Sebastian Sallow, a professor at Hogwarts. I couldn't believe my eyes, running through the possibilities in my mind as I settled into the quaint room. Garreth conveniently—and possibly deliberately—hadn't mentioned Sebastian once during my interview.
I tossed and turned in my bed before finally falling into a fit of nightmares, a typical evening for me. It was the same one I always had, Ranrok blowing fire from his dragon blocking the repository and Professor Fig jumping in front of it to save me. My screams drowning out the sound of the flame igniting the space.
I awoke to a loud knock on my door. Coming to, I scrambled around the room to find my sleeping robe, tossing it on. The clock on my bedside table read 7:18am as I strode over to answer the disturbance.
"Gianna! So glad you found your living quarters. How was the rest of your day?" Garreth was way too excited to see me this early.
I rubbed my eyes, realizing how disheveled I probably looked but grateful the nightmare had stopped. "Yes, thank you, it went well."
"Care to join me for breakfast? I have a few things I'd like to discuss with you." He leaned on the doorframe, crossing his arms, subtlety but not-so-subtlety looking me up and down. I clenched my jaw at his gaze.
"Umm sure, just give me ten minutes." I yawned audibly. Remembering I needed to write to my dad about accepting the position and not coming home, I renegotiated my time, "actually can you give me twenty?"
Garreth said he'd be waiting downstairs by the faculty tower entrance and to bring Professor Hecat's coursework books. I quickly wrote a letter to my dad explaining how drastically my situation changed and rolled it up, pocketing it for my trip to the owlery later. I needed to let him know I wasn't returning home for quite some time.
I looked through my trunk, trying to find something to wear. Most of my clothes were old and tattered and I made a note to myself to head to Gladrags later today as well. Settling for a plain black skirt and white button up shirt which was far too wrinkled for my liking, I slipped into my heeled shoes and headed towards the door.
The mirror caught my attention and I noticed how tired I looked. Grabbing my makeup, I powdered my cheeks and added some mascara. I brushed my long hair out and tied it back in a loose low bun, a few strands falling out and framing my face.
Shutting my door, I couldn't fight the hedge to glance over at the gold nameplate reading, Professor Sebastian Sallow. There was a sliver of light coming out from under the door wondering if Sebastian had already noticed the nameplate on mine. Surely he had heard the news that there was a new Defense Against the Dark Arts professor.
Garreth was waiting downstairs where he said he would be. I caught him smoothing his hair in the reflection of the glass window on the door.
"Ah, Gianna, you're right on time." He motioned for me to go first. We walked quietly in sync to the Great Hall, like we'd done so many times before. But something somehow felt different this time, something felt off.
I used to eat breakfast with Garreth everyday while I was in school. I don't remember when the tradition started but since Sebastian always slept in and Ominis loved to ponder his thoughts alone in the mornings over a bowl of oatmeal topped with brown sugar, he became my go-to.
I was the only Slytherin welcome at the Gryffindor table and can thank Garreth for the formation of a majority of my friendships. Natty Onai, the Ugandan witch, who moved back to her country to study Animagus forms after graduating. Leander Prewett, a tall and lanky boy who ended up working with his father in the Department of Mysteries at the Ministry and is now married to Poppy Sweeting. And Cressida Blume, the curly haired girl who always had her head buried in a book, not saying much. I had no idea what she was up to these days.

YOU ARE READING
Passionate Professors || Sebastian Sallow
FanfictionTwelve years after the defeat of Ranrok and ten years after graduation, ex-Auror Gianna Eversley, finds herself back at Hogwarts, this time as the new Defense Against the Dark Arts Professor. Going back to the castle for the first time in so long fo...