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Assistant: Title: Sins of the Father
        Author: totomoo totomoo 
        Chapter: 12/65 
        Summary: Only fools would ever deign to consider that one could outrun the cost of a bargain.  For Victor Rookwood, his deeds and dealings have become his daughter, Caroline’s, to bear. For Ominis Gaunt? A centuries-old myth and whispers of a curse among the pureblood families stands in his way of finding happily ever after. And for Sebastian Sallow? Two years in the company of Hogswarts’ Heroine has only served to estrange him from old friends and Anne. Embittered and guilt-ridden, seventh year arrives to collect for all his sins.With an impending marriage, love potions, the attentions of Marvolo Gaunt and Phineas Black II, finishing seventh year is the least of Caroline’s, Ominis’, or Sebastian’s worries.Enemies to Lovers: Sebastian Sallow x Caroline RookwoodFriends to Lovers: Ominis Gaunt x Garreth WeasleyNote: Player Character is not the same as Original Female Character
        Contents: Chapter 12: Witness
    

    

        
          
          
            Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned.It was ridiculous— he was only safe from the stares and whispers within the confines of the Slytherin Common Room, the Undercroft, and with the company of the sweet house elves in the kitchen.
          
        

      
        
          
          (See the end of the chapter for  notes.)
          
      
  

  
  
    
    Sebastian ** The whispered stares in the corridor were beginning to grate on his nerves. It had been about three days since Caroline and him returned. And Ominis had been right— they did have a big problem. Or very specifically, Sebastian had a big problem. He had laughed off Ominis’ story, proclaiming he was surely jesting at the issue at hand. There was no possible way someone would do that, especially after spending quite some time with each other. The withering glare he received from Caroline across the room and Ominis’ flinch told him otherwise. Hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. It was ridiculous— he was only safe from the stares and whispers within the confines of the Slytherin Common Room, the Undercroft, and with the company of the sweet house elves in the kitchen. And the kitchen was exactly where he currently was, accepting each offering and taste testing each dish for any house elf that ventured near him— which was quite a number. A small part of him felt a pang of regret, remembering that it was Caroline who showed him the kitchens in the first place after encountering his hungry form in the corridors after detention in second year. “Family trade secret,” was all the response she gave him when he asked how she knew of the place. He sighed, frowning—there were many instances of his expertise and ventures he could credit to Caroline’s existence and teachings. Finding the kitchens and learning the disillusionment spell were one. Learning confringo and being introduced to the Restricted Section was another. It seemed that Victor Rookwood had explored the Hogwarts castle quite a bit in his days, passing the knowledge on to his own son and then Vincent to Caroline. He wasn’t sure what to make of her family—especially after meeting her mother. ** 
  “Mia cara, you cannot simply just leave in the morning,” Cecilia Rookwood pouted, frowning at Sebastian and her daughter, leaning back in her chair on the veranda with a large glass of wine, “What will the neighbors think? It would be deemed as indecent! No, the reasonable thing to do would be to stay the day and spend time with your own mama— we can even pretend it’s a potential marriage meeting!”

   

  Sebastian flushed at the thought, his eyes widening as his eyes darted between Cecilia and Caroline. 

   

  “Mama…that’s hardly reasonable,” Caroline cast a glare in his direction as she answered her mother, “Firstly, we have no neighbors— the nearest ones are at least three hours away by foot. We’re not even in distance of the nearest city, Sicily! Secondly, there’s hardly any reason for people to think anything indecent would be had, Sebastian Sallow has no love lost for me. And trust me, mama he’s an absolute pain.”

   

  He wanted to sink far into his chair and meld right into the ground at her statement. The appraising eyes of Cecilia Rookwood curiously frowning at his discomfort before she let out a hearty laugh.

   

  “My, my! You both remind me so much of your father and myself,” she giggled as Caroline groaned, grabbing her own wine glass and downing the entire thing, “Victor was such an @rs@ back in the day! I always thought he was a nuisance every night he stopped by backstage after the shows. Would stop by with the reason of his devout patronage and proceed to tell me how to improve— the nerve of him.”

   

  Sebastian was surprised— Caroline often spoke of her mother during their younger years but hardly spoke of her father, clamming and sulking at the mention of his name. Though she gave polite smiles in public for her father’s associates’ children, she did not have many kind words to say about him in private. It was surprising to hear that the man Cecilia Rookwood was currently describing was one and the same person. 

   

  How could a man infamous for his cruelty and greed be the same kind, loving husband as the one Cecilia spoke of? The ardor she spoke of Victor Rookwood’s affections was in direct contrast to the man who uttered ‘children should be seen and not heard’. 

   

  And from the frown and despondent look on Caroline’s face, it was likely she agreed. Kind and loving husband he may have been but certainly not a kind and loving father it seemed. 

