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blueraineshadows · 10 months

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Dark Betrayals Part Four

Sebastian 🔺️ F!MC 🔺️ Ominis

After killing Marvolo's best duelist, MC is now in Sebastian's hands, but there will be a price to pay. Chapters One Two Three

NSFW 🔞 sexual content, mentions of violence

Chapter Four - Love Betrayed & The Price to Pay

The London skyline was murky, the sickly moon a hazy smudge through the smog. She couldn't see the stars. It was oppressive, she felt smothered, like this city was slowly swallowing her up and she would forget who she was.

The window that she stared through was small and grimy, the curtains faded, a loft room that was clinging to the chill. Behind her she could hear the quiet shifting movements as Sebastian found glasses and poured whiskey into them. She didn't turn, couldn't, because if she did she might crumble.

She was in Sebastian's space. The very air she breathed was him. His scent. The room untidy, stacks of books piled everywhere, and in the middle of his organised chaos was the man himself. She felt him in the room as though she were attached to him by invisible strings, and those strings were gradually pulling her closer and closer.

She wrapped her arms about herself and shivered. She had killed a man.

It had been a long time since death had visited via her hands. She had thought those days were behind her, buried in a past that had stolen her innocence and gifted her with guilt that plagued her dreams with darkness.

But he had been hurting Daisy.

A warm hand on her back, a glass being offered to her. She looked down at the drink, at the freckled hand that was holding it, and slowly took it, deliberately brushing her fingers against the solid warmth of those fingers. The contact a comfort and a selfish need.

He had always been there at the darkest times. A solid presence. When he had left, the void had crippled her, and now, once again, he was here. A reassuring presence in the dark.

She looked up and met worried brown eyes. His gaze softened, hiding the worry, and he attempted a reassuring smile.

"I recognised him," she said, quietly. She swallowed. "I saw him that night, at the duel pit, he had killed his opponent."

Sebastian's eyes darkened and he nodded. "He was Marvolo's best duelist. Gren."

Her stomach twisted. She looked back out across the murky city, the silent fog masking the dark evil that shifted beneath. "That lackey saw us didn't he? The one you tried to chase, he saw what I did."

"Yes, I think he did," Sebastian said. "Marvolo probably knows already."

She closed her eyes. Ice was spreading through her. Ominis was going to find out what she had done. Who she had been with.

Arms circled her, warmth surrounding her. She felt his lips on her hair. "It's alright," he murmured.

"I didn't even think twice," she whispered. "He was hurting her. I just...snapped."

Sebastian cupped her jaw with a hand, lifting her face to his. How easy it was to stare into those eyes. The shadows that lurked in the depths of his gaze seemed to dance with her own.

"I'm going to say the words that you spoke to me that night in the Undercroft, the night after the catacombs," he said. His thumb brushed her cheek. "You did what you had to do. If you hadn't, Daisy would be hurt, or worse. He can't hurt her anymore. You stopped him."

He was the only one who understood. If Sebastian hadn't killed Solomon, then they both wouldn't be standing here now. Blood on their hands, but it meant the people they loved were safe. Somehow, staring into Sebastian's eyes made the shadows make sense. They felt like old friends rather than feared unknowns.

And then there was that feeling that had swept through her as Gren's body had slammed into the wall, that immense feeling of power, strength, of knowing the capability of her own magic. A magic that she had suppressed and hidden over the last few years.

It simmered under her skin, stirring like a languid beast, its interest piqued. Her pulse fluttered in her neck, and Sebastian's eyes burned with hers.

"What are we going to do about Marvolo Gaunt?" She asked.

"There will be a price to pay," Sebastian said. He clenched his jaw. "But we'll figure it out. I will find a way."

"You don't have to do anything, Seb. This is my mess," she said.

His eyes flashed. "I'm not going to let anything happen to you, MC. Not on my watch."

"Since when was I under your watch?" She quirked an eyebrow at him.

His lips twitched, amusement sneaking past his fighting talk. "Since you put me on my arse in Defence Against the Dark Arts that day," he said. "I couldn't keep away from you after that."

The memory of the day he had left cut through her. "Until you were gone," she said.

He lowered his gaze, his hand ruffling through his hair. "It might be out of line for me to say it, but I missed you. More than I thought I would."

And she had missed him. Did he mean it? Or was he playing with her? She studied his eyes, staring into the windows of his soul, looking for that connection. He met her searching with intensity, a look so deep, so blazing that it seemed to brush up against her very essence.

Those invisible threads that seemed to lure her in were becoming tangled up, wrapping her tightly into his web, and she thought that if she struggled it would only ensnare her faster.

Forbidden, but so utterly tempting, MC lowered her eyes to Sebastian's mouth. The first time she had tasted those lips she had been a girl with no idea what she was doing.

But she was older and wiser now, right? She could handle Sebastian Sallow.

And that lower lip looked so delicious. Just one little bite...

Sebastian took the glass of whiskey from her hand and put it down, his eyes never leaving hers. When his face lowered to hers, her lips parted, their gazes locked, her heart thumping in anticipation.

His lips were a delicate touch, the merest tickle against hers, unmoving as he hovered there, waiting. MC trembled, the need for him a desperate ache that burned through her. It was a taunt, a question, and Gods, she wanted to answer him, to kiss him.

But pale blue eyes flashed across her mind. Ominis was at home, waiting for her, wondering where she was.

"I shouldn't be doing this..." Her words were a desperate whisper. "I should go."

His fingers were in her hair, his nose nudging against hers, his breath warm on her cheek. "Stay," he murmured. His lips brushed her top lip, delicious, soft. "Stay with me until the morning."

Her brow creased as if in pain. Her body was betraying her, arching into him. "I can't," she whined. "Seb, please..."

His tongue slid across her lower lip and she was melting, her fingers grasping at the front of his waistcoat. Her desire and her loyalty were at war, each clawing at the other to win, and her head was spinning out of control. She was slipping, like fingers gripping a ledge and the drop loomed below her.

"No," she breathed. His fingers tightened in her hair, tilting her head back. He hummed in approval as he buried his face into her neck, his tongue flicking against her skin, breathing her in deeply. "Stop..."

"Make me," he taunted.

His mouth teased her neck, hot, wet and sinful. She moaned, her body making a liar of her pleas. Flames licked and curled at her core as he mouthed along her throat, her breathing ragged.

"Seb, I need to..."

His mouth claimed hers, silencing her, lips firm and hungry. Somehow, she had one hand in his hair, the other gripping at the collar of his shirt, pulling him closer. His tongue entered her mouth, swirling with dominance, and she was lost, moaning for him.

He shifted, his hands coming around to lift her legs about his waist, her arms wrapping around his neck. They continued to kiss, deeply, as he carried her across the room to his bed.

"You're not going anywhere," he whispered, darkly. He grabbed both of her wrists, holding them up above her head before pinning her to the mattress. "You're staying right here, with me."

She could hardly breathe as his legs shifted hers apart, his hips pressing against her and she arched, a desperate keen escaping her lips as he ground against her heat. The solid press of his arousal through their clothing was a pleasing promise. She throbbed, aching for it, hating the barrier of fabric keeping him from her, her arousal soaking her underwear.

She shook her head, it couldn't happen, but as she did, her hips lifted and pressed against him, every fibre of her wanting to bear down and feel that cock.

"You like that?" He asked. He rubbed against her, his eyes drinking her in and as she rutted below him. "Tell me, I want to hear you say it."

Her cheeks flushed and she whimpered. She turned her face away, unable to bear the intensity of the lust in his eyes. Speaking the words would make the betrayal more real, but her desire was burning on her tongue, her need burning a vicious trail right from her core and up her throat with every ragged breath.

"Look at me!" He demanded. Fuck, his voice was coaxing the burn, the deep edge to it making her toes curl. "Look at me and tell me what you want. Admit it, and I'll give it to you."

He was still rubbing against her, rocking his hips, driving her to madness. Her mouth opened and a low moan escaped, but she kept her face turned away. "Why...why are you doing this?" She panted.

He bent down, his mouth near her ear. "Because you want it," he breathed. "I know you do. You want me to fuck you until you can't breathe, and then I'll do it again, and again, until you're mine."

