Legacy of Magic

Chapter 10

Two more weeks passed as the vibrant hues of autumn began to take hold of the Scottish Highlands surrounding Hogwarts. The chill in the air grew more pronounced, but it did little to dampen the warmth that had blossomed between Eloise and Sebastian. Their days were spent between the enchanted walls of the Room of Requirement and Lower Hogsfield, where they continued to bond over their magical creatures and shared studies. The Room of Requirement provided an endless supply of books, potions ingredients, and—if Sebastian was honest with himself—distractions from his increasingly frequent nightmares.
Sebastian often marveled at how much time he spent simply watching Eloise. Whether she was poring over books, working through complex potions assignments, or just laughing at some silly quip he'd made, she seemed to consume his every thought. Eloise was always so absorbed in her work, but he could hardly focus on his. He couldn't stop himself from glancing her way, admiring the way the firelight played off her auburn hair and her gray eyes sparkled with curiosity.
As for the nightmares, they only seemed to worsen.
One night, as Sebastian finally drifted into sleep, the dream began pleasantly enough. He found himself walking alongside Eloise on a moonlit shore. She was breathtaking—dressed in a simple white dress, her long hair flowing in the soft breeze, the moonlight casting a silvery glow over her. There was a serene silence between them, only the sound of waves gently crashing in the background.
Eloise smiled, her lips curving in that familiar way that made his heart race. She stopped, taking his arm with a shy but determined touch. "Lately, Sebastian, you're all I can think about," she whispered, her voice filled with a vulnerability that made his breath catch. "I think I'm falling in love with you. Do you... feel the same?"
His heart pounded, warmth flooding through him as he reached out to wrap his arms around her waist, pulling her close. "I've fallen for you too, Eloise," he admitted softly, and before he could think twice, he kissed her.
The kiss started tender, soft and full of unspoken promises, but soon it grew more heated. Their hands roamed, exploring and learning, and Sebastian reveled in the feel of her—her warmth, her softness, the intoxicating way her body responded to his. He kissed down her neck, his fingers trailing up her thighs, and it felt perfect—like everything he'd ever wanted.
But then, a blinding green light shattered the moment.
Suddenly, the warmth of Eloise's body was replaced by cold. She lay at his feet, her skin pale, lifeless. Around her, the twisted bodies of his uncle, Ominis, and Anne emerged from the ground, their faces grotesque, accusing.
"Murderer..." they whispered, their voices hollow, echoing in his ears.
Sebastian's uncle, Solomon, loomed before him, eyes full of contempt. "You think you deserve happiness, boy? To be loved? You deserve to rot, just like me."
Cold, dead hands reached for him, pulling him down into the earth, into the grave. He tried to scream, to fight them off, but his body was paralyzed with fear.
Sebastian woke with a start, gasping for air. His body was drenched in sweat, his heart pounding wildly in his chest. He reached for his wand, lighting a candle in the darkness. His breath came in ragged gasps as he tried to calm himself, his hands trembling as he pushed his damp hair from his forehead. It was just a dream. Just a dream, he told himself, though the fear clung to him like a second skin. He didn't sleep again that night.
---
The next morning, Sebastian was back in the Room of Requirement, though his usual wit was dulled by exhaustion. Eloise, perched on a nearby chair, noticed his pale complexion and the dark circles under his eyes. She smirked, teasingly.
"Did you take a beating from a troll last night?"
Sebastian offered a half-hearted chuckle. "Just dreams," he muttered, waving it off. "You don't need to worry."
Eloise's playful expression shifted to one of concern. "Are you sure? You've looked exhausted for days now... Do you want to talk about it?"
Sebastian stiffened. He could never admit to her that he was dreaming about her—dreams that started out sweet and sensual, then turned into horrific nightmares. He forced a smile. "I'm fine. Really."
Eloise wasn't convinced, but before she could press further, three owls swooped into the room, each carrying letters. One landed in front of Sebastian, a familiar seal on the envelope.
"It's from Ominis," Sebastian said, ripping it open.
His eyes scanned the parchment, and his expression darkened as he read. "He says it's awful at home. His brother Marvolo's been breathing down his neck, and Ominis has been trying to make himself invisible, hoping his family forgets he even exists." He paused, swallowing hard. "He asks for news. I don't know how much longer he can last there."
Eloise's face softened with sympathy. "Isn't there anything we can do? Maybe get him out of there?"
