Aftermath | Sebastian Sallow

2: Chapter 7

"I think that's the last of it." Anne says, rummaging through an old trunk full of festive decorations for the holiday. We are spending the entirety of today decorating the Room of Requirement, in preparation of our celebration together tomorrow.

Even with the other students away with their families, there are some still staying behind at Hogwarts. So being here, in this space, leaves us the privacy to spend the time uninterrupted.

I step back to admire our work on the tree in the center of the room. The green hue inside of the Room of Requirement is a perfect contrast to the red and gold ornaments hanging from the small branches.

The smell of pine is earthy, but sweet in a way that reminds you of home and holidays before. It fills the space surrounding.

"Ominis.." I see him standing afar, leaning against the back of a chair. I can't imagine what this time of year is like for him. The Gaunt family surely never spent any kind of holiday celebrating together, his only reprieve being here at Hogwarts.

I want him to be able to experience this with us, as much as he can. Ominis pushes against the chair and starts walking towards the center of the room, wand out. "Pine?"

"Yes, Ominis." I say, smiling softly at my friend.

He smirks. "It smells lovely." He reaches out a hand and brushes it over the tree, stopping over an ornament. He rubs the shiny, smooth surface with his hand.

My other best friend, my love, is nowhere in sight inside of the main room. I leave Ominis to Anne, who is forcing Felix to hang ornaments on the highest branches of the tree.

I walk down the stairs to the room below, and find Sebastian sitting on a familiar green couch. "Sebastian? We're nearly done, come look!" The head of auburn hair doesn't turn at all towards me, nor does he verbally respond. I walk towards the green couch and round it, only to find him scanning the content of a book in his hands. "Sebastian?"

"Hmm?" He says, without looking up. It is rather typical of him to become so enthralled with whatever he's reading to zone out from the world around him. I plop down on the seat beside him. He turns and smiles when he sees that it's me. "Hello, love." He throws his harm around my shoulder and pulls me in for a kiss, short and sweet.

"What are you reading?" I ask him, trying to make out the details of whatever is inside. He looks down at the book for a moment, deep in thought over something. Then turns to face me, his lips parted open from his beautifully freckled skin.

"These books in here, did you hand select any of these? Or were they already here?" He asks me with a curious expression on his face, one I'm not quite understanding.

I try to think about this, surely none of them had been of my personal library. I only had a few in my trunk when I came here, mostly consisting of textbooks for the curriculum. "I didn't bring any of these books with me, no. Professor Weasley did say though, something along the lines of it being whatever the witch or wizard should need at the time."

"So, you think the items placed in here could have been somehow conjured to your liking or use?" He says, resting his elbows on his knees with his body turned to look up at me as we talk.

"What is this about, Sebastian? What's concerning you with this book?" I ask, furrowing my brows together.

"No, nothing is concerning me. Really I'm more intrigued." He turns his head to look down at the book he's holding. He then sits up straight beside me and gently places the book into my hands. I read the front of it.

"Medieval Magic? What's so special about Medieval Magic?" I ask chuckling at him. Clearly annoyed by me not taking him seriously, he grabs the book out of my hands and leans back, resting against the cushioning of the couch.

"Well, I was looking through Felix's collection of books and there just so happened-"

"Felix? His books? What the bloody hell were you doing with Felix? And looking at his private collection of books?" I should pay more attention to what he's trying to say but I'm stunned, Sebastian absolutely loathes Felix.

Sebastian looks at me, wide-eyed. "Uh- well, I.. was looking for Anne. To speak to her, of course." I raise my eyebrow at him as he stammers and cross my arms.

"You better be behaving, Sebastian Sallow." I playfully push him with my words, and he takes the hint. He leans forward and hooks his finger into the hallow space underneath my jaw, pulling it up so I'm face to face with him.

"Interrupt me again, and I'll be the one showing you how to behave." I swallow the saliva forming in my mouth and bite my lip. He takes notice of this and moves his thumb to my mouth, brushing it against my bottom lip, which I release from my teeth and let him tease my mouth and tongue. He moves his hand to the back of my head, grasping my hair and pulling it slightly back so he has control. He leans in closer to my lips, his brushing my own. "It's a shame we have company here." He smiles against my lips and pulls away, releasing my head.

I'm frustrated by this as the heat forms in between my legs, begging for his touch. Also at the idea that we actually do have company upstairs, and he can't just take me here on our favorite couch. I scowl at him and he lefts out a laugh. Cocky bastard. He flashes a devilish grin at me.

"Anyways, before I was so rudely interrupted. Felix also has this book in his private library. This very same one." He holds the book in his hand up again.

"Alright, I'm lost. What is so special about this damned book? It is common knowledge, that book could be available to anyone."

"Ah, you're right. The book is available to anyone. However this book-" He raises the book before me. "Is not. This book's edition should have only one other twin. I should know, I've studied all sorts of these titles. And that twin book, is in the possession of Felix."

"Okay.. so what are you saying?" I squint my eyes at him, trying to understand what he is getting at.

"This book, and the one Felix owns, both contain records of ancient magic. Recorded in the medieval times. It contains more information on it than anyone else should know."

This of course excites me, frightens me a little as well. It does make me wonder if it could link Felix and I back to our parents, or any surviving family we may have. It could tell us about the origin of the magic, how it's manifested and how we are able to wield it. There are so many possibilities with this new information.

"Well, what does it say? Have you been able to learn anything from it?" I ask him, a little to enthusiastically.

"Hold on, now. I just started looking at it since we've been in here today. So no, I haven't picked up anything from it yet." I nod at him silently. Sebastian sighs and wraps his arm around my shoulders, pulling me tight onto his chest. I respond by wrapping my arms around him and pressing my head closer, hearing his steady heart beat. "I'm eager to discover more about this with you, but we don't have to do it all right now." He presses his lips into my hair, kissing my head.

"Perhaps you're right, it would be nice to relax for once. And enjoy the holiday." He continues kissing my head softly. I'm impressed by this, although he is excited about the book, he's setting a boundary with it. This version of Sebastian is entirely different than Sebastian from last year, who would stop at nothing to learn more about this kind of magic. Warm at the thought, I look up at his face and he smiles down at me.

"Just so you know, I'm proud of you." I say looking up at his eyes.

"You're proud of me?" He cocks his head to the side.

"Yes, I really am." I smile and he presses his forehead down against mine. "After all that you've been through, you have grown so much Sebastian. I'm very proud of you." I close my eyes, enjoying his closeness as we are still embraced. He pulls his forehead away from mine just enough to kiss me.

"Thank you, Y/n." It doesn't need to be said how much the words mean to him.