She shuddered, her thighs clenching around him, a deep throb of desire pulsing outwards that made her eyes widen. Her fingers flexed, her arms pulling against where he had her pinned. Shock made a breathless cry leave her lips. She'd almost completely come undone as he spoke.

Her eyes flew to his, and his smirk was utter satisfaction. He bent to kiss her, soft teasing kisses, a flick of tongue across her lips. "Say it," he whispered. "Give in, you know you want to."

Oh, she wanted to.

"Yes," she breathed. His eyes locked on hers. She couldn't fight it anymore. Her surrender was complete. Her body was consumed by her own selfish desires. "Fuck me, Sebastian. I want it."

His smile was delicious, eyes dark and hungry as he released her wrists. "Good girl," he said.

Her hands worked fast, ripping his clothes from him, every second too long until she could finally get her hands on his skin. To press her naked flesh against his was a bliss that drew soft sighs from her, hands and lips taking their fill.

Her breasts ached, the peaks tight and eager for his mouth, wanting everything he could give her. At the first teasing stroke of his fingers, she was gripping the blanket beneath her, her core strung so tightly already from his taunting that she thought she might snap. That wicked mouth of his kissed across her flesh, moving downwards to suck sinfully at her inner thighs.

"Seb, no, don't mark me," she panted. Her hand pushed weakly at his head in an attempt to stop him.

He chuckled and swirled his tongue against her skin. "Why not? It's not like he will see them."

She gasped, shame flooding her cheeks with colour at the truth of it. But then, Sebastian sucked, deep and hard at her inner thigh, sliding his fingers deep inside her at the same time. It was criminal how good it felt.

And then that wicked mouth moved higher, licking, probing, teasing and she was a writhing, panting mess. Her back arched and she bit her lower lip as he sent her flying up to dizzying heights with tongue and fingers.

"Oh, Sebastian..."

She couldn't fly any higher, his lips clamped around her clit and sucked and she spiralled. He held her hips down as she bucked, clenching around him, coaxing her through the blistering waves of her climax with his tongue.

There was to be no rest. He climbed over her, lining himself up, his eyes heavy lidded as he gazed down at her. "My beautiful girl," he muttered.

Still gasping and quivering, MC felt him sliding in, her hand dragging down his chest as she took him deep. She looked down at their joined bodies, the sight of it making something hot and feral snake through her. "More," she begged. "Please..."

How many times had she imagined this? The reality was so much better, and she clung to him as he began to thrust, filling her up so perfectly she could cry. Her hand slid up to his face, her thumb rolling his bottom lip as he moaned, the sound of his pleasure filling her ears, and she savoured it, storing it safely away in her memories to cherish later.

"Look at me," she breathed. She hungered for his eyes, for that look, and she stared into the depths of his gaze as he fucked her. She wanted him, all of him. "Harder," she pleaded. "Faster."

He groaned and gripped her hip, looking down at his cock sliding into her as he obeyed. The erotic sounds, the sheen of sweat forming on his chest and forehead, the delicious slide of his cock, it had her building again.

"Fuck, I'm close," he groaned. He leant his forehead against hers. "Don't worry...I will pull out."

"No," she said, immediately. She stroked his cheek. "Give it to me."

He stared at her, eyes blazing, before he gripped her thigh, pushing her leg up and out, shifting himself to savagely thrust at an angle. She cried out, his name spilling from her lips. As her second climax hit, he thrust deep, and she felt the hot throb of his own release.

Collapsing on to the bed beside her, he pulled her in close, his lips pressing kisses to her head. Buried against his hot, heaving chest, MC clung to him, refusing to let her guilt intrude on this moment. It was years in the making and she needed to soak it up, the scent, the feel of him, the delicious fucked out feeling of Sebastian Sallow taking her to bed.

....*....

Sebastian realised he could lie here for hours watching MC sleep. The delicate curve of her lashes resting against her cheeks, the cute slope of her nose, and those perfect lips, she was just so lovely.

He lifted a hand, his finger gently brushing back strands of hair from her face. He stilled as she stirred, and a soft sigh left her mouth. He didn't want to wake her, because then she would leave, and he wanted to keep her here. He didn't want her to go back to him. Not yet.

Jealousy twisted through him as imagined Ominis kissing the soft skin under her ear, his hands touching those pretty breasts. He envied the time she had spent with him, and he ached with the loss of what he had given up. He was selfish to have tried to claim it back, but he couldn't let it go.

And, there was always the possibility that he would be dead by the end of the week. Despite her insistence, there was no way he could let her face the wrath of Marvolo alone. He would take the blame if he had to. Anything to protect her.

So, if he was being selfish in keeping her here, then so be it. He wanted to savour every moment.

The next thing he knew, movement in the room stirred him from his own sleep. He sat up, blinking, rubbing his face to see MC yanking on her clothes, stumbling in her hurry. "What's the matter?"

"I fell asleep," she groaned. She fumbled with her blouse buttons, growling in frustration when she realised she had done it wrong. "I'm so fucking late, it's almost dawn. Ominis is going to be losing his mind with worry."

Sebastian sighed and rubbed his hand through his hair. He didn't want her to go, but he could see the panic in her eyes. He shifted, sliding from the bed and going to her. Her eyes widened as she tried not to look at his nakedness, a cute pink blush colouring her cheeks.

"Come here," he said. She opened her mouth to protest, but quietened when he started to correct the buttons, doing them up swiftly. "Can't have you leaving here looking all dishevelled, although, I quite like that look on you."

Her eyes skipped guilty away. He didn't like the way she was beginning to close off from him.

"Nobody can know I was here, Sebastian," she said.

"I know you were here," he said, meeting her gaze. "Don't ask me to forget it, because I won't."

"Please, Sebastian, I don't want to hurt him. He doesn't deserve it." Her eyes shone with tears.

Didn't deserve it? Sebastian clenched his jaw. Did he deserve it when Ominis had threatened him with prison? Did he deserve it when Ominis took MC into his bed, knowing full well how Sebastian felt about her? Did he still deserve to be hounded by Aurors while Ominis gets to lie next to her every night?

She didn't want to hurt Ominis. Well, she wasn't thinking about that while she was moaning underneath him last night. Did she want to hurt him instead?

"Maybe you should have thought of that before you climbed into my bed," he said. The words fell out of his mouth before he could stop them.

She stiffened. "Well, maybe I've learned my lesson, and I won't be doing it again."

She snatched up her coat and pulled it on, her mouth a tight line. He bit his tongue, watching her as she pulled on her boots.

"MC..."

"Don't bother," she said. She stood and made for the door. She paused before opening it, facing it and not him. "We can't do this again. Maybe we should just keep out of each other's way from now on."

She turned the handle on the door and began to open it. He couldn't stand the thought of her walking through it and then never seeing her again. He was across the room in three strides, uncaring that he was completely naked. His hand slammed against the wood, pushing the door closed before it could open any further.

She gasped, standing completely still as he loomed behind her, his arm braced against the door.

"Let me go," she said.

"No," he replied. "Not like this."

She turned a little, tilting her head to look up at him. "Please don't make this any harder. I have to get back home."

His jealousy was thick and cruel, choking him. He forced it down, swallowing hard. It pained him, but he nodded. "I'll let you go, on one condition," he said. She hesitated, waiting for him to finish. "You let me escort you back."

She frowned. "I don't need you to protect me, I'm more than capable."

"I know you are," he said. "But Marvolo's lackeys could be anywhere. Please, let me escort you. I won't rest easy if I don't know that you're safely through your front door."

She thought it over, her eyes searching his, she had that look in her gaze again, almost like yearning. He wanted to touch her, kiss her, but held back.

She nodded. "Okay," she agreed. Then she looked down, a little smirk on her lips. "But you'd better put some clothes on first."

Unable to resist, and happy that she had agreed, he gave her a quick kiss on the forehead before hurrying to grab his clothes that were scattered all over the floor.

They stood outside the small town house north of the river. So, this was there they lived. He eyed the front door, the clean windows, the little pot of flowers on the top step. A proper little home. Of course.

