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Nestled in a picturesque snowy mountain-scape, MC's lonely cottage was the only residence he had seen so far north of the rural hamlet. When she'd invited him to spend Christmas with her over their break, Sebastian leaped at the opportunity.
The summer months after Solomon's death and Anne's disappearance had been torture enough. Ominis refused to stay with him in Feldcroft for the first time since they'd met, and so Sebastian was left with nothing but his own company and crushing guilt. Every time he stepped out the door to face Solomon's grave, he was again consumed with overwhelming regret.
When their brief autumn break came around, he'd opted to remain at Hogwarts, simply not mentioning his plans to anyone. When MC returned to school a day early and discovered Sebastian in the Library, she'd had a meltdown and insisted he properly enjoy the winter holiday with her when the time came.
The memory of that spirited conversation warmed him as he finished trudging through the thick layer of snow, obscuring the path to her doorstep. Adjusting the strap of his satchel to rest more comfortable on his shoulder, he tried to keep the bottom of his luggage from sinking into the fluffy white.
'Floo into town and simply head up. You can't miss it.' She'd told him.
Raising his hand to knock, he hesitated. Suddenly, he was feeling nervous, and he debated whether or not he should be staying with her. Some part of him wanted to run back down the mountainside. This was uncharted territory for the two friends - intimate, even. She lived alone, and he would be sleeping there.
The arrangement was practically indecent, and the thought of seeing her the next morning, perhaps still in her night dress, sent his hand flying back down to his side as he seriously considered launching himself face-first into the snow to cool his burning cheeks.
Unfortunately, it was too late to leave or quell the fire on his face when the door swung open without warning, revealing MC's bright eyes and delighted smile.
"Sebastian, you made it! Please, come in out of the cold." She greeted warmly and reached out to grab him by the arm, tugging him inside.
The pleasing aroma of warm apple pie was the first thing to greet Sebastian upon crossing the threshold, followed by the faint smell of incense and roast goose. The cozy warmth from the crackling stone fireplace did wonders for his numb fingers, and he couldn't help but marvel at how everything decorating the little home was just so uniquely her.
Rows of bookshelves lined the walls, filled with dog-eared tomes and weathered souvenirs from her excursions across the highlands. Although the interior was already bright, dozens of candles were lit and scattered around every table and available surface. Plush seating draped in fur throws adorned the tiny living space, and when he looked up, he had to chuckle.
"I see you finally learned that enchantment for floating candles." He mused, appraising her work which graced the space just below the vaulted, wooden ceiling.
"Is it very silly? I miss the Great Hall, and I wanted to try replicating the lighting. You're the first person I've ever invited over, so you'll need to tell me if there's anything I can do to help you feel more at ease. I want to be a proper host." She admitted, and he observed the way she nervously wrung her hands together.
Deciding to risk it, he reached down and grabbed hold of one of her hands - he'd held them before here and there when pulling her along to class - but he never failed to notice just how delicate they were compared to his own. Warm and soft, much like their owner.
"It looks fantastic - you're brilliant to have taught yourself that spell." He assured her, getting a small thrill from the way her cheeks tinted pink at his praise. "And I already feel perfectly at home. It's hard to believe you manage all alone up here."
She squeezed his hand appreciatively and released it, swiftly slipping the strap from his shoulder before he could protest.
"We'll both share the loft. It's a cozy fit, but everything's clean, and I've got a second bed set up for you. Unfortunately, all the other bedrooms were lost in the fire, and with just me residing here anymore, it felt wasteful to rebuild." She told him. "And I'd hardly say I'm alone - everyone in town has been nothing but lovely to me since my parents passed. Why, just before term, a few of the older children came up to help me tear out the garden."
Leading the way through the little living space and up a short, wooden staircase, he stole a glance as they passed the kitchen - he caught a glimpse of a pie cooling on the countertop. The carpeting lining the steps was a bit worn, but that only added to the charm of her home - it was lived in and well cared for.
