Tempest // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 17*

cw: contains references to childhood abuse and has major sexual content.

Rosie spent a month completely torn. She didn't know what to do.

Sebastian had said he needed time to think and she offered that to him, throwing him small smiles whenever she saw him in the hallways or he caught her eye in class, but he never offered them back.

But she understood. She'd probably keep her distance and be fearful too if someone confessed they were supposed to kill her.

She did for a moment think that now he knew he was going to do something bad in the future, perhaps he would make a conscious effort to not do it. She was so confident in that plan that she sat in the Undercroft one afternoon with the time turner around her neck ready to leave. But she couldn't do it.

Christmas was fast approaching and with nowhere to go, she decided that she would use that down time to weigh up her options and focus with no distractions. The curfews were being lifted and students were able to go home with their families and she knew Sebastian wouldn't pass up the opportunity to be with Anne despite his Uncle and his error in judgement by intercepting the letters.

So when everyone packed their bags and left, she sat on the stairs of Central Hall watching everyone leave with their luggage, her chin resting in her hand. She noticed Sebastian's brown mop of hair descend the stairs right past her and he didn't even cast her as much as a side glance as he went.

But when he turned around five minutes later and stood in front of her quite unexpectedly, she couldn't help but stare at him, completely stunned.

"Come on." He said, holding out a hand to help her off the ground.

"What?" She said, trying hard to stifle the small chuckle in her laugh.

He lurched forward and grabbed her hand anyway, yanking her up off the floor. "Pack your trunk."

"Why?"

"I can't stand to see you moping there. Pack your trunk and come with me."

Rosie couldn't quite believe what she was witnessing. He still seemed mad at her, but the first words he'd uttered to her in weeks were offering to take her home for the Christmas break.

He kept a firm grip on her wrist and marched her to the Ravenclaw common room, letting her answer the riddle and following her in.

"I can't go into your dormitory with you, but I'll wait here. Don't pack any knives or a gun or anything. I'm half tempted to ask for your wand." He said, taking a seat on one of the various lounges.

Rosie nodded. He seemed like he was joking, but she knew he was quite serious.

She quickly collected everything she thought she might need for a few weeks in the Scottish Highlands winter and lugged the trunk up the stairs.

Still choosing to be quite the gentleman despite the circumstances, Sebastian collected it from her grasps and carried it back out of the common room.

"They've opened the floo network back up so we'll travel that way." He told her as they exited the castle grounds.

Rosie simply nodded and followed him as he carried both their trunks behind them.

Rather than get to Feldcroft via the house's floo powder network, Sebastian chose to enter through the hamlet itself.

"Ominis isn't staying with you this year?" Rosie dared to ask, trying to break the extremely awkward silence.

"No." Sebastian said with a huff. "His family insisted he go home this year. Probably to find him a wife for when he graduates."