I walked into the Great Hall for lunch feeling better until I saw Theo walking towards me, "There's my darling, how did you sleep last night?" he smiled,
"Horribly," I frowned holding my head, "I had a nightmare," I looked at the floor,
"Sorry to hear that, anything I can do?" he said placing a hand on the top of my head.
"Not really, I'll be fine-" I was interrupted by him pulling me into his chest and holding me to him, "What are you doing?"
"It's called trying to comfort you," he said as I relaxed slightly, I could hear his heartbeat, my nose was being invaded by the smell of smoked vanilla and blueberries.
"Are you wearing cologne?" I asked pulling myself back to look up at him,
"Yeah, do you like it?" he gave me a surprised look before smiling at me,
"I mean it does smell nice," I said turning away from him, "We should go eat breakfast," I said looking at the tables as we walked to go sit down with his friends at Ravenclaw table.
Walking to my first class, Theo insisted on escorting me he turned to me once we were alone, "I was wondering if you'd meet me in the Astronomy Tower tonight before curfew?" he asked smiling.
"Was there something you wanted to show me?" I raised an eyebrow turning to him,
"It's going to be a surprised." he smiled leaning down to giving me a quick peck on the cheek before walking away.
I felt my face flush, 'No, no, no!' I thought viciously wiping my face off, 'I refuse to feel like this,' I glared in the direction he went, still feeling my cheeks burning.
After Professor Hecat's class I noticed Sebastian waiting for someone, he looked to me and I met his eyes walking over to him. "It's good to know you made it back in one piece," he smiled at me,
"Yes," I looked to him crossing my arms, "Glad you didn't continue to follow me,"
"Is there any chance we can talk?" he asked as I looked around to make sure Oliver and Kalista weren't around,
"We can, but not here," I told him as he nodded,
"I have the perfect place," he smiled, "Follow me,"
He lead me down the stairs outside the classroom before turning to the right, heading beside the staircase, "A clock?" I turned to look at him,
"It's a secret passage, to the Undercroft." he informed me walking closer, using his wand to open it, "After you," he gestured for me to enter.
Stepping through as he followed behind me closing the door behind us, I continued walking until I came to wide open large store room. There were candelabras hanging from the ceiling as I looked around seeing a potion station and a table with books and papers spread across it.
"Confringo." Sebastian casted lighting the two unlit candelabras, I looked around the room now that there was more light.
"I'm guessing you spend a lot of time down here with Anne and Ominis?" I asked looking at everything, he walked over to the table trying to clean up papers.
"Trying to find the cure for Solomon?" I asked as he gave me a sad smile,
"Anne keeps telling me it's pointless, everyone says there is no curing him, but I wanted to at least try since he's the only family we have left." Sebastian stated.
"What was it you needed to talk to me about again Sebastian?" I asked him putting my hands together behind my back, hearing the door open behind us.
"Sebastian! What is she doing here in the Undercroft?" I heard Ominis yell angrily at him, before turning around to look at him, "You had better have a good reason for it."
"I needed to talk to her, there was no where I could go that-" Sebastian stopped as I eyed him,
"That what Sebastian?" Ominis asked annoyed, I huffed crossing my arms,
"That Theo wouldn't be able to see us, so he told you to stay away from me didn't he?" I asked him.
"Theo, as in Theo Bergeous?" Ominis asked, "Everyone saw the two of you walking around Hogsmeade the other day, aren't the two of you dating?"
"Yes," I sighed glaring at the floor,
"I heard from Imelda at lunch you were being blackmailed into the relationship," Sebastian crossed his arms, looking to him shocked as he looked back at me.
Not sure if I felt relief or worried that he knew, I turned away from him to look back to the floor, "It's true. I wouldn't have dated him otherwise." I spoke softly.
Once that soaked in, Sebastian was the first to speak up, "What is that bastard blackmailing you with?" he spat out his question angrily.
"He - knows that Kalista used an unforgivable on me the other day." I whispered scratching the back of my head, "He's threatened to turn the three of in on the suspicion of using the Dark Arts." I said looking away from him.
"She did use one on you." Sebastian's eyes widened out of angry shock, "You didn't trust me enough to tell me?"
"I had to lie, or else my siblings would've retaliated against me." I felt the hot tears falling down my cheeks.
"You'll need to gain information to blackmail him back, it's the only way he'll leave you alone, I could help you with getting the information you need." Ominis said as I looked to him,
"Thank you," I smiled at him, turning to Sebastian after he left.
He was grinning at me like he just learned the biggest secret, "Why are you smiling so much?" I asked raising an eyebrow,
"Just reveling in the fact that bastard had to blackmail you to get you to date him," he grinned before turning to me, "No one should do that, you even said if you wanted to date, you would."
"You're right, but unfortunately here we are." I frowned, sitting down on the wall as he walked over to sit down next to me.