He wondered how many times she had trudged up and down this same set of stairs growing up, entirely self-sufficent since she was far younger. Something tugged at his heart when he conjured an image of eight year old MC, still grieving her family while she remained alone here.
Her circumstances were truly pitiable, an orphan having gone unnoticed by the Ministry until her fifteenth birthday. Admiring the way she carried herself so proudly now, leading him through her home, he took a moment to recognize how fortunate he was to have met her. More fortunate still to have befriended her.
At the top of the landing, a short walkway greeted them, and it extended into the loft. He'd rationally understood what she'd said earlier about sharing, but he hadn't fully processed the situation until he was directly faced with it.
There were, in fact, two beds. The issue was that they were right next to each other, barely space for a person between them. They wouldn't just be sharing a room - if he wanted, he could reach out and touch her while they were both lying there.
Feeling familiar heat rise to the tips of his ears again, Sebastian fought to maintain composure. The very last thing he wanted to do was make her self-conscious. He'd deal with his own internal struggle later. For now, he needed to show his appreciation for taking him in.
"It's brilliant. I'm guessing the especially frilly bed with the teddy bear is where I'll be resting my weary head in the coming days?" He teased.
She chucked his belongings on the significantly less feminine bed but still turned to shoot him a glare with her hands on her hips. "Naturally. Thought the teddy might pair well with the pink teacup I have set aside for you."
Snickering, he asked, "Do you bring that raggedy old thing to school with you as well?"
"As a matter of fact, I do. And if you keep making light of the bear my mother handmade for me, I'll have you sleep on the floor like a dog."
He'd been there no more than a few minutes, and already he'd said something to regret. With a groan, he apologized profusely.
"I'm an ass, sorry. I didn't know. I think it's sweet you've kept it. Anne used our mum's school robes as a pillow for years after she passed."
Her glare softened, and she clasped her hands together uncomfortably. "I'm sorry, too, Sebastian. Sometimes I forget you're the only one who really understands what it's like. I suppose still sleeping with this old thing at my age is a bit childish."
This girl who had slain entire armies and tamed graphorns was in front of him, looking so small and insecure over a stuffed toy. He wanted to laugh and cry at the absurdity. Crossing the room to stand directly in front of her, he debated pulling her into a hug, but that might be too forward considering their circumstances. Instead, he reached out and ruffled her hair affectionately.
"I say it only adds to your charm that you mercilessly trample Ashwinder camps by day before coming home to snuggle up under a pastel duvet with your stuffed bear." He told her proudly.
She laughed, beaming up at him and swatting his hand away so she could fix her hair.
-
Feasts in the Great Hall paled in comparison to the modest meal MC prepared for the two to share that evening, Sebastian was certain of it. It was simple fare, all recipes from a family cookbook that had been salvaged from the debris of her family's once charred home.
Just knowing that she'd made these dishes specifically with him in mind and that she was willing to share such a sentimental meal with him was overwhelming.
She was currently chatting animatedly about the time Professor Fig invited her over for Christmas and somehow burned the cider.
The way her nose scrunched when she thought something was especially amusing, and how she liked to mix her potatoes and cranberries - he was mesmerized, unable to look away from her due to an unconscious need to memorize every little habit and feature that culminated into making up his favorite person.
He'd always been terribly fond of the girl sitting across from him, but what Sebastian hadn't fully realized until that evening was that he was far more than fond of her. He cherished her, more than anything. He'd happily go through a lifetime's worth of hardship all over again just to sit there and listen to her drone on about mundane matters while they shared a simple meal.
"Penny for your thoughts? You've been staring for a while now. It's making me nervous." She asked, watching him curiously.
"It's just nice, you know? Sitting down together like this. Feels like home is all. You're family to me." He told her candidly.
She could have melted at the admission, and the delighted smile that bubbled up on her features had Sebastian mirroring her expression.
"Oh, Sebastian. I don't want this to just feel like home - this is your home. No matter what happens, you can always come here. I want you here." She assured him.
-
As perfectly comfortable as the two had been throughout their meal, more pressing concerns were worming their way in to Sebastian's conscience.
