Thinking Back
Sebastian raised his head from the Slytherin table, groggily rubbing his eyes as he stared around the Great Hall. His fluffy brown hair fell over his eyes as he looked about. Many students were already in the Great Hall, visiting with one another, but he same buzz that usually filled the Great Hall was absent.
Now it seemed that the same liveliness of the school was no more. Black hangings dropped down from the same place that the house banners used to hang from. The professors were all sitting silently at the head table, overlooking all of the students in the Great Hall. There was no food on the tables, nor any platters either, instead there were simple silver goblets.
Sebastian’s eyes raised to the ceiling, looking at the dark sky above. The sky was cloudy and dark, with swirling snow particulates. Though February was nearing to an end, it was still quite chilly throughout the week. This was the first night it had begun to snow in nearly two weeks as a new and fresh blanket of snow covered the school.
Sebastian looked over at the Ravenclaw table, scanning it for his friend, Hans Kaiser. Though the table was packed with students, it took Sebastian little time to realize that his friend was not present; he wasn’t surprised. The school had been quite hushed over the past few days, and many rumors circulated the school regarding Hans. Sebastian was glad that they weren’t talking about him.
As Sebastian turned his eyes to the doors of the Great Hall, they were pushed open, and light spilled into the chamber from the other side. The next thing he saw was the small Poppy Sweeting enter the Great Hall, turning her head to look behind her at Hans, who followed right after her.
Sebastian watched with curiosity as Hans lowered his head, murmuring something in her ear. Like Sebastian, many students in the Great Hall turned their gaze in the direction of the doors. Most students didn’t look away, and stared quite intensely at the two as they exchanged a smile. Sebastian didn’t know who else noticed, but he watched as Poppy’s hand brushed against the top of Hans’s, before falling to her side. The two turned away from one another and left to their respective tables.
Many eyes followed Hans as he found a spot at the end of the Ravenclaw table, but Sebastian watched Poppy for a moment. The Slytherin noticed Poppy look back at Hans, and their gazes met. She gave him another smile, and Sebastian assumed Hans returned the favor(Hans was looking at Poppy, away from Sebastian), before they both looked up and about the Great Hall. Many eyes were still on Hans, and a strange murmuring ran through the school.
“What is it?” Sebastian heard Ominis, who was sitting beside him ask. Ominis had a strange knack for telling when something was up.
“Hans is back,” Sebastian answered quietly.
“Surely it’s something else that has you tensed up,” Sebastian’s blind friend swiftly responded.
“He’s with Poppy,” Sebastian answered. Sebastian and Poppy knew each other well enough. They had several classes together throughout the years, and so they were quite familiar with each other. They were never greatly close, but Poppy and Anne got along well enough before the curse, and because of that Poppy and Sebastian did too. “Do you think they’re..?”
Sebastian’s voice trailed off as he stared at Hans, his eyes flicking to Poppy every once and a while. Poppy had begun speaking with several Hufflepuffs at her table, whilst Hans had turned his eyes to the head table.
“That much is obvious,” Ominis answered sharply, still staring blankly ahead of him.
“What?”
“And I’m the blind one?” Ominis jested, “Hans has always spoken fondly about her when us three have been together, and he also much of the free time he can spare with her near Beasts class. But you’ve probably been too busy with your obsession of curing Anne to care.”
A surge of emotions spiked through Sebastian’s heart. Primarily anger. Did Ominis really think Sebastian didn’t care about his friends? Let alone Hans? After all that Sebastian had done, after Hans’s hatred for the Dark Arts, Hans still stuck by his Slytherin friend’s side. Of course Sebastian cared, Hans was right up on that list that Sebastian would do anything for to save, just like Anne. “I do care,” Sebastian mumbled quietly.
Ominis didn’t answer, but only tapped his fingers lightly on the tabletop. The tension between Sebastian and Ominis was palpable, as it had been for weeks. Ever since Anne stopped talking to Sebastian Ominis and he had been on edge. Their friendship was rebuilding, only because Ominis knew that really and truly Sebastian was sorry.
At long last, the staff did stir. Professor Black stood up, walking over to the podium in the center of the Great Hall’s elevated platform. If the students were expecting some kind of explanation to the events on Monday, they could not be anymore wrong.
The professor raised his goblet as he approached the podium, “Professor Eleazar Fig. I dare say he was a beloved professor to many of you. Certainly, a-long-standing colleague to his peers. A famed adventure and renowned seeker of knowledge, he built a reputation-“ The professor stopped, taking in a deep breath, whether because he forgot what to say next, or perhaps had the slightest bit of feeling for the miserable mood of the Great Hall, “-charging into the unknown—brazenly disregarding both discretion and safety. Providing, perhaps, a rather unfortunate lesson for us all.”
