Closure (Sebastian Sallow x MC)

Chapter 8

I lead all the way up to the Astronomy Wing. Sebastian spends most of that time trying to get some answer from me about where we are going, but I say nothing. I just want to see him lose his marbles when he sees the room and all the magical creatures I'm taking care of. Today is the perfect day to show him this. There is nobody on the Astronomy Wing, since there are no classes today. All the risk I can have is running into Amit, but it's unlikely while the sun is up.

After a lot of stairs, we finally arrive at the hallway with the tapestry of Barnabas the Barmy, and I look at Sebastian with a pleased face. He's trying to catch his breath after all those stairs, and then he finally speaks, an unamused look on his face.

"What? This is it? I mean, I already knew this tapestry, April."

"That's not it." I smile, and while I do so, the door of the Room of Requirement appears on the wall opposed to the tapestry.

I look at him as he's trying to hide his surprised look. I say nothing as I walk to the door and open it, revealing the inside.

The room I know too well from previous years grows as I walk in. The botanical theme that I always felt more comfortable with forms, and the furniture takes place quickly where it belongs. The Vivariums appear and open their doors, and the stairs leading down form. One big statue of a graphorn takes its place in the middle of the central room and the paintings and furniture appear one by one. The warm and cosy light enters through the glass ceiling and I finally look at Sebastian. His face is precious, his mouth slightly open and his eyes taking all in, not knowing when to stop looking.

"I told you; you make faces." I tease.

"April, what is this?" He finally looks at me, completely shocked.

"The Room of Requirement. My Room of Requirement, to be precise."

I explain how Professor Weasley taught me how to use it back in fifth year. I show him the first floor and the basement, where I keep all my plants and potion stations. When we return to the first floor, we hear a snap, and Deek appears in the room.

"Miss April is back!" He says, coming to us. "And she has brought a friend?" His big eyes look at Sebastian, who still hasn't spoken much since we entered the room.

I nudge him to get him out of the trance.

"Yes, a friend. That's me. I'm Sebastian Sallow." He looks at Deek like he's just seeing him.

"Deek is always glad to meet Miss April's friends."

"Just April, please, Deek."

The elf smiles at me, a knowing look on his face.

"What is Miss doing here? Do you need something from Deek?" He asked.

"No, thank you Deek, you can do what you please. I came here to show the room to Seb." I put my hand on Sebastian's shoulder. "I bet he hasn't seen all the creatures I have here before." I wink at Deek and he laughs a little.

"Deek hopes that Mister Sallow will be as pleased as Miss Sweeting was." Then, he walks away, leaving us alone.

Sebastian looks at me, seeming like he finally is back to reality.

"Poppy has been here before?"

"Yeah, last year. I couldn't keep all the creatures to myself."

"I'm afraid to ask about that."

"Come on, I'll show you."

I take him to the first Vivarium that takes place in the room, where I keep the smaller creatures. They are in a beautiful meadow, with a river on the side and the sunlight bathing everything. All of them come to us when we enter. The pups are already grown-ups, and all of them are happy to see me again. I thought this was the best way to introduce Sebastian to my Vivariums.