Chapter Text
When Sebastian said he would give you a 'proper Hogwarts welcome,' he didn't expect to be the first one on the floor.
As the new student at Hogwarts, you were just instructed by Professor Hecat to duel in class with Sebastian. He thought he'd cut you some slack and go easy on you, but he was taken aback by the first Levioso you casted. Intrigued by your mysterious aura, which had captivated him ever since you walked in late to the Sorting Ceremony the other day, he couldn't help but be mesmerised by you.
With the other students cheering for you, Sebastian picked himself up from the floor, brushing the dust off his robe. He glanced at you, seeing a triumphant grin on your face as the others congratulated you for winning.
As the class began filing out, he approached you. "Hm, not bad for a beginner. You give as good as you get," he chuckled, taking one last look at you before heading toward the door.
With a rush of adrenaline and a spark of excitement, you felt a sense of accomplishment bubbling up inside. You turned around, smirking. "I enjoyed that; it was certainly good practice."
His pride was slightly wounded but his interest piqued, Sebastian couldn't help but feel a growing admiration for your skill. "Practice? I was going easy on you."
You raised an eyebrow, clearly not convinced. "Sure you were. Let's see what happens next time when you're not holding back." You give him one last look before exiting the classroom, leaving him standing there, intrigued and eager to know more about you.
Ever since that duel, you had been on Sebastian's mind constantly. He notices you everywhere—in hallways, classrooms, the common room—always in a hurry, darting around corners to get somewhere. This only heightened his curiosity, making him eager to discover what kept you so busy.
One night, while he was coming back from the Duelling Club in the dungeons, he spotted you again, darting around a corner. He stopped in his tracks, his mind urging him to follow you. After a moment's hesitation, he decided to follow you, intrigued by your mysterious behaviour. Keeping a safe distance, he moved silently, determined to uncover the secret that kept you perpetually on the move.
You had just come back from meeting your new friend Natsai and was eager to return to your Room of Requirement as soon as possible. As much as you enjoyed being the new student, the constant socialising with so many people in such a short time was exhausting. You longed for a moment of peace to yourself, away from the bustling life of Hogwarts.
Unaware of Sebastian trailing behind, you hurried through the corridors, your mind set on the sanctuary of your private space. As you reached your destination, you faced the wall, focusing your mind. Responding to your intent, the wall shifted, and the door appeared, allowing you to swiftly slip inside.
Sebastian's eyes widened in surprise, his curiosity piqued as he wondered what he had just witnessed. In all his years at Hogwarts, he had never come across this door—an enigmatic entrance that seemed to materialise out of thin air, hidden within the labyrinthine walls of the castle. Seeing you scurrying inside, he hesitated for a moment before making a split-second decision. As the doors began to close, he acted on impulse, squeezing between them and entering the room, driven by an insatiable desire to unravel the mystery that surrounded you.
What are you doing?! his mind screamed at him, a voice of reason cautioning against the impulsive act of following a girl into an unknown room. But his curiosity always got the better of him. The thrill of the unknown beckoned him forward, igniting a sense of adventure that he couldn't resist.
The first thing he saw when he walked in was a small dim-lit hallway, the walls covered in shelves full of clutter and plants. With each step he took into the hallway, he felt a rush of excitement mingled with apprehension, unsure of what he would discover.
Music filled his ears suddenly. As the first notes filled the air, Sebastian's senses were instantly captivated, the sudden onset of music causing him to startle slightly. The rich strains of the violin and piano resonated with a profound depth, their heavy tempo commanding attention and stirring something deep within him. Each note seemed to carry a weighty significance, weaving a tapestry of sound that enveloped him in its mesmerising embrace. Enveloped in the enchanting sound, Sebastian found himself spellbound, unable to resist the alluring pull of the music that seemed to echo the depths of his own soul. As he walked further into the hallway and into the opening of the room, his eyes could not believe what he saw.
The room was unlike anything Sebastian had ever seen. It resembled a grand study, with towering bookshelves lining the walls, filled to the brim with ancient tomes and volumes of knowledge. Soft candlelight flickered across the room, casting warm shadows that danced along the shelves. On either side of the room, elegant staircases led up to an opening bordered with branches of trees, their delicate silhouettes adding a touch of whimsy to the space. At the top of the staircases, a majestic clock rested, its hands ticking away the moments in quiet reverence.
