Witch Hunt (Re-written)

Chapter 15, Butterbeer

     Everyone wondered about Sebastian's return, but with a quick explanation, most of the students lost interest and you were able to start classes normally, which was easier being you only had one year's worth to work on. 
The teachers weren't giving you leeway however, you had learned two years worth in a month, but you were still expected to remember it, which was harder when your mind was in flight or fight mode and had tried to forget everything that happened.  
It was the end of the first day, though everyone noticed you actively avoided Fig's office, which had been taken by another professor.
"Hey, I've been looking for you," Sebastian said as he fell in step with you, on your way out of the Charms classroom as your day ended.
"Oh? What are you up to now?"
He merely chuckled as he stowed both of your books in your bag, before taking your hand to lead you through the grounds.
"I hear Felix was offered his job back as an auror."
You nodded, thankful people weren't paying much attention to you or Sebastian. "Yeah, but he turned it down. He's looking for a less dangerous job."
He spoke to you about it. He wanted to try being the father he always wanted to be, telling you that he didn't want to replace De'lany, but give you someone you could come to if you needed it.   
"Given his past, I can understand that. Personally, I think I'm going to just teach defense against the dark arts, rather than fight or dabble in it. Hecat wouldn't mind, I think."
"I doubt she would, but I'm going to laugh the whole time when you're upset that one of your students is pulling a Sallow stunt."
He scrunched his nose. "A Sallow stunt?"
"Yeah, restricted section, getting on the bad end of Peeves patrol, restricted section, causing general chaos, did I mention the restricted section?"
He grinned as he narrowed his eyes. "I seem to recall you needed into the restricted section once."
"For official magical business!"
He laughed, drawing some gazes. "What an excuse! That's not even believable."
"It's true," you said, trying to be firm about it, but ended up snickering. "Why did you help me back then anyway? I mean, you took the blame that night."
It was quite strange that he would go so far for a new student. He could have just turned you in an avoid the trouble of convincing people that he shouldn't be expelled.   
You looked over when he fell quiet, seeing him blushing. "Oh my- Sebastian."
He grumbled, tugging on your hand. "Shut up. It's your fault anyway."
"It's adorable."
"Is not."
"Is."
He sighed and shook his head. "Of course I'd end up liking someone as stubborn as I am."
"We'll, I've got to balance you out Sallow," you teased, poking him in the arm, earning a smirk.

