Sallowed By You | Hogwarts Legacy Sebastian x MC fanfic

The Scriptorium

I descended down the dark staircase.
"Dark, ominous corridors. My favourite," Sebastian said.
"Shut up," Ominis replied.
"Come on, that was a good one."
I had to admit, it was.
The staircase descended into an even darker corridor. At the end, there appeared to be a locked door.
"Revelio," I said. My voice piercing the cold thin air.
The outline of a note appeared on the ledge to my left.
"It's a journal entry, signed by Noctua Gaunt. She was down here," I said.
"Gaunt? Ominis, your family was here," Sebastian said.
"I know, she was my Aunt."
I scanned the room, searching for a way to open the door. Pieces of rubble lay shattered on the floor.
"Hmm, I wonder. Repairo," I said.
The stones rose from the ground, forming some sort of tablet on the wall.
"It's a person facing a snake," Sebastian said.
"That must be the voice I hear," Ominis added.
"What voice?" I asked.
"After you repaired that relief, I began to hear whispers. I'm a Parselmouth, meaning I can hear and speak to snakes. Nearly all Parselmouths are descendent of Salazar Slytherin."
"That's amazing," I said.
"Not really. It's usually tied with dark wizards. I haven't spoken it in ages but I'd wager if I speak it now, the door will open."
He paused. "You're not having second thoughts?"
"No," Sebastian and I said simultaneously.
"It's ironic. I vowed to leave the dark arts behind. Yet, here I am," he said.
Ominis began whispering in what I assumed to be Parseltongue. Then, the snake carvings on door the began to slither up, unlocking it.
"It worked Ominis. You possess a rare ability indeed," I said.
"Between the two of you. I'm starting to feel left out," Sebastian said.
"You're special too, you're really good at pissing me off," I teased.
"Hey!" He said.
"What ability do you have Aura?" Ominis asked, raising a brow.
It had just occurred to me that I never told Ominis about the keepers.
"I'll fill you in later," I said, as we proceeded to the next room.

It was incredibly dark. We lit up the tip of our wands with Lumos, and we could see there was a puzzle to complete.
"Like a maze. Salazar Slytherin most likely wanted this to be difficult to solve," Ominis said.
The door behind us closed.
"I guess the only way is forward", I said.
I examined the puzzles, it seemed they were dials.
"We need to closely examine each gate for clues. You guys go ahead, I'll look at this one," Ominis said.
"Why?" Sebastian asked.
"I just need to think," he responded.
"As you wish, Ominis," I said.
We proceeded down the dark hallway, until we came across another gate and a dial in a separate room.
"So, Aura. What ended up happening with Garreth?" He asked cautiously.
"Why does it matter?" I asked.
"I'm just curious," he shrugged.
I rolled my eyes.
"Clearly something did, otherwise you'd tell me," Sebastian pressed.
"I just don't understand why you need to know," I was getting annoyed.
He signed. "You usually tell me what's going on."
I examined his face, it was growing tenser. Then, I turned my attention to the dials. I wasn't going to let him give me those pouting eyes.
"Not that it's any of your business. But you were right. He did like me."
"And?"
"And what?" I asked.
"Do you like him?"
Was Sebastian really that dense? Dread filled in the pit of my stomach. If he was that adamant, did he want me to like Garreth? Why did he not consider he was the one I liked?
"No. I don't. I'm not talking about this anymore," I said.
I turned the final picture from the gate on the dial. In an instant, the snake that sat on top, leaped at me, biting me on the arm.
"Ah shit!" I yelled in pain, pointing my wand at my arm to see the damage.
Two large puncture wounds were on my forearm, blood dripping down.
"What happened? Let me see," Sebastian said, taking hold of my arm.
He touched the inflamed area. Then wiped the blood with his sleeve.
"Ouch!" I said.
"Sorry. It looks deep but it should be fine. You might have a couple scars though," he said.
"Whatever, I've had worse," I signed.
From that moment forward, I made sure to carefully examine the pictures on each gate. Once the final puzzle was complete, the remaining gate opened into yet another hallway.