Behind Professor Black, Professor Garlick and Professor Ronen exchanged strange and bemused expressions. “His devotion to adventure was recalled only by his dedication to Hogwarts—and of course, to his wife, Mari-MIRiam, whom we lost much too soon as well.” Here Professor Black’s speech began to falter, he cleared his throat and shifted his goblet uncomfortably in his hands as he stared blankly at the podium before him.
Much to Professor Black’s salvation, Professor Weasley approached from behind him, who he looked at, before stepping aside to allow her to stand at the podium. “Professor Fig represented the best of all of us,” she let out an exasperated sigh, “he could be deviously clever. Possessed a brilliantly inquisitive mind, and—was the most loyal of friends.”
Most eyes no longer resided on Hans, and were focused on Professor Weasley. For what Professor Black lacked in his speeches, Professor Weasley could cover for him. “But perhaps it was his remarkable courage for which we will all be forever indebted to him. If not for Professor Fig—“ the witch stopped, scanning the Great Hall with sad eyes, “Well, I can say with confidence that if not for him, many of us—let alone Hogwarts—would not be here today.”
“Those that knew him best—will agree that we must now honor him as only Hogwarts can—by wisely, resourcefully, justly, and bravely facing all that lies ahead,” Professor Weasley struggled to get her last words out as she remembered her colleague, his sharp mind and his compassion, wishing he was here to hear this.
Professor Black stepped forward, clearing his throat and raising his goblet, keeping Professor Weasley from continuing, “To Professor Fig.”
Behind the two professors, the others sitting at the staff table stood, raising their goblets high in the air as Professor Black had done. Following suit, every student in the Great Hall did as well, with Hans being one of the last.
And with that, Professor Black and Weasley returned back to their seats, as the others other professors sat down. The students followed suit, sitting and placing down their goblets. In the next moment, there was food on the tables. It was nothing spectacular, but it was dinner all the same.
Hans picked up his plate, gathering a pair of baked potatoes on his plate as he settled down, preparing to eat in what was the first time in many an age. The boy was not healed, but a part of him felt resolved, for some reason. He would miss his dear friend, the professor, but he realized then that life was not over without him. Hans still blamed himself for the professor’s death, but at the very least he was at peace. It was very strange, he wasn’t supposed to feel happy right now, but Poppy gave him something like a kind of hope and relief.
Sebastian decided right then that he needed to talk to Hans as soon as he could. He needed to make amends, whatever that meant. Sebastian didn’t eat that night, it just didn’t feel right.
Despite the gloom under Professor Fig’s death, Poppy still couldn’t manage to rid herself of the bubble of happiness inside of her. Occasionally she would glance over at Hans, and was happy to see that he was not keeping his head down this time. They made eye contact a few times, smiling and blushing before looking away.
The moment dinner was finished, the food disappearing back into the kitchen below, Sebastian quickly stood up. Ominis looked up in surprise as Sebastian muttered something about speaking with Hans.
Poppy had intentions of seeking out Hans once dinner was over, but as she stood up and looked over at him, she saw Sebastian already speaking with him. So, instead, as Natsai began to depart from her table Poppy wandered after her.
“Hello, my friend,” Natsai said as she watched Poppy approach.
“Hi, Natty,” Poppy smiled happily at Natsai, and the two friends began to leave the Great Hall. As they left, Poppy caught Hans’s eye and gave him a bright, reassuring smile. The conversation he seemed to be having with Sebastian seemed to be quite serious.
“I couldn’t help but notice you walked in with our friend,” Natsai murmured to Poppy as they pushed through the doors out of the Great Hall.
“Wha- oh we were just- he was showing me something,” Poppy blushed, looking away and finding it a convenient time to fiddle with one of the buttons on her robe.
“Ah, and does that include the many times you were staring at each other today?”
Poppy looked up at Natsai, stopping near the stairs that lead away from the Great Hall. Somewhat so that she could have a coherent conversation with her Gryffindor friend, but mostly because she wanted to wait for Hans.
“What? No. We were just—looking at some, some animals…” Poppy trailed off, mumbling quietly and looking away. She wasn’t lying, she was sure that was Hans only intention when he took her to the Room of Requirement. Poppy had no intention for tonight turning out the way it did, but she wasn’t complaining that it did.
Natsai was smiling down at Poppy, her eyes twinkling as her suspicions were confirmed. “My friend, you couldn’t be oblivious for so long. Everybody knew that there was something between you two.”
Poppy looked up at Natsai in surprise, “Everybody? Wait, what does that mean?”
Natsai only smiled, turning her to look at the doors to the Great Hall as they creaked and opened. Sebastian and Hans walked out at the same time, not speaking to one another, but both looking equally relieved by something.
Natsai looked back at Poppy, continuing to smile as Hans approached. “I’ll leave you to it, my friend. I will see you later,” Natsai patted Poppy on the shoulder, turning away and beginning to head down the stairs. She waved at Hans, who waved back, before looking at Poppy.