She gave him a small smile and stepped towards the house. He reached for her, taking her hand, she turned back to him. Why couldn't he just let her go?

"Any trouble, come and find me, MC," he said. "Any time."

"I will be alright," she said. She looked conflicted, glancing back at the house, then back to him. She moved closer, going up on tiptoes to press a soft kiss to his mouth. She stared at him. "Please, be careful," she whispered. "Maybe it's me who should be protecting you. I got you into this mess, after all."

He swept a thumb over her cheek. "We protect each other. You know where to find me."

She nodded. As she stepped back and away, their hands remained touching until it was just their fingertips, her eyes sad as she finally turned. She didn't look back as she let herself into the house, but he stayed there a while, watching.

This couldn't be over. It just couldn't be.

....*....

The kitchen smelled of toast and tea, and Ominis sat at the table, listening as MC moved about, the clatter of cutlery and plates as she set things on the table before him.

"Would you like some jam, Omi?" She asked. "There is some left still. I shall have to get some more next time I am at the market. That, or try and get the recipe for one. I wouldn't mind having a go at making my own."

Just a regular morning with her, the usual routine, however, her secrets hung between them. They weighed heavy on him, and yet his mouth remained silent. He couldn't bring himself to voice the hideous, black swirl of fear that twisted him up inside.

Where was she last night? What had she been doing?

He had been unable to sleep, worrying himself sick at her prolonged absence, tapping his pocket watch with his wand as the minutes crept by into hours. She never stayed out all night, never. But it had been almost dawn when she had crept back in to the house.

He had been in bed, but awake, and she had carefully slipped in behind him, her hair and skin reeking of cigarette smoke, alcohol, and that citrus and cinnamon scent had clung to her, stronger than before. Beneath that, there was another scent, a strong musky scent, that tugged at his memory.

He didn't want to voice it, couldn't bear to make the idea turn into something solid in his mind. But he feared that smell on her, feared it because he recognised it. How many years had he shared a dormitory with that smell? How many summers had he top and tailed in a bed with that smell? Citrus, and cinnamon, and his distinct male scent.

Sebastian.

She must have been with him. All night. Close to him. The thoughts that swirled through his imagination cut sharper than any Diffindo could. How else could she smell like that? His scent all over her.

She moved closer to him at the table, the sound of the jam jar being placed before him, she gently took his wrist, guiding his hand to it. Her fingers were warm against his pulse point, the touch brief, but precious. Every touch of hers was precious. But this morning it felt different. Had those fingers been on Sebastian's skin last night?

He turned his head a little, breathing in. She had bathed this morning, her soft clean scent familiar and close, but he could still smell him, a slight touch of it still. The dark thought occurred to him that if he were to lift her skirt, that smell would be stronger.

He pushed the jam jar away, scraping back his chair as he stood, stomach churning. "I'm not hungry," he said.

He could feel her worry and anxiety flowing from her, she was still beside him. "Is everything alright?" She asked.

The build up of all the words that were stuck in his throat made his tongue feel heavy and thick. He couldn't say them. He didn't want to hear her answer, unsure if it was her truth or her lies that would be easier to hear.

Was this torturous not knowing any easier though?

He opened his mouth to speak, but a hammering on the front door stopped him. He frowned. "Who is that so early in the morning?"

She put an hand on his forearm. "I'll see to it." With a soft swish of skirts, she was gone.

He picked up his wand and smoothed a hand over his suit. He would leave for work, bury himself in it, and try not to imagine MC with Sebastian. Perhaps there was an explanation, maybe he was letting his jealousy get the better of him. Surely, MC wouldn't betray him like that.

He heard the front door open, a deep rumble of a voice, all too familiar, and his heart sank even further. What could Marvolo possibly want at this hour?

Fear rolled through the room, he could hear it in the subtle change of MC's breathing as he heard them come closer. There were three sets of footsteps. "What's going on?" He asked.

"Hello, little brother," Marvolo said. His voice was colder than ever, full of malice. "Im here to have a little word with your plaything."

He heard MC whimper, and he tightened his grip on his wand. "What could you possibly have to say to MC? She is nothing to do with you."

"Oh, but she is," he said, darkly. He chuckled. "Clearly, she hasn't told you."

Marvolo clicked his tongue, mocking. "Oh, you are a naughty thing," he taunted. "Hold on to her, don't let her get a hand on her wand."

There was a struggle as Marvolo's companion got a hold of MC. Ominis took a step forwards but a hand clamped down on his shoulder. Marvolo leant in close, his expensive cologne filling Ominis' nose. "You need to keep a stronger hand on that wench of yours, little brother," he said. "She has caused me a bit of trouble. I'm down a man, my finest duelist, a battered corpse in the street, courtesy of this little bitch and her ancient magic."

Ominis felt cold, too cold. He could hear MC sniffling, her efforts to escape the bind of whoever was holding her.

"I didn't mean to," she said, voice shaking. "But he was hurting her, I had to make him stop. I didn't mean to...to..."

"You killed someone?" Ominis asked. Dread settled over him, flashes of memory, 5th year at Hogwarts. Her and Sebastian, bringers of death, always in trouble. And she had come home reeking of him. Of course there was murder involved. His face hardened. "So, that's where you were all night."

Silence.

Marvolo laughed, a cold, humourless laugh. "Oh dear, trouble in the love nest, dear brother?"

He moved away from Ominis, his footsteps controlled and deliberate. MC whimpered again.

"You've lost me my best duelist, MC," Marvolo said, his voice slick and oily. "But, no matter. I'm here to collect on the debt. And it will be paid."

"What debt?" Ominis asked. His hands trembled.

"Take her," Marvolo ordered. There was a sharp crack as someone Disapparated.

Ominis shot forward, wand up. He scanned the room desperately, but only he and Marvolo remained. "What have you done? Where is she?" He cried, panicking.

"She has a debt to pay," Marvolo stated. "She is mine now until I am satisfied. She's a powerful little witch, her skills will prove most useful I am sure."

Fury made Ominis shake. MC, his beautiful MC, taken from him. He held his wand out. "You will regret this. Don't get too attached to that pathetic duelling pit you've got going on, the Ministry is on to you."

Marvolo laughed. "The Ministry doesn't care, Ominis. I have Ministry agents in my back pocket, they know to turn a blind eye. Excuse the pun."

His chuckle was smug, his enjoyment evident. He had always taken delight in mocking Ominis for his short comings ever since he was small.

"That last raid was pathetic, even for you," Marvolo continued. "From what I hear, the only wizard they were really interested in was young Sebastian Sallow. Wasn't he an old school pal of yours? What's the matter, did you two have a lovers tiff?"

Ominis stiffened. Marvolo always had to be one step ahead, always had to be on top. "You've seen Sallow?" Ominis asked.

"Every day," Marvolo said, smugly. "My, my, little brother, you do look rather vexed. If you were so interested in Sallow's whereabouts, why didn't you just ask your pretty plaything?"

"What do you mean?" Ominis felt his heart twist and thump painfully. "You've seen her with him?"

"Oh, Ominis..." Marvolo laughed, loud and cruel. "Oh, it's all starting to make sense! Your weird obsession with sending men after Sallow...its because of her isn't it?"

Ominis swallowed hard, sweat gathering on his brow.

Marvolo gripped the front of his suit, his face close. "You're a coward, little brother," he said. "You should have put a ring on that girl's finger, made her a Gaunt, made your claim. You are a stubborn fool, shunning marriage and your blood right. Just think of the babies that bitch will produce, babies with ancient magic in their blood. Powerful, Gaunt children."

Ominis felt his stomach churn, nausea making his head swim. He remembered her odd hesitation over the mention of children the other day, the way she had suggested that one day she might want them. His blood ran cold with fear.

"What are you going to do with her?" He asked. His voice sounded weak to his own ears, he was a trembling boy again under Marvolo's overbearing presence.

"Maybe I should step up and be the man you can't be, put a Gaunt in her belly so you have no choice but to marry her," Marvolo spat. "If I wasn't married already, I would pin her down myself. But no, I won't. You brother, you need to step up. You're a Gaunt, fucking act like one. Because if you don't, then you are going to lose her. I reckon Sallow would be more than happy to take her off your hands, because that's what you fear isn't it? That's why you're trying to run him out of London? And last night she didn't come home after her killing..."

