🥀 Roses and Novels | Hogwarts Legacy Fanfic | Sebastian, Ominis and Evander

🥀 - Chapter 64 - 🌹

Sebastian apparated us into a narrow, dimly lit alley paved with stone and enclosed by tall walls.

Further down the alley, I noticed a group of shadowy figures chatting with bottles in hand. The moonlight cut through the darkness, illuminating the path ahead.

He took my hand.
"Are you planning to kill me?" I joked nervously as he led the way.

"Stay close. You never know what creatures roam these streets," he said.

Something about his tone made me trust him. This place wasn't like Hogsmeade, it felt older, stranger, and less forgiving. So I stayed close, walking with him under the moonlight.

We descended a short flight of stairs, and Sebastian knocked on a large wooden door. Painted on it was a siren like the ones from the Black Lake, the merpeople Ominis once described.

A small panel slid open, revealing a pair of glowing violet eyes.
"Contraseña?" asked a high-pitched voice.
"Música," Sebastian replied, showing a gold coin.

The panel shut, and then the entire door shimmered before vanishing. A small elf with pointed ears appeared and gestured for us to enter.

I glanced over my shoulder and saw the door reform behind us.

We stepped into a narrow corridor lined with ocean-blue wallpaper and seaweed details, with floating candles casting a soft glow overhead. I followed Sebastian deeper through the winding passage, descending another staircase. Faint sounds of laughter, music, and clinking glasses grew louder.

"Where are we?" I asked, leaning in.

"This is Canto de Sirena," he replied as he opened a pair of large doors.

"It's one of the most secretive places in London. A haven for wizards, witches, and magical creatures who want to disappear for a while."

I stepped inside and stared. The space was surreal, round tables decorated with dried, colorful flowers stood beside emerald green chairs. The wooden ceiling hung low, while a mosaic floor of soft whites, beiges, and sandy hues spread out beneath us. Around the room, witches, wizards, giants, elves, and gnomes laughed, drank, and swayed to the music.

We walked further into a grand ballroom. Chandeliers sparkled above, and floating candles lit up magnificent paintings of sirens on the walls. To our left, a large pool shimmered where merpeople chatted with guests from the water. To the right, a bar stretched beneath a balcony. In front of us, a live band played softly while a beautifully dressed elf sang with an angelic voice.

I couldn't believe my eyes. The magic of this place felt different, hidden and intimate.

I turned to Sebastian, smiling. He took my hand and led us to a table near the stage.

"How do you know about this place?" I asked as we sat.

He held up the golden coin. It bore the face of a siren.

"It belonged to my parents. My father brought my mother here on their first date. Before he died, he gave me the coin, the password, and the location."

I looked around at the dancers and asked, "Have you come here often?"

"This is only my fourth visit," he replied.

I raised an eyebrow.

He laughed. "Relax. I've never brought a girl here. You're the first. I came alone before, just to grab a drink or chat with others."

Then he stood. "Let me get us something. What would you like?"

"Wine, please," I said with a small laugh.