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"Have you ever thought about transferring to another school?" Your quiet voice broke through the silence as the unbidden thought escaped through your lips. Instantly, you flushed, embarrassed that in your musings you had let out the thought you'd been stuck wondering for days now out of your mouth.
Beside you, Sebastian paused his reading, placing his index finger on the last line he'd been on before looking up to give you a curious look, prompting you to explain further.
"Well, you know how I got here this year and how Natty transferred during your fourth year. I always wondered if, perhaps, you or other students ever thought about what life is like in other schools."
The brunet-haired boy frowned as he leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. Your eyes automatically moved to where his hand remained on the page and, silently, you grabbed a spare piece of parchment to mark the place his index finger had been on before he moved.
Sebastian had a habit of leaning on the back legs of his chair when he pondered something. Whether that was the essay topic, a discussion question, or simply something you mentioned briefly, he would always take the time to thoroughly think about what had been said before adding his two knuts in. Normally, this would be fine, but he also had a bad habit of suddenly going upright in his chair, causing the front legs to slam against the flooring of whatever room the two of you were in, drawing everyone's attention. The amount of times Madam Scribner had scowled in the direction of your table was too many to count that you'd lost track. Lenora had been the one to tell you that she's certain you've been on the receiving end of that scowl more often than she had ever been in the five years she's spent at Hogwarts, which, quite frankly and honestly, was a bit mortifying to learn about.
"I've never really thought about it, no," he mused, "I guess I've always known my sister and I would be at Hogwarts. Maybe when I was younger, the thought of going to Durmstrang or Beauxbatons may have crossed my mind briefly, but if it did I can't remember it."
Sebastian shrugged and you sighed but nodded in understanding. "I guess it makes sense. If I'd known I'd be at Hogwarts too, I wouldn't have bothered wondering about the other schools. It's not like I would've ended up in those ones anyways."
"Exactly." His eyes suddenly landed on your own textbook. You're not sure if a passage of it caught his eye or if he had just forgotten, but he suddenly leaned forward, drawn towards it, chair tipping forwards once more. You could only grimace as the loud sound of his chair's leg slammed against the library floor.
At least Sebastian had the grace to look around him embarrassedly, waving his hand apologetically at the other students who bore annoyed looks. When everyone he could see only huffed or ignored him return, he returned to you and your book in a sheepish manner. You could only shake your head in turn, far too used to his antics. A part of you wondered just how long this particular study session would last before Madam Scribner grew tired and threw you both out of the library. Hopefully, you'd have enough time to finish your essay on the difference in defensive spells around the world. You weren't too keen at the idea of taking the hefty textbook you were using as a reference back to your dorm to finish it.
Leaning closer to your face, Sebastian lowered his voice as he pointed at one of the lines on your text. "Isn't this one the one Natsai is from? Uagadou?"
"Yeah," you whispered back, your eyes flickering to the rough sketch of the school as you tried to stop the flush threatening to show on your face due to Sebastian's close proximity. Merlin, it was unfair of him to be this attractive and nice and close to your face. Clearing your throat, you tilted your head away slightly, eyes averted as you continued, "Wixens in Uagadou don't use wands apparently, according to Natty. She had to get used to using one when she moved here, says she's started to enjoy it because it makes spellcasting more dramatic. Honestly, I'm inclined to agree with her on that."
You hoped your voice was stable and didn't betray any of the nervousness you felt. It was silly to feel this way, but the more you spent time with Sebastian, the more you were beginning to realize how attracted you were to him. Before, you were content with staying close to him, but now? Now, even the slightest gaze from him resulted in butterflies in your stomach. It was all you could do to try and make sure your crush on him didn't become too obvious.
"Mhm, yes, well a little dramatic flair helps intimidate your opponents, if I do say so myself." One of Sebastian's brows rose and he adopted a handsome and pleased smirk. Coincidentally and totally not related to that, you suddenly had to remind yourself to just how imperative it was to breath. "Remember Crossed Wands? I reckon we did half as good as we did because we looked cool duelling. It probably intimidated our opponents a fair bit while leaving the rest of the club impressed. I, for one, felt a lot more capable when I moved around and waved my wand a little more than was necessary.”
You clicked your tongue but didn't disagree. It did feel pretty exhilarating to twirl your hand with a little more flourish and to make sharp, powerful movements with your arm while duelling. You swear you even felt your magic sing the more you duelled and danced around the opponents' spells. The ease you used your magic made you feel powerful and a part of you wondered if there really was a difference or if you were simply running on adrenaline.
He gently nudged your shoulder with his own, breaking your thoughts. When you glanced up, Sebastian's dark eyes were filled with amusement and his lips were curled upwards. "Admit it."
Reluctantly, you nodded your head. "It did feel pretty wicked doing all the dramatics while duelling. I can't say I've used ever used it outside of the club though, and I think I've duelled plently outside of it."
Your mouth quirked upwards at your words. You've definitely duelled more than plenty since you've arrived at Hogwarts. Maybe even more than the average wixen ever would in their lifetime. In just the one week, you've already cleared out the bandit camps, spider lairs, and Ashwinder hideouts near the entrance to the Forbidden Forest. You think even Clementine Willardsey, the witch at The Three Broomsticks who had asked you to follow the butterflies, would feel comfortable entering the Forbidden Forest with all the work you've done inside it.