Marvolo chuckled, shoving Ominis backwards. He stumbled, his hand searching out the table top for support.

"I quite like the sound of your little plaything, little brother. Murder, betrayal, liar, powerful...she's going to be fun to have around," he teased. Ominis felt the tip of a wand pressed against his chest. "Don't even think about meddling in my affairs. Mess with the duel pit, and I will not hesitate to teach you a lesson. You remember how I like to teach, Ominis? A little Crucio always does the trick. If you don't want to lose MC, then you need to play the game. You're a Gaunt. Act like one."

Marvolo removed his wand. "Have a nice day, little brother."

With the crack of Disapparation, Marvolo was gone. Ominis stood alone in his kitchen, trembling, Marvolo's threat echoing in his ears. MC was gone, in the clutches of his brother, Merlin knows where.

He had to get her back. But, how?

To be continued... Part Five

#hogwarts legacy fanfic #sebastian sallow #mc x sebastian sallow #sebastian sallow fanfiction #hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow smut #ominis gaunt #ominis gaunt x mc #blueraineshadows

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heartsforseo · 8 months

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Playing Valorant with the straw hats.

I feel like Luffy wouldn't really understand the game and would try to make friends with the enemies. Especially death match lol. He would also be so noisy like BRO SHIFT. Very noisy in comms too.

Zoro I feel like would prob use Omen and tryna knife someone with the oni knife. He would be very quiet tbh and tries to do a knife only challenge (actually succeeded) He would also lurk and you can never trust him with the spike..

Nami would probably t-bag the enemies and shit-talk them. But I also would think she would make some plans to win and would get mad if she loses.

Ussop would be very confident with his aim (he whiffs) and would insta-lock duelist but wouldn't entry (Nami woul get mad lmao) His career are all lose but would say he always wins and is MVP.

Sanji would look at the female characters, and because he keep staring he forgot to pick an agent for the 3rd time and got him a day of ban. Would keep praising their designs and how they're made. He'd also be really guilty if he killed a female character. I feel like he'd use Chamber's pick-up lines.

Chopper would actually try. He have some cute skins, cute title, cute name, and even cute sprays. Would actually get an ace tbh. And also likes Skye's Animals and Wingman.

Robin would also try and IS a Line-up Larry. She has line-ups everywhere, actually everywhere. Even if the new map has been released for an hour she has line-ups already. Has a decent career. Prob reached ascendant one time.

Franky (idrk much about him) I feel like would rage quit and use some cheats..

Brook WOULD NOT also quiet down in comms especially when he's dead. Would play some musics and I think he would like spectrum because of the dodododo.

Jinbei (Idrk know anything about him too) I think would play it normally and would be chill and quiet. (Why did I think he'd like the Neptune vandal lol).

Bonus (because why not heheh)

Zoro would pretend not to rage quit or be mad when he is bot frag, dies, and if he can't get the knife kills, instead, he will try to "brush it off".

Sanji and Zoro would use their abilities against eachother and Luffy accidentally killed his team because of the Raze ult (He thought it was colorful).

I had fun writing this and I hope you readers would too!

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rpgsandbox · 11 months

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https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/streetsofperil/streets-of-peril

Streets of Peril

A complete sword & sorcery TTRPG with a Renaissance setting and intuitive d6 dice pool system.

Streets of Peril is a complete sword and sorcery TTRPG. The game focuses on player-driven stories and features an innovative advancement system which rewards characters for pursuing their ambitions. The world is gritty and dangerous. Heroes are expected to set aside their differences and unite against the enemies of humanity.

While characters may explore strange places and ancient ruins, most stories revolve around urban environments. Streets of Peril can easily accommodate stories focused on mystery, politics, and horror. Characters are expected to shape the world around them, forever altering their city-state and the lands beyond.

United by Magnus the Butcher, the Cimbrian people defeated their elven oppressors and founded a powerful empire. The elves have since vanished and faded into memory while the Cimbrian Empire has grown increasingly more fractured. The proud nation which conquered the land and its abominations is now little more than a confederation of powerful city-states with little love for the descendants of Magnus.

Noble houses, trade guilds, mercenary companies, dark cults, and criminal societies compete for control of the city-states. These factions scheme against one another, employing violence when political maneuvering fails. While mankind quarrels in the pursuit of petty ambitions, an older enemy lurks in the darkness.

Elves and other malevolent forces abhor humanity. These eldritch things mindlessly devour mankind or carefully plot its destruction. Few recognize these supernatural terrors as anything more than fiction. Faced with forgotten horrors, most men are driven to despair and madness. Some heroes rise to the challenge, dispatching the supernatural with blade and blackpowder.

Streets of Peril utilizes the Perilous D6 (PD6) dice pool system. The use of dice colors helps to elegantly convey a character's competency or an item's effectiveness. White dice succeed on a result of 4+, red on a 3+, and black on a 2+. We are so confident that you will love Streets of Peril's mechanics that we are offering the PD6 rules system for free while the campaign is active.

The combat rules are inspired by historical European martial arts while remaining simple and intuitive. Weapons and armor behave in a satisfying manner, reflecting their actual qualities. Exploding dice allow for fast and deadly combat encounters.

Players assume the roles of brave landsknechts and suave swashbucklers. Characters may choose from one of the following classes:

Brute - Powerful fighter who relies upon athleticism, strength, and toughness to overcome enemies. Subclasses include the berserker, brawler, folk hero, and thug.

Cultist - Divine instrument of their patron, capable of commanding powerful magic. Subclasses include the priest, templar, and zealot.

Duelist - Skilled fencer who has learned secret swordplay techniques. Subclasses represent various schools of fencing influenced by actual historical martial arts.

Engineer - Brilliant inventor with access to weird science. An engineer's inventions are equal parts magic and science.

Magister - Arcane practitioner capable of manipulating magic into spells. Subclasses include the alchemist, necromancer, seer, and wizard.

Man-at-arms - Professional soldier trained to coordinate with comrades and improve their performance. Subclasses include the shock trooper, skirmisher and vanguard.

Scoundrel - Suave trickster with a diverse skillset. Subclasses include the assassin, burglar, highwayman, and rake.

Wayfarer - Talented marksman with varied survival skills. Subclasses include the explorer, scout, shadow stalker, and trophy hunter.

Characters declare ambitions upon creation and gain experience while pursuing or achieving these ambitions. A common ambition held by the party encourages the characters to cooperate. Streets of Peril campaigns are driven by the players and stories are shaped as characters alter their world.

Experience is spent like currency, allowing players to develop their characters in a number of different ways between gaming sessions. Characters can advance existing skills, learn new skills, or acquire special abilities by spending experience. This allows for a great deal character customization.

Elemental forces govern the universe and these energies can be harnessed in a variety of ways. The most dangerous arcane practice is spellcraft and it involves manipulating magic through sheer willpower. Casting spells is unpredictable and sometimes results in paranormal phenomenon known as aetheric manifestations. Examples of these manifestations include: raining frogs, spontaneous combustion, summoning demons, and miraculous healing.

Magic can also manifest in more predictable and controlled ways. This is often done by binding magic to items or through the brewing of potions. Witch finders who must battle rogue sorcerers and horrible monsters often collect potent magical devices to assist with their work. Miracles function similarly to spells though are borrowed by the cultist's patron and come with certain religious obligations.

Finkelstein's Laboratory is a free starting adventure presented within the book. A nod to Mary Shelley's writing, the adventure features weird science and a flesh golem. This adventure is a great introduction to Streets of Peril and should hopefully inspire readers to devise adventures of their own.

We are already working on Streets of Peril's first supplement, Storms over Sturmburgh. This supplement will focus on a coastal Cimbrian city-state, thoroughly detailing its factions, key personalities, and important sites. The supplement will also include rules for naval battles and an expanded bestiary of maritime monsters. We hope to complete this supplement before 2024.

