thenerdykneazle

[thenerdykneazle]

💕 self-love time! talk about which ones of YOUR creations (edits, artworks, fanfics) you like the most then send to other creators to do the same 💕

Thank you so much for asking! ❤️ I love writing for Ominis, so I really like those pieces. I think they're generally the most heartfelt stories of mine. However, I have a soft spot for "Marry You," which is Garreth x MC. It's just a bit of tooth-rotting fluff, but I had so much fun writing it. I just think it's a really sweet story and is self-contained but still (hopefully) satisfying. Also, his character reminds me a lot of my own partner (big goofy golden retriever energy, equal parts brilliant and a hazard, etc.), which I think is part of why I enjoyed it so much.

#asks

[thenerdykneazle]

Sallow Soul - Forever

Summary: Scenes of Sebastian and MC's life together and with their friends.

Sebastian Sallow x F!MC

Warnings: 18+, aged-up characters, not super explicit but sex is referenced many times, discussion of suicide in "Loving and Losing" section, other than that mostly fluff with some angst/jealousy for intrigue

Word count: 5734

Read on AO3. Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. MC's perspective (Kindred Spirits).

Part 6: Forever

That Stupid Little Gesture

Sebastian put Teräväinen‘s advise into practice almost immediately. He hadn’t needed to think for very long to realise what MC would appreciate. He had already tried to leverage it when she had been staying with him in Finland. So, despite being up late ringing in the New Year, Sebastian awoke early on the 1st, slipped carefully out of MC’s bed, and headed to the kitchen. He hummed to himself as he whipped up a hearty breakfast. He loved cooking for her, and most of their dates involved him making her dinner. With living in separate places, it wasn’t often that he got to spoil her with breakfast in bed. Fortunately, Natty had headed off with Garreth after the prior night’s festivities, and Sebastian and MC had her flat to themselves.

Sebastian levitated the plates and cutlery as he walked back to the bedroom. He turned the knob fully before opening the door to keep the noise to a minimum. He couldn’t help but smile as he looked at MC sleeping soundly. Her hair was a right mess, fanned out all around her – curtesy of him having utilised it rather aggressively the night before to position her as he snogged her within an inch of her life and then pulled her up by it to bring her back flush to his chest while he slammed into her from behind. She’d done equal damage if the glimpse of his wild mane that he’d caught in the hall mirror was any indication.

In contrast to her dishevelled locks, her face was quite serene. Her features were relaxed and lips slightly parted as she took slow, deep breaths through her nose. Her head had lolled to the side as she lay sprawled-out on her back with one hand resting in front of her face on the pillow. She’d clearly stirred after he left, as he’d slept curled around her while she lay on her side.

“Good morning, love,” Sebastian said in a low voice.

She grunted in response, her features contracting in displeasure as she took in a long breath and stretched her limbs. She began to curl in on herself, rejecting the morning as an unwelcome visitor. It was nothing short of adorable.

“I’ve made you some breakfast,” Sebastian said, keeping his voice quiet.

MC cracked one eye open at that. When she spotted him, she smiled as she blinked into the light filtering in through her window. “Good morning,” she said belatedly, her sleepy smile broadening.

Sebastian chuckled. “How’re you feeling?”

MC pushed herself up to sit with her back against her headboard. “Tired,” she said through a yawn as she stretched again. She smirked. “And hungry.”

“Then you’re in luck,” Sebastian said. He conjured a tray over her lap before levitating her plate down onto it.

“Have I told you lately how wonderful you are?” MC asked before gazing eagerly at the food in front of her.

“I think it came up once or twice last night,” he replied with a wink, making MC blush furiously.

Sebastian whipped up some tea before sitting on the edge of the mattress with his own plate. They ate together, easing into the day with a leisurely meal.

“So, what are your hopes for the new year?” MC asked him between bites of her eggy bread.

Sebastian bit his lip as he considered the question. He certainly knew what he hoped for, but he was less certain how much of it he should reveal. “Well, I certainly would like to get the auror position at the ministry.”

MC nodded. “It’d be so nice to work together! You certainly have the NEWTs for it. Plus, with your years as an aurori and completing the extra training, there’s no way they won’t want you.”

“I can think of a few reasons they might not,” Sebastian replied darkly.

MC rested her hand on his arm. “Those mistakes don’t define you, Sebastian.”

Sebastian let out a bitter laugh. “Tell that to the ministry.”

She observed him thoughtfully for a few moments. “I’m quite confident there’s no better candidate for the job, but even if they didn’t hire you, we’d figure something else out. And I wouldn’t love you any less. Besides, it’s not like you don’t have a wealth of talents you could put to use.”

Sebastian smirked at her. “I think I know which ones I’d like to exercise first this year,” he said, sliding his plate onto the bedside table. He didn’t want to think about the future and all the ways it could go wrong. He wanted to stay in the present, where things were so blissfully perfect.

MC attempted to bite back her own smirk, but she failed miserably. “Oh?” she asked.

Sebastian just nodded as he stalked onto the bed. With a flick of his wand, he sent her dishes to the sink and vanished the tray, allowing him to crawl up her body until his face hovered in front of hers. He took a moment to savour the look in her eyes – love, excitement, and hunger all swirled together. When her gaze dropped to his lips, he crashed them into hers. MC moaned into his mouth as he manipulated her onto her back. Sebastian leaned his weight into her as he began to grind his hips against hers.

Then, there was the click of a lock and an opening door.

“I’m home!” Natty called cheerfully before swinging the front door shut behind her.

Sebastian leaned his forehead against MC’s and let out a frustrated groan. “And having our own space once I’ve moved into the new flat. That’s my other hope.”

MC chuckled, stroking her thumb over his cheek as she gazed up at him lovingly. “I’ll second that.”

Career Moves

MC found out later than month that she got the Senior Auror position. Sebastian was ecstatic for her. He was even more glad to have good news as he was extremely worried about his chances of becoming a British auror. MC had insisted that he just be honest during his interviews and everything would work out just fine. Not that he had much choice when the director herself questioned him under use of veritaserum. She asked specifically about use of unforgivable curses, and he’d detailed having used each once before he’d even been sixteen. He didn’t stand a chance of getting the job. He’d be lucky to escape sentencing.

The cruciatus curse, despite being what haunted him most, was probably the most understandable of the three. They had been facing death. MC had been asked to give a statement testifying to that fact. She had told him about it afterward. He’d apologised profusely that she’d had to relive it, even though she tried to insist that she would do anything she could to help them understand that he was “a good man.” Even Sebastian himself wasn’t convinced on that matter, though.

The DMLE started an official investigation into his uses of the curses. MC had prepared him that it was a likely possibility. It didn’t conclude until February. Sebastian was shocked to discover that, not only was he not being sent to Azkaban, but he had been accepted to join the new class of aurors. They had already been training for two weeks, but he would only need an abbreviated stint in the academy given his previous experience.

MC was elated when he told her. It wouldn’t be until years later that he’d discover how much she was responsible for the outcome, testifying to the duress Sebastian had been under with the Scriptorium, the goblin attacking his infirmed sister, and his uncle actively trying to kill them. Teräväinen, too, had given him a glowing recommendation, assuring Abbott that he had never had any issues with Sebastian, graciously not faulting him for his abrupt departure and leaving out the fact that he had admitted to groping MC upon her arrival at the Aurori Headquarters.

Sebastian began training the following week. Singer was in charge of the instruction as MC was so new to her role. Some of the other aurors helped out, including Natty. Sebastian had forgotten how fun it was to duel with her. When it came time for field work, he was paired with a more experienced auror while he was still in training. He had been hopeful it would be Natty given she had a vacancy for a partner, but she was evidently not experienced enough for the task – all the trainers had to have at least five years of experience, and Singer was not about to count her time taking down Harlow and the other Ashwinders.

Instead, Sebastian was paired with a bloke he remembered from Hogwarts. He had been several years older, but he had always seemed like a nice guy. He had been a Hufflepuff, and his temperament lived up to it, even if he lacked tact at times.

“You were in Slytherin, right?” the man asked at their first meeting at his desk.

Sebastian nodded.

“Yeah, I remember you! You were always a bright kid,” he said kindly.

“Thanks,” Sebastian said, feeling a bit shy like he was a third year being complimented by an older, cooler student. Harris had been quite popular in his time. Sebastian suspected that hadn’t changed.

“You and your sister both were. I was sorry when she had to leave,” Harris continued. “How’s she doing these days?”

Sebastian’s back tensed. “Erm, well, she passed a few years ago,” he explained.

Harris’s eyes widened. “Oh, gods, I’m so sorry! I had no idea!”

He looked utterly mortified.

They managed to wade through the awkwardness to discuss what the day-to-day would look like. They were in the thick of it when MC stopped by to check on him.

“How’s the first day going?” she asked genially.

Sebastian watched as Harris ran a hand through his long blond hair, ensuring it was still brushed off to one side. He beamed at MC. “It’s great! Sallow’s got some serious talent. I’m excited to work with him.”

The compliment fell flat for Sebastian as he watched the man preen as his girlfriend smiled at him.

“Yes, he does,” MC replied. She leaned on the cubicle wall before continuing in a private tone, “Though, he can be a bit impulsive, so keep a close eye on him.” She gave Sebastian a subtle smirk as she shifted her gaze to him.

In his periphery, Sebastian noticed Harris’s gaze flit down to MC’s breasts – which were, admittedly, rather tantalizingly resting on her forearms as she leaned over the cubicle. A lack of visible cleavage was moot when they were so deliciously within reach. Still, Sebastian felt his temper flare at his partner’s audacity. Come to think of it, Sebastian was sure Harris had always been a bit of a lecher.

“Don’t worry, Graphorn! He’s in good hands!” Harris assured her, having returned his gaze to her face almost instantly.

Sebastian resisted rolling his eyes at the nickname. But only just.

“He’d better be,” MC said, and Sebastian could tell she was only half-joking. “If you let my boyfriend get injured, I won’t be happy, Ted.”

Harris visibly stiffened. “Ah, I didn’t realise you two were…”

“A couple?” she supplied helpfully.

Harris’s cheeks flushed as he nodded.

“Seb and I were old flames at Hogwarts. We reconnected in Finland,” MC explained.

Why did she feel she owed him an explanation?

“That’s…Good for you guys,” Harris said with a grating level of earnest. Prick.

He had a relieved look about him that Sebastian didn’t like. Surely that hadn’t…Had they? Was that why she was being specific?

Don’t worry, Ted [what sort of name is that, anyway?]. You’re not a homewrecker. We fucked before I got into a relationship.

Sebastian was under no delusion that MC had been a nun during the gap in their relationship, but he hadn’t considered the possibility of being forced into proximity with any of the lovers she’d taken. Sebastian had at least had the decency to leave his behind in another country.

Furthermore, he was suddenly concerned for his safety. Was Harris the type to take out the competition? Let his partner step into a bad situation so he can comfort the grieving girlfriend? It seemed highly likely. Exactly the sort of thing that scheming bastard would do.

MC made her goodbyes before getting back to her busy schedule, and Harris resumed going through the introductory information like he wasn’t plotting Sebastian’s “accidental” death.

Sebastian stewed about the situation the entire day. How could MC not warn him? Did she think she’d been subtle in her little reassurance to him? Did she think she could hide their affair forever? Was she keeping him in the wings in case she got bored of Sebastian? She clearly was attracted to hulking blonds, given what she’d said about Mikko.

MC was due to come over for dinner that night. Sebastian was so distracted as he cooked that he nearly burnt the chicken. She apparated into the flat with a crack that made him jump. He didn’t turn around to greet her. She bounded over to him and wrapped her arms around his stomach, hugging him from behind.

“That smells amazing!” she gushed.

Sebastian just scowled and gave a noncommittal grunt. The food was decent at best. Certainly overcooked. She didn’t mean it. She was just saying it to make him feel good. How much of their relationship was just her lying to stroke his ego? To let him think she was happy so he didn’t ask too many questions?

“How was your first day in the field?” MC asked as she went to hang up her cloak.

“Fine,” he replied tersely.

“Anything you have questions on? I’m sure the DMLE is a bit different than things with the Aurori.”

“No.”

“Is something bothering you?”

“No.”

“Did Ted do something?”

Sebastian scoffed. She would be worried about that, wouldn’t she? Worried he’d given up her little secret.

“Is that a ‘yes’?” MC asked.

Sebastian slammed his hands onto the counter. “Cut the bullshit, MC.”

He finally looked at her, and she was staring wide-eyed at him.

“I don’t understand,” she said meekly.

Sebastian sneered at her. “Why not just tell me? That’s what makes it feel worse. That you tried to hide it. Do you think my fragile ego can’t handle it, or were you hoping you could have us both if you could keep me in the dark?”

“What?” MC asked. “Seb, what are you talking about?”

His confidence flickered at that. She looked genuinely confused. “You…you and Harris,” he said, trying to keep his voice firm.

She arched a brow in question.

Gods, was he going to have to say it? “You were together, weren’t you?” he gritted out.

MC’s eyes widened as she gaped at him. “Who the fuck said that?”

“I…Well…” Sebastian stammered before explaining how he’d come to his conclusion.

MC wiped her face with both hands. “Merlin, Sebastian! No, I never fucked him. We’ve never even gone out. He asked me to drinks. Once. Just before I left for Finland. That was why I mentioned when we’d gotten together. He looked like he thought he’d tried to interfere with us. He’s a Hufflepuff through and through; he’d have felt terrible even though he didn’t know.”

“Oh,” Sebastian said dimly.

“You really think I would’ve let you be partnered with him if he was my ex?” she asked incredulously.

“Well…No, I guess not,” he said sheepishly, his eyes firmly fixed on the floor now.

MC sighed. “I know you’ve had a lot of changes lately and things have been stressful, but I love you, Seb. I don’t want someone else instead. Or on the side. I just want you.”

Sebastian nodded. “I know.”

And he did know. He knew MC wouldn’t cheat on him. He knew she didn’t have plans to leave him. And that she didn’t routinely lie to him to puff him up. He’d just worked himself up so much that he went barmy. Temporary insanity due to overwhelming insecurity.

MC waked over and slipped her hand into his, causing him to look up at her. “I love you,” she repeated.

Sebastian gave her a small smile as he squeezed her hand. “I love you, too.”

She smiled back. “Good. Now, come on, let’s eat before the food gets cold.”

The food turned out to be pretty decent, even if it was slightly overdone. MC insisted on snuggling on the sofa after, running her fingers through Sebastian’s hair until his stress melted away. He had been lying back against her chest until he twisted around to kiss her, which quickly turned into him tugging her hips so she was lying flat on her back and stripping her bottom half bare so he could eat her out. He was soft and slow. Much more so than he usually would’ve been. It was his way of apologising.

Loving and Losing

Harris turned out to be all right. Especially after he started dating Abbott’s assistant, Harper. He was absolutely besotted, and Sebastian couldn’t have been happier for the bloke. And if it kept him further away from MC, well, Sebastian wasn’t going to complain.

Love was just in the air, apparently. Although Sebastian no longer lived with him, he frequently visited Ominis – as did Poppy. One afternoon after the animal-loving Hufflepuff had left, Sebastian addressed the elephant in the room.

“So, you and Poppy have gotten close,” he said as casually as he could.

“She’s been a big help with the snakes. I don’t know how I’d have handled all those runespoors without her – especially once their heads started fighting each other. This brood of horned serpents is proving to be quite the handful, as well,” Ominis replied as he busied himself collecting the toys he’d left out – mostly little tunnels the snakes could slither through or hide in.

“She certainly seems to enjoy coming over,” Sebastian observed before sipping his tea.

“Yes, she’s quite fond of the snakes,” Ominis said.

“And are we thinking they’re the only ones she’s fond of?” Sebastian inquired innocently.

Ominis froze in the middle of putting the tunnels in a storage bin. He cleared his throat and resumed. “I’m sure I don’t know what you mean.”

Sebastian rolled his eyes. “I mean that she fancies you, mate.”

When Ominis turned back toward Sebastian, he had a flush across his face that was beginning to creep down his neck. He let out an unconvincing laugh. “Don’t be ridiculous, Sebastian.”

Sebastian’s brow arched at that. Anyone could see the young woman’s feelings for him. “So, you don’t like her back, then?”

Ominis looked irate. “Of course I don’t! I’m a m–” He cut himself off. His breaths were heavy, and he’d begun blinking quite rapidly. He turned away, but not before Sebastian had caught the way he’d clasped his hands in front of him, his right one fingering the band on the left.

Oh.

“Ominis,” Sebastian said gently.

“I think I’ll have a lie down,” Ominis said, making for the stairs.

“Ominis,” Sebastian said again, more firmly that time.

He sighed and turned back. He wrapped his arms protectively around his middle. “I knew when I married Anne that we likely wouldn’t…” He took a shuttering breath. “…wouldn’t get to have a long marriage. But that doesn’t mean I planned on being any less loyal to her.”

Sebastian’s shoulders sagged. “Mate, it’s not a question of your loyalty. Anne knew how much you loved her. She loved being married to you.”

“And how would you know that?” Ominis spat.

It wasn’t like being slapped in the face. It was like having his heart ripped out of his chest and stomped on. Sebastian could never make up for leaving. He could never fix the pain it had caused, not even for those who were still alive.

Before he could respond, though, Ominis continued, looking aghast at his own words, “I’m so sorry! I didn’t mean that, I–”

“It’s okay,” Sebastian assured him. “I wasn’t there for you two. You’re right. But I know how much Anne loved you. And how excited she was to marry you. But I know she wouldn’t have wanted marrying her to mean that you spent the rest of your life alone.”

“I’m not alone,” Ominis argued, his anger flaring back up. “I have my snakes. And Martin. And MC. And even you again. And loads of other friends, including Poppy.”

“Okay,” Sebastian said. “If you don’t fancy her, that’s fine. But it’s also okay if you do.”

Ominis’s jaw tensed. “I’m not just going to go chasing after every attractive woman that shows me some attention.”

Sebastian felt for him. He really did. He had no idea what he’d do if something happened to MC. He wouldn’t know how to begin to move on from that. But he could see how Ominis lit up around Poppy, and he wanted his best mate to be happy. And maybe ensuring that would be how he could make things up to Anne. He couldn’t take care of her, but he could watch out for her husband.

“Look, I’m not saying you have to get married again one day. I’m just saying you don’t need to feel guilty if you develop feelings for someone else,” Sebastian said.

Tears welled in Ominis’s eyes that he could no longer blink away. “I still love Anne,” he said, his voice strained from being on the verge of crying. “I’m not stupid. I know I’m not married anymore. But…I can’t just…If I just move on with someone else…I don’t want to pretend like she doesn’t matter. Like I don’t miss her. Like I wouldn’t give anything to have her back.”

Sebastian pulled Ominis into a hug, and he finally let his repressed tears fall. “You’re not doing her a disservice by continuing to live,” Sebastian insisted. “I guarantee that if she can see you from wherever she moved onto, she’d want to see you happy. Don’t be afraid to give her that.”

Ominis nodded as he pulled out of the hug. He wiped the tears from his face before speaking. “She said something similar. I didn’t really…want to talk about that sort of thing, but she said she wanted me to be happy more than anything.”

Sebastian recalled the conversation to MC when they were at home cuddling on the sofa that night. She’d been heavily invested in the Ominis/Poppy happenings. She wasn’t surprised to hear that Ominis was still hesitant to move on, but she expressed her pride at how Sebastian had handled the conversation.

“I think you’re right that Anne would want him to find someone,” MC said.

“That’s because she was never the jealous type, unlike her twin,” Sebastian replied, smirking. He tugged MC into his lap so that she was straddling his thighs. “So, if I snuff it, you’d better hold out until you see me in Hell, young lady.”

MC chuckled as she wrapped her arms around his neck. “We’re both going to Hell, are we?” she asked.

“No, you’ll just be stopping by to visit me,” he said cheekily.

“Ah, I see,” she said with a laugh.

Sebastian pecked her cheek. “If I were a nobler man, I’d tell you that I’d want you to find love again. Or at least accept it if it came along.”

“Lucky for you, I am a nobler man,” she replied playfully.

“Lucky for me, I don’t have to worry about that,” Sebastian replied before leaning in to kiss her neck.

MC push him back, levelling him with a serious look. “Anything could happen, Seb. And I’d want you to move on.”

“Well, if you die before me, I’m offing myself. Problem solved. And clearly I’m the common denominator if everyone around me keeps dying, so it’s really best for everyone.”

MC scowled at him. “Don’t joke about that!”

Sebastian sighed. “I just…I don’t think I could handle losing anyone else, MC. I’ve lost my whole family, and you’re my whole world. So, you’re not allowed to die before me. Okay?”

She bit her lip as she looked down at him with something like remorse. He knew he was asking her to make a promise she had little control over keeping. But he needed her to make it anyway. He needed the assurance that he would never lose her, even if it was just words. “Okay.”

Back to Where It (Re)Began

Ominis and Poppy started officially courting a few months later. During that time, MC gently encouraged Sebastian to see a mind healer. He wouldn’t say their conversation about their hypothetical deaths was the reason, but it had definitely contributed. Though, it wasn’t the first time she’d brought up the idea of him working through his grief with a professional. So, he conceded. He could admit that relying on her for his mental health was not the best situation to be in.

Seeing the mind healer was surprising okay. Sort of like talking to Antonio but with homework. It helped with the crippling fear that MC would be stolen away from him, as well.

Speaking of Antonio, Sebastian got a much-needed haircut from him when he and MC took a trip to Finland for their 6-month anniversary. The poor man went through the five stages of grief seeing Sebastian’s overgrown mane. He was shocked, and then furious, to learn that Sebastian had moved back to England.

“You’re leaving me?!”

In the end, though, he was just happy that Sebastian was doing well. And quite smug that his advice had worked out. Sebastian glossed over the failed (disastrous) attempt at sharing his feelings.

Sofia and Mikko came to Helsinki to meet them. Sofia stole MC away to go to some island while the lads met up with Niko, who took them “gulfing.” Niko was aghast that Sebastian, raised in Scotland, had never heard of let alone partaken in the sport. It seemed to be so named because there were frequent bodies of water that his little white ball seemed drawn to like each little “gulf” could cast summoning charms. Muggles had a cruel sense of humour.

Sebastian got to stop in and see Teräväinen and thank him for his recommendation. Popping into his office turned into an hour-long conversation riddled with random bits of advice, long tangents, and frequent well-wishes.

Finally, Sofia returned his girlfriend to him at the end of the day when they all went to dinner. MC insisted on getting a kotzone, and Sebastian’s mind healer had yet to manage to teach him to say “no” to her. It also might have given him a sort of satisfaction to know she loved them so much.

After several days visiting their friends, they readied to take their portkey back. “I think we should take a long bath when we get home, and then sleep for a week. I don’t want to leave our bed for at least two days,” Sebastian said.

MC smiled at him. There was clear amusement in her expression.

“What?” he asked.

She gave a coy shrug. “It’s just…it’s cute the way you always call it ‘our bed,’” she said.

Sebastian furrowed his brow. “Well, it is, isn’t it?”

MC chuckled. “Technically, it’s your bed, Seb.”

“Hm,” he said thoughtfully. “I suppose so. Though, you could fix that.”

“How so?” MC asked, though she had a knowing expression.

“Move in with me,” Sebastian said. “Your lease is up in two months, and I’m sure Garreth would love to have Natty come live with him. So, how about it?”

MC beamed at him. “I think that sounds brilliant.

And Always

Sebastian turned out to be quite bad at taking things slow, in the end. MC moved in with him in August. After sharing a flat with her, he quickly decided he couldn’t wait any longer to share a life. He proposed in September, and they got married at the end of October. In his defence, they had technically dated for almost three years at that point – just, you know, nonconsecutively. Natty and Garreth followed suit a year later. Being that the former was MC’s best friend and Sebastian’s partner, the two couples spent a lot of time together.

Sebastian and Garreth grew to be quite good friends. Weasley was a good chap – for a Gryffindor. Being friends with him meant that Prewett also entered Sebastian’s circle. He was slightly less irritating than he had been at school. While they still had occasional tiffs, they got on all right for the most part. Under duress, Sebastian could’ve admitted that he had even grown a certain fondness for the lanky git.

“Oi! No flying inside!” Garreth called across the room.

“Danai, listen to your father,” Natty said calmly, her hands resting on her growing bump.

“Yes, Mummy,” the little girl said dolefully before sliding off her broom.

“Always up to something, that one! I don’t know where she gets it from,” Garreth said, exasperated.

MC barked a laugh at that. “Yeah, it’s a mystery,” she said sardonically.

Natty chuckled, and Garreth grinned sheepishly.

“I have no doubt that our girls will give me as many headaches as I gave my mother,” Natty said.

“You’ll learn from Mummy and Daddy’s mistakes, won’t you, love?” Sebastian cooed to his son as he bounced him in his arms. On cue, he began wailing.

“I think Eli disagrees,” MC said, scooping him out of his arms. Eleazar settled almost instantly.

“How do you do that?” Sebastian asked, befuddled.

MC shrugged. “He could tell you were stressed,” she replied.

“He’s just a mummy’s boy,” Sebastian argued, crossing his arms. “Where’s Annie?”

Before anyone could answer, he spotted her in her godfather’s arms across the room.

Ominis shifted, turning the baby slightly away from her father. “You can’t come snatch her just because you upset her brother,” he chided.

Sebastian rolled his eyes. “She’s my daughter, Ominis,” he argued.

“Exactly. You get her all the time,” Ominis retorted. He looked down at the girl. “You want to stay with Uncle Omi, don’t you? Yes! Yes, you do!”

Sebastian couldn’t help but smile. “You get ten more minutes.”

Poppy fawned over the girl, as well. She turned out to be as good with babies as she was with beasts.

Danai soon toddler over, tugging on MC’s robes. “Can I hold baby Eli?” she asked politely. Sebastian’s heart melted as she looked up imploringly at MC. He was terrified of the day his twins learnt to talk, knowing he’d be at their beck and call from that day onward.

“If you sit down in a chair,” MC replied kindly.

The little girl eagerly scurried into an armchair, and MC lowered the infant into her lap, instructing her on how to support him.

“Hi, Eli,” Danai said cheerfully to the baby in her arms. “I’m called Danai. Our mummies are best friends, and we’re going to be, too.”

“Please, Daddy?” Anne asked, batting her little lashes at him.

“No,” Sebastian said, holding firm. “No chocolate frogs before dinner.”

“Mum lets us,” Eli argued.

Sebastian raised an eyebrow at him. “Does she actually?” he challenged.

“No,” Eli said sheepishly. “But it’d be really extra super nice if she did.”

Anne, who was now actively pouting, slipped out of her chair and crawled into Sebastian’s lap. “My tummy is so empty it’s gonna collapse,” she moaned, burying her face in his robes.

He could feel his heart crack in his chest. “It’s only 30 minutes until dinner,” he said, trying to reason with his teary-eyed daughter.

“I could die of hunger by then,” she wailed, her whole body shuddering with the force of it.

Sebastian rubbed her back soothingly. “Do you want a different snack? Some apple sauce or carrots, maybe?”

She shook her head violently. “My tummy only wants chocolate.”

“Mine, too!” Eli added, looking up at his father imploringly. “Please, please, please! Can we split one? I don’t want Annie’s tummy to collapse.”

Sebastian sighed. Eli was looking at his sister with such earnest concern. It broke his resolve every time when one of the twins started arguing on the other’s behalf. Merlin help him the day they figured that out.

“Don’t tell your mum,” Sebastian said.

He summoned a frog and split it into perfect halves with a severing charm. Anne stayed in his lap as she munched happily on her half, the chocolate melting over her face and fingers. Eli took little nibbles until he’d eaten the head. Then, he walked over to stand beside Sebastian.

“Here you go, Annie. You can have the rest of mine,” he said, handing the remainder of his chocolate off to her. He leaned over Sebastian’s thigh to give her a kiss on her stomach.

“No jinxing your brother!” MC scolded as Anne darted after Eli, who was running toward the train. She stopped at the door to make sure Danai and Matilda were following.

Garreth was a mess, sniffling as clutched his third-born to himself. “You don’t want to go to Hogwarts, right?” he asked his son. “You want to stay at home forever?”

“Garreth,” Natty chided. “You cannot keep him locked up.”

A pale little girl with dark hair walked over and whispered in the boy’s ear.

“Iris Noctua, I heard that!” Ominis called, and she immediately froze.

Sebastian leaned into him. “What’d she say?”

The tips of Ominis’s ears went pink. “She said I cried the whole car ride here.”

Sebastian smirked. “Did you?”

“Of course not!”

Sebastian just shook his head. He’d bet a hundred galleons Iris was the one telling the truth. It was her first year going to Hogwarts, and that was always the hardest goodbye.

Ominis’s expression was stern, but Sebastian knew him well enough to know it was a front. When the train was gone, he turned to Sebastian. “I can’t believe I’m going home to a quiet house,” Ominis said. “How did you adjust to it?”

Sebastian smirked. “Kitchen sex, mostly,” he replied easily.

Ominis rolled his eyes.

“I’m serious,” Sebastian stated. “Gods, I never realised how much I’d missed it until I could bend MC over the counter again without risking scarring our children for life. The best is when–”

“Nope! No! Not another word of that thought,” Ominis interjected, looking horrified.

Sebastian chuckled. “Point being, you’ll find ways to cope.”

#sebastian sallow #hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow x f!mc #hogwarts legacy fanfic #sebastian sallow fanfiction #sebastian x mc #sebastian sallow fanfic #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #toxic relationship #bittersweet #mostly sweet though #suicide #just briefly mentioned/joked about because Seb is not okay and uses dark humour to cope #not saying he should but he does

[thenerdykneazle]

Sallow Soul - Forgiveness

Summary: Sebastian decides he can't accept MC being gone and does his best to follow her home.

Sebastian Sallow x F!MC

Warnings: 18+, sexually explicit content, aged-up characters, angst, toxic relationship, a dash of grieving

Word count: 10,605

Read on AO3. Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. MC's perspective (Kindred Spirits).

Part 5: Forgiveness

The pub door swung shut heavily behind Sofia. “She went home home? As in back to the UK?” she asked.

“Precisely,” Sebastian replied in a flat tone.

He felt numb. He barely noticed the wind biting his face. He didn’t even end up crying. He was exhausted. He’d done his best to fix things, hadn’t he? It just wasn’t enough. He had compounded too many mistakes, and he couldn’t make up for it. MC might’ve taken the words back, but, in the end, he wasn’t worth another try.

“Sepe?” Sofia asked softly.

He turned to her dully. “Hm?” he asked.

“Are you…okay?” she asked hesitantly.

“Yeah, course,” he replied, quickly putting on a brave face. “Just…surprised.”

Sofia nodded despite the fact that both of them knew she didn’t believe him. “She thought a lot about you the night she stayed in my hotel suite. We spent some time together before I left. She was very upset over your…more careless decisions.”

Sebastian didn’t need to ask to clarify what she meant. “I know it was stupid. Part of me wanted to make her jealous. Mostly, I just wanted to feel something.”

“You hurt her quite a lot,” she said, looking thoroughly disappointed in him. It stung worse than he’d have expected.

“It’s not like she wasn’t bringing people back, too,” Sebastian said defensively.

Sofia arched a brow at him. “And how did that make you feel?”

He scoffed. “Like shite,” he said bitterly.

She looked at him expectantly. “So, how do you think she felt?” she pressed when he didn’t continue.

Sebastian rolled his eyes and crossed his arms over himself. It was equally to shield himself from the cold air as it was to show his disagreement. “It wasn’t the same. I mean, I’m sure it pissed her off, but it’s not like it was devastating for her. I’m sure you already know I never stopped loving her. But she couldn’t’ve thought less of me when she got here. The pain of that’s the only reason I…sought such comfort in the first place. She just…doesn’t feel the same about me.”

“Are you sure about that?” Sofia asked, a manicured brow arched high in question.

Sebastian narrowed his eyes at her, trying to determine if she was really asking or trying to tell him.

“Because I wouldn’t be,” she continued, eliminating his lingering doubt.

“Are you t-telling me information you g-gathered reading her thoughts? Because that’s n-not very ethical, i-is it?” he asked. The chill finally settling in, making him shiver.

“MC seems like a nice girl. But you’re my friend, Sepe. Today was the happiest I’ve seen you since I’ve known you. She seems to love you too, but she’s scared,” Sofia said. “You’ve just got to be honest with yourself about whether she should be. I’ll admit that your recent actions worry me, but I know you’re a good man.”

Sebastian’s head was spinning. MC really did love him? She’d been convincing when she said it, but it was the heat of the moment. And then she disappeared. But if Sofia was convinced, then he figured it had to be true.

“Do you r-really think she’d give me an-nother chance?” Sebastian asked.

Sofia shrugged. “Even I can’t predict the future. But, in my experience, people don’t get that hurt unless it was by someone they truly cared about.”

The assertion crushed Sebastian’s chest at the same time it lit a spark of hope in it. He hadn’t realised he was causing MC as much pain as he was feeling. He’d been reckless. He vowed to himself that wouldn’t make that mistake again.

“Thank you,” Sebastian said before seizing Sofia’s shoulders and kissing her cheek.

“You won’t be thanking me if you hurt her again,” she replied in a warning tone. “Like I said, she’s a nice girl. Don’t make me regret betraying her thoughts.”

“I won’t,” Sebastian promised.

He rushed inside the pub and back to the table.

“I need your help,” he told Niko, who had been mid-conversation with Henri.

Niko turned to his friend, his features drawing in concern when he noticed Sebastian’s panicked eyes. “Okay. With what?” he replied.

“I’ll explain on the way,” Sebastian said urgently, waving a hand to urge him to his feet.

Without bothering to collect his cloak, he apparated them back to the Headquarters. He resisted the urge to sprint – he had learned the hard way that you cannot run in a law enforcement office without freaking everyone out – and powerwalked to Teräväinen’s office. Niko hurried alongside him.

“What’s going on?” Niko asked urgently.

Sebastian explained as succinctly as possible that MC had gone back to England, and Sebastian needed to find her. His best method was to break into Teräväinen’s office and find her file, which would have her address. Then he could beg her on his knees to give him just one more chance.

“You want me to help you stalk her?” Niko asked incredulously.

“No, I want you to help me find her,” Sebastian said. “Stalking is repeated and causes fear.”

Niko rolled his eyes but kept shuffling along with Sebastian. “Not a great sign if you’re being pedantic about stalking. And stealing her file is still illegal,” he pointed out. “At the very least, you’ll be fired if you’re caught.”

Sebastian shrugged. “I’m quitting anyway,” he stated.

That made Niko stop in his tracks. “You’re what?”

Sebastian turned to face him. He didn’t have time for this. “Quitting. Effective immediately. I can’t stay here anymore. MC is in England. Ominis is in Scotland. My sister’s grave is there.  Everyone I was ever friends with is there. Even if she won’t–” Sebastian had to take a steadying breath. “Even if she doesn’t take me back, I have to go. This isn’t me. I’ve been hiding from everyone for too long.”

Niko gave an indignant sniff. “All your friends are there, huh?”

Sebastian’s shoulders went slack. “Mate, that’s not what I meant,” he said. “You’ve been a great friend. Truly. I just…if I let myself stop and mourn what I’m losing here, then I might lose my nerve. I wish I could take you with me, but you belong here as much as I belong there. The things I went through with Ominis and MC…if there’s a chance I could have them back in my life, I have to take it.”

Niko nodded before giving Sebastian a watery smile. “I told you she had you whipped,” he joked.

Sebastian laughed. “Yeah…yeah, you did,” he agreed. “So, you’ll help me?”

“Yeah, I’ll help,” Niko confirmed. “You’d be even more mopey than you were when we started as junior aurori if you stayed. I don’t think any of us should be subjected to that.”

Sebastian denied having been that bad as they continued on their way down the hall. Niko convinced him that he should be the one to get MC’s file, while Sebastian talked to Teräväinen about his resignation. Sebastian was hesitant to let Niko accept that risk, but he eventually agreed that the plan made the most sense.

Niko disillusioned himself, and Sebastian went into the office. He asked Teräväinen if they could go for a walk to talk about something important. While they stepped out, Niko slipped into the office. Sebastian explained his decision to resign and handed over his badge. Teräväinen was rather caught off guard. He was far from thrilled, but he was surprisingly understanding.

“Does this have anything to do with that young auror Abbott sent to train with us?” he asked.

Sebastian hardly needed to answer when his stained cheeks did so for him.

The older wizard smiled. “I thought it might.”

“I know you probably think I’m just a lovesick fool,” Sebastian said. He admired the man, and his opinion mattered to him.

“Yes, I do,” he replied bluntly. His white moustache crinkled as he smirked. “It’s a wonderful thing, to be young, dumb, and in love, isn’t it?”

Sebastian’s brow furrowed in both confusion and contemplation. “I suppose so, Sir,” he said tentatively.

Teräväinen patted Sebastian’s shoulder before giving it a firm squeeze. “Can I give you a parting word of advice?”

“Yes, Sir,” Sebastian said. He never would’ve denied his superior the opportunity, but he was additionally feeling rather wistfully eager to hear the man’s final advice.

“Don’t grab a girl’s bum to get her attention. She’ll always appreciate it more if you’re just up front with your feelings, especially when they’re hard to admit,” he said.

Invented bum-grabbing aside, Sebastian felt that the sage words would’ve served him much better approximately ten days ago. Still, he resigned to take the lesson forward with him. No more stupid stunts. Just being honest.

“And find out what stupid little gesture makes her melt, and never stop doing it,” Teräväinen added. “For my wife, it’s flowers. I bring her some every weekend. They’re always wilted by Wednesday, but I’ll be damned if her smile doesn’t light up the room when I walk in with a fresh bouquet.”

Sebastian smiled at the soft-hearted man. “I will, Sir,” he promised. He’d never let him know if MC never gave him the chance. It might crush him even more than it would Sebastian.

The fuzzy warmth in his chest turned to dread when he realised they were back in front of the office door. Sebastian had no idea whether Niko had gotten the address and gotten out. He would never forgive himself if he got the lad fired for helping him. As the department head opened his office door, Sebastian spotted a shimmer of light inside.

“Wait!” Sebastian blurted out in panic.

Teräväinen looked back at him with a raised brow. “Something else you needed, Sepe?”

“I–I just–” Sebastian stammered, focusing desperately on not letting his eyes slide back toward Niko’s disillusioned form. He surged forward, nearly knocking the older man down as he flung his arms around his middle.

“Oh,” Teräväinen said, stunned.

“I’m going to miss you, Sir,” Sebastian said, his voice slightly muffled in the man’s work robes.

Teräväinen patted Sebastian’s back. “We’ll miss you around here too, son,” he said. “I sincerely wish you all the best.”

“Thank you, Sir,” Sebastian said as he stepped back. Niko had slipped out of the office and around the corner.

Teräväinen nodded. “You take care of yourself.” He cleared his throat before heading into his office.

Once the door clicked shut, Sebastian took a moment to wonder if he would ever see him again before hurrying down the corridor to find Niko.

“Did you find it?” Sebastian asked in an urgent whisper as they walked back toward the exit.

“Yes, but…” Niko said hesitantly.

Sebastian tilted his head. “What is it?”

Niko held out a manila folder. “It doesn’t have her address. Just the one for the DMLE.”

Sebastian snatched up the file and flipped through it. “You’re sure it wasn’t in here?”

Niko’s expression hardened as he glanced over at Sebastian. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

Sebastian huffed as he snapped the file shut. “It means that if you’re trying to get me to stay by sabotaging me, I’ll–”

“I’m not! There’s no address! I can’t believe you’d even accuse me of that! I risked my neck to help you, Sepe!”

Niko was fuming, and he’d started walking much faster – presumably in an attempt to get away from Sebastian, who just sped up to keep pace.

“No, I know. I’m sorry,” Sebastian said quietly, his anger rapidly fading to guilt.

Niko’s eyes darted to the side as he observed him warily.

Sebastian chewed his knuckle as he tried to come up with an alternative plan. “I can just go to the DMLE on Monday and see if she’ll talk to me. She’ll probably just have me kicked out, but it’s worth a shot. Maybe I can ask for Natty, instead. She might be more amenable. Unless MC’s already told her everything. If she hasn’t yet, she probably will by Monday if they ended up living together like they planned.” Sebastian dropped his head into his hands. “Damn! If only I had Ominis on my side. He could talk to MC. They’ve always had a way of convincing each other.”

Sebastian sighed before halting suddenly.

“That’s it!” he said triumphantly, making Niko jump. “I can still make it work! I’ve gotta go.”

Sebastian turned on the spot as he tried to get his frazzled mind to recall which direction the exit was.

“What? Teräväinen gets a goodbye hug, but I don’t?” Niko asked wryly.

“Sod off,” Sebastian replied, but he pulled the younger aurori into a hug anyway.

Niko then held Sebastian out at arm’s length by his shoulders. “You take care of yourself, Sepe,” he said with mock gravitas.

Sebastian laughed and shoved his friend’s hands off him. “It’s a good thing you’re such a prat or I might actually be sad to leave you.”

“I’ll miss you too, buddy,” Niko replied with vastly more sincerity.

“Come visit, yeah?” Sebastian asked.

Niko smirked. “If you ever get an address.”

