evermore || sebastian sallow

chapter 11 - a heart's duel

chapter 11 - a heart's duel

We were only three weeks into the school year and I was already feeling overwhelmed. And it wasn't because of school work. It was the social pressure of having to prove everyone wrong about me ever since the history of my heritage got exposed. Including my eventual betrothal to Ominis.

I should've thrown Zenobia Noke and her stupid gobstones off the Astronomy Tower.

Intrusive thoughts, Y/n. Intrusive thoughts.

As if it wasn't bad enough students hated me for keeping my heritage a secret, now they've labelled me as a girl who liked to "get around." They liked to talk about how I got with Sebastian first, and now his best friend. I wasn't even dating either of them, nor have I dated either of them, let alone doing things with them.

I've been trying to distract myself with studies and spending time with my friends, but there were days it wasn't enough.

Because it was usually Sebastian who made me forget.

Fifth Year - Spring

"Sebastian, please leave me alone, I'm trying to study," I groaned, burying my face in my Field Guide.

OWLs were coming up and I was stressed as hell. Between battling goblins and dark wizards, preventing a Goblin Rebellion, defeating Rookwood and his cronies, doing the Keepers' trials, exploring Hogwarts and those damned useless Merlin trials, added with extra assignments from my professors because I started in fifth year...well, this was bound to happen.

Trauma AND extra homework? I wanted to laugh.

"What? I can't study with you?" He sat down beside me.

"You never actually study. You just talk a lot." My cheeks still on the pages, I turned my head to look up at him.

"I brought snacks."

"Okay, fine. You can stay." I sat up straight, eyes lighting up. "What do you got?"

Food wasn't actually allowed in the library, but snacks hurt no one. Except perhaps Madam Scribner's temper if she ever found out we were eating in here.

We were in my favourite corner of the library. It was quiet here, and I loved the way light particularly streamed through this window, painting my desk in golden light.

"You realize we aren't actually supposed to eat in here?" he reminded, pulling out a pouch of chocolates from his bag.

He tilted his head enough to let sunlight glaze over his eyes. I couldn't help but notice how his eyes sparkle in gold when light hit them just right.

"I know that," I said, throwing his own words at him from when we were climbing that mountain to fight goblins.

He laughed a little, noticing. "A Ravenclaw breaking rules? Well I never," he teased.

I snatched the bag from him. I've been studying for a few hours now, but I've forgotten to eat. "Shut up, this is hardly breaking the rules. And Madam Scribner rarely goes to this section of the library."

He just laughed at me again.

He pulled out a few of his books, some parchment and a quill.

"Wow, you're actually planning to study?" I mocked.

He rolled his eyes. "Since you're so set on the idea of me not taking my studies seriously, I'm here to prove you wrong. Now eat your chocolate and shut up. I'm going to study." The corners of his lips pulled up ever so slightly.