Snakes and Lions // Sebastian Sallow x Reader

Chapter 3: The Midnight Rendezvous

**Hope you guys enjoy this next chapter. Adding in a little bit of spice since it's been a bit since Shay and Seb had a moment together ;)**

Sebastian

I was pacing between the bookshelves. I had already made sure that the library was clear of any wandering students and Scribner. The librarian had gone to bed finally. It was nearly midnight and the only noise that I could hear was the crackling of the fireplace that was to my right. 

My palms had begun to sweat slightly, and I kept having to wipe them on my robes. My heart rate was elevated and I could feel a knot in my throat. I had wanted to catch Shay after dinner to tell her to meet me here, but Natty had led her away before I could reach her. I had to send an owl instead telling her to meet me and I hoped she had gotten it before she went to bed. 

Ominis had seen me when I had snuck out of our shared dormitory but he didn't say a word. He barely spoke to me unless he needed to. He hadn't turned me in after what happened to my uncle. But he also hadn't forgiven me yet. I would have to prove myself to him and to Anne. 

The way Anne had looked at me at dinner proved she had still disowned me as a brother. I would do whatever it took to win her back. I would be a model student if thats what Anne wanted to see. I would start tomorrow though. I needed to see Shay. I needed to just have one moment alone with her. To see how she was doing. Her letters had always been positive. Had never mentioned the power I knew she had taken into herself.  Yet I still had a sinking feeling there was more to the power she had taken then she was letting on.

It was probably too risky for her to mention anything in her letters. With word about ancient magic starting to spread through the wizarding world. We didn't know who would start asking questions about it. I thought back to the letter she had never replied to. She had gotten every other letter. It shouldn't have taken that long for it to arrive. Maybe it had been lost along the route. While owls were reliable they weren't infallible. 

A shimmering of the light caught my attention and I spun around to see Shay taking off her illusion charm. I couldn't help the smile that came to my face as I took her in. She had grown slightly over the summer but was still a head below me. Her brown hair had gotten just a bit longer but she still tied it back in the same braid she always wore. Her green eyes still were bright even in the dark of the library. The fireplace illuminated parts of her rounded cheek bones and I could see the faint scar that cut through her right eye. 

"There you are." I said a bit breathlessly. Her smile crinkled the corners of her eyes. 

"Here I am." She opened her arms and gestured around herself.  "Why am I here again?" Her voice was soft and amused as she moved slightly toward me. 

"I just wanted a moment alone with you." I said mysteriously, trying to act cooler than I was feeling. "Follow me, I found an even more private spot for us." I waved her over to the fire place. The log was still crackling and the heat was warming me as I neared. I looked at Shay over my shoulder to see her curious expression as she watched me. 

"Glacius."I casted my wand toward the fire  and it died out immediately. I ducked in through the fireplace and into the small study that was behind it. Shay followed me, stepping over the logs. 

"Incendio." I whispered and made the small fire start crackling again. As long as our voices stayed low the fire would cover the noise if anyone came skulking around the library. The fireplace was the only entrance into this tiny alcove. We were out of sight if any person or ghost came wandering through the library.

"So what did we need to speak about in this secret alcove of yours?" Shay asked me a glimmer in her eyes. 

"I wanted to ask you how you were really handling the power?" Her smile lessened as she took in my serious tone.