Passionate Professors || Sebastian Sallow

Part 1 | Ch. 48 - Real Love *

I awakened in a groggy haze long after the sun had set, moonlight welcoming itself into the room through the open curtains. A fog shrouded my mind, thick and hard to wade through. I stretched my aching body, first my arms and then my legs, letting each limb unfold one by one. Remembering the events of earlier, it was no surprise that I was still exhausted.

A sleeping Sebastian was slumped over at my desk, a pile of papers spread out under his elbow. The candlelight danced on his closed eyelids and the faintest hint of a smile teased at his lips. He took a deep breath in and shook himself awake, a grumble escaping from his throat.

"You're up," he brushed the loose hair off his forehead, sitting up straight and rubbing the sleep out of his eyes.

"How long was I out?" I searched around for the clock, which was turned towards Sebastian.

He silently did the math in his head before answering, "about 14 hours." So it was what, 1 or 2 in the morning? So much wasted time when we could've been working to figure out how to put an end to the Flavia's and Gaunt's plans.

"Why didn't you wake me?" I scrambled out of bed for no reason other than to do something with myself instead of sitting around.

"You needed to sleep. Besides, I got some work done." Sebastian nodded to the parchment that he was now neatening into a pile.

Had he stayed up here with me this whole time? It warmed and broke my heart simultaneously while I came to a sad realization. The caring and kind Sebastian was built because of the years he poured himself into ensuring his sick sister was comfortable. I had only seen a fraction of his level of care for her from the memory he shared with me. But knowing how much effort he put into visiting her while he was a student, trying to find a cure, keeping her legacy at Hogwarts alive, I knew that I had only scratched the surface of what he was capable of doing for someone he loved. Such a beautiful person came out of such a devastating situation.

I thought back to all the things he said in recent memory that scared me, all the times he exuded control and possession. The overheard conversation with Garreth where he claimed me as his, the sharp remarks when he thought I was dating the Headmaster, the time in the Great Hall where he whispered 'I want them to know you're mine' into my ear. It wasn't because he was some dark brooding man trying to hurt me. No, he wasn't dangerous or broken like so many people made him out to be. Sebastian Sallow was weathered, constantly beaten down by swirling storms that gained in strength over time. But he never faltered, he never gave up who he really was inside.

These controlling and possessive acts were really just protective defense mechanisms because he cared so deeply about me. Despite what he may say about himself, what others might say about him, he was truly the strongest person I knew. He only became better and more resilient with each passing hurricane that tried to wreak havoc on him.

"Why are you looking at me like that?" He furrowed his brows, confused by my sudden admiration.

"I love you." I whispered, even though I wanted to shout it from the Astronomy Tower, scream it to the stars. I wanted everyone to know that I loved him and that I wasn't afraid anymore.

Sebastian rose from the desk chair, his eyes darkening with desire as he lowered himself next to me on the unmade bed. His beauty was different than anyone I had known. Of course, he was handsome, everyone could see that. But I quickly learned after I met him in my fifth year, when I started to feel a tinge more nervous every time we spoke that what made him so overwhelmingly attractive was the details.

The crescent moon peeked through the curtains, the dim light pouring over his smooth, freckly skin. His tongue licked the bottom of his lip, the moisture begging to be joined by mine. The way his top two buttons of his shirt were undone, letting his chest hair breathe hitched a breath in my throat. His hand found my thigh, the press of his palm and rub of his thumb raising my heart rate steadily. Each knuckle was gently decorated with a tiny tuft of hair, peppered with the occasional scar from experimenting with potions. He lowered his gaze to me and I studied each color that blended in the irises. Different shades of gold, bronze, chocolate, auburn, and was that a hint of emerald? His feathered hair fell across his forehead, and I got the urge to rush my hands through the strands and lose myself in him.