We entered the room, as we approched the door at the end of the hall, the gate closed behind us with a clang.
"The gate! I think we're locked in again," Sebastian said exasperated.
"Salazar Slytherin is not finished with us yet," Ominis said.
I glanced at the floor and realised there was another note on the floor. Picking it up, I read it, and my eyes widened. My heart sank as my eyes fell upon a skeleton on the floor, beside where the note sat.
"Ominis. A skeleton. And Noctua's last journal entry. She mentions being trapped here - blocked by an unforgivable curse," I said.
I handed him the note.
"Hmmm, revelio," I waved my wand. A word appeared on the floor. "Crucio?" I asked, turning to the pair. Ominis backed away.
"The Cruciatus curse," Ominis said quietly.
"We need to cast the cruciatus curse to open the door. That's why Noctua died, she had no one to cast it on," Sebastian paused, glancing at Omins. "Ominis has the most experience with this, he should cast it."
"He isn't going to do that," I whispered.
"You seem to be in his favour more, can you ask him?," Sebastian asked.
"I can try, but he isn't going to say yes."
I walked over to Ominis who was pacing back and forth. It was abundantly clear that he was starting to panic.
"I overheard you and Sebastian, I'm not doing it. That curse is pure torture, I would know."
"Ominis, it wasn't your fault," I reassured him.
"I'm as guilty as the worst of my family. You have to mean the curse to cast it. I had to want to cause pain. I won't do it," he said.
"But you were afraid of your family, of course you mean't it. Self-preservation is a normal survival instinct."
"I just can't," Ominis whispered.
I nodded. I couldn't force him to do it, and I had no right to. I returned to Sebastian, who read the look of defeat on my face.
I shook my head.
"Ridiculous, as if dying here is any better than casting a damned spell," he said.
"Be respectful," I snapped.
He signed, "it's up to us, either I can cast it on you or I can teach it to you."
"I thought you said you didn't know how to cast it," I said.
"Because I don't know how to cast it. Ominis knows that, but he's left us with no choice. I can cast it if I have to," Sebastian explained.
I thought for a second. Unimaginable pain. I couldn't mean it, especially if I had to cast it on Sebastian. Although, facing death probably would influence that. I gazed into Sebastian's eyes, then examined his face. I could tell he was becoming stressed. Why did he have to let me decide? I couldn't cast it on him. I'd rather feel the pain, than see him in pain.
"Teach it to me, then cast it on me," I said.
"Are you sure?" Sebastian asked.
I nodded. I wasn't sure, however I was going to let him do it anyway. Sebastian taught me the spell. At least something would come of this.

"Are you ready?" He asked, as I backed away.
I nodded, while every muscle in my body tensed up.
Sebastian raised his wand. He appeared incredibly focused. Did he actually want to hurt me?
"Crucio!" He shouted.
As soon as the beam of light collided with my body, every inch of mortal flesh felt as if it was being stabbed, and pounded simulateously.
"Arrrghhhh!" I collasped onto my hands and knees, unable to stand. Every second was utter agony.
"Are you okay?" Sebastian asked. At least, thats what I think he asked. Sounds entered my ears, but my brain could not process any of it. When the pain finally subsided, I remained there for a few seconds, attempting to breathe.
"Aura!" Sebastian said. I finally snapped out of it, and Sebastian helped me to my feet.
I shivered, "that was torture."
"Come here," he said, wrapping me in his arms tightly. I dug my head into his chest, feeling it rise and fall as he breathed. I allowed him to regulate my breathing.
"Are you alright, Aura?" Ominis said.
I pulled out of Sebastian's hug. I had no idea if Ominis had sensed what just happened.
"I'll be fine. Let's go," I said.
When I turned to the door, I realised it had melted away. The pain had been so intense I was completely oblivious to my surroundings.

We proceeded through the door. Immediately my eyes fell upon a book in the distance.
"I can't believe we're here," Ominis said.
I approached the book. "Guys, there's a book."
"You found something?" Sebastian asked.
I climbed a small set of stairs that led up to another floor of study.
"What do you think?" I handed Sebastian the book.
"Looks like a spellbook. This is incredible. A Hogwarts founder's possession - what an honour," he said.
"What are you going to do with it?"
"What I do with every book - read it. Having professors as parents engrained that in me early on."
"Okay, can we leave now?" I asked.
He nodded. I just wanted to forget this whole ordeal.

———————

I couldn't shake what had happened. My muscles ached from it. That night at dinner, I found myself staring into space, still thinking about the torture. It was as if every second left a scar on my mind. Physically, my body could heal. Mentally, my mind would take longer.
Sebastian noticed me picking at my food with a fork.
"What's wrong?" Sebastian asked.
"Did you mean it?"
"Mean what?" He was confused.
"The curse," I said quietly.
"Why would I mean that?"
"To cast it, you have to want it to work."
He signed. "Aura, it was either that or dying, what did you expect? I gave you the option to cast it on me."
"I wouldn't have been able to do that to you," I said slowly, avoiding eye contact.
"Even if that mean't dying?"
"I wouldn't wish that pain on anyone, except maybe Ranrok and Rookwood."
I made eye contact and watched Sebastian's face drop. He frowned.
"It must've really been torture."
I nodded.
"I'm sorry. I had no choice," he said.
"It's okay." Then, I excused myself and left. There was only one thing that would make me feel better right now, caring for beasts in my vivarium.