Magic, Madness, Heaven, Sin (Sebastian Sallow x F!MC)

LONG LIST OF EX-LOVERS

Sloane is laughing.

Scratch that—Sloane is giggling.

Meanwhile, Sebastian is seething, jaw clenched as he watches her from across the classroom. She is standing at a workstation with her partner, Garreth Weasley, the two clearly amused by something. What could possibly be so comical about brewing veritaserum? And why is she paired with Garreth, anyways? The redhead has a reputation for being talented with potions but is equally notorious for his experiments literally blowing up in his face.

It should be me, Sebastian thinks to himself, annoyed he is not the one causing such an alluring sound to fall from her lips. His frustration grows when he reminds himself he should not be wanting to make her laugh. The only sounds he wants her to make are ones of pure ecstasy. At least he knows he is capable of doing so, unlike Weasley.

Well, at least he hopes not. Sloane said it herself, in not so many words, that she is experienced, but the identity of any past or present partners is unknown. Sebastian does not like to think about it or how much he actually cares. No, not cares, he is just curious. His ego needs to know how he measures up.

An entire week has passed since their library encounter and other than brief passes in the hallway and silent exchanges in class, the two have not spoken. Sebastian hates to think she is already moving on. He sure as hell is not ready to call it quits when they have only just gotten started. There is something about Sloane that captivates him and makes him want to keep coming back for more. It is a hunger that is currently going unsatisfied and testing what little patience he has.

Sloane's laugh echoes through the classroom again as Garreth adds something to their cauldron with a flourish that makes Sebastian scowl. He glares at the back of the Gryfindor's head.

"You're meant to stir, not scramble," Ominis remarks from across the station, moving to block his eyeline. One look at his friend's expression tells him he has done so on purpose. "Jealousy is unbecoming, Sebastian."

"I'm not—"

"So is lying," Ominis interrupts, looking far too amused about the situation for Sebastian's liking. As much as he tries to keep his irritation to himself, the two are friends and roommates, and Ominis is eerily perceptive.

"I don't know what she sees in him," Sebastian mutters, glancing down at the bubbles that begin to appear as the potion brews.

Ominis rolls his eyes. "I think she is just being friendly. Like she always is. Are you going to assume she is sleeping with me as well?"

For the briefest of seconds, Sebastian actually does. His brain catches up to hear the thick layer of sarcasm dripping off Ominis' words.

"Well she's not being nice to me," Sebastian sighs. "She's been avoiding me all week."

"Isn't that the point of your arrangement? Since when do you care so much?" Ominis asks, somewhat bewildered. "You never allow yourself to go this long with pent-up energy."

Too bad the only person Sebastian wants to expend it with has been mysteriously unavailable. He even tried to release some tension with an eager sixth year but found himself uncharacteristically unaroused, much to both their disappointment. He rubs at the back of his neck as his face flushes in embarrassment, wondering how long it will take before that reaches the gossip grapevine.

Ominis raised his eyebrow curiously at the stretch of silence. "Why don't you chase after someone new, or choose from your ever growing, long list of ex-lovers."

"It can't be that long," Sebastian argues.

Ominis takes it as a challenge and starts naming girls while counting on his fingers. "Since January, there has been the Quidditch chaser, Margaret, then the Ravenclaw head girl, what was her name...Elisa Marigold? Then there was Rosalina and Rosealind. You mixed them up and had them screaming at you outside the common room for hours. Thank Merlin they've both graduated."