Under Your Scars || Sebastian Sallow x MC

Chapter 14 - My Heart

Maybe I'm just a fool, I still belong with you

Anywhere you, anywhere you are.

Minefields 

- Faouzia and John Legend

Sebastian POV

We returned at the Map Chamber by mid-afternoon, just as our keeper-in-training came stumbling out of the passage from the first trial. She looked like she had been through hell. Her braid was loose and pieces of it were falling out, the cloak Juliette had given her was tattered and singed.

Professor Rackham noticed her arrival "Ah, welcome back Miss Corben. Seems you've completed the first-"

He didn't even finish his sentence before Rosalie collapsed.

"Oh dear!" he exclaimed, looking to us for help.

Juliette and I rushed to her. I let out a sigh of relief when we found her still conscious, just too weak to stand. On further inspection, her leg was bloodied and bruised and she was missing a shoe. I looked to Juliette for some kind of explanation.

"You did it, Rosalie." she said as she smiled down at the Slytherin girl. She did not look surprised at all by her condition.

What the hell happened during these trials!?

"I diddit Professor." my student's words slurred with exhaustion. "I beat the firstrial." She raised her fist in a weak 'huzzah' as we helped her back to her feet.

"You did it, Miss Corben. Let's get you out of here." Juliette and I each took an arm as we escorted her to the hospital wing.

______________

Once Miss Corben was comfortable and in the care of the nurse, Juliette and I descended the stairs through the faculty tower.

I stopped at the door to my quarters. "This is me."

"Oh, right, Professor."

We stood there a moment, the tension of our earlier conversation hanging in the air between us. I scrambled for an excuse to stay with her just a little longer.

"Would you like to come in? I know it's a little past our usual tea time, but I can make you some chamomile. It'll help you sleep." I opened the door for her.

"You seem awfully concerned with my sleep." she smirked as she walked past me into my room. Damn she was so cute when she was being playful.

I followed her into my living area. She was already admiring the walls, which comprised of floor-to-ceiling bookshelves. Additional stacks of books covered the tables, the sofa and the single green armchair next to the fireplace. My cheeks flushed with embarrassment that I had invited her in without tidying up first. Thankfully, the door to my bedroom was closed so she was not able to see the full extent of the chaos.

"You weren't kidding when you said you'd been reading." she joked as she examined the spines of the books on the mantle.

"I'm sorry, I don't really have guests. I'll find you a chair."

"I think I've got some moonstone."

She conjured herself a plush blue armchair and slid it next to the fireplace while I started a kettle. She removed her cloak and threw it over the back of the chair, revealing her fitted black pants and blue sweater. She never failed to represent her house, and she looked damn good doing it. I found it odd that she opted to keep her scarf on as she took a seat by the fire.