Chapter Text
You weren’t really sure how it had happened, but everyone else had paired up for the classwork, so you were left with this guy.
“Well,” the brown haired boy was scratching his freckles, “I guess that leaves me with you.”
Turning to him, you quirked an eyebrow. A small smile made its way onto your face, and you quipped, “Yep, Best Duelist in the school and,” you dragged your gaze up and down his form, “Second Place.”
Sebastian Sallow rolled his eyes at you as you both settled down in your seats to start on the reading for the class. “You beat me one time!”
“Yes, that’s why I’m first and you’re second, Sallow.” You weren’t letting up, glancing at him with a faux haughty look.
He deadpanned, “Once I get the hang of this spell, it’s over for you.”
“Sure,” you replied lightly, “if you can get to me, that is.”
Class went on with light chatter in the background, and the sun slowly made its way into the classroom. It was the last class of the day, and luckily, they were in one of the rooms that faced the setting sun, and golden hour lit up the dust in the air, beaming light into people’s eyes and warming the atmosphere. Towards the end, you sighed and turned your face into the light, letting the last of the sun’s rays soothe you, finally feeling at peace. With everything that happened and resolved not too long ago, you were still haunted by the occasional nightmare, but now you had a solid support system, and you were looking forward to the rest of your time here in Hogwarts. Again, a sense of gratefulness washed over you as you recounted the friends you’d made. You cast your eyes to the boy next to you, noting how his eyes almost glowed golden in the light. He looked up from chewing on the end of his quill, inquisitive.
“Undercroft tonight?” you whispered.
He nodded, grinning. “Anything particular you wanted to do?” he asked, keeping his voice low.
“Can’t a friend simply want to hang with a friend, Sebastian?” you acted innocent. He rolled his eyes at you again and turned back to the heavy tome on the desk. As you leaned in closer to read the book, your shoulder pressed into his, and as you weren’t really concentrating that much, you just made out the sound of his breath hitching. Interesting, you thought. You flashed him a small smile and eased off his shoulder, maybe he’s not that kind of friend— He flicked you a look, and bumped your shoulder with his. A bubbly kind of sensation built up within you as you settled back side by side and tried to make sense of the words on the page. A niggling feeling of horror was yelling to be heard from the back of your mind.
Class flew by, as it usually did, you realised, when you spent it partnered up with Sebastian. He’s just a goofy guy, you told yourself. He’s fun. Once you were out of the classroom, you and Sebastian were met with Poppy Sweeting and Ominis Gaunt loitering to the side of the corridor, waiting for you both. Their heads were bent together and they spoke in hushed tones, and— is that Ominis giggling? You shot a teasing look at Sebastian, who you expected to join you, but he was staring at the pair with a sort of unreadable expression. You squinted at him. He seemed… fond, hopeful, maybe a touch of… yearning? Interesting.
Reaching Poppy’s side, you slung an arm around her. “Hey cuties!” Poppy laughed and turned to pay attention to you, oblivious to Ominis behind her forming a dusting of red on his cheeks as Sebastian jabbed at his sides and wiggled his eyebrows. All four of you left for dinner together, and as you sat together to share the last meal of the day, your eyes wandered around until they settled on Sebastian, who was peering at you curiously. You beamed at him, uplifted and letting that sense of peace wash over you again. It was a good day. He seemed to have a knack for instilling comfort and safety in you. He smiled at you and returned to his plate, as did you, and you missed the way his cheeks turned a flattering shade of red.
~
You and Poppy were doing a little bit of study in the Hufflepuff common room before you went to the Undercroft. She had made an offhand comment about how Ominis was a rather good friend for doing so and so for her, and you barely suppressed a sigh. It was no secret that Ominis was harbouring certain… feelings for your dear friend, who remained either blissfully unaware of these observations, or purposefully oblivious. You weren’t quite feeling motivated enough to suss it out, and besides, the fallout could split the fairly new group. It was only recently that the four of you started hanging out together, and it felt good to have a designated spot at the table.
Finishing up your last essay, you got up and stretched nonchalantly. Poppy looked up, a calculated expression on her brows. You mimed punching the stack of papers that consisted of your essay. “That was awful. I hate these assignments.” You were getting your papers in order when Poppy's deduction smacked you upside the head.
“You’re going to see Sebastian, aren’t you?”
A wheeze trickled out your throat. Guilty. “What?”
Poppy slyly turned back to her work, a treacherous grin stretching her face. “Nothing. Good night, see you tomorrow!”
You packed up, an uneasy laugh slipping out involuntarily. “Pops, you’re crazy. My eyelids are fighting me here. Good night!” Calmly walking out of the Hufflepuff common room, your legs set a hurried pace once you stepped foot out of sight, and a smile wormed its way up your cheeks. So, what if you had fun with Sebastian? He was your friend, and friends are supposed to be fun, and he was! Not that you were defensive or anything. Poppy’s reaction just caught you off guard because… you swore to keep the Undercroft a secret! Yes, exactly.
Slipping past a giggling pair of students, you realised your heart was pounding from excitement, right at the door to the dingy little secret space. You eagerly entered.
