and then my eyes glance over to the two boys sitting in front of us on the couch. I tuck a piece of hair behind my ear nervously and look down. "I don't know," I manage to say in a whisper.

"What do you mean you don't know?" It was Ominis now that questions me.

It seems everyone wants to know. "I mean he's cute and nice," I start. It feel weird talking about boys with Sebastian and Ominis. "But I can't see it lasting."

Sebastian looks at me confused but he doesn't say anything, "And why is that?" His sister asks, drawing my attention over to her.

She has a knowing smile on her face, "I guess I don't like him as much as I thought I did," I tell her looking down at my hands. "Maybe I never did." I add.

It stay quite for a long time before Sebastian finally speaks, "Good because Weasley isn't good enough for you." I look up at him, and unsure what to do I give him a small smile.

He returns my smile and I feel my heart start beating faster. I can't tell them that the reason I don't like Garreth anymore is because of that kiss during truth or dare. But I can't like Sebastian because he is my best friend and it would ruin everything.

He stares at me as if he is trying to read my expression, but I am getting better at hiding my emotions. And then I feel a pressure in my head, a slight throbbing and I wince a little bit. Sebastian looks at me worried but I just tell him I have a headache.

Ominis is quite but I see a smile on his face, "See you after the break." Is all he says before he leaves to go to his dorm.

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The first few days of the break flew by quickly. My brother and I traveled home, and Sebastian, Ominis, and Anne went to Feldcroft for the break. The Sallows had offered to let me stay with them since it would just be them and occasionally their uncle but my mom insisted that I come home.

It took a bit of convincing but I managed to talk my mom into taking me into a village by our house and I bought a present for my friends.

For Anne I found a sketchbook and a pencil because I remembered that she liked drawing. For Sebastian I got a ring. It is silver with a snake in the center. And for Ominis, I honestly wasn't sure what to get him. I spent hours looking for anything I thought he might like.

Eventually my mother helped me and she lead me into a bookstore. I wasn't sure if Ominis was one that enjoyed reading, but is smart. I found a collection of poems and my mother agreed that she thought that he would like it. She quickly paid for the book and we left.

I had spent the majority of the day shopping for those last minute presents and the sun was beginning to set. "Is that everything?" I hear my mother ask and I glance down into the bag to make sure I still have all of it before I nod my head. "Let's head home then."

In the morning I sent the presents to Feldcroft. It took both my owl and my mother's but they got it delivered. I was expecting to receive theirs today but instead I got a letter from Sebastain.

Lila,

Something has happened.

I knew we should not have come home for the holidays but I let her talk me into it. First it was the attack over the summer and now they have attacked Anne. They hit her with a spell, we don't know which one. She's in a lot of pain and the healer here doesn't know what to do.

I can't lose her. She's all I have left.

It would seem that slowly my Boggart is coming true. First my parents and now Anne.

She woke me up last night screaming from the pain. I don't know how to help her, I feel so useless. Uncle Soloman is taking her in the morning to a healer that he knows. I will keep you updated.

-Sebastian

I feel my eye grow watery as I read the letter. Anne got hurt by an unknown spell, it could potentially be deadly. I have to close my eyes and focus on my breathing as I am starting to have trouble breathing.

I fingers find the next letter, not so neatly wrapped and quickly open it.

Lila,

We haven't heard much.

Solomon just got back with Anne, he wouldn't let me or Ominis join him. He told us that the healer believes that Anne has been cursed.

And I was like great, there are curse breakers but none of us know what kind of curse it is. The healer said she has never seen one like this. Ominis and myself are taking Anne to St. Mungo's first thing in the morning.

I can't tell her because I have to stay strong for her but I am scared. It seems like each day keeps getting worse and there is nothing I can do to help her. I don't believe she will be able to return to Hogwarts this year.

Sebastian

I run to my room with my mother shouting for me from the kitchen asking what's wrong. I ignore her and grab my journal. I flip to the section that is just for Anne.

Are you okay? Sebastian sent me an owl explaining what happened.

I write and then stare at the page impatiently waiting for her response. But none came.

In fact, a few days pass before I hear anything from my friends. And it is the package of presents that they had gotten me. I wasn't what I was looking for but still I opened them.

Ominis had gotten me a broom with a note saying that it was time that I tried out for the Quidditch team. I smile at it and I can't deny that the broom is beautiful with a seat and a lantern hanging off of the end of it. My brother asks if he can borrow it which I let him.

Anne got me a series of books and I am excited to start reading them. In the finally package there is a small box. It is very similar to the one that Garreth had given me the last day of Hogwarts. I slowly open it and inside I see a beautiful necklace. It was a green emerald with a snake wrapped around it in a silver chain. Attached to it is a note.

I had this necklace enchanted. All you have to do it hold the pendant in your hand and you can speak with me. I need to enchant some of mine to be able to speak with you though, but I thought you might enjoy this.

I quickly wrap my hand around the emerald and whisper into it. I thank him for the gift, but ask him about Anne. I let him know that I will always be there for him, that he doesn't have to go through this alone. I let him know that he will never have to be alone, because he has his friends always by his side.