They were seated together in the small living room, her head resting peacefully in his lap as he read aloud from one of the muggle story books he'd pilfered from a shelf. The crackling of the fire, their full stomachs, and the intoxicating scent of incense had Sebastian desperately trying to keep his eyes open in a bid to prolong the inevitable.
Unfortunately, MC, who had been dozing peacefully to the sound of his voice, suffered a rude awakening when he, too, drifted off momentarily and dropped the book onto her face.
"Merlin's beard!" She shrieked and sprung away from him, cupping her bruised cheek.
He tried to pry her hand away to inspect the wound, apologizing repeatedly for his blunder, but she just laughed and swatted him away.
"Think it's about time for bed. The earlier we sleep, the sooner you'll get your Christmas present in the morning." She winked.
This was precisely what he was dreading. The only girl he'd ever slept in any proximity to was Anne, and she didn't exactly count. This was a girl whom he was now keenly aware of. He wasn't even sure he could fall asleep so near to her.
"Oh, don't look so put out - you can finish the story tomorrow evening." She chided when he made no move to get up.
"Right, well then - ladies first, I suppose." He tried to say nonchalantly, wiping the sweat from his palms before gesturing to the bathroom for her to get ready.
He busied himself with putting away the book, pretending to thumb through the rest of the titles she kept with exaggerated intrigue while she readied herself for bed. If it could be avoided, he did not want to see her again until she was tucked safely under the pretty floral covers of her bed.
Eventually, he heard the creak of the stairs leading to the loft, and he all but bolted for the bathroom. Heart racing, he gripped the edge of the sink and tried to compose himself in the mirror, hoping the positively vibrant flush across his face and collarbone wouldn't be as visible once the lights were off.
Upstairs, mere paces away from him, she was in nothing but her nightclothes. Soon, he would have to lie next to her, and the thought of it drove him mad. He would not be so brutish as to make a move on her when she was in such a vulnerable position - alone in a house with a boy. It would be unthinkable. Still, the thought tempted him, and he splashed cold water on his face to shake away his desires.
Finally exiting, he saw that she had already extinguished most of the lights - leaving a few flickering candles to light his path up the stairs and to bed. He followed them, moving slowly like a man on his way to execution. Surely, she would notice his discomfort.
Fortunately, when he reached the top of the landing, he saw her form illuminated by the dim candlight of a single floating votive in the center of the room. She was bundled up in her blankets, little bear poking out from near her mess of hair. Blessedly, she was already facing away from his own bed.
Wondering if she might already be asleep again, he crept carefully across the room and nestled under the soft covers. The house still smelled like apple pie and melted wax, and the sounds of her breathing began to lull him into peaceful serenity. Perhaps he could sleep after all - her presence bringing familiar comfort to him rather than anxiety.
Until he felt a hand reach over and nudge his shoulder, pulling him from the precipice of slumber. He startled, quickly rolling over to see her staring directly at him, her hand still resting on the edge of his mattress. The gap between their beds seemed impossibly small now.
"Sorry, Sebastian, didn't mean to wake you. I wasn't aware you were such a sound sleeper." She said apologetically, voice hushed like she was telling him a secret. "I simply wanted to thank you for being here with me. I know it's been difficult going back to Feldcroft. It's hard for me here as well. But, truthfully, I haven't felt this content in ages. I hope it's been the same for you. I'm so glad you're here."
He immediately reached up and took hold of her hand, unable to stop himself. Holding it to his lips, he gave the back of her hand a gentle kiss and laced his fingers through hers.
"I'm glad to be here with you. I haven't felt so at peace in years. Thank you, MC." He confessed.
She hummed pleasantly and said, "Glad to hear it. Perhaps next time you stay, I won't be so nervous around you. Anyway, good night, Sebastian, sweet dreams."
Offering him a lovely, sleepy smile, she withdrew her hand and rolled back over, but not before he caught a pretty blush on her cheeks. So he made her nervous, did he? He liked the sound of that. Come morning, he'd be interested in hearing precisely what she meant by it.
Then, the way she had said next time.
He loved the sound of that, too.