Sebastian apparated to his flat to pack his things. He fit everything into a trunk with an extension charm on it, and then added a featherlight charm before shrinking it down. His whole life fit in his pocket. Save his sofa. He hit that with a reductor curse and vanished the dust that remained.

He signed and sealed a parchment breaking his lease at the end of the month and slipped it through the slot in his landlord’s door. It was too late at night to apply for a portkey. The transport office wouldn’t open again until Monday. He fished a pepper-up potion out of his trunk, downed it, and prepared to be incredibly stupid.

He apparated to Stockholm. It was a hell of a jump. Sebastian was already tired from getting little sleep the last two nights – or two weeks, really. Despite the potion, apparating was exhausting. He leaned against a light post and panted to catch his breath. Once he could breathe without heaving his whole chest, he raised his wand and apparated again. This time to Gothenburg.

Sebastian stumbled to the ground as he popped into a dimly lit shipping yard he’d visited on a case once. The tarmac tore at his knees and palm. He had clutched his wand protectively to his chest to ensure it didn’t get damaged. Sebastian fished through his bag and took a wiggenweld just in case. It wouldn’t fix him if he splinched himself, but it could help if the stress of long-distance apparition was doing internal damage. It took almost thirty minutes for his head to stop spinning.

Once it did, Sebastian apparated to Stavanger. Niko had a grandmother who lived there. They’d visited her for a long weekend over a year ago. Sebastian threw up in her bushes before collapsing on the lawn. He was pleased to find that, while frozen, the ground wasn’t snow-covered. As he lay there feeling his consciousness wax and wane, he hoped it wasn’t due to blood loss from some injury he had yet to detect. He tried to take an assessment of his body, but all he could do was lie there for an inordinate amount of time.

Eventually, he dragged himself to a sitting position and assessed his body for wounds. He found none. He got to his feet, swayed, and then stilled. He took a few steps to ensure he wouldn’t collapse again, and then he apparated to Feldcroft – the longest jump yet.

Sebastian groaned as he stumbled backwards into the stone wall surrounding the town’s well. His wand arm had a searing pain lancing up it. He’d splinched it. Blood was soaking through his sleeve down to his elbow. He cast a left-handed coagulation spell to stem the flow. His head swam as he pushed off the wall, and he almost toppled back over. He had to catch himself on the well again.

The air was cold and smelled like iron. The town was quiet as it was the early hours of the morning. The calm contrasted sharply with the pain screaming in his arm. It felt like the bone had been split like a log. Sebastian groaned as he stumbled toward a familiar home. He prayed to the gods that Ominis hadn’t moved.

Sebastian steadied himself with a hand on the door frame before lifting it to knock heavily on the thick wooden door. His other arm hung useless at his side, his hand growing colder in the winter air, freezing along the trickle of liquid creeping down it. There was an extended silence before Sebastian could hear shuffling within. Eventually, the door swung open to reveal a very groggy Ominis in his night clothes.

Holding his wand aloft, Ominis’s eyebrows drew up together. “Sebastian?” he asked.

“Hey, Ominis,” the bedraggled wizard replied in a panting, anxious voice. His heart was racing, and his breathing was increasingly laboured. He was so nervous that he felt he might pass out.

Before Ominis could reply, Sebastian collapsed forward through the doorway, just barely missing the blind wizard. He hit the floor with a heavy thud.

When Sebastian came to, he was lying on a couch. His cloak and the top half of his clothes were gone. There were dittany leaves wrapped around his right arm. Ominis was sitting in a nearby chair.

Sebastian groaned as he sat up. A potion appeared in front of his face.

“Drink,” Ominis ordered, his tone cold.

Sebastian took the vial from him and downed the crimson-coloured blood-replenishing potion. It slid down his throat, coating it like oil and leaving a bitter taste on his tongue. But his headache eased and his head stopped swimming.

“I fucked up,” Sebastian said as he set the empty vial on the table in front of him.

“You got yourself splinched,” Ominis observed as he sat back in his chair. His expression was unreadable.

“I meant everything else,” Sebastian said dismally. “The dark magic. Leaving the three of you. Not staying after Anne…” He still couldn’t say it. “And the last two weeks with MC.”

Ominis was stone-faced. “You’ve certainly made a lot of mistakes,” he agreed. “MC told me about some of the recent ones.”

Sebastian hung his head in shame. “I’ve been so stupid,” he said, his frustration with himself only increasing.

“It certainly sounds like it,” Ominis replied. “Capping it off by apparating here from Finland. I don’t know how you didn’t get yourself killed.”

“I didn’t do it all in one go. I broke it up,” Sebastian explained.

Ominis frowned. “You’re still lucky it wasn’t worse. Your arm should be fully healed in another hour or so.”

“Thank you,” Sebastian said sheepishly.

Ominis stood. It was only then Sebastian noticed a young runespoor was wrapped around the blond’s shoulders. “I wasn’t going to let you bleed out in my home, was I? But that doesn’t mean you’re welcome here. I expect you to leave once you’re fit to travel.”

Sebastian’s pulse spiked. Ominis was turning him away? “What?” Sebastian blurted out much more harshly than he would have intended.

Ominis did his best to glare down at him; his gaze was only slightly off-target. “I don’t know whether you came here to try to reform our friendship or just to get my help with MC, but I can assure you I’m not interested in either.”

A lump formed in Sebastian’s throat. He tried to talk. To plead. But the words were caught.

“Do you have any idea how much you’ve hurt her?” Ominis asked. He didn’t even sound angry – just pained. “How much you keep hurting her?”

“Yes,” Sebastian rasped. He had to work hard to keep from letting tears well up in his eyes. “I’ve been awful. I know I have. I’m sure she’s told you.”

“She didn’t tell me everything, but she told me enough to know I don’t want you near her again,” Ominis replied.

Sebastian swallowed hard. “I understand.”

“That makes one of us,” Ominis said wryly. “I don’t know why you bothered coming all this way. You almost killed yourself to get here. It doesn’t add up.”

“How much did MC tell you?” Sebastian asked.

Ominis’s expression grew cagey. “A fair bit, I expect. Making her stay with you and being a general git the whole time.”

“That’s hardly the half of it,” Sebastian replied with an attempt at humour.

Ominis’s brow arched. “Oh?”

The man had always had a thirst for gossip. He knew everyone’s business back in school, including most of the professors. Sebastian couldn’t help but think that it could be his in with Ominis.

“I could fill in the gaps,” Sebastian offered.

“It’s hardly my business,” Ominis replied, feigning indifference as he focused his attention on the snake. He lifted a hand and let it slither down his forearm, around his wrist, and between his fingers.

“Maybe you’re right. I doubt MC would want to recount everything to you. I just thought you might want to know the whole story,” Sebastian said casually.

“Well, it could be good the have the full picture,” Ominis said as he stroked the snake’s head gently. “To understand what MC has been going through, I mean.”

Sebastian suppressed his smile, even though Ominis wouldn’t be able to see it.

Ominis sighed. “Go on, then.”

Sebastian had a brief moment of panic when he realised he was about to admit every mistake he’d made over the last two weeks to Ominis. Why had that seemed like a good idea? “Just let me get through the whole thing before you hex me, okay?” Sebastian said.

“I’m sure I can manage that,” Ominis replied calmly.

Sebastian swallowed down his nerves. “Well, we just kept clashing. I first learned she was coming to Finland when my boss asked me to show her around since we’re both Brits. I convinced the lead for the training to have her stay with me, too, which she obviously wasn’t happy about. We had to duel for the training, and when she beat me, she said I was worthless without dark magic. I was so mad and hurt, and I think I wanted to hurt her back. I brought these women back to the flat–”

“Sebastian,” Ominis said reproachfully.

“I know,” Sebastian said, wincing. “And I didn’t put up a silencing charm, because I wanted her to hear us going at–”

“Sebastian!” Omins interjected, aghast.

“I know!” Sebastian said. “Believe me, I do. Because MC did hear us, and I felt terribly about it because I think it did hurt her. I didn’t actually want to. I was just upset she’d hurt me. And she got back at me by fucking some prick in my bed the next–”

Ominis’s jaw dropped. “Sweet Salazar, in your–?”

“Yes! So, I felt even worse, naturally. And then she told me I was the worst mistake she’d ever made after I’d finally gotten my head on straight and decided to ask her out properly. I got a bit sloshed and brought another woman back–”

“Sebastian…” Ominis had his head in his free hand now.

“I know!” Sebastian insisted. “MC interrupted it before it could really even go anywhere, and the witch left livid because she thought I was some cheating bastard. I feel like one, honestly.”

“I wonder why?” Ominis spat sarcastically.

“MC had made it abundantly clear that she wanted nothing to do with me!” Sebastian replied defensively. “I’m not saying it was right, but I just…didn’t want to feel like no one would ever want anything to do with me. It was a moment of weakness. But I was still drunk and made it worse by trying to convince her to sleep with me.”

“The same night?” Ominis demanded, looking thoroughly scandalised.

Sebastian pressed the heels of his palms into his eyes as if trying to block out the image. “It was approximately five seconds after the other woman left,” he admitted.

Ominis didn’t even bother chiding him again, apparently considering Sebastian a lost cause.

“MC ended up not coming home the next day, and I spent the whole night looking for her. It turned out she’d just gone to a hotel. I convinced her to talk with me, but then my mate ruined it by saying something stupid that made her think I just saw her as some sort of conquest. She was gone when I got home, and she ended up bringing someone back to the apartment later that night, instead. I tried to act like it didn’t bother me, but then I interrupted them when they were snogging on the sofa and he was about to undress her. We fought and apologised and cried. Well, mostly I cried. And then we…Well, we slept together.”

“‘Slept’ together?” Ominis asked incredulously.

Sebastian glowered. “We fucked. Is that what you want to hear?”

“Not especially, no,” Ominis replied sternly. “And you ran away again, and now you’re here to grovel for her to give you another chance?”

“No!” Sebastian growled. “I didn’t run. Neither did she. Until she did, I mean. We woke up together. I made breakfast. She agreed to stay for the weekend. I thought we were finally okay, and then she just vanished mid-sentence last night because she never actually intended to stay. I mean, clearly she freaked out. But…I know she still loves me. And I just want one more conversation to try to convince her it’ll be different this time. That I’m not going to hurt her again. That I really love her.”

Ominis folded his arms across his chest. “Convince me,” he said.

Sebastian blinked at him. “That…that I love you?” he asked.

Ominis rolled his eyes. “No, that you love MC, you pillock! Convince me you’re not going to hurt her again.”

Sebastian did his best. He explained how he finally realised that MC had been right about dark magic. That he’d renounced his dark ways years ago. That he understood how much his rash actions hurt MC, and that he never wanted to be responsible for causing her pain again. He tried to explain how he’d felt finding MC with another bloke. How scared he’d been when she didn’t come to the flat that night. How shattered he was when she just vanished right in front of him. How badly he’d missed her over the years. How much he loved her. How he couldn’t stand being without her again. By the time he was done, the sun was peeking in through the windows.

“You two are my family. I was stupid to leave. I tried to forget everything and start over, because I knew I couldn’t fix what I’d done to you two. But there’s always been something missing. I won’t blame MC if she doesn’t want me, but I hope she’ll at least let me be around. I just want to come home.”

Sebastian had no energy left to guard his emotions, and they were threatening to spill over.

“I swear I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t think I could make MC happy,” Sebastian continued. “That’s why I left after the funeral. I was so broken then, I…I would’ve taken MC down with me. I never could’ve forgiven myself for that. She had so much going for her – graduating with top marks, the auror academy, you, Natty. She would’ve dropped everything to try to help me. And either I would’ve let her or broken her heart worse when I left anyway.”

Ominis didn’t say anything. He just stood up and deposited the snake in a bin full of its siblings before grabbing a quill and parchment.

“What are you doing?” Sebastian asked.

“I’m writing MC to come here so you can talk to her,” Ominis said simply.

The next several hours waiting for MC’s reply were excruciating. Despite his exhaustion, Sebastian couldn’t rest due to the anxiety. Sebastian kept checking his clothes for wrinkles or remnants of blood he’d scourgified out of them, even as Ominis kept him occupied catching him up on his life the last few years. He had poured himself into rescuing animals – mostly magical snake breeds – ever since Anne’s passing. It wasn’t lost on him that helping the creatures was a rather direct replacement for the time he had spent caring for his infirmed wife.

Sebastian had just made his third cup of tea when the door to the cottage opened suddenly. Just then, the little owl finally returned. Sebastian couldn’t immediately see who had walked in from his place in the kitchen, but he recognised her voice.

“Knew I should’ve sent a patronus,” MC said genially.

Sebastian could see Ominis send her a bemused look before reading the note Pixie had brought him. Ominis chuckled.

“Where’s Poppy?” MC asked as stepped inside and hung up her cloak.

Sebastian’s heart started pounding at the sight of her. He’d seen her less than a day ago, but he wasn’t sure how she would feel about seeing him there. Especially after Ominis told him the pretence under which he had invited MC to the cottage. Ominis had made no mention of Sebastian. Instead, he had asked MC to visit him, the snakes, and Poppy, who had evidently been helping with the snakes rather frequently.

“Actually, I’m going to go to hers,” Ominis said casually.

“Oh,” MC said, sounding surprised. “Shall I come with you, then?”

“I’d really rather you didn’t,” Sebastian interjected, feeling sick at the idea of her immediately leaving again.

MC looked over her shoulder, gaping when her eyes landed on him. Her head whipped back toward Ominis. “You lying bastard!” she growled.

“He came to me and asked for help getting you to talk to him. I think you should hear him out,” Ominis said simply.

MC scoffed and crossed her arms over her chest. “I already heard him out. It didn’t lead anywhere good.”

Ominis sighed. “Look, I know you’re scared, MC. I know better than most the reasons you have not to give him another chance. But I also know better than most how much you two loved each other – and how hard it is for love like that to fade. I can’t have the love of my life back, but I won’t let you regret giving up on yours without weighing it fully.”

Ominis really was pulling out all the stops. Sebastian felt a deep gratitude toward his best mate for how dedicated he was to helping him.

MC looked misty-eyed. “I can’t believe you’re playing the dead wife card on me,” she sniffed.

“Only because I love you,” Ominis said earnestly as he grabbed his cloak. “I’ll be back in two hours. Either waythis goes, I trust you two not to destroy my home.”

Sebastian could feel his face heat at the implication.

MC rolled her eyes as Ominis left. Sebastian watched her as she turned back toward him, ready for her to hex him, scream, or just apparate away. She just stared at him, clearly waiting for him to make the first move.

“I’m so sorry,” Sebastian said earnestly. He didn’t know how to express the depths of his regret for his behaviour. He set his tea on the counter and walked over to her. She began to back away as he drew near, and Sebastian froze while trying to ignore the pang in his gut. “This isn’t how I wanted things to be between us.”

MC said nothing, though her gaze seemed slightly less wary.

“I should’ve been honest with you from the start instead of playing games and trying to manipulate you. I was too much of a coward to just admit from the jump that I never stopped being in love with you,” he said. “I spent years trying to become someone you could be proud of. Someone who could love you like you deserve. I thought that meant giving up dark magic and doing something good with my life. But I clearly have a lot to learn about how to treat you. And I know this probably doesn’t seem like a step in the right direction, but I genuinely didn’t know Ominis was going to lie to get you here.”

“You really gave up dark magic?” she asked, eyeing him sceptically.

“I haven’t touched it since Anne died, and I’m never going to again,” he promised.

MC rolled her eyes, and her posture stiffened. “Yeah, I’ve heard that before.”

“Really?” he shot back, feeling a flare of frustration. It was an argument they’d had many times over the years they were together. “And are you referring to when you told Ominis I was done without consulting me in the catacombs? Or perhaps when I told Ominis I understood him wanting us to avoid it? I never lied about stopping.”

MC’s jaw tensed as she glared at him. She didn’t deny it, though.

“And I’m telling you now that I’m done playing games. I’m done running. Or hiding. Or whatever I’ve been doing the last two-and-a-half years,” he said. He wanted to hold her face and look in her eyes so she could see that he was telling the truth. “I’m not Sepe. He was a mask. A way to avoid owning up to my mistakes. But I can’t keep being him. I want to come home.”

“I’m not stopping you,” MC replied flippantly. “I’m sure Ominis would even let you stay with him.”

Sebastian gave in and stepped forward into the gap between them. He took her hands in his own and looking pleadingly into her eyes. “My home isn’t Feldcroft. It’s you. It’s always been you – since the day you spared me from Azkaban.” He stepped even closer and cupped her cheek in his hand. He needed her to hear him. “No one else has seen me and looked at what I’ve done and loved me anyway. Even Anne took a year to forgive me. And I know I broke your trust, and it’s okay if it takes years to earn it back. I just…I’m asking for a chance to prove that I’ve changed. I’m still not perfect, and I know I don’t deserve it, but I’ll spend every day earning it, and I just…I have to ask. I have to try to come home.”

Sebastian nearly broke as tears flowed down MC’s cheeks. He urgently began wiping them away, but they just kept coming. He felt awful. That wasn’t what he’d wanted. He hadn’t imagined pouring his heart out to MC could hurt her even more. He regretted coming. He should have stayed and bitten his tongue rather than burden her.

“I can’t let you break my heart again, Sebastian. I love you. I do. But I just can’t,” she said, sobbing. She wrapped her arms protectively around herself. Sebastian wanted to hold her tightly against him, but he felt it would only make things worse. He always just made things worse for MC. She loved him back, and he was still hurting her by being there. Evening knowing that, though, he couldn’t bring himself to leave. Nor could he stop himself from trying to convince her to give him another chance.

“I know, love,” he said in what he hoped was a soothing tone. “I swear to you I won’t. I wish every day that I could redo that night. Stay with you. I was a coward and afraid that you still wouldn’t want me, and I ran. And it was the worst mistake of my life.”

Strictly speaking, it wasn’t entirely true. He hadn’t been afraid of MC not accepting him as much as he’d been afraid of making her life worse – as he’d told Ominis. However, he worried that admitting he would’ve been bad for her then would only increase her resolve not to take him back now.

Sebastian took a shuddering breath before continuing, “I’m so sorry that I can’t fix it. Especially now that I know how you must’ve felt when I was just…just gone. I would give anything to fix it if I could. But I promise it will never happen again. I’m not leaving. Not ever.”

Sebastian’s heart cracked as MC’s face crumpled. She sobbed even harder.

Leave. You’re just making it worse. Just leave her alone!

Sebastian was on the verge of walking away when MC choked out, “I’m sorry. I wish I could believe you.”

She fell back on the sofa behind her. She looked utterly miserable, and Sebastian couldn’t suppress the need to do something to fix it.

He knelt down on one knee in front of her and rested a hand on her leg. “Hey,” he said softly, using his other hand to wipe more tears from her face. “It’s okay. You don’t owe me anything. I–” He choked on his words, and he forced himself to smile. “I’ll be okay.”

MC shook her head, tucking her legs up protectively in front of herself. Sebastian’s hands fell to the couch on either side of her. “I want to trust you,” she said. “I want to give you another chance, but…I mean, you live in Finland. You’re an aurori. You–”

“No, I’m not,” he said, cutting her off.

She looked taken aback. “What?”

Sebastian chewed his lip, unsure whether the truth would just continue to make things worse. He had to tell her, though. “I told Teräväinen I quit. Effective immediately. Needless to say he wasn’t happy, but…I’m not going back to Finland. I told you: I’m not leaving you again.”

MC started crying again.

Fuck.

Sebastian moved to sit beside her and tentatively pulled her into a hug, waiting for her to tense or push him away. She didn’t. Instead, she let her head tilt to rest on his chest. Sebastian rubbed circles on her back, and she slowly calmed down.

“You’re…you’re really staying?” she asked, looking up at him.

“I am, love,” he vowed. “Probably right here for a while until I can find my own place – and a job.”

He laughed off his situation.

MC laughed, as well, and Sebastian instantly felt the tension in his body ease. She sniffed as she wiped her drippy nose. “I happen to have an in with the aurors at the DMLE,” she said.

“Do you now? Well, I do have some relevant experience.” he joked back. He felt elated by the idea that she would use her influence to help him. That had to mean something, right?

“On both sides of the job,” MC quipped.

“Oi!” he said, poking her side. “Too soon, darling.”

He said it light-heartedly, but he genuinely couldn’t take thinking about his former investment in the dark arts. It had started the whole mess. It had cost him so much. If he dwelt on it now, he would break down.

“Sorry,” she said earnestly as she snugged back against him.

He pressed a kiss to her head as he held her tighter to his chest. He felt she was the last person who should be apologising to him.

“It’s all right,” he assured her. “I’ve missed your teasing.”

She lifted her head again. “I’ve missed teasing you,” she said, giving him a cheeky grin. “In all sorts of ways.”

Sebastian chuckled, but his pulse spiked at her suggestive tone. “Funny enough, I noticed that,” he replied drily. “For the record, I much prefer you walking around in lingerie to riding some ponce on my couch.”

“You seemed to be pretty into it,” she argued.

“I was fucking livid. I just didn’t want you to know it bothered me,” he said. “But I lost it when I saw you were wearing my lingerie.”

“You’re welcome to model it anytime,” she teased before letting her feet fall back to the floor and shifting to face him.

Sebastian rolled his eyes. “You know what I meant,” he groused, and she giggled. He considered staying silent so he didn’t ruin the moment, but he needed to ask the question relentlessly needling in the back of his mind. “Where does all this leave us?”

“I think it’s worth giving us another shot,” she said before smirking at him. “I mean, you did abandon your whole life for me. I suppose that shows a certain level of commitment.”

He felt lighter than is he were soaring on a broomstick. “Yeah?” he asked in disbelief.

“Yeah,” she confirmed with a shy grin. “But we should take it slow.”

“I can do slow,” he promised quickly. He could do glacial if it meant being with her. “How about dinner tonight in London? I’ll make us a reservation somewhere.”

“That sounds perfect,” she replied.

She looked so genuinely happy that Sebastian’s heart nearly burst in his chest.

“Brilliant!” he said, beaming at her. He leaned in before catching himself. “Does slow still involve kissing?”

“Slow definitely still involves kissing,” MC replied before pulling him to her.

Sebastian felt drunk. He could barely think. The only thing he knew was how happy he was that MC was there with him and how good she felt against his lips and under his hands. He pressed her back into the couch as he kissed her even more deeply. His lips moved slowly over hers, and he tugged her bottom lip between his teeth before tracing it with the tip of his tongue. She moaned into his mouth, and he moved so his whole body was flush atop hers, pressing them as close together as possible.

He kissed across her jaw and began trailing down her neck. Her skin was smooth and warm under his tongue. She let out breathy moans that made him want to rip her clothes off and ravish her. As Sebastian sucked a mark into her skin just above her collar bone, MC began to rock her hips against him. His lips broke away from her with a low groan that came from deep in his chest. Sebastian felt almost feverish as MC ground herself up against the erection pinned in his trousers.

MC gripped his robes as she pulled him back into a kiss. Her tongue slid into his mouth, meeting his own before pulling back and gliding across his lip. She began pushing his robes over his shoulders, and Sebastian shifted to let the fabric slide free from his arms. He tossed the robes to the floor, and then he began opening her blouse. He kissed down her sternum as he pushed each button through its hole, slowly revealing a central strip of her skin. She arched into his touch.

After ridding MC of her top and bra, Sebastian slid his hands over her skin from her hips up to her breasts. She moaned as he palmed them, her nipples forming stiff peaks as he massaged each mound with careful attention. Kneeling between her legs, Sebastian bent down and took one of her nipples into his mouth. He circled his tongue around it before sucking in earnest. That was still slow, right? Surely it still fell under the umbrella of “kissing” if he kissed her breasts. And he was moving rather slowly.

Yes, it was definitely slow.

MC was panting as another moan erupted from her throat.

“Fuck, that feels so good,” she keened as her hand laced tightly into his hair.

Sebastian smirked up at her and found MC’s gaze fixed firmly on him. He winked at her playfully even as a possessive instinct jolted in him.

Fuck Anton. No one else gets to taste these tits ever again.

MC was his and no one else’s.

“Mine,” Sebastian growled against her, somewhat unintentionally. “You’re mine, MC.”

“Yes,” she moaned. “I’m yours. Please, Seb!”

Burning heat was spreading through Sebastian. He was aching for MC. Objectively, it hadn’t been very long since they’d been together, but he’d thought he lost her. He was high on the relief that she was giving him another chance – one he was determined not to squander – and he craved her touch to ease the pain of the distance they’d had after she disappeared right in front of him.

Sebastian went back to kissing her lips, moving up and away from her cunt to keep himself from trying to rip the rest of her clothes off. She’d said slow. He wasn’t going to ruin things because he couldn’t keep it in his pants for ten bloody minutes.

MC was trying to kill him, apparently, because the moment he was hovering over her again, she wrapped her legs around his hips and returned to writhing against him. He let out a pained groan, squeezing his eyes shut as his hands balled into fists in the cushions. Her core was hot against his length, and the friction was maddening. He could imagine how wet she’d gotten from rubbing on him, and his hands clenched tighter as he imaged rutting his cock against her drenched folds.

MC broke their kiss, panting as she pulled back to look at him. Sebastian forced his eyes back open when she pulled away. Her eyes were filled with a desire that burnt right through him.

“I need you,” she keened before attacking his neck, marking the curve where it met his shoulder like he had above her collar bone.

His skin stung as she bit into it – pain and pleasure at the same time – but it was soon soothed with the wet glide of her tongue.

Sebastian’s willpower crumbled as he crushed her into the cushions, thrusting his clothed cock against her core. MC dissolved into a whimpering mess.

“Fuck! Yes! Please, Seb! Please!” she cried.

Her hands came down and began fumbling with his trousers.

“I–But you–Slow,” Sebastian stammered, utilising his last ounce of reason.

All her movements stilled, and she drew away from his neck. She looked up at him with wide eyes like a frightened rabbit. “Right. Yes,” MC said soberly, and Sebastian was already cursing himself for speaking up. “We…we should take it slow.”

Sebastian cupped a hand to her face and stroked his thumb over her cheekbone. He didn’t want MC to think for even a second that he hadn’t wanted to continue. She bit her lip, and he wanted to drag it back out with his thumb and bite it for her. The uncertainty in her expression suddenly turned to resolve.

“We can…you know…go slowly,” she said in a low voice as she flattened her palm against the front of his trousers.

Sebastian’s brow raised of its own accord, and MC smirked up at him. She unfastened his trousers and dipped her hand into them to wrap around his cock. Sebastian’s forehead fell against hers as he groaned.

“Gods, I missed you,” he said.

MC chuckled. “We had sex less than 48 hours ago,” she replied in a teasing tone.

He lifted his head so he could meet her eye. “I thought I’d lost you forever,” he said seriously. “I love you so much, MC. I can’t lose you.”

MC’s expression melted. “I love you, too, Sebastian,” she vowed, still stroking him.

It sparked something in him, and he grabbed her wrist and pulled her hand out of his trousers. He laced his fingers with hers, pressing her hand into the sofa above her head as he kissed her breathless. He stripped his trousers off along with his pants before setting on ridding MC of her remaining clothing.

When he was laid out on top of her once more, he relished the heat of her body seeping into his skin. He could feel her on nearly every inch of him even before his hips starting rutting against hers. His cock nestled along her centre, nudging her open as he glided against her, coating his shaft in her slick. She moaned every time the head of his cock ground against her clit, and each sultry sound sent a jolt of pleasure into the base of his spine.

Sebastian didn’t rush forward. He luxuriated in the feeling of her wet cunt against him. He tasted the salt on her skin as he devoured her neck. He memorised the scent of her shampoo as he nuzzled against her. He was almost vibrating with arousal when the head of his cock caught at her entrance as he thrust his hips forward once again. MC’s nails bit into his shoulders as she arched into him, a wanton moan pouring from her lips.

“Please,” she whimpered, clearly as keyed up as he was.

Sebastian pressed in, breath shuddering as he sank into her heat and stretched her open. “Gods, you feel so bloody good,” he groaned, his hips already moving but languidly so.

Despite the leisurely pace he set, Sebastian was far from relaxed. He wanted nothing more than to abandon self-control and pound into MC until he came so hard he couldn’t see. He wanted her. He needed her. But she’d asked for slow, and he’d give it to her.

He tangled one hand into her hair at the nape of her neck, holding her forehead pressed to his, as his other hand dropped to rub deliberate circles on her clit. He could feel her body coiling tight under him, and he knew she was feeling each drag of his cock through her as acutely as he was.

Sebastian felt like a dog whose owner had set a steak in front of it and told it not to eat it. Hyperfixated on how mouth-watering it smelled. Tapping into every reserve of discipline to hold back from devouring it. He could look and sniff and lick, but he couldn’t sink his teeth in. MC had practically asked him to edge himself in her cunt.

He looked down to the curves of her breasts, bouncing lightly as he rocked into her. The way they moved was perfection, beautiful and obscene at the same time. His gaze dropped lower to where their bodies were joined – where her cunt was clinging to him on every pull out of her before he dove into her heat again. He pulled all the way out once just to watch the head of his cock nudge her back open.

“Look at you,” Sebastian rasped as his eyes trailed back up to hers. “You’re so beautiful, MC. So perfect.”

“Gods,” she groaned. “I–You–Oh, Seb!”

Her eyes rolled back as her nails clawed at him, one hand at his back and the other at his scalp. He smirked at his incoherent witch. He kissed her as he sped up the circles on her clit. She moaned into the kiss before taking a sharp breath in through her nose. Her tongue dove desperately into his mouth as if she might die if she couldn’t taste every inch of him. Then, it was gone just as quickly, and she bit down on his lip as her body trembled under him.

Sebastian’s hand tightened in her hair as he felt her cunt squeezing him in a death grip.

“Oh! Fuck, Seb!” she keened in a quavering voice, followed by a flood of additional curses.

She looked utterly gorgeous as she came for him. Sebastian tried to keep fucking her through it, but his hips stuttered to a halt as his own orgasm tore through him with little warning. He’d been on the edge, sure, but not that close until the sight and feeling of her falling apart suddenly catapulted him over that precipice. He pulsed within her, painting her cervix with his seed as she continued to shutter around him. It was like electric jolts of pleasure were being sent up his spine. Sebastian kissed her again as the final waves rocked through him, and then he collapsed boneless on top of her, nuzzling into the curve of her neck.

They both lay there panting until they caught their breath enough to speak.

“Merlin, you’re incredible,” Sebastian said in awe, face still buried in her neck.

“You did pretty damn well yourself,” MC replied. “We should ‘go slow’ more often.”

Sebastian hummed in agreement. “Just give me five minutes.”

MC chuckled.

“All right, I mean ten,” he conceded.

MC started at that. “You’re serious?” she asked.

Sebastian picked up his head to show her his expression, which was very serious. “When have I ever only made you come once?” he asked.

He immediately regretted it as he vividly recalled that the last time they’d had sex in that house had been one-and-done, and then he’d bolted. Graciously, MC didn’t point it out.

Sebastian worried he might’ve overstepped ‘going slow’ until he saw MC’s eyes darken as she looked at him. “What did you have in mind?” she inquired.

He smirked. “It’s more fun if it’s a surprise, isn’t it?”

She chuckled before leaning up to kiss him. The ten minutes ended up being spent snogging on the couch. Once he was ready for the next round, Sebastian picked MC up as he got to his knees.

“Do I get to be on top for once?” she asked eager.

Sebastian scoffed. “You wish, love,” he said cheekily, to which she rolled her eyes.

He set her on her knees, facing the back of the couch before standing up behind her. He ran his hands down the outsides of her thighs as he leaned over her back.

“I’m going to show you what I wanted to do when I found you writhing on that feckless prick on my sofa,” he growled in her ear.

MC whimpered in anticipation.

Sebastian lifted her hips higher, forcing her to lean into the back of the sofa. He stroked his fingers between her legs, feeling his seed coating her cunt and thighs. His witch coated in his semen. He slid his hand forward to tease her clit, and she started moving her hips back against him. He alternated stroking himself and palming her arse with his other hand. Once she was on the verge of begging, he slid into her in one go.

MC gasped as he filled her.

Sebastian couldn’t help but smirk. “I’d have slipped into your tight little cunt just like that.”

She let out an unhindered moan. “Gods, I wish you would’ve.”

Sebastian started rocking his hips. He didn’t go fast, but he was thrusting hard into her. “Yeah?” he asked. “You’d have liked that? Making that git you picked up watch me fuck you senseless?”

MC just moaned again in response as Sebastian kept snapping his hips into her.

He remembered the way she’d stared at him while on top of another man. Sebastian had no intention of ever letting anyone else touch her again, but he’d be lying if he said the image didn’t still give him a thrill. Even when she’d been in the midst of things with someone else, she had still been his.

Sebastian couldn’t resist speeding up his pace. His hands dug into MC’s hips as he pounded into her, while she dissolved into a puddle of pleasure.

“Oh! Right there, Seb!” she keened.

“Like that?” he asked as he targeted the same spot. He already knew the answer.

“Fuck,” she groaned. “Yes! Gods, yes!”

Sebastian was in the middle of demanding she beg if she wanted him to keep going and let her come when a voice called out over his.

“I gave you two one rule!” Ominis boomed before slamming the door behind him.

Sebastian jumped back, slipping out of MC as he scrambled to grab something to cover himself before remembering that Ominis is blind. MC also rushed to get dressed as she wisely went to the other side of the sofa to put it between her and the irate wizard.

“Ominis,” she said, clearly attempting a pleasant tone, but her nervousness was quite obvious. “You’re back early.”

The blond’s scowl deepened. “I’m thirty minutes later than I said I’d be.”

“Oh,” MC said in surprise. She’d clearly kept track of the time as well as Sebastian had – which is to say not well at all.

“You two have defiled my sofa and stolen the innocence of my snakelets!” Ominis said. “You two could’ve at least had the decency to use the bedroom downstairs!”

Sebastian noticed that he was holding his wand out, but the tip was no longer glowing red. Ominis had clearly “seen” enough.

“Sorry, mate. We didn’t really mean to,” Sebastian said sheepishly.

Ominis rolled his eyes. “Yes, I’m sure you just fell into her,” he said sarcastically.

Sebastian took a breath.

“Don’t answer that!” Ominis added quickly. He let out a sigh. “I assume this means you two are back together.”

“We are,” MC confirmed. Hearing her say it made Sebastian’s heart leap.

“Good,” Ominis said tersely. “Please try to refrain from fornicating in my home again for the customary two-and-a-half years.”

“Well, I’m sure we’ll be married long before then,” Sebastian quipped, which made MC’s face go pink.

Ominis wiped a hand down his face. “Remind me why I helped this happen?”

“Because you’re a hopeless romantic and you want your best friends to be happy?” Sebastian suggested.

“Speaking of the hopeless romantic bit, is this a bad time to ask about you and Poppy?” MC prodded.

Ominis glared in her direction. It was, evidently, a very bad time.

MC eventually smoothed things over with Ominis. He even agreed to let Sebastian stay there – with some ground rules. They went to dinner in London, and Sebastian got them a hotel for the night because he couldn’t bear the thought of spending it without MC.

During the following week, Sebastian helped out with the snakes, or “snakelets” as Ominis called them. He met Martin, who was a retired magizoologist that had moved back to Feldcroft after decades of travelling for his career. He worked part time helping Ominis with the rescued animals. The old man was chuffed to work alongside a Parselmouth who could give him insight into the snakes’ thoughts and feelings.

MC helped Sebastian apply to work for the DMLE as an auror, though nothing much would happen with his application until after the new year. Natty threatened him not to get any ideas about stealing her partner away from her.

Much of the week was also spent in preparation for Christmas. Ominis hosted MC and Natty most years, and this one was to be no exception. It was, however, a bit fuller of a party than normal. Aside from all the increasingly-large snakes, Natty brought along Garreth, Martin joined in, and Sebastian was obviously there. In a surprise to everyone except MC, Poppy joined the festivities. Sebastian saw Ominis no-so-subtly drag MC off for a private conversation after he had greeted Poppy quite warmly.

They had an early lunch together that was a veritable banquet. Ominis supplied the main dishes. Everyone else brought sides. Garreth additionally supplied a surplus of booze – from Ogden’s Old to his own brews. They sang carols, played games, and MC and Poppy cooed over the now three-foot-long “baby” snakes. MC even managed to convince Natty to pet one – after Ominis confirmed that it promised not to bite.

Sebastian stole MC away from the group at the first opportunity. She gave him a questioning look as he pulled her into another room as soon as they’d both been eliminated from the current round of Exploding Snap. He just handed her a small box.

“We said we weren’t doing presents,” she whinged.

“I know,” Sebastian replied with a cheeky smile. “It’s not, really. It’s…Well, just open it.”

MC did, and she pulled out a little keychain with a single key.

“I found a flat,” Sebastian announced. “I’m not expecting you to move in right away or anything, but I wanted you to have your own key.”

MC looked stunned. “Already? How?”

“I was very motivated to have my own space,” he said as he stepped into her and wrapped his arms around her waist. “I think you’ll agree that both of our current accommodations are lacking in privacy.”

MC smirked as she wrapped her arms around his neck. Their lips had barely touched when Natty called that they were starting a new round.

“Right on cue,” Sebastian quipped. He pressed a kiss to MC’s nose before taking her hand and leading her back to the living room.

Natty and Garreth had to leave relatively early to go visit the Weasleys. Poppy left shortly after to go see her gran. Ominis walked her out, returning after a suspiciously long amount of time for merely “seeing her off.” Martin also had to go to visit with his children. That left the trio sat around the crackling fire like the days when MC regularly snuck into the Slytherin common room.

“I feel like I should be trying to figure out the next Keeper Trial,” MC mused. She was tucked under Sebastian’s arm on the sofa.

“I’m just relieved that neither of you are trying to convince me to go in some cursed cavern,” Ominis replied.

“Now that you mention it, I’m sure we could find some trouble out in the forest,” Sebastian joked.

Ominis threw a pillow at his head with surprising accuracy. “Don’t even jest about that.”

Sebastian laughed as he snuggled the pillow with the arm not wrapped around MC. He looked from his best mate over to his girlfriend. “I’ve missed this,” he said with a small smile.

It was bittersweet being back for Christmas. It made Anne’s absence feel keener than it had in years, but he was still so grateful to be back with the two people he loved most in the world.

Ominis echoed Sebastian’s thoughts as he mentioned wishing Anne could be there to see the three of them back together.

“I’m sure she knows,” MC said confidently. “And knows how much we miss her.”

Ominis nodded, giving MC a watery smile.

“We should do something in her memory,” Sebastian suggested.

“I’ve got just the thing,” Ominis replied, hopping up from his seat. He rummaged through drawers in the next room before cutting back through on his way to the front door. “Come on, then!”

Sebastian and MC jumped off the sofa and followed Ominis out into the snowy weather. Fortunately, the flakes were just falling softly onto the already snow-laden ground.

Ominis laid out a row of what Sebastian instantly recognised to be fireworks. Anne had landed the three of them in detention for setting off fireworks in the Great Hall back in third year.

They stepped back to a safe distance, and then Ominis lit them all with a blasting curse. The fireworks rocketed into the air in sequence. They exploded into burst of whizzing comets, a large green and silver snake that slithered through the sky, a flock of shimmering doves, and even a unicorn that galloped through the air before swooping down through the town square.

Several houses peered out through their windows or braved the temperatures to come outside and watch. Small faces pressed against glass panes, watching in awe at the sky even as their breath fogged their view. Other children were cradled in their parents’ arms as they giggled and clapped.

“Look, Mommy! A dwagon!” one little girl said, pointing at the sky.

Sure enough, a sparkling, winged form soared high above the little town. It breathed out “flames” of sparks in front of it that glittered brightly before fading away.

The trio stood huddled together against the cold until the last of the fireworks fizzled out. Sebastian resolved that it would be a tradition they would repeat every year as he looked up at the cloudy sky. A twinkle of light from behind the clouds told him Anne agreed.

#sebastian sallow #hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow x f!mc #hogwarts legacy fanfic #sebastian sallow fanfiction #sebastian x mc #sebastian sallow fanfic #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #toxic relationship #bittersweet #mostly sweet though

[thenerdykneazle]

Sallow Soul - Fusion

Summary: Sebastian freaks out when MC disappears. Once she's back, she agrees to talk to him, but then she overhears something that sends her running again. Things culminate in a rather explosive argument - and more. Even so, all is not as it seems to Sebastian.

Sebastian Sallow x F!MC

Warnings: 18+, sexually explicit content, aged-up characters, angst, toxic relationship, bit of a breeding kink

Word count: 11,247

Read on AO3. Part 1. Part 2. Part 3. Part 5. MC's perspective (Kindred Spirits).

Part 4: Fusion

In lieu of his normal run, Sebastian paced around his flat on Wednesday morning as he tried to come up with what to say to MC. He considered everything from demanding another chance to laying his soul bare to “I am but a worm desperate to return to your soil.” It all sounded terrible. He had all but lost hope at the prospect of reconciliation. He was starting to wonder if he could ever even be happy. His whole life had been blown up – Anne was gone, Ominis was estranged, and MC hated him – and he had no one to blame but himself. There were no words to fix what he had done – even before the mess of things he’d made more recently. He resigned to be honest with MC about how much he had missed her, how sorry he was, and how ardently he wished to have her back. The rest would be up to her.

