DELGADO || Sebastian Sallow (Hogwarts Legacy)

Part 61 - Slipping away and Showers

ꕀꕥ〡~𐀔~〡ꕥꕀ

❝ She had done this before, and she had told me what to expect❞

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I woke up from a nap that felt like it had lasted twenty years. Blinking groggily, I stared at the white, fluffy pillow beneath my head—one that definitely hadn't been there before. Since when did the Hogwarts infirmary have plush pillows? Lifting my head, I took in my surroundings, recognizing the room instantly. This wasn't the infirmary. It was Angella's room. Right. I almost forgot—I had traveled to Spain to check on her. My back still ached, but it would heal with time.

I turned to see if she was still sitting in that chair by the balcony. She wasn't. Shifting my gaze a little further, I noticed a pair of feet beside me on the bed, clad in white socks covered in tiny red hearts. A grin tugged at my lips—those were adorable. Looking over, I found Angella lying on her stomach beside me, facing away toward the balcony, her face hidden from view.

Beside her chair stood a small coffee table, a whiskey bottle and an empty glass resting on its surface. A red lipstick stain marked the rim. She had been drinking. And I knew she wasn't supposed to—not with the pills she took before.

"Angella?" I called her name, my voice soft but concerned. She didn't move, but I could see the slow rise and fall of her back, her breaths shallow.

"Ang, wake up," I tried again, my voice firmer this time. A faint grunt escaped her lips, a sign that she had heard me. I reached out, shaking her shoulder gently. "Come on, wake up."

Still no real response.

Concern tightening my chest, I shifted to my knees and carefully rolled her onto her back. My breath caught. Her face was pale, her black eye still swollen and bruised. Panic surged through me as I grabbed her shoulders "Angella?"

As her shirt shifted slightly, something caught my eye. A mark on her neck. My jaw clenched as I tugged the fabric down just enough to reveal a flaming red hickey. I should've seen this coming. 

My hands curled into fists. "I warned you about him," I muttered, anger threading through my words. "You should have listened."

Shaking off my frustration, I carefully lifted her into my arms. She was so light—too light. Cradling her against my chest, I carried her to the bathroom. "Not again," I murmured under my breath. I knew what to do. She had done this before, and she had told me what to expect.

Balancing her weight, I reached out to turn on the shower, letting the warm water cascade down. As I struggled to remove her leather jacket, she stirred slightly, a quiet hum escaping her lips "Angella, can you hear me? It's me, Sebastian," I murmured.

She hummed again in response. "Work with me, alright? I'm going to set you down." Another small hum.

Supporting her under her arms, I carefully lowered her to the shower floor, letting her sit against the wall. The water ran over her, soaking her completely. But the moment I pulled away, she slumped to the side.

"You need to stay seated," I snapped, steadying her. She immediately started slipping again.

Damn it. She wasn't fully conscious yet. I needed a solution—fast. I glanced around the bathroom, searching for anything that could help keep her upright. Nothing.

"Screw this," I muttered, ripping the bandages from my own injuries. Without another thought, I sat down behind her, pulling her back against me. Water soaked through our clothes, but I didn't care. Wrapping my arms around her, I held her in place.

She stirred. Slowly, her hands moved, resting over mine. Her breaths quickened. She was waking up. I glanced down at her arm, my stomach twisting at the sight of the carved mark—Gaunt's wand, branding her as theirs. Fury burned in my chest, but I forced myself to stay calm. For her.

"Sebastian...?" she whispered weakly.

"I'm here," I rasped, my voice close to her ear.

A quiet sigh left her lips, like she found comfort in that. I tightened my grip around her waist, holding her steady. She consumed my thoughts, my body, my every sense. I didn't want to let go. Not now. Not ever.

She shifted slightly. "Your wounds..."

"Shh," I hushed her gently. "Don't talk. Just focus on yourself right now. You're what matters."

Silence settled between us, the only sound the steady stream of water hitting the tiled floor. Time stretched, but I didn't mind. I would sit here with her for as long as she needed. Our bond always found a way to repair itself after every fight, every hardship.

When I felt her breathing even out, I reached over and turned off the shower. We stood, water dripping from our clothes. Angella looked up at me, her ocean-blue eyes soft beneath wet lashes "Thank you," she said quietly. "Truly."

Heat crept up my neck. Why was I suddenly nervous? Scratching the back of my head, I let out a faint chuckle "No problem. You were about to topple over."

Her brows knit together. "You could've left me. But you didn't." She hesitated before adding, "You stayed."

I reached for her cheek, and she instinctively leaned into my touch "Sweetheart, how could I leave you like that?" I murmured. "You know I care about you—more than just as a friend."

She smiled softly. "Still... after everything I've done—"

"It's all forgotten," I assured her. "Come on, let's get you dried off."

I grabbed us both towels, stepping back to give her space. "You don't have to turn around, Sallow," she teased as she started to undress. "You've already seen me naked."

I cringed at the memory. "That wasn't on purpose! I just wanted to talk!"

She laughed. "Uh-huh. Sure."

Grinning at the floor, I shook my head. "I'm a gentleman. You know that." 

"Right," she said, amused.

A few moments later, she tapped my shoulder. "I'm decent."

Turning around, I found her wrapped in a white bathrobe, her damp hair twisted into a bun, cheeks slightly flushed from the heat.

"Your turn," she said, gesturing at me. I folded my arms. "Turn around, Delgado." She huffed. "Why do you always ruin the fun?" Still, she turned.

Smirking, I slid out of my soaked clothes and into a fresh robe. "Can't spoil the surprise, can I?" I teased.

Tying the knot of my robe, I tapped her shoulder. "Decent. Let's get you some coffee."

As I turned to leave, her voice stopped me "White looks good on you."

I froze for a second, caught off guard. Not sure how to respond, I simply nodded before heading out to fetch us coffee, her words lingering in my mind.