Inside, it was dim, and damp, and honestly kind of gross, but the moment you entered, Sebastian had lost his concentration on a levitation spell, and a textbook that had once been peacefully floating above him, thudded on his head and toppled to the ground. You laughed as he whirled around, hand rubbing his scalp and a playful scowl directed at you. It made the room all the more brighter.
“Oh, Seb. Is that a new technique you’re developing?” you teased. He picked the book back off the stone floor and shot you a look. It was all too easy with him, and you relished in it.
“Oi, you! You just startled me, ‘s all.”
“No time for getting startled on the battlefield, Sallow.”
“Well, if this is a battlefield, then I guess…” you caught the brief flash of a wild grin, but it was all the warning you needed. “Levioso!”
Dodge. “Arresto momentum!” Your breath quickened, and you honed in on his.
“Protego. Petrificus totalus!” His eyes glimmered playfully.
“Protego! Stupefy!” You couldn’t help the laugh that fought its way out. It was exhilarating. You and Sebastian traded spells and basic casts for what felt like a lifetime. It was a dance you both knew your steps to but didn't know the others', and it made your heart race and do all sorts of wonderful gravity defying stunts. Taunts were thrown and jabs slung across the room. Silent circling each other punctuated the flurry of attacks and evasive maneuvers. The end of the dance culminated in a single microsecond that you miscalculated.
“Protego— flipendo!” he howled. Dodge— oh, he was quick that time. You were forcefully pulled up and back by his magic. “Accio!” A sudden rush of wind and then you were face to face. Close up, you could see how the sparring had affected him. His tie was slightly askew, mouth opened in short pants, freckles made more prominent by the flush in his cheeks, his hair beautifully tousled, and droplets of sweat hung on his forehead, his jaw, ran down his Adam’s apple—
“Uff—!” you dropped suddenly, leaving your breath behind. Your eyes closed reflexively as you braced for impact with the cobbled stone floor, but instead, warm arms caught you before you could. You peeked up and saw Sebastian, but he didn’t look like Sebastian to you, this Sebastian had curls sticking out framed by the firelight that hung from the ceiling, this Sebastian was looking at you, really looking at you, this Sebastian had the most tender smile and his pupils were wide, and something inside you tripped. Your heart, your lungs, your stomach, something in you squirmed, and that niggling feeling of horror from earlier was making itself known again.
You were suddenly aware of how close your faces were, how sweaty you were, how red your face must be, and how Sebastian was still holding you princess style like nothing had happened. Your discomfort must have shown on your face because Sebastian, who had previously looked to be in a trance, blinked and set you down, one hand immediately propping his hip and the other rubbing the back of his neck. You dusted yourself off, wondering why words were struggling to make it past your lips. He spoke first.
“So, as per that rematch, I’d like to crown myself king again.”
A giggle wormed out of you. Inside, your rational mind had lost its hold on the controls, and was now watching everything unfold with a sense of mounting doom. “Alright, o’ first place winner of duels!” What was that?! You couldn’t stop the chuckles tumbling out of you, and you met his gaze exactly once, but felt the intensity of it, and couldn’t look him in the eye since. Stop giggling! Stop being weird!
He laughed lightly, sinking down into one of the armchairs conjured into the room beforehand. “That was a good session,” he sighed, tipping his head back and wiping the sweat from his forehead. You eyed his curls flopping every which way. You wanted to touch them. What?!
“I might— er, have an early night, tonight,” you stammered out, and nearly smacked your palm to your head.
Sebastian snapped upright, and came right over in one stride. “Why? Is something wrong?” You felt the air push past you dramatically, and then your face was being held and Sebastian was circling you, checking for injuries. “I didn’t hurt you, did I? I didn’t think I got a hit on you. Oh, God, you said you just wanted to hang, but I made you duel! I am so sorry, I should’ve known you’re tired.” You just stood there, your face in his hands, basking in his attention. He paused, and you schooled your expression to one that was not so blatantly blissed out. Peering at you closer, Sebastian repeated, “You are fine, right? You’re not saying anything.”
Hurriedly, you mumbled, “How can I when you’re squishing my face like this?”
His hands sprang back to his sides and you couldn’t help but miss them, if your gaze lingering on his hands was any indication of that. You looked at him from under your lashes, acting shy for some reason only God knows (because your rational mind sure didn't). You heard his breath hitch. You tried to ignore it and willed yourself to act normal. “It was a good session. You beat me fair ‘n’ square. But, I’ll have my rematch, too. I’m just, uh, thinking about how I have a full day of lessons tomorrow. I need my beauty sleep.” Nailed it.
Sebastian rolled his eyes and turned to gather his things, mumbling something you hadn’t caught, but sounded suspiciously like, like you need beauty sleep. You were toeing a stone on the ground when he reappeared in your field of vision, coat draped over his arm and books stored away. “C’mon,” his voice was soft, content, “Let me walk you back.” But at the exit, he slyly turned and announced, “Let it be known that today, Sebastian Sallow has retaken the throne!” You smacked him and pushed him out the door, laughing all the while.