As Sebastian's gaze wandered, he noticed the walls adorned with a myriad of artworks, each one a masterpiece in its own right. Paintings of landscapes and portraits of long-forgotten figures adorned the walls, their details vibrant. The pillars that rose to support the ceiling were not mere structural elements but works of art in themselves, with intricate detailing that spoke of the craftsmanship of generations past. Each curve and flourish seemed to tell a story, adding to the room's sense of grandeur. And above it all, the glass dome on the ceiling soared majestically, offering a breathtaking view of the night sky. Moonlight streamed through the translucent surface, bathing the room in a gentle, silvery glow that lent an air of enchantment to the already magical atmosphere. It was a scene straight out of a fairy tale, a sanctuary where dreams and imagination knew no bounds.
For a moment, Sebastian felt as though he had been transported to another world entirely, one where time seemed to stand still and all worries faded away in the face of such breathtaking beauty. But then he saw you.
You were dressed in a ballet ensemble, a vision of ethereal beauty that seemed to transcend time itself. Your tightly laced bodice was adorned with delicate lace trimmings and intricate embroidery, while the shade of the lightest pink adorned the layers of your voluminous skirt, casting a soft and romantic glow upon your form. The tiny pearls and crystals on your tutu caught the moonlight, scattering glimmers of shimmering light as you danced gracefully in the middle of the spacious room, your movements fluid and mesmerising.
In that moment, you seemed to embody the very essence of beauty and grace, your passion for dance evident in every step and pirouette. As you twirled and spun across the floor, the room itself seemed to come alive, the music of your movements filling the air with an enchanting melody that spoke of love and longing. The violins, with their hauntingly sweet notes, wove a delicate tapestry of sound that harmonised perfectly with your movements, evoking a sense of yearning and emotion that left Sebastian utterly captivated.
"Merlin..." he watched in awe, hiding behind the staircase, you not having noticed him yet. He could not believe what he was seeing. Is this the reason for your hurrying out after class? You were hiding this talent? As his eyes roamed over your form, taking in every detail, Sebastian couldn't help but feel a sense of awe wash over him. From the tips of your pointed toes to the graceful curve of your legs, each movement you made seemed to exude a captivating elegance that held him spellbound. And as his gaze finally met your face, he found himself utterly entranced by the beauty that radiated from within you.
You. You were the most breathtaking beauty he had ever seen.
"Pirouette, arabesque, releve..." you softly murmured the names of the steps under your breath as you danced alone in the Room of Requirement. This room was your sanctuary, a place where you could escape the pressures and expectations of the outside world. Here, surrounded by the soft glow of moonlight and the gentle rustle of your skirts, you felt free to express yourself fully, without fear of judgment or scrutiny. It was a space where you could be vulnerable, where you could let go of your inhibitions and lose yourself in the beauty of ballet.
With each whispered word, your executed the movements with precision and grace, your body moving with fluidity and poise. Each step flowed seamlessly into the next, guided by the rhythm of the music and the silent reminders that echoed in her mind. As the final notes of the music faded away, you brought the dance to a graceful conclusion, your chest gently rising and falling to catch your breath. With a sense of contentment washing over, you allowed yourself to bask in the afterglow of the dance.
Suddenly, you felt a tingle down your spine, a sense of someone else's presence in the room. Swiftly grabbing your wand from the table next to you, you whirled around and pointed it toward the source of your disturbance. "Levios-"
Sebastian shot up from his position behind the staircase and into her view, hands shot up in a gesture of surrender. "W-wait! Hold on now!" he stammered, his voice tinged with urgency.
With the wand still pointed in Sebastian's direction, your eyes widened in surprise. 'Sebastian?' you said in disbelief. You did not expect anyone to be in this room, let alone the boy from her classes. Your eyes narrowed as you assessed the situation. Your heart raced with a mix of adrenaline and caution, unsure of whether to trust the unexpected visitor.
"What in Merlin's name are you doing here?" you demanded, your tone laced with suspicion.
Sebastian swallowed nervously, his gaze shifting under your scrutinising stare. "I, uh, I was just...exploring," he replied lamely, his attempt at nonchalance failing miserably.
"Exploring?" you echoed incredulously, your grip on your wand tightening. "Alone? At this hour? How did you even get in here?"
Sebastian shifted uncomfortably under your intense look, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment. "I, uh, may have been following you," he confessed sheepishly. "I saw you slip in here earlier, and...well, I guess I got curious."
Your eyebrows shot up in surprise at his confession, a mixture of disbelief and curiosity crossing your features. A wave of unease washed over you, settling like a heavyweight in the pit of your stomach. The thought of him trailing after you, possibly witnessing your most vulnerable and raw expression of your innermost self through dance sent a chill racing down your spine.
"Following me?" you repeated. "Why on earth would you do that?"
"I've been seeing you around a lot lately, and...well, I wanted to know where you disappear to all the time," he admitted as he met your gaze.