"So, what did you even find in the Restricted Section the other day? You never told me." he asked,
"It turned out to be a book, there were pages that were missing which I found last night,"
"Is there anything more to this book or pages?" he raised an eyebrow,
"There isn't much more I can say, I'm sworn to secrecy, but I think I'll be open to tell you eventually." I grinned as he narrowed his eyes at me.
"I see how it is." he nodded before giving a serious look, "I'm guessing that's the same story about why you were in the Forbidden Forrest?"
"I'm afraid so," I smirked as he glared at me, "Oh, don't look at me like that."
"What can you tell me then?" he asked, I turned to him,
"I can see traces of ancient magic,"
"Ancient magic? That definitely wasn't what I was expecting you to say, what does that even mean?" he asked looking to me confused.
"I'm not sure exactly, this is all so new to me." I said looking straight at the other side of the room, "Ever since that dragon attack, I've been seeing whispers of an old magic that hardly anyone else can."
"Fig and I think that Ranrok has somehow found a way to harness that magic's power." I turned to watch his face twist angrily,
"Are you telling me that goblins may be wielding some sort of wizard magic?" he asked turning to me.
"That's what we're trying to find out."
"Does this 'ability' of yours allow you to wield this magic too?" he asked,
"I'm not sure," I shrugged,
"Well, when you do know, tell me. I've been studying archaic forms of magic for ages. Perhaps we could help each other." he smiled, I nodded.
"I would like that very much," I smiled looking to him,
"I was wondering if you'd join me the next time I go to Feldcroft?" he asked rubbing the back of his neck.
"I'd be happy to, just let me know when you do." I smiled at him before getting up and walking over to leave the Undercroft.
"Where are you going?" he asked as I turned away,
"As much as I'd love to hide down here as long as I can, he's going to start wondering where I am." I gave him a sad smile before leaving him down there alone.
Walking back out into the hallway I made my way toward the common room, checking to see if I was clear of Theo. Not seeing him around I went towards the entrance, "Katherine? Where have you been?" I froze scrunching my face out of frustration before turning to him with a smile.
"I went to Hogsmeade to pick up some clothes from Gladrags, before that I was in my room." I said looking to him, he didn't look at that pleased.
"Anne and Imelda said you haven't been in there since this morning," he crossed his arms, "So where were you really?"
"They must not of realized, I mean I was asleep." I shrugged as he narrowed his eyes, "I don't know what you think you're going to get out of me, but I'm not lying."
"I was actually coming to get you for the surprise I planned for you." he said, I looked to him, "I have everything ready for us."
"Okay," I said he stretched an hand out for me to take before he led me to the Astronomy tower, feeling his hand was clammy in my own. 'Is he nervous?' I thought looking up at him as he pulled me behind him up the stairs to the very top.
Turning to me after he stopped, "Turn around," he said as I did he placed his hands over my eyes before turning us around and walking us forward a few steps. Removing his hands from my face as I looked around to see a little picnic blanket with food and sweets, a few candles lit up the area. "Do you like it?"
I turned to him smiling, "I love it, are those pear drops?" I pointed to the box on the blanket,
"Yeah, those are your favorite aren't they?" he asked as I walked over to sit down,
"Yes, how did you know?" I asked picking up the box to open it,
"Believe it or not, but I remember you liked them in your first-year." he smiled sitting down next to me.
"I only got these once a month because they'd only last two days," I sad looking to him after each a couple of them,
"I was in Hogsmeade one time, I saw you walk out of Honeydukes eating a whole handful." he laughed, I felt my face burn out of embarrassment.
"No, I didn't think anyone was watching," I turned away from him covering my face,
"Katherine, I know it was selfish of me to blackmail you into dating me, but I really do like you." I looked to him surprised, his eyes looking down at the blanket with a sad expression.
"I haven't really wanted to date since what happened with your brother, trying to make up for how horrible I was to the people I now call my friends, I have to focus on my studies too." I explained turning to face him.
"You say you don't want to date, but the way you look at Sallow." he sighed looking up at me, "I wanted you to look at me that way."
"Forcing me into a relationship, that isn't exactly the best way of getting me to like you." I frowned looking from my hands to his eyes.
"Would you consider dating me - for real?" Theo said taking my hand in his, I narrowed my eyes, "I know I don't deserve it for blackmailing you."
"You don't deserve a chance," I pulled my hand from him, he looked to me surprised,
"What if I promise not to say anything about you or your siblings?" he asked as I looked to him thinking about it.
"If I give you a real chance, even if it doesn't work out, will you promise not to say a word of me or my siblings to anyone?" I asked, he smiled at me.
"You have my word," I met his eyes, "I promise."
"I'll give you this one chance, but you will have to be okay with me being near or around Sebastian when other people are around." I said as he looked to me thinking.
"As long as you're not alone with him, I guess I could be okay with that." he said, I smiled at him grabbing the pear drops, "Since I'll be making you fall in love with me."
His words made my heart stop as I turned to him, I didn't realize he was leaning in towards me and our lips ended up touching for a second before we both pulled away. I covered my mouth as I heard him mutter out an apology, I felt my face heat up, 'This isn't going to be easy.'
