Between The Shadows | Ominis Gaunt x Sebastian Sallow x Reader

Chapter 31: Meeting and Dreaming

Sebastian POV

I was pacing in front of the house waiting for Lance to show up, he should have been there any minute.

As I passed the small garden I came to a sudden stop, noticing that the overgrown weed that once had engulfed every corner of it was now completely gone. In its place, small plants were neatly arranged, sprouting through the freshly cultivated soil.

Then I remembered; y/n had woken up very early the other night when we were staying here. She had said she was worried about Ominis and had needed a short walk to clear her mind. It must have been her doing. I couldn't help but smile to myself. She had always been so skilled with those useful charms. Now, the garden looked cared for and loved. It reminded me of the days when Anne was around. I let out a sigh.

At that moment I heard a loud "crack" noise, not so far from where I was standing. Even though I was expecting Lance, the loud noise triggered an impulsive response. I found myself holding my wand, pointing it at the person approaching.

Lance was walking slowly towards me with a smile and hands in the air. "Are you planning to hex me, Sebastian? I was honestly hoping for a different kind of duel when I was sending you that letter."

I couldn't help but chuckle at Lance's comment. He was one of the most straightforward people I knew, never one to shy away from expressing himself. That boldness was one of the reasons we ended up together, even though our relationship was short-lived. The other reason, I had to admit, was my curiosity.

When I finally embraced my feelings for Ominis, it was a life-changing moment that left me in a state of panic. That's when I met Lance, who worked the first year at the hospital, Anne had to visit too often. We spent a lot of time together and it was him who introduced me to healing magic. He became a good friend and after a while, he admitted he had feelings for me.

I was hesitant at first, still harbouring love for my former best friend, but at that time, I thought it was a hopeless situation. My curiosity got the better of me. I needed to figure out if my heart could align with my desires. Lance was patient and kind, everything one could ask for in a partner, but my heart belonged to someone else. Actually, it belonged to two people, but that was yet another revelation to come.

I knew Lance was too good to be a mere replacement for those I couldn't have, so I had to be honest with him and fortunately, he understood and we split up. That was just before my return to Hogwarts.

We still shared some good times together afterward, but we both knew it was purely physical.

I put my wand down. "Sorry, that was just a reflex," I said with an apologetic smile.

He came closer, too close for comfort. It made me take a step back to regain a more friend-appropriate distance. He immediately realised what was going on and scoffed. "Yeah, I thought that would be the case as soon as I saw him there."

He took a step back too. "So, congratulations are in order for finally being with the love of your life?" He said it in a bitter tone.

I didn't know how to reply to that, so I left it without a comment.

"So that's it, right?" he asked.

I just nodded. I wasn't exactly expecting him to jump out of excitement. But he seemed angry. I didn't understand.

He took a deep breath and made a clicking sound with his tongue. "Merlin, I'm sorry, Sebastian," he said, rubbing the back of his neck. "That was obviously jealousy talking. I guess I still have some lingering feelings."

Shit! That meant that all the times we've met, it wasn't just casual for him. I should have known. I thought it was just him, being kind as he always was. Maybe it was wishful thinking on my part. This was on me, I didn't even think about it. Oh classic Sebastian, y/n would have known, Ominis would have known, but not me. I felt like an idiot...

"Lance, I..." I started, but he interrupted me.

"No, wait Sebastian, I am truly happy for you," he said, this time sincerely. "I would be a shitty friend if I couldn't be happy for you."

"Thank you." I said, feeling absolutely crushed inside. How did I not know?

I cleared my throat, my head didn't seem to offer any words that would be of use.. " would you like to... go inside?" I asked "To talk, you know" I added quickly.

He just chuckled at my poor attempt to act normally. "No, I think I'm gonna go now," he said. Slowly walking backwards and getting his wand out, ready to apparate. "See you around in the hospital." He said and with a loud "Crack" disappeared again.

I stood there, staring at the suddenly empty spot, biting my nail and contemplating what had just happened. All I did was say around five words and I managed to hurt one of the kindest people I knew... again. Was I anything other than a walking disaster?

The self-disappointment flooded all my senses, and I felt an instant urge to lash out, to hit, destroy, or hurt someone, anyone, to kill... To give in to anger and let it consume me. The darkness within me was clawing to get out. And then my eyes landed on the garden.

No, that's not who I wanted to be. My mind presented me with two faces - the ones I loved. If I was fortunate enough to be loved by them, I would do everything in my power to be worthy of that love. No destruction, no violence. I wanted to be better, for them and for myself.

I took a deep breath and retrieved my wand, repeating the spell Ominis used in the hospital. A few thistle plants sprouted in an empty corner of the garden. Anne was right, most people saw them as mere weeds, but they held a unique beauty, despide the prickly appearance. Then I enchanted a watering can to ensure the new plants would be well taken care of even if I wasn't around.

I gazed at the house. It was filled with lots of bad memories and a few good ones. The thought of selling it had crossed my mind multiple times, especially since Anne had expressed her desire to live in the bustling centre of London if she got better. Selling it would be the easiest way to start a new life after graduation, but now I saw another possibility. Maybe this could become a home for the three of us.

It was a silly idea. Both Ominis and y/n were aspiring Aurors, a path that came with prestige and good money. They wouldn't want to settle for a quiet life in the countryside. I sighed, trying to shake off the daydream.

I apparated as close to Hogwarts as possible and hurriedly hiked the rest of the way to the castle. I couldn't wait to see them, to touch them, to be with them again.

As soon as I entered the hall, a piece of paper, folded as a little swan, attacked me. Y/n liked to use this little spell for private messages inside Hogwarts, but this piece of paper seemed a little more aggressive than usual. The swan, I swear to Merlin, tried to rip off my ear before I managed to capture it. The spells, of course, take on the emotional state of the one who created them, so y/n must have been really fired up when she sent it.

I unfolded the paper and read the very short instruction: Room of requirement, downstairs vivarium.