Yes, you could say you've definitely duelled more than 'plenty'.
Sebastian abruptly coughed to hide his laughter in response to your words. It seems he, too, agreed that 'plenty' was an understatement. You waited patiently for the boy to slowly gather himself, rolling your eyes every time he seemed to compose himself only to suddenly snicker when your eyes met, causing him to return to his attempts at stifling his laughter.
Finally, he managed to look back at you, his dark eyes still glittering with amusement and humor. "Well, maybe you should try adding theatrics to your next battle. Perhaps your enemies will run off in terror at the sight."
You raised a brow. "Are you insinuating that I would look so silly doing it that my enemies would find themselves screaming in terror as a result?"
"No, I — Well, maybe," Sebastian paused, seeming to think it over before finally nodding decisively. "Now that I think about it, you would look like silly if you were theatrical with your spellcasting while in a serious life or death battle. I doubt anyone would be able to pull it off."
"All the more reason to do it then. You can look forward to my fancy steps next time we find ourselves in a duel with a troll," you grinned, causing his shoulders to shake as he struggled to stifle his laugh. "I've heard trolls make for good ballet dancers — I bet I can outdance them."
"Oh, Merlin. Please don't. I might end up at the mercy of the troll's club in that case. I don't imagine I'd be able to stop laughing long enough to fight or defend myself."
You tutted at him. "It's okay, dear. I'll invite the troll to a dance battle. We'll dance it off and no one will get hurt."
Sebastian let out a laugh, his head shaking back and forth in disbelief. "I can't believe this — it's such a silly idea yet I find it so humorous I can't stop laughing."
You assumed a poker face as you spoke your next words, intent on making Sebastian laugh harder. Out of the corner of your eye, you could see Madam Scribner making her way towards your table and you knew you only had a few seconds left before the two you find yourselves outside of the library. Better make it count. "Why, I believe I would succeed in leading the troll in a waltz around the square. You'll have to help me, of course. I'm not tall enough to reach the troll's shoulders, so you'll have to lift me on your shoulders so I can reach even half its height."
"We should wear a robe then," Sebastian suggested, his eyes sparkling with mischief. It seemed he had also caught sight of the librarian's walk of intent and quickly gathered his and your books, tucking them into his school bag even as he continued to speak. "It would help hide my presence from the troll and onlookers, leaving them the impression that it's only you and your absurdly long torso out-dancing this troll."
"Excellent idea! I—“
"Enough of this foolishness. The two of you are disrupting the peace and silence of this library," Madam Scribner sent stern looks at the both of you. With one swish of her wand, your essay materials quickly tidied itself up and were tucked into your book bag. Then, she pointed at the doors of the library, her lips pursed into a frown. "Out, the both of you. You're both banned from stepping foot into the library until next week. Should you need any learning materials, you'll have to ask another friend to retrieve it for you. I trust this is sufficient punishment for today's actions and will prevent it from happening again in the future?"
"Yes, Madam Scribner," you both murmured.
You gathered your bag and quickly followed after Sebastian, the two of you exiting the library with haste.
The moment you were both outside of the library, the doors quickly shut, causing you to exchange looks.
"Well," you said slowly. "I suppose we should find someplace else to finish our assignments."
"It's a nice day outside. Why not the courtyard?"
"Mhm, yes, why not. We've not tried studying at one of those tables before." You started for the exit, your arm adjusting your bag so it was properly across your body instead of just on your shoulder.
Eyeing the boy beside you, you gently bumped your shoulder against his with a soft grin. "Thanks for grabbing the book by the way. I would've forgotten about it if it was just left to me."
Sebastian shrugged with an easy smile painted on his face as he bumped you back in return. "Yes, well, thank you for marking my spot in my book. I'm glad I won't have to rifle through pages and pages just to find where I left of."
"Not a problem. In any case, we can return to our conversation about trolls and dancing later after we finish."
"What? You don't fancy having the image of two people under a robe leading a large troll around Hogsmeade square in a romantic waltz in your mind while you study?" Sebastian teased as you both exited the doors of the castle, the wind greeting the two of you.
Sebastian raised a hand and ran his fingers through his hair to prevent the wind from ruffling it too much, causing you to stare. It really should be unfair that your closest friend at Hogwarts was this attractive.
At your sudden silence, he turned to you, and quirked a curious brow. "What's up?"
Blinking, you merely shrugged, looking at the opposite direction. "Nothing. Lost in thought that's all."
"Ah," he nodded before smirking. "Yes, a waltzing troll and a person with a very long torso does cause one to lose their focus."
You paused, but reluctantly nodded. "Sure, let's go with that."
It's not exactly like you could tell Sebastian you were lost in thought because he ran his hands through his hair. It'd be easier to let him believe what he wants rather than try and make up another excuse.
Sigh.
Maybe you'll be able to tell him about your crush for him in the future. If, you know, you managed to find your Gryffindor courage to do so.
(And no, it certainly doesn't matter that your tie and robes are Slytherin green. Surely someone like Natty would be kind enough to let you borrow their courage even for a short while?)