Under Your Scars || Sebastian Sallow x MC

Chapter 2 - The Curse-Breaker

Sebastian POV

"I'm so bloody late."

I cursed myself under my breath as I sprinted to the nearest floo flame, my cloak flapping wildly in my wake. Headmistress Weasley had asked me to meet her in her office before the students arrive and I had gotten lost in a book for far too long.

Professor Sallow, I must speak with you about a matter of upmost importance, her letter had said. Whatever that meant.

She surely should know me better after all the years she had spent observing me as a student. Perhaps she assumes that my years with the Ministry would have made me more... punctual.

I arrived at the floo and, realizing I was far too late to meet her at her office, I took a fistful of powder and threw it to my feet.

"The Great Hall"

A flash of green and I emerged from the floo network, nearly getting trampled by the wave of students pouring in through the doors. Excited laughter echoed in the hall, friends reuniting after a summer apart. I appreciated that the ceiling portrayed a peaceful night sky, illuminated with starlight and candles. Storms, even enchanted ones, tended to sour my mood.

I rushed up the right side past the Hufflepuff table, trying to hug the wall to avoid the crowd. Still, I managed to stomp on the foot of a student in blue robes that was tucked into a doorway.

I quickly excused myself and moved past them without waiting to see who the foot belonged to. They should have been making their way to the Ravenclaw table by now, anyway.

"You wanted to speak to me, Professor Weasley?" I panted once I found the headmistress at the High Table.

I had never quite gotten used to calling her 'Matilda'.

"I did. An hour ago, Professor Sallow. No matter, I'll find you once the feast is over. And do get your house under control, the sorting ceremony will begin any moment," she said as she nodded over my shoulder toward the Slytherin table.

I winced. My house was always the rowdiest. Full of strong personalities, I suppose. The prefects were doing a poor job at getting everyone seated.

As I approached the table, I held my wand to my neck to project my voice over the cacophony.

"Quiet down everyone, the ceremony is about to begin. I'll not have this house losing points before the term even begins."

"Yes, SIR." A chorus of Slytherin girls responded with salutes.

Why me?

I stowed my wand and put my fingers to my temples as I gathered my thoughts. For some reason my students always treated me with a ridiculous level of deference as if I was some officer of the law. Perhaps it was my background as an Auror, but they were relentless in calling me "sir". These students were going to start giving me grey hairs soon.

"For the last time. Please don't call me 'sir'. I work for a living, and I'm not that old."

"Oh we know, Professor Sallow," someone added.

"Shut up, Lyra!" Her classmate hissed as she dragged her to her seat by the sleeve of her robe.

Realizing I was getting nowhere, I returned to the high table. I took my seat as a group of anxious first-years were paraded through the door by Deputy Headmistress Eudora Nott. I chuckled as they craned their necks to marvel at the grandiosity of the space and the enchanted ceiling above. I remembered how enthralling it was when I first walked through those doors with Anne.