Side Effects |a Sebastian Sallow story|

The Viper Den

Content Warning: Implied/Referenced Sex work/Prostitution. Nothing is or will be described in detail but acts will only be implied or discussed in the future. 

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Professor Hecat had a terrible sense of humor, Kathryn thought as she stood opposite of one Sebastian Sallow on the dueling platform. It seems the older woman was amused by the pairing, muttering the amusement about an anticipated rematch under her breath. 

Cheers and bets were being placed amongst the students over who would win. Kathryn felt a pang of déjà vu staring at the boy floating in the air from a perfectly timed levitation charm. 

"How's the view?" she teased, using the familiar words he once used against her in a similar situation. 

Kathryn thought maybe Professor Hecat allowed them to duel each other again to give Sebastian a chance for practice since he missed a year of school, stating previously that it would be good for him to have a refresher on his wandwork. 

A small smirk slid across his face as Sebastian landed back on his feet. Raising his wand he shouted out 'Confringo', sending a fireball soaring directly at the girl's chest. 

'Protego!' Kathryn called out, shielding herself from the incoming projectile and casting back a 'Stupefy' sending Sebastian kneeling and clutching his head as he tried to right himself. She expected the fireballs at some point, the blasting curse was always Sebastian's favorite. 

"No banned spells, Mister Sallow!" Professor Hecat scolded, a small smile on her face giving away that she was more amused than upset at the spell choice. 

A few laughs and taunts broke out from the class at his expense as Sebastian stood tall and readied his wand again. 

Spells flew back and forth for several minutes and Kathryn was starting to get tired from the exertion. It had been a long time since she faced a formidable opponent and the memory that Sebastian was once regarded to as the best dueler in Hogwarts came to the forefront of her mind. 

Kathryn missed dueling with her old friend, they were a duo that held the top ranks in crossed wands and always stood back to back when raiding goblin and ashwinder camps. They knew each others tactics and anticipated the movements. The time since they had last seen each other was too great however, and Kathryn spotted the opening. 

'Incarcerous!'

Think black ropes flew from the tip of Kathryn's wand and wrapped around the unsuspecting Slytherin, sending him falling flat on the table. 'Expelliarmus!' she chanted, catching Sebastian's wand in her hand as it flew from his grasp. 

Cheers and whistles broke out as Kathryn was deemed the winner. The Hufflepuff stood proudly grinning at her downed opponent, eagerly ready for a sarcastic quip about "giving as good as she gets" or something else witty from his lips. 

Instead, Sebastian laid on the ground raising his head up to stare at her, brown eyes wide in panic and his breathing started to quicken. 

The smile instantly fell from her face and Kathryn slowly approached, the cheers of the class picking up as they expected more sneaky spell casting. Sebastian closed his eyes tightly and flinched when her steps came to a halt next to him. 

His breathing picked up more and Kathryn kneeled, "Sebastian? Are you alright?" she asked, worry lacing her voice at the sight of the panicking boy. 

"Kathryn! Release the spell now!" Ominis yelled in panic from behind her.

Holding out her wand she cast a quick 'Finite', Sebastian sat up so fast as the ropes vanished, almost pushing Kathryn off the table. The boy sat with a hand over his chest as he tried to catch his breath, eyes darting around and free hand patting around him as if to take in the surroundings.