All throughout the morning training, Sebastian tried to steal a moment with MC. He struggled, though. Sofia seemed intent on partnering with her. Sebastian tried catching MC between drills, but Mikko kept coming up to praise his performance or ask for advice. Normally, Sebastian would preen at the compliments. Given the current circumstances, they just annoyed him.

He was stuck behind her on the walk to the cafeteria – too far away to talk to her, although it did give him a rather prime view of her arse. It was hardly his fault. The sway of her hips was damn near hypnotising, and she’d changed into leggings after her shower, which wasn’t helping. He could see the cleft of each cheek, and it made images of her arse in nothing but a green G-string flash into his mind. Gods, it’d have been so easy to pull that string to the side and fuck her from behind. Sebastian shook the thought from his head before Sofia could overhear it or his body could get too excited by it. Besides, he needed to focus on the task at hand, as tempting as it was to take full advantage of the fleeting chances he had to memorise every detail of her. The memories would fade, anyway. They always did.

At lunch, Sofia and Mikko separated him from MC at the table, so he couldn’t easily lean over and ask for a private chat. He was desperate enough to just shout across the table, but Sofia would not stop rambling long enough for him to break into their conversation.

“I really like his style, because it lends itself to rereads. He has these great twists that you don’t see coming, but then you go back and see all the hints he had dropped leading up to it. It’s just enough to make you feel like you could have guessed it but never enough to actually predict it ahead of time and spoil it for yourself. I can’t give examples, as that’d ruin it, of course, but I will say–”

Sebastian could’ve bashed his head into the table in frustration. Honestly, did that woman breathe? It hardly mattered, though, because Mikko was playing 20 questions with Sebastian about his workout routine, which made it difficult to focus.

“What sort of running shoes do you prefer?”

“Do you always run outside or do you use a treadmill sometimes?”

“Aren’t you worried about slipping on the ice?”

“Do you have to change your shoes for the winter?”

“What sorts of warm-ups do you do?”

He was relentless. Sebastian went for a wee just to remember what his own thoughts sounded like. It turned out to be a rather brilliant decision, because he took the opportunity to walk by MC on his way back.

“Hey, can we talk for a second?” he asked, having resisted the urge to lay a hand on her shoulder.

MC had a look of fear in her eyes as she turned to Sebastian. It was crushing. He hated that his proximity made her so uncomfortable, especially when he wanted nothing more than to just be near her.

Before she could respond, a voice came from over Sebastian’s shoulder. “I wanted to ask you something else about your intervals,” Mikko said.

The large blond was genuinely one of the nicest people Sebastian had ever met, but in that moment, he could’ve garrotted the great git.

“Can it wait?” Sebastian asked through gritted teeth.

Mikko gave him a friendly smile. “I just didn’t want to forget. How often are you doing time intervals vs distance, because I feel like it’s hard to push myself for the timed ones. But when it’s distance, the faster I run, the faster it’s over, you know?”

The man, by all accounts, took working out entirely too seriously. Surely, he had nothing else going on in his life to be this dedicated. Sebastian, on the other hand, had much more pressing matters to attend to.

“Then just do them by distance!” he snapped. He really could not give less of a fuck about Mikko’s intervals.

The whole table stared at Sebastian, who let out an exasperated sigh.

 “Look, mate, we can discuss it later,” he said, clapping a hand on Mikko’s shoulder and willing him to understand the importance of the conversation he was trying to have with MC. “All right?”

Mikko’s eyes narrowed at him in a way that quite unnerved Sebastian. He didn’t know his face could look so unamused, so…unfriendly. “I’d really rather talk now,” Mikko replied. It wasn’t up for discussion, evidently.

Sebastian glanced down to MC, who avoided his gaze, and then Sofia, who had a similar look to Mikko. His jaw tensed as he realised what was happening. It was all intentional. They were keeping him from MC on purpose. He glanced at MC once more in hopes of catching her eye, but he didn’t. “Actually, I’m gonna go get settled in the conference room,” he said as he met Mikko’s hard stare.

Sebastian felt numb as he skulked out of the cafeteria. He didn’t know how to process the fact that people felt the need to protect MC from him. The thought made his breath shutter. Was he still so dangerous – so dark – that the Hero of Hogwarts needed saving from him? He loved her. He wanted to be the one protecting her. He would never hurt her. But, then, he had, hadn’t he? Constantly since they were 15. He might never have used an unforgiveable on her since they were trapped in the Scriptorium, but he had caused her plenty of pain – and when he should’ve been the one easing it.

Sebastian didn’t try to talk to MC again. She clearly wanted space. He would give it to her. He would wait until they got home to try to talk to her. If she refused, he would leave her be for the night and try again in the morning. He just hoped she’d hear him out before she left for England.

As such, he didn’t rush after her when she darted out of the conference room at the end of the training. Unfortunately, when he apparated into his flat after completing his cleaning duties, it was empty. Sebastian wasn’t totally surprised by this. MC had gone out frequently enough. He hoped it was to pick up dinner and not dick this time, though. He didn’t think he could take knowing she was with someone else again, even if they did end up using her bed instead of his.

As the time dragged on, the probability that she had gone out just for food dwindled. An hour after Sebastian had gotten home, he started to feel sick. He was certain she’d run off to some stranger’s arms. Not that he had room to judge her on that front, but that didn’t stop him from hating it. In a rather rash decision, Sebastian snatched up his cloak and headed out. He might’ve stumbled upon a receipt in the pocket of MC’s discarded cloak after her last tryst, so he knew where he was checking first.

But MC wasn’t at that pub. Or the next three he tried. After he had spent two more hours searching, frequently stopping back at his flat to check if she’d returned, Sebastian began to panic. What if something horrible had happened to her? He couldn’t search a whole city on his own.

He sent a patronus to Niko before showing up at his flat. Sebastian implored him for help finding MC. The younger lad folded his arms and arched a brow as he considered the terrified Brit. “Why exactly do you think something bad happened? You said she’s gone out before, yeah?”

“She wasn’t out this late before. Something’s not right. She…She would’ve told me if she wasn’t coming back,” Sebastian argued.

“Weren’t you convinced she was missing last time, though?” Niko argued.

Sebastian huffed. “Yes, but something feels wrong. I’m supposed to keep an eye on her. She knows that. She wouldn’t’ve just disappeared without a word.”

“You think she’d have left a note? ‘Gone out to find a bloke to bang. Might stay at his. Don’t wait up.’”

Sebastian narrowed his gaze at his friend. “That’s not funny.”

Niko shrugged. “I wasn’t really joking. I think you’re crazy–”

Sebastian opened his mouth to argue.

“But,” Niko continued before he could speak. “I’ll help all the same, Sepe.”

Sebastian gave him a small smile. “Thanks, mate.”

“Don’t mention it. I don’t want you getting fired on the off chance she actually is in trouble. I like having you around.”

Sebastian had Niko stay near the flat to keep an eye out for MC returning. Sebastian checked further and further locations. He talked to dozens of people, but no one recalled seeing her. He even sent a patronus to try to find her. It was a long shot, as most magical businesses had wards against spectres. He didn’t get a reply.

He sent Niko home at 2 in the morning. Sebastian himself wandered for another few hours, checking both muggle and magical hospitals, before going to the headquarters. His eyes were heavy, but he was too anxious to sleep as he waited in the hopes that MC would show up. If she didn’t make it to the training, he would file an official report that she was missing. He sent another pantronus, but he still received no reply.

As he waited, a thousand horrific scenarios played through his head on what might’ve become of her: slipping on a patch of ice and cracking her head open, running into some thugs that caught her off guard, going home with the wrong guy who attacked her. She could be unconscious in hospital, being tortured, or already dead. There was nothing he could do about any of it. Sebastian had never felt so powerless since his parents’ deaths back before he had magic.

Sebastian alternated between sitting on one of the weightlifting benches and pacing around the room. He was doing the former when the door to the training room opened a little after 5 in the morning. His head snapped up at the sound, but he sat frozen as he looked at the figure walking toward him. Relief flooded through him as MC walked across the dark room, heading straight for him. He worried that she might be a hallucination until she was in clear view.

 “Hello,” MC said in mild surprise once she spotted Sebastian gaping at her.

It was as if her voice reanimated him, and Sebastian instantly shot to his feet as a fury filled him. “That’s all you have to say? Bleeding ‘hello’?” Sebastian yelled as he marched over to her. He was filled with the inferno of his favourite spells. “Where were you? I was up all night trying to find you!”

MC was clearly caught off guard by his outburst, and she skittered back as he advanced on her. “Sofia let me stay at hers,” she replied as if it were no big deal.

Sebastian breathed out a bitter laugh. He was going to need to have a long chat with Sofia about her meddling into others’ lives. “And you didn’t think to tell me?” he demanded.

MC crossed her arms defiantly over her chest as she glared at him. “I told you I don’t need a babysitter.”

Sebastian gripped handfuls of his hair rather than MC’s shoulders to shake some sense into her. “You are literally the biggest pain in the arse I’ve ever met!”

“Then it’s a good thing you don’t have to deal with me anymore,” MC replied, turning to walk away.

Sebastian’s arms went slack at his sides. What was she implying? She was done with him? Gone? It didn’t make sense. Her things were still at his flat. Or, at least, they had been a few hours ago. That might’ve changed. He felt a new wave of panic rising in his throat. “W-what? You’re not coming home tonight?”

She gave him a disdainful look over her shoulder as she headed for the conference room. “I don’t get to go home until tomorrow. But, no, I’m not staying at your flat tonight if that’s what you meant.”

Sebastian jogged after her as adrenaline flooded his veins. No, no, no. She couldn’t leave. He already had so little time left with her. He was supposed to say things. Memorise her features. Maybe give her a message for Ominis if he could find the words.

“Look, I know I crossed some boundaries the other night…” he started.

MC just scoffed, not bothering to look at him.

“I shouldn’t’ve…propositioned you like that,” he continued. “I just…Look, I know I’m never going to get to see you again after tomorrow. I just want one honest conversation before that.”

MC laughed. It was cruel and humourless. “You make it sound like you’re so torn up over this,” she said acridly. “Doesn’t really fit with how you’ve been acting, though. So, what is your real goal here, Sebastian?”

He sighed, defeated. He didn’t know how to convince her he was telling the truth. “I know I’ve been a git for…forever, essentially. I really do just want closure. I’ll answer all your questions, too. I haven’t been the most rational the last two weeks, but…I’ll try to explain. Tonight, yeah? After I finish cleaning this place.”

MC chewed her lip. “Fine,” she gritted out. “But leave me alone until then.”

Sebastian’s face broke into a smile. She’d agreed! She’d actually agreed to talk with him! “Okay. Yeah,” he said eagerly despite trying to temper his excitement. He didn’t want her to change her mind. “I’m not even here.”

He was so elated that he almost hugged her, but he quickly retracted his hands and clenched them into firsts, which he shoved in his pockets for good measure. He gave her a nod of his head, instead, before jogging out to the conference room. He headed to the holding cells and took a nap in an empty one before training began. It was the best he had slept in days.

At 8, he returned to the training room. Jari made them redo the tests he’d given them on their first day of training. The duelling would be postponed until the following day, so they spent the extra time practising defensive spells.

Having promised to leave MC alone, Sebastian spent lunch talking to Niko. “Looks like your school friend wasn’t dead in a ditch, after all,” Niko whispered, looking rather smug.

“She stayed over at Sofia’s,” Sebastian replied in an equally quiet tone.

“Ah, she’s a unicorn,” Niko said knowingly.

Sebastian gave him a confused look.

“Is that just an American one, then?” Niko asked.

Sebastian shrugged, still befuddled.

“A unicorn,” Niko repeated as if saying the word again made its meaning any clearer. “You know…prefers witches.”

Sebastian snorted out a laugh before covering it with a cough. “Yeah, no. Definitely not,” he said decidedly.

Niko raised an eyebrow at him. “Pretty sure about that, aren’t you?” he said teasingly.

Sebastian’s cheeks heated, but he quickly replied, “Well, it was pretty clear after the whole…wrong bedroom debacle.”

Niko sniggered. “Shit, I’d forgotten that part.”

“Lucky you,” Sebastian intoned as he stabbed his fork into his chicken like it still needed killing. “It’s seared in my brain for life, I think.”

“Yeah, I bet! I mean, you two were close at that boarding school, right? You grew up together? I imagine it’d be like walking in on my sister,” Niko said with a shudder.

“Something like that,” Sebastian replied in a stilted tone. “I’m gonna clear my tray. Want me to take yours?”

“Yeah, sure,” Niko said casually, though he gave Sebastian an odd look. Like he could tell something was off.

“You’re being weird,” Niko stated as they walked to the conference room, lagging a bit behind the rest of the group. Sebastian was actively not staring at MC’s arse even though she’d ended up directly in front of him again and her hips had no less sway to them than they had the day before.

“I’m not being weird,” Sebastian asserted, painfully aware that he’d just been looking at ceiling tiles as they walked.

“You are. You have been all training,” Niko argued. He leaned in toward Sebastian and continued even quieter, “I should say since MC showed up.”

Sebastian shot him a look. “You’re imagining things.”

“I’m not,” Niko said firmly. “I haven’t heard you talk about anyone so much since you first joined our squad and wouldn’t shut up about your ex.”

Sebastian’s eyes darted to Niko before he could stop them. Niko had already been studying his face and looked like something had just clicked into place for him.

“Wait, she’s the chick you banged back in school?” Niko hissed.

 Sebastian shot him a deadly glare.

Niko continued unperturbed, “Bro, you didn’t tell me she had special magic! You focused on the wrong talents – I mean, not that her tongue didn’t sound magical, too, but…damn.”

MC whipped around looking irate, and Sebastian’s heart died in his chest. He was fucked. She glared at him like she hoped it could set him ablaze. His throat dried up, suddenly unable to produce saliva let alone words as MC slipped into the conference room with Sofia.

Jari started talking before Sebastian even made it inside. He sat at the empty seat at the back of the table. MC was up at the front by Jari. He had no hope of explaining himself for hours. He. Was. Fucked. He’d been so close to finally talking to MC. He could’ve killed Niko. Bumbling prat. Why couldn’t he have kept his bloody mouth shut?

Sebastian wanted to scream. Or vomit. Or do both simultaneously to disastrous effect. Hopefully, he would aspirate and be put out of his misery.

The training was torture. Sebastian couldn’t pay attention. He hadn’t the foggiest idea what Jari had taught them about. He just sat and sweated and panicked for hours as he tried to telepathically communicate to MC that Niko was a bellend and he had never said anything like that to him. He really should’ve studied legilimency.

The second Jari began dismissing them, Sebastian jumped to his feet and rushed to MC.

“Can we please talk about this tonight?” he begged as she glared daggers at him. “Or now, even! Niko twisted what I–”

“I don’t want to talk about it right now,” MC said, cutting him off as she got to her feet.

“I’m really sorry. I swear it’s not as bad as it sounds,” he said, needing her to know she was not a conquest to be bragged about. She was the love of his life.

MC scoffed as she tried to push past him. He followed after her. He needed her to hear him out.

“Can we still talk tonight?” Sebastian asked urgently as she rushed down the corridor, weaving through the crowded hallway.

“Sure,” she replied sharply before he’d even finished the question. “But don’t send a bloody search party if I decide it’s not worth my time.”

“I’ll be back at my flat within the hour,” he promised, praying to every entity he could think of that she’d be there when he got home.

She pushed the exit open and left without so much as a backward glance.

When Sebastian returned 45 minutes later, it was to an empty flat. Not just “MC was gone” empty. There were no clothes in her dresser, no toiletries in the loo, and her trunk was nowhere to be found. Sebastian started hyperventilating. What if she’d gone back to England? Was he never going to see her again? He’d missed his chance. He’d fucked up his last chance with the woman he loved because he was too proud to just beg for her forgiveness as he should’ve the moment he saw her.

Sebastian lay catatonic in his bed, utterly miserable. He didn’t know how he would finish training if she didn’t show the next day. He didn’t know how he’d live with himself having blown things with her again. He just wished he could see her. Even watching that prick fuck her in his bed would be preferable to never seeing her again.

Every pop of a car outside or click of the radiator had Sebastian half-convinced she’d come back, so when he heard a crack that seemed to come from his living room, he didn’t react, at first. It was only when Sebastian heard a deep, masculine voice that he realised he wasn’t imagining it this time.

“Gods, I’ve wanted to grab this arse all night,” the man had groaned.

The universe, it seemed, had a rather twisted sense of humour. Sebastian crept out of his room and toward the voice to find exactly what he was expecting – MC mauling some bloke. She was rutting against his lap on the sofa like some feral beast, while he groped her arse and mashed his ugly mug into her breasts like a starved infant. He looked at MC’s face reflected in the window, her expression twisted with desire and something else. Something dark.

The sight made Sebastian’s muscles burn. He wanted to storm over and rip MC off the bastard who dared touch her. But he had no right. Besides, she was clearly making a statement fucking some random bloke on his sofa. He wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of knowing she could get to him so easily.

MC’s hooded eyes raised, and she locked eyes with Sebastian through the glass. He arched a brow at her as if to say, This again? Really?

She seemed startled at first, and then embarrassed as she looked down only a moment later. Her lover was too absorbed in mouthing her tits in all the wrong places to notice anything was off, let alone spot Sebastian.

The young aurori made himself comfortable against his living room wall, leaning a shoulder back on it and crossing one ankle over the other. He folded his arms over his chest, as well. Despite himself, his gaze fell down to MC’s increasingly exposed arse. He wondered what the couple would do if he just went up and grabbed her plump cheeks or pulled her hips up and took her from behind.

MC glanced over her shoulder at him, and it reminded him vividly of when she’d done so bent over his counter in nothing but the lacey green underwear he’d transfigured.

Sebastian winked at her. Thanks for the show, love.

MC manhandled her lover into a heated kiss as she grew even more fervent in her movements on his lap. The man was not to be separated from her tits for long, though, and his mouth was soon back on them. MC’s eyes closed as her head fell back. She groaned out a husky, “Oh, fuck.”

Sebastian’s cock jumped in a truly Pavlovian response to her keening. He automatically started stroking himself over his trousers to relieve the tension.

Her lashes fluttered against her cheeks as her eyes opened, and she immediately looked to Sebastian’s reflection instead of the man beneath her. He had to bite back a moan. That git might have her body, but Sebastian had her attention. Fuck, was he about to get himself off watching MC with another bloke? Surely not. He felt at least as angry as he did aroused.

Probably more as the git’s hands wandered up MC’s dress, pulling the hem up toward her waist. Sebastian’s gaze dropped to her bare arse. Only it wasn’t bare. Not totally. She was wearing a G-string. The G-string.

Sebastian saw red at the sight of the green lace caressing the top of MC’s arse. He cleared his throat loudly and relished the frightened jolts MC and her fuckboy gave.

“Could you not?” Sebastian asked drily. “That’s my favourite place to masturbate, and you’re defiling it.”

The top half of the man’s face poked out over MC’s shoulder. “Who the fuck are you?” he asked.

“Name’s Sebastian. This is my flat,” Sebastian growled back with a false smile. It was taking all of his self-control not to draw his wand. “Who the fuck are you?”

“I’m Anton,” the man replied, an undertone of fear in his voice.

“Gods, I was so close!” MC whinged rather belatedly.

No point in whining about being interrupted now.

Anton seemed equally shocked by her outburst. Before the prick could get too smug about it, Sebastian said in a firm voice, “I think you should go, Anton.”

He scampered away like the rat he was, wasting no time apparating out of the flat. MC tugged her dress back into order before sitting on the sofa, calm as you like. It made Sebastian even angrier.

“Nice lingerie,” he bit out.

“Isn’t it?” MC replied with a saccharine smile. “I mean, Anton certainly seemed to think so.”

Sebastian glared at her. His jaw tensed as he held back the venom that demanded to be unleashed on her. She was trying to rile him up. He knew she was. And he finally realised it was for show. She was just trying to push him away. But he wouldn’t let her make him lose focus. This could be his last chance to really talk to her.

“Seeing as you’re free now, how about we have that chat?” he asked, unable to mask all of the irritation in his voice.

MC scrunched her nose. “Ooh, it’s a bit late,” she said, standing up and looking down to a watch she wasn’t wearing. “I’d best turn in. We’ve got the duels in the morning. Wouldn’t want someone getting hurt.”

She’s just doing it to piss you off.

Even with the reminder, Sebastian still felt his anger swell. “Sit. Down,” he demanded.

For once, MC just listened. She immediately planted her arse back down on the cushion, looking up at him like a chastened child.

Sebastian took a calming breath as he raked a hand through his hair. “We’re going to ignore that–” Sebastian waved a hand over the scene of the crime against decency “–whole situation that just happened and have a civilised chat.”

MC crossed her arms, pouting like a schoolyard bully when the object of their teasing refuses to react. “Fine.”

She snuck her nose in the air, avoiding looking at Sebastian with a truly boggling air of defiance. As if he were the one being immature. He supposed she likely thought he was quite a juvenile twat given what she’d overheard during training. He’d be upset too if he thought MC only ever cared about his skills in bed – though, they were admittedly excellent if he said so himself.

“About what Niko said earlier,” Sebastian started, and MC rolled her eyes. “I told him about our relationship a long time ago. Way before I thought I’d ever see you again. He was ribbing me about how ‘whipped’ I seemed, and I made an offhand comment about it being your mouth that I missed. I wasn’t bragging about details. I was deflecting from emotions that I didn’t want to deal with. But I know it was stupid, I just…I’m sorry it hurt you.”

MC shifted on the couch. “You said you’d explain your behaviour over the last two weeks,” she pointed out.

“I…” Sebastian started, but the words wouldn’t come out.

He didn’t know where to begin, anyway. He’d done a lot of stupid things since she’d arrived. Saying out loud how crazy she made him was terrifying, especially when their feelings for each other were so different. And her estimation of him was rather hard to pin down – sometimes she seemed quite taken with him still, others she seemed to think he was the foulest creature she’d had the misfortune to meet.

He sighed. “It’s…complicated.”

MC scoffed, getting back to her feet and starting for the hallway, where she would no doubt disappear into her room until the following day’s training. Sebastian moved to block her path, refusing to let her slip away yet again.

“I’ll do my best,” he promised, shifting nervously from one foot to the other. He bit his lip before continuing, “But it…it would be easier if I knew why you paraded around in that lingerie on Sunday.”

That by far was the most confusing for him. By all accounts, she seemed to be trying to seduce him – quite actively. Then she just ran off the instant he responded.

MC gave him a quizzical look. “I figured if I could get you worked up enough without you being able to do anything about it, you would either change my clothes back or beg me to fix the temperature so you could get hard and have a wank. Either way, I’d get you to give me back my wardrobe.”

Sebastian’s heart sank into his stomach. It had all just been a game for her.

“Oh,” he said, and his voice was distant like it belonged to someone else. But he clung to his second-best hope, risking further devastation rather than give up on the idea that she might still be able to love him back. “What was with the reaction to my hair?”

MC looked peevishly at some spot over his shoulder. “I thought you were supposed to be explaining your actions.”

Sebastian pulled his mind from its despondent haze.

“Right. Well…” Sebastian took another deep breath, this time gathering his courage. “After what you said about me not being worth anything, I guess I just went looking for something that would make me feel like I was. With you calling me the worst mistake of your life, it…” He rolled his jaw to relieve the tension it had gained at the memory of the regrettable way he’d tried to numb his own pain. “It was similar.”

MC finally looked at him, her eyebrow raised with scepticism. “Did it work?”

Sebastian let out a bitter laugh. A dalliance with two witches he was happier to see leave than naked. Crying alone in bed after, plagued with memories of MC. A drunken encounter with a nameless woman that somehow managed to end in him being rejected by MC. Did it work, indeed.

“No,” he said definitively.

Sebastian was the one avoiding looking at her now.

MC gave him a pitying sort of look, as if she knew by some impossible means the sad truths of the events that had occurred behind his bedroom door. “For what it’s worth, I shouldn’t’ve said either of those things.”

Sebastian’s breath halted.

Worthless.

Mistake.

Those two words had weighed heavily on his soul. And she…she regretted saying them. Probably never meant them to begin with if she was taking them back now. It didn’t fully remedy the sting of them, but it eased their burden significantly. Hearing her say that might’ve been better than if she had been trying to seduce him on Sunday.

“I shouldn’t have called you a bitch,” Sebastian admitted in kind.

“Or interrupted my tryst tonight,” she replied cheekily.

Sebastian scoffed. She seemed to be joking, but he couldn’t let it stand. “You expect me to believe you were enjoying that?”

MC rolled her eyes. She puffed out her chest with indignation. “Just because you've never been with a woman who wasn't faking it doesn't mean they can't be pleased.”

That does it!

He would not let her twist their history. He had failed her in many ways, but he had always done his best to take care of her – by fighting her enemies in the forest, comforting her when she had nightmares about Fig’s death, taking over when she let her “extracurriculars” get in the way of basic functions like eating and sleeping, and especially ensuring she was satisfied in bed.

Sebastian stepped into her, forcing her back against the wall. “Don't lie to me, MC,” he growled, crowding into her space further and pinning her in place. “I know you better than you think.”

She laughed arrogantly. “You certainly seem to think so.”

It was a front, and he saw right through it this time.

“You want to know why we worked so well together? Because, at the end of the day, after you've been running around saving everyone - solving all their problems, making constant life or death decisions - you want someone else to carry the burden for you. You want them to make the decisions. And, for me, being with you was the only time I was ever truly in control. We're a perfect match, you and I.”

“Then it’s a shame you ruined it,” MC bit back, pushing his chest and forcing him off of her.

Sebastian staggered back, but MC didn’t escape to her room right away.

You ruined it, echoed in his mind.

It was true, but it wasn’t the whole story. Not at all, and definitely not where it ended. Sebastian let out a frustrated noise as he pulled his hair. “I’m trying to fix it!” he said, his voice raising significantly.

“You picked dark magic over me!” MC said, matching his tone. “And then you left us all behind like we were nothing!” Her voice cracked on the word, and a part of Sebastian’s heart cracked with it. “You don’t get to just pretend none of that happened! You can’t undo that! You can’t fix it!”

“I was trying to save Anne!” he argued. He’d never meant to hurt MC. He hadn’t wanted to leave her – or Ominis or Anne. But he couldn’t stay and just watch his sister die. “I left to find something, anything that might help her!”

“Well, that worked out splendidly, didn’t it?” MC said cruelly, throwing Anne’s death in his face like wine on a handsy cad at a bar. She was callous, letting the words flow out without remorse.

Sebastian shook with rage. He couldn’t believe she would go there. How dare she?

The air around them crackled with his magic as it fought to explode out from him. It was all he could do to contain it, lest it burst free and raze his flat or worse. His emotions were left unrestrained. “YOU DON’T THINK I REALISE IT WAS A MISTAKE?” he screamed, the words clawing his throat raw as they spewed out.

MC fell silent.

Sebastian couldn’t see her reaction as his eyes had welled with tears. They quickly began spilling down his face as he dissolved into a fit of sobs. His legs failed him, and he slid down the wall into a heap on the floor.

“I lost my last months with my sister,” he said, his voice rough and unsteady as his body continued to shake. He had never admitted the guilt he felt over it before. He had always worried that if he did, it would become too real and consume him. “I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”

“Sebastian,” MC said softly, taking a step toward him.

“I’m–” Another sob tore from his throat. “…s-so sorry.” He had his face buried in his knees as he hugged them to himself. “I know I should’ve come back, I just–” He took a gasping breath as he fought to get the words out. “It was easier to start over. Pretend that version of me had never existed.”

MC’s fingers ran through his hair. Like they had thousands of times. Like they always used to when he was upset. In that moment, it was like having her back. Like he wasn’t alone.

Sebastian looked up at the blurry image of her, blinking to try to clear his vision so he could memorise how she looked at him. With compassion. Or even if it were pity. Either way, caring about him – and not with the hatred her eyes had so frequently held since she’d arrived.

“I missed you,” MC said quietly as she continued to rake through his hair. “That you. This you. A new one. It doesn’t matter to me. I just…miss you.”

At her admission, Sebastian started crying again. He got to his knees and buried his face in her hip, his tears soaking into her dress. He clung to the backs of her thighs like she might disapparate at any moment. “I’ve missed you somuch!”

He had. And he needed her so badly.

Still stroking his hair, she said in a gentle, cautious voice, “I’m sorry you didn’t get to say goodbye to Anne.”

“It was my own fault,” Sebastian admitted, and the truth of it almost crushed him.

“I’m still sorry,” she said.

She combed his hair out of his face with her fingers, and he clung to her even more tightly. She was a buoy keeping him from drowning in his sins.

Sebastian swallowed a lump in his throat. “She died thinking I’d abandoned her.”

MC didn’t look at him with disappointment or disgust. Or even pity. As she pursed her lips, he saw a look of stern resolution in her face. “If you read the letter she left you, you know that isn’t true.”

Sebastian had read it. Anne assured him that she held no ill will against him for leaving. It helped, but it didn’t change the facts. “I still should’ve been there for her,” he argued. “I would’ve. I swear, I would’ve come back. I just…” His voice grew small. “I thought I had more time.”

“I know, Seb,” she said, hugging him to her legs. “We all did.”

He grabbed her waist and pulled himself slowly to his feet.

MC placed a gentle hand on his cheek, and Sebastian covered it with his own as he leaned into the warmth of it. “I don’t want to lose you again,” he croaked.

MC stared up at him with wide eyes, though whether it was from surprise or disbelief or fear, he didn’t know. But what he did know was he needed her to know he meant it.

When he cupped her face in both hands, she tilted her chin up towards his. When he leaned in to kiss her, she leaned in, too. When he kissed her, she kissed him back. He devoured her lips, drinking in all that she would give him. Her hands were already tangled in his hair. Her reactions to him – her acceptance of him – was rapidly stoking his desire.

He backed her against the wall until her shoulders smacked against it, and then he brought a hand to her throat – just resting there, not squeezing. He could feel her pulse bounding under his thumb. He pressed his body flush against hers, eliminating any space between them. She tasted faintly of firewhiskey, and he wondered fleetingly if she’d be the one to drink it or Anton had. The thought drove him feral. He kissed and nipped and licked at her bottom lip until it was red and swollen to show proof that he’d been there. That MC was his.

He nudged his thigh between her legs. She let out a deep moan without bothering to stop snogging him to let it escape. Sebastian swallowed her noise greedily. It was only a taste of what he had in store for her.

They broke for air but stayed close, panting in each other’s breaths because they couldn’t bear to be distant.

“I love you, MC,” Sebastian said with abandon before diving in again, tongue and teeth everywhere on her lips as he continued to grind his thigh against her. “I never stopped loving you.”

MC gripped his shoulders for support as she rutted against him. She didn’t say it back, but that was okay. She was there. She was with him. He would take it, even if she only wanted to use him for the night. He would gladly be hers. He already was anyway.

Sebastian lifted her onto his hips, and she linked her ankles behind him and laced her hands in his hair. He groaned as she tugged the strands, and he attacked her neck as he carried her to his room. He kicked the door shut behind them even though there was really no reason since she was his only flatmate. Maybe it was to dissuade her from darting away if she started to feel flighty.

Sebastian threw MC down sideways on the bed. She smiled as she bounced on the mattress. She’d always liked when he manhandled her a bit. Sebastian kissed her one more time before dragging her to the edge of the mattress as he got down on his knees. MC let out a surprised yelp, but her smile never faltered. Her eyes burned into his as her teeth sank into her lip, and her hips squirmed with anticipation as his hands trailed over her thighs.

He pushed her dress up over her hips, and then he was biting his lip, too, as he took in the sight of her in those damned knickers. They were damp from grinding on his thigh in the hall. He had a matching spot on his trouser leg to prove it.

Sebastian checked back in with MC before he was too far gone. She looked back at him through large pupils in her half-lidded eyes. She wanted him, and he was eager to give himself to her. He’d remind her what they’d had – what he could be with her. He would make her forget what it was like without him, ensuring she never wanted to return to that version of life.

He dragged the green lace off MC’s hips, down her legs, and tossed them away. His hands slid up from her ankles to just above her knees, ghosting over her smooth skin. He leaned forward and licked up her slit. He’d intended to keep his eyes locked on hers the whole time he ate her out – at least until her first orgasm. But when he tasted her, he couldn’t stop them rolling back as he moaned.

“Fuck, I missed you.” He said the words like a prayer of thanks.

MC was already whimpering as she gripped one hand into his hair again. Sebastian took his time warming her up, nevertheless. He alternated, tracing his tongue up one lip, then the other, and pausing to press delicate kisses against her clit in between. Nothing too aggressive, though he kept a firm grip on her thighs. She was a hazard once she got going.

Finally, Sebastian pressed his tongue into her heat, making her gasp and her cunt clench around it. He moaned in response, and it caused her hips to jolt. She’d probably have bashed his nose in if he hadn’t been holding her so tightly. A hazard. He loved it – loved how she lost control with him.

Sebastian chuckled at his needy girl. “Patience,” he said. “I’m not nearly done with you.”

He tried not to think about it, but he couldn’t totally banish the thought: If this was goodbye, he was going to make the most of it. He hoped it wasn’t, but he’d be foolish not to acknowledge the possibility. He’d already made that mistake once.

MC keened as he returned to his efforts, focusing on her clit for a bit now that she’d been sufficiently wound up. He smirked against her as he raised his eyes to see her reaction. Her brow was drawn tight and her teeth were biting hard into her bottom lip. She was aching for release.

“I’m going to make you come until you can’t see straight,” Sebastian vowed before placing an open-mouthed kiss to her clit. “Fuck you like you deserve. Like no one else can.”

He licked firmly up the centre of her cunt to coat his tongue in the taste of her. When he reached the top, he stayed, flicking up and down over her clit. When he sucked on it, she let out a keening cry.

“Fuck, Sebastian!” she moaned, and he had to press his hips into the side of the bed with how badly she had him aching. Her taste, her noises, his name on her lips. Gods. How had he survived years without her? He refused to think about having to do it again. All that existed was the two of them in that moment. No past. No future. Just the present. Just being together.

Reuniting.

MC’s hand grew painfully tight in its grip on his hair. He’d gladly let her rip it all out if he got to see her come undone. “Oh, gods! Please!” she cried. “Please, please, please!”

That’s it, love. I’ve got you.

He could tell she was close, and he was as desperate for her release as she sounded. Sweet Salazar, he wanted her to come for him.

Sebastian redoubled his efforts, holding her firmly in place lest he risk losing an eye – she’d always told him he had rather pretty ones, so he’d rather not.

She swore like a sailor as her body drew tight. The telltale spasm of her hips followed – jerky, irregular movements as pulses of pleasure wracked through her. It was an addicting sight. One Sebastian was eager to see again as he refused to let up. He worked her body to a second orgasm, gave her a brief reprieve, and then started building her toward a third. She already looked spent – poor thing was probably out of practice. Not to worry. He’d whip her back into shape.

With some teamwork between his tongue on her clit and fingers buried inside her, Sebastian brought her to a third climax, her whole body arching off the bed. When it was over, she released his hair and panted heavily as her head fell back on the mattress. He knew her muscles must be tired after he’d kept her tensed up for so long. Every inch of her skin glistened with sweat. Sebastian was tempted to lick it off her. Though, his tongue was admittedly a bit fatigued. He might have been out of practice, too. Though, he’d always been very dedicated to training – Crossed Wands, the aurori academy, running. He quite liked the idea of a new hobby – or, rather, picking an old one back up. He really, really hoped he got the chance.

She lifted her leaden head to look at him. A soft, contented smile on her face was illuminated by the dim lamplight. Sebastian swallowed thickly as emotion caught his throat at the idea of making MC content forever. Making her happy. Being the type of man she could build a life with. He stroked MC’s thighs lovingly as he pictured a thousand different futures with her.

Sebastian pulled himself up and let his weight press into her as he covered her body with his, careful to make sure he wasn’t crushing her. He brushed back the hair clinging to MC’s sweaty forehead. “You’re perfect. So perfect,” he whispered reverently against her lips before capturing them in his own.

MC clawed him closer as she kissed him back. The kiss was slow and deep, but she had an urgency in her movements all the same.

“I love you,” she said breathlessly.

Sebastian pulled back, looking down at her in shock. Had she really said it? Had he imagined it?

He searched her eyes and found sincerity, vulnerability, love. Those thousand futures suddenly seemed truly possible instead of mere fantasies.

He crashed his mouth back into hers.

“Please,” she begged when they broke apart for air. The tips of her fingers traced down the buttons on the front of his shirt. “I need you.”

Sebastian was glad he was lying down, because those three words would’ve made his knees give out. They definitely made his cock throb with his own need for her. “I’m here, darling. You have me,” he promised her.

He stood up to strip his clothes off. If he’d had his wand in hand, he’d have vanished them. When he turned back to his witch, he found her lying on her stomach over the edge of the bed, feet on the ground and bare arse in the air. He groaned at the sight.

He smoothed his palm over her backside as if to say, I’ve missed you. “Gods, I’ve been thinking about fucking you like this nonstop since Sunday,” he said as he trailed his fingers up her spine, sliding her dress up higher as he went.

“I know,” MC replied with a smirk.

She’d always had a good sense about when he was particularly randy, whether from absence, stress, or her teasing. She would just know exactly what he needed.

Sebastian bent down to nip the sensitive skin of her arse, earning a moan from her. He stood up and admired the red marks as they darkened into existence, swiping a delicate thumb over them. It was like his signature on her skin. He intended to brand her with more than just lovebites, though. He had a primal urge to fill her with his seed, even if she were probably on potions that would keep it from taking. It satisfied something deep in him to leave a part of him inside of her. Anything to mark her as his. He’d brand her soul if it were possible and let her carve her name on his in return.

Gripping himself, Sebastian nudged her folds with the head of his cock. He found her hot and slick, and it made his knees weak just having contact again. He rubbed against MC, coating himself in the mixture of her arousal and his own saliva. She was soaked, and he knew he would slide in easily. He knew her walls would welcome him before gripping him tight. Gods, she was so–

“Bloody perfect,” he muttered aloud.

Sebastian lined himself up with her entrance when she began to shift her hips back toward him to entreat him inside. She moaned as he pressed in slowly. So slowly. He wanted to feel everything as her body welcomed him back. Welcomed him home. It felt overly sentimental to even think it, but it was the truth. Being with MC felt like coming home after years of wandering in an unfamiliar wilderness.

Pressing his chest down against her back, Sebastian cupped MC’s cheek as she arched back to meet him in a kiss. The word was reductive, though. It wasn’t just a kiss. It was a unification as they gave themselves over to each other, fusing into one as they joined in every possible way. MC accepted him as she accepted his tongue into her mouth with a moan. She confessed her passion and longing as she kissed him back and chased his lips as he began to right himself.

Immediately, Sebastian’s hands massaged into her round backside – pressing into the flesh he’d claimed with his teeth. They slid up to anchor on her hips as his own began to rock against her. He dragged his cock out slowly until just the tip remained nestled in her, and then thrust back inside until the front of his hips bit against the backs of hers. Until he was buried in her heat once more.

MC’s hands knotted into the sheets. A shuttering moan tore from her throat as Sebastian thrust even deeper, causing her to clench around him as he hit a spot that lit her nerves on fire. He couldn’t help but groan back at her as he aimed to hit the same spot again. She moaned again as he found it once more.

That. That was why he loved taking her from behind. There was a unique pleasure she could find when he did. A pleasure he could give her.

MC panted and whimpered as he slammed against that spot over and over. She wound the sheets tighter around her fists as he wound her body up pounding into her relentlessly. She was enraptured. She let him know how much she loved it.

“Fuck.”

“Yes!”

“Don’t stop.”

When her words failed and she could no longer keep thrusting back on him, he knew she was close. The thought of her coming with him buried inside her gave him a dangerous spike of pleasure. When her legs shook and he reached down to rub circles on her clit, her orgasm nearly triggered his own. He practically growled out the groan that erupted from him as she trembled and clenched around him. He had to still his hips and grip the mattress with the hand that hand been strumming her to force his body back from the precipice.

Sebastian usually preferred to fuck her through her high, prolonging it as much as he could. Instead, he was gritting through it so they could continue. Because once this tryst came to an end, he couldn’t be sure there would still be a “they.” She loved him, yes, but he still couldn’t shake the fear that it wouldn’t be enough. That he’d done too much for this to be a new beginning and not goodbye. Ultimately, it was the pain of that thought that allowed him to hold off.

Sebastian pulled out of MC so he could flip her onto her back, tearing her dress over her head and her bra off her chest. He scooped her up to lay her in the middle of the bed. No sooner had he set her down than he was stalking over her.

“I’m gonna pump you so full that you taste me on your tongue,” he vowed as he settled over top of her.

She smirked as she pulled him into a kiss. Her knees bracketed his hips, and her bare chest was pressed against his. With a deft tilt of his pelvis, Sebastian slid his length back into her, no longer able to tolerate their sole remaining point of separation. MC’s head fell back as he filled her, breaking their kiss, and so his lips tailed down to her neck. He brought a hand between them to massage her breast and moved to lave the other. MC’s chest pushed into his face as her back arched in pleasure. He loved it. He wanted her everywhere – wanted to be overwhelmed with her presence.

“Fuck, I love you, MC,” he said, bringing his forehead to rest against hers. He had become so caught up in her, that he’d forgotten to move entirely.

