DELGADO || Sebastian Sallow (Hogwarts Legacy)

Part 27 - Fascinated and Determination

ꕀꕥ〡~𐀔~〡ꕥꕀ

❝You were the enemie..❞

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~Marvolo's POV~

I looked at the woman in front of me, her blue eyes filled with expectation as she waited for me to speak. She was like the moon—always keeping a part of herself hidden away. Just like me, she carried a deeper power inside her, one she had concealed from the world. But I had known her secret from the moment I learned the truth.

I had seen her in the woods, fighting poachers.

Ominis had mentioned a friend of his, a girl with extraordinary magical abilities, but he never told me her name. I didn't realize who he had been talking about until I saw her in Hogsmeade again. The fire in her eyes, the raw determination behind them—I knew then she was different.

But now, as I hesitated to find the right words, that fire dimmed. Her expression shifted from trust to doubt, and before I could stop it, she shut herself off from me again.

I had lost her trust.

I couldn't blame her.

Her lashes fluttered as she stared at me in shock. "You read Ominis' mind with that trick of yours?"

I shook my head, frowning. "Are you seriously asking me that?"

"You did the same thing to me when I tried to leave. You had to know why, instead of just asking and giving me time to explain myself." She crossed her arms, her eyes dark and narrowed.

"I only read your mind because I was worried about you, Angel. You looked terrified and hurt. My intention was never to control you." I leaned forward, resting my hands on the arms of my chair. "Please stop mistrusting me. I may be dark and wicked, but that doesn't mean you can hurt me all the time."

She nodded, her voice softer. "I'm sorry. You carry so many stories, and I want to hear them all. But every time I try, there's another secret, and it makes me wonder if you trust me at all. That's why I didn't tell you about the magic... we just don't know each other that well."

"You're right."

I exhaled, folding my hands in my lap as I leaned back in my chair. A small smile played on my lips as I studied her. "I want to tell you about something that happened last year. My father sent me on a mission over the winter holidays. He didn't give me much information, only that I needed to pick up some snakes from buyers far north. He probably needed them for his battles and experiments.

"As the son that I was, I listened. But I already knew there was more to it than just buying snakes. When I reached the camp, I scouted the area first. They were poachers—cages filled with animals and creatures. But I was there to do a job. Retrieve the snakes. Leave the rest.

"My face was covered with a mask when I entered, so they didn't recognize me. I was speaking to my client when I heard shouting and spells flying through the air. At first, I ignored it, but something told me to pay attention.

"The man I was dealing with said he'd lower the price if I helped fight off the intruders," I smirked slightly. "So I did.

"I followed him to the edge of the camp and saw ten poachers surrounding one person. They were wearing a black cloak and the same raven-shaped mask I was. I waited, just watching, studying their movements.

"And then I saw it.

"Magic unlike anything I'd ever seen before.

"I was drawn in, completely fascinated. I moved closer to get a better look. Then one of the poachers cast Depulso, and the masked figure was thrown backward. Their hood fell, and the mask tumbled to the ground.

"And that's when I saw you.

"White-blonde curls, blue eyes burning with fury."

I looked at her meaningfully.

Her voice was barely a whisper. "And you realized I was a girl."

I nodded. "And then I—"

"You laughed in my face."

Her jaw tightened, and I couldn't help but grin. "I did. But not because I thought you were weak. I laughed because I enjoyed it. I craved it. To see someone so powerful... and for it to be you. You overwhelmed me, that's all. I wanted to help you up, to talk to you, but—"

"I kicked your ass," she interrupted, smirking.

I grinned. "You did. I didn't even stand a chance. You recovered your magic and blasted me halfway across the camp."

"You were the enemy," she said simply.

I chuckled. "For a moment, yes. But then the man next to me tried to disarm you. Your wand landed right beside me. You were defenseless, so I killed him before he could harm you."

She looked down at the ground. "That's right. You killed him in cold blood."

"When you scrambled to grab your wand from my hands, you nodded at me. And before I could say anything or even remove my mask, you were gone." I let out a slow breath.

She leaned forward, curiosity shining in her eyes. "So that's how you found out I had Ancient Magic. But what about Ominis?"

"I tried to find you after that, but you had disappeared. I asked around—clients, villagers—but everything led to a dead end. Then, someone mentioned seeing you visiting someone in Feldcroft. That's when I found the Sallow family.

"I recognized Sebastian immediately. My brother's only friend. But he ignored my questions."

I leaned forward, mirroring her posture.

"Until Ominis told me something. He spoke about his new witch friend with special powers, someone he was proud to know. I asked if she attended Hogwarts, and he simply nodded.

"But I was never one for regular classes. I barely paid attention to who else was there. So I never realized it was you.

"Then, one day, you tapped my shoulder in Honeydukes. And the second I saw you, I knew. That blue in your eyes, that blonde hair—I had found you.

"But you left the store before I could say anything, so I had to act fast. I wanted to tell you everything, but I was afraid you wouldn't trust me.

"Being a Gaunt and all, that's never easy.

"And now we're here."