Kickstarter campaign ends: Mon, July 10 2023 3:00 PM BST

Website: [Broken Blade Publishing] [facebook] [twitter] [instagram]

#RPG #kickstarter #Streets of Peril #Broken Blade Publishing

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phoenixduelist · 6 months

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Birthday month Véghváry appreciation!

Countess / Captain / Queen Rozália Klára Véghváry; aka the Hungarian Duelist Devil

#🩸ooc 🗡 | out of tragedy #(All of these are original btw)

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armoredisopod · 1 year

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New Main Story PV

youtube

New Operators

Morgan, 5* Welfare Dreadnought Guard

There are also rules to fighting.

Humus, 4* Reaper Guard

Hm? Anything you need help with? Just talk to me.

Cement, 5* Duelist Defender

Doctor, don't stay in the office all the time, come with me to the mines some other day to have a look.

Ines, 6* Agent Vanguard

All you need to know is that i'm not here to threaten your life for now, "Doctor".

Operator Skins Update

Total of 4 new skins, 3 new additions for the Epoque brand and 1 new addition for the Marthe brand

Epoque

Harmonie's Invitation

Heidi's A Thousand Correspondences

Horn's To Effloresce Whitely

Marthe

Skadi's 下一顿午茶 (Next Afternoon Tea)

Skadi's Marthe skin will be up for sale during Stultifera Navis Retrospect

Announced skin reruns, up for sale during the same time as the new Epoque skins

Series 2 of the Raythean Striker brand skins

Series 2 of the Bloodline of Combat brand skins

Operator Modules Update

Morgan and Cement being part of branches with modules immediately gets their modules

DRE-X module base effect increases Morgan's ATK to 115% when attacking blocked enemies

HES-X module base effect allows Cement to generate SP slowly when not blocking enemies

Phalanx Caster and Trapmaster Specialist branches gets 1 module type each

Nian and Ceobe gets their second modules

PRO-Y module base effect gives Nian +1 block count

CCR-Y module base effect allows Ceobe to gain 1 SP when her normal attacks hit an elite/boss enemy

Events and Stories

Episode 12: All Quiet Under the Thunder

The heart of Victoria that had been beating for hundreds of years is no longer intact, and the fragments of Londinium have become an obstacle for the Sarkaz to halt the advancement of the dukes.

The giant ships sailing in the sky brought war, sowed the shadow of death, but also provided a glimmer of life for those who lurk in the dark.

What is a king and what is a subject? In purgatory, they are just living beings trying to redeem themselves.

The road ahead is close at hand, under the iron curtain, what we need may be —a small push.

Stultifera Navis Retrospect, scheduled after the 2-week Ep12 release event

Operator Archives update for Morgan, Click, Jaye, Ayerscarpe, Lumen, Leonhardt and Quartz

Record Restore update for A Walk in the Dust

Misc Stuff

CN voices for Ines, Cement, Humus, Morgan and 6 other operators

Annihilation 19 - Pausenstraße, annihilation mission with Lingering Echoes mechanics and enemies

SSS New Season #2, Recapture Land - Mama John's Newly Built Plate & Raythean Industries Testing Platform

#arknights #arknights CN news

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chibi-taylormoon · 10 months

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For the prompt thingy, I have an interesting one - ✊🏽 Yusaku and Yuri. (I have no idea why this came into my head, but it did)

Oh!! Interesting indeed!

✊🏽 Protecting

Danger lurked around every corner of link vrains, lately there was a group of duelists trapping the souls of users into cards that left the duelists not only unable to leave link vrains but also left their real bodies unconscious out in the real world. Yusaku, or Playmaker rather had to put a stop to this attack.

From a top of the tall building, Playmaker watched as a group of duelists in unfamiliar uniforms on their d-boards chased after a kid running on foot. From his view, all Playmaker could see was purple and pink hair and a purple cape billowing behind the kid as he ran into an alley. Playmaker knew his way around this area of link vrains and knew well that path lead to a dead end. The kid was now trapped and the duelists chased after him in dark alley, Playmaker couldn't stand back and do nothing. He stepped up on the edge of the building and jumped down, his d-board appearing under his feet and he dived down towards where the younger boy disappeared.

Backed against the wall, Yuri was outnumbered 1 to 5, the members of the obelisk force that went rouge and ignored their mission had turned on him and wanted to card him rather than listen to his orders. Fools, Yuri thought to himself with but feigned fear and weakness to play along with their little game. Yuri could make these losers feel pain and regret easily, but he could enjoy himself and play victim if they wanted to treat him like one. With fake hesitation, Yuri raised his arm and fake a fearful expression. The obelisk force were idiot, and they all smirked confidently like they could actually beat Yuri. Maybe he should just stop acting and card them already, but where was the fun in that?

Yuri's parted, he was about to initiate the duel, but then an unfamiliar face appeared ahead of him. Confidence and anger burned into this strangers green eyes, Yuri peaked around this stranger who's d-board vanished from under his feet so he stood on the ground. Yuri pouted, why is he ruining his fun?

Playmaker looked down and offered Yuri a smile.

"Don't worry, i'll get ride of them quickly. There are people that need to be turned back to normal." Playmaker spoke confidently, he could let the people who were turned into cards be unconscious any longer. People were worried and scared to go into link vrains.

"Hmph, fine...I hope you at least make things interesting." Yuri said with a pout and stood back.

He didn't actually need any protecting, but Yuri liked that fire burning in this strangers eyes. He seemed exciting, if Playmaker dueled well...Yuri will challenge him next.

#fujiki yusaku #yuri (arc v)#thank you for putting my brain to work. this was an interesting prompt #and pairing...really had to think

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dualisume · 5 months

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@voileau ༘ ೀ⋆ || unplotted starter (starter call: accepting)

The hours of darkness provides a safe haven to those who seek them && yet it is coupled with danger that lurks in the shadow -- . To furina the dangers of sneaking out at night without any living soul knowing her whereabouts could cause an unexpected situations -- her life can be placed in a threatening situation or worst the secrets she harbors may be revealed due to her reckless notion but just like a moth to the flame -- the archon of hydro couldn't help but to escape the high walls of Palais mermonia -- to gain a temporary freedom that she could only obtain during the dominion of Night.

Escaping the gardes was an easy task -- she had been doing this for hundred years , memorized the secret paths && schedules of the assigned gardes that guards her room -- though the old days were much easier to accomplish considering that the tower of Mermonia , where her chamber was placed was not yet made or finished . However -- even if her escapes are usually a hundred percent conduct with ease without alarming anyone , there are still two people who she avoids like a plague -- to the point that she would not even bother to sneak out when they were the one appointed as her guards. One is the famous duelist , clorinde --- && the other was a tall man named ' William ' , those two are certainly impeccable when it comes to their duty . Their tasks to not let furina out of sight is embarked to their mind , heart && soul -- && furina didn't even bother to attempt challenging them into a grueling && terrifying battle.

But tonight --- she wouldn't have to deal with them since their schedules are clear today && the upcoming week , she can finally have a week for herself && Furina couldn't help but be excited at her upcoming nightly escapades or so she thought...

Furina was already on her way to her private aquabus , dark navy cloak covered herself to mask off her identity from the possible eye witnesses (not that there are still many awake during this hour ) , her feet was quick && quiet , loitering around the quiet pavements of the court of fontaine -- but when furina is about to turn into an alleyway -- her face was meet with a hard chest , in her hurry , the impact is enough to cause her to stumble , loosing her footing as she stepped back & ending up , ungracefully sitting on the floor -- the cloak she was wearing slipped off from her head causing for her face to be revealed in front of the person she had collided to.

❛ Oof--... ow--- seriously.... for someone who is considered as tall of a man as you are -- you can't seem to see where you are goi-- ❜ she opened her eyes grumpily && she paused , the light provided by the moon had hit the males face, && recognition slowly appears on furina's face. Lost of words , the hydro archon immediately stood up to her feet as the act of being focalors immediately reserfaced into her .