         He led you to the three broomsticks and turned towards you, smiling when he seen yours.
"I believe we had a date."
You tilted your head, trying your best to put on a confused expression, knowing it worked when uncertainty flicked over his face.
"I believe I said you could ask after everything was over. I haven't heard you ask."
He eyed you for a moment, trying to think of the best way to get back at you.
You weren't worried until he gave a wicked grin as he tugged you into the alley.
"Are you sure that's how you want to play it?"
Trying to look confident, you met his challenge with your own. "Bring it Sallow."
He moved closer, blush already gracing his skin. "If you like my last name that much, maybe one day I'll give it to you."
Tingles broke out as he kissed the corner of your jaw.
You blinked as he pulled back with a satisfied, half smug look on his face.
"Sebastian," you hissed as you pressed your cool hands to your burning face.
"What? Don't want to keep using my last name?" He stepped closer, your back pressing to the wall behind you.
"What are you-"
"Thank you," he whispered, all emotions washed away except for a strange look in his eyes. "It would have been easier to give up in me. To forget about me. But, you didn't and I will never be able to tell you how much that means. I can't promise that I'll always be able to keep out of trouble, but I'm going to try to keep it away from certain curses. You, Ominis and Anne were right about how dangerous it was."
Surprised when he started tearing up, you cupped his face, trying to wiped them way as they fell.
"Casting that spell at you, not knowing if one would hit you. It scared the hell out of me."
His arms wrapped around you, trying to desperately hold onto reality, one where he and Ominis didn't torture and kill you like his dreams made him believe before waking.
"Sebastian, you didn't have control over what happened that night. Spavin would have been." 
He inhaled sharply, still trying to hush it. "It still would have been me that would have hurt you. I can't apologize enough for what happened."  
His voice kept breaking enough that it took him a moment to get the words out, but they still pulled at your heart. 
"I'm okay Sebastian," you whispered as he buried his face into the crook of your neck. "We're all okay."
He nodded slightly, trying not to hit into you. 
Once he let out what he needed, he pulled back, blushing from embarrassment. "Sorry for..." He motioned towards his face.
Smiling, you gently stole away his tears. "Emotions don't wait for you to be ready for them and tears don't make you weak, it means you care and that makes you strong."
His expression melted into a peaceful one as his eyes closed when you wiped under them.
"Shall we?" You asked after all his tears were gone.
He nodded as he slipped his hand into yours, following you towards the doors.
Sirona greeted you two as you walked in, taking a subtle notice of how your hands slipped apart.
"Two butterbeers?" She asked, smiling as you nodded. "We heard about your release. I had a feeling it wouldn't take long."
Sebastian shifted on his feet, glancing down at them.
"If you'd like to sit, you can take the table over there. I'll bring them over to you."
Thinking that was best, seeing as Sebastian now seemed uncomfortable, you smiled and thanked her before heading to the table she pointed out. It was a secluded small table, making you chuckle. Sirona certainly wasn't fooled.
You sat down and fell quiet unsure of what to talk about.
Knowing this was a date, your mind just blanked. As friends you could talk his ear off, but this was too new.
"So," he said drawing the word out. "Classes must be easier without the added work load of multiple years."
Chuckling, you nodded. "Much and I even have more time to do things."
"That's good. A slow year would be nice after everything that's happened."
Sirona came over with a smile, seeing the tension firing.
"Two butterbeers," she said setting them down. "I'll be back to check on you both later. I see a professor has come in."
Looking past the wall, you seen professor Ronen coming in, already casting a butterfly of magic.
"He certainly knows how to distract a crowd."
Sebastian nodded, before his mind caught up with what you said, he looked back, blushing instantly when he realized your faces were close.
You couldn't help but tease him, so you poked his forehead. "Someone's thinking about something embarrassing."
He scoffed playfully as he pushed your hand down. "Maybe YOU are."
"Maybe I am," you replied sitting back in your chair, deciding to take a drink from cup.
He stared, waiting until you were done, before leaning close and kissing you. His hands slid to the sides of your neck as you kissed him back.
Getting so lost in the feelings you both had been suppressing, you ended up getting startled apart by laughter.
Sebastian sighed, pressing his forehead against yours.
"I thought we got caught," you laughed.
He chuckled, your skin tingling as he slid closer to your ear. "That wouldn't be so bad, would it?"
"Says the guy who's cheeks are still red," you teased running your fingers across his cheekbone.
"Like yours are any different." He pulled back, appearing smug at your silence. "I have something planned after this. Something to help rewrite past darkness."
You were about to press, but he just drank from his cup, his eyes drifting around to avoid your gaze.

   Seeing as it was almost passed curfew, Sebastian led you back to the castle, but not to your common room or the room of requirement, but to the undercroft, which had been decorated.
"Oh, Ominis is going to be so angry," you laughed, looking around.
"Why? He's the one who gave me the idea. Anne even decorated it while we were out."
What could have been so important that Ominis would allow them to dress up his secret room?   
You narrowed your eyes as you looked at him. "What are you planning?"
He chuckled as he flicked his wand towards the side and music filled the room.
Moving closer, he held his hand out to you. "May I have this dance?"
You smirked. "Rewriting the past?"
He merely smiled, which grew as you rested your hand in his. Your mind almost going blank as he pulled you closer. 
You were a bit surprised at how well he was dancing, even going so far as to give him a suspicious glance.
"Ominis taught me after I told him I wanted to do this," he laughed, eyes twinkling. "You can't go tripping over your feet while trying to impress her."
"Are you trying to impress me?"
His hold on you tightened, his eyes dancing over your face while his turned a bit red. "No, this is a side effect."
Shaking your head as you snickered, you lightly smacked his shoulder, getting his grin to widen.
"Okay, I'll bite, a side effect of what?"
He eyed you for a moment, but you noticed fear hidden in them. "I love you."
It took a moment for what he said to catch up and your dancing immediately ceased as his freckles vanished into blush. Your pulse shooting into overdrive while staring into his eyes. 
Not trusting yourself to say something as too many emotions bubbled like crazy, you pulled on his tie and kissed him when he was in reach.
Understanding what you were doing, he savored the feeling before you pulled back. 
"Does that mean your feelings are mutual?" 
Knowing you were they type to hide behind humor, he prepared himself, but instead, you smiled. "I do."  
Now it was his turn to seem like he was about to hop around in happiness. He gripped your hand, pulling you back into the dance. 
Resting your head against his chest, you could hear his heart beating as wildly as your own as he rested his head down on yours.
The future looked brighter than it had at the end of your fifth year. You hoped it continued.