“I love you,” she replied.

That primal urge to fill her sparked up his spine and sent his muscles into action. He set a languid cadence, at first. MC met a few of his thrusts before going limp with fatigue. Her pleased moans continued, though, and so did Sebastian. He sped up his thrusts until MC’s nails were clawing down his back as she held on. Her moans had turned to whimpers, though they were still cries of pleasure.

Sebastian could feel his climax building as he fucked MC frantically. But it wasn’t just fucking. It was more for him. And he needed to know it was for her, too.

“Tell me…tell me there’s no one else,” he demanded breathlessly. “No one who fucks you like this.”

“Gods, no! No one,” she swore followed by a loud moan as he pounded harder into her. “Fuck, Sebastian.”

Just him. No one else. Not the poncy blond who marked her neck or fucking Anton groping her ass. Only him. Just like it was only her.

“This…cunt…is mine!” he growled between panting breaths. “No one else gets to have you!”

“Just you,” MC vowed. “Gods, I missed you. Please, Sebastian. Please!”

He bit into the curve where her neck met her shoulder as his hips sped up even more. She was keening as he released inside her with a groan. From being so close earlier, there was a blinding pressure behind his eyes as he finally climaxed.

Sebastian couldn’t help but think if he came with enough force, or depth, or volume, maybe it would overcome that contraceptive potion. And then she would keep being his, while they took care of someone who was theirs. It was horrible, he knew, but the hope was there as his hips kept pumping his seed deeper into her.

He just couldn’t bear the thought of the end with her. Sebastian recaptured her lips, and he was desperate and sloppy as their mouths melded together. MC’s hands tangled in his hair, and she seemed as unwilling as he was to let the kiss end.

Maybe she dreaded them ending, too, he thought. Maybe she also wanted forever.

When they broke apart, they were both panting wildly. Sebastian smiled down at MC, drinking in the affection in her eyes as she looked up at him. He pressed a quick kiss to her lips before rolling off of her to let her breathe. He lay on his side and pulled her so they were chest-to-chest again. He wrapped his arms protectively around her waist but was careful to keep them loose enough not to impede her still-heaving lungs.

Sebastian closed his eyes as he pressed a lingering kiss to the top of MC’s head.

“Fuck,” she breathed out, sounding spent. A small, satisfied smile played on her lips.

“Yeah,” Sebastian replied fondly as he looked down at her. He could stare at her for hours, even as knackered as he was.

“I forgot how horrendously persistent you are,” she teased.

Sebastian laughed. “I was going to make you ride my face before I took you, but then you displayed your arse so perfectly for me. I could hardly resist.”

MC rolled her eyes, but her smile grew. “Fucking course you were.”

Sebastian kissed her, not hesitating to slide his tongue into her mouth. “You love it,” he asserted.

But behind the banter was a question: Do you love me like you used to? Equally important: Will you let me love you?

She glared at him, but there was no malice in her eyes.

He laughed again, because even though it wasn’t an answer, it felt like old times. For the moment, that was enough. “You’re so bleeding stubborn,” he chided light-heartedly.

“And you’re a bloody menace,” she replied tartly.

“But I’m your menace,” he retorted.

MC smiled at that, and it made his heart sing. He felt some of the tension leave his body. She was there with him. She wanted to be with him. Wanted him to be hers.

“All right. Time for some sleep, love,” Sebastian said, tucking a stray lock of hair behind her ear. “We’ve got a big rematch in the morning. I mean the duel, of course, although…”

He gave her a cheeky smile.

“No,” MC said firmly. “Knowing you, we’d end up missing the whole morning of training.”

“Yeah, fair enough,” he replied with a chuckle.

He summoned his wand and then conjured some blankets over them so they didn’t have to move. With another swish of his wand, he turned the lights out.

“Good night, MC,” he said as he gathered her back to his chest.

“Good night,” she replied, settling in against him.

Sebastian awoke to MC stirring. She’d turned over – or maybe she’d done that during the night – and her back was to him now. He snuggled against her, his arms tightening around her middle and his face burying in her neck. “Morning, love,” he mumbled happily.

“Morning,” MC replied stiltedly.

He chuckled at her pinched voice. “Don’t worry. I’m not trying to start anything,” he promised, shifting his hips back so his morning wood wasn’t pressing so aggressively into her backside. “I’m just happy to see you.”

MC laughed as she turned in his arms. “Good. I’m going to need weeks to recover from last night.”

Sebastian rolled his eyes and grinned at her. “I give it two days.”

“Unfortunately for you, I’ll be back in England by then,” MC teased back.

Sebastian’s teeth worried his lip as he mustered up his courage.

“About that,” he said nervously, looking down at her arm as he traced shapes onto it with the tips of his fingers. “I was going to ask if you’d stay for the weekend. I mean, I know you have to go back to work on Monday, but I thought maybe you could stay until Sunday.”

He looked up at her hopefully once he’d gotten the words out.

“Oh,” MC said, clearly surprised. “Well, my portkey is scheduled for this evening…”

“You could put in a request for a time change. I could fill out the form for you,” he offered, hoping he was being helpful and not demanding. He didn’t want her to feel forced into staying, but he wanted to make it as easy for her as possible. “But you don’t have to decide right now. The transport office is right next to Aurori Headquarters. I could pop by at lunch.”

“Yeah, I’ll let you know,” she said resolutely.

Sebastian smiled. “Good. And I could come visit you over the long weekend next week. We can figure it out from there.”

He hoped he didn’t sound presumptuous inviting himself over for Christmas, but he thought it would be worse not to suggest spending it with her. That, and he really, really wanted to be with her for the holidays. All of them, really. But especially Christmas. They’d spent it in Feldcroft together sixth and seventh years, and they were some of the happiest memories of his life.

“Yeah, that sounds great,” MC said to Sebastian’s relief.

They got up, Sebastian dressed, and he made breakfast while MC showered. They ate together, and he couldn’t stop staring at her. He was in disbelief that things had taken such a turn for the better. Really, he shouldn’t have believed it. He should’ve known it was too good to be true. But he wanted it so badly that he ignored the cracks in her smile and the distance in her stare. He didn’t even realise something was wrong when he beat her in their duel. He didn’t even notice the tension in her voice when she told him on the way to lunch that she’d delayed her portkey. So, he believed her. Like he shouldn’t have.

It wasn’t until too late that reality struck him. They went out for drinks with the group after training, and everything was fine – until it wasn’t. He kept his arm around the back of MC’s chair, and she leaned into him like she wanted to be there. She giggled when he whispered in her ear as if she liked it. It was an innocuous question that finally broke her.

“Do you want to go out to dinner tonight, or shall I order takeaway?” he asked.

He would offer to cook, but he wanted to be able to focus on her. He had lots of plans for after dinner. Not those sorts of plans – he always gave her time to recover after particularly…strenuous sessions. If they hadn’t needed to be up so early, he would’ve done more to help her recover yesterday. As it was, he was set on getting her in a hot bath that night. As she soaked, he’d heal any bruises he’d left the night before – or during the duel. He’d massage her hands, relaxing the muscles that’d been stressed as she grabbed onto his hair and his sheets for hours. He’d give her tender kisses and gentle touches and maybe still caress her breasts a bit, since – all in all – he hadn’t given them much attention the night before.

“I…Um…” MC stammered, suddenly looking nervous.

Sebastian’s brow furrowed in concern as she trailed off and her eyes darted away.

“I can’t do this,” she blurted out, a bereft look on her face.

“What?” Sebastia asked, taken aback. Panic seized his chest as she pushed out her chair.

MC shot to her feet. “I need to go.”

Sebastian rushed to stand up, as well. “Okay. I’ll take you back.”

Was she feeling ill? An asinine thought about morning sickness flitted through his mind before he regained sense. Things didn’t work that fast, and he refused to entertain the idea of anyone else siring her children. It was probably the cafeteria food or fatigue from training.

“No!” MC said quickly. Then, in a milder tone, she added, “I…I’m going home. I can’t do this–” She gestured between them. “–with you. Not again.”

Sebastian was left dumbfounded as MC grabbed her cloak and sprinted out of the pub. It took him several seconds to process her words. Then, without so much as a glance back at the audience currently gaping at them, he took off after her. He burst through the pub’s door to find MC rummaging in her cloak pockets.

She pulled out a stubby pencil with a sort of triumph, and Sebastian knew what it was without needing to ask. Her face fell as she looked at him.

Time almost felt suspended as she stood on the snowy pavement, just staring at him. But fresh snow was falling, collecting in her hair and on her shoulders. Her breath curled in the air in front of her rosy face. It’d be quite a pretty picture – a quintessential holiday scene – if it didn’t make Sebastian’s stomach drop as his veins filled with the chill of the snow around them.

He fixed his gaze on the pencil. The portkey.

“It doesn’t leave until Sunday,” he stated, as if saying the words could make them true.

She almost looked apologetic as she said, “I never changed it.”

But he had already known it. Too late, admittedly, but still before she’d gotten the words out. He couldn’t blame her for not wanting to give him another chance. He’d already had more than was fair. But why pretend she was going to? Why let him hope and dream and make plans? Why sleep with him in the first place? Why give him a taste of everything he wanted to rip it away again? Just–

“Why?” Sebastian asked, his voice cracking – unable to manage the single word.

Her bottom lip quivered as her face twisted with grief. “I’m sorry. I…I just–”

And then she was gone. Her breath faded from the air. The puff of snow that had kicked up as the portkey whisked her away settled back to the ground. Only footprints remained, and even those were slowly being filled in by the falling snow.

The pub door opened, and Sebastian didn’t even turn until he heard Sofia’s voice ask, “Where did she go?”

He blinked back tears and swallowed thickly before replying, “Home.”

Next chapter.

#sebastian sallow #hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow x f!mc #hogwarts legacy fanfic #sebastian sallow fanfiction #sebastian x mc #sebastian sallow fanfic #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #toxic relationship

[thenerdykneazle]

Yule Ball

images of Garreth above from @dvinaamesca here and here

Summary: Sometimes our favourite gregarious Gryffindor can be a bit thick. Professor Black reinstates the Yule Ball in your seventh year, and you realise last-minute that your boyfriend isn't planning on taking you. Leander tries to help his best mate patch things up with you. Sometimes simple misunderstandings lead to hurt feelings, but talking it out (and makeup sex) is always worth it.

Garreth Weasley x Gryffindor F!MC

A/N: Did I write an almost 9k fic because I loved a screenshot so much? Yes. Yes, I did. At any rate, this blog was far overdue for some Garreth love.

Warnings: 18+, explicit sexual content, aged-up characters, Garreth being oblivious, failure to communicate, caught indisposed, talks of hypothetically pregnant MC

Word count: 8621

Seventh year was going surprisingly well for you. The stress of exams was nothing compared to quashing a goblin rebellion, and poaching was at an all-time low in the Highlands. If you were honest, it was a bit dull. You had tried, back at the end of sixth year, to get Black to reinstate the Triwizard Tournament. You argued that it was the perfect time, exactly a century after the last one had been held. He had refused outright, arguing that it was “too dangerous.” You suspected his concern was less directed at whatever students would be competing and more due to the fact that the heads of the participating schools had been injured during the last one in 1792. Bloody coward.

You had started a whole campaign, hoping to pressure him into it, but he wouldn’t relent. Poppy managed to convince him to at least host a Yule Ball the following Christmas. The vain headmaster leapt at the chance to bring out his dress robes. It was settled.

At least you had quidditch to keep you from being bored to death. Games and practices playing chaser alongside your boyfriend were the highlight of each week. You had worried it might cause friction between the two of you when you and Garreth joined the team last year. Quite the contrary, you both worked together flawlessly. You practised so much that you had an almost telepathic connection on the pitch. You had been so close to winning the Quidditch Cup last year, and you had high hopes for this season.

Still, quidditch only provided so much of a distraction given the level of adventure to which you were accustomed, and you had looked forward to the Yule Ball all of autumn term. Poppy – and, to your surprise, Imelda – led the planning effort. You were confident it was going to be spectacular. You had already gone shopping with Natty, and Mr. Hill insisted on making custom gowns for both of you. He had always been appreciative of you two saving his shop from the troll back in fifth year.

As you were studying in the library for end-of-term exams, Poppy updated you on the planning. The ball was to be an all-night, Regency-style affair complete with dancing, a late supper, and more dancing. You couldn’t wait for Christmas to arrive.

Over lunch, Garreth expressed a similar sentiment. “I cannot wait for exams to be over. I swear my aunt is lurking around every corner to make sure I’m revising properly,” he groused. “It’s like she has no faith in me.”

“She just wants you to do well,” you assured him, rubbing a soothing hand between his shoulder blades.

“At least we have the holidays to look forward to,” he said. “Your parents are letting you stay here in the castle, right?”

“Yes!” you replied eagerly. “It’s going to be splendid, isn’t it? Have you gotten dress robes?”

Garreth’s brow furrowed in confusion. “What for?”

You gaped at him. “For the Yule Ball.”

He looked caught off guard. “I wasn’t planning on attending,” he admitted.

“What? You–You’re not going?” you asked, taken aback. “Are you serious?”

Your conversation caught Leander’s attention, and he looked nervously between you two. His eyes widened with intent as he stared at Garreth.

“I’m not much of a dancer,” Garreth explained. “What’s the point?”

Leander hid his face in his hand, clearly embarrassed at his best mate’s lack of tact.

The bench scraped harshly on the stone floor as you got to your feet. “What’s the point?” you repeated, furious.

Garreth shrugged. “I mean, it’s not like I’m telling you that you can’t go,” he said.

“Garreth Weasley, you inconsiderate – you oblivious – you – Ugh!” you spluttered. You grabbed your bag off the ground before storming off, leaving Garreth sat stunned on the bench.

“What is her problem?” he asked Leander.

“Mate…” the tall redhead said in a pitying tone. He just shook his head at the boy.

You spent the rest of exams avoiding Garreth. Fortunately, there were no quidditch practices to force you to interact with him. You studied in the Undercroft instead of the library. When you weren’t studying, you holed up in your dorm room where he couldn’t reach you. He tried to get Natty or Cressida to convince you to talk to him, but you were still too mad. You had spent months looking forward to the Yule Ball. You’d gushed to him about your excitement for the event dozens of times. It had never crossed your mind that your boyfriend wouldn’t escort you.

He managed to corner you once, on your way out of the potions exam. You suspected he had finished well before you and lingered for the express purpose of trying to talk to you. He chased you out, pulling you into an alcove in the corridor. “MC, I’m sorry,” he said, looking devestated. “I didn’t mean to upset you.”

You scowled, but you were listening.

“I just…I didn’t realise you cared so much about a silly little ball,” he continued, inserting his foot directly into his mouth.

You scoffed, shoving past him and starting down the corridor.

“Wait, that came out wrong,” Garreth said, rushing after you.

“Did it, now?” you replied, unconvinced.

You stopped abruptly, spinning back to face him as you crossed your arms over your chest. Garreth almost walked straight into you, but he caught himself just in time.

You arched an accusing brow at him. “Was this supposed apology going to involve you asking me to said ‘silly little ball’?”

“I…Well…” he stammered, his nervous eyes looking anywhere but at you.

You huffed as you whipped back around. Garreth called after you as you stormed away, but you didn’t stop that time.

Your anger continued to simmer through the end of exams on the 23rd. Normally, the Hogwarts Express would’ve been packed that evening as students headed home for the Christmas holidays. However, it was nearly empty that night. It seemed everyone else was as excited for the ball as you were – everyone except your boyfriend, that is.

You spent hours practising spells in the Undercroft that evening. Ominis found you down there. The smell of smouldering crates filled his nose immediately.

“Still upset with Garreth, I take it?” Ominis asked as he strode into the room.

“Yep,” you replied curtly.

“Are you going to stop talking to him forever over a dance?” he asked seriously, folding his arms as he leaned back against a blank stretch of stone wall.

You rolled your eyes. “It’s not the dance. It’s that he knew how excited I was for it and still had no plans to attend it with me. It’s like he doesn’t care about what’s important to me.”

Ominis cocked his head to the side as he considered your words. “Have you explained that to him?”

Your jaw tensed. “I shouldn’t have to.”

Ominis pursed his lips, shaking his head slightly. “That’s a healthy way to handle it,” he said sarcastically.

“I don’t want to hear it, Mr. My Relationship is Soooo Perfect,” you groused. “You and Poppy both love dancing. It’s not fair.”

You crossed your arms in a huff.

Ominis smirked at the mention of his girlfriend. “Well, we are fortunate in that,” he said. “I’ll save a dance for you, tough, shall I?”

“That’d be lovely. It’ll be the only one I get,” you replied – admittedly, being a bit melodramatic.

Ominis snorted. “Right. Because people can only dance at a ball if they already have a partner.”

“Will you just let me sulk?” you snapped.

Ominis rolled his eyes. “You’ve been sulking all week, MC,” he pointed out. “I won’t let you ruin the ball for yourself.”

You sighed. He had a point. Just because Garreth was being an arse didn’t mean you shouldn’t try to enjoy the event you’d been looking forward to since the end of spring term.

The door to the seventh-year boys’ dormitory shut with a soft click. Leander stared at his best mate, lying face-down in bed on top of his sheets.

“I take it the grovelling didn’t go well?” he asked as he crossed the room to sit on the edge of his own bed.

Garreth mumbled incoherently into his pillow.

“Come again?” Leander said.

Garreth turned his head to the side, still lying boneless otherwise. “There was no grovelling,” he said. “She still won’t speak to me. Or listen. Or do anything but bolt the other direction when I spot her in the halls.”

Leander hummed sympathetically. “Did you try having Natty pass along your apology?”

“She refused,” Garreth said dismally. “Said I should apologise to her myself, even though that’s literally impossible seeing as MC won’t be in the same wing of the castle as me for more than five seconds. I don’t know what to do, Lee.”

Leander clicked his tongue. “That is a tough spot,” he said. “I suppose you do know one place you can definitely find her.”

“She hasn’t used the Room of Requirement all week. I checked with Deek,” Garreth argued.

“I was talking about the Yule Ball,” Leander said, rolling his eyes at his hopelessly thick friend.

Garreth pushed himself up on his arms so he could turn to look at Leander. “And how is embarrassing myself at a ball going to help anything?” he demanded.

Leander let out an exasperated sigh. “It’s really not that complicated, mate. She’s mad at you because you wouldn’t take her to the ball. So, go there and dance with her. After the grovelling. That bit’s still essential, trust me.”

“But I can’t dance,” Garreth argued.

Leander shrugged. “I’ll teach you.”

Garreth chewed his lip as he considered the option. “Okay…But what if she bolts the second she sees me? Or, worse, takes someone else to the dance?”

Leander pursed his lips. He had to admit that they were both quite plausible outcomes. “I’ll handle it.”

“How?” Garreth inquired.

“Don’t worry about it,” he said. “You just focus on using the next 48 hours to make sure you won’t crush her toes when you finally dance with her.”

Garreth, still looking anxious, just nodded.

“Brilliant! Now, on your feet. I’m going to teach you to waltz,” Leander said.

Saturday morning, Leander caught you leaving your dorm for breakfast. “MC! Just the girl I wanted to see!” he said brightly as you descended the stairs into the Gryffindor common room.

You rolled your eyes. “Whatever Garreth wants to tell me, I don’t want to hear it,” you groused, brushing past him.

“Actually,” Leander said as he caught your hand to make you stop, “I wanted to ask a favour.”

Your brow furrowed. You crossed your arms sceptically, but you made no move to dart away. “A favour?” you asked, narrowing your eyes at him.

Leander gulped down his nerves as he nodded his head. “Well, I was…I was wondering if you’d go to the Yule Ball with me.”

You blinked rapidly as you processed his words. “Oh,” you said in surprise. “I would’ve thought you’d be going with Sebastian. You two have been dancing around each other for ages, after all.”

Leander sucked his teeth. “Yes, well, Violet beat me to asking him, evidently,” he explained with a rather sour expression. “So, I thought we might go together, since Garreth’s being a numpty. As friends, of course, but…also to make our boys a bit jealous, maybe.”

“You want to help me make Garreth jealous?” you asked in disbelief.

“Well, Garreth and Sebastian,” he replied. “Besides, I think he deserves it. He was a bit of a knob about the ball.”

You tilted your head, eyeing him for a long moment that had him starting to squirm. “Yeah, all right,” you agreed.

Leander beamed at you. “Brilliant! I’ll pick you up at 8 tomorrow night,” he said.

“See you then,” you replied.

Your Christmas morning was spent in the Gryffindor common room after Natty assured you that Garreth wasn’t down there. Almost the entire rest of your house was, though. There was a weight in your chest at not getting to celebrate with the man you loved – even if he was being a git. You also felt sorry for him that he was missing out on the festivities.

You didn’t see him the rest of the day, either. That night, you and Natty spent hours getting ready in your room. The mirror had nothing but compliments for the pair of you, and you were feeling quite good about yourself despite the recent tiff with Garreth. As such, you lingered in the common room early, hoping he’d catch a glimpse of you all dolled up. There might’ve been a part of you that wanted him to regret not spending that night with you.

He wasn’t there, though, and you began to wonder if he’d gone home for the rest of the holiday.

Your worrying was cut short when Leander emerged into the room. He smiled when he saw you. “You look beautiful, MC,” he said sweetly.

“Thank you. You look quite dashing yourself,” you replied.

He straightened the lapel of his dress robes proudly. They were black with deep green paisley accents.

“We’re quite a festive pair,” you said, looking down at your ruby red gown.

He laughed. “Yes, well, I had been planning on taking a Slytherin,” he said lightly.

“True,” you replied.

Leander held his arm out to you. “Shall we?”

You nodded and took hold of it, winding your own arm delicately around his.

The Great Hall had been totally transformed. It was almost unrecognisable. Instead of the usual floating candles, bright orbs of light hung in the air like shining stars. The edges of the room were lined with pine trees, full of twinkling lights and glittering ornaments. Each tree was decorated for one of the four houses. The dais was almost entirely taken over by a massive tree decorated in glass ornaments of all four houses’ mascots, crests, and other staples – like a glass rendition of the portrait of the fat lady and the mermaids from the fountain in the Slytherin common room.

The ceiling was enchanted to have snow falling softly, though it vanished before reaching any of you. It was truly magnificent. Your only regret was that Garreth wasn’t there to experience it with you. Before you could properly mope on the subject, Leander whisked you onto the dance floor. It was almost impossible to stay wistful when you were sweeping around the Great Hall in a two step to lively music. Leander led gracefully, his hold on you firm and his movements fluid and sure. You glided through the other couples, almost constantly spinning. It was a wonder you weren’t dizzy.

“You seem to have something on your mind,” Leander observed.

“I can’t help but wish Garreth were here,” you admitted.

“I see,” he replied.

“Sorry,” you said sincerely. “I don’t mean to insult you. You’re a wonderful dance partner.”

“Just not the one you planned on having,” he said knowingly.

You gave him an apologetic smile.

“I can hardly fault you for that,” he said.

As the song faded to its end, he released your back to spin you around once more, turning you rather quickly before suddenly releasing your hand, as well. You stumbled to get your footing until two strong hands steadied you at your hips, holding you still.

Your head spun a bit from the sudden stop, lashes fluttering as you looked up to find your boyfriend was the one who had caught you.

“Garreth,” you breathed, momentarily forgetting to be angry. You were too surprised. Too relieved. Too caught up in the sight of him with his softly styled curls and perfectly tailored dress robes. He wore a crisp black shirt under a white satin waistcoat and matching bowtie. A deep red robe topped the look. His satin lapels were embroidered with vines matching the ones on his waistcoat. The colour of the robe was exactly the same shade as your dress.

Your arms hung uselessly at your sides as you gaped at him. He gave you a meek smile as he gazed longingly into your eyes.

“You look stunning, darling,” he said. “I’m not as light-footed as Lee, but I’d be honoured to dance with you.”

You realised that, while time had seemed to stop, it had in fact pressed on, and the band was now playing a waltz. Garreth lifted one hand off your hips and held it out to you. You just looked down at it, still processing how you had gotten in this situation. You glanced around in search of Leander, but he had vanished.

“What are you doing here?” you asked dimly.

Garreth’s smile grew nervous. “Making up with my girlfriend, I hope.”

He shifted anxiously as his hand still hung empty in the air between you. You stepped back, his other hand slipping off your hip.

“You said you didn’t want to dance with me,” you said accusingly, finally remembering that you were cross with him.

“I know. I’m sorry, but you’re so good at it. And I…I have two left feet. I thought it’d be worse to have you realise how dreadful I am than for you to just go by yourself,” he said, his hands retreating into his pockets. “I…didn’t want to embarrass you.”

He chewed his lip, as he often did when anxious. Your own lips parted as you stared at him in shock.

Evidently, you took too long to reply, because he started speaking again. “I know Leander and I can be a bit ridiculous sometimes. And I’ve had more than a few mishaps with potions in class – and it’s the thing I’m best at. I just…didn’t want to give you another reason to be ashamed of me.”

His gaze dropped to his feet as his hands fidgeted in his pockets.

“I’d never be ashamed of you,” you assured him, a bit offended that he’d think you would be.

“Really?” he asked, seeming genuinely surprised by the idea as he looked up at you in shock.

“Garreth, I love you. Every bit of you,” you stated. “Why on earth would I be ashamed of you?”

His cheeks flushed. “I mean, my family is,” he admitted, seeming to shrink into himself as his eyes darted away again. “And the professors seem perpetually disappointed in me. It’s twice as bad with Aunt Matilda.”

He forced out a laugh, but you could tell he was quite hurt by the situation.

You brought a hand up to his jaw, gently tilting his head up so he’d look at you. “Well, I think you’re brilliant,” you said. “And they have every reason to be as proud of you as I am, Garreth. You’ve invented half a dozen potions just since I’ve known you – and improved even more. You’re incredibly kind, even when others are mean to you. And you constantly make me laugh, especially when you and Leander are ‘being ridiculous.’”

He gave you a shy, appreciative smile before pulling you into a hug. “I love you, MC. I’m sorry I hurt your feelings.”

You linked your arms around his back. “I’m sorry I didn’t just talk to you.”

He pressed a kiss into your pinned-up hair. “Me, too.”

You breathed out a laugh. “It was a pretty stupid fight when I think about it.”

“All our fights are stupid,” Garreth replied in an exasperated tone.

You pulled back to glare up at him. “Are you trying to start another one?” you asked in a low, warning voice.

Garreth smirked at you. “Maybe I like when you’re riled up,” he said cheekily. “You can’t wear a dress like this and expect me not to want to take it off of you, you know.”

“Garreth!” you hissed, smacking his chest as you glanced around to make sure no one had overheard him.

He pulled you back tight to him. “You really are especially gorgeous tonight,” he said in a low voice as his gaze roamed over you.

You could feel your cheeks heat under the fire in his eyes. “I…I think we should d-dance now,” you said, needing a distraction from the starved look in his eyes as they devoured you.

“Oh, um…” he said, suddenly nervous again. “I really only practised the waltz, so…maybe we could wait until they play another of those? I could get us some punch in the meantime.”

He had the most adorable hopeful smile on his face.

“Punch would be perfect,” you said sweetly.

“Done,” he said eagerly before darting off to fetch the drinks.

A blur of robes whirled over to you soon after. Leander had danced Sebastian over to where you stood. The latter’s black robes were a suspiciously similar style to the former’s – except his accents were red. Your fellow Gryffindor was looking exceptionally smug.

“Are my favourite lovebirds back in love?” Leander asked, waggling his eyebrows at you.

Your eyes narrowed into slits. “For a Gryffindor, you’re a snake, Leander Prewett.”

“I’m so proud,” Sebastian said, placing his hand on Leander’s cheek and gazing at him fondly. Then, he turned to look at you. “When he asked if he could pretend to take you to the ball, I said yes at once, of course.”

You crossed your arms over your chest. “And what if we hadn’t made up?” you asked them severely. “What would you have done, then?”

Leander’s eyes widened as his smirk fell. He clearly hadn’t considered the idea.

“You two are too hopelessly besotted with each other for that,” Sebastian said easily, waving you off.

Garreth reappeared at your side then. “Here you go, love,” he said, handing you a glass before kissing your cheek.

“Thank you,” you murmured, a fresh blush dusting your cheeks.

“My work here is clearly done,” Leander said haughtily.

“I think you’re right, darling,” Sebastian agreed.

“Care to dance the night away?” Leander asked him, holding out his hand.

Sebastian beamed at him as he took it. “That sounds lovely,” he replied before they sauntered back to the dance floor.

Garreth leaned in to whisper in your ear. “See, that’s how you’re supposed to respond when a man asks you to dance,” he said teasingly.

“Oh, shut up,” you groused, but the words lacked any real bite.

“Never,” he retorted, a mischievous glint in his eye as you turned your head to glare at him.

He laced his fingers with the hand unoccupied by your drink.

“I have something for you,” he said.

You turned to face him. He dropped your hand and pulled a long, narrow box out from his pocket. It was too broad to be a wand but about the right length, and it had a gold ribbon tied carefully around it.

“Merry Christmas, MC,” he said softly.

Garreth traded the box for your drink. He was fidgeting as you examined it in your hands, clearly excited for you to open it. You carefully slipped the ribbon off before taking off the lid. Inside was a vibrant pink feather with a metal pointed tip.

Garreth started speaking before you could even thank him. “It took me a while to get the charms right. I just finished it up this morning, actually. It’s self-inking, so you don’t have to worry about an open inkpot spilling on your assignments. It’s spell-checking, too. That was the tricky part. But I got it sorted out, eventually. Promise.”

He laughed nervously. You were speechless for a moment as you looked up at him, warmth spreading through your chest as your heart squeezed with affection. Garreth bounced on the balls of his feet, the movement threatening to spill the glasses of punch in his hands. His bottom lip was grasped between his teeth, and a few stray curls were falling into his eyes.

You looked back down at the fwooper feather quill. “Garreth, this is so sweet,” you gushed, wondering how you’d managed to be upset with such a sweet man only a few hours ago.

His eyes lit up. “You like it?” he asked hopefully.

“I love it!” you assured him. “I have a gift for you, too, I just…I don’t have it with me.”

You left off adding that it was because you hadn’t expected him to be there. You didn’t want him to think you were still cross.

“All I wanted tonight is your forgiveness, MC,” he said with such earnestness that you worried you might melt right to the floor.

You brushed his hair out of his face. “You have it,” you replied, not wanting him to doubt it for a second. “Do you…do you forgive me, too?”

He ditched his punch on a tray floating nearby. He cupped his newly free hand over your cheek as he leaned in towards you, pressing his lips to yours gently in reassurance. He pulled back far too soon for your liking, though. “Always,” he vowed.

Your heart felt swollen to bursting. “I want to go get your present,” you said more intensely than the words merited as you reverently replaced the lid on the box.

“You don’t have to leave the dance. I know how much you were looking forward to it,” he said with such sweet consideration. You almost winced as you recalled calling him “inconsiderate” the other day. “You can give it to me tomorrow.”

“It should be now, I think,” you stated.

“It’s really not–” he started.

“It’s in the Room of Requirement,” you added, cutting him off. His brows drew together. He could tell you were trying to communicate something, but he couldn’t tell what it was. Bless him, you thought. “You should come.”

A beat later his eyebrows shot up to his curls as realisation struck. You almost laughed when he just replied with a rather serious “yes” before quickly abandoning the other nearly-full punch glass on the tray.

He followed you out of the Great Hall. Once alone in the corridors, you clutched the box to your heart with one hand and laced the other with his. He lagged behind you as you tugged him along.

“Getting cold feet?” you joked, hoping to speed him up a bit.

“Just admiring the view,” he replied cheekily.

You glanced over your shoulder to find him staring down at your bum. He smirked at you when he saw that you’d caught him.

“You’ll have a much better one once you get this dress off me like you promised,” you said in a sultry tone.

In the flickering candlelight of the hallway, you could see Garreth’s eyes darken as he held your gaze. Then, he took off sprinting and called back impatiently, “Come on!”

You giggled as you chased after him. He slowed to a jog to let you catch up. You only paused briefly to take off your heels. When you reached the seventh floor of the Astronomy Tower, he was on you before the entrance had even fully materialised. He held your face in both hands as he kissed you hungrily, backing you into the forming door.

A needy ache started low in your stomach as he nipped at your bottom lip. You’d been without him for too long, stupidly holding a grudge over a simple misunderstanding about…something, surely. You couldn’t remember what now.

Garreth held you to him with a hand behind your back as his other felt blindly for the handle. His hold on you kept you upright as the door gave way behind you. Your heels slipped from your fingers and clattered to the floor as he backed you inside, and you tangled your now free hand in the base of his curls as you devoured his lips.

Your back smacked into the wall, and Garreth pressed himself against you. Your legs parted to allow him in closer, and you could feel the evidence of his arousal pressing against your centre. Your body tried to gasp and moan at the same time as he shifted his attention to your neck whilst his hips ground into yours. It was one of the most needy, pathetic sounds you’d ever made, but it seemed to spur him on even more.

“Fuck, MC,” he groaned into your neck before biting down on the skin where it met your shoulder.

Your legs almost gave out from the delicious sting of it. It hurt, but it brought a wave of pleasure, as well. You loved when Garreth was almost animalistic in his need for you.

Your head lolled to the side, opening up your neck to him further as you used your purchase in his hair to hold him close. You spotted the supply cabinet next to you, and you slipped the box containing your quill onto it before you lost yourself and dropped it.

You then slipped your hand between the two of you to palm the tent straining Garreth’s neatly pressed trousers. He shuddered at your touch and let out a breathy moan in your ear. You stroked your hand up and down the length of him until he suddenly grabbed your wrist and pinned it back against the wall.

“You’re going to ruin me early, you minx,” he growled.

You felt a jolt of excitement at the idea that just touching him over his trousers could have him so worked up. Before you could even contemplate how to get your hand free and back on him, he dropped your wrist in favour of grabbing a handful of your arse. At the same time, his lips rejoined yours in a dizzying kiss. You were pliant in his arms as he slid his tongue into your mouth.

Without breaking your kiss, Garreth rucked up your dress so his hand could slide under the fabric, skating up the outside of your bare thigh. He groaned as he hiked your leg up around him, pulling you even closer. His hips pressed forward into yours, seeking friction, and you gasped against his lips as his shaft pressed firmly at your centre. It put a delightful but maddening pressure on the bundle of nerves there.

“Garreth,” you moaned out. “Please.”

“Please what, love?” he replied breathily. His verdant eyes nearly burnt into you as he looked down at you with such love and earnest. “I’ll give you anything. Just name it.”

You groaned with need as your hips shifted against his, continuing to rub his shaft against your core in a way that sent sparks of pleasure through you. It wasn’t enough, though. “Please,” you repeated, feeling almost drunk with desire. “I need you.”

“Fuck,” Garreth muttered. The desperation in your voice was wearing away whatever self-control he had left – it was never much when it came to you anyway. “As you wish, love.”

His fingers danced over your skin and traced the edge of your knickers at the crease of your thigh. He dipped into them, stroking his long fingers between your folds and making you keen.

“Merlin,” he breathed out. “You’re drenched for me, darling.”

You moaned as the pads of his fingers came up and circled over your clit. Your head fell back against the wall with a dull thud, and you had to grip his shoulders for support as your legs began to tremble.

“You look really good in these dress robes,” you quipped, already panting from his ministrations. He knew your body well, and it never took long for him to work you into a right state.

Garreth smirked at you. “I’ll look even better in you, love.”

As he said the words, his finger slipped inside of you. He quickly found a spot that had a tension coiling low in your abdomen.

“Fuck, Garreth,” you keened. “Oh, gods! That f-feels so good!”

He took a handful of your skirts, pinning them against your stomach to leave your knickers exposed. Garreth dropped to his knees in front of you. You scrambled for new supports as you could no longer reach his shoulders. One hand scraped along the wall behind you while the other tangled into his curls.

“Evanesco,” Garreth said, his breath ghosting over your core. He watched his finger disappearing into you without the obstruction of your knickers. “So gorgeous.”

You could feel your face flushing at the praise. Garreth was quite keen on your intimate parts, and he always made sure you knew it.

He leaned forward and licked at your centre as his finger kept pumping into you. Garreth groaned even louder than you did. “Gods, you taste divine, darling,” he said before licking you again.

He kissed and sucked on your little nub, and you prayed your legs wouldn’t give out altogether. If they did, though, you were confident Garreth would catch you in time.

His tongue flicked over you eagerly, and the coil that had wound in your abdomen threatened to snap.

“Gar, I…I’m….” you tried, but then you couldn’t breathe let alone speak when your muscles tensed as you succumbed to utter euphoria.

You called out his name as waves of pleasure rocked through you, each sensation heightened as Garreth kept licking ravenously at you. You were practically convulsing from the intensity of your high. You might’ve felt embarrassed by your reaction if Garreth hadn’t looked so utterly enamoured with watching you fall apart so unreservedly.

About the same time, a loud crack rang out through the dimly lit room.

Garreth dropped your skirts and his head whipped around, his finger sliding out of you as he turned. You looked up blearily toward the noise, and your pleasure was immediately replaced with a shock of horror.

“Oh, dear!” Deek said, gaping at the two of you in such a compromising position.

Garreth blinked at the elf, whose eyes were wide and cheeks were reddening as he looked at the young wizard’s glistening face. You were too stunned and embarrassed to speak.

With a quick swish of his wand, Garreth calmed the erection that had been straining his outfit. He’d learned the spell early in your relationship, as you had a habit of riling him up at any number of inconvenient times – in class, during meals, before you left on some adventure. Essentially, any time he was around you, he was at risk, and the spell was easier than always donning oversized robes whose sleeves would dip into his cauldron when he tried to brew.

“Professor Weasley asked Deek to check on the students after they disappeared from the ball,” the elf said. He decided it was better to look at his feet than the pair of you. “She also asked Deek to remind Mr. Weasley that a child has not been born out of wedlock to your family in over a century and Mr. Weasley will not be changing that.”

Garreth, who has been furiously wiping off his mouth and chin, flushed crimson at that. “Right,” he said in a stilted tone, shifting nervously on his feet. “Is she expecting a…a report back?”

“Deek will not tell the professor what he, uh…stumbled in on,” the elf assured them. “But the students should return to the ball promptly. Deek does not want to have to come back.”

Another loud crack rang through the room as Deek left.

“Well, that was mortifying,” Garreth said as he rubbed at his temples.

“And you weren’t the one with your bits out,” you quipped as you fought the urge to bury your face in your hands. “At least Deek’s not going to tell your aunt.”

“Merlin, I half expect she’ll know anyway, to be honest,” he replied. He pulled you into a hug and pressed a kiss to your temple. “I’m sorry. I should’ve known we wouldn’t get away with slinking out of the ball like that.”

You chuckled as you wrapped your arms around him, as well. “I was the one who lured you up here,” you pointed out.

“I came quite willingly,” he argued.

You brought your hand down to palm him through his trousers again. “You didn’t come at all, unfortunately.”

Garreth moaned, dropping his forehead onto yours as you stroked him, rapidly undoing the work of his spell.

You bit your bottom lip as you locked eyes with him. “I don’t think we have time for you to make good on your promise to get me out of this dress, but…” You spun in his arms, pressing your arse back against him as you braced your hands against the wall. “I think we could still make it work.”

Garreth groaned. He grabbed your hips, pulling you tight against him. He smoothed one hand over your arse appreciatively before sliding it down to grip low on your skirts. He pulled the fabric up around your waist, so your lower half was completely bare to him. He immediately bent to place a lovebite on the curve of your cheek, while his hands kneaded into both of them. You moaned as his teeth grazed your skin.

“You ready for me, love?” he asked, his lips brushing the mark he’d just left.

“Gods, yes!” you replied eagerly, shifting your hips back a bit further in an attempt to entice him to get on with it already.

Garreth stood up straight again as he undid his trousers. He pulled himself free from the garments and wasted no time in dragging the head of his cock through your soaked slit. He anchored a hand on your hip as he slid into you.

He let out a ragged breath as he bottomed out. “You feel amazing!” he groaned. His other hand gripped your hips, as well, and he began thrusting in and out of you. “You’ve no idea how much I missed you, love!”

You wanted to argue – tell him you were sure you knew exactly how much, because you’d missed him, too – but you could only keen as he rocked you forward with each of his thrusts, filling you completely on every push inside. There was really nothing like it. He felt tailor-made for you.

You were so enraptured that you almost didn’t notice when a mirror appeared on the wall in front of you. You gasped in surprise as you looked up, catching sight of Garreth’s reflection. He winked at you.

“Fuck, I was right,” he panted, causing you to draw your brows together in confusion. “I do look even better inside you.”

You let out a laugh. He was utterly ridiculous, and it only made you love him that much more.

“Don’t worry, love,” he said with a cheeky smile, still pumping into you and also still holding your gaze through the mirror. “You look even better. I mean, gods, look at you! All done up.” He wrapped a hand gently around your throat, letting his thumb stroke up your jaw and across your painted lips. You parted them and sucked his thumb into your mouth, pressing your tongue flat against the pad of it like you would the underside of his cock. Garreth’s eyelids fluttered as he let out a low moan. “And in this dress…” He withdrew his thumb and fisted the same hand into the fabric pooled up near your ribs. “Your arse…” He gave it a squeeze, the tips of his nails just barely digging into your skin. “I fucking love your bloody gorgeous arse!”