❛ Ah--- if it isn't my very own exceptional garde William !!! -- fancy meeting you here , you seemed to be in luck to face your archon alone , in such unexpected predicament -- but well now , don't look too surprised! i am just like -- always , watching && protecting my beloved nation at night , of course -- what a perfect time to stroll around when it's night , criminals are quite a growing problem in fontaine , so it's natural for me ' your' archon to stroll & prevent any more of crimes that could potentially happen -- ah --- enough about me! && more about you -- ❜ furina started blabbering nonsense ( a sign of nervousness on her part) .

❛ Shouldn't you be on your off days ? -- it is written on the schedules given to the gardes , today . ❜

#/ f u r i n a / - self #/ v o i l e a u / - viewer #/ w i l l i a m / - garde #voileau #im unsure if furina should call him william >< or diff name #safasga but i did read your ocs about #leave it to furina to place herself in situations that is dangerous #please don't hurt my girlll

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vivienne-writes · 1 year

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Hidden Reasons Part V: Green Rose

Winter was over. The motion of spring struck her imagination as something foreign, a fiction. Green, she said to herself, A beautiful word in another language, devoid of meaning.

Preview: But Sebastian, stubborn as he is, held out hope. Perhaps it was a ruse. Or worse yet, maybe Garreth had slipped a love potion in your goblet while you weren’t looking. But the sliver of hope he held on to like a lifeline vanished as soon as he entered the great hall for dinner, eyes rested upon your figures as you sat in the farthest corner of the Gryffindor table. The two of you looked mighty cozy together indeed, Sebastian thought viciously to himself. As you and Garreth got up to leave, Garreth shot a knowing smile towards Sebastian’s way, the victorious glint in his eye unmistakable.

Series also available on AO3 here

The students of Hogwarts found themselves hunkering down within the safety of the castle walls as angry, black clouds rained down a tremendous torrent, thunder shaking the windowpanes with loud crashes that could reach the depths of the dungeons.

The mayhem outside almost matched the turmoil brewing in Sebastian’s mind and heart as he sulked by the large windows of the Slytherin dormitory, looking out into the depths of the black lake. The water was usually a vivid, sea-green color but the storm had turned it into a murky visage of dark green, black, and brown. It was hard to make out the shapes of lurking creatures and seaweed in the water as they eerily floated in and out of sight.

But Sebastian couldn’t care any less about the lake’s inhabitants now, even if he tried. He had been stewing in a foul mood since news broke of your supposed relationship with Garreth. It had happened the same day you had bumped into Sebastian and brushed him off in search of his rival. He had been on his way to join the next Crossed Wands match, eager to take out his frustrations when he found Lawrence Davies standing in the middle of a small gaggle of duelists. He was swearing up and down he just saw you leave the boy’s lavatory with Garreth Weasley in tow. A controversial piece of gossip to be sure, but Sebastian didn’t think much of that. Perhaps you were just having a conversation with Weasley outside the lavatory and Davies simply misinterpreted the situation.

However, Astoria Crickett corroborated the tale via a rumor she heard through the grapevine. “Doesn’t matter how I know, Blume herself got confirmation that the two have been sneaking around at night. And you know how dead gone she is about Weasley, she wouldn’t lie about this.”

Sebastian refused to accept it at first. Tales around Hogwarts were often spun with exaggeration, but he was already irritable, to begin with. The more he thought it over as he dodged and deflected back spells, the more he began to believe it. And the more he believed it, the more the venom of jealousy spiked in his veins, evident in the power and speed coursing through the spells he cast at his opponents. Lucan Brattleby was nearly beside himself with excitement. Not only was it one of the fastest matches Crossed Wands had ever seen, but it was also one of the most thrilling. Sebastian was matched against four fighters contending for the name of champion and yet, all four together were fiercely outmatched by his skill, his spells flying faster than they could parry. The whole club knew Sebastian was a force to be reckoned with but on that day, he solidified his place as a legend. He would have celebrated this achievement, gloated about it even, but what good was it when the one person he wanted to share this with was concerned with... other matters?

But Sebastian, stubborn as he is, held out hope. Perhaps it was a ruse. Or worse yet, maybe Garreth had slipped a love potion in your goblet while you weren’t looking. But the sliver of hope he held on to like a lifeline vanished as soon as he entered the great hall for dinner, eyes rested upon your figures as you sat in the farthest corner of the Gryffindor table. The two of you looked mighty cozy together indeed, Sebastian thought viciously to himself. As you and Garreth got up to leave, Garreth shot a knowing smile towards Sebastian’s way, the victorious glint in his eye unmistakable.

And so, here sat Sebastian in an armchair on this dreary day, one leg crossed over the other, the furrow of his brows deepening more and more by the minute. He’d have stayed like that the rest of the day too if Imelda hadn’t disturbed his reverie.

“Oy, you,” she smacked Sebastian’s shoulder lightly. “Have you seen Gaunt? He owes me five galleons.”

Ominis was currently in the Undercroft, riding out the storm of Sebastian’s gloom. His best friend had tried to placate him with no luck. Annoyed by Sebastian’s silence, he removed himself from their dorm room until Sebastian was in a more conversational mood. Of course, Sebastian couldn’t tell her that. “I’ve no idea,” was all he managed to mutter.

“Well then, you cough up the money, seeing as he lost the bet because of you,” she demanded. Sebastian looked up at her in confusion.

“What are you going off about?”

Imelda rolled her eyes. “Gaunt and I made a bet on who’d get to ask our new fifth year out first. He bet on you while I placed my bet on anyone else, really. Thought I’d have a higher chance of winning if I broadened my choices.

Good ol’ Imelda. Sebastian couldn’t help but chuckle at her nerve. “Nothing could deter the likes of her,” he thought. Sebastian reached into his cloak and tossed her the money. He’d make Ominis pay it back later.

“While we’re on the subject,” said Imelda, holding the coins up to the light of the fireplace to inspect them, “you can be real pigheaded sometimes.”

Sebastian sat up and frowned at her. “And what do you mean by that?”

She shrugged her shoulder. “Just something for you to ponder,” she said casually as she walked away. Imelda was more perceptive than she let on, aware of the attraction you and Sebastian had from the get-go but refused to meddle in affairs she believed she had no business being in. From the bottom of her heart, she supported you and wanted nothing but the best for you, though her sharp tongue made it seem otherwise. And while your new romance with Garreth confused her greatly, her confusion paled in comparison to the annoyance she felt towards Sebastian, whose sullen discouragement was unusual of him. Normally, failure fueled his desire to try even harder. Then again, his jealousy was evidence of the impact you had on him, and Imelda was only beginning to realize how deeply his affection for you ran. Even so, she’d hope her words would nudge him enough to wise up.

And while it was certainly a leap to hope Sebastian would confront his emotions head-on, it was safe to say that it was at least enough to stir him awake from his rumination. He’d had enough moping about. It was time he got the word straight from the source. With renewed determination, Sebastian uncrossed his leg, got up, strode across the common room, and left the dormitory, unknowingly watched by Imelda.

“Took you long enough,” she mumbled.

_______________________________________________________________________

“Weasley, might I have a word?” Sebastian leisurely strolled up to Garreth, who had been conversing with Duncan Hobhouse in the courtyard outside the entrance hall. Duncan bade Garreth farewell as the latter leaned his elbows forward on the stone railing. The storm had slowed to a drizzle and Garreth, seeking respite from the crowded Gryffindor tower, was enjoying the view of dark clouds over the purple horizon as the wind blew the tresses of hair gently across his face.

“Will this be a common occurrence, Sallow?” said Garreth, “I didn’t realize you were that interested in me.”

Sebastian ignored his remark. “How’d you do it? Love potion from J.Pippins? Or did you brew one yourself?”

“Would it be so hard to accept that she simply fell for me?”

“Doubt that,” Sebastian deadpanned. He leaned against the railing beside Garreth. “I refuse to believe she’d be the type to be won over so easily.”

That much, Garreth could sadly agree with. “I know what you’re capable of Sallow, you’re cunning and one of the brightest in our year. You could achieve anything you set your mind to. And I knew the only way to beat a Slytherin was to start thinking like one.”

“Elaborate.”

“Now now, a wizard can’t show all his tricks now, can he?” said Garreth good-naturedly. Annoyance flashed across Sebastian’s face.

