Passionate Professors || Sebastian Sallow

Part 1 | Ch. 25 - All This Time

As I came to the realization about some potential motives for why Sebastian and I hadn't been able to contact each other for years, a light knock broke the silence in the room. I was still in the tub, which had grown cold, but not nearly as cold as how Sebastian had just acted towards me. I lifted myself out of the water and wrapped my body in a white towel, damp footprints following behind me to the door.

"Who is it?" I asked, knowing damn well who it would be.

"It's me." Sebastian said quietly, confirming my suspicions.

I opened the door to let him in. He barreled inside my room with purpose, visibly stressed about our little tiff not long ago.

"I'm sorry that I upset you," he began, running his fingers through his damp hair. He must've bathed too. "I don't want to leave things like we did in the Undercroft."

That awful night changed us both, but I knew one thing for certain—it would take more than just a fight to keep me away from him this time around.

I walked over to his side, tucking the towel under my arms and taking his trembling hands. "People fight, it's going to be okay." His gaze was remorseful but I had to put my foot down. "But you have to stop with the Garreth stuff. I know you don't like him but he's my friend. He's been good to me since bringing me on as a professor."

"I just get a bad feeling about him, I always have. I mean, the guy weaseled his way into being a Headmaster, why do you think he wouldn't weasel his way to you?" He pouted, crossing his arms.

"Because I won't let him. I like you, Sebastian." I stated plainly.

"You like me?" He repeated with a smirk, as if we were still young students, discovering each other's feelings for the very first time.

"Merlin, yes I like you." I said, rolling my eyes and smiling at him, "you need to trust me if this is going to work."

"I know, it's not that I don't trust you. I don't really trust anyone, except Ominis, at this point." Sebastian sat on my bed before pulling me onto his lap, my wet dangling hair dripping on his arm, dampening his shirt sleeve.

"We'll work on it together. I'm not going anywhere." I said cupping the back of his neck. I was growing fond of the idea that I could be his, despite how much it frightened me just days earlier. I blamed the alcohol for my overreaction, hoping I'd never see the overly possessive side of Sebastian anytime soon.

He turned my chin towards him with his fingertips, kissing me lightly, smiling into my lips. My heart fluttered, our fight now a mere memory.

"I actually need to get to Gladrags, I have nothing to wear tonight." I sighed as I pulled away, kissing the tip of his nose.

"Just wear that," he grinned deviously before backtracking, "actually don't. I can't handle any more men looking at you today, or ever."

"Want to join me?" I asked, picturing us walking through Hogsmeade holding hands and window shopping together. It was a silly daydream but something about it felt so normal and I'd been craving normalcy.

"I hate that I have to say no but I have a few last minute things I need to get done." He groaned as I got up, letting the towel fall to my feet, teasing him.

"Merlin, G!" He couldn't take his ogling eyes off my naked body as they studied every inch of me. "You don't want to know what I'm going to do to you later." He smirked, getting one final look before I pulled a sundress over my head.

"I can't wait," I added as he came over, kissing my cheek.

"I'll see you tonight at the sorting ceremony," Sebastian promised, opening the door and closing it softly behind him.