His thrusts grew firmer, his hips slapping louder against your cheeks and thighs. You moaned as the force sent shocks of pleasure through you.

“Faster,” you begged, half because you knew it’d take a quicker pace to get him off and half (maybe more) because you wanted him to pound into you until your body held the memory of his cock inside you forever.

Garreth was keen to oblige. His grip on your hips was bruising as he slammed into you at a pace that had you barely able to keep your breath let alone even think about trying to keep up with his movements. All you could do was brace yourself on the wall as he took you.

“Ah, fuck!” Garreth groaned as you clenched hard around him. In the mirror, you could see that his head was thrown back in ecstasy. “So bloody perfect!”

His eyes snapped open, immediately locking with yours as his movements stuttered. He let out a strangled moan as he came, his cock pulsing deep inside you. You could feel the warmth dripping down as his semen started to leak out of you. Rather than pull out, Garreth leaned down over top of you to capture your lips. One arm wrapped around your stomach while the other hand tilted your chin toward him. You were both panting, unable to go without oxygen for long, but the brief kiss expressed the depth of your affections all the same.

“You’re never allowed to be cross with me again,” Garreth joked. “I can’t stand being apart from you for so long.”

You were inclined to vow he never would be as you stared into his bright green eyes, crinkling at the corners as he beamed at you.

“I can’t bear it, either,” you said.

Garreth pressed another chaste kiss to your lips. “I love you, MC. So much.”

You couldn’t help but smile. “I love you, too. Even more.”

He glared at you playfully. “Those are fighting words, witch.”

Your smile turned into a smirk. “Then I’m lucky I’m a much better duellist.”

Garreth rolled his eyes but couldn’t deny it. Finally, he moved to right himself, sliding out of you before he helped you upright, as well. You both made quick work of making yourselves presentable – smoothing out your clothes, fixing your hair, and ensuring neither of you retained the sweat or musk of your recent activities. Garreth pouted a bit when you conjured new knickers for yourself, as he rather liked the idea of having easy access should you get the opportunity to sneak off again.

Once you were both put together, Garreth started for the door.

“Wait! I haven’t given you your present!” you said, quickly moving to rummage in your cabinet.

He chuckled. “I assumed you were the present.”

You glanced back at him with a raised eyebrow. “That’d be rather selfish of me, wouldn’t it?”

Garreth grinned broadly. “Actually, I considered it quite generous.”

You rolled your eyes, but you did find it rather sweet. “Consider this a stocking stuffer, then,” you said as you handed him a small box.

Garreth opened it to reveal a stack of cardstock. His mouth fell open as he picked up one of the small, rectangular cards to get a closer look.

“I saw the logo in your notes, and I thought it was really good,” you explained. “I figured you’ll need these once we graduate.”

Garreth looked from the card to you and back down again. In golden, embossed lettering were the words Exquisite Elixirs in a large, curly font curved underneath a rendering of a cauldron whose whirls of steam were spiralling upwards off the paper. On the other side, there was a little portrait of Garreth and a description of his company.

He still hadn’t spoken, so you continued, “If you tap it with a wand, it turns into an order form. I know you plan on being able to fill orders by owl.”

He looked up at you again, and his eyes were misty now. He pulled you into a tight hug. “Thank you! These are perfect!”

Ever since he started the process to register the brand, his parents had seemed doubtful. They kept lecturing him on what a “serious business” it was to run a company. His older brother had a friend of his lecture him on the myriad permits and regulations involved in the brewing industry – all things Garreth had already learnt in his research and discussions with Mr. Pippin. His aunt had tried to convince him to take a year or two to apprentice at J. Pippin’s, but Garreth knew he didn’t need it. He’d spent ages at the shop picking the potioneer’s brain. He’d also hounded Sharp with his questions during his office hours – almost no one else went to them, anyway.

The business cards, aside from showing how closely you paid attention, indicated that you actually believed in him. That meant the world to Garreth, especially because he knew you weren’t scared to let him know when you thought an idea of his was foolish. You wouldn’t just go along with things to make him feel good. You truly thought that he could run a successful shop.

He slipped one of the cards into his pocket before tucking the box safely with the rest of his brewing supplies.

The two of you took the floo down to the Great Hall to save time. You slipped back into the ball and immediately noticed Professor Weasley’s scrutinising gaze on you. You resisted the urge to smooth your hair, as it would only incriminate you. Instead, you gave her a polite wave.

She waved back, but you didn’t like the knowing look her smile had. You flushed as you quickly pulled Garreth toward the drink table. You were practically dying of thirst. You ran into Natty and Poppy as Garreth poured you both drinks. They both looked stunning in their gowns. Poppy’s was yellow with cap sleeves and full skirts. Natty’s was a brilliant white with her sleeves to her elbows and a corset nipping in her waist before the flair of her bustle.

“I was glad to hear you and Garreth finally made up,” Natty said, smiling at you as you approached.

“Did Leander already tell you?” you asked.

“Ominis did,” Poppy said.

You raised an eyebrow. “How did Ominis know?”

“I know everything that happens in this castle,” the Slytherin said as he stepped up to Poppy’s side. He handed her a drink before wrapping his arm around her waist.

“So, Leander told you and you told them?” you said, rolling your eyes.

“I didn’t need to be told anything,” Ominis said arrogantly.

Garreth returned with your drink, and you gave him an appreciative smile.

“I’m quite observant on my own,” Ominis continued. “Which is how I know you two have been up to no good. Couldn’t wait for dinner to find something to eat, Garreth?”

The redhead choked on his punch. “W-what?” he spluttered, wiping his mouth with a serviette a house-elf had promptly provided.

Poppy and Natty went wide-eyed as they caught Ominis’s meaning. Your face was burning. How could he know? Had Deek told?

“Don’t be coy now,” Ominis teased. “It’s quite obvious. I could – ahem – smell her on you when we were getting drinks. I wouldn’t hug your aunt without cleaning up if you don’t want detentions until you graduate.”

Poppy clapped a hang over her mouth to keep from giggling. Natty looked horrified. You and Garreth both gaped at Ominis. You had checked before you left the Room of Requirement. You swore you couldn’t smell anything that would suggest what the two of you had been up to in there. But, then, Ominis often heard things you couldn’t. Maybe it was the same with his sense of smell? At any rate, you were never going to live this down.

“I think they’re playing a waltz,” Garreth said, turning to you. “How about that dance?”

You downed your drink and took hold of his outstretched hand. “That sounds like a great idea,” you replied.

“Leave room for the nargles!” Ominis called after you before snickering with Poppy.

You made it onto the dance floor and were quickly lost in the crowd of swirling couples. You hid your face in Garreth’s chest, but you couldn’t help laughing. “Oh, gods, I think this is officially the most mortifying night of my life,” you said light-heartedly once you’d composed yourself.

Garreth started to spin you as you danced now that you weren’t burying your face in his robes.

“I think we’d best get our own place once we’re out of this castle full of nosy gits,” he said resolutely.

You let out another laugh. “Yeah, living together unwed wouldn’t have people talking at all,” you said sarcastically.

Garreth lifted his hand, and you turned under it before stepping back into his arms. “It would, wouldn’t it?” he said, giving you a knowing smile.

You gave him a questioning look in return.

“I’m not about to propose on – as you put it – ‘the most mortifying night of your life’ if that’s what you’re thinking,” Garreth said severely as he continued to lead you around the dance floor. “But if I were to…?”

“Were to what?” you replied, playing thick, as he dipped you.

“Were to propose, obviously,” Garreth said, exasperated, before pulling you back up. “What would you think of it?”

As you did another turn, you suppressed a smile that threatened to break onto your lips. “Are you, then?” you asked before clarifying, “Proposing?”

“Not yet,” he replied with an easy smile as he stepped forward to take you back in his arms.

“Then I’m not telling,” you stated, a hint of a sly smile tugging at the corner of your mouth.

Garreth rolled his eyes at you. “You vex me, witch,” he said drily.

“I just know you like surprises,” you replied innocently.

“Good ones,” he clarified.

 “Exactly,” you said, winking at him.

A broad grin spread on his face, and he seemed lost in thought as he stared over your shoulder as the two of you spun slowly around the room.

You snapped him out of it when you said seriously, “This isn’t about that message from your aunt, is it? You haven’t been skipping your potions?”

“No, of course not. I take them every week,” he said. “You?”

“Every month,” you assured him.

“That’s so not fair,” he groused. “Why are the contraceptives for blokes four times as often?”

“We’ll see what’s ‘not fair’ when I’m the one carrying our babies for nine months each,” you retorted.

Garreth smirked at you. He looked insufferably smug.

“What?” you bit out, not seeing the humour in all the hardships that were sure to come with your future pregnancies.

“You said ‘when,’” he pointed out.

“Huh?” you replied, befuddled.

“You said, ‘when I’m the one carrying our babies,’” he said, doing a poor – and rather screechy – imitation of your voice.

You smacked him on the chest. “I do not sound like that,” you groused.

Garreth’s grin grew even wider. He looked utterly chuffed. “But you did say it. ‘When’ and ‘our.’ You want to have my babies.”

“Shut up,” you said tetchily, trying to pull out of his arms so you could go dig a hole to crawl into.

Garreth just held you tighter, laughing at your attempts to wriggle free. “You want to marry me and have my babies, and I’m happy to oblige, love. You just tell me when.”

You froze as you gaped at him. “Did you just–?”

“Officially? No. I’m still not letting you tell our children I proposed on the most mortifying night of your life,” he said seriously.

“There is very little about this night fit to tell any children, let alone our own,” you quipped.

Garreth gave you a lopsided smile. “Yeah,” he said wistfully. “It’s been a good one.”

You shook your head at him. “You’re incorrigible,” you said disapprovingly.

He stared at you like you were as luminous as one of the twinkling lights floating above you. “You’re incredible,” he said fondly before dipping his head to kiss you.

You melted in his arms as Garreth held you tight to his chest.

“Oi! Get a room, you degenerates!” Leander said, bumping Garreth’s shoulder as he twirled by with a sniggering Sebastian.

“That’s not as effective as you might think!” Garreth called back, making you laugh.

#garreth weasley #hogwarts legacy #garreth weasley x mc #garreth weasley x reader #garreth weasley x f!mc #hogwarts legacy fanfic #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #garreth weasley fanfic #garreth weasley fanfiction #garreth weasley being a sweet insecure little bean #ominis gaunt #leander prewett #sebastian sallow #sebastian sallow x leander prewett #because i must always include enemies to lovers somehow lol #but I actually love their dynamic #i lowkey ship it #yule ball

[thenerdykneazle]

Sallow Soul - Fighting

Summary: MC and Sebastian continue to clash. Things devolve as they both try to push each other's buttons. After some much-needed advice, Sebastian tries a more straightforward approach to winning MC back, but it doesn't go as planned.

Sebastian Sallow x F!MC

Warnings: 18+, sexually explicit content, aged-up characters, angst, toxic relationship, lots of pining, overconsumption of alcohol

Word count: 11,388

Read on AO3. Part 1. Part 2. Part 4. Part 5. MC's perspective (Kindred Spirits).

Part 3: Fighting

Sebastian dragged himself out of bed at 6 that morning. He had been awake since 5, and it was evident that no more sleep would befall him. When he opened his door, he was shocked to find MC standing in the hallway yet again. He had hoped to at least get to brew some tea before he had to face her.

“Long night, I take it,” MC quipped.

Tensing his jaw, he bit back venomous words about it being none of her business. Though, he really had no interest in her knowing the details of his mediocre tryst – or his pathetic breakdown after. She’d been too involved in the whole thing as it was, even if that was Sebastian’s fault, not hers.

“Well, do you think you could go two weeks without bringing more bints back here if you’re going to be so shite at using silencing charms?” she asked. “Surely, they have flats, too. Go to theirs.”

“Do you think you could go two seconds without being a cunt?” he sneered back. He’d already lost almost an entire night’s sleep because of her. He had no patience for the harpy that morning.

“What the fuck is your problem?” she demanded.

He thought that was rich.

“My problem? I was nothing but nice to you when you got here! You’re the one that’s been acting like a bitch the whole time!” Sebastian retorted. He had tried to make things work, and she’d all but spat in his face. Honestly, he’d have preferred it if she’d spat on him rather than admit the depths of her disdain for him. At least then he could’ve pretended that she hated him for what he had done to her, not who he was.

“You’re such a bastard!” MC seethed as she started down the hallway.

Sebastian was inclined to agree as regret for his poor temper began to seep in, but she grabbed her cloak and disapparated out before Sebastian could apologise.

He spent the morning trying to figure out whether and how to ask for her forgiveness. He even kept ruminating on it during their physical training that morning. He had wanted to try to talk to her at lunch, but he ended up sat too far away. Besides, she was quickly absorbed in a letter she received.

Sebastian pushed his food around his plate, taking occasional bites as he moped privately. Though, his head snapped up when he heard Sofia ask, “Who’s that?”

She was looking over MC’s shoulder at some photos she held. He was almost across the whole table from her, and he had no chance to strain for an angle that might give him a glimpse of the pictures.

“A friend from back home,” MC replied, and Sebastian began going through a list of potential candidates.

“He’s cute,” Sofia said with a smirk.

Sebastian glowered and struck several names off his mental list. There was, of course, also a chance that Sebastian had never met the bloke. He could be a new friend. Sebastian hated the idea, both because it involved some other man getting close to her and he wouldn’t have been able to vet him. It was awful all around.

“I’m quite protective, so you can look, but that’s it,” MC joked.

Sofia chuckled, and Mikko began peering over MC’s shoulder, as well. Sebastian wondered if it was possible that he hadn’t noticed that Mikko was interested in men. He’d had a handful of conversations with him. And Sofia had mentioned him once or twice since she’d arrived back in Helsinki, as they worked in the same unit in Jyväskylä. Sebastian couldn’t recall if either had mentioned any men or women in his life.

Sofia yelped and clasped a hand over her heart. “Merlin! Warn a woman before just springing a snake on her,” she said.

MC and Mikko laughed at her.

Sebastian stared at them. Did she have pictures of what he thought she had? Morbid curiosity overpowering his self-preservation instincts, he narrowed his gaze at the backs of the photos in MC’s hands as if he might be able to see through them to the images they held.

“Sorry,” MC said to Sofia, ignoring Sebastian’s blatant eavesdropping.

Just as Sebastian got the idea to head to the loo and catch a glimpse of the photos as he walked by, MC tucked them away and stood up. She left the cafeteria, presumably heading off to write the mystery person – well, man – back. A flash of anger spiked at the thought that she might be sending photos to him in kind.

“Honestly, you act like you’ve never seen such a thing before,” Mikko teased Sofia.

“I was just caught off guard,” she said defensively.

He shook his head as he laughed at her again, and she smacked his arm.

“Stop it!” she said, and he attempted to comply as he stifled his laughter.

“I convinced her to try a sauna,” Mikko said, changing the subject and making Sebastian’s ears prick up.

“Not the one here, I hope,” Sofia replied with disgust.

“No, Löyly,” Mikko said.

Sofia’s eyebrows raised. “How posh.”

“Of course! I’m trying to convert her. She’s got to have a good experience. You know how Brits are. Sepe’s lived here for years, and he still doesn’t use the saunas. Do you, Sepe?”

Sebastian looked up to find Mikko and Sofia both looking at him. “I could be persuaded,” he replied.

“The sauna herself should be enough to draw in any sane man,” Mikko replied.

“Right,” Sebastian said stiffly. He really didn’t get Mikko’s obsession.

His eyes flicked back to Sofia, and he didn’t like the look she was giving him. He quickly made an excuse to leave the table – and protect his private thoughts.

That afternoon, MC disappeared immediately after training. Sebastian didn’t try to catch her, as he knew where she was heading. He cleaned the gym faster than he thought any muggle chores could go. He grabbed his things from the locker room and was at the entrance to Löyly in under 5 minutes.

Sebastian checked in, showered, and changed into swimming trunks. Sebastian stepped into the hot sauna and was reminded instantly why he hated them. The air felt thick and hard to breathe, and a bead of sweat was already making its way down the centre of his back. Who pays to be made sweaty and uncomfortable? He spotted MC with ease, as it wasn’t very crowded.

She had her eyes closed and her head resting back on the wall behind her. He wondered if she had fallen asleep, which didn’t seem very safe in such an environment. He felt his old protective instincts waking up at the potential threat to her. He felt other instincts kicking in, too, at the sight of her in a soaked bikini.

He sat right next to her, but she barely stirred.

“Enjoying yourself?” he asked quietly. His voice came out huskier than he’d intended.

She was slow to open her eyes but quick to narrow them at him. “What the fuck are you doing here?” she hissed.

Sebastian smirked. “I’ll take that as a ‘no,’” he mused. “I finished up my cleaning early, so I came to check on you.”

“Are you stalking me?” MC asked seriously.

Sebastian rolled his eyes. “I’m supposed to be your guide while you’re here. It’s my job to keep an eye on you,” he said. His smirk broadened as his gaze dropped momentarily. “Not that I mind it.”

She shifted uncomfortably. “I don’t need a babysitter,” she groused, crossing her arms over her chest. “I’m just fine. You can go.”

Sebastian had been hoping for a more illuminating response like ‘I have a boyfriend’ or ‘you better watch your mouth or X will kill you.’ He fretted over whether ‘X’ might mean ‘Leander Prewett.’ Gods, Sebastian would do the job for him if that pratwas his replacement.

“Go?” Sebastian asked, leaning back against the wall. He brushed his shoulder against hers. He turned his head toward her, leaning over conspiratorially so that his face was mere centimetres from hers. “I just got here.”

MC scooted away from him. “You’re really set on ruining this for me, aren’t you?” she asked dismally.

Sebastian arched a brow at her. “Ruin? Most people enjoy my presence, you know.”

MC scoffed. “Most people haven’t fucked you and been left cold in the morning.”

He tried to bite back his smirk, but it only widened further. “You underestimate me.”

She grimaced at him. “Yes, you do seem to get around.”

Sebastian narrowed his gaze at her. “Are you slut shaming me?”

It was rich coming from the woman getting international dick pics by owl.

MC rolled her eyes. “Just normal shaming. You disgust me in a multitude of ways, I assure you.”

Sebastian puffed himself up indignantly. “I seem to remember a time you thought I was far from disgusting.”

He let his gaze drag down her form again. It was a bit of a miscalculation, as those aforementioned instincts didn’t know he was just trying to make a point. All they knew was that a beautiful witch he was mad about was wet and nearly naked right next to him. Gods, he shouldn’t have thought about her being “wet.” Sebastian had to adjust himself as his trunks were getting rather tight.

“Funny how things change when you find out who someone really is,” MC said sarcastically.

“And who am I really, then?” he asked curiously as his gaze finally returned to her eyes.

MC scowled at him. “Someone willing to bring home two random women just to keep me up and piss me off, apparently.”

Point MC, he thought. Outwardly, though, he sneered at her.

“You flatter yourself. Not all of us want to be tied down all the time. I like to have fun. I’m sure your boy toy back home wouldn’t know the first thing about it if he’s resorted to sending you dick pics in the post.”

MC looked befuddled. “What are you talking about?” she asked irritably.

“Your little special delivery at lunch.”

Her eyebrows shot up. “You mean the letter from Ominis?”

Sebastian felt that he was about to be sick. It made sense, of course. They’d always been good friends. They’d both been through heartbreaks – ones that they supported each other through, no doubt. Of course,it was–

“Ominis?” he repeated in a roar.

It making sense didn’t mean he had to like it.

Several of the other people in the sauna glared at him. He gave them an apologetic smile before continuing much more quietly but no less irate, “You’ve got to be fucking joking. You’re with him now?”

“No!” MC said too loudly, earning them more angry glances. “It’s none of your business anyway.”

“Then why’s he sending you pictures with his ‘snake’ in it if–” Horror filled Sebastian as the realisation hit him. “Oh, gods, it was a literal snake, wasn’t it?”

He hid his face behind his hand as he wished for the hot, humid air to melt him into a puddle so he could slip away through the slats in the bench.

MC looked livid. “Obviously, you twat!”

Sebastian felt a pang of grief at the distance between him and his once-best-friend. Was he really not even close enough to merit showing a photo to him? She’d shown them to people who’d never even met him! “Why wouldn’t you have told me Ominis wrote you?”

MC set her jaw. “Because it’s none of your concern. You cut contact. Now will you shut up and let me enjoy my sauna?”

Sebastian was still reeling about being so out of touch with Ominis. “How’s he doing?”

MC refused to even look at him. “Ask him yourself.”

Sebastian almost scoffed at the idea. As if trying to reconnect with her had gone so well that he should branch out. “You know I can’t. He’d never respond.”

Shooting a glare over her shoulder, MC spat, “And whose fault it that?”

Sebastian pursed his lips. He didn’t know how he had ever dated someone so endlessly stubborn. “I just want to know how my friend has been.”

“Well, he’s not your friend, anymore! You don’t get to know!”

She was yelling now, but Sebastian was too frustrated to realise how much of a scene they were making.

“He’s my brother-in-law! I have a right to know!”

MC stood up in a huff. If they hadn’t been fighting, Sebastian might’ve gotten distracted by how close it put her breasts to his face. It might’ve distracted him anyway. “Gods, you just love to make yourself seem like the victim!” she said before storming out of the sauna.

Sebastian followed her after a brief paralysis from confusion. He moved quickly to catch up to her.

“I’m not done here!” he said.

“I am!” she retorted, shoving through a door.

Sebastian started to come after her, but she pushed him back. He was all the more perplexed until she pointed to the symbol on the door. “Women’s locker room.”

She tucked inside, leaving him fumbling for something to say that might bring her back. He found nothing.

When Sebastian returned home, he realised he never did actually apologise for being an inconsiderate arse the previous night. Though, the fact that he had actually put much consideration into having loud sex while she was trying to sleep was not something she needed to know. He regretted it. Even if she did still hate him. He held onto the hope that he could still fix that.

He made an apology dinner while he waited for MC to return from the sauna. He cooked some of her old favourites along with some of his new ones. But, even after it sat on the table for an hour, she still wasn’t back. After another hour, he cancelled the stasis charms he’d put on the dishes and packed it all up.

That was when he started to panic. He grabbed his cloak and searched all over town for her. He tried every wizarding pub in the city – as well as a few muggle ones. He tried several parks, in case she’d needed a walk to clear her head. He was in a right state when he finally returned to his flat.

At first, a jolt of fresh panic ran through Sebastian when he saw the unfamiliar cloak strewn on his sofa. Then he saw MC’s on the floor. And the tops. And her bra. It was abundantly clear what had happened. Sebastian felt that protective instinct flaring up again – or maybe it was just jealousy. But he knew he had no right to be upset. Fair was fair, even if he hated it.

He trudged forward to his room, his feet dragging across the floor. He felt like there was a boulder in his stomach weighing him down. As he approached his door, however, his adrenaline spiked again. There were moans coming from behind his door.

“Oh, fuck! Oh, fuck!” came MC’s muffled, keening voice.

That bitch!

Sebastian slammed the door open. “You have got to be fucking kidding me!” he yelled, body and mind both flooded with rage.

The sight before him made him want to claw his eyes out. MC was sprawled naked on his bed. Normally, he’d be thrilled about that, but there was some wanker wrapped around her. He’d had his tongue shoved down her throat and his hand between her thighs before the door had banged off the wall and made him whip around.

“Shit,” MC said, looking up at Sebastian with wide eyes like she was surprised to see him. That only enraged him further. Had she really not expected him to catch her in his room?

“When I said ‘make yourself at home,’ that did not mean you could fuck some random prick in my bed!” he spat. He felt ready to explode, fury and magic bubbling up within him.

“No? I guess you should’ve been more specific, then,” she replied, calm as you like. Sebastian could’ve throttled her. Then, she covered herself with one of his pillows, and he imagined smothering her with it, instead.

Sebastian’s gaze slid up to her neck, where a purple welt had formed. He’d throttle the bastard next to her, too, he decided.

As if sensing his thoughts, the very devil hopped out of Sebastian’s bed and pulled on his trunks. “I’m gonna go,” he said.

“Probably for the best, love,” MC said sweetly. “I had a lovely time.”

The bellend smiled at her before grabbing his trousers and booking it out of the flat. A loud crack signalled that he had departed only a moment later. Sebastian was no less committed to his plan of double murder. At the very least, he could use muggle methods to track the bloke down. After all, he knew where to find a sample of his DNA.

Sebastian nearly vomited at the thought.

“You’re psychotic, you know that?” Sebastian said to MC, vibrating with rage. “On what planet did you think this would be okay?”

“It was an honest mistake,” MC replied, still maddeningly casual. “I said the door on the left. I meant my left. He picked his left. It’s funny, really, if you think about it.”

Sebastian wondered what sort of pillock would think “left” could refer to a door straight at the end of the hall? Sure, it was left relative to MC’s door along the right wall, but still.

“And so you thought, ‘Well, I’m already here. Might as well stay and shag’?” he said scathingly.

An evil smirk spread on her lips. “I know you didn’t see him erect, but, if you had…whew – your mind would’ve gone blank, too.”

Sebastian’s fists were moments away from collapsing in on themselves with how tight they were. Of course, that was if he didn’t pass out from hyperventilating first. MC truly had no regard for him whatsoever. She just wanted to make him miserable.

“Sorry, can we talk ground rules when I’m not naked and covered in cum?” MC continued.

“Get out!” Sebastian roared. He was either about to avada her or burst into tears, and he didn’t want her around whichever way it went.

Fortunately, MC was happy to oblige, scurrying past him with the pillow clutched to her body. She scooped her trousers off the floor without stopping. She turned back around just outside his door and glanced down at her stolen bedding. “Did you want this back, or…?”

“Keep the sodding pillow!” he growled before slamming the door in her face.

Sebastian was trembling with fury as he just stood there. He managed to cast a silencing charm before he started slinging hexes around the room, starting with his tarnished bedding and continuing until everything was destroyed. With no remaining person or intact object at which to direct his pain, Sebastian sank to the floor amongst the rubble. He hugged his knees to himself and sobbed into them. More than the pain at seeing her with someone else, more than his anger at her for degrading him by doing it in his bed, he felt most crushed by her relentless ire for him. He just wanted her to stop hating him.

He moved slowly when he finally got up to repair his room. He put things back one by one. Except his sheets. Those he finished incinerating. He scourgified the mattress for good measure before conjuring new bedclothes. Slowly, the rest of the debris was cleared. The last thing out of place was a black scrap of fabric on the floor. At first, Sebastian had though it might’ve been a singed bit of his old sheets. However, he placed it almost as soon as he picked it up. They were black lace knickers, clearly torn off hastily.

Sebastian felt a fresh surge of rage sweep over him. He almost cast a fire-making charm to get rid of them, but he paused. He crumpled them in his tight fist as disgust and longing warred within him. He tossed the knickers in the drawer of his bedside table before slamming it shut, trying to piece together what exactly had happened to him in his life to make him such a masochist. There were too many contenders to be sure of the true culprit.

Sebastian awoke on Thursday morning dark and early. He was out the door for his run before 5 and back before 6. It did little to clear his head, though, and his thoughts wandered as he showered. Somehow, he was uninspired for his usual morning wank. So, instead, he ruminated on the enigma that was MC. She seemed to hate Sebastian, but she’d kept him from getting kicked out of the training programme. She insulted him constantly and fucked some bloke is his bed to…spite him? It didn’t make sense.

He assumed it was revenge for his escapades the prior night. But it hadn’t gone on that long before the room was silenced. It didn’t make sense for her to be so upset over that. Unless she was jealous – like he had been after finding her mid-tryst. The more Sebastian thought about it, the more that made sense.

Stepping out of the shower, Sebastian grabbed his wand and cleared the steam from the bathroom. He patted himself dry, then started on his hair. Sebastian tilted his head as he watched himself in the mirror. He recalled how MC had stared at his arms just two mornings ago. His teeth sank into his lip as he considered an idea – a stray thought, really. But a tempting one.

Sebastian strutted into the kitchen, cock and balls flapping in the breeze as he strode about stark naked. He had nothing but the towel he was using to finish drying his hair. MC was shocked to say the least, and although she shielded her eyes, he had seen them dilate when they landed on him.

“What the fuck are you doing?” she asked, sounding aghast.

Sebastian smirked at her. “I thought about it and decided you were right,” he said as he walked into the kitchen. “We should both be comfortable here. Et voila.”

He gestured to his nudity, and then he stole her beans on toast.

She tried to grab it back. “That’s not yours!” she said indignantly. The nerve of her.

Sebastian held the food out of her reach. “And my bed isn’t yours.”

He took an aggressive bite out of the toast for emphasis. It was quite tasty.

“I admit that crossed a line, but I really didn’t plan on shagging Erik there,” she said imploringly. “This is just inhumane.”

Sebastian continued glowering at her. He didn’t like the idea that she just couldn’t help but fuck from guy in his bed any better than the thought that she had premeditated it to piss him off. In fact, he found it much, much worse.

MC scrambled to get her burning eggs off the hob as she finally smelt the smoke that had been wafting up for almost a minute. She sighed in defeat as she put the ash-coated pan in the sink.

Sebastian smirked again. “Distracted, were you?” he teased before taking another bite of her toast.

She sneered at him. “Blinded, more like.”

He quirked an eyebrow at her as chewed his latest bite of her breakfast. He swallowed. “By my beauty?” he asked, batting his lashes at her.

MC glared at him. “By your pasty bollocks.”

He scowled. “Well, thanks for the toast, love,” he said icily. “I’ll see you at training.”

He did see her at training, though it was largely uneventful. He also made sure she saw all of him when he got back to his flat and watched some tele whilst starkers, letting his legs flare open for good measure. She’d come into the room and almost immediately did an about-face. He watched one episode of Doctor Who before proceeding to make dinner. He offered a plate to MC when she finally emerged from her room again. She gave it a scornful look before grabbing her cloak and leaving. She returned a bit later with a takeaway bag. She rolled her eyes when she spotted him, still naked and enjoying his pasta at the island.

“Ugh, I knew I should’ve eaten there,” she said, wrinkling her nose.

“Oh, come now, my table manners aren’t that bad,” he replied cheekily.

She didn’t reply. She just took her food to her room.

The next morning, Sebastian stretched very thoroughly after his run. He was still stretching when MC re-emerged from her room.

“Gods, I wasn’t assaulted with the sight of an arsehole this early in the morning when I lived in a castle full of cats,” she groused, shielding her eyes.

Sebastian, who had ironically been doing downward dog, pushed himself back up to standing. He rested his hands proudly on his bare hips. “What view would you prefer, love? I’m open to requests,” he replied, slightly out of breath.

“Any where you’re clothed,” she replied tetchily.

“Oh? You wanna swap? A little CMNF?” Sebastian quipped. “Kinky. I like it.”

“You’re depraved,” MC said.

“What?” Sebastian asked, feigning innocence. “It’s nothing I haven’t seen before. And recently, too.”

MC’s cheeks flushed at that. She fled to the kitchen, and it wasn’t long before Sebastian heard the crack of disapparition announcing her departure.

Saturday morning, Sebastian opted for a different trope and did his weekend chores in the nude. He made sure he was in her sight line the entire time she cooked her breakfast. He might’ve felt guilty about it if he didn’t catch her stealing glances when she thought he couldn’t see her. He had a lot of reflective surfaces in his flat.

MC left late in the morning to go Merlin-knows-where, and Sebastian felt a sudden chill come over him. He checked his thermostat. It was set properly, but the current temperature read 15 degrees C. Sebastian grabbed a blanket and turned up the heat. Half an hour later, it hadn’t warmed, at all. His landlord took a look – for which Sebastian put clothes on – but he couldn’t find anything wrong with the furnace. Sebastian tried a warming charm, and when that didn’t help, he finally suspected his new flatmate was to blame.

He refused to give her the satisfaction of admitting his discomfort – or putting on clothing. He tried to research spells that might reverse it in his bedroom. When he heard MC return, he emerged naked from his room to get a glass of water. She just raised a brow at him. She clearly hadn’t expected him to be so committed.

Sebastian found a few spells to try, but none of them worked. Late at night, bundled under his covers, he decided that if he couldn’t counteract her spell, he would make her equally inconvenienced by it. He cast several spells before turning in for the night. The first transfigured all of her clothing into lingerie. The others prevented her from doing anything about it, including stealing any of his clothes.

Sunday morning, Sebastian woke up to find the flat disappointingly cold. He was sure MC wasn’t up yet, though, so he still had faith in his plan. He went for his usual run before stretching in the living room. He stalled as long as he cared to before going for a nice, hot shower. It chased the chill out of him, but he felt even colder as soon as he stepped out – even after a drying spell. Thank Merlin those still worked.

Sebastian trekked out to the kitchen, trying not to shiver. He checked the thermostat on the way. He did a doubletake. It was only 5C in his flat. He schooled his features before continuing to the kitchen. Even so, his eyebrow shot up when he saw MC.

She was leaned back against the counter eating her porridge clad in a sheer lace bra and pants. Both of which were Slytherin green. Sebastian had to take a moment to admire his own handiwork. It was a class set.

MC had spotted him instantly, and Sebastian quickly gave her a wolfish grin. “Trying to seduce me?” he asked playfully. Because it’s working, he thought as he devoured the sight of her. He could see her areolas through the lace of her bra. His mouth watered at the thought of tasting them.

MC scoffed at him. “Hardly,” she replied before taking another bite of her food. “I mean, it’s not like you could do anything even if you wanted to.”

Sebastian didn’t like the accusing way she pointed her spoon at his cock.

“Oh, I wouldn’t bet on that,” he replied arrogantly.

“Yeah?”

MC didn’t look convinced as she moved to put her empty bowl on the counter. Her tongue ran out over her lips, and Sebastian’s eyes tracked its movement. A glistening sheen was left on her pink lips. He didn’t know how they weren’t blue with how frigid she’d made his flat. She looked warm. He was very tempted to walk over to her and find out just how warm she was.

“You really think you can get it up when it’s so cold?” she challenged, raising a sceptical eyebrow at him.

Sebastian’s eyes were still trained on her plump lips. He really shouldn’t have skipped masturbating multiple mornings in a row. Now he was imagining those plump lips wrapped around his cock. Her hot mouth taking him in.

He could only nod in response.

She cocked her head to the side with feigned curiosity. “You think you can get hard enough to fuck my tits?” she asked huskily.

Sebastian’s eyes flicked down to her breasts as she pushed them together. “I bet you can picture it – your cock slipping between them. This lace you’ve made barely covers anything.”

He could picture it. In exquisite detail. The image had him practically panting. Suspicion niggled in the back of Sebastian’s mind. Why was she trying to rile him up if she hated him?

���What’re you doing?” he asked.

She scoffed as she let her breasts drop. “Proving that you’re delusional. I could hop on this counter and play with myself or rub my tits in your face, and you’d still be flaccid as a flobberworm.”

Sebastian swallowed a moan at the thought of her doing either. Or both. Gods, she was trying to kill him. He could feel heat building in his abdomen. “Why don’t you test that theory?” he asked, trying to cover his hopefulness with cockiness.

MC rolled her eyes. “Not bloody likely. Besides, you were always a bit of an arse man, weren’t you?”

She turned away from him and leaned over the counter. Sebastian’s breath hitched as his gaze traced the line of her G-string until it disappeared between her arse cheeks.

“You used to love taking me from behind. And you always got off on marking my arse…”

It was like she had been reading his mind, as he had just been picturing sinking his teeth into those round cheeks. Fuck, did she want him to take her? Was that what was going on?

“…smacking it, biting it…” she continued.

She looked over her shoulder at him with a smirk playing on her lips. His eyes flicked up to hers, which were heavy-lidded and calling him closer. He took a stumbling step forward.

“Coming all over it,” she said as if the thought of it went straight to her clit. She clasped her bottom lip between her teeth.

Sebastian groaned as his gaze fell back to her arse. He could picture it coated in ropes of his seed, dripping down her smooth skin. Gods, he ached to make it a reality.

“Oh, shite,” she said suddenly. Her voice was no longer sultry – it was fearful. She quickly turned back around.

Sebastian looked up to see her staring at his hard prick like it might bite her. Sebastian’s brow furrowed in confusion. She had clearly been trying to turn him on, and now that she had it…frightened her?

“You’re fucking pathetic,” she growled, but Sebastian could still hear the fear edging into her voice. She quickly brushed past him, running to her room and slamming the door shut behind her.

Sebastian was left dumbfounded. And still very aroused. He decided to take care of that latter problem first, so he’d have a clearer head for figuring out what the fuck had just happened.

He retreated to his room before silencing it. He pulled open the drawer in his bedside table and grabbed the scrap of lace inside. He raised them to his nose and breathed in her scent. It made his eyes roll back as a flood of memories hit him. Merlin, she’d always smelled so good.

He lay in bed, propped up on a pillow. After casting a wandless lubrication charm, he set to work. His hand glided up and down his shaft, squeezing a bit tighter as he stroked over the head. He took another deep inhale. He imaged they were the dark green knickers he’d seen her in only a moment ago, soaked in her scent from getting off on teasing him – on seeing how hard he’d gotten for her.

He kept her actual horrified expression far from his mind, focusing on the good bits: her arse on display for him, her nipples through the sheer lace, her teeth sunk into her lip as she looked back at him, shoving her tits together and telling him to imagine fucking them. I’m imagining it now, love.

He imagined the doe-eyed expression she’d look up at him with while his cock slipped between her breasts – having his way with them until he couldn’t take it anymore and he needed to bury himself inside her. He pictured himself being the one to tear off her clothes, instead of that knob from the other night, and flip her face-down on the bed. Or maybe he’d leave the knickers on her, just tugging them to the side when the time came. Until then, he’d bite marks into her skin and soothe them with his tongue. He’d slip his hand under the lace, teasing her clit with her arse in the air until she begged him to fuck her.

He wrapped the knickers around the base of his cock, while he kept fisting the rest of it. As his hand sped up, he imagined pounding into her from behind with her G-string still on. He imagined her whimpering for him and calling out his name. He’d do the thing properly, making her climax until she couldn’t think straight.

As his skin warmed with his efforts, the smell of her in the air grew stronger.

Sebastian fantasised about MC coming on his cock, and it was almost enough. It was a mixture of memory and imagination. He combined the sounds he knew she made when climaxing with the image of her lingerie-clad as he fucked her into his mattress. He could make it a reality if she’d stop being so sodding stubborn. He knew part of her wanted it – wanted him. He could see it in the way she looked at him.

He imagined her storming in now to yell at him about something else, catching him with her knickers around his dick as he jerked off. She’d be irate, and he’d shut her up by stuffing her mouth full of his cock. If she was good, he’d reward her by fucking her instead of spilling down her throat. He imagined taking her against his door. She’d cry out in pleasure as he made her body sing.

“Oh, fuck! Yes! I…I’m–”

Sebastian came with a loud groan to the image of MC coming undone. Her trembling legs barely able to hold her up. Her nails biting into his shoulders. His name on her lips.

He semen shot out in hot spurts, painting his stomach. But it quickly grew cold with the frigid temperature of the room. He was spent, and he felt a twinge of sorrow at the fact that it meant he was done. He wouldn’t’ve been if he had actually been with MC. He’d make her come, and then he’d come inside her, and then he’d make her come several more times after that. He loved overstimulating her, winding her up until she couldn’t take it anymore. She always came harder that way – if he took his time getting there. He loved having her so fucked-out that she was boneless and sleepy. Satisfied like only he could do. He’d hold her, and she’d fall right asleep.

Sebastian got up and cleaned himself off with a wave of his wand before extricating MC’s tattered knickers from his softening cock. He dressed and sat on the side of his bed for a while. Post-nut clarity was not as helpful as he had hoped. He had no idea how to interpret MC’s behaviour that day – let alone how to fix his strained relationship with her. He did feel quite certain that he should restore her clothes to their prior states, though.

Sebastian removed all the spells he had cast. He left to take a walk to clear his head. When he returned several hours later – he had stopped in a café for a leisurely lunch – he still had no additional insights. Though, he did feel that the flat had become noticeably warmer. A check of the thermostat confirmed his suspicion that MC had lifted whatever spell she had cast.

When he made dinner that evening, he caught sight of MC heading out. He didn’t bother engaging with her. He had no idea what to say, and he wasn’t sure he’d want to talk even if he did. He felt confused and…rejected, in a way. He wished he knew why she had been trying to work him up. Was she genuinely interested and just freaked out at the last second? Had she merely wanted to prove she could wind him up? Did she just want to see him suffer? He wished he could bring her into an interrogation room and not come out until he had answers.

Another idea struck Sebastian, and he put it into action the following morning. He skipped his run and made breakfast, instead. When he heard MC stirring in her room, he put on a kettle, as well. He prepped a thermos with a tea bag and a splash of clear liquid from a vial. Veritaserum. He’d used it in plenty of interrogations. Strictly speaking, he wasn’t allowed to use it outside of work. However, he was desperate. He felt like he was going insane with the emotional whiplash MC was putting him through. He needed answers.

MC emerged from her room just as Sebastian finished fixing her tea. She came to the kitchen, probably drawn by the smell of food. He offered her a plate and a thermos.