   

  “Mama,” he heard her sigh softly, a quiet plea dripping from her voice, “Can we please not speak of papa tonight?”

   

  Cecilia turned to stare at her daughter before she took her hand, “Mia cara, I know you’re still cross with him. But everything he did, everything he was—“

   

  “Was only to protect and provide for us,” Caroline finished her mother’s sentence with a bitter smile. Cecilia gave her daughter a sad and longing look as a somber silence enveloped them. 

   

  ‘Do not speak ill of my father…’ 

   

  Her demand was still ringing in his ears despite the simmering rage he felt being in the home of the man who cursed his sister. But Anne was better— no! That did not excuse the barbaric deed Victor Rookwood inflicted on her and his family. He could acquiesce Cecilia Rookwood for her part if she did not know the depth of her late husband’s cruelty. But Caroline? He knew she wasn’t directly at fault— so why could he not forgive her?

   

  Was it because she knew an inkling of her father’s nature? Unlike the seemingly persistent optimism and devil may care attitude her mother presented when she spoke of Victor Rookwood, she at least did not see him through rose-colored lenses. Or was it because he was angry at how weak she seemed when faced with confronting the misdeeds of her father to his face? He had confronted his uncle multiple times— he thought regretfully. Yes, he was angry at her for her weak, pacifying nature— accepting the lot she was given without so much of a fight. Had she fought her father and remained steadfast in her want, Anne could have been saved sooner. His uncle would still be here, and his friendship with Ominis would not be in such a state. 

   

  But Anne had found a cure without him… and his friendship with Ominis was on the mend with or without Caroline. But his uncle…he still had nightmares of that night. Lots of could haves, would haves, and should haves. And yet Caroline wasn’t there for any of it— not to pull him back and admonish him, and certainly not the lonely aftermath. 

   

  He missed her— missed who they were before any of these events happened. And time could never bring them back to the friends they were once more. 

   

  “We would be happy to stay the day, Mrs. Rookwood,” Sebastian smiled and nodded, not daring to meet Caroline’s shocked and suspicious gaze. 

   

