Chapter Thirty

                                    

                                          
Classes had been cancelled the next day while students were asked to stay in the castle. Teachers were out en force, patrolling the entire thing over and over. I wondered if they thought that would keep people from going into a panic, when it had the complete opposite effect. Instead of people quieting about the whole incident, the rumors just continued to fly. 
Halfway through the day the biggest one going around was that a dragon had its nest under Hogwarts and something bothered it, causing a massive battle to ensue. 
"A dragon?" Sebastian snorted into his cup of tea. "What absolute rubbish."
I leaned against the back of the couch I was sitting on, Ominis's head in my lap. He had a book out, fingers running across the braille as he read, though every so often he'd reach down toward his stomach, where a small bag of chocolates sat, taking a piece or two and bringing it up to my lips. 
Chocolate usually made most things better but I was still in a bit of a foul mood from the night before. Nothing was mentioned about it that morning, but they way Sebastian looked at me and the way Ominis hovered continued to make me nervous. 
Only the three of us knew what I had done.
But what if someone wound up figuring it out?
Truly it...Wouldn't really matter. I knew what I was capable of, but I didn't want to drag anyone else into that mess, especially Ominis and Sebastian. 
But I knew they'd follow.
Everything was canceled for one more day, and the rumors did quiet down, if for no other reason than the fact nothing was found. At least, that's what Ominis gleaned from eavesdropping on teachers, especially Professor Weasley and Sharp. They'd been there when everything happened, and though they weren't present for the last bit of it, they knew more than enough to be the ones searching the most thoroughly for signs of anything shady. 
We were in the library, the three of us, and I was trying to focus on homework but instead found myself just...shoveling chocolate into my mouth. 
"Aria. Slow down, you're going to make yourself sick."
"Are you eating more chocolate?"
"I know you're worried, but-"
"Can I get you anyth-"
They both started talking at me at once and I...just couldn't right then. I stood up, bawled up the wrapper in my hand and put it in a pocket before just turning and leaving. 
They both were up and after me the second I got a few feet away. My fists clenched. "Both of you need to leave me be for a bit. Please. I need to think and I haven't been able to for the past two days. Just. Stay here."
"Aria I can't do that."
"Sebastian. Let her go."
"But-"
"Look. I'm not thrilled about it but she's not wrong, we've been a bit over the top. Aria you take whatever time you need just...keep a sharp eye out just in case, okay?"
"I will. I promise."
He pulled me to him and kissed me deeply for a moment before whispering that he loved me and taking Sebastian back to their seats.
I left the library, and started toward the dungeon area of the castle. I didn't make it too far before I heard someone call for me. "Miss Aves! A moment!"
I stopped and turned around, seeing of all people, Headmaster Black walking up to me. I honestly was surprised he even remembered who I was, distracted and uninterested as he seemed to be most of the time.