Chapter 1 - Hogsmeade
It had been almost 4 years since first walking down the cobbles to Ollivanders, a newly registered 5th year ready to take on Hogwarts and everything that came with the wizarding world, though slightly naive to the horrors about to unfold.
After 7th year graduation, the most obvious next step was to move in to one of the newly rebuilt cottages in Feldcroft, in fact, I had been offered one as a thank you for putting the tragedies to an end, I felt unworthy, but graciously accepted a quaint one bedroom cottage with a thatched roof, it was beautiful to look at and even had a small growing garden with a pre planted patch of pumpkins.
Even though it had been almost 4 years since Sebastian had tragically killed his uncle I felt like every eye was watching and judging my every movement, I completely understood why they would be so wary of me, pretty much every time I had visited in the past it had been with Sebastian and a rumour of us being a couple bounced around wildly until he was forced to leave and I didn't go with him, nobody had been outright told what happened to Mr Sallow, but after seeing Sebastian in complete mania and Anne also being taken away, people put together the clues, Solomon's past wasn't a secret and I'm sure many knew why he has been dismissed from the ministry of magic, after all, the use of unforgivable curses is big news, especially when it's against a dark wizard.
When Natty asked if I would like to travel with her for a while I jumped at the opportunity, hopeful that when I returned people would be less prying.
Uganda was beautiful, after climbing the mountains of the moon and arriving at Uagadou, we both gave lectures on hogwarts and sat in on various classes that shared the rich heritage of life in east Africa.
Floo flames were few and far between, during one of our many hikes we spotted a wild holawaka, even Natty said that she'd only heard stories of such animals, and was amazed when she saw the brightly coloured bird cross our path through the forest, known for speaking the message that if humans shed their skin, they could be immortal...I had no desire to mimic a snake but could definitely see how beautiful the plumage was, even if it didn't try to speak to me.
I couldn't help but think of Poppy and how much she would love these exotic animals, I'm sure she would try to get a lot closer than me.
She regularly sent me letters, I hadn't been surprised when she shared the news that she had been accepted as the new Care of magical creatures teacher, a role perfect for her and the expanse of creature knowledge she holds, who would think that the daughter of poachers would have such love for them.
before we left Natty had asked if she would also like to join us, she was offered the chance to speak about English native magical creatures at Uagadou but she had to stay behind as her grandmother had been declining in heath and needed the extra pair of hands at home.
The last letter I had received from her stated that her grandmothers health has once again taken a turn for the worst, I've been expecting update but haven't heard for over a week, hopefully no news is good news?
I also received letters from Ominis occasionally, they never had a real pattern to them, just occasional rantings or gossip from around Hogsmead, who is sleeping with whom, the drunken fights and illicit affairs, we had grown very close once Sebastian had been expelled and I was extremely sad to leave him behind, I offered that he stay in my cottage while I went travelling, firstly because I knew he didn't want to go back to his family home, he vowed to never speak to his parents again, the last time he saw them was at his older brother Andromi's funeral.
He was happy to pay me a small fee and move in, this meant he could keep an ear on things with the villagers too, people seem to think because he is blind his hearing is also affected, which leads to him knowing a lot of secrets.
On the day I left with Natty he met me in the garden, I handed him the keys and the last thing he said to me was to "piss off and get lost in a jungle somewhere".
That's real friendship, I just hope he has tended to my pumpkins.
Twice since is expulsion I had received owls from Sebastian, once to tell me he had left Feldcroft for good and another simply stating he was sorry for everything.
Even now I don't know if I believe him or not, I miss our late night conversations but seeing him drain the life from someone who cared for him changed how I felt, once I believed we would end up together, now I don't know where in the world he is.
I worry about his safety, wether the dark spells have taken over him somehow and if he will ever return to the sweet lovable boy I first duelled with in cross-wands, all i imagine when I think of him now is the monster who broke his sisters heart trying to save her when all she wanted was comfort and love.
Does he even know she died?
It's probably better this way.