Unrepentant

They continued their study until the early evening. The girl remained in her corner, not speaking a word, as the piles of notes grew into mountains around her. She hadn't moved her gaze off the books for almost 3 hours. Sebastian couldn't even remember seeing her blink.
On the other hand himself and Thomas had been working on the much more tangible lead revealed by Ms Parker, The Red Virtue. It seemed that the ministry had investigated it once before. And whilst it wasn't the most 'moral' place in the world, there had been no traces of dark magic used on the premises.
"It's possible they were tipped of and cleared the place, or that it became a hub for dark wizards after the initial investigation?" The pair of boys had been getting on rather Well. Making swift progress in their layout of the Pub.
"I need a drink. Want anything?"
"What have you got?" He replied not removing his eyes from the paper.
"It's the ministry, I can get you anything." He looked at Sebastian expectantly. His mind ran wild, anything he wanted. He hadn't had anything beside luke warm water in azkaban, often time dirty or full of the dead skin of whomever had the bowl last week - he doubted it was ever cleaned. And whilst the lemonade the woman had prepared for him the previous evening was like heaven on his dry tongue, it was nothing compared to the ever present memory of, "Butterbear, I'd like a butterbear." He hated how it sounded like he was begging. He thanked whatever gods existed that the girl was too entranced to hear him.
"You sure mate? Don't want anything stronger?" He shook his head wildly. "Alright then a butterbear it is. Oi, Princess." The girls head snapped up immediately. Princess was a new one. He'd called her sweetheart a million times by now but Sebastian was yet to hear him call her Princess. "Want a drink? What do you want?" She looked up at him confused.
"You know what I drink, why are you asking." The gentleman chuckled at her.
"Irish Whisky Old fashioned." He turned to leave the room, having collected his orders.
"Don't forget the.."
"I know, I didn't think you'd want it announced." She smiled up at him softly before returning to her books. It was like he wasn't in the room at all.
He pondered for a moment what else she might have in her drink. Whiskey was a sharp alcohol. Known to cause a burn like sensation on the throat. She had always liked things like that, pepper imps were always her favourite treat. It makes sense why whiskey would become her drink of choice. He wasn't sure why she opted for a muggle whiskey instead of the fire whiskey they sold throughout the wizarding world. What did she have in her whiskey that she wouldn't want him over hearing. Whatever it was, Thomas knew.
He returned not 3 minutes later with two cups in hand and a large foaming mug floating behind him. The mug left hie side and started to decsend towards the desk Sebastian was sat at. Butterbear. His love, it had been too long. He took in the sweet smell. Looked at its beautiful frothy head. Wherever Thomas has gotten it, they had made it to perfection. That part of his brain, that had been rewired to the hardships of azkaban, screamed that it wasn't real. It was a trap. A way to manipulate him. But what reason would they to do that. Somehow despite it all he was once again in her pocket. Despite all his reluctancy he was working side by side with the aurors. One butterbear would change nothing. The minute the butterscotch liquid touched his lips he was gone m, a million miles from the messy office. He thought of his first year at hogwarts. He'd met Ominis on his second night, he was stumbling around the common room trying to avoid the many globes and couches. He rememberd how he lead him to the large windows where his sister had stood. The two became friends quickly, faster then Sebastian ever could. It took three weeks for Ominis to warm up to the boy, but him and Anne had been bestfriends in moments. Not much unlike him and the fifth year did 4 years later. He had taken Ominis to the three broomsticks on their first weekend together. They had to get permission from their guardians at that young age, they couldn't just run out of the castle on a whim like the girl in the corner was used too. He rememberd how much better the beverage tasted in the small pub. Perhaps it was due to it being fresh out the barrel, unlike the bottled stuff he had in Feldcroft. Or perhaps it was the company. But the taste had stuck with him ever since. Even now the drink didn't hold a candle to that first night as a trio. His Anne, his Ominis.
Only one vist ever came close after that. The first day of the new year shoulder to shoulder with the stranger who had just pulverised a troll. He had never felt safer then he had in that moment. She had taken down a troll at 15. She was magnificent. And she chose him as her friend. When proffesor Weasley had found him, she said she'd chosen him because she enjoyed their duel. Even when their drink was interrupted by the most dangerous men in the valley he was not scared. He jumped to protect her. To stand by her side. Butterbear reminded him of everything he loved.
No, he didn't love her anymore. Anne was the only thing he loved. Even Ominis had left him.
Before he knew it the mug was empty, the thoughts subsided and he was back in the office. Thomas had coxed the girl from her corner. She now sat on one of the navy chairs, sipping her whiskey. He watched as her eyelids fluttered.
"We should call it, its 10 and you two need sleep." The girl didn't respond, she gingerly grabbed his arm. She looked happy there, comfortable. Holding onto the man who was so much like him.
"Cmon, I'll take you back." He waved the boy over. And Sebastian took his hand. Apperating back to her small house.
"I'll be back in a minute, I'm going to put her to bed." He picked the girl up in his arms and carried her into the bedroom. How many times had he done that? He knew his way around. She looked at home in his arms. Like she was meant to be there. Sebastian waited in silence he was once again invisible.
"You good to sleep in here, she'll be out cold tonight." He waved his wand and the leather couch became a large, rather soft looking bed.
"Yeah I'll be fine. What was in that drink?" He wasn't going to ask, but she had fallen asleep on her desk. No single whiskey was that strong.
"Dreamless sleep. She has Horrific insomnia and nightmares. It's the only way she can get to sleep." It made sense. She hadn't slept the night before. Though he put that down to stress. She had looked tired all day.
"If you need some there's a vial in her potion cabinet, light purple, and shimmery. Can't miss it."
"I'll keep that in mind. Thank you."
"Of course. Goodnight Mate."
"Goodnight." And he was gone.