“Be coy all you want, I’m not giving up easily,” said Sebastian.

“I was expecting you’d say that,” Garreth said quietly. “And neither will I.”

Sebastian watched Garreth from the corner of his eyes, recalling the early days of their acquaintance. Garreth had come in as a bright-eyed first year whose eagerness and enthusiasm had always been directed at sweets and potions. He had been a bit pudgier back in the day but had an established appeal about him from the start, already charming himself out of tricky situations with professors, prefects, and peers alike. Now here he stood, a much different person four years later. His face still held a bit of stoutness to it, but a sharp prominence had begun to form around his cheeks and jaw. He’d been growing his hair out, much to the delight of his admirers, and as most Weasleys were apt to do, Garreth had sprung up in height and build. Sebastian couldn’t help but wonder: when did Weasley change all of a sudden?

Along with that came the realization that he had severely underestimated Garreth, expecting him to be the same boy easily prone to distraction. Any girl that managed to catch his eye was quickly disregarded in lieu of adventures to Hogsmeade and covert troublemaking. His sudden drive to win you over, the perseverance of his feelings, all this was new not just to Sebastian, but to Garreth’s friends and the onlookers intrigued by the progression of this whole affair. Therefore, it was a bitter pill to swallow, acknowledging that Garreth had been a few steps ahead of him.

“If it makes you feel any better,” Garreth began reluctantly, “she and I aren’t officially together.” He looked down at his hands, fiddling with a thread coming undone from his sleeve. Garreth believed Sebastian was owed a bit of the truth, at the very least. It wouldn’t be honorable, otherwise. “It’s… more out of convenience than romance.”

“And why would she do that?” Sebastian asked, perplexed, although he couldn’t deny the uplift in his chest.

“That’s not for me to say,” Garreth continued. “You’re more than welcome to ask her, of course.”

“And you’re alright with this? Does she know how you feel?”

“She will, eventually.” Garreth sighed, resting his chin on his hand. “With half the work already done, I’m just happy to spend time by her side.”

The warm look on Garreth’s face ascertained as much and despite the new revelation, the bud of envy had already bloomed in Sebastian’s heart. It bothered him that you chose to share your secrets with Garreth than with him. Was he not trustworthy in your eyes? He took the fall for you when Peeves caught the both of you in the restricted section, guided you on your first trip to Hogsmeade, fought a rampant troll by your side without question; he even placed his friendship with Ominis at risk by showing you the Undercroft. And yet you chose to bequeath your time to Garreth.

Sebastian shook his head. He shouldn’t be thinking this way. While he liked having others in his debt, it was wrong to see your relationship with him as transactional. He wanted you to like him for who he was, not for what he could do for you.

“Say, Sallow,” said Garreth, having drifted off into thoughts of his own, “Don’t let her know I told you.”

Sebastian nodded, grateful that Garreth was willing to impart the truth to him. Had they been in each other’s shoes, Sebastian wasn’t quite so certain he would’ve done the same.

_______________________________________________________________________

“Truth or dare?”

“Truth”

You were in the great hall, taking advantage of the solitary quiet to study and catch up on your assignments with Natty, the storm’s downpour preventing any study by the lakeside as you’d hoped. In between meals, the great hall served as a study hall proctored either by a professor, a prefect, or a head boy or girl. However, the current proctor was a certain head boy from Hufflepuff who had whisked Natty away to the Hufflepuff table. Judging by their close proximity to one another and the shy glances they exchanged, this was the seventh year she was hinting about. A tall, dark lad with a brilliant smile and a deep huskiness to his voice, you could see why she was so enamored with him. You couldn’t blame her for wanting to hide him away from the world.

But his distraction with your study partner had caused an uptick in noise as more students began trickling in to study, confined to stay indoors, including several of your girl friends who had spotted you and decided to join you at your table. First, it was Samantha, followed by the Hufflepuff trio consisting of Poppy, Adelaide, and Lenora. Constance Dagworth, upon seeing Samantha, decided to pile in on the party and was accompanied by fellow Crossed Wands member Nerida Roberts. And finally, the last to insert themselves were Imelda and Grace Pinch-Smedley. By the time Natty rejoined you, she found you in the middle of a rowdy group of girls playing truth or dare. You were dutifully trying to finish an essay on Jupiter and the orbital trajectory you observed in your star charts, but the chatter that flitted across the table was too exciting not to partake in.

“Alright Poppy, did you or did you not meet up with Prewett behind the greenhouses?” Lenora asked excitedly.

“I did,” Poppy answered nonchalantly.

“Did you two kiss?”

“Hold on, how many questions am I supposed to answer?”

“Answer the damn question, Sweeting,” Imelda commanded impatiently.

Poppy rolled her eyes. “Ugh, fine. We did.”

Adelaide leaned forward. “What was it like?” she whispered innocently. Poppy twisted her face in disgust.

“Much sloppier than I was expecting,” she said, causing the others to wrinkle their noses. “I tried to stick through it but he had a tongue like a puffskein-“

“Alright, that’s enough,” Natty interjected. “I would much rather not have to live with him under the same tower with that image in my head.”

“Would you go out with him again?” asked Samantha. “I know he likes you a great deal.”

Poppy shook her head. “I don’t think romance is in the books for me right now, ladies. Too many magical beasts to care for, not enough time. Besides, if snogging is anything like what Leander has shown me, I think I’ll pass.”

“Add Prewett to the pile of broken hearts,” Imelda muttered under her breath, unheard by the others as they moved the conversation on. You, on the other hand, caught her snark and looked up to find her looking right at you. You raised her brow at her, puzzled, but she only huffed and turned away. What was her problem?

But now that Lenora opened that can of worms, the game was now treading on more risqué territory. You held your silence, committing yourself to your scrolls as they played on, the questions getting increasingly indecent. So far, no one had the guts to pick dare.

“Dagworth, truth or dare?” asked Grace.

“Truth.”

“Do you like Hector Jenkins?”

Nerida flashed Constance a knowing smile. “Oh, I know who she likes,” she said mischievously, much to the dismay of her companion.

“Ooh, do tell,” Lenora urged. Everyone but yourself leaned forward in anticipation. Unaccustomed to being the center of attention, Constance looked down, the flush creeping up her cheeks.

“You can tell them,” Nerida goaded, nudging her friend with her shoulder. “After all, he’s the reason why you joined Crossed Wands in the first place.”

“Oh, there’s only one name I can think of…” mused Natty. “Is it…?”

“Sebastian Sallow,” Constance managed to squeak out before covering her face in embarrassment. Hushed gasps rang across the circle as a cold dread crept down to your fingers. You cursed inwardly at the blot you just made, your fingers on the quill trembling slightly. You set it down gently as you pulled your sleeves over your hands to hide them. It went without question that someone as appealing and talented as Sebastian would have admirers but facing the fact was another thing entirely.

“Sallow?” asked Imelda contemptuously. “Really?”

“Alright then Imelda, it’s your turn.” Nerida snapped viciously. “Truth or dare?”

Imelda scoffed. “Dare. Truth’s for sissies.”

Nerida looked around before laying eyes on the group of fifth-year boys that had entered the hall unnoticed by your companions. Of course, they’d be in the same room while your friends played this blasted game. You hoped Sebastian wouldn’t be there as your eyes scanned their table. No, it was just Everett with Arthur Plummly, Eric Northcott, Leander, and Garreth. You sighed with relief. You had been afraid the girls would have involved Constance and Sebastian somehow, but there was no danger of that if he weren’t here.

“Imelda Reyes,” said Nerida slowly, as a sly grin crept up her face. You were beginning to think the two Slytherins didn’t like each other very much and wondered if they shared a past disagreement. “I dare you to kiss Everett Clopton on the lips.”

Your eyes frantically darted to Imelda’s face. Despite the teasing, she remained stoic and stone-faced. “You don’t have to do this,” said Grace warily.

“Child’s play” she shrugged, rising and marching her way over to where the boys sat. She sat next to Everett, waiting for him to look up from the toy broom he was casting Levioso on. But Imelda, quick-tempered as she was, grew impatient and grabbed him by the scruff of his robes and pulled him into a deep kiss, causing the boys to jeer and whoop loudly. When she pulled away, it was easy to make out the dark stain of her rouge on Everett’s lips, even from a distance. In a daze, Everett clutched his chest dramatically and pretended to faint.

