Of Cunning Minds: Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 13 - Dueling Feats

Anastasia insisted that Ominis, Sebastian, and Thea stay at the manor while they worked out a plan to stop the attack in Cragcroftshire. Ominis agreed, stating that Thea's leg was still too injured to travel and they had more resources available to them at the manor, although Thea was certain he simply preferred being with his fiancé. She certainly wasn't complaining. Between the immaculate food and her heavenly mattress, it was easy to forget that she and Sebastain were technically on the run.

He also appeared to be enjoying the comforts of the massive estate. Thea often found him in the library, pouring over old books with his eyebrows scrunched in concentration. She had forgotten he liked to read. A sudden sadness hit her when she realized he hadn't had access to books during his time in Azkaban. He must have missed them.

"Do you often leer at people while they're reading?" Sebastian's voice pierced Thea's thoughts.

"Sorry," she sputtered. "I was just on my way to the kitchen to get some tea..." she trailed off, feeling uncomfortable under his critical gaze. "What are you reading?" she asked tentatively.

He snapped the book shut to study its cover. "Advanced Potions of the Combat Variety," he said dryly.

"What's it about?" Thea watched as he cocked his head to the side and raised an eyebrow. "Oh, right. Well, um thank you for bringing my belongings to my room the other day. I appreciate it."

"They were in my way," he drawled while opening the book once again.

"But still, you didn't have to move them yourself so—"

"Thea."

"Yes?" She bit her bottom lip.

"I'm going back to reading now." He sent a lazy half smile in her direction and refocused on the pages in his lap.

Thea grimaced and turned to the hallway, wishing she could simply vanish with a crack. Just as she stepped out of the room, Sebastian's voice called after her.

"I hope your leg is feeling better."

She glanced back and caught the sincere expression on his face before it disappeared behind his book. Something tugged at the corner of her lips as she walked towards the kitchen.

Dinner that night was divine. Anastasia poured a rather expensive wine into everyone's glasses as they enjoyed several courses of rich, savory dishes. For most of the meal, they engaged in polite conversations regarding Hogwarts professors and professional quidditch teams. Ominis was the first to pivot to business.

"Now, the attacks have been consistently occurring one month apart, so I imagine we have three weeks until the one in Cragcroftshire," he explained while cutting his steak. "I think the best place to start is learning more about Clyde and Harlow."

"I'm going to the Ministry in the morning," Anastasia chimed as she sipped her wine. "I'm good friends with one of Clyde's secretaries. I can talk to her and try to learn a bit more about his background."

"I'll go to London with you," Ominis replied. He scratched his chin thoughtfully. "There's an old family friend who works in Knockturn Alley. I believe he used to do business with Harlow."

"I feel bad Sebastian and I can't offer much help," Thea frowned.

"As long as you two don't burn the house down while we're gone, I'll be content." Ominis refilled his wine glass and swirled its burgundy contents. "Speaking of avoiding damage, it may wise for you both to practice dueling. I don't predict any peaceful encounters with Clyde and Harlow."

Sebastian let out a deep chuckle and shook his head. "Dueling?" he snorted. "More like I'll stand still and be target practice for Thea. Maybe when you mention how dangerous Clyde and Harlow are, you should try to remember that I am still very much unarmed." He leaned back in his chair and downed the rest of his wine.

Ominis said nothing as he stood from his chair and crossed the dining room to a mahogany cabinet. He pulled open a drawer and extracted a thin package. As he sauntered back to the table, he peeled back the parchment wrapping and thrust the object into Sebastian's chest. Thea immediately recognized its green checkered handle.

Sebastian stared blankly at his old wand, turning it over in his trembling hands. His lips were parted and Thea thought she saw a slight glisten in his eyes.

"I went through a lot of trouble to acquire that from the Ministry, so I would appreciate it if you didn't use it to hurt the people I care about," Ominis said severely before turning to Thea. "You can practice dueling in the cellar; there are fewer breakables down there."

She tossed and turned on her bed that night, unable to sleep. She wished she could blame it on the rich tiramisu, but she knew the discomfort in her stomach was the result of dread.

The same sentence played in her head repeatedly until sleep finally won its battle.

Time for a proper Hogwarts Welcome.

~~~

"Expulso!"

Thea fell flat on her back with a groan. Every muscle in her body twitched and ached as she heaved herself up from the floor.

"Come on, Thea. You gotta give me some sort of challenge," Sebastian taunted from the other side of the cellar. They had been dueling ever since Ominis and Anastasia left for London. "You threw solid spells at those poachers, do your worst to me."

"Stupefy!" she yelled as a feeble stun left her wand. He sidestepped it easily before throwing another jinx in her direction. It collided painfully with her shoulder and she cursed under her breath.

"Can you seriously only perform spells when we're in danger?" Sebastian questioned while Thea adjusted her stance. She shouted another incantation and her wand merely sparked.

"Or when my emotions are high, I guess," she muttered through gritted teeth.

"Well just pretend like I'm pissing you off." He shot a levitation charm that swiftly lifted her into the air.

"I don't have to pretend," she scowled at him as she twisted helplessly. He smirked and released the spell so that she fell with a hard thud. Thea ignored his extended hand as she pulled herself off the ground. "Can we please take a break? I'll be a better dueling partner once I have some lunch."

"Oh, I doubt that." Sebastian set his wand on a nearby table and crossed his arms. "But I'm hungry too so I guess I can oblige."

Thea set her wand next to his and followed him up the winding stairs and through the hallway to the kitchen. She snatched an apple from a fruit bowl and hopped up onto the counter. She took a large bite, studying Sebastian as he scoured a pantry. "How is it that you can still duel so well?" she questioned.

He eyed her cross-legged form atop the counter. "When you're a master at something, those skills never truly go away," he said dramatically before biting into a piece of jerky.

Thea scoffed. "Yeah, right. I beat you on my first day at Hogwarts. I'm concerned if you considered that 'mastery'."

"I let you win," he argued, stepping closer to the counter.

She rolled her eyes and shoved his shoulder. "That is not true, and you know it. I won because I'm a better duelist."

"Was a better duelist," Sebastian corrected. His body was directly in front of hers now, barely brushing against her knees. Thea saw a strange flicker in his eyes. It was something warm yet challenging.

She dropped her gaze to the apple in her hand, trying to calm the flush rising through her chest. "I'm simply out of practice—"

"You couldn't even stun a turkey!"

"Well, I took down three poachers while you just sat there!" Thea's voice was rising.

"I didn't have a wand!" Sebastian shouted back.

They were both seething. Another emotion suddenly flashed in Sebastian's eyes but Thea didn't have time to dissect it. The sound of a window shattering came from the other side of the manor. She glanced nervously at him. They had left their wands downstairs.