“It’s a peace offering,” he explained when she eyed them sceptically. She always did have good instincts. Nothing quite so damning as Sofia’s abilities, but she still had a keen sense when things were off.

“Thanks,” she said rather grumpily before taking them. If she still suspected anything, she didn’t show it as she took a bite of her eggs and a swig from the thermos.

“Can I ask you something?” Sebastian said, trying to sound unassuming.

“You can, but I have absolutely no interest in answering, so it’d be a waste of breath,” MC said acridly.

Sebastian scowled. He knew she was being blunt, not intentionally hurtful. That made it sting worse, because she meant it. “I don’t know why you keep insisting on being such a bitch,” he complained.

It was unfair. He knew exactly why she’d said what she did, but his feelings were rather raw after the plethora of unkind words she’d managed to pack into conversation over the last week. She’d have to forgive him if he was a bit defensive. Not that he actually expected her to.

“And I don’t know why you can’t just accept that I want nothing to do with you,” she bit back.

He clamped his jaw shut before he said something really senseless. Why had he thought this would be a good idea? Surely, no answer was worth this torment.

“Thanks for breakfast,” MC said in a clipped tone. She snatched up her bacon and stormed over to her cloak.

She struggled a bit to put it on. She held her bacon precariously between her ring and pinkie fingers of the hand holding the thermos, which already had her wand between the index and middle ones. She looked like an elderly version of the muggle superhero Wolverine (Niko had shown him some films), with her rusty claws at odd angles from severe rheumatism. She held the collar of her cloak with her teeth and slipped her free arm into it.

Continuing the valiant effort of donning her the thing, she swapped her wand first, having belatedly realised she could stow it in her pocket. She did a bit of wild gesticulating as she tried to get the fabric to stop folding over on itself so she could access said pocket. All she succeeded in was causing the sleeve she had managed to get on to slip off her shoulder and pool at her elbow. She then gave up on the concept of pockets entirely and held her wand between her teeth, instead. Swapping the thermos and bacon to the hand of her sleeved arm, she twisted her free arm at an uncomfortable-looking angle behind herself to fish out the opening to the second sleeve. She tilted awkwardly toward her relatively bare arm, utilising gravity quite cunningly to shift the excess fabric closer to the searching hand.

There was no cry of victory when it found its target, despite what Sebastian might’ve expected. MC merely straightened her cloak, let out a disgruntled exhale, grasped her wand, and disapparated immediately. The whole ordeal would’ve been quite hilarious if Sebastian hadn’t just been thoroughly chastened. Still, once she had gone, he let out a sharp exhale that resembled something of a laugh.

It was only as they all gathered around Jari in the training room that Sebastian processed the fact that he’d sent MC to work with a thermos full of truth serum. The realisation hit him like a bombarda to the chest as he watched her take a sip of the spiked brew.

That wasn’t likely to end well.

“All right, everyone, we’re taking the training wheels off today,” Jari announced, and a quick glance around the room told Sebastian that no one else had felt like they’d been operating with “training wheels,” either. “Today we’re testing – and, hopefully, improving – your endurance. So, be prepared to be run into the ground, or leave now.”

Sebastian had never seen Jari so stern – other than when he had claimed to have smacked MC on the arse last week, of course. No one dared so much as groan as Jari dove into details. MC, however, seemed to mumble something to Sofia, who had to stifle a laugh. It was the last any of them made any noise that could be construed as joyful that morning, because Jari made good on his promise of running them into the ground.

It was more than running, though. Jari conjured all sorts of obstacle courses and rough terrain, none of which were static. All of the landscapes seemed intent on altering themselves in whatever way would make crossing through them most difficult for each individual person. They ran, leapt, dived, tumbled, climbed, and, in most of their cases, stumbled until their muscles felt like they’d never have the strength to contract again. It was only the strength of Sebastian’s pride that allowed him to walk to the locker room afterward instead of crawling there.

The training had been so gruelling that he entirely forgot he had meant to try to snatch MC’s thermos from her without her noticing.

Conversation at the lunch table was sparse. Most people looked like they’d rather take a nap in their food than eat it as they sagged over their trays. Sebastian, for one, thought his potatoes looked like they’d make a decent enough pillow.

“I’m definitely going to need the sauna after today,” Mikko said, and the noise made Sebastian’s lolling head snap up.

“Ugh, I’ll never step inside one of those bloody things again,” MC whinged.

“I thought you said you liked it!” Mikko replied, somehow having the energy to sound aghast.

“Well, the sauna itself was nice at first,” MC explained. “It’s just that the company was shite.”

MC gave Sebastian a pointed glare, and he looked down at his tray in shame. That conversation hadn’t been one of his finer moments.

“I’ll take you myself this time,” Mikko offered. “You’ll love it if you get the authentic Finnish experience.”

That was when it started to go tits up.

“You know, when you first mentioned Finnish relaxation methods last week, I thought you were going to offer yourself,” MC admitted.

Sebastian blinked slowly. Was she saying what he thought she was? Or was he so knackered that his mind was inventing reasons to be jealous?

Mikko clearly took the statement the same way Sebastian had. “I’m so sorry if I made you uncomfortable! I wasn’t trying to suggest anything,” the lad said earnestly.

MC shrugged easily. “Oh, I wasn’t offended. I would’ve accepted if you had been offering,” she stated.

Sebastian’s life nearly ended right there at that table as he inhaled his bite of sausage rather than swallowing it. His eyes watered as he coughed it back out. Despite his near-death experience, he was much more concerned with what was happening at the other end of the table.

Mikko looked mortified. Sofia looked to be in shock.

MC’s eyes widened in horror as she seemed to only process her words after they’d already exited her mouth.

“You just look like you’d give a lady a good time, you know?” she blurted out before quickly slapping her hand over her mouth.

That was the moment Sebastian remembered the veritaserum.

Fuck.

He wondered if he could vanish the thermos right then without it being too incriminating. Little did he know that he was already too late.

“You’re, um, very flattering,” Mikko said uncomfortably, refusing to make eye contact with anyone.

“I’m so sorry!” MC said, uncovering her mouth briefly. “I don’t know where that–”

A dark look crossed her features as her eyes slid to Sebastian. He felt closer to death than he had with the sausage obstructing his lungs.

“You adolescent twat!” she hissed at Sebastian as she rocketed to her feet.

He could only cower, giving her an apologetic look that he knew was too little, too late.

She chucked the whole thermos into a nearby bin and marched out of the cafeteria without so much as a backward glance. Once she was gone, though, everyone else looked directly at him. He wanted to slip under the table.

“Can we just leave it at I’m an adolescent twat?” he asked.

Fortunately, everyone was too tired to press him for details. For now.

Sebastian spent the rest of training that day pretending he didn’t exist and doing his best to avoid anything that would alert others to the contrary. Nevertheless, MC acknowledged that he was there on her way out.

“We’re gonna have a chat tonight,” she’d demanded without so much as slowing her steps.

He was in no position to refuse.

“What did you do?” Niko, who was sat across from him, inquired in a hushed voice.

Sebastian let his head fall forward and smack into the table. “I just wanted some answers, but I went about it the wrong way and cocked it all up,” he said.

Niko tilted his head as he observed his despondent friend. Suddenly, his eyes went wide. “Sepe, you didn’t!” he hissed.

Sebastian raised his head slightly, looking up at him guiltily.

“That’s il–” Niko started to say.

“I know!” Sebastian hissed back, cutting him off. He crossed his arms as he sat back in his chair.

“Jesus fucking Christ, Sebastian,” Niko said, obviously still taken aback. “What the hell did you need to know that badly?”

“It doesn’t matter,” Sebastian replied tersely. “I didn’t find out, anyway.”

Niko looked sceptical. “Well, it mattered enough for you to break–”

“Niko!” Sebastian said in a warning tone.

The younger aurori finally got the good sense to drop the subject.

When Sebastian arrived at home after completing his usual cleaning duties, MC was waiting in the living room with her hands on her hips and murder in her eyes.

“What the fuck is your problem?” she demanded.

Sebastian flinched away from her. “I didn’t mean for you to take the tea to training,” he said. He knew it didn’t fix it, but still he needed her to know.

“So, you just meant to dose me privately?” she asked, crossing her arms in front of her. “Yes, that’s so much better!”

“I just wanted some answers,” he replied weakly.

He knew it was a mistake. He had just felt so desperate, and it seemed like the only option at the time.

“And you drugged me to get them!” she screeched.

“Would you have given any otherwise?” he asked defensively.

“No!” she replied. “And I have every right not to! I don’t owe you any explanations!”

Sebastian snapped his mouth shut. She was right. He shouldn’t have tried to force her to talk to him. He wasn’t entitled to know her thoughts if she wasn’t willing to share them. He should’ve known better, especially after experiencing working with Sofia for a year.

“Gods, you’re so bloody entitled, you know that?” MC continued, as if she’d stolen the word right from his mind.

Sebastian didn’t have the energy to keep arguing. The whole day – the whole week, really – had been too much. “I just want to understand, or…or to get closure,” he said, so quiet he was almost inaudible.

“So did I – three years ago. I moved on, Sebastian! I just want to survive this week so I can go back home and forget it ever happened!”

Moved on. To Sebastian, that sounded about as possible as bringing Anne back. There hadn’t been a day since her funeral that he didn’t wonder what would’ve happened if he’d stayed with MC. The thought of never seeing her again almost broke him.

 “Well, I don’t!” he replied, his voice cracking. He had stepped closer to her, wanting to take her in his arms so she couldn’t slip away. But he had stopped himself.

“I don’t care!” she yelled, exasperated.

The words were devastating. She didn’t want to reconcile. She just wanted to be rid of him again. Sebastian didn’t know how to live with that. “I don’t know how to fix this if you won’t talk to me,” he said, defeated.

“You can’t!” she insisted as if it were and obvious fact.

“I can’t accept that,” he stated. He could feel tears starting to sting his eyes, which had become an all-too-frequent state for him lately.

MC groaned in frustration before evidently deciding the conversation was no longer worth having as she headed for her room.

“We’re not done here!” he said as he followed her.

“I am!” she replied before her door slammed shut in his face.

Sebastian tried to open it, but it was locked. “MC, let me in,” he said, feeling desperation begin to clench hold of his chest.

There was no response.

“MC, please,” he begged, jiggling the handle again.

Still nothing.

He knocked on the door. “MC!” he called louder in case she’d thrown in earbuds or shut herself in her bathroom.

He waited several minutes, but there wasn’t a sound from her room. He sighed, pressing the heels of his hands into his eyes as if it could stem the flow of frustrated tears slipping down his cheeks. He dragged himself to his room before he started sobbing.

Things did not improve for him the following morning when all of his hair fell out in the shower. Sebastian’s first thought was that it was some sort of stress response. However, he spotted streaks of hairless skin down his upper arms and torso in the mirror and put together that his shampoo had been tampered with. He didn’t take it well, saying some unfortunate words to MC before she left. He’d been infuriated by the levity she had about the situation. It felt like apathy. Like he was a temporary nuisance, not an intertwined part of her past.

That was to say nothing of the fact that MC used to be borderline obsessed with his locks. She had always had a hand buried in them when they snogged or had sex. She’d play with his hair at the nape of his neck while they studied or card her fingers through it while he rested his head in her lap. He could always get her going after a duel by letting his hair fall in his eyes a bit and looking at her through his lashes. Sweaty, bleeding, dusty from the floor of the Undercroft – it didn’t matter. She’d jump on him like a broomstick at the start of a quidditch match.

It was a clear “fuck you” to get rid of it. As well as an “I’m never fucking you again, to be clear.”

Sebastian was still fuming when he arrived at the training room. He’d tried every spell he could find to fix things before he came in, but there was nothing for it. He needed a professional’s help, so he settled for covering up his bald head.

“Nice beanie,” Niko said brightly.

“Shut up,” Sebastian grumbled to the confusion of the young lad.

Sebastian could hear MC snicker, “He’s on his monthly.”

He glared at her. MC just smiled and waggled her fingers in a taunting wave. Jari took their focus as he rounded them up for training. The whole morning, Sebastian struggled to keep his cap in place. He felt more naked without his hair than he had parading around his flat starkers.

Once the physical training was over, he took a lightning-quick shower and headed for his hairdresser’s. “Antonio!” he called desperately as soon as he stepped into the shop.

The man rushed out from the back. “Sebastian?” he said, bewildered. “I didn’t think we had an appointment today.”

“We don’t, I’m sorry. But…it’s an emergency,” Sebastian replied, sliding his knit cap off.

The man’s hand flew to cover his mouth. “Sit,” he demanded.

Sebastian quickly complied, and Antonio set to work. He slathered his freckled head with several salves. After a series of spells, brown hairs extended from Sebastian’s roots like new grass from seed. It grew out to chin length, and then Antonio began to trim it to its former perfection. During the process, Sebastian poured out his heart about the last week of his life.

“This is that girl you’ve been hung up on since forever?” Antonio asked. Of anyone in Finland, he probably knew the most about Sebastian’s personal life.

“The very same,” he confirmed.

“What are the odds?” the hairdresser mused.

“Indeed,” Sebastian agreed.

“Can I give you some friendly advice?” Antonio asked cautiously, pausing his cutting.

Sebastian met his eye in the mirror. “Please do.”

The man rested one hand on his hip as he levelled Sebastian with a firm gaze. “If you want a prayer of getting another shot with this girl, stop playing games,” he said, pointing his sharp scissors accusingly at Sebastian’s reflection. “Just be honest with her and ask her out.”

Sebastian shook his head in disbelief. “But she still hates me.”

Antonio gave him a pitying look. “But at least she’d know how you feel about her. You broke her heart. You can’t expect her to throw herself at you without even knowing that you’re committed this time.”

Sebastian felt a twist of anxiety in his stomach. He didn’t like the idea at all. However, the man was a good few years older and happily married, so it was probably worth considering. “I’ll think about it.”

By the time the group was entering the conference room, Sebastian was already in his seat. His stomach was empty, but his head was no longer bare. He noted the double-take MC did at him. He couldn’t tell if she gaped at him merely out of surprise, or if he might’ve caught a hint of longing in her expression.

Once everyone was sat, Jari started their lesson. Sebastian listened to Jari go in-depth on the intricacies of undercover operations, but he didn’t process any of the visual aids. He was focused on his peripheral vision, where he thought he’d seen MC’s gaze linger on him. Soon enough, she glanced his way. Then, she stared openly at him. After relishing having her attention, Sebastian turned his toward her.

When he caught her eye, MC flushed pink, knowing she was caught. It was adorable, and he couldn’t help but feel smug about it. MC looked determinedly toward Jari’s slides. Sebastian took a few more moments to appreciate how much her blush suited her before doing the same. He saw her glancing over several more times, but he didn’t turn to look again. Maybe Antonio was onto something.

When Jari finally released them, Sebastian rushed to follow MC out of the conference room. “Gods, I’m starving. I had to miss lunch to go to my hairdresser’s,” he said genially.

“I didn’t realise you were so vain,” MC replied harshly.

Sebastian smirked at her attempt to deflect. “You seemed to think it was worth it.”

MC rolled her eyes, refusing to confirm the fact but not refuting it, either. She avoided even looking at him, probably knowing her face would give her away either by blushing or her eyes flicking up to drink in the sight of his freshly styled mane.

Sebastian, realising she was going to make this difficult, jogged ahead of her. He spun around to face her and began walking backwards. Just ask her out. “Let’s go out to dinner,” he said.

MC’s eyebrows shot up. At least she didn’t look disgusted by the idea. “Together?”

“Obviously,” Sebastian replied with an easy grin. He still felt hopeful. She’d been gawking at him all meeting just because she’d been caught off guard that he had his hair back. That had to mean something.

At least, Sebastian had felt hopeful until MC scoffed at him. “Don’t you have cleaning to do?” she asked patronisingly.

He shrugged the comment off. “I can do it after,” he said simply, fighting to keep his smile. “So, how about it?”

She frowned at him. “No.”

Sebastian was taken aback. He’d genuinely expected that to work. “What d’you mean ‘no’?”

“It means that I don’t want to go to dinner with you,” MC explained as if he were hopelessly thick.

He cocked his head to the side. “Why not? You obviously still fancy me.”

MC bristled. “Hardly.”

She was being ridiculous. “You were staring at me all meeting, love.”

His suave ease at the assertion was somewhat undercut as he backed right into a wall.

MC quickly darted around him. “I was not.”

She pushed open the door to the outside, and he followed her out as she made for the alley.

Sebastian was certain she was just lying now. “Oh, you absolutely were,” he argued, still grinning. “Why can’t you just admit that you’re still interested?”

“Because I’m not,” she bit out, marching ahead.

That didn’t add up. The lingerie. The teasing. The staring. She had to still have feelings for him. Sebastian decided to push back.

“No? And parading around half-naked this weekend was for what exactly?”

She didn’t even look back. “You were the one who turned all my clothes into lingerie! And you were walking around fully naked.”

Sebastian smirked as he remembered how she’d leered at him. “I just find it comfortable. It’s how I dress in my flat when I don’t have a houseguest. But you’re trying to tell me there’s no part of you that’s even the least bit curious about getting dinner?”

He arched a brow as he questioned her.

MC whipped around. “None,” she asserted firmly, her fiery eyes boring into his. “There is no force on this planet that could make me want to rehash our relationship.”

Sebastian couldn’t help but laugh at her insistence in the face of the truth. “Want to try that again after you’ve sipped some tea?”

MC’s face twisted with rage. Sebastian could admit that it probably hadn’t been the best idea to bring up the spiked brew.

“Gladly!” she spat. “I’d sooner cut off all four limbs than come crawling back to you – the absolute worst mistake of my life!”

Sebastian gaped at her as he absorbed the venomous words. Whatever attraction she felt toward him, her hatred clearly vastly outweighed it. He considered leaving her to be his worst mistake, but hers was ever being with him in the first place. The tainted dark wizard who did nothing but cause her pain. He felt like the air had been knocked out of his lungs. He began to tremble – maybe from the cold, though he suspected it was more to do with his body trying to hold itself together as his world fell apart.

MC disapparated, and Sebastian was alone.

It felt like someone else did the cleaning while Sebastian just floated up near the rafters. He didn’t even feel the bite of the wind as he left the headquarters. But he was acutely aware of the persistent ache in his chest, and he wanted to dull that immediately. He forewent his usual pub in favour of a nightclub. The pounding music drowned out his thoughts, and the alcohol took care of everything else.

The bartender set down a shot, and Sebastian downed it. A laugh burst out from him. It sounded foreign – unnatural.

“Hey! That was my gigglewater!” a witch beside him chided in Finnish.

“Sorry. I’ll buy you another,” Sebastian said, slurring slightly as he shouted over the music.

The woman eyed him for a moment. “Dance with me, instead,” she shouted back.

Without waiting for an answer, she took his hand and dragged him to the dance floor. She pressed in close to him, letting her hands and body make liberal contact with him. He was still rather numb from it all. But if nothing else, it was nice to be with a witch who didn’t hate him with every fibre of her being.

After a few songs, Sebastian let his hands wander over her body. Then, he was snogging her in the middle of the nightclub. That turned into feeling her up at the back of the establishment until she purred in his ear, “Let’s get out of here.”

She had said lots of things before then, too, but Sebastian couldn’t really remember any of it. Including her name, though that was hardly of consequence. He wasn’t even sure if he’d told her his.

Sebastian gripped her hand and apparated them to his flat. It had been a very ill-advised move given how intoxicated he was, but they’d landed safely in his bedroom by some miracle. The woman stripped Sebastian like she was being paid for it – he was fairly certain she wasn’t, though he really couldn’t be sure. He untied the halter neck on her dress, freeing her tits for his groping pleasure. He didn’t get long with them, though, before she dropped to her knees.

“Fuck, just like that, sweetheart!” Sebastian said as she bobbed on his prick. He always tried to show his appreciation for any woman willing to go down on him.

He tried to lose himself in the pleasure, his hands gripping into the edge of the mattress as he leaned against his bed. Then, his door banged open.

“Sebastian Bartholomew Sallow, what on earth is going on here?” MC bellowed, snapping his attention to her.

Well, the woman certainly knew his name now.

Speaking of, she had popped off his cock as she gaped at MC, then up at him. Sebastian realised why the witch looked so shell-shocked when he saw MC’s swollen belly. Surely, she hadn’t let that bellend get her up the duff? No, that didn’t make sense. She wouldn’t be showing yet.

Sebastian’s mental calculations were cut short as the witch got to her feet and started screaming in Finnish.

“You vile son of a bitch! You have a wife? And she’s pregnant? I hope you burn at the stake, you bastard!”

She slapped him across the face before storming out. He was just glad she hadn’t gone for his bits, frankly.

“You deserve so much better,” she said to MC on her way out.

She left the flat with a pop.

Sebastian sighed as he looked back to MC. “I was quite enjoying that…” he whinged. His eyes flicked from her “wedding band” to her stomach. Pregnancy suited her, he thought, and a rather base urge to fill her up for real swelled up in him. If she wanted to play house, then he’d play.

Sebastian smirked at her. “It only seems right you should finish the job, Mrs. Sallow.”

MC scoffed and looked at him derisively. “Fair’s fair. You ruined my last orgasm,” she argued. Unfortunately, she transfigured away the ring and pregnancy belly. “Besides, I did her a favour keeping her away from you.”

Sebastian ignored her dig at him and focused on the bit about her orgasms. “You haven’t come since before you fucked that prick in my bed?”

He slinked toward her, crossing the room as he held her gaze. MC glared back at him, but he didn’t let it deter him. He knew he could light her nerves on fire if she’d just let him.

“Actually, he made me come first. He was just going for round two,” she said snidely.

Sebastian scowled. Making her come was his job – one he’d been very, very good at. “What a bloody gentleman,” he spat out. “But you’re not denying that you haven’t come since.”

MC just rolled her eyes.

Sebastian’s smirk returned. Her silence was confirmation enough. “I could help you with that.”

Aside from the aching erection he was sporting, he felt quite desperate to please his witch again – both because she looked so gorgeous when she came and because he wanted to take care of her. He could remind her how good he’d made her feel. He could show her that he wasn’t a mistake.

MC stepped back as Sebastian closed in on her. She only looked all the more furious with him. “Are you really coming onto me while your dick’s still wet from some slag’s mouth?”

“You sound jealous,” he said huskily. Maybe it was wishful thinking, but he believed it.

Sebastian bit his lip as he closed the remaining gap with MC. He looked down into her wide eyes as he ran the backs of his fingers down her the soft skin of her upper arm. It broke out in goose pimples.

“You sound insane,” MC shot back before storming out.

She rushed out of his room before his ethanol-infused muscles could react to grab her. Her door slammed shut. Once again, he was alone.

He took a futile shower – it would never be able to clean him of his real filth – before flopping into bed. The booze helped him fall asleep quickly, but it was hardly restful.

The next morning, the situation remained the same as he awoke with a pounding headache to an empty flat. As he sobered up that morning, it dawned on him that he hadn’t exactly put Antonio’s advice into practice the previous night. Sure, he’d asked MC out, but he hadn’t been honest with her about his feelings. Perhaps that bit was the most important. At the very least, it might give him closure. Maybe he didn’t need to know where he stood with MC to get it – he hadn’t liked what he had gathered so far, anyway. Maybe he just needed her to know how he felt about her.

Next chapter.

#sebastian sallow #hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow x f!mc #hogwarts legacy fanfic #sebastian sallow fanfiction #sebastian x mc #sebastian sallow fanfic #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #toxic relationship

[thenerdykneazle]

Sallow Soul - Fate

Summary: Sebastian finds out that MC will be coming to Finland. The Slytherin decides not to waste the chance to try to rekindle things. She doesn't make it easy, though. His past sins may be too much to overcome as her disdain for him only seems to grow. It threatens to break him as the woman he loves makes it abundantly clear how low her opinion of him really is.

Sebastian Sallow x F!MC

Warnings: 18+, sexually explicit content, aged-up characters, angst (so much angst), toxic relationship

Word count: 8344

Read on AO3. Part 1. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. MC's perspective (Kindred Spirits).

Part 2: Fate

There was one thought ringing through Sebastian’s mind when Teräväinen told him the name of the British auror who would be completing the rigorous two-week Rikosaurori Training Programme: It’s fate. The woman he thought he would never see again. The woman he stupidly gave up – twice. Life was bringing them back together, because it knew, like Sebastian finally did, that they never should’ve been apart. Sebastian realised suddenly that Teräväinen was still talking and tried to pay attention despite the new tilt to Earth’s axis.

“…but while she’s here, I thought it might be helpful to have a fellow Briton host her,” the gruff man said. The lead instructor for the programme, Jari, nodded in agreement.

“Of course, Sir,” Sebastian replied, making his superior scowl as he always did when addressed in such a formal manner. “I can have my flat modified with a second bedroom immediately.”

The older man furrowed his brow as he observed the younger one. The white hairs of his moustache flared as he pursed his lips.

The instructor arched a ginger eyebrow at Sebastian. “You think she should stay with you?” Jari asked, clearly surprised.

“Well, you said I’d be hosting her,” Sebastian replied, trying not to look crestfallen.

“In reference to what I’d said about showing her around the facility and city,” Teräväinen replied as though Sebastian were very slow. “I’m sure you can understand my hesitance to have the young woman under your roof, Sepe.”

Jari was less artful in his scepticism. “Housing two twenty-somethings together during an intensive training is asking for trouble,” he said bluntly.

“Sorry, I didn’t consider how the suggestion might sound,” Sebastian replied honestly. “We’re school friends. She used to stay with my family quite frequently during the holidays.” And sleep in my bed at school.

“Oh,” Jari said, flipping through her file. “Yes, you were at Hogwarts together, weren’t you? So, you know her well?”

Sebastian nodded. “We were quite close, though we haven’t had much contact since I moved to Finland,” he said, not technically lying.

Teräväinen looked somewhat wistful as he regarded him. “Yes, we never expect those friendships to fade once we leave school, do we?” he said sagely. “I should think there’s no harm in letting an old friend stay with you. What do you think, Jari?”

“I suppose not,” the redhead replied, though he didn’t seem excited about the prospect.

Sebastian was elated, but he quickly tempered his emotions so as not to give the man any reason to change his mind.

“I trust we don’t need to remind you that extension charms require proper permits,” Teräväinen added.

“No, Sir,” Sebastian replied, though his widened eyes said differently.

“I’ll send an architect from the ministry to modify your flat.”

“Thank you, Sir.”

After his superiors dismissed him, Sebastian went home to clean his flat. He had always been quite content with his space, but it seemed wholly inadequate now. His familiar walls were cold and blank. His furniture was mediocre. His kitchen was too small, and his bedroom was juvenile somehow. How would one signify maturity with a bedroom anyway? Extra curtains around the windows? He conjured some. Was there a certain style of bedframe? Sebastian went through several styles before transfiguring it back to the simple wooden one he’d started with.

Sebastian let out a heavy sigh. It was a pointless effort. He didn’t have any idea what would impress her.

Not that MC was going to see his bedroom anyway. She would have her own room. Though, she would certainly be welcome in his. Sebastian blinked away the image his mind had produced of her lying in bed with him, both facing each other on their sides and tucked under the covers as he stroked a hand up and down her bare arm. The soft morning light he imagined filtering over them hardly existed in the harsh Finnish winter, anyway. Let alone the soft smile she had worn.

Sebastian knew it was folly that made him hopeful. She had left him, only reconnecting amidst the pain of grief – likely a momentary lapse in judgment on her part. Though, he was quite different now. He was not one to cave to the seduction of the dark arts any longer. Not after all it had cost him, including the two most important women in his life.

Besides, he was doing well for himself without its aid. He had earned quite the reputation with the aurori – and for the right reasons this time. He wondered if MC might be impressed by that. Maybe she would even have expected it. She had always seemed to see potential in him back in school.

During the weekend leading up to the training, he met with the other trainees who had come to Helsinki. It was partly to network and partly to keep himself from going barmy redecorating his flat without any actual understanding of interior design. Most of the others were a fair bit older than Sebastian. Niko, who worked in Sebastian’s department, was a year younger. Sebastian was glad to see a familiar face. Sofia was another one, as she’d helped train Sebastian when he first became an aurori before she left Helsinki. They spent several hours catching up when everyone met at a pub downtown.

“What are you nervous about, Sepe?” she inquired.

Sebastian scowled at her over his pint. “It’s not polite to poke around people’s heads, Sofia,” he groused.

She just chuckled. “I don’t need legilimency to know you’re stressed. You haven’t stopped drumming on the table since you sat down,” she replied.

Sebastian immediately stilled the hand he hadn’t realised was so fidgety. He curled his fingers into a fist to keep them silent. “I just don’t want to screw up this opportunity,” he admitted.

Sofia hummed thoughtfully before taking a sip of her drink. Sebastian didn’t like the look in her eye.

His own gaze narrowed at her. Stay away from my thoughts.

“You know that’s easier said than done. You’ve always projected them rather loudly,” she replied with a slight smirk.

“Nosy bint,” Sebastian grumbled.

Sofia laughed. “Always so defensive,” she remarked.

Sebastian scoffed. “Let’s talk about what’s going on in your personal life, then,” he said.

Her smirk grew as she brought her glass back to her lips. “Touché.”

Sebastian was a wreck come Monday morning. His stomach was in knots, and he almost smacked into two separate light poles on his morning run. He paced around his flat so much that he was surprised he hadn’t worn a rut into his floor by the time the architect finally arrived. He hovered over the witch’s shoulder, asking her to alter this or that – make the tub a bit larger, the carpet a bit softer, and so on – until she finally snapped at him to let her work. Sebastian tucked tail and retreated to his room until she was done.

He changed his outfit two more times before the witch was finished. Sebastian’s palms went sweaty when he emerged from his room to find luggage in the hallway. He took the trunk into the new bedroom and gave the space a last once-over. He transfigured the pillows on the bed to be a bit fluffier before forcing himself to leave before he could panic and flee the country, instead.

When he arrived at the headquarters, Jari informed Sebastian that the others were at lunch. He walked down to the cafeteria, shoving his hands in his robe pockets to stop their shaking as he entered the large room. He spotted her instantly despite her facing away from him. His legs refused to keep walking as he watched her turn and walk to the table. The whole group was laughing about something.

Sebastian finally forced himself to move forward when she was once again turned away from him. She spoke just as he reached her. “Aren’t you lot supposed to be the best of the best?” MC said in a teasing tone that threatened to overwhelm Sebastian with a flood of nostalgia for when she used to address him so playfully. It seemed like a lifetime ago.

“Some of us are, at least,” he said in as casual a tone as he could muster, though his voice had the slightest shake to it.

MC seem to turn around in slow motion. Her eyes were wide as they landed on him. They were as brilliant as ever, he noticed, and he was glad to see she was looking well. She stood there, so familiar and yet changed. Though, Sebastian didn’t know if she actually looked different or it was just his faulty memory that was responsible for the apparent changes. At any rate, she was more stunning than ever.

“Hello, MC,” Sebastian said in his most charming tone, letting a small smile tug at his lips.

In a flash, he felt a stinging pain in his cheek as his head was whipped to the side from the force of MC’s swift palm colliding with his face. The ache was numbed by his shock. He had anticipated that she might not be overjoyed to see him, but he genuinely hadn’t expected such a violent greeting.

“You bastard!” MC shouted.

That had the whole cafeteria gaping at them.

Sebastian raised a hand to his cheek, and the heat of his skin confirmed that he had, indeed, been struck. “I suppose I should’ve expected that,” he mused, recalling that he had been rather less than gentlemanly at their last meeting.

“This cannot be happening!” she said, her voice sounding almost broken. It tore at his chest to hear it. He figured his disappearance after the funeral had hurt her, but she sounded devastated to see him.

She sprinted out of the cafeteria, and Sebastian was truly at a loss as he stood frozen.

“MC!” he finally called just before she reached the doors, but she barely glanced back before pushing through them.

“What the fuck was that?” Niko asked. He was standing in front of Sebastian, blocking him from chasing after MC.

“It’s…complicated,” Sebastian replied with an involuntary glance over to Sofia. She was watching him with slightly pursed lips.

The group erupted into questions, and Sebastian did his best to dodge all of them. Sofia quietly slipped out of the cafeteria in the meantime.

Eventually, Sebastian was able to extricate himself from the group. He began a panicked speed-walk through the building to find MC. Jari found him first and instructed him to get MC and come to the department head’s office at once. The redhead looked livid.

Sebastian couldn’t fathom how he had already fucked things up so badly. He had changed. He was a good man, not the dodgy teenager he had been at school. This should be going better, shouldn’t it? Yet, it seemed to be much, much worse after less than a minute of interacting with MC. He had no time to parse it out, though. His mind was working rapidly to find a way for them not to get kicked out of the training programme as he kept scouring the headquarters for MC.

He spotted her at the end of the corridor, and he felt a flood of relief. He had half expected that she had already bolted back to England. Sofia was with her, which sent a fresh spike of panic through him. His old mentor knew far too much to be talking with his ex. Had she already put together that was who MC was? Sebastian wasn’t sure which answer was worse.

“There you are!” he said, failing to hide the irritation bubbling up as his initial relief faded. “I’ve been looking everywhere for you!”

 “Well, you found me,” she bit back, crossing her arms over her chest.

He glanced at Sofia again before continuing. “Teräväinen wants a chat with the two of us,” he said, feeling further annoyed that she was being indignant after she slapped him in the face. “Now.”

“Brilliant,” MC said sarcastically.

Sebastian turned on his heel, not bothering to check if she was following. She quickly caught up, but Sebastian was silent as he seethed. The nerve of her to be tetchy with him when he was about to cover for her! Though, she wouldn’t know that yet, Sebastian suddenly realised.

Sebastian sighed, releasing the tension brewing inside him. He supposed he should try to be understanding given that she’d had no time to process that she would be seeing him again. “Look, I–” he started.

“Don’t,” MC said sharply. “The one perk of the fact that I’m about to be kicked out of the programme is that I won’t have to talk to you.”

“You won’t get kicked out,” Sebastian stated confidently. He would make sure of that. Even if he wasn’t in the training programme, MC would still be in Helsinki. Though, admittedly, she probably wouldn’t be staying with him once they talked to Teräväinen.

MC scoffed. “Right.”

“Just…let me do the talking,” he said, deciding not to let her in on his plan. If she really did prefer to be kicked out, he didn’t want to give her an opportunity to sabotage it.

Sebastian noticed her sceptical look and rolled his eyes. “I’ve always been good at getting out of trouble, haven’t I?”

Her mouth flattened into a harsh line. “Yes, you’ve always been quite adept at manipulating those around you.”

Sebastian had no time to retort as they arrived at Teräväinen’s office. He cleared MC’s name with a lie about grabbing her arse. Hopefully, none of the other trainees would refute him. Even if they tried, none of them would’ve had a clear enough view to be certain he hadn’t. His superiors were as surprised and disappointed as he had expected. He braced himself to be fired.

Then, MC interjected with her own lie – saving his arse right back. Sebastian felt oddly proud of her in that moment. He got off with some manual labour. They bolted from the office before anyone could wise up.

“That was some quick thinking back there,” he said as they walked toward the exit.

“Well, I’ve learned not to let myself fall into your debt,” MC spat.

Sebastian scowled. She was clearly going to make patching things up difficult. Though, at least he had two weeks to try.

He stopped by the exit, but MC turned the corner without him. “Where are you going?” he called when she didn’t realise her mistake.

MC spun around. “To the conference room,” she said tersely.

Sebastian couldn’t help but chuckle. For a woman who’d spent years wandering through the Scottish Highlands, she had a terrible sense of direction. “First of all, the conference room is that way.” He pointed the opposite direction than she had been headed. She flushed with embarrassment. “And second of all, we’re done for the day. Jari gave everyone the afternoon to get settled in.”

MC didn’t move.

Sebastian gestured with his head toward the exit. “Come on, then,” he said.

She reluctantly followed him outside and around the corner to the alleyway apparition point nearby. She was already shivering, and he almost offered her his cloak. He doubted she would accept it, though, and just elected to get her out of the wind ASAP, instead. He held out a hand to her, and she scoffed at it.

Sebastian rolled his eyes. “I’m not walking all the way to my flat,” he said. “You don’t even have a cloak on.”

“Fine,” she said bitterly before taking the outstretched hand.

Sebastian apparated them into his flat. MC ripped her hand back as soon as they arrived.

He hung his cloak on a hook by the door, glancing back over his shoulder to check her reaction to the space. Her face was impassive.

Sebastian turned to face her. “It’s, uh, it’s not much…but it’s home,” he said, rubbing the back of his neck as he spoke.

“Your home. My prison,” MC spat.

The words stung, and Sebastian wondered if she had been right about him being manipulative. He had forced her into staying with him without knowing if she would be okay with it – and she clearly wasn’t. But he was also frustrated that she wasn’t even giving him a chance to show that this was a good thing. “Why are you intent on making this as difficult as possible?” he asked.

MC crossed her arms indignantly as she glared at him. “I’m making it difficult?”

“I don’t see why you’re being so tetchy,” he said with a roll of his eyes. Though, he regretted the words as soon as they’d left his lips. He just didn’t understand her attitude. Yes, he could see that he was a massive prick after Anne’s funeral, but she had left him first. They were even. “I just mean that you’re the one who broke up with me. I didn’t think you’d be so angry about it.”

MC scoffed. “You act like you’re some innocent victim! As if I just fell out of love with you and broke your heart! I told you I couldn’t tolerate the dark magic anymore. You knew I was applying to be an auror. I couldn’t spend my life arresting dark wizards during the day and then going home and sleeping next to one at night. You made a choice.”

Sebastian winced at her calling him a “dark wizard.” “Well, so did you,” he argued.

“And I stand by it,” she bit out. “Not that you would know anything about that.”

Sebastian could feel his anger swelling with the continued attacks on his character – she had no idea how much he’d done to change. “What’s that supposed to mean?”

“That you abandoned us! All three of us!” she said. “And for what, Sebastian? To feel special using your precious founder’s evil spells?”

He saw red at that. Reducing his decision down to wanting to feel special enraged him. He had agonised over whether he could live with himself giving up an avenue that might help Anne. He couldn’t, and it cost him the love of his life. Was that how little she thought he had cared for her? That “feeling special” would mean more? Was that how little she had cared for him?

“You don’t know what the fuck you’re talking about!” Sebastian spat venomously.

“Well, you’ve had years to explain yourself, haven’t you?” she shot back.

As if it would’ve been so easy. As if she or Ominis would’ve just forgiven him and welcomed him with open arms. As if they could’ve just lived happily ever after despite everything that had happened – everything he was.

“Ugh! You’re so ignorant!” he said, exasperated. “I don’t know why I bothered asking Jari to let you stay with me.”

MC gaped at him. “This was your idea?”

“Yes, so make yourself comfortable,” he said bitterly as he pulled his cloak back on. “I’m going for a walk.”

Without another word, Sebastian left the flat, slamming the door shut behind him. He stormed down the steps and emerged into the bitter air of the snowy street. He just wandered, letting the frigid weather sting his face. After only a short while, he was certain his ears were so frozen that a bump to either one would snap it clean in half. After a bit longer, his whole face was numb. Unfortunately, the weather didn’t have the same effect on his emotions. Tears welled and caused a freezing sting at the corners of his eyes.

He managed to blink them back, but his heart felt heavy in his chest. He’d missed MC terribly. He didn’t want to fight with her. He just wanted a chance to show her that he’d changed. He felt miserable as that possibly seemed to slip further and further away.

Sebastian walked until his feet ached. He should’ve changed out of his office shoes. He couldn’t be bothered to transfigure them now, though. He couldn’t be bothered to do anything except walk. Maybe part of him even felt he deserved the pain.

His stomach growled, and Sebastian was inclined to just ignore it. However, he realised that MC had never eaten her lunch, either. He got them both some takeaway, and he felt a ridiculous pit of anxiety at the thought that he might’ve picked something she didn’t like. The crisp, cheese-filled dough was certainly the sort of think she’d had a taste for back in school, but her tastes might’ve changed.

He returned to his flat, but she didn’t answer when he knocked at her door. He left the food for her and returned to his room, keeping an ear out for her. He heard her door open and shut shortly after. He gave it a few minutes, and then he crept from his own room to the kitchen. She was nowhere to be found, and a rustle from her room confirmed that she’d retreated back inside after grabbing the meal. Sebastian’s shoulders sagged as he dragged himself to the sofa.

He sat there for hours, attempting to read. It was a failure on all accounts. He couldn’t retain a word he read, and MC never emerged from her room. He got up and made dinner, leaving the plate levitating in front of her door when she again refused to answer his knock. Two hours later, it still floated untouched, and he put it away feeling like he’d lost MC a third time already.

The next morning, Sebastian dragged himself out of bed after a fitful night’s sleep. He dreamt that MC left the programme and headed back to England. He thought there was a good chance of it becoming a reality that day. He almost skipped his morning run in favour of camping out at the flat to stop her from leaving, but he decided that would only make things worse. She clearly had no interest in interacting with him. Maybe giving her some space could help his cause.

Sebastian dressed and left his room. He turned on the light, jumping slightly when he saw MC standing just outside her open door.

“Oh!” he said involuntarily. He quickly smiled, not wanting her to think he was disappointed to see her. “Well, aren’t you an early riser? Isn’t it three in the morning for you right now?”

