Erised ─ Sebastian Sallow

Chapter Three

I immediately felt sick. I quickly excused myself from Garreth, giving Sirona the empty bottles of Firewhiskey. I had bought a couple more than I would have liked to admit after I finished the two Imelda had gotten me.

Sebastian fell back in the crowd, talking to a couple of Hufflepuffs, while Ominis found me trying to escape to the restrooms.

"Winifred, you can't just hide every time you're in the same room with him."

"Actually, Ominis, I can. No one can stop me." I said, glaring at him.

He gave me an unimpressed look, before offering his hand. "How about you stay with me-"

He paused, smelling the air.

"Merlin, Winifred, how much Firewhiskey did you drink?"

"Not that much. And besides, who can blame me for getting a little drunk?! Sebastian fucking Sallow over there won't care."

"Wasn't the point of going out tonight to get Sebastian off your mind?" He asked, giving me an unimpressed look.

"Yes, actually- and it was going pretty well with Garreth over there until you two showed u-"

"Garreth? Like Garreth Weasley?"

"Yes, Garreth Weasley!"

Ominis groaned, rubbing his temples.

"What? Do you have a problem with me courting someone?"

"No, Winifred, I don't have a problem with it."

"Then who does?"

He huffed for a moment before sighing. "Nevermind, Wini. Can you escort me around so I can say hi to some of our friends?"

"Yes, if-"

"We'll avoid him, I know."

I nodded and took his arm, leading him to catch up with Imelda and Leander.

As the night went on, Sebastian and I found ourselves always on opposite sides of the room, and I started to regret the amount of Firewhiskey I had drunk. What was me escorting Ominis around had turned into him having to make sure I didn't trip over every surface imaginable. Every joke someone made was the funniest joke in the world, and it would take me minutes to stop laughing. As far as I could see, I was on top of the world, and no one could bring me down.

Well, until Ominis had enough of me.

When I had tripped over my own feet for the tenth time, he finally sighed, setting me down on a random chair.

"You are entirely too drunk, Wini. I'm going to find someone to walk you back to the castle."

I snorted, laughing at him. "I'm not drunk,
Ominis! You must be mad."

He frowned and went into the crowd leaving me to be found again by Garreth.

"Oh! Garreth! I'm so sorry I left earlier, I was just utterly frazzled."

"It's fine, Winifred," He smiled, and then his eyes faltered. "Are you feeling alright?"

"Absolutely!" I smiled and then bit my lip. "Well, Ominis is getting someone to take me back to the castle, since apparently he thinks I'm drunk! Isn't that crazy?!" I burst into laughter.

He gave me a pitiful smile. "I see. Well, Winifred, do you want to resume our conversation from earlier?"

I thought for a moment back to the conversation. A love potion? Did he say he fancied me?

"Oh, yes! Your love potion!"

He smiled. "Yes. I was hoping I wouldn't have to use it on you?"

"Why not?" I grinned.