Shelter of Our Night || Sebastian Sallow

Soulmates

There were many words one could use to describe Sebastian Sallow. Talented, handsome, popular, to name a few. Smart and witty, charming and silver-tongued, destined for greatness, to name a few more.

But jealous was never one of them.

He was on his way to the greenhouses for Herbology, riding a mighty high from a slew of Outstandings in many of his subjects, even ones he didn't like. Quidditch was going well, his friends were well and Anne was thriving too, becoming more independent, forging her own identity beyond Sebastian's twin sister. He was winning the lottery of life.

He stepped into the greenhouse and heard two familiar voices – one tuned to a displeased timbre, the other a luminous but frantic cadence. It didn't take long to spot Ominis and Gibby sitting next to each other at a Herbology station, both hunched over some parchment. Gibby was scribbling, teeth bared in frenzy.

"Can't you just tell me the properties of mandrake root? Please?"

Head bent in hand, there was a hint of wicked amusement in Ominis' smile. "That's not how you learn," he said coolly.

"I won't finish this essay before Garlick arrives if you make me think about what I'm writing!"

"Then perhaps you should do your homework on time, for once?"

She made a raspberry noise. "But if I do it on time, how on earth will your silly male ego get a boost?"

"Ah, so you don't want my help?"

"What? N-No, I do!"

"Then you'd better endure my silly male ego and find out what age mandrakes need to be repotted then, shouldn't you?"

She pouted, her writing only becoming more furious. Sebastian watched for a little while, gaze shifting between them. A strange sense of longing bloomed in his chest. Their relationship was so... easy. It shouldn't have worked, she was Muggle-born and he pure-blood, she was chaotic and scatter-brained and he was aloof and stoic, she never did her homework and he always did... yet something they shared transcended blood and bone. Something they shared was truly unique.

He didn't have that. Why didn't he have that? He was Sebastian bloody Sallow! Everyone loved him! Even the teachers who got annoyed at him couldn't stay mad forever! He wanted it, wanted it so badly it twisted some part him to watch. A friendship or love that surpassed all boundaries... a soulmate... what did he have to do to get one?

What did he have to do to deserve it?

He watched until he heard Garlick's footsteps behind him, and promptly revealed himself to a very stressed Gibby and a very amused Ominis.

"You have about five seconds before she gets here."

"Awaaaah!" Gibby quickly shoved the parchment in her bag before Garlick rounded the corner.

"Hello there, you three! It's so nice to see you all prompt to my lesson!" She frowned. "Are you quite all right, Miss Fulton-Smyth? You look more feverish than an overwatered Fluxweed!"

Gibby always panicked when forced to lie. "I— erm— y-you see—"

"She's fine, professor," Ominis intervened smoothly... protectively. "I gave her a Cherry Cheeks earlier. She thought it was a regular boiled sweet."

"... Yes! Now my face is really red! Oopsy, very silly of me!"

"Now that is a mean trick, Mr Gaunt." But Garlick smiled. "Hopefully your face will be back to normal when the class starts."

Gibby slumped on the desk when she was gone. "Thanks for the warning, Sebastian. And you," she poked Ominis in the shoulder, "should stop teasing me!"