“Am I dreaming?” he said loudly. “Or is this heaven?”

“Shut up,” muttered Imelda sternly, pushing him away before returning to your table with a faint pink tint on her ears. Nerida clapped patronizingly.

“Well, color me surprised,” she said, voice dripping with scorn. “I suppose Reyes CAN do anything after all.”

“I can swim too,” Imelda quickly shot back without restraint. You braced yourself for a fight as did the others until Samantha, hoping to defuse the situation, turned to you.

“I believe our new fifth year’s been awfully quiet,” she said with a sweet tone. “We didn’t mean to leave you out.”

“Oh, don’t worry about me,” you replied hastily. “You can leave me out of this one.”

“You don’t have to be shy,” said Adelaide softly. “I’d love to get to know more about you.”

“Indeed,” Grace chimed in. “After retrieving my family’s heirloom for me, I’d like to consider you a friend.”

“I return the sentiment, truly I do, but I’m not that interesting,” you rambled, trying to return to your parchment. You didn’t think divulging in sordid affairs was the best way to get to know someone.

Nerida’s eyes narrowed as she finally turned away from her stare down with Imelda. “Quite the contrary, there’s plenty interesting about you.” Her gaze bore into you uncomfortably. “You’ve beaten Constance and me at Crossed Wands before. Pretty good for a newcomer.”

“Beginner’s luck, I suppose,” you mumbled.

“It is no beginner’s luck,” Natty beamed with pride. “You still have some ways to go, but one can’t deny your talent.”

“Almost as good as Sallow, is what people are saying,” Nerida eyed you quizzically. “So now I wonder… truth or dare?”

A nervous sweat crawled down your back. You couldn’t say why, but for some reason, you suspected Nerida to ask a question about Sebastian if you picked truth. So, without hesitation, you picked-

“Dare.”

Nerida frowned. Not the choice she was hoping for, but she’d make do with it. “Let’s see, I dare you,” she turned to look once more, an impish smile on her face. “To give Garreth Weasley a love bite.”

Poppy and Samantha covered their mouths with scandalous gasps while Lenora tried and failed to suppress a titter. Constance’s eyes flicked between Nerida’s face and yours with bated breath.

“What’s a love bite?” Adelaide whispered to Grace, who shushed her.

Imelda clicked her tongue disapprovingly. “Roberts, you picked the dare last round. Don’t be stingy, let someone else have a turn.”

“Well, does anyone else have a better idea?” said Nerida. She was met with silence as each one was too stunned with suspense to speak. “It seems everyone is in favor.”

Natty gripped your arm. “You don’t have to do this if you don’t want to.”

“She could always pick truth,” suggested Nerida. “But as Reyes said, truth’s for sissies.”

Imelda silently cursed her own tongue. She glanced at you worriedly, but your face was calm. The only giveaway that it was a façade was the foot you were nervously shaking against hers.

“What’s wrong?” asked Nerida. “Afraid to kiss your beau?”

Right, you had a secret to uphold. You stood up silently and made your way over to Garreth, praying he’d forgive you for this. He agreed to help you keep up appearances, but this was more than you asked of him. You’d make it up to him somehow, you consoled yourself as you approached him.

“Hello there,” he sensed your presence behind him immediately, looking up at you with an easygoing smile. You leaned in close to whisper what you’d been asked to do. Garreth stilled, his heart skipping a beat. The breath that brushed his ear was not helping in the slightest.

“Is it alright?” you asked timidly. “If it’s too much to ask, then-“

“Go on,” Garreth managed to respond with well-concealed difficulty. “I don’t mind in the slightest.”

You nodded, more so to steel yourself than anything. You’ve never given a love bite before, much less a kiss. You weren’t quite sure how to go about it or where to even place it. Garreth, sensing your trepidation, pulled back his collar to reveal the expanse of his neck and collarbones. With a deep breath, you placed your hand on the other side of his neck to hold him still as you sank your teeth unto his skin, finding it much softer than you imagined. Your lips enclosed the bite as you sucked deliciously; Garreth had to clench his fists to fight back the moan that threatened to escape him. Leander let out a low whistle while Arthur and Eric ogled silently.

“See, why couldn’t you lot dare Imelda to do the same!” Everett exclaimed jealously as you finally pulled away, running a finger over the red and purple mark beginning to bloom. The kiss heightened Garreth’s sensitivity to your touch, the feel of just one finger like a trail of fire on his skin. You thanked him quietly, making your way back to your seat, your face equally as red as Garreth’s which had flushed into a bright crimson. The girls all gaped at you in hushed amazement. Nerida was stunned.

“I didn’t believe you’d actually do it,” she said in disbelief. She had hoped you’d turn tail and choose truth instead, but you were bolder than she made you out to be.

“Yes well, whose turn is it now?” you said breathlessly, trying to change the subject. Surprisingly, you enjoyed the kiss despite your hesitance, and you were doing all you can to maintain your composure.

“Seeing as we’re doing dares now,” Grace spoke up, “Sallow’s here if Constance would like a try.”

You whipped your head to follow her glance. Sebastian was making his way down the hall with Ominis at his side, an unreadable expression on his face. Did he by chance see what you did to Garreth?

“It doesn’t matter,” you thought wistfully to yourself, turning back to the group.

“Go on Constance,” Poppy and Adelaide were now urging Constance to speak to Sebastian, Poppy being the more forceful one. “If these two can take a dare, so can you!”

Your momentary elation was smeared by a sudden streak of envy. What does Sebastian think of Constance? Would he return her feelings? The thought of Sebastian dating anyone was unpleasant, to say the least, but you had no claim on him. Nerida had joined the others now, urging Constance to walk up to Sebastian and finally confess her feelings to him. Just as she got up to brush off her robes, Imelda slyly gave her wand a slight wave under the table, causing a bottle of ink to spill all over Constance’s blue uniform.

“Oh no!” she cried helplessly, grabbing stray pieces of parchment to blot the ink.

“We can try a cleaning spell,” Samantha suggested, but Constance shook her head sadly.

“It’s anti-vanishing ink,” she bemoaned with tears in her eyes. “Oh, I can’t walk up to Sebastian like this!”

Samantha tried her best to calm Constance down as Nerida gathered their things. “This was fun, but we’ll take our leave now,” Nerida said, bidding everyone farewell. You watched the trio leave hurriedly for the nearest bathroom, presumably to wash off the stubborn ink.

The rest of the group decided to part ways but as you left, you took one last look to search for Garreth and Sebastian. The former had gone and disappeared while the latter was engrossed in his book. “Perhaps he didn’t notice after all,” you said to yourself hopefully. Unbeknownst to you, Sebastian couldn’t even make out the words of the pages, blinded by seething rage as he willed himself to calm down, the image of your lips on Garreth staining his mind even with his eyes closed shut. Ominis could only sit by helplessly. And Garreth had fled to the Gryffindor tower, the day’s excitement all too much for him to bear. The simple memory of your teeth biting down on his skin, your fingers cradling his neck gently, had caused his blood to flow in the most inappropriate places. He needed to take care of it privately or he’d lose his mind. You may have thought he had done you a favor today, but truly, you couldn't have made his day any better.

_______________________________________________________________________

Meanwhile, somewhere in the Ravenclaw Tower, three girls labored over a stained set of uniforms.

“I was really hoping to ask the new girl if she fancied Sallow,” Nerida told Constance and Samantha later on as she helped Constance scrub her skirt clean. “But it seems she prefers Weasley.”

“I’m so relieved,” Constance sighed. “I almost suspected something was going on between them.”

“Maybe now you can finally confess to Sebastian with a clear conscience,” Samantha suggested.

Constance nodded in eager agreement. "I wonder if he'd like me back."

#hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow #garreth weasley #sebastian x reader #sebastian x mc #sebastian x you #garreth weasley x you #garreth weasley x reader #garreth weasley x mc #yes I know truth or dare is cliche #my works

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