Sebastian shook his head. "Ominis knows how to survive around them. Any attempt to break him out would end badly—for all of us. If he needs help, he'll let us know."
The next letter was from Natsai, written from Uganda. Eloise read it aloud, her voice lightening as she spoke of Natsai's adventures. "She's been traveling with her mother, helping her and teaching local wizards defensive magic. She misses Hogwarts, though, and... us."
Eloise's fingers lingered on the edges of the letter, a wistful look in her eyes. "I miss her, too," she admitted quietly.
The final letter was from Poppy. It came with a beautiful golden Snidget feather tucked inside, the writing bursting with excitement as Poppy described how she and her grandmother had finally secured a safe haven for the Snidgets.
Eloise smiled fondly as she closed the letter. "At least we know our friends are safe."
Sebastian nodded, though his mind was elsewhere. They moved to the couch, settling in to read as Deek appeared with tea and biscuits. It didn't take long for the exhaustion to catch up to him, and before he knew it, his eyes had closed, his head tilting back against the cushion.
Eloise glanced over and noticed him fast asleep, his face finally free from the tension he usually carried. She smiled softly, slipping off the couch to fetch a blanket, which she draped over him. For a moment, she allowed herself to admire how peaceful he looked, the sharp angles of his face softened in sleep. He looked so different from the brooding boy she was used to seeing—so sweet, so vulnerable.
But then his face twisted. He started to thrash, his breathing coming in short, desperate bursts.
"Sebastian!" Eloise cried, kneeling beside him and shaking his arm gently. "Wake up!"
His eyes flew open, wild and panicked, darting around the room until they landed on her face. Without thinking, he pulled her into his arms, his voice shaking. "El! Are you okay?"
Eloise's heart ached at the fear in his voice. She realized then that he had been dreaming about her—that something terrible had happened in his nightmare. "I'm fine," she whispered, her voice soothing as she pulled back slightly. "It was just a dream."
She sat beside him, her expression serious. "How often have you been having these nightmares, Sebastian?"
He hesitated, then sighed. "Every night."
"Sebastian! Why didn't you say anything?," Eloise censored firmly. "No wonder you've been looking more and more worn out each day. It's only a matter of time before it affects your health. Let me help. Professor Sharp taught me how to brew a potion for dreamless sleep last year. The Room will provide the ingredients—"
"No, i don't need it" Sebastian cut in, shaking his head. "I can handle it."
"No, you can't," Eloise insisted. "I had nightmares too, you know. After the battle with Ranrok. I know what they can do to your mind. Please... let me take care of you."
Before he could protest, she reached up and cupped his face, her touch soft and warm against his skin. "Look at me, Sebastian," she whispered. "I know you want to be strong, but I am here. Just let me help."
His heart raced at her touch. The gentle pressure of her hand on his cheek sent sparks through his veins, and the sound of her voice—so soft, so caring—undid whatever resolve he had left.
"El..." he whispered, his voice barely audible.
He reached out, running a hand through her auburn hair, feeling the silken strands between his fingers. Her breath hitched, and he could see the way her chest rose and fell a little more quickly. It had been so long since he'd kissed a girl, his first and only kiss with a former neighbor in Feldcroft when he was 14, and he realized that he hadn't feltl this way back then, as if his heart was about to jump out of his chest. Eloise was different—everything about her was different. He was falling in love with her and he just didn't have the strength to fight it at that moment.
As Sebastian's hand slid through her hair, time seemed to slow down. His touch was gentle, almost reverent, as if he were afraid she might slip away if he wasn't careful. Eloise's breath caught, her heart pounding in her chest so hard she wondered if he could hear it. The space between them felt charged with unspoken words, but no words were needed now.
Their eyes met—his deep, conflicted, but filled with something softer, something that mirrored the way her chest fluttered. Slowly, as if testing the waters, he leaned in, his breath warm against her lips. For a moment, he hesitated, giving her the chance to pull away, but she didn't. Instead, she leaned in to meet him halfway, her eyes fluttering shut just before their lips brushed.
The first touch was barely there, feather-light, but it sent a shiver down Eloise's spine. Her heart raced faster, if that was even possible, and she felt the weight of all the feelings she hadn't dared to voice. Sebastian's lips were soft, tentative, and a little unsure, as if he, too, was afraid of how this might change everything.
For a few moments, it was as though the world had melted away—no embarrassment, no worries, no nightmares, no guilt. Just the warmth of his lips against hers, the gentle press of his hand at her waist, and the quiet beating of her own heart echoing in her ears.
