call it what you want // sebastian sallow x reader

Chapter 4

I adjusted to life at Hogwarts more quickly than I expected. Soon, my life was floating on so smoothly I had almost forgotten about the Triwizard Tournament. I was doing well in my classes and I had an entirely new friend group, consisting of Céline, Garreth, Poppy, Natty and Ella. Sometimes I would hang out with Ominis, the Slytherin who is friends with Sebastian Sallow. Sallow, however, only made snarky comments on my ways of casting spells, my way of brewing potions or whatever seemed to come into his mind. It was getting on my nerves, but I tried my best not to let it get to me. After all, that might just say more about him than it does about me. But sometimes, it did get to me.

''What's his deal anyway?'' I ask Céline as we leave potions class together.

''Who are we talking about?'' she asks confused before realisation hits her. ''Ooh, Sebastian.''

I roll my eyes slightly as she says his name. ''He is always so rude. I don't know why.''

''Well, people say he changed after 5th year,'' she says in a low voice as we enter Central Hall. ''No one really knows why.''

I furrow my brows in confusion. ''But what happened 5th year?''

Central Hall is filled with life as per usual. An enchanted parchment paper flies above my head and I just manage to duck and avoid a crash in my face. With my personal interview for The Daily Prophet coming up in just a few days, I cannot risk messing up my face.

''They say he and Ella dated,'' Céline says in a low voice.

''What?'' I ask surprised. ''Ella as in Ella Gray?''

Céline shushes me and gives me an angry glare, ''Keep it down. And yes, that Ella.''

''Is that why she doesn't speak of him?''

Céline nods and raises her eyebrows, ''Messed up, right? It must have ended really badly, because they refused to speak to each other last year. And everyone said he was the bad guy, so now he kind of sticks to himself.''

''Damn,'' I let out before following it up. ''How do you know all this, anyway?''

She shrugs her shoulders and gives me her mischievous smile, ''Oh, I'm full of secrets. And people love to spill theirs to me.''

''You're the worst,'' I say as I start walking away from her, heading towards Defence Against the Dark Arts class.

''And you love me for it,'' she calls behind me.

I smile at her words. She knows I do. For some reason people love to confide in Céline. Not because she seemed like the best listener, but because people think she would never share them. And she wouldn't, except with me.

''Well, that was romantic,'' a sarcastic voice calls behind me.

I hear the footsteps getting closer. Seconds later, Sebastian Sallow is walking next to me. He is wearing a white shirt with a loosely tied Slytherin tie around his neck. He looks so effortlessly attractive walking next to me. I glance over my shoulder and catch a glimpse of his face. His face is normally expressionless, but he has a slightly upset look on his face. Maybe something is troubling him. There must be a kind soul hiding underneath all those layers of sarcasm and nonchalanse.

''Are you really this grumpy all the time?'' I ask him, hoping for an honest answer.

He frowns, ''Not all days can as joyful as yours, Sunshine.''

Did he just nickname me? No, that's just an expression. Get out of your head.

''I have ggood days because I make them good days,'' I shrug my shoulders and force a smile. ''You should try it sometime.''

''Oh, why didn't you tell me sooner?'' he fakes an enthusiastic voice. ''I could just have chosen happiness. How silly of me.''

I roll my eyes out of frustration, ''Why are you so obsessed with snarky comments?''

He glances over his shoulder to look at me, ''They come to me naturally,'' he says, and I can almost sense that he's holding back a mocking laugh. ''Especially around you.''

Arrogant. Nonchalant. Infuriating. 

''See?'' I ask.

''Don't let it get to your head.''

''As if you could get to my head,'' I say in a barely audible voice.

He shakes his head as he walks past me, continuing towards class with books in his arms. I can see the corner of his lips slightly curling into a smile. A small one, but still an expression. Am I getting to him? For some reason, I hope I am. People always say my joy is contagious, but with Sallow that doesn't appear to be the case.

As I continue walking I see Sebastian fade into distance and I cannot help but wonder about his relationship with Ella. Was he the bad guy? What went down between them? I'm going to need to ask Céline for more details. If anyone can get them, it's her.

Later that evening I sit down in the library with my potions book and start writing on the assignment given at today's class. The library is my newly found favourite place in the castle. It's always calm and the tightly stacked bookshelves give me a sense of comfort. The library I grew up with at home is small and the space is limited, so it gives me a sensation of home. And it reminds me of my dad. We would spend many evenings together in the library reading, writing and sometimes talking. My dad was never much of a talker, but he loved listening to my stories from Beauxbatons. And sometimes he would tell me stories from his time at school. And therefore, the library gives me a sense of comfort that I haven't felt since I sat on the cliffs facing the sea just before I left for Hogwarts.

I am consumed by the pages and I don't know for how long I sit in the library, but I am withdrawn from my trance when the librarian calls out that she's closing the library. I must have been here for at least four hours and I didn't even notice.

Céline, Imelda and Ominis are sitting on a couch in front of the glass window in the common room. Imelda is talking about quidditch strategies and how Slytherin has to win this year. Apparently, they haven't won the quidditch cup for years. And with her as captain, she feels as if it's her duty to get them the win this year.

''Y/n!'' Imelda lets out happily when I join them.

''Hi,'' I smile as I sit down on the floor next to them, facing the lake.

''Seen any mermaids yet?'' Ominis taunts me.

''Ugh, no,'' I sigh. '''I wish, though. I always wanted to see one.''

''That's true,'' Céline fills in. She was obsessed with them our first year. She wouldn't shut up about them. It was awful.''

Ominis and Imelda laugh. ''Sounds like every other first year,'' Ominis finally says.

We spend the rest of the night playing wizarding chess and getting to know each other, which takes my mind off the upcoming interview.