Sebastian looked at Hans and Poppy whilst he walked past, his eyes narrowed in suspicion as he did. Once he passed Sebastian hurried forward, catching up to Natsai and speaking muffled words to her. The two disappeared down the stairs, leaving Poppy and Hans alone.
“How are you feeling?” Poppy asked, looking up at him nervously, understanding that the dinner many not have been so pleasant for Hans.
Hans took her two small hands in his own, smiling at her, grateful to share this night with her, “Better, thank you.”
Poppy leaned into him, pulling her hands out of his and wrapping her arms around his waist, pulling him close, “Anything for you.”
Hans hugged her back, and for the third time that night he rested his chin on her head, taking in her sweet aroma. After a moment they pulled apart, and Hans turned his head to look out at the dark night sky. The boy sighed, looking back at her and saying, “we should probably head back, we don’t want them to catch us out after curfew.”
Poppy nodded, taking his hand and intertwining her fingers around his. Poppy expected him to continue walking toward the Grand Staircase, in the direction of the Ravenclaw tower once she passed the stairs down to her common room, but instead he walked with her. Not that she was complaining, but she had to tease him about it, “I know the way to my own common room.”
“I know,” he smiled down at her as they continued down the steps in the direction of the kitchen, “but I want to spend as much time with you as I can.“
The bubble of happiness inside of Poppy swelled like a balloon. She didn’t say anything back, but only leaned against his side and enjoyed the warmth of his presence.
As they approached the door to the kitchen, Poppy spoke, breaking their pleasant silence, “Can I ask you a question?”
“Sure.”
“Does this mean that we’re courting now?” Poppy asked, blushing a little, and averting her gaze to the ground.
They stopped in front of the barrels leading to the Hufflepuff common room, Hans turning to face Poppy as he looked down at her. In truth, Hans didn’t know, but he could tell that Poppy was more embarrassed than he was. Hans wanted that, more than anything, but he didn’t want to take advantage of tonight.
Hans brought his hand under her chin, gently grabbing it and tilting her head up so he could look into her eyes. His eyes were full of kindness and care, something that Poppy felt herself get lost in.
Just like before on the beach, Hans turned a similar question back on her, “Do you want it to be like that?”
“I- I don’t know. I do, it would be fun, but then what about everybody else. Everybody would be staring at us all the time. And- and- I don’t know how this works of anything, I know beasts not people, and I just-“ Hans brought his hand up to cup her cheek, leaning down and pressing his lips against hers to quiet her. Poppy felt herself lean into the kiss, feeling the simple comfort of his compassion for her and his understanding of her.
Hans pulled away, but kept his face close. The warmth of his breath was driving Poppy mad, she wanted to go back, to go back to his lips and melt into them forever. He spoke, softly, “I didn’t ask about that,” he stroked her cheekbone with his thumb, as she had done before, “I asked if you wanted that.”
Poppy took in a deep breath, smiling, a smile that went straight to her eyes, “I- yes, I do.”
Hans returned the smile, pressing his forehead against hers, “Me too, me too.”
Poppy let out a small sound of excitement, before putting her arms on his shoulders and forcing him back down into a kiss. They stood there for quite some time, kissing, their lips becoming engrossed with each other. Poppy loved the feeling, his warmth, his touch, and the electrical feeling that coursed through her body as they kissed.
Once more, they pulled apart, only because they had to resurface for breath, “we should probably, you know, get going,” Hans whispered quietly.
“Yeah, yeah, probably,” Poppy breathed, still thinking about the feeling of his lips on hers. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” She reluctantly pulled away, letting her hands fall off his shoulder as she began backing toward the barrels behind her.
Still keeping her eyes on him, “courting,” Poppy knocked the rhythm on one of the barrels behind her. Hans watched as she began backing up towards the entrance into the Hufflepuff common room, their gaze not breaking.
In a moment, Poppy was standing in the barrel that led into the common room, and the face of the barrel closed, sealing Poppy into the common room, just as Hans waved and said, “Yeah, goodnight.”
Both Hans and Poppy stood there on either side of the barrel’s door, relishing in everything that had happened that night. Neither of them realized the other was still standing just a few feet away, still smiling and thinking about the night. Eventually Poppy was the first to turn away from the door, trudging through the common room and toward her room.
Eventually, Hans left too, heading back up the stairs and in the direction of the Ravenclaw common room. As the two settled down in their own separate beds, they both spent an equal amount of time staring up at the ceiling and reminiscing on the events of the past day.
Neither of them expected the day to end like this, and despite all the struggle of the past week, both were glad it turned out as it did. Thinking on this, thinking on the warmth of the other, and thinking about how they made each other feel all giddy on the inside, they fell into peaceful sleeps.