MC, shrouded in the fog of sleep, just squinted at him.

“Still not a morning person, I see,” he said with a chuckle as he leaned on his forearm against his door frame in what he hoped was a debonair sort of pose.

“Don’t do that,” MC replied irritably.

“Do what?” he asked, confused.

“Pretend we’re friends. We’re not,” she said, putting a hand up on her cocked hip.

Sebastian’s smile vanished. “I just thought that if we’re living together for the next two weeks, it’d be best to try to get along,” he said meekly. Her refusal to even attempt cordiality had ceased being annoying and just hurt now. He couldn’t imagine hating her so ardently.

MC rolled her eyes. “We’re only living together because you asked for us to,” she reminded him.

He sighed. “Well, there’s not much I can do about it now,” he said defensively. “If you really hate me that much, then just go home.”

He’d rather have her gone again than have to see her keep looking at him with so much ire.

She scoffed at him. “I’m not going anywhere.”

“Well, I am,” he said. He pushed off the door frame and started walking down the hallway. “I’m going for a run.”

“Aren’t we starting with physical training every morning at the headquarters?” MC asked.

Sebastian turned back to face her. “So, I’m not allowed to exercise outside of that?” he asked, arching a brow at her.

Her eyes wandered over him, and Sebastian could swear she was checking him out.

“You can do what you like. It makes no difference to me,” she replied coolly, but her words had less impact when she had just been ogling him. Sebastian couldn’t help but be a bit puffed up. Even if they didn’t have a past, catching the gaze of a witch as beautiful as her would’ve stroked his ego.

That didn’t negate the fact that her obstinance was grating on him, though.

“Well, thank you for your permission to live my life,” he said a bit less playfully than he’d intended. He grabbed a knit cap and some gloves on his way out the door.

Sebastian contemplated MC’s wandering gaze through his whole workout. He wavered back and forth, but he came to the eventual conclusion that she had been unequivocally checking him out. She might hate him, but she was still attracted to him. Stupidly, it lit a spark of hope within him – like he could work with that, slowly worming his way back into her heart.

When he returned from his run, there was a plate of eggs and toast waiting for him. He smiled when he saw it. He briefly considered that it might be an attempt to poison him, but he had a bezoar in his room that he could utilise if he felt off. Even if he didn’t, though, he wouldn’t risk offending MC by not eating the meal. It felt like progress. Despite the fact that she would probably claim the gesture was so she didn’t “owe” him for the food he got her yesterday, he knew her well enough to be certain that she wouldn’t give a knut about not returning a favour she hadn’t asked for from someone who she fully loathed. So, that was something.

After wolfing down the food, Sebastian went to shower. Not two minutes later, MC knocked on his door. “I’m heading out!” she called.

He turned off the water to hear better. “You sure you don’t want to wait for me? I’ll be out in just a minute,” he called back. His conditioner needed to sit for at least five more minutes, but he could skip that and be out in thirty seconds after a quick rinse.

“No, it’s fine!” she insisted, her voice sounding more distant. Before he could argue, he heard a loud crack as she disapparated. He couldn’t help but wonder what she wanted to leave so early for.

Sebastian resisted the urge to rush and spy on her. Instead, he took his time making sure his hair was perfectly tousled, his cologne was noticeable but not too much, and his training robes didn’t hide the muscles she’d been ogling too much – even going as far as using a tailoring charm to make them more fitted around his biceps.

He arrived ten minutes early to the training room, but he didn’t force an interaction with MC. He’d let it happen naturally.

“All right!” Jari said, clapping his hands together. “To start, I want to see what you all know already. We’ll test the accuracy and strength of your spells, have you display your defensive capabilities, and then put it together with some old-fashioned duelling.”

The accuracy testing was all but too easy. Being quick on the draw and adapting quickly were two of the main reasons Sebastian had excelled at duelling. He quickly grew bored of the task at hand and couldn’t resist an idea that struck him when Jari announced the next spell was a severing charm.

“Oi! Niko! Give me a number, one to ten,” Sebastian whispered.

Niko gave him a confused look. “Four?” he replied.

Sebastian smirked. “Four it is,” he said.

In his periphery, he could see MC rolled her eyes.

“Throat!” Jari called, and instantly the dummies started moving.

“Diffindo!” Sebastian said, aiming much lower than anyone else. His dummy’s fourth finger on its left hand was cut loose and began to roll away when it hit the floor. The red luminescence that indicated where the spell landed almost looked like fluorescent blood on the remaining stump.

Sebastian had heard MC practically growl after she’d cast her charm, but a quick flick of his eyes showed that she had once again been right on target.

“Sepe, any particular reason you maimed your mannequin?” Jari asked, grabbing his attention.

“Well, sir, I didn’t think he’d miss it,” Sebastian replied, trying very hard not to smirk. “He doesn’t seem the marrying type.”

Jari frowned at him. “Let’s see if we can’t get you to channel your energy toward the tasks I set forth,” he said sternly. “We’ll move on to strength testing.”

“It’s not my fault he doesn’t know how to set a proper challenge,” Sebastian whinged to Niko before letting a grin spread across his face.

“Is he also to blame that you’re an insufferable show-off?” MC snapped.

Sebastian was caught off guard to hear MC interject, but he couldn’t help laughing at her remark. “You always were quite competitive,” he observed, certain that the fact that he’d been outperforming her had her seething.

MC just stomped away from him.

Sebastian bit his lip as he watched her storm off. She’d always been particularly attractive when she was a sore loser. It was simultaneously adorable and alluring. He could never help teasing his fiery witch just to wind her up more. She was almost as sexy when she was pissed off as she was when her skills shined. So, when she destroyed 11 of Jari’s 12 cinderblock walls with an exploding charm during the strength testing, he was practically drooling. He had to remind himself that she wasn’t his anymore when a bit of pride swelled up in him as Niko said, “Goddamn! I didn’t think anyone could outdo Mikko and Patrik.”

“Neither did I,” Jari agreed, thoroughly impressed.

Sebastian had to temper himself so he wasn’t beaming like an idiot. “Good to see you haven’t lost your touch,” he said to her. She just scowled at him.

“That is quite remarkable,” Sofia added.

MC gave her a grateful smile, and it irritated Sebastian that MC took Sofia’s compliment but not his.

“All right, Sepe. You’re up,” Jari said.

“Could I get the objective just once more?” Sebastian asked, struck with another irresistible idea.

Jari’s expression grew stern.

“I just want to make sure I’ve got it right, Sir,” Sebastian said innocently.

“Your objective is to blast through as many of the cinderblock walls as possible with one cast of an exploding charm,” Jari said in a clipped tone. “Are you clear on it?”

“Abundantly, Sir. Thank you,” Sebastian said brightly.

He stepped up to the line and raised his wand. He was almost giddy with the thought of the right state MC was about to be in. He glanced her way, and he could tell that she knew he was up to something. He winked at her, and he swore he could feel her magic crackling with her fury already.

Sebastian levelled his gaze back on the walls in front of him. “Bombarda!” he said firmly, keeping his motions precise and his magic focused. The white jet of magic bored through the walls, crashing through all twelve before soaring back and putting a hole in the one sealing off the conference room, too. Were the walls destroyed? No. The holes he had bored through them weren’t even big enough for Kaarina to crawl through. But had he “blasted through” all of them with one exploding charm? Yes. Yes, he had.

MC looked downright murderous. Jari waffled between impressed and irate. “Yes, well, not exactly what I had in mind, but it did meet the objective as stated,” he conceded.

Sebastian felt it had been a smashing success.

“Moving forward, I would like to add that the goal is to bring down the walls in the process,” Jari said firmly.

“Got it,” Sebastian replied, forgetting his manners in his glee.

Sebastian gave Niko a fist bump as he returned to his side. MC beat him in the rest of the strength tests, but he still felt utterly triumphant when he recalled the fire in her eyes at being beaten on a technicality. It satisfied something deep in his Slytherin heart. Now he just hoped he got to duel her – for old time’s sake, as well as to get to use his new tricks. He’d have sabotaged himself to make sure they were paired together, but it was clear already that she was going be at the top of the pack.

When it was all said and done, Sebastian ended up getting his wish. He and MC were the two top performers overall, and so Jari paired them to fight. Sebastian grinned when she asked specifically about her ancient magic. Jari agreed to it provisionally – as long as it wouldn’t be too dangerous.

“I can handle it,” Sebastian assured him before anyone could object.

“Then I won’t hold back,” MC said darkly, sending a thrill up Sebastian’s spine.

He smirked at her. “I wouldn’t have it any other way.”

MC returned the smirk as they stepped out onto the mat. “So, let me guess, it’s time for a proper Finnish welcome?” she teased.

Sebastian gave a full laugh. It almost felt normal between them – like how they used to banter before facing off at Crossed Wands. “How about a proper reunion?” he offered.

“Whenever you’re ready,” MC replied, rolling her eyes but still smirking.

They stood back-to-back, paced out three steps, bowed, and began.

“Depulso!” MC said.

Sebastian dodged the spell, having expected her to strike immediately. “Same old MC,” he said, amused. “Always have to be the first out of the gate.”

“Well, why learn new tricks when my old ones are so terribly effective?” she asked before sending a charred wooden block soaring into him.

It knocked him sideways, and MC’s mouth twitched into a smile briefly.

Sebastian rolled back to his feet, sending an incarcerous spell at her.

MC sliced the ropes in half mid-air, and it made Sebastian want to tie her up to his bedposts, instead. She was so sexy when she made showing off look easy. “Stupefy!”

Sebastian threw up a shield charm, and MC’s spell ricocheted off of it.

“I could end this now,” MC pointed out as they circled each other.

Gods, she was practically flirting with him. “How sporting of you to let me play, then,” Sebastian replied light-heartedly.

She sent a slew of basic casts at him, but Sebastian blocked them, holding his defensive position. “I do enjoy charity work,” she quipped.

He sent a nonverbal blasting curse at her, which she dodged. He arched a brow at her. “I’m the charity case, am I?”

MC shrugged nonchalantly. “I admit, you’ve put a new spin on your old tricks. Levioso!”

Sebastian barely had to move to dodge it.

“Good callback,” he said, recalling their first duel in class back in fifth year. “You’ll find that doesn’t work on me much these days, though.”

“Shame,” MC replied, sounding bored. “Descendo!” She aimed the spell well above his head, and Sebastian was certain she hadn’t merely missed after the performance she’d had at the accuracy tests.

He dove to the side just as a box crashed down, splintering to pieces where he’d been standing a moment earlier. He rolled back to his feet. “You have been learning new tricks.”

Sebastian was overjoyed at the new challenge. MC, looking furious, summoned a bolt of lightning down. Sebastian’s eye glinted as he aimed his wand up at the forming storm, casting the spell to disrupt it.

MC looked utterly bewildered, which was thoroughly satisfying to Sebastian. “How the fuck?” she muttered angrily.

“I’ve learnt new tricks, too,” Sebastian said cockily. He pulled his amulet out of his shirt with the thumb of his free hand. “It’s been a working theory for some time. I’m glad I finally got to test it.”

“I didn’t realise you were so obsessed with me,” she quipped.

Merlin, you’ve no idea, love. “You know how I love niche magic,” he replied, grinning at her. “And you’ve got a very rare gift.”

“That makes one of us,” she sneered.

She was trying to hurt him, he realised. It was working. He felt his anger spike, but he quickly shoved it down.

“Come on, now. Don’t be bitter that you’ve got to try to beat me using more than just special powers,” he teased before attacking.

MC dodged his spells. She didn’t seem to take too kindly to Sebastian’s taunting, because she sent a flurry of nonverbal curses at him before using her ancient magic to throw another supply crate his way. He dodged it, but only just. As soon as he regained his footing, he sent a blasting curse at her.

MC didn’t dodge it. Instead, she cast a disarming charm at him. Sebastian’s wand flew out of his hand as MC was blasted backwards. She landed hard.

“Levioso!” MC shouted, still lying on the ground.

Sebastian flew into the air, helplessly suspended without his wand.

“I guess it does still work,” she sneered as she got to her feet.

Before he could reply, she smashed him into the ground. His whole body ached, and she blasted him backwards with an exploding charm. It knocked the wind out of him even before he slammed into the mat. She was relentless, levitating him and slamming him back to the ground repeatedly. Pain radiated through his whole body.

Sebastian was sure he had several broken bones as he lay flat on his back. He coughed as he tried to take air back into his lungs. MC walked over, looming over him.

The other trainees were talking animatedly to each other in Finnish.

“Such a bloody Gryffindor,” Sebastian panted, almost certain that at least one of his broken bones was a rib as his pain spiked with each breath. “Taking a blow to land one.”

With an arched brow and a tight jaw, MC extended her hand down to him.

He almost flinched, but he realised she was trying to help him up, not continue mauling him. Sebastian gave her a weak smile as he took hold of the outstretched limb. “Looks like you didn’t need ancient magic to make you special,” he said good-naturedly once he was up on his feet. He summoned his wand back to him.

Obviously, he would have preferred not to have just had his arse beaten to a pulp, but he had to admit that it had been an impressive display.

MC seemed only to have been enraged further by his compliment, which Sebastian found quite confusing. He was blindsided by the words that finally came from her mouth, “Looks like you did need dark magic to be worth something.”

Sebastian felt like she’d just dealt a blow harder than any she’d landed in their duel. His smile dropped, and his brows furrowed as he began to blink rapidly. His whole sternum seemed to crack in half under the weight of her words. She utterly despised him. He was nothing to her. Less than nothing. Just some loathsome excuse for a man. He could leave the dark magic behind, but she’d always see him as tainted by it. The worst part was she wasn’t wrong. He just wished she could’ve found something redeemable in him.

As tears began to sting his eyes, Sebastian bolted for the conference room. He didn’t know if anyone called after him or not. He couldn’t hear anything over the sound of his own heart pounding in his ears.

Every step he took made his broken body scream in protest. Sebastian headed straight for the healer to get set right. After a wiggenweld and a few healing spells, he felt right as rain. Physically, anyway. The weight in his chest hadn’t eased, which was disappointing because he had hoped it was just a collapsed lung. Alas, it was evidently a much more lasting injury.

He returned to the locker room to clean himself up. After standing under the hot spray of the shower for entirely too long, he dried off and got dressed. When he entered the conference room, he couldn’t even look at MC. He feared what emotions might break free if he did. The moment the lesson was done, Sebastian left.

He hid out in the headquarters until he was certain that MC would be gone, and then he returned to clean the training room. It took hours to do by hand, as they’d used almost every inch of the place for their testing. He spent the whole time brooding over MC’s disdain for him. He was gutted but also furious. She hadn’t even given him a chance. She assumed the worst in everything he did – saving her from getting kicked out, bringing her food, complimenting her fighting. No matter what he did, she just hated him for it.

Sebastian kicked the training mannequin in frustration. The pain that radiated through his foot as it collided with the durable dummy only enraged him further. He sank onto a nearby weight bench and dropped his head into his hands. He couldn’t do this. He couldn’t spend 2 weeks with MC actively hating him. Why did she have to show back up in his life?

He needed a drink. Several, in fact.

Sebastian went out to a pub by his flat to get sloshed. He wanted to be completely plastered so that he didn’t have to think for a while. His plans were altered slightly during his third whisky when two birds slid into his booth.

“Hello,” he said, surprised by their appearance. He wondered if he was supposed to know them.

“Hello,” one of them replied, flashing him a bright smile. “You looked like you could use some company.”

Sebastian had to force himself not to scoff. He’d been quite content alone, thanks. He’d specifically grabbed a booth instead of sitting at the bar so that he didn’t have to talk to anyone.

“I’m Sanni. This is my girlfriend, Kira,” the woman continued. She had strawberry blonde hair pulled back into a ponytail. Kira had straight, light brown hair that fell loose past her shoulders.

“Nice to meet you,” Sebastian replied, thought it wasn’t nice at all. It was quite annoying. And confusing, given the new information that the women were dating each other.

The brunette chuckled. “Do you have a name?” she asked.

“Sebastian,” he replied curtly.

“Sebastian,” she repeated slowly, clearly focusing on trying to pronounce it the way he had.

He resisted the urge to roll his eyes.

They asked him about why he was in Helsinki, and they were both surprised and impressed to learn he was an aurori. By the time he finished his fourth drink, it was abundantly clear that the two women were trying to pick him up. The closest Sebastian Sallow had come to a threesome was having to listen to his obnoxious ex-roommate’s trysts when he first moved to the city. The bastard always “forgot” to use silencing charms when his guests were there. Needless to say, Sebastian didn’t live there long.

“Would you like to come back to our place?” the blonde asked boldly.

“I…” Sebastian started, intending to agree. He could use the distraction. But he had another idea – one to get his new roommate to move out pronto. “How about we go to mine, instead?”

The brunette shrugged. The women exchanged a look before agreeing. Sebastian walked them to his place, since it was just around the corner. He had lost a fair bit of his buzz, as the women’s constant questions had drastically slowed down the rate at which he could down his last drink. He could have apparated them, but he really wasn’t keen on side-alonging both of them.

On the walk, the women asked if he’d ever been with two people at once before. Sebastian considered lying, but he admitted that he hadn’t. They assured him they would take things slow. He was both offended and relieved.

Sebastian didn’t bother trying to be quiet as he let the front door swing shut behind them. The blonde pulled him into a soft kiss. Sebastian quickly deepened in, sliding his tongue along her bottom lip and grabbing her arse. Slow was fine, but he did want some sleep before training the next day. And he had no idea how long it’d take to get two women off.

The other one started kissing his neck, and Sebastian moaned – mostly for the benefit of any potential audience, though it had genuinely felt nice.

“Good?” the brunette asked.

“Very,” Sebastian replied in a sultry tone.

She giggled before attacking the other side of his neck.

The blonde’s hands trailed down his front to his trousers, and he quickly snatched them up. She giggled. “Sorry. Too fast?” she said.

“A bit,” Sebastian replied. He wasn’t opposed to it exactly, but he was having trouble focusing on the two witches on him rather than the one tucked away in her room. He assumed that’s where she was, anyway. But what if she wasn’t even there? What if she’d already left? He was confused that the idea made him sad. The whole point of bringing the women back was to get her to leave.

The befuddling mix of negative emotions swirling through Sebastian meant that he wasn’t exactly there yet, despite being in the midst of snogging two attractive women. He hadn’t wanted…his paramour – he wasn’t sure which was Sanni and which was Kira at this point – to be offended by a lack of progress.

He snogged them more thoroughly as they fumbled their way to his room to make up for it. Layers were quickly shed, but Sebastian managed to keep his trousers while the other two stripped completely bare. “Why don’t you start by showing me what she likes?” Sebastian suggested to the blonde, who seemed like the more dominant one in the relationship.

She was eager to please – him or her girlfriend, Sebastian wasn’t sure. Probably a bit of both. She kissed her for a bit on the bed first, and then she began teasing between her girlfriend’s legs with one hand while her mouth moved down to her breast. The brunette was already keening from her girlfriend’s ministrations.

Sebastian let his palm graze over his front. Even the alcohol and nerves couldn’t keep him from getting at least partially aroused at the sight of the witches tangled naked in his bed. Sebastian stepped closer and smoothed a hand down the blonde’s back before massaging her arse with it.

The brunette was thrusting against her girlfriend’s hand, moaning and making the bed knock against the wall occasionally. The blonde’s fingers sped up, and Sebastian slipped his own fingers between her thighs from behind. He started slow but built up quickly, mimicking the movements she was doing on the brunette. Their moans made a rather stimulating symphony.

“Oh, fuck, just like that!” the brunette cried out.

“Oh, gods, yes!” the blonde replied. She flicked her tongue over her girlfriend’s nipple. “Come on. Come for me, baby.”

The brunette came surprisingly quietly for all the moaning she did in the lead-up. As the blonde’s movements slowed, Sebastian slipped two fingers into her.

“Oh, Sebastian!” she keened.

He shucked his trousers but kept his pants. He was stiff enough to make it work, but he preferred to be more rigid before trying anything. The blonde guided him to lie back on the bed. She had her girlfriend straddle him, grinding against him with her bare cunt. The blonde snogged the daylights out of him while her girlfriend dry-humped him – though, there was nothing dry about it as her slick soaked through his pants. He cast a wandless barrier charm on himself, deciding he was better safe than sorry – especially if she suddenly decided to progress things further before giving him a chance for it later.

It didn’t take long for him to get lost in the heat of things. It was hard to let his mind wander when so much was happening to him at once. He grabbed the brunette’s hips to anchor her as he thrust up against her, randy enough that he needed something more and not with it enough to get his pants off so he could actually fuck her.

Three loud bangs on the wall snapped him out of his reverie.

“Ever heard of a silencing charm?” MC yelled from her room.

He froze. The two women started chiding Sebastian for not telling them he had a roommate. The brunette grabbed her wand and cast the silencing charm.

Sebastian could still hear MC’s exasperated, “Thank Merlin!”

The whole ordeal set him back quite a ways. He was surprised his companions didn’t want to call the whole thing off, but he was glad for it. He was determined to see it through now. He wasn’t sure exactly what point he was trying to prove, but he knew he had one.

Despite the interruption, his nerves, his wandering mind, and the barrier charm that always dulled things a bit, he was eventually successful. His companions seemed thoroughly satisfied as they gathered their things and redressed. Sebastian was knackered. He had expected to be, but he hadn’t thought that it would be because he was the one that took a lot of work to get off. He’d had plenty of marathon sessions before, but they tended to be more satiating. But that night, instead of fulfilled, he mostly just felt relieved after his orgasm.

He walked the women out before going back and flopping down into his bed. Despite his exhausted body, his mind was whirling. It kept trying to play flashbacks of intimate moments with MC. Things the other witches had reminded him of. Things she had done differently. How content he would feel snuggled up to her afterward. He didn’t want to have to think about any of it, but it was all his mind would conjure.

Frustrated tears stung his eyes as Sebastian tried to force the thoughts out of his head to no avail. It took hours before he could fall asleep, and even once he did, it didn’t last long.

Next chapter.

#sebastian sallow #hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow x f!mc #hogwarts legacy fanfic #sebastian sallow fanfiction #sebastian x mc #sebastian sallow fanfic #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #toxic relationship

[thenerdykneazle]

Sallow Soul - The Funeral

Summary: Sebastian is struggling to cope with the loss of his twin. He has many regrets, not the least of which is not getting to say goodbye. Another is sacrificing his relationship with MC because he refused to give up on dark magic. He seeks out some comfort when MC invites him to stay with her and Ominis. Part of a series but this chapter works as a one-shot.

Sebastian Sallow x F!MC

Background Ominis Gaunt x Anne Sallow

Warnings: 18+, sexually explicit content, aged-up characters, angst, hurt/comfort, death, grieving

Word Count: 3218

Read on AO3. Part 2. Part 3. Part 4. Part 5. MC's perspective (Kindred Spirits).

Part 1: The Funeral

Gone. That was the word echoing through his brain. His twin sister was gone. The last he’d seen her, she was radiant, laughing and dancing at her wedding. Now her corpse was buried under the cold, freshly turned earth he knelt upon. He’d watched the casket be lowered and the dirt packed down, but it all still felt impossible.

That was about the only “feeling” Sebastian had, though. He was utterly numb, and not just from the bitter January weather. He’d cried when he got the news of her death. He’d cried as he hugged Ominis. He’d cried reading the letter Anne had left him. He’d cried over her body during the viewing. He’d cried and cried and cried, and now he had no tears left.

He had no purpose left, either. He’d spent the last six months searching for a cure or treatment or anything that would prolong Anne’s life and health. And he’d failed. He’d failed his sister, and her husband – his best friend. He’d ruined his own relationship refusing to limit his options to the “good” branches of magic, and he had nothing to show for it. He couldn’t even look her in the eye, which was difficult to avoid as she was a constant at Ominis’s side. That only served to remind him of how he had failed as a friend, too.

He felt a hand on his shoulder, and he might’ve thought it was the spirit of Anne herself if not for the warmth of it seeping into him. “I’m going to take Ominis home. We’ll come visit her again in the morning,” MC said softly. She paused, probably waiting for a response from Sebastian. He had none. “Do you know where you’re staying tonight?”

Sebastian shook his head, but he didn’t know whether she was looking at him. He did know he already missed her hand on his shoulder, as she’d only gripped it for a moment to get his attention. “No,” he croaked – between crying and not speaking for hours, his voice was unrecognisable. There was his uncle’s old house, but he hated going there.

“You can stay in Ominis’s guest room,” MC offered.

Sebastian looked up at her curiously, instantly noting her red nose and cheeks from the cold and bloodshot eyes from the grief. He still found her devastatingly beautiful. “I thought you were staying with him,” he said dimly. His voice was still rough but slowly warming up.

She nodded, and her kind gaze felt piercing with the memory of their past. He saw every mistake reflected back at him in those sombre eyes. He wanted to look away. It was uncomfortable to face what he’d done. He forced himself to look, though. “I can spend a night on the settee,” she said simply.

Sebastian felt his indignation swell. He would not let a lady sleep on the sofa while he took her bed. However, he also did not want to be alone, whether in his uncle’s house or elsewhere. He’d just lost half of himself, and the wound of it threatened to take the rest of him with her. “I’ll take the sofa,” he said.

MC opened her mouth to argue, but Sebastian gave her a quelling look. She sighed. “Fine.”

He said goodbye to his sister’s grave before standing and brushing himself off. They walked with Ominis to his home. MC heated some leftover food for dinner that they all picked at meagrely. Ominis excused himself to go to bed shortly after. He’d had an even longer day than Sebastian had. He could only imagine how many hundreds of times people had apologised to him for his loss that day – and he’d had an endless stream of mourners himself. It seemed all of the students and teachers who’d attended Hogwarts during Anne’s tenure had come out. Not to mention the residents of Feldcroft.

Ominis headed upstairs, where there were two bedrooms. He hadn’t been able to sleep in the master since Anne’s passing. Instead, he stayed in the upstairs guest room, while MC slept in the mother-in-law suite they’d put in their basement for her frequent visits.

Sebastian and MC sat in silence as they took occasional sips of liquid from their bowls of stew. Sebastian wanted to say something – many things, in fact – but he had no idea where to start. I can’t believe she’d gone was too trite. I’m sorry didn’t begin to cut it. I miss you felt almost disrespectful. He had no right to miss her. He knew that. Though, it didn’t stop him from doing so, anyway.

“I miss her,” he said, glancing up from his bowl.

MC pursed her lips sadly as her brow furrowed from the tension of withheld emotion. She nodded in agreement, though Sebastian wished she’d speak – or even just look at him.

“I’ve missed Ominis, too. And–” Sebastian cut himself off. No right, he reminded himself.

She looked up from her soup, eyeing him warily.

“I’m sorry,” he said earnestly. “I just…” Regret everything. The words were inadequate. A paltry penance for his sins.

Ominis had begged him to stay away from dark magic. In her final words to him, Anne had said she understood why he felt the need to use “any means necessary” in his search for a cure but that she still wished “things could have been different.” MC had given him a choice: let go of dark magic or let go of her. He couldn’t have both. He’d been so angry with her when she made him choose. He felt she was making him choose between his love for her and the chance to save his sister. It was only now that he considered that maybe the dark arts had never had the power to cure Anne, and MC could see what he had refused to.

“I shouldn’t have left,” he said finally.

Sebastian watched as MC’s expression twisted with conflicting emotions. He knew she had loved him once. They had expressed it to each other plenty of times during their relationship. It felt like a lifetime ago, though, in reality, less than a year had passed since their split. Far less than the amount of time they had spent together. Time Sebastian now felt like he had stolen from her.

He was certain MC must hate him now. The tension in her face and body as she sat across from him seemed to support the idea. He didn’t blame her, though he couldn’t fathom ever not loving her. He was certain she had captured his heart the moment she had knocked him on his arse during their first DADA class together. That version of himself seemed like an innocent, naïve child now after everything that had happened over the last 3+ years. But the current Sebastian Sallow was no less smitten.

Gods, he missed her. He wished he could wrap her up and just hold her in his arms. He wished he could kiss her until the pain faded. He wanted to melt into a puddle at her feet and beg her to take him back because he couldn’t stand being without her anymore.

He would’ve tried it, too – after all, life could be unpredictably short. He was more than willing to sacrifice his pride for a second chance with the woman he loved. But he had only had his revelation when he heard of Anne’s death. What changes had he made? He was still the same man who left six months ago. What was to stop him from being so stupid again? From hurting MC again? He couldn’t risk that.

“I wish you hadn’t,” MC said sadly.

Sebastian chewed his lip. “I’m sorry,” he said. “For leaving. For not listening to you. Just…for everything.”

For a second, he thought she was about to cry as her face crumpled. She regained her composure quickly. “I should get you some blankets and pillows,” she stated suddenly as she stood up.

Sebastian stood, as well. “I’ll help,” he said, knowing it was a bad idea.

MC searched his eyes for a long moment. “Okay,” she replied breathily, and he could have sworn he saw her gaze drop to his lips just before she turned away from him.

He followed her down to the basement where spare linens were kept. And where her bedroom was. He waited outside her door as she walked in.

MC pulled a heavy duvet and fluffy pillow out of her closet and walked back to him. “These should do,” she said a bit awkwardly as she held them out.

Sebastian let his fingers brush over the backs of her hands as he took the plush bedding from her. It made her breath hitch. “Thank you,” he said softly.

MC used one of her newly empty hands to grip her door, but she didn’t close it even a fraction. She just nodded as she held Sebastian’s gaze. His fell to her lips when her tongue darted out to wet them. She must’ve noticed, because her cheeks coloured red almost instantly.

“Good night, MC,” he said. I love you. It used to be routine. He said it – got to say it – almost every night back when she slept in his bed more than her own. It was still true, but he had lost the privilege to express it.

“Good night, Sebastian,” she replied meekly.

Sebastian found that he couldn’t will his feet to put distance between them. He should go upstairs – or at least say something – but he just lingered, soaking up her presence and pretending he didn’t have to leave it.

Eventually, MC’s brows furrowed in concern. “Did you need something else?” she asked.

It was almost physically painful for Sebastian to see her express worry over him; he didn’t deserve it. “Sorry,” he said earnestly, feeling guilty for having lingered when he shouldn’t’ve come down in the first place. He clutched the bedclothes tighter to himself. “No, I just…Sorry. I’ll go.”

“Wait,” MC implored as he had begun to turn. He looked back to see her chewing her bottom lip anxiously. She took a steadying breath. “Stay.”

Sebastian wished he could say he hesitated – or thought at all about anything even remotely resembling a consequence – but the instant MC stepped back to let him through her door, he dropped her bedding and pounced on her.

He held her face in both hands and pressed his lips to hers as his body pressed her into the wall. She groaned into his mouth almost immediately. Her hands anchored in his hair and pulled his head down toward her. They clawed each other closer, as if the mere idea of any separation was utterly abhorrent.

The contours of her body against his. Her heat sinking into his skin. The wet slide of her tongue. It all felt like home. Like he wasn’t as alone as he had feared that he was now that Anne was gone.

MC pulled him to her bed, both shedding their clothing as they went. She was down to her underwear as she crawled onto the mattress. Sebastian was as well, as he crawled on top of her. He kissed over every bare inch of skin above her waist as his hands roamed freely. He groaned with need as he slid them up under the cups of her bra to feel her breasts before ridding her of the garment altogether.

Sebastian felt an aching longing in his gut that refused to let him turn back. He had missed this. Missed her. Being close to her. Touching her. Kissing her. Gods, it was intoxicating to be with her. He grabbed her right hand, lacing the fingers of his left hand with it as he pinned the appendage down above her head. His right hand palmed her breast, while his tongue explored her mouth.

Sebastian’s hips ground against hers, pinning his aching cock between their bodies.

“Fuck, I love you,” he admitted, making her elicit a low moan in response.

He regretfully, though for a very good reason, released her hand (and her tit) in favour of working her knickers off. He was expedient but gentle in their removal. Once he had MC bared, he nearly ripped his own pants off. He couldn’t wait to have the gorgeous witch pressed against him again. He suppressed the throbbing desire to be inside of her immediately, and he stroked his fingers through her slick folds.

“Seb, I need all of you,” she whined in the middle of him pumping her full of his middle and ring fingers. “Please.”

She was just as desperate for their union, apparently. Sebastian had never been one to deny MC – at least, not when she begged so beautifully like that. Besides, in his current state of need, he had no self-control to make her entreat him further. He needed all of her, too.

She whimpered as he withdrew his fingers, but it was followed by a gasp as he slid his length inside her. Sebastian groaned from deep in his chest at feeling her wrapped around him again. He let their chests stay pressed together, sliding an arm under her back to hold her close. He was probably close to smothering her as he drew back just at his hips before thrusting back inside of her. He nearly lost his composure when MC moaned as he filled her once more.

She clawed into his back and wrapped her legs around him, holding him tight to her front. Gods, he loved when she was so needy for him.

“I missed you,” MC hissed low in his ear.

Sebastian swore as he exhaled. It was almost embarrassing how easily she could have him coming undone. He began moving again – starting with slow, deep plunges into her that quickly grew to rapid snaps of his hips. “I’m gonna fuck you so hard you feel me between your legs for the rest. Of. Your. Life,” he vowed, punctuating his last few words with the rhythm of his thrusts.

“Gods, yes,” she moaned in reply, throwing her head back.

Sebastian devoured her exposed throat, littering her silken skin with bites and bruises. MC’s nails bit into his shoulder blades, but it only spurred him on. He could feel her core clenching around his cock as his pelvis ground against hers on every drive into her. He wondered if she could come like that – just from the force of him fucking her. The thought almost sent him over the edge himself, but he held on.

He focused on the angle of his hips, making sure he hit the spot deep inside her that always had her keening, while pressing against her clit once he was buried deep inside.

“I love you,” MC gasped after a long moan escaped her lips.

Sebastian groaned. The little minx was trying to make him lose it – she was entirely too lucid. He fucked her even faster, set on making her so cock drunk that she forgot her own name.

A string of curses left MC’s lips as her back arched off the bed. She writhed under Sebastian as he pounded into her mercilessly. “Fuck, fuck, fuck. Seb, I–”

She cut herself off with an utterly obscene moan as she tensed and twitched under him. Her cunt squeezed him like she was trying to choke the very life out of him. She looked so thoroughly wrecked that Sebastian hit his climax, as well, unable to hold back any longer.

His cock pulsed, releasing his seed as he buried himself inside MC – filling her until it spilled out of her abused cunt. Sebastian kissed her, sliding his tongue into her mouth and owning it like the rest of her.

“I missed you, too,” Sebastian panted once he broke the kiss.

MC chuckled, puffing air out over his cheeks. “I could tell,” she said cheekily, squeezing her core around his cock still buried inside it.

Two could play at that game. Sebastian began thrusting lazily in and out of her. She moaned before tangling her hands in his hair to pull him back into a kiss as she started to meet his thrusts. Fucking insatiable, she was. He would be lying if he said he didn’t find it addicting that she could never get enough of him.

She stilled him by wrapping her legs back around him, holding him buried inside her as she kissed all over his face. He smiled down at the affectionate witch. Eventually, she released him, and Sebastian finally pulled out of her. He rolled off of her and onto his side, pulling her back against his chest. He cupped a possessive hand between her thighs and nuzzled into the crook of her neck, placing soothing kisses on the marks he’d left.

She let out a pleased sigh. “I think you were right,” she said.

“About?” Sebastian asked, propping himself on an elbow to look down at her.

“Feeling you here–” She rocked her hips into his hand. “–forever.”

Sebastian couldn’t help but smirk. “I wouldn’t have it any other way,” he said, stroking his hand over her – just a light, loving graze.

She twisted back to put a hand on his cheek. “I wouldn’t have it with anyone else,” MC replied with a gentle smile as her shining eyes bored into him.

A jolt ran through him. Excitement and fear. Love and pain. He did love her. He wanted to be with her. But could he? Guilt began to seep in as he considered where they could go from there.

MC had already settled back into the bed, her back pressed against his chest. Her breathing was calm and her body relaxed. Sebastian, however, was spiralling.

He had already broken her heart once. They’d been together for years, and he’d left her. He felt like a shell of the person he’d been then. How could he possibly do any better now? He pulled MC closer to himself. He didn’t want to give her up, but he never should’ve let himself back into her life. He knew it was inevitable that he’d hurt her again. He should’ve stayed upstairs – stayed away.

Sebastian knew he had fucked up. There was nothing to be done for it now. He could hurt her a little now or much worse later, but he knew there was only one way things would end: in disaster. He couldn’t love her well enough when he had Anne giving him girl advice and trying to convince him to make better choices – like giving up dark magic. Now he felt so lost and empty, and he would only destroy MC trying to fill the bottomless void inside himself with her. He had to leave – go far away where he couldn’t come crawling back to take more from her.

Sebastian hugged MC tighter still. Her breaths were deep and even. She was asleep. A tear slipped down his cheek as he pressed a kiss to her shoulder. I’m so sorry.

He squeezed his eyes shut, memorising the feel of her in his arms, her scent, and her warmth. Then, he carefully slipped out of bed. Sebastian gathered his clothes, redressed, and left while it was still dark. He only stopped at Anne’s grave to apologise one last time before leaving Feldcroft forever.

Next chapter.

#sebastian sallow #hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow x f!mc #hogwarts legacy fanfic #sebastian sallow fanfiction #sebastian x mc #sebastian sallow fanfic #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #anne sallow #ominis gaunt x anne sallow #grieving

[thenerdykneazle]

𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘: ► 𝐵𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 "𝐿𝑒𝑓𝑡 𝐵𝑒ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑑," ↳ 𝑊𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑏𝑦 @thenerdykneazle

𝐎𝐌𝐈𝐍𝐈𝐒'𝐒 𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐆𝐈𝐍𝐆 𝐀𝐈: ► 𝐶𝑟𝑒𝑎𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝐵𝑦: @silverxstardust

𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒: ► 𝑃𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟: unknown ► 𝑃𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑂𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟: unknown ► 𝑃𝑖𝑐𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑒 𝑜𝑓 𝑂𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑖𝑠 𝑖𝑛 𝑃𝑂𝑉: @legacyshenanigans

𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐂: ► 𝐴 𝐾𝑖𝑛𝑔'𝑠 𝑆𝑎𝑑𝑛𝑒𝑠𝑠 - 𝑊𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑚 𝑅𝑜𝑠𝑠 ► 𝐿𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝑖𝑛 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑊𝑜𝑜𝑑𝑠 - 𝐽𝑜𝑛𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑛 𝐺𝑟𝑜𝑓𝑓 ► 𝐹𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑙𝑦 - 𝐽𝑜𝑒 𝐻𝑖𝑠𝑎𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑖 ► 𝐿𝑒𝑎𝑣𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐻𝑜𝑔𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑡𝑠 - 𝐽𝑜ℎ𝑛 𝑊𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑚𝑠

#hogwarts legacy audio #ai voice

[thenerdykneazle]

Left Behind

Summary: Ominis is feeling forgotten when he discovers his partners have run off on yet another adventure without him. He frets about the future of his relationship with two people who seem to neither need nor want him around. Can Sebastian and MC make amends with him when they return to the castle?

A collab with the lovely @darch7995, who gave me the prompt and created the audio version of this story. Listen here.

Ominis Gaunt x F!MC x Sebastian Sallow

Warnings: light angst, sad Ominis

Word count: 2511

Ominis could hear the scrape of metal on stone as the door to the Room of Requirement materialised before him. He pushed it open and stepped inside. He could hear several cauldrons bubbling and the magical loom weaving away. The aromas of mallowsweet leaves and shrivelfigs hung thickly in the air from the potting tables along the wall.

“MC? Sebastian? Are you here?” he called as he took echoing steps into the centre of the large room.

A soft pop came from his right. “Deek saw the students leave nearly an hour ago,” the house-elf said.

Ominis groaned. “Ugh, of course, they did,” he groused. “Off to fight some dark wizards or search for artefacts in a hidden cave, no doubt.”

“MC told Deek they were going to collect ashwinder venom for a new potion,” Deek said timidly.

“What a surprise!” Ominis said sarcastically as he began to pace around the room. “That’s obviously more important than working on our project for transfiguration – like we had agreed on days ago! And, naturally, they didn’t tell me they’d miss our appointment. Plus, why ask the boy who can speak to snakes to tag along? Why would he be useful?”

Deek let out a squeak of fright as Ominis sent a hex at the adjacent wall, singeing a portrait of a witch with her pet niffler in her lap. “Deek is very sorry if he upset you,” the meek elf said in a trembling voice.

Ominis winced. “No, I’m not upset with you. I…I’m sorry,” he said, as a pang of guilt stabbed into his stomach. He hadn’t meant to scare the innocent elf. He was just frustrated.

Deek apologised again, as if he’d done anything wrong, before popping away again.

Ominis sighed as he trudged forward into the forest vivarium. Inside, he could hear unicorns galloping across the ground and jobberknolls soaring above the trees. Wand outstretched, Ominis walked down the cobblestone path to a bench by the water. The sun warmed his skin as he stepped out of the shade of the trees. As he sat there, a light breeze tousled his hair, making a few strands fall across his forehead. He usually liked to nap in the spot, but he didn’t feel up to it at the moment.