  But they could pretend…he could pretend. Out of the eyes of the public, the acrid air of the Scottish Highlands, and far from the dark memories of yesteryear in this Italian villa by the sea, they could pretend for a moment they were back in time. Just for a day. 
 ** “Oh! Apologies, I didn’t realize anyone was here,” Sebastian peered up from his thoughts to see the figure of Poppy Sweeting enter the kitchens looking forlorn and out of sorts. “Not at all, I’m sure the house elves don’t mind another mouth to feed,” he grinned placatingly as he stuffed himself, “Besides it’s a nice change having company to eat with for once.” Poppy frowned, shifting her eyes from the door to the table before the sound of her stomach convinced her to stay for a meal. She sat across the table, muttering a quiet thank you to a house elf before she tucked into her own dinner. “I’m going to guess you’re here because of her?” She asked him bitterly as she chewed, “It didn’t take long for those rumors to take hold… Natty and Garreth were right in their suspicion at least.” Sebastian stopped chewing as he surveyed the girl in yellow before him, “What exactly happened between you two? You both were so close— I’d have hazard to guess best friends.” She snorted and laughed, pounding the table with a hand, “Best friends? Best friends don’t accuse someone of being jealous of them. And all because I spoke with you.” “With me?” Sebastian blinked, furrowing his brows. He was recalling, at least trying to— of any instance he ever gave that would indicate a misunderstanding he portrayed otherwise. Sure— Poppy and him spoke but it was always to discuss classes. They sat next to each other and were often placed in the same groups together— much like Natty also was. But he could not think of an instance where he showed some sort of affection to Poppy Sweeting. “Don’t hurt yourself thinking about it,” she smirked at him, “She’s completely delusional. And calling her out just made her more angry at me.” “So…the rumors about you and those beasts?” He asked awkwardly, catching the roll of her eyes and she resumed her meal. “It was her,” she shrugged. “Ah…I didn’t believe any of it,” Sebastian stammered. “I didn’t suspect you would,” she snorted, pointing her fork at him, “People continue to spread it whether they believe it or not simply because it’s scandalous. Though I have to thank you— your dalliance with her has taken some heat off my back.” Scandalous… how silly, he thought as he accepted another heaping from a house elf and watched as Poppy did the same. He wondered… “Don’t,” Poppy stopped the movement of her fork and knife to glare hard at him, “Don’t even think about asking me to join whatever plan you have simmering. And you’d be asking the wrong person.” The wrong person— he thought, raising his brows in question. “The one she’s most jealous of happens to be the one girl you kept complaining and mentioning in her presence,” Poppy laughed, “Caroline Rookwood.” He groaned, taking his hands through his hair in frustration. “Don’t deny it, Sallow— she always complained that she had to hear ‘it’s Caroline this and Caroline that’.” He huffed— he did not talk or think of Caroline that often. ** Sebastian was wandering the dungeons after dinner, waiting for the common room to filter to their dorms— Ominis had let him know she had taken to waiting in the common room to corner him into another argument. And he was not about to let that happen— not after the teary spectacle she made the night he and Caroline returned. “I am having fun!” He paused at the sound of the voice and giggle as it floated over to him as two figures stepped out of a door across a little moat into the corridor. Caroline and Phineas Black— he thought, casting a quick disillusionment charm and hiding in the shadow of the sleeping dragon. How disgusting— he had been putting up with her visits each night, recounting a tale or two of her day to Ominis. And for the past four weeks, she had wormed encounters and meetings with Phineas Black in there much to his distaste as he sat at his desk. It had been bad enough hearing her complain about Marvolo’s attempts to woo her and corner her in a stray corner in Hogsmeade during his visits to court her— to the utter vocal revulsion of Ominis. But to hear the praises and songs of Phineas Black? And how different he was from his family as they studied Muggle objects in secret together. Or the sweetness he was for carrying her books and walking her to class everyday despite the majority of his own classes being on the other side of the castle. Or how much of a gentleman he acted in public and in private— not once taking advantage of the situation being alone with her. It was utterly revolting how lovesick she was. “Are you sure? You really don’t have to stay with me while I study these things,” Sebastian’s eyes narrowed at the sound of Phineas Black’s voice, laced with concern and ardor. “Yes, Phineas— I absolutely enjoy spending my time with you,” she laughed taking his offered arm as she fell into step with him, wrapping a teasing lilt to her voice, “Besides, however will you learn how to do anything the Muggle way?” Sebastian rolled his eyes, biting his lip as he watched the ridiculous spectacle of their flirting before him. “Hmm, that is fair dear Caroline. I am but a poor, useless soul,” Phineas paused dramatically as he stepped back hand over his heart and another on his forehead eliciting soft laughs from her. Sebastian was resisting the urge to cast a confringo spell to end the idiotic display before he saw Phineas approach her with what he thought was a failed attempt at innocence as he frowned. “There is one Muggle thing I’m still perplexed and have been quite curious about though.” “Oh?” Yes, oh indeed— what manner of idiotic Muggle ventures was Black curious about, now? The Pureblood, ignorant prat. “A kiss, the Muggle way,” his blood ran cold at the sight of Caroline’s flush, the light red of her lips opening and closing without a sound as Phineas moved closer. Sebastian stood frozen at her soft smile and nod, watching in horror as Phineas cupped her cheeks and her eyes fluttered closed, meeting his lips as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Why was it long? He asked for a simple kiss and yet time stood still as Sebastian watched them. Why was she smiling with such an abandon of happiness and elation? There was no feverish clutching in passion between them. No grasp or sound of moaning assent as he imagined Caroline would enjoy being pushed against the wall. Nor the satisfaction of her smile like his long-forgotten dream as she was ravaged beneath someone— like him. His heart clenched, a pit forming in his stomach as she laughed, moving forward to kiss Phineas once more— this time with more fervor and confidence, the sight of him nipping the bottom of her lips and delving his tongue to meet hers elicited a gasping moan from her as Sebastian grit his teeth. He was shaking as he watched her hands muss his hair earning a groaning laugh from Phineas as they pulled back from one another. “Phineas Black,” she admonished him with a smile, “However did you learn to kiss so well the Muggle way? And a French kiss at that!” Phineas beamed against her as he placed his forehead on hers, nuzzling her, “I should ask you the same question.” She flushed as they parted, “If you would believe it— books and hearing stories from the other girls.” There was silence in the corridor as Sebastian and Phineas both blinked. “You mean to tell me… that I am your first kiss?” 
  It couldn’t be…not with the intensity she just showed. And certainly not with Phineas Black— anyone but him— no, not just anyone… she shouldn’t be kissing anyone. 
 She shifted under Phineas’ gaze, peering up to smile sheepishly at him, “Yes…but it helps that you kissed so well.” Sebastian scowled from the shadows as Phineas wrapped his arms around her waist in a hug with a wistful smile, “I’m honored and happy that I am, Caroline. And if it pleases you, I should like to kiss you again and again everyday for as long as you’ll let me.” He turned skulking deeper into the shadows of the sleeping dragon as he heard Caroline’s laughter, the sound of their feet dancing away with the music of Phineas’s humming. Sebastian knelt on the ground, head in hands, willing himself not to tear his hair out— her first kiss. He was not the participant but was only the witness to her first kiss.
   

   
         
  
  

    
      
        
        
          Poor Poppy— she’s such a sweetheart.For you lovelies! I’m set to make frequent updates as an early apology until the 22nd of this month since I’ll be away on a trip for about a week and a half! My love for this story (and my other stories) is high so I will be giving and giving until both of them are complete!'
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