Different Times: Sebastian Sallow x Reader

14 - The Undercroft

"Where are we going?" I asked as he dragged me up the stairs of the Defense Against the Dark Arts tower.

"You'll see."

He pulled me into a dead-end hallway beneath the stairs where an old clock stood.

"You brought me to a broken clock?"

"Just shut up and watch."

He tapped the clock, and its gears suddenly began moving. The face shifted, opening into a hidden passageway.

"Are you taking me somewhere to kill me?" I joked as I stared into the dark entrance.

"I wouldn't bring you to my favorite place to kill you," he said with a low chuckle. "If anything, I'd take you to the Scriptorium I found with your grandparents."

He grabbed my hand and intertwined our fingers before leading me down the passage.

We stepped into a large room filled with old furniture, boxes, and dusty shelves.

"What is this place?" I asked, looking around.

"This," he said proudly, "is the Undercroft. The place to escape what awaits above."

He walked over to a group of old couches in front of a fireplace, brushed one off, and flopped down onto it.

"A calm place to study," he continued, "or practice dueling without anyone hearing."

"Why did you bring me here?" I asked, glancing around at the old books and suits of armor tucked into the corners.

"Why wouldn't I?" he replied, watching me wander around the room.

"Because this is your place to escape and hide away," I teased, walking back toward him. "By inviting me here, you've now got nowhere to go when you want to get rid of me."

"I don't need to get rid of you," he said, pulling me down onto the couch beside him. "I like having you around."

He smirked.

"Even if you are extremely annoying."

"Oh really?" I laughed. "You think I'm annoying?"

"Very much so," he said, his gorgeous smile spreading across his face. "But annoying in a good way."

He took my hand and kissed it softly.

"I— I um..." he started.

Then he stopped.

"Never mind. We should get to our next class. Don't want to be late."

I gave him a small smile, knowing that someday he'd tell me what had been on his mind.

⸻

We walked hand-in-hand down the hall until we had to split for our next classes.

Unfortunately, I had Professor Binns.

Which meant the next hour was about to be long, slow, and painfully boring.

As I walked in, making it before most of the class, Cedric waved me over.

"Hey, what's up?" he asked, pulling out the chair next to him.

"Just figured we could sit together. Better to have someone to suffer through this class with."

He flashed me a cheeky smile.

"Your logic is sound," I laughed as I took the seat.

Soon the class filled in, and Professor Binns began his usual droning lecture about the history of magic.