DELGADO || Sebastian Sallow (Hogwarts Legacy)

Part 15 - Whirlwind and Kisses

ꕀꕥ〡~𐀔~〡ꕥꕀ

❝I waited for the familiar sensation of his wand pressing against my head❞

______________________________

Sebastian's voice was quieter now, laced with genuine concern. "Does it still hurt?"

I avoided his gaze, lowering my eyes to where his fingers rested against the thick, jagged scar. His touch was careful, his fingertips tracing the raised skin. His other hand skimmed over the smaller scars he already knew-the ones he'd seen, the ones he'd taken care of last year.

"It doesn't hurt anymore," I murmured. "It did, for a long time. But now..."

He waited patiently, pulling me closer as his hands traveled to my shoulders and back, where more scars lay-reminders of everything I'd endured.

"It left a mental scar, Sebastian," I admitted, stepping back, out of his reach. "One I'm still not recovered from."

His fingers found my chin, tilting it upward until I had no choice but to meet his gaze. His expression softened, and for a fleeting moment, I swore I saw the glint of a tear in his eye.

"I'm truly sorry," he whispered. "For everything that happened to you."

Sebastian grabbed his sweater from the bed and held it out to me. "Here. You can wear it. It looks better on you anyway." His lips twitched into the faintest smile before he added, "But please don't go. Stay. Let's ignore the fighting for now. Just... talk to me."

I hesitated, then pulled his favorite green sweater over my head and sat at the edge of the bed. As I tucked my hands into the sleeves, he grabbed his own black sweater and sat beside me.

The room was quiet for a moment before I finally spoke.

"The nightmares are still haunting me. And I'm afraid they won't ever stop," I admitted. "I dread falling asleep. The only way to keep them away is when my head is clouded with alcohol."

Sebastian exhaled, his brows furrowing. "You've been through a lot. It makes sense that they haven't gone away." He hesitated. "Are you drinking just to avoid them, or... is it becoming a habit?"

"Once in a while," I said quickly. "Maybe once or twice a week. Just enough to shut my mind off for a little while."

He nodded, but I wasn't finished.

"But..." I took a shaky breath. "The other day, I had one while I was awake. I wasn't even asleep, but it felt like I was. It happened while I was in the lake, surrounded by darkness. And I had been drinking beforehand, so it makes no sense."

Sebastian was quiet for a moment, then said, "My mom used to tell me something when I had nightmares as a kid." His voice was softer now, thoughtful. "She said the best way to get rid of them is to face whatever keeps haunting you. Face the memory, face the fear, or-if it's a person-cut them out of your life."

He reached into his nightstand and pulled out a book, handing it to me. "Here. Take this. Read it. Maybe it'll help." His lips curled into a small, reassuring smile.

I took the book from him, tracing the worn cover with my fingers. "I'll try," I said, nodding. "Thank you. But... cutting this person out of my life isn't as easy as you make it sound."

His eyes narrowed slightly. "What do you mean?"

I inhaled deeply, my voice quieter now. "I don't want to cut you out of my life, Sebastian. I'm not sure if I can."

His breath hitched. For a second, he just stared at me, as if my words had physically knocked the air out of his lungs. Then-realization struck.

"Your nightmares are about me?" His voice was barely above a whisper.