Despite yourself, you couldn't help but feel a twinge of amusement at Sebastian's confession. "You've been following me?" you repeated incredulously, a small smirk playing at the corner of your lips. "That's a bit...stalkerish, don't you think?"
"Yeah, I guess it does sound kind of creepy," Sebastian chuckled nervously, his cheeks flushing with embarrassment.
You shook your head in amusement, your grip on your wand loosening slightly. "Well, you certainly have a knack for getting yourself into trouble," you remarked dryly, a playful glint in your eyes.
Since your arrival at Hogwarts, whispers about Sebastian have been a constant presence, from rumours about his troubled family to tales of him supposedly sneaking into the restricted section of the library under the cover of night. He's become somewhat of a school-wide fascination, and even you couldn't deny your own curiosity about him, especially after your duel in class. The intensity of his gaze afterwards left a lasting impression, sending shivers down your spine. You couldn't help but know more about him, even asking Natsai, who warned you with a shake of her head to steer clear of his apparent troubles.
You lower your wand, "Lucky for you, I'm not in the mood to turn you into a toad today. As long as you don't tell a soul about this place."
Sebastian let out a sigh of relief. "Trust me, my lips are sealed," he assured you, his tone earnest as he watched you lower your wand. "Your secret's safe with me."
You offered him a skeptical look, but a small smile played at the corners of your lips. "I'll hold you to that," you replied, the hint of a challenge in your voice as you set the wand back on the table. "Otherwise, I might just have to challenge you to another duel."
"Ah, I'll have to watch my back then," he chuckled. A silence settled between you, an unknown tension in the air. You both stare at each other, waiting for the other to speak.
"Soooo, what exactly is this place?" he asked, casting a curious glance around.
You paused, considering how much to reveal. "It's called the Room of Requirement," you explained cautiously, "It appears when you need it the most, taking on whatever form you require at that moment."
Sebastian's eyes widened in amazement. "That's incredible," He walks deeper into the room, spotting the potting tables full of dittany and knotgrass. "How did you even find it?"
You follow him with your eyes, finding his curiosity amusing. "It's a bit of a long story," you admitted with a shrug, not wanting to divulge too much.
He caught onto your tone, not prying further. He empathised with your sentiment, having a similar attachment to the Undercroft where Ominis had invited him. It was his sanctuary, a place of safety and solace that he preferred to keep to himself.
As he looked around, Sebastian's curiosity eventually led him to the one question you were dreading. "So, what do you do in here?" he asked, his gaze lingering on you expectantly.
Your heart skipped a beat as you hesitated, unsure of how much to reveal. Ballet was a deeply personal part of your life, a connection to your past that you held dear. But it was also a secret, something you kept hidden from the rest of the world.
"I, uh, I practice," you replied evasively. "Just some spells and things."
"Spells, huh?" He raised an eyebrow. "That is definitely not what I saw. Come on, you can tell me."
You felt a pang of uncertainty gnawing at you as you struggled to find the right words. "It's... complicated," you began hesitantly, "Something I've been doing for a long time."
Sebastian's expression softened, sensing your reluctance to share. He takes a few steps towards you. "Hey, it's okay," he reassured you gently, his voice warm and understanding. "You don't have to tell me if you're not comfortable."
You offered him a grateful smile, relieved by his understanding. "Thanks, Sebastian," you said sincerely, a weight lifting off your shoulders. "I appreciate that."
Another silence enveloped you both again. Time seemed to stand still as your eyes locked, each searching the other's gaze for answers to unspoken questions. You yearned to understand him better, yet hesitated, uncertain of the emotions stirring within. Unbeknownst to you, he shared similar sentiments. Despite everything happening with his sister Anne and his recent practice with dark magic, he couldn't resist being drawn to you.
A charged tension crackled in the air, palpable and electric. Your breath hitched, pulse quickening from the intensity of his gaze on your features.
"I-I should be heading back to my dorm," you stammered, breaking the silence and avoiding his eyes.
"Yes, you're right," he replied, a slight cough punctuating his words. "It's getting late."
Sebastian lingered for a moment longer, his eyes sweeping over the room one last time before he turned to leave. As he walked towards the door, a sense of reluctance washed over him, a feeling that he couldn't quite shake off.
"Goodnight," he said softly, his voice carrying a hint of wistfulness.
"Goodnight," you replied, your voice equally soft.
And with that, Sebastian slipped out of the room, the door closing behind him with a soft click. Left alone once more, you couldn't help but feel a sense of longing lingering in the air, a silent reminder of the bond that had begun to blossom between you.