A Man Has Horns // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 7 - A Raven and A Shiny Broach

The night at The Three Broomsticks lasted till late. The sky was pitch black and some older students were still drinking and chatting, not seeming in any hurry to leave any time soon.

Sirona was clearing tankards left, right and centre, even kicking out a group of 3rd year Hufflepuff students who had found a half empty Firewhisky bottle. The 7th years saw it happening and, although were the ones who had brought it in with them, cheered the group being forced to leave by calling them "bad small puffs".

I spent most of my time speaking to Garreth drinking Butterbeers, as others would come and join for a small conversation to only float away again.

We both remained at each other's side the whole night I realised. The conversation was surface level, but easy and fun.  No grand plans, no tasks. It was just us and how much I hated liquorice, how horrible he was at Arithmancy, how I loved heights and how he had the 'soap' gene when it came to coriander. 

I hadn't felt this lightness of being. 

But despite all that I was desperate to get some air, feeling the thick condensation of the room sticking to my face and hair. I excused myself from Garreth who was talking to Leander for the past 10 minutes and I went outside. 

It was a lot less crowded than before - only the last two senior years really staying. The walk to the door was unobstructed and I was relieved to finally feel the click of the door bellow my fingers. 

The full moon's light shone back at my face and before I could inhale the cold air, my breath hitched at seeing Sebastian standing with his arms crossed above his head. 

He was pacing nervously, obviously being caught in a perhaps solitary moment of... something complex. Anxiety? 

I wasn't sure.

I wanted to turn back inside in hopes that he hadn't notice me, but the opening of the door and the releasing of the chatter and chuckle inside had immediately drawn his attention.

"Isn't it out noble Slytherin snake!" his voice was sharp and forcefully orotund, dropping his arms to try to act as if I didn't catch him having that moment to himself.

"Did you sit outside and wait for an opportunity to throw your little mean one-liner?" I retorted, my palm itching to pull at the hand and go back inside. 

"Actually no. I am awaiting for Charlotte to bid farewell to her friends," he studied my face to see any affect from his words.

"How charming of you," I synthetically smiled and finally gave in to leave.

I managed only to just about turn.

"I see your cheap trick with Garreth worked like a charm. The man hasn't stepped out of your circle of influence for the whole night," he interjected to keep me.

"Sebastian Sallow, have you been ogling over me the whole night then?" 

I twisted around to face him once again.

We had just been friends. I could wrap my head around his frustration but I didn't understand his reason to resort to such deep anger with me. It felt like an inappropriate amount of feeling from him.

"Just admiring your manipulative strategies," he answered whilst bowing to me. "If only Weasley knew his different than other Slytherin girls was a prime shining example of all Salazar."

"What are you on about?" I made a grimace at him, the corner of my lip twitching. 

What had made him behave like this? The drink? 

"Oh spare me the act. You even absorbed all of the ancient magic although Fig told you not to. Now he's dead - your moral light - might as well amuse all your own wants," he retorted swatting the air with an open palm to dismiss my reaction.