Eloise's fingers curled against his chest, instinctively seeking something to hold on to. His heartbeat was steady, but she could feel the tension in him, the restraint in the way he held her as if he didn't want to overstep. She relaxed into him, tilting her head slightly to deepen the kiss, though still gentle and sweet, savoring each delicate moment.
Sebastian responded with the softest of sighs, his grip on her tightening just enough to pull her closer, as if he could hold her there forever. He was slow, careful, savoring the taste of her lips like something precious and rare. His other hand drifted down from her hair, cradling the side of her face as his thumb brushed her cheek tenderly.
It was as if neither of them wanted to rush this. Every kiss felt like a discovery—new, exciting, and full of possibility. The way his lips moved against hers, so tender and searching, made Eloise's heart flutter in her chest. She could feel the warmth of his breath, the slight tremor in his hands, as if he were just as overwhelmed by the moment as she was.
Sebastian pulled back slightly, his lips lingering just above hers, their eyes heavy lided. She took a deep breath, noticing how he smelled like sandalwood. The air between them was heavy, but not in a way that suffocated—it was something else. Something fragile and beautiful. Their breaths mingled in the small space between them, eyes searching, as if they couldn't quite believe what had just happened.
Then, slowly, Sebastian leaned in again, brushing his lips against hers once more. This time, the kiss was firmer, more intense, but still unhurried, filled with the same sweetness. Eloise's hands slid up to his shoulders, pulling him closer, her chest brushing against his. It was a kiss that spoke of all the things they hadn't said—the longing, the confusion, the unspoken feelings that had been growing between them for weeks, maybe even months.
He pulled back again, just enough to look at her, his thumb gently stroking her cheek. His gaze was soft, filled with something deeper now, as if this simple kiss had unlocked something he'd been keeping buried for so long.
"I..." Sebastian's voice was barely a whisper, full of emotion. He looked at her with a vulnerability she hadn't seen before, like he was laying his heart bare. "Eloise..."
She didn't need to hear the rest. She leaned in once more, pressing her lips against his again, her heart swelling with emotions she hadn't even known she'd been holding back. Her hands tightened their hold on his shoulders, anchoring herself in this moment, in him. His warmth, his scent, the way he held her—it was everything she hadn't known she'd needed until now.
And for a few more heartbeats, the kiss deepened, heavy and more intense, but still filled with that sense of wonder, as if neither of them wanted to let go of this new, fragile connection they'd found in each other. The room around them could have disappeared entirely, and neither of them would have noticed. All that mattered in that moment was the softness of their lips, the warmth of their hands, and the unspoken promise that maybe—just maybe—they could be more than they'd allowed themselves to believe.
But then, something shifted. Sebastian's body tensed ever so slightly, and he pulled back once more, this time with a suddenness that left Eloise breathless. His face was torn, his chest rising and falling as if he'd just run a great distance.
"I... I can't do this," he whispered, his voice thick with regret. His eyes searched hers, pained, as if he were battling some internal war. "I'm so sorry, Eloise... I can't..."
Before she could say anything, before she could process what had just happened, he stood up abruptly. And in the next moment, he was gone, disappearing into the Floo flames, leaving Eloise sitting there, her heart still racing, her lips still tingling from the kiss that had just changed everything.
Eloise remained frozen on the couch, her heart still pounding from the intensity of their kiss. The warmth of his lips lingered on hers, but it quickly began to fade, replaced by a growing sense of confusion and heartbreak. She blinked, trying to piece together what had just happened. One moment, they had shared something so tender, so perfect, and in the next, he was gone, pulling away as if it had been a mistake.
Her chest tightened painfully, and she hugged her knees to her chest, trying to quell the rush of emotions. Did he not like it? The thought twisted in her mind like a knife, sharp and cold. Was it something she did? Was he disgusted by her? She replayed the kiss in her head, searching for any sign of hesitation or discomfort on his part, but all she could remember was how gentle he had been, how his touch had made her feel cherished, even loved. How could it go from that to him fleeing so quickly?
Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes, but she blinked them away, refusing to let them fall. He wanted it too, she reminded herself, but doubt crept in, whispering that maybe, just maybe, she had misread everything. Did he regret kissing her? Had it all been too much for him? She wrapped her arms around herself, feeling more alone than she had in a long time, her mind racing with questions and fears she had no way of answering.