Under Your Scars || Sebastian Sallow x MC

Chapter 21- Under the Stars

I've been spending the last eight months
Thinking all love ever does
Is break and burn, and end
But on a Wednesday in a cafe
I watched it begin again

Begin Again

-Taylor Swift

____________

Juliette POV 

I paced just outside the Room of Requirement as I waited to be collected for my second date with Sebastian. He was wise to wait until later in the evening, closer to curfew to prevent being spotted by students.

He told me to dress warmly so I wore thick wool tights and boots. Rather than a silk scarf I opted for a knitted scarf, a black one I had made myself, and a knit hat to match.  I chose violence and wore Sebastian's green jumper, styling it as a dress over my tights.

Was it cruel? Perhaps a little.

I heard footsteps approaching and turned around a little too enthusiastically to see my date coming up the corridor. My heart beat faster the moment I saw him. He wore a dark grey jumper and black pants under a long, black trench coat. A familiar dark green scarf was wrapped around his neck.  

His brown hair was messy, curlier than usual. His gorgeous brown eyes scanned me up and down as is mouth hung open slightly. He ran his tongue over his bottom lip like he was going to devour me.

"I never want you to return that jumper. It looks too good on you." 

"You don't look too bad yourself. That's a nice scarf." I playfully tugged on the scarf, nearly pulling him in for a kiss before I remembered my own rules. 

This is going to be difficult.

I meant it when I told him we needed to keep our physical stuff to a minimum until I could get my outbursts under control. All week he refused to put a hand on me unless I initiated it. I expected more pushback from him, as he had never been one to follow rules. But my rules were like gospel to him, it seemed.

"It's my favorite, still just as soft as the day she gave it to me." he pulled the scarf up to bury his face in its fibers. 

I started walking toward the flu, thinking we would be heading outside but instead he took my hand and pulled me toward the stairs to the Astronomy Tower. 

"You're joking," I smiled.

"Not in the slightest." he winked at me.

The air got cooler and my breath turned to fog as we raced up the steps of the Astronomy Tower. I suddenly felt 17 again, when Sebastian, Omi and I did our fair share of sneaking out past curfew and dodging prefects. It was Sebastian who taught me the disillusionment charm, after all, though we would not be needing it tonight. We were faculty now, we couldn't possibly get in trouble for being out past curfew. 

The cool autumn air stung my cheeks as we reached the top of the steps. I buried my face into my scarf and as I looked down, I found that candles were now illuminating our path, one on each step. When we reached the final step, the candles created an aisle to the edge of the observation deck. 

He really loves his candles. 

An arrangement of cozy blankets and pillows awaited us under the stars, with a small picnic basket off to the side. The night was clear, the moon reflecting beautifully on the Black Lake below. 

I was breathless, partly from our jaunt up the stairs and partly due to the view.

"Sebastian, it's..."