Sebastian's idea to sneak out was exceptional but required a lot of work. I would need time, an alibi, and the situation when no one would look for me. The plan Imelda and I made was sophisticated, but the only one that could work. She didn't know why I would need to sneak out for the night, but that didn't stop her from helping me, which I am grateful for.
Alibi was the most complicated part of the plan. Imelda forged the letter, which said that her non-existed uncle is dying and wishes to see her. The letter was given to Professor Weasley when she was particularly busy with some papers, and she let Imelda go home for a night without even looking (no surprises on this part - Felix Felicis she drank did it's deed). After that Imelda went to Hogsmeade and purchased Polyjuice potion with my money - just enough to let her last in my form for eight hours. She is in the Hospital Wing now, pretending to be me.
The next part was to fake an injury. Some pranks from Zonko's did their tricks and now Nurse Blainey firmly believes that I have a form of short-lasting chicken pox and must be isolated for two days.
Just enough for me to sneak out, capture some bad people, practice pain extraction spell, kill them and get back to the castle to continue faking a disease. My getaway is through a secret passage, obviously.
As I walk through the Forbidden Forrest I can't stop thinking, where should I practice? I cannot do it in an open space, and I cannot take that person to Hogwarts...A cave I've recently found will do, I guess.
Let's see...A poacher camp...Just three of them there...Petrificus Totalus to you...And you go and talk with my little chomping cabbage...And...
"Immobulus!" I break the disillusionment charm to stun the last standing poacher, "Incarserous!" Here go the ropes, in case that poor shocked man decides to run away...Wingardium Leviosa and we (or at least one of us) can go.
The cave I spotted a few months ago is conveniently hidden behind vines at stones - if it weren't for a mooncalf that ran in it I would have never found it. It isn't spacious, but deep enough for no one to hear poacher's possible screams for help.
He isn't the most cooperative one I must say.
"W-who are you? What are you going to do to me? P-please, let me go, I d-did nothing wrong..." He starts to prattle when I un-stun and put him on the ground and un-stun.
"Here is what is going to happen. I need to practice a certain spell, and I will practice it on you. I don't know whether it is going to hurt, what you will feel and so on. I will practice, and when I decide that that's enough I will kill you. Questions?" I try to make a rougher voice, and the mask I'm wearing is surely a great help.
Poor guy tries to move to the corner of the cave, still tied up and terrified.
"N-no, n-no, please, I'm begging you! I d-don't have anyone, I wanted a family! Some kids running around, you know...Please, have m-mercy, I promise... I swear that I won't smuggle animals anymore...I can give you an Unbreakable Vow if you want!"
"Pff, I don't need your vow. I need to practice my spell."
It is hard to concentrate with all this whining and crying, but I still manage. I think of all the pain this man could possibly have, of his fear, of his discomfort and try to imagine taking it, pointing a wand to his heart...
And it works.
A tiny trace of dark-red magic flows out of him but breaks. My second and third attempts fail as well, and that's where I become angry.
"Are you happy with your life?" I ask, frustrated.
"Well, I was until now. Being a poacher has always been my dream."
Unbelievable. From all the possible poachers, I captured the one who is fucking happy. That can be fixed.
"Crucio!" That's better. Not so happy now, are you?
The trace of pain is much stronger now, I can take it. The feeling is quite similar to the one I experienced at Isidora's Repository, but weaker.
The poacher is visibly relieved.
"Whoa, what was that?"
"Do you feel better?"
"I do, yes."
"Good."
I repeat my actions a few times, until I get used to the spellcasting algorithm. Suddenly, an intriguing thought goes through my mind.
What if I try to give the pain back?
I just do the spell in reverse. I take some of what I inhaled from myself, and direct it to a poacher, who immediately appears to be in agony.
"Please, stop it! Just kill me already, I beg you! Merlin, that is worse than Crucio..."
Worse than Crucio?
Definitely a spell to remember. You can never know who you will encounter... All for self-defense, of course...
The dawn slowly starts to break, I must go back.
Rest in peace, my fellow poacher.
⸺
My return went exactly as planned.
Imelda ran away for breakfast and now I am left with my thoughts.
The first spell is ambiguous. Taking the pain can be the good thing in some situations, but only if one is sure that the cause of it is gone. Otherwise, I can unintentionally drain someone from their emotions, like Isidora did with her father. So, it is not suitable for Anne...
The second spell, on the other hand, is horrible. It can be useful in combats, or when one needs to get some information, but it nearly kills the victim. I know that my power is capable of great things, but I never thought it could be so...evil, so torturing...
So fascinating...
It's a pity I can't explore it more. Despite how curious I am, I must understand that there won't be an opportunity like today anymore, so the only thing I'm left to do is wait for the summer and when it comes, my opportunities to explore are almost endless. Obviously, nobody can know. Even Sebastian...
Shit, I forgot about The Trace...The last thing I would need is a Ministry after me.
Anyway, that is a problem for later. I should get some sleep...
⸺
I wake up in the late evening, disrupted by Nurse Blainey's grunting. She examines me, verifies that I'm fine and let's me go under the condition that I go straight to the common room since it is past curfew already. Merlin, I'm starving...
Slytherin common room is untypically lively. Students are gathered in small groups here and there and I could hear their hum from the entrance. Time to find out what the fuss is about.
Imelda, Sebastian and Ominis are gathered beside the fireplace with some other students I don't know. Imelda lights up when I approach, pointing to a seat she saved for me, while Sebastian looks like his has seen a Dementor. He didn't find out about what I did, didn't he?
"Hey, Pen. We were just discussing the latest news!" I haven't seen Imelda so excited for a long time.
"What news?"
"Professor Black announced at today's dinner that in two weeks the Spring Welcoming Ball will take place." Ominis answers, "We are discussing who will go with whom, what will everyone wear, how we will learn to dance and all that stuff. So sad, I won't be able to enjoy the decorations and dancing, but at least I will hear the music!"
"And we already have a pair!" An unknown girl interjects, "Sebastian and Imelda! He lost her a wish when..."
Sebastian and WHO?!
YOU ARE READING
Obsession || Sebastian Sallow x Reader
Romance"Why don't you think I'm a monster?" "I've never said I don't think you are a monster. You are." Sebastian looks at me. His eyes are blank and I can say that he is stunned and shocked and is trying to find words to answer my accusation, but never d...
