Safe & Sound//Sebastian Sallow

six.

Sebastian and I stayed in the Undercroft for the next few hours, switching between talking and kissing. Him asking me to be official energized me and I felt giddy. The tiredness I'd felt as a result of the previous meetings completely disappeared.

Being in the Undercroft the night before classes started made me feel a bit nostalgic, which was both a good and bad feeling. Sixth year, I'd snuck out of the common room and waited there for hours in the hopes that Sebastian would finally show up. Seventh year, after I'd accepted Sebastian wasn't coming back, Ominis and I snuck out together and hung out until the late hours of the night. We'd always been good friends, but we became closer that year in a strictly platonic way.

"Thea? You're not even listening, are you," Sebastian laughed at me, breaking me out of my thoughts.

"Huh?"

"You're off somewhere else."

"I'm sorry. I was just thinking about how this is almost like a tradition for me, being here the night before classes. It makes me miss Ominis. He spent the last year here with me."

"Being here has made me miss him, too. I keep being reminded of all the trouble the three of us got into."

"Have you talked to him recently?"

"It's been awhile. We've stayed in touch through letters throughout the years, but he's been busy with whatever work he's doing. He's a consultant of some sort, though I'm not sure exactly what he does specifically."

"I feel terrible for not keeping up with him. Do you think he'd be happy if I reached out?"

"I think so. You know Ominis, though. He'd never outwardly show excitement about anything."

"Such a serious guy," I laughed, reminiscing. I made a promise to myself right then that I would write to Ominis, as well as the others whom I missed from my school days. Being back at Hogwarts was bringing out feelings that I'd buried and hidden.

Sebastian could tell I was starting to get caught up in my feelings and wrapped his arms around me, pulling me close. I breathed in his scent and sighed happily.

The time passed quickly and we were soon heading back to the Great Hall to start the Sorting Ceremony and feast. The castle felt like it was alive and buzzing with excitement. We could hear the students talking loudly while they waited to enter the Great Hall. Sebastian and I were the last of the staff to arrive at the faculty table. Headmaster Black gave us an annoyed look, but didn't say anything since we were technically still early. Once seated, the main doors opened and allowed for the students to come in.

Flashbacks of my first Sorting Ceremony and feast came to my mind. I had arrived late and almost missed it entirely. I didn't have a vast knowledge of the houses, but I was still sorted into my top choice. The rest was history.

The first years came in after the rest of the students were seated, looking amazed and terrified. I was excited for them and hoped I could make their time here worthwhile. Once everyone was in the Great Hall, Headmaster Black stood and cleared his throat before beginning his welcome speech. He dragged on for a few minutes before Professor Weasley brought over a stool and then the Sorting Hat.

The hat took no time at all sorting the new students. They were almost evenly split into the four houses, but Hufflepuff had a few more than the others this year. After the students were sorted and seated, the feast appeared in front of everyone, signaling the start of dinner.

The House Elves had really outdone themselves preparing everything. Most anything you could think of was somewhere on a tray. My eyes were bigger than my stomach and, by the time dinner had ended, I had a plate full of half-eaten food; I'd wanted to eat basically one of everything. Professor Weasley stood and announced that it was time for the students to go to their common rooms for the night and that the Prefects were to guide their new first years.