He Couldn't Be That Bad? // Sebastian Sallow and You (spicy)

40. Seeing Clearly

It's a short trip to the Room of Requirement to pick up mine and Sebastian's books, extra quills, ink, and parchment. As I pass the empty animal vivariums, my heart does get a little sad. Will I ever see any of my animals again? Will any of the offspring even remember me? I know it's not the point, but it's a closing of a chapter and there's something to be said for mourning it properly. However brief.

I look to the corner where Deek normally waits. He's no longer here, just standing around waiting to change the room's ambiance. He is free. And the room remains where he'd last left it. A bright sunny day. I hope only sunny days for him ahead.

Sebastian walks over to the desk, he turns his satchel upside down and dumps out the contents from the Gaunt Office to the floor. Papers and trinkets and dust bunnies all spill across the floor. He takes one look at it and shakes his head, blinking a few times. As if seeing how much he took and the overwhelming amount of papers we'll now have to sort through. "Um... I'll sort this out later." Then heads up to his little alcove where he keeps his things.

Most of my books are already in my bottomless back so packing is easy and quick. While Sebastian is busy, I pluck out my shrunken things from my dormitory, if he sees them, then he'll ask. And I really don't want to have that conversation right now. So I put the doll sized items with my other things going to the Beach Cottage and consider the situation a win as I'm already halfway packed.

"Ready?" Sebastian says, slinging his rucksack over his shoulder. He's changed out of his formal robes and into something more like his usual self. A cozy knit sweater that I fully plan on stealing after today. He drops to a knee and finishes lacing his worn leather boot.

"Good idea. Just a moment." I scurry to the place where some of my winter clothes are stored and gladly sluff off my funeral attire. Casting it to a heap in the corner and once again being reminded that Deek won't tidy it. I never asked him to, but his time is now being spent doing much better things. I think I'm going to burn the clothes later as the idea of putting them back on makes me physically nauseous.

Gladly exchanging the garments for a sweater and comfortable trousers, plus a pair of cashmere socks Ominis had gifted me last Christmas. I hadn't realized how scratchy and uncomfortable my other clothes were until I put on my preferred ones. "Ready!" Scooping up my bag I swing around the corner.

"Ah, ah, ah." Sebastian scolds, then plucks the bag from my shoulder and carries it for me. "That's mine to carry. Paws off."

I give him a bratty sneer, any actual disgruntled attitude if of course a lie. Sebastian gets the door for me and we stride out into the hallway, eager for dinner.

No more than three steps outside the room I hear. "Ahem. Mr. Sallow."

We both freeze and turn to see Professor Hecat standing in the hall, fists on her hips. "Might I have a word?"

"Just a moment, darling." Sebastian croons, placing the bags on the floor. "Don't you dare touch them."

It's silent for a long moment before a giggle pierces through the evening air and straight through my plan of staying still to wait.

As I follow the sound, I stop just around the corner, peering ever so slightly at a group of three students talking.

"Anything you'd fancy for your birthday?" Sacharissa says sinuously, attempting to box out Imelda as they stand before Damon.

Imelda ignores her, tucking a strand of hair behind her ear. "Any plans on how you'd like to celebrate?"

I suppose Damon has his own ways of distracting himself before the tournament. And they'd clearly been looking for a private place to talk. Damon hums in thought before he says. "Given that it's only a week away, there's not much time to plan a proper party." He drops his voice and I can just faintly hear him croon. "And you two would need to make amends to give me the present I'd want... from both of you."