Like Moths to a Flame // Sebastian Sallow [Book One]

Chapter Six: More Trouble

Damien and Sebastian stumbled through the doors of the Three Broomsticks. They glanced over their shoulders, in sync once again. Sebastian hoped that no one had trailed them. Luckily, the coast appeared to be clear.

Heading toward Sirona and the bar, Sebastian assessed the bustling room. As he did so, Sirona ambled over to them, shining a glass in her hand.

"Now, what can I - oh, there's a face I haven't seen before," she remarked.

Damien graced her with a lopsided grin, which Sebastian caught out of the corner of his eye. In all honesty, he would have rather not seen it, as it nearly brought him to his knees. 

Merlin's beard, this was ridiculous. Why was he so affected by Damien's charm?

"It's my first time here," Damien said breathily.

Sirona returned Damien's bashful smile with a friendly one of her own. "Welcome. Butterbeer's on me."

Sebastian and Damien pulled up stools by the bar and settled in as Sirona conjured two glasses. With a deft flick of her wand, they filled themselves by the keg.

Her face sobered. "Heard about the attack," she said, passing them their drinks. "I shall be looking in on the other shopkeepers and residents shortly. Glad to see you two escaped injury."

"Thanks to this one," Sebastian piped in, nodding at Damien. Might as well give credit where credit was due. At least with Damien here and all. "Single-handedly took down a troll!" He lifted his glass in the air in salute. 

Sirona's eyes widened. "Is that right? Well done."

"Thanks for this," Damien said, taking a sip.

Sebastian observed Damien's reaction with undue interest. He wondered if Damien had ever had butterbeer before. If he hadn't, Sebastian would be surprised if he didn't enjoy it. Ah, yes! There was the delighted spark in the eyes he expected to see. Damien, too, seemed to have fallen under the enchanting spell of the frothy, sweet beverage.

Sirona had also been watching, and she smiled at Damien's blissful expression. "My pleasure." She leaned down on the bar, her voice lowered. "I will say... trolls? In Hogsmeade? That's never happened before. Something's not right. The only brutes we usually have to deal with are---"

Her sentence was interrupted as the doors flung open once again and, to Sebastian's great horror, Rookwood and another gentleman strode in, conversing loudly, as if they owned the place.

Sirona vacated the bar to intercept them.

Sebastian and Damien gave each other a knowing glance and sank down into their stools, attempting to look as small as possible. Easier for Sebastian to do, he'd readily admit, what with Damien being so tall and all. Not that Sebastian wasn't tall too. Just slightly shorter. 

"Looks like we were followed," Sebastian whispered.

Damien grimaced. "It seems so."

"Maybe we should invite them over to tea and have a nice chat."

Sebastian was very pleased with himself when Damien snickered under his breath. "I guess we should be flattered," Damien replied. 

Sirona had seemed to be handling it - had being the key word - until Sebastian sensed from the tone of their voices that things had taken a turn for the worse. He peered over Damien's shoulder to find Rookwood's crony pulling out his wand and directing it at Sirona.  

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, Theophilus," she warned.

Rookwood threw out his hand in an apparent attempt to subdue the man. "Come now. No need for theatrics. I'm only here for this one anyway." And then, he gestured at Damien.