Entangled Again || With Sebastian Sallow

Ch 20: Duel for Jules

"There he is. There's Mr. Sunshine," Ominis greeted Sebastian as he entered the Undercroft with Anne. "Thought we might find you here."

Sebastian was standing above a scorched practice dummy, a fierce look blazing in his eyes. He was panting, his clothes were torn in places, veins bulging down his arms as he gripped his wand tightly in his fist.

"Goodness Sebastian, was the dummy fighting back?" Anne teased, eyeing the state of him.

"Shut up Anne," Sebastian grunted, throwing another curse at the unfortunate dummy.

"Practicing for the big duel today?" Ominis smirked.

Sebastian shot an incredibly condescending look at Ominis, even though he couldn't see it. "Does the word 'duh' mean anything to you?"

"No, enlighten me," Ominis responded, perching his elbows on a barrel and propping his face up in a cutesy pose.

"Ugh, can you both stop being so bloody facetious? This is serious!" Sebastian sulked, flopping down on a nearby couch.

He leant forward and groaned into his hands. His leg began shaking uncontrollably. It was clear he was anxious. Anne's expression transformed from amused to worry, it wasn't often she saw her cocky, confident brother in this state. She sat on the couch beside him and pulled him into a hug.

"Let me ask you something, brother," she said softly. "Is she worth it?"

"Of course she is," Sebastian said into his hands defensively.

"But she broke up with you..." Anne said carefully.

Silence hung in the air. Not wanting to push his buttons any further, sensing he was starting to unravel, she pulled an apple from her bag and passed it to him. "At least have something to eat, will you?"

Sebastian peaked out from behind his hands and eyed the apple, eventually snatching it from Anne, and began chomping away at it. She rubbed his back affectionately, letting out a discreet sigh. She knew there was no point trying to talk him out of this. He was too damn stubborn.

"Promise me you'll be careful out there today?" Anne pleaded.

"Fine," Sebastian stood up, tossing the apple core aside. "But Ominis knows... I won't step back from a fight."

***

"I don't know why you're bothering with this fight, Weasley. Brooks is not worth it," Leander sneered, stoking at the fire in the Gryffindor Common room. "Besides, Imelda's way hotter. And she's still obsessed with you."

A handful of Gryffindors were huddled around the fireplace, some still in their jammies. It was the coldest morning of the year so far. Dark ominous clouds were forming in the overcast sky outside.

"It looks like a storm is brewing," Natty observed as she looked out the window.

"Yeah," Garreth responded mindlessly, gazing into the flames, until the light seared so strongly into his eyes that he could still see the shape of the fire when he closed them.

"Great day for a duel!" Nellie piped up from the mantelpiece above the fire, startling a few of those below her as she jumped down to join her House friends. She gave Garreth a playful punch in the arm, sensing his nerves. "Don't be so highly strung, Garreth. You've got this! And you've certainly brought some much-needed excitement to Gyrffindor. Just... don't hurl any spells at Sebastian's pretty face, ok? I can't handle the thought of you scarring that gorgeous mug of his."

"Whose side are you on, Oggspire?" Garreth furrowed his brows, his lips curled up in scorn.

"Er, yours of course!" Nellie gushed. "You've earned a reputation for fearlessness, Garreth. You'll have a lot of supporters at the duel today, it's got people talking. Word travels fast at Hogwarts!"