All The Magic We Made (Sebastian Sallow x Fem!OC)

Someone Get Me A Top Hat RN

Anyway! Sebastian convinces me to stop by somewhere called "The Three Broomsticks" before we go back to the school. They have the best "butterbeers", according to him. Of course, I have no idea what those are, but I guess I'll find out soon enough.

On the way to the place, we hear voices coming from a sketchy alley. We exchange glances, silently agreeing to check it out for the plot, as we quietly peek to see what's going on. My eyes widen when I recognize the hair-challenged goblin from the vault. He's speaking with two other men, a guy with a really nice top hat and another guy with a lame bowler hat.

"You said you could get to the child when they came to Hogsmeade," bald goblin growls to Sir Top Hat. Gosh, what was the goblins name? Ramsey?

"You said you only needed a distraction," Ramsey continues. "I gave you a distraction!"

"I just watched a student take down your 'distraction'," Sir Top Hat claps back.

"Sick burn," I say quietly under my breath. I wonder what the distraction was. It couldn't have been that bad if a student handled it in a cinch.

Ohh, wait. I get it now. Yeah, the hat made the right call by not putting me in Ravenclaw.

"Who is this child? What are you not telling me?" Sir Top Hat presses on.

Ramsey's voice lowers to a threatening tone. "All you need to know is that if you cannot get to the child, then you have no value to me."

Damn, Ramsey has no chill.

Then, his eyes drift past Sir Top Hat's top hat and land dangerously close to where Sebastian and I are eavesdropping. I stifle a gasp and Sebastian pulls me back. We immediately start speed-walking towards The Three Broomsticks.

"Do you think they saw us?" he asks, running a hand through his messy hair.

"I don't think so." I hope not.

"What the hell was that goblin doing with Victor Rookwood?" he says. So Sir Top Hat is Victor Rookwood. Gotcha. I remember McGonagall warning me about him when I asked about Hogsmeade during our tour.

Wait, wait. Hold on. "Ramsey is working with Rookwood?"

Sebastian furrows his brow. "Huh? Who's Ramsey?"

"The goblin."

"The goblin from the Daily Prophet!" He snaps his fingers when the pieces come together. "Ranrok. I knew I had seen him somewhere."

Behind us, we spot a bit of movement and the tip of a very nice top hat. And I mean super nice. That has to be silk or velvet or something.

"Come on. Let's get into the Three Broomsticks." Sebastian grabs my arm and takes me into the building.

***

The Three Broomsticks is a cozy pub with a few people here and there, enjoying drinks and conversation. I'm sure it's a lot more busy on weekends, when students and adult witches and wizards alike would tend to flock here. When me and Sebastian have a seat at the front counter, a tall, broad woman with black hair comes to us.

"Hello, Sebastian," she says, before looking at me. "Oh! There's a face I haven't seen before."

"It's my first time," I explain, holding out a hand for her. "My name is Isla."

"Sirona," the woman responds, shaking my hand. "Welcome to the Three Broomsticks. Butterbeers on me."

When she comes back with the drinks, I tilt the mug around, watching the yellowish brown liquid swish around with a tilted head before taking a sip. Sweet Mary mother of Christ, that's good. The drink seems to warm me up inside and out, bringing a comfort that was lacking before.

"Heard about the troll attack earlier," Sirona says, throwing a towel over her shoulder. Damn, how fast does word spread around here? "I'll be checking in with the other shopkeepers later. But I have to say, trolls in Hogsmeade? That hasn't happened before." She shakes her head. "Something isn't right. The only brutes we get around here are—"

As if on cue, Sir Top Hat—sorry, Victor Rookwood—and Lame Bowler Hat burst through the doors. Rookwood looks around, and when his gaze lands directly on me, he begins stalking in my direction with a purpose.

"Hm. How timely," Sirona says under her breath, leaving her place behind the counter and stepping between me and Rookwood.

"Your clientele isn't what it used to be, Sirona," he sneers, eyes still on me.

"Not to worry, Victor," Sirona says coolly. "Once the two of you leave, my clientele will greatly improve."

Sicker burn! What goes around really does come around.

Bowler Hat seems to be really pressed over that comment, because he takes out his wand with a pissy look on his face. Bro would not survive middle school these days if he can't take that in stride.

"Now, now, no need for theatrics," Rookwood says, clearly trying to play the nice guy. "I'm only here for this one, anyway."

I look up, mid-sip, with wide eyes when I realize he's pointing at me. I swallow the drink and put down the cup, giving him the most bombastic side eye to grace this earth. "Sir, I'm a minor."

He growls and walks towards me, before Sirona cuts him off again. Why is everyone growling, jeez.

"My friend is enjoying a well earned butterbeer," Sirona states. "And like she said, she is a minor."

"It's not like that," Rookwood says, still trying to sidestep her. "I only want a quick word."

All of a sudden, everyone it the pub is on their feet with the wands out, pointing towards Rookwood and Lame Bowler Hat. My delayed ass catches on to the scene and gets up, too.

"Perhaps you didn't hear me," Sirona says, more coldly this time. "I said, my friend is busy."

There is a long, tense moment when nobody says or does anything. Then Rookwood straightens and brushes brushes off his lapel, turning to Lame Bowler Hat. "Come, Theophilus. The Three Broomsticks isn't what it used to be. Let's take our Galleons elsewhere."

As they walk out, he turns his head to look directly at me, venom in his gaze. "Can't drink butterbeer forever," he hisses. Dude, what does that even mean?

Sebastian pulls me aside, lowering his head to he can speak quietly. "Trolls, Ranrok, and now Rookwood? Isla, what are you not telling me?"

Ladies, on a scale of one to ten, how confused, clueless, or pissed off would he be if I responded with "I'm Batman"?

There's entirely too much to say. I didn't even realize how many secrets I have until today. "I'll tell you everything," I promise. "I just need some time to think things through. It's probably best if we don't talk about this here."