His attempt to brood angrily failed miserably, as Ominis just felt dejected. He sniffed as unshed tears made his nose begin to run. He didn’t understand why his companions constantly neglected him in favour of each other. He had been elated – eventually – to have MC make him and Sebastian a trio again. Something had been missing ever since Anne had to leave school. He thought MC had filled that void – not that she had replaced Anne, as the other Sallow twin was still like a sister to him. She was far better to him than any of his actual siblings, and nothing would change his love for her. But she wasn’t there anymore.

And Ominis’s feelings for MC were certainly different than his ones for Anne. Right from the start, they were a lot more like how he felt toward Sebastian. It had felt like a dream come true when they had decided to date each other – Ominis had thought he couldn’t ask for better partners. They both made him laugh. They both knew how to comfort him when he was upset. They both made his heart skip beats when they sat close or grabbed his hand to lead him to some newly discovered oddity in the castle or out on the grounds. Ominis normally hated when people grabbed him, but it was different with Sebastian and MC.

Though, neither was dragging him much of anywhere lately. The girl who had stolen a piece of his heart had also managed to steal most of their boyfriend’s time. They were always sneaking off to Merlin-knows-where to get into untold trouble. It made Ominis feel like an outsider in his own relationship.

Heavy thuds behind Ominis announced the approach of the hippogriffs even before Highwing’s chirping made their presence obvious. She nuzzled into the boy’s side before flopping down on the ground beside him, resting her head on the bench beside him. Caligo settled down on the opposite side of the boy.

Ominis laughed softly, despite the heaviness still in his chest at being abandoned. “At least you two still like me,” he said, giving each beast a pat on the head.

Caligo chittered happily as Highwing rubbed the side of her face against Ominis’s thigh in a display of affection.

“Maybe I should take a page out of Poppy’s book and promote you two to my best friends,” Ominis joked. He could feel Caligo’s head tilt with his hand still resting atop it. “You wouldn’t abandon me for each other, would you?”

They gave no response.

“What am I saying? Of course, you would,” Ominis said, shaking his head. “You two are a bonded pair.”

The words tasted bitter in his mouth.

“You know,” he continued to the hippogriffs, “I used to think Sebastian and I were a rather bonded pair. And, while I was sceptical of MC when she first arrived, she won me over. I thought I had gained a new partner in crime. I didn’t realise then that my old friend and my new one would slowly decide they were better off without me.”

Highwing made a sympathetic sort of chirp. At least, Ominis thought it sounded so.

“Yes, I suppose MC left you behind on this adventure too, didn’t she?” he observed. “She has a fancy upgraded broom and a duelling champion. What’s she need any of us for? Never mind that you saved her from those poachers. Or that I helped her defeat all those inferi in the catacombs – inferi that Sebastian created, mind you. But why have the blind boy tag along, right? I couldn’t possibly take care of myself – or, shock of shocks, be helpful.”

Caligo rested his head in Ominis’s lap. The boy stroked the creature’s head, smoothing his feathers gently. It made his fingers feel powdery to run them through his plumage, but it also soothed him.

“I just….I really can’t believe Sebastian replaced me so easily,” he said, struggling to get the words out as he was getting choked up. “After all we’ve been through together. After all that I’ve stood by him through. And MC…I confided in her about things I’d never even told Sebastian. They both mean so much to me, and…it’s like I’m expendable to them. They just ran off without telling me. Again. Not only do they not need me, they…they don’t even want me there.”

Ominis stayed in the comforting presence of his feathered companions. He felt a bit less alone with them on either side of him. Completely losing track of time, he just sat and sulked with them until two more people burst into the vivarium.

“Ominis?” MC called as she wound through the trees.

The blond didn’t bother replying. He had little interest in talking to either of his so-called partners. The hippogriffs scampered off when they heard their master’s voice.

“Traitors,” Ominis grumbled to himself.

“Ominis! There you are!” Sebastian said as the pair arrived at his bench. “We’ve been looking all over for you! We were worried something happened to you when you weren’t at dinner. You’d just disappeared!”

Ominis snorted out a laugh. “You two are the ones who disappeared,” he accused, crossing his arms over his chest in indignation. “We were supposed to work together in the library this afternoon, and you couldn’t be bothered to tell me you weren’t going to make it.”

“That was today?” MC asked guiltily, shifting nervously where she stood and making the leaves crunch under her feet.

“Yes, it was!” Ominis shot back irritably. He shifted away from her voice, turning his nose up in the air. “But I should’ve known better than to expect my boyfriend and girlfriend to show up to our study date.”

“I’m sorry, Ominis. We just got caught up–” Sebastian started, laying a hand on his shoulder.

Ominis shrugged him off. “You’re always getting caught up in something! And always leaving me behind!” he interjected.

“We didn’t think you’d want to come,” MC admitted, sounding remorseful.

Good, Ominis thought. She should be sorry.

“We had to fly up into the mountains to find the ashwinders’ nests, and you hate flying,” she explained.

“But I love the two of you! I would’ve gone if you’d asked,” Ominis retorted. “But you clearly didn’t want me there.”

“That’s not true!” MC insisted.

“Isn’t it?” Ominis replied.

“You know it’s not,” Sebastian stated firmly, breaking back into the conversation. He often let MC handle Ominis when he was upset, as Sebastian was under the impression that MC “had a way with him.” The blond had clearly struck a nerve to make him feel the need to speak up.

“No, I don’t, Sebastian!” Ominis argued, growing angrier. Before he knew it, he was on his feet and jamming a finger in Sebastian’s chest. “You two just don’t want your little blind pet getting in the way. You don’t think I can handle myself out in the forest, right? You think you need to protect me from harm while you both run headfirst into danger. You treat me like a child!”

“Ominis!” MC gasped, taken aback at his outburst.

“Do either of you even want me around anymore?” he asked, trying not to let the pain show in his voice.

“Of course, we do,” Sebastian said, and his anger had dissipated. He took hold of Ominis’s hand. Ominis squeezed his in return. “We didn’t mean to hurt your feelings. I didn’t think you would want to go gallivanting through the Highlands.”

“What I want is to spend time with my boyfriend and girlfriend again. You two are always gone lately,” Ominis admitted.

MC wrapped her arms around him from behind. “I’m sorry, Ominis. We found a potion that might be able to cure Anne, and I’ve had tunnel vision about the whole thing. But I also didn’t want to get her hopes up if it didn’t pan out. I wasn’t sure we’d be able to find all of the ingredients.”

Ominis rested a hand on her arm that was across his stomach. “Why didn’t you tell me?” he croaked.

“Ominis,” MC said chidingly, “you know you’re rubbish at keeping secrets from her.”

The boy’s cheeks flushed with heat. “I’m not that bad,” he said defensively.

“You told her what I’d bought her for Christmas three years in a row before I started hiding it from you, too,” Sebastian argued, making MC chuckle.

Ominis could feel her chest rumble against his back, and he melted into her.

“So, you two aren’t tired of me, then?” he asked a bit timidly.

MC laughed. “Hardly,” she replied before giving him a sweet kiss on the cheek.

“Who else would be the voice of reason?” Sebastian joked. Tenderly cupping his hand over Ominis’s cheek, he added, “You know I’m mad about you, you stupid git.”

“Ever the romantic,” Ominis replied drily.

MC giggled as Sebastian crashed his lips into Ominis’s. He had clearly taken the heir of Slytherin’s words as a challenge. One he met with force. If MC hadn’t been behind the lithe boy, Sebastian probably would have knocked him to the ground.

Sebastian tasted like the treacle tarts he always gorged on after chasing MC around on some ill-advised adventure. Ominis fisted his free hand into his boyfriend’s robes as he kissed him back, sliding his tongue into his mouth and making him moan. Sebastian quickly returned the favour – and then some, as he moved to trail open-mouthed kisses down the side of Ominis’s neck.

Panting as he pulled back, Sebastian’s smirk was practically audible. “Better?” he asked cheekily.

Ominis chuckled. “Much,” he replied silkily, stroking his thumb over the back of MC’s arm, which was still wrapped around him.

“Does this mean you’d want to help us get venom from the snake I’ve got in my nab-sack?” MC inquired, lifting her head off his shoulder. “Because I’d really prefer not to get bitten again.”

“You were bitten?” Ominis roared.

“Three times, actually, but Nurse Blainey patched me right up when we made it back to the castle,” she replied as if it were as casual of a fact as that it might rain the following afternoon.

Ominis felt like he might pass out before the rage steadied him. “You let her get bitten three times?” he growled at Sebastian.

“How is it my fault?” Sebastian asked, bewildered, but Ominis had already spun away from him, refocusing on MC.

His hands worried over every inch of her. “Are you sure you’re all right?” he asked. “Are you dizzy? Or in pain? Do you want me to take you back to the hospital wing for the night, just in case?”

“I’m fine,” MC insisted, and Ominis would bet a pretty galleon that she’d rolled her eyes.

“I got bitten too, you know,” Sebastian sulked.

“Merlin, I’m so glad you’re okay!” Ominis said, pulling MC into a tight hug.

Sebastian pouted even more at being ignored.

“I am as long as I can breathe,” MC choked out.

Ominis instantly released her. “Sorry,” he muttered, raising a hand to her cheek and gently stroking his thumb over the smooth skin.

“It’s all right,” MC replied kindly before turning her head to press a kiss into his palm. “You’re sweet to worry, but I really am fine.”

“Barely! You’re never going out without proper supervision again,” Ominis asserted.

“Now who’s being treated like a chi–” MC started.

“What’s that supposed to mean?” Sebastian asked, offended.

“You know exactly what I meant, Sebastian,” Ominis said severely. “Clearly, you two are hazardous left to your own devices.”

“I’ll let that slight pass if it means you’ll start coming out with us,” Sebastian said lightly.

“Yes, I’ve quite made up my mind on it,” Ominis replied seriously.

“Brilliant! It’ll be great having more help. And if we all get stranded in one of those remote little cabins and have to share the one, tiny bed all pressed up against each other, well…all the better,” Sebastian added cheekily.

Ominis jumped slightly when he felt a hard pinch on his bum. “You’re a degenerate, Sebastian,” he tried to assert, but his face was going red imagining the scenario.

“You love me,” the mischievous boy stated confidently.

Ominis could tell he had stepped in rather close, because he could feel Sebastian’s breath puff over his nose and cheeks.

Ominis gave a dramatic sigh, refusing to give Sebastian the satisfaction of swooning at his flirting. “Against my better judgement, but, yes, I do. Both of you.”

“Good. Because we’ll never be tired of you, so you’re stuck with us,” MC said.

“Promise?” Ominis asked, feeling a jolt of insecurity.

Sebastian rested his forehead against his, their noses brushing together. “Promise,” he vowed.

Ominis relaxed. Pressed between the two people he loved most, he felt anything but unwanted.

#ominis gaunt #hogwarts legacy #ominis gaunt x mc #ominis gaunt x reader #ominis gaunt x f!mc #hogwarts legacy fanfic #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #ominis gaunt fanfic #ominis gaunt fanfiction #ominis gaunt x sebastian sallow #sebinis #ominis gaunt x mc x sebastian sallow #sebastian sallow x mc x ominis gaunt #silver trio #sebastian sallow #Deek

[thenerdykneazle]

Her Touch

Summary: Ominis had never been fond of being touched. Or, at least, he had few positive experiences with it. That changed with the arrival of the new fifth-year.

Ominis Gaunt x F!MC

Warnings: 18+ (only very mild spice here but I do want to do a time jumped part 2 that would be explicit), mentions of Ominis's abusive family, touch-starved Ominis

Word count: 3004

The first time you touched Ominis, he hadn’t been expecting it. It was in the Scriptorium, after he had commanded the door to open in Parseltongue. You had excitedly grabbed his shoulders as you said, “Ominis! You possess a rare ability, indeed!”

He had jumped at the sudden contact. Though, fortunately, you hadn’t seemed to notice. Your attention was quickly monopolised by Sebastian. Ominis was glad for it, as he wouldn’t have wanted to offend you, especially after his outburst at you outside the Undercroft. He still marvelled at how understanding you had been – how quickly you had forgiven him. He wasn’t used to such mercy. Certainly not from his family, and even Sebastian had a tendency to hold a grudge. Ominis definitely did.

Down in the Scriptorium, it had caught him off guard when you grabbed him, as he couldn’t see it coming. Besides, he didn’t generally like being touched. He hadn’t had many positive instances of others being in his personal space.

Most often, it involved accidentally bumping into other students. Other times, it was someone grabbing him to lead him off somewhere without bothering to get his permission first. Growing up, it had included a lot of being dragged by his ear by his mother or his older brother shoving him out of his way. The consequence of all of it was that Ominis did not associate being touched with positive experiences. They were jarring, often painful encounters.

However, already by the second time you touched him, it was different. Still in the Scriptorium, you had rested your hand on his arm as you told him you had found his Aunt Noctua’s remains. You didn’t grab his forearm; you just rested your hand gently on it. Not even your whole hand – just the tips of your fingers, really. It was a whisper of a touch, but you let it linger there. It was oddly comforting – like you were trying to communicate that he wasn’t alone. It kept him grounded to reality as he reckoned with the fact that his aunt truly was gone.

The third touch was when you agreed to tell Ominis if Sebastian was going to pursue dark magic further. You’d rested a hand on his shoulder as you vowed to tell him. He could tell you were sincere in your promise from your steady hand. That was verified when he received your owl alerting him that Sebastian had gone to the catacombs in search of Slytherin’s relic.

Though he always tried to take note, Ominis couldn’t remember every time you touched him. As your friendship grew, he quickly found out that you were what Sebastian called a “touchy-feely type.” You would hug him hello and goodbye, often multiple times a day. At first, you’d just sling one arm behind his back with your sides pressed together. After several months, you would wrap both arms around him as you held him chest-to-chest. Those hugs always left his face warm and his heart beating faster.

You also started to rest your head on his shoulder when you got tired. You always asked if it was all right. Ominis was surprised with himself the first few times, because he found that he quite enjoyed the weight and warmth of your head on his shoulder. You seemed so vulnerable when you leaned against him, trusting him to support you and not let any harm befall you should you give in to sleep. He even, on rare occasions and only when he felt completely secure in his environment, rested his own head back on yours. That usually resulted in him taking a nap, as well. He found that, despite the crick in his neck that he always awoke with, those were his most satisfying naps.

More recently, the back of your hand kept brushing against his when the two of you would walk together. He had jerked his hand away the first time, not anticipating the contact. He regretted it instantly when you muttered an apology. Ominis insisted that it was quite all right, though he was keenly aware that his actions had undermined his assertion. As it kept happening, Ominis’s reaction changed over time. He started to keep his hand very still so that yours might keep brushing against it. Now when it happened, his instinct was to extend his fingers toward you – though, he never actually did what he really wanted, which was to take hold of your hand.

Your touch had become a comfort for him. You held him when he cried, rubbed soothing circles on his back when he was anxious, and sat with your side pressed into his when he was lonely. Ominis had never known the multitude of problems a simple touch could solve before he met you.

Nor, however, had Ominis known the particular torment that such a touch could inflict. Just having you near him was enough to make his palms sweaty and his breathing shallow. If you rested a hand between his shoulder blades or, even worse, against his thigh, it sent his brain into a fit. He would get sweaty everywhere, and his tie would suddenly feel too tight. Just before the summer holidays, you had reclined on one of the sofas in the Room of Requirement as you read a novel while awaiting your exam scores. You invited Ominis to join you and promptly bridged your legs over his lap when he sat down. That had vexed him most of all. You hadn’t even rested them on him, just sort of over with your feet planted on the cushion to his right and your bum against his left thigh.

Ominis hadn’t known what to do with his hands. He didn’t want to accidentally rest them somewhere inappropriate, but he didn’t want to be awkward, either. Eventually, he settled on resting his left arm on the back of the sofa and his right hand on your stocking-clad knee. His thumb began absently stroking back and forth just above it, and he had blushed furiously when he grazed the hem of your skirts. It had brought, unbidden, the idea of sliding his hand underneath the fabric, trailing it up your thigh. That had a sudden heat building in his abdomen – and spreading across his cheeks.

“How is your book?” he had asked, hoping for a distraction.

“Erm…yeah. It’s…it’s good,” you had replied.

Ominis spent entirely too long trying to analyse your odd response. Had you been uncomfortable? Or perhaps just absorbed in your book? Could you have been as affected by the proximity between you two as he had? He couldn’t be sure, and he certainly wasn’t about to ask, “Are you finding this as stimulating as I am? Because I’m feeling quite randy.”

That would’ve gone over well.

He pondered the possibilities frequently over the holidays. Two months spent apart from you were horrible. Not only did he have to deal with his family, but he missed you something dreadful. At least, he had been accompanied by Sebastian, who spent the entire time at Gaunt Manor given he had no guardian in Feldcroft to look after him.

Ominis didn’t realise how much he’d been brooding until his friend called him out for having “resting sad face” and demanded to know what was bothering him. They had been lying in their beds, and Ominis shifted to his side to face Sebastian before admitting that he missed you.

“I think I’ve grown to have quite strong feelings for her,” he confessed.

Sebastian snorted out a laugh. “Oh, you think so, do you?” he asked, sounding thoroughly amused.

“It’s not funny!” Ominis groused, his cheeks burning with embarrassment.

“It’s funny that you think it isn’t abundantly obvious that you fancy her, mate,” Sebastian retorted.

Ominis’s eyes widened. “What?” he asked, horrified at the thought of everyone knowing his feelings for you. He wasn’t ashamed of them, but he was quite a private person. The idea of everyone knowing such personal feelings of his was mortifying.

“Well, maybe not to her. People tend to be a bit thick about other’s feelings toward them, but I expect that anyone who knows you two can see it. You turn into a mushy little crup when she’s around,” Sebastian explained.

“I do not!” Ominis replied indignantly.

“Sure,” Sebastian said sceptically, clearly trying to avoid a fight.

They fell silent for several long moments.

“She fancies you too, you know,” Sebastian stated.

Ominin’s pulse jumped. “You can’t possibly know that,” he argued, trying to temper the hope bubbling up in his chest.

“I knew you about your cush, didn’t I?” Sebastian retorted. “Besides, she told me she does.”

“She did?” Ominis said eagerly. “Wait, you can’t tell me this, Sebastian! You’re betraying her confidence!”

Sebastian let out an exasperated sigh. “She never said I couldn’t tell you,” he replied.

“I’m sure it was implied,” Ominis said. “But…she really has feelings for me, too?”

“Without a doubt,” Sebastian said confidently.

That gave Ominis a lot more to think about before school resumed. He flipped back and forth between being elated at the idea that you reciprocated his feelings and panicking that the separation would change that.

All his fears melted away the instant you hugged him on the platform at King’s Cross station. It was the best hug he’d ever gotten. You clung to him like you never wanted to let go again, and Ominis would’ve been all right with that.

“Gods, I missed you two!” you said before giving Sebastian a hug, leaving Ominis to mourn the loss of your arms around him. “How was your holiday?”

“As good as being around my family can be,” Ominis replied. “How was yours?”

“Brilliant! Though, I wish you two could’ve visited!” you said.

The boys both agreed, though Ominis knew his parents would’ve never let him stay with a family they didn’t know. Or, rather, who were of unvetted blood status. He wasn’t about to subject her to experiencing his family in their own domain, so he hadn’t invited her to come to him.

Ominis had a lingering worry that things would be different between you two – that spending the summer apart would make things awkward between you. But when you rested your head on his shoulder and fell asleep as the train rattled down the tracks, he felt confident that you’d fall right back into how things were at the end of the last term.

Indeed, things seemed the same if not better. You often invited him to study in the Room of Requirement. His fear that he had made you uncomfortable the last time you’d been on a sofa together was eliminated when you took to putting your legs over his more often than not whilst you did your assigned readings. You only opted for one of the desks in the room if you had to write an essay.

It was a beautiful sort of torture to have you so close to him. It drastically decreased Ominis’s reading speed, but he found himself looking forward to studying now. He’d rest one hand on your knee while his other held his wand to let him read his tome. Sometimes you’d read aloud to him. Sometimes he’d hug your closer leg to his chest and rest his chin on your knee. It was like having his childhood stuffy but warmer and attached to someone who genuinely cared about him.

In the safety of your embrace, he shared his more intimate thoughts with you. Not the one about running his hand up your skirt, but about his hopes for the future, his frustrations with his family, and even his insecurities. You, in turn, opened up to him, as well. And as the weather got colder, you kept him warm in the draughty castle. Though, he was prepared to conjure a thick wool blanket over you if you ever seemed to be chilled.

After a month of being back a school, Ominis decided to admit his feelings to you. He was certain yours couldn’t have vanished over the summer given how you had only gotten more comfortable around him. However, when Ominis went to voice his feelings, he found that he didn’t know how. He knew how he felt about you, but he had spent his whole life suppressing how he felt to keep from stirring up trouble at home.

“I need to tell you something,” Ominis admitted during your daily study session.

He could hear you close your book and set it on the coffee table, giving him your full attention. “What is it?” you asked, sounding concerned.

“I…Well, I…” he tried, but his words were failing him. He usually fancied himself a rather eloquent individual, but he felt thoroughly uneducated as he stammered at you.

How was he supposed to tell you what was in his heart? Just say, “I like you”? Of course he liked you. You were friends. Close friends. “I fancy you” seemed so juvenile. “I want to court you” was too impersonal. It could be for your talent or station, but he wanted you to know how taken he was with who you were as a person.

You rested a hand lightly on his arm. “You can tell me anything, Ominis,” you said earnestly.

His heart swelled at your kindness. He wished he could say what he felt, but he didn’t have the right words. He moved to hold the hand you’d rested on him, lacing his fingers with yours. “I really like this,” he said, giving your hand a squeeze.

You squeezed his hand back. “I like it, too,” you replied.

“Good. I…I had hoped you do,” he said clumsily.

You stayed like that until dinner, your studies forgotten as you just basked in the closeness of each other. It hadn’t been exactly what Ominis had tried to accomplish, but it was definitely progress.

Ominis started taking other opportunities to hold your hand. He’d hold it during classes, giving up his dominant hand in favour of your warmth. Besides, he knew you’d share your notes with him later. He’d also search it out while you studied. He’d graze the backs of his fingers up your leg until he found your arm, which he’d follow down to the hand resting in your lap.

Sometimes, you’d take the initiative, taking hold of his hand while it still rested on your knee. Usually, you’d pull it down to rest it your lap or on your stomach, so you could relax your own arm. It always made Ominis’s heart flutter to know you wanted to hold his hand – and he found your occasional impatience quite endearing.

Then, one day in November, you pulled his hand to your lips, instead. His breath hitched as you placed a gentle kiss on his knuckles. Your lips were soft and warm, and Ominis had the impulse to reach out and brush his fingers over them.

“Is that okay?” you asked cautiously, your warm breath hitting the back of his hand.

“Y-yes, of course,” Ominis replied breathlessly. He could feel his face flushing with heat.

“Can I ask you something?” you said, sounding grave.

“Anything,” Ominis replied without hesitation despite the pit of worry in his stomach.

You shifted on the sofa, moving to sit up. Your knees pressed against his leg as you sat with your legs tucked under you. Ominis could hear you take in a deep breath before you spoke. “What are we?”

Ominis’s brows pulled together. “What?”

“To each other,” you clarified. “I mean, do you like me?”

“Most ardently,” Ominis admitted with conviction. It was only after the words had passed from his lips that he worried he’d been severely mistaken about your feelings.

“Oh,” you breathed out, sounding surprised. That only heightened his anxiety. “Do you not want to court me?”

“No, I do,” Ominis replied earnestly, wondering what reason you could have to think he wouldn’t.

“Then, why don’t you?” you asked. You didn’t sound upset, just curious.

“Well, I…I wasn’t sure if you’d want to, and…I didn’t know how to ask, I guess,” he said.

“I do,” you said before adding, “want to, I mean.”

Ominis felt like he’d just eaten a handful of Fizzing Whizbees. His whole body felt light, like he might float right off the sofa. “Really?” he asked eagerly, before trying to force himself to be rational. “Are you certain? I’m…not very good at this sort of thing. Clearly. I’m sure you could find someone much better suited to the task.”

“I don’t want someone else,” you said. “I like you, Ominis.”

He couldn’t help but smile. “Sebastian told me you did over the summer, I just…didn’t know how to tell you that I felt the same without it sounding ridiculous,” he admitted, not wanting any secrets between you.

“Sebastian told you?” you asked.

“I scolded him for betraying what you had told him, but he said you hadn’t asked him to keep it secret,” Ominis explained.

“I never told Sebastian that I have feelings for you,” you stated.

Ominis’s jaw dropped. “That lying rat!” he said, his anger swelling.

You chuckled. “Well, he wasn’t wrong,” you pointed out.

“I suppose not,” Ominis said, still irritated with his best friend. It was hard to stay upset, though, when he realised you had all but agreed to court him. “So, to make it official, would you do me the honour of letting me court you?”

“Yes,” you said without hesitation.

Ominis was beaming. Even knowing your answer ahead of time, he still felt overjoyed to hear it.

His singing heart began pounding hard in his chest as he felt your palm rest gently against his cheek. Your breath ghosted over his face as you leaned in, and he tilted his chin up to meet you. Your lips met his in a soft embrace. As they interlocked, it was a confession of your budding affections. A tender pledge of future bliss. You were his – your touch, your love, your loyalty. And he was yours, wholly and truly.

A/N: The line "a tender pledge of future bliss" is from the poem "To A Kiss" by Robert Burns

#ominis gaunt #hogwarts legacy #ominis gaunt x mc #ominis gaunt x reader #ominis gaunt x f!mc #hogwarts legacy fanfic #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #ominis gaunt fanfic #ominis gaunt fanfiction #physical touch #touch starved

[thenerdykneazle]

𝒇𝒊𝒓𝒔𝒕 𝒑𝒂𝒓𝒕 𝒉𝒆𝒓𝒆 ➣ 𝐏𝐚𝐫𝐭 𝟏

𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘: ► 𝐵𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 "𝑊𝑖𝑙𝑑 𝑅𝑖𝑑𝑒," ↳ 𝑊𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑏𝑦 @thenerdykneazle

𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒: ► 𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑜 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟: @dvinaamesca

𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐂: ► 𝑆𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝐻𝑎𝑡 𝐶𝑒𝑟𝑒𝑚𝑜𝑛𝑦 - 𝐽 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑡𝑡 𝑅𝑎𝑘𝑜𝑧𝑦 ► 𝐴 𝐿𝑜𝑠𝑡 𝐹𝑟𝑖𝑒𝑛𝑑 - 𝐽 𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑡𝑡 𝑅𝑎𝑘𝑜𝑧𝑦 ► 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐵𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 (𝑆𝑐𝑜𝑟𝑒) - 𝐴𝑎𝑟𝑜𝑛 𝑍𝑖𝑔𝑚𝑎𝑛 ► 𝐺𝑒𝑡 𝑂𝑓𝑓 𝑜𝑓 𝑀𝑦 𝐵𝑎𝑐𝑘 - 𝐵𝑟𝑦𝑎𝑛 𝐴𝑑𝑎𝑚𝑠 ► 𝐶𝑎𝑚𝑝𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑒 - 𝑊𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑚 𝑅𝑜𝑠𝑠

[thenerdykneazle]

𝐒𝐓𝐎𝐑𝐘: ► 𝐵𝑎𝑠𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑛 "𝑊𝑖𝑙𝑑 𝑅𝑖𝑑𝑒," ↳ 𝑊𝑟𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑛 𝑏𝑦 @thenerdykneazle

𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐆𝐄𝐒: ► 𝑂𝑟𝑖𝑔𝑖𝑛𝑎𝑙 𝑝ℎ𝑜𝑡𝑜 𝑜𝑓 𝑆𝑒𝑏𝑎𝑠𝑡𝑖𝑎𝑛 𝑖𝑛 ℎ𝑒𝑎𝑑𝑒𝑟: @dvinaamesca

𝐌𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐂: ► 𝑀𝑜𝑟𝑛𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑎𝑡 𝑀𝑎𝑟𝑢𝑛𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑚 𝐿𝑎𝑘𝑒 - 𝑃𝑒𝑡𝑒𝑟 𝑀𝑢𝑟𝑟𝑎𝑦 ► 𝑀𝐼𝐶𝑂 – 𝑏𝑒𝑡𝑡𝑒𝑟 [𝑎𝑢𝑑𝑖𝑜] ► 𝐴 𝑁𝑜𝑡𝑒 𝐹𝑟𝑜𝑚 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑇𝑒𝑎𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑟 - 𝐽𝑎𝑚𝑒𝑠 𝑁𝑒𝑤𝑡𝑜𝑛 𝐻𝑜𝑤𝑎𝑟𝑑 ► 𝐼𝑛 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝐷𝑢𝑛𝑔𝑒𝑜𝑛 - 𝑊𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑎𝑚 𝑅𝑜𝑠𝑠

#sebastian sallow #hogwarts legacy #hogwarts legacy audio

[thenerdykneazle]

Kindred Spirits - Chapter 5

Chapter 1. Chapter 2. Chapter 3. Chapter 4.

Read on AO3.

Chapter summary: MC and Sebastian finally agree to hash it out, but reconciliation isn't going to be easy with so much history between them.

A/N: We go out with a bang in this chapter, folks.

Auror Sebastian Sallow x Auror F!MC

Warnings: 18+, explicit sexual content, aged-up characters, both characters have sex with other people during the story, anger/revenge, toxic relationship, I do not speak Finnish or really know anything about Finland

Word count: 9846

Chapter 5: Undying Devotion

MC woke up on Wednesday even earlier than normal and immediately headed to the training room for a workout. If nothing else, this trip will have helped her become stronger than she’d ever been. Mikko joined half an hour later – at his usual time.

“Couldn’t sleep?” the large man asked.

“Hm?” MC replied, having been absorbed in her own thoughts.

“You never beat me here before,” Mikko said. “Did you have trouble sleeping?”

“Oh,” she said, still a bit slow from her morning fatigue. “No, I just…wanted to get out.”

He nodded in understanding. He went and warmed up before joining her at the weights.

“So, are you and Sepe still fighting?” he asked tentatively, hovering near the bench MC was lying on.

MC grunted as she pressed the dumbbells off her chest and into the air. “Yeah, you could definitely say that.” She took a deep breath as she did another rep.

“Well, if you need somewhere else to sleep, you could probably use Sofia’s accommodations,” he said. “She mostly stays with me, anyway.”

MC’s arms felt like jelly as she lowered the weights to the floor on either side of her. She panted as she sat up. “Are you and Sofia…?”

She gestured vaguely.

Mikko smiled. “We’ve been dating for over a year,” he said. “We got together shortly after she transferred from here to Jyväskylä.”

MC’s eyebrows shot up. “Oh,” she said in shock. She felt a fresh flood of embarrassment. “Gods, about the other day, Mikko, I–”

He waved her off. “Don’t worry about it,” he said. “She likes to keep her personal and professional lives separate. You had no reason to know.”

“Still. I’m sorry,” MC said earnestly.

Mikko shrugged. “Well, you weren’t exactly in control of your words,” he said. “And I can’t fault you for your taste.”

He flexed at himself in the mirror, and MC couldn’t help but laugh.

Mikko patted her arm reassuringly. “Let’s just forget it happened,” he suggested.

“Gladly!” MC replied.

She felt like a weight had been lifted off her chest – no pun intended. When Sofia arrived, MC cleared the air with her, as well. Fortunately, she wasn’t the jealous type. She even made a similar comment to what Mikko had said about MC having good taste. It was adorable, in the way that happy couples often were, where it made MC hate them just a little bit.

She was grateful to them, though, when Sofia and Mikko automatically played interference for her with Sebastian. He had clearly been intent on trying to talk to her, but Mikko kept him occupied during any spare moments while Sofia steered MC to another part of the room.

At lunch, they both sat between you and Sebastian. Mikko asked Sebastian all about his running routine, if he used pre-workout or protein powders, and what brand of shoes he wore. Sofia kept MC engaged in conversation as she told her about the most recent Ilkka Remes release. After going through the entire plot of the thriller novel, she talked about her family.

Sebastian only escaped Mikko when he needed a trip to the loo. But on his way back, he took the long way around the table past MC.

“Hey, can we talk for a second?” he asked, making MC immediately tense up.

Mikko appeared over Sebastian’s shoulder almost instantly. “I wanted to ask you something else about your intervals,” he said good-naturedly.

“Can it wait?” Sebastian asked irritably.

“I just didn’t want to forget,” Mikko said innocently. “How often are you doing time intervals vs distance, because I feel like it’s hard to push myself for the timed ones. But when it’s distance, the faster I run, the faster it’s over, you know?”

“Then just do them by distance!” Sebastian snapped.

The whole table stared at him.

Sebastian sighed. “Look, mate, we can discuss it later,” he said, clapping Mikko on the shoulder. “All right?”

“I’d really rather talk now,” Mikko replied flatly.

Sebastian’s jaw tensed as he realised what was happening. He glanced at MC before looking back at Mikko. “Actually, I’m gonna go get settled in the conference room,” he said.

Sebastian stalked off, and Mikko retook his seat next to Sofia.

The afternoon went peacefully with no further attempts by Sebastian to interact with MC. She was relieved for it. She felt for the first time like she might finally get to ignore him for the rest of her time in Helsinki.

MC stopped by Sebastian’s flat after training to pack an overnight bag. She also grabbed two letters that had arrived there for her. She and Sofia went to dinner before Sofia took her to see the Suomenlinna Fortress. During their brief visit, they walked around the snowy island, saw a fraction of its historic cannons, met a few residents of the magical community there, and popped into a few shops. Sofia insisted she needed to visit during the summer months to see it in its fully glory.

Sofia showed MC to her hotel room before departing to stay with Mikko. MC sat at the desk and pulled out her letters. The first was a note from Natty apologising for not writing sooner. She said things had been busy at the DMLE, but it wasn’t anything she couldn’t handle – MC was not to worry. MC wrote out a letter back to her before opening her second one.

Dear MC,

I hope Sebastian isn’t giving you too much trouble. I still can’t believe he’s there. Well, assuming you haven’t killed him yet. I’d understand, of course, though I advise against it. It would be a shame to have you head off for a promotion only to return and be sent to Azkaban. I assure you he’s not worth it. I suppose I am glad to see he’s chosen to fight dark wizards rather than become one, though.

The snakelets are double the size from when I last wrote. I’ve included plenty of pictures. I’d have written sooner, but they’ve been quite the handful. Their heads are starting to fight over food already. Poppy stayed over the weekend to give me a hand with them while Martin was off. She’s quite good with them. They’re anxious to see their Auntie MC, though, don’t worry. I’ve kept them up-to-date on your trip. Poppy, too. I hope you don’t mind. She thinks Sebastian’s a slimy prat if it helps.

Miss you,

Ominis & the babies

And Poppy!

Poppy had added a little heart next to her name, which made MC smile. There were even more photos than the last time. Poppy had clearly taken some over the weekend. Some were Martin’s handiwork. The snakelets were indeed more than doubled in size. MC lingered on a photo of Ominis and Poppy cuddling a few of them. At the very end of the loop, Poppy looked over to Ominis with stars in her eyes.

MC had never seen her friend look so dotingly on another person. She had to watch it three times to assure herself Poppy wasn’t actually looking at the runespoor Ominis held. She had to admit that they would be a good match, though she had no idea if Ominis was ready to start something new. She made a mental note to gently pry about it when she got home.

After writing a response to Ominis, MC went down to the lobby to send the letters. When she returned to her room, she changed into her pyjamas. She’d had quite a full day, and she was thoroughly knackered.

MC’s early bedtime meant she also woke up quite early the next day. After being disgusted with herself for having seemingly become a morning person, she straitened the room before heading out to Aurori Headquarters.

She had expected the training room to be unoccupied, but she quickly realised that was not the case as she entered. “Hello,” MC said, surprised to see Sebastian sitting on one of the benches by the dumbbells.

Sebastian shot to his feet. “That’s all you have to say? Bleeding ‘hello’?” Sebastian yelled as he marched over to her. “Where were you? I was up all night trying to find you!”

“Sofia let me stay at hers,” she replied simply, taking several steps back as Sebastian invaded her space.

Sebastian breathed out a bitter laugh. “And you didn’t think to tell me?” he demanded.

“I told you I don’t need a babysitter,” she growled, crossing her arms defensively.

Sebastian tugged his hair in frustration. “You are literally the biggest pain in the arse I’ve ever met!”

“Then it’s a good thing you don’t have to deal with me anymore,” MC replied, turning to walk away.

Sebastian was taken aback. His arms went slack at his sides. “What?” he asked. “You’re not coming home tonight?”

“I don’t get to go home until tomorrow,” MC stated, walking back toward the conference room. “But, no, I’m not staying at your flat tonight if that’s what you meant.”

Sebastian jogged after her. “Look, I know I crossed some boundaries the other night,” he started.

MC just scoffed.

“I shouldn’t’ve…propositioned you like that,” he continued. “I just…Look, I know I’m never going to get to see you again after tomorrow. I just want one honest conversation before that.”

MC laughed. “You make it sound like you’re so torn up over this,” she said. “Doesn’t really fit with how you’ve been acting, though. So, what is your real goal here, Sebastian?”

He sighed. “I know I’ve been a git for…forever, essentially. I really do just want closure. I’ll answer all your questions, too. I haven’t been the most rational the last two weeks, but…I’ll try to explain,” he said. “Tonight, yeah? After I finish cleaning this place.”

MC chewed her lip while she decided whether to accept. “Fine,” she gritted out. “But leave me alone until then.”

Sebastian’s face broke into a smile. “Okay. Yeah,” he agreed eagerly. “I’m not even here.”

He moved as if to hug her, but he thought better of it almost instantly and just gave a nod of his head. He jogged ahead to the conference room, leaving MC to her morning workout.

Jari put them through the testing they had done at the beginning of training. He wanted to dedicate the next morning to duelling so he could see the conclusion of the battle between Mikko and Patrik. The rankings didn’t shift much from the beginning – other than Sebastian winning out in accuracy – but they had all made great strides during their short training. The rest of the morning was spent doing defensive drills. As Jari liked to delicately put it, “The worst aurori is a dead one.”

As promised, Sebastian made no attempt to talk to MC during their lunch. He chatted with Niko while she talked to Kaarina about some of her self-made defensive spells. It was great – until it wasn’t. On their walk back to the conference room, she overheard something she wished she hadn’t.

“Wait, she’s the chick you banged back in school?” Niko hissed to Sebastian quietly – but not quiet enough that MC didn’t hear. “Bro, you didn’t tell me she had special magic! You focused on the wrong talents – I mean, not that her tongue didn’t sound magical, too, but…damn.”

MC’s head whipped back so fast that she was genuinely worried she had pulled something. As their eyes met, Sebastian looked as pale as the ghosts back at Hogwarts. MC was too angry to speak. She really didn’t know how many times she needed to learn the lesson that Sebastian Sallow should not be given second chances. She thought darkly about how much simpler her life would’ve been if she’d just let him rot in Azkaban after fifth year.

Sofia, who was in front of her, shot her a questioning look. “Are you all right?” she asked.

MC took a steadying breath before nodding. She glanced back at Sebastian and Niko again. The former looked utterly horrified, while the latter looked stunned at being overheard.

Sebastian didn’t get a chance to talk to her before the afternoon session started, and he looked ready to fall to pieces with stress through the whole thing. Before Jari had even finished dismissing them, Sebastian jumped to his feet and was next to her.

“Can we please talk about this tonight?” he asked with an imploring gaze. “Or now, even! Niko twisted what I–”

“I don’t want to talk about it right now,” MC said, cutting him off. She was still seething.

“I’m really sorry. I swear it’s not as bad as it sounds,” he said, looking as stressed as he had all meeting.

MC scoffed as she tried to push past him. He followed after her.

“Can we still talk tonight?” Sebastian asked urgently as she rushed down the corridor.

“Sure,” she replied sharply before he’d even finished the question. “But don’t send a bloody search party if I decide it’s not worth my time.”

“I’ll be back at my flat within the hour,” he promised before she pushed the exit open.

She left without replying.

Sebastian’s final mistake – in a long line of them – had been giving her a countdown. MC might’ve actually waited at his flat if he hadn’t told her the amount of time she had to escape. She wavered on what to do for the first ten minutes, because she knew she had the time. She decided that Sebastian had been given entirely too many chances and none of them had ever proven worth it. MC was not going to waste her final night in Helsinki letting him plead his case. She was going to get trollied and find someone who would fuck her until she couldn’t remember her own name let alone Sebastian’s.

She did herself up in record time, sporting the transfigured lingerie under her short black dress as an added “up yours.” Before she left, MC packed up her things and shrunk them down to fit in her cloak pocket. She had no intention of returning.

MC found a suitable candidate without much fuss. Antti or Artturi or something. She couldn’t remember. But he was well fitand looked sturdy enough. She chatted him up for almost an hour to make sure he wasn’t some psycho murderer before transitioning to the endgame.

“Do you want to get out of here?” MC asked as she flipped her hair over her shoulder.

She wasn’t properly pissed as she hadn’t wanted to scare Antti/Artturi/whoever off by pounding back vodka like she’d intended to do when she arrived at the pub. Still, she had a nice enough buzz going and, with any luck, he’d offer her a drink when they got to his.

“Yeah. Shall we head to yours, then?” he replied.

MC had to force herself not to frown. “Is there a reason we can’t go to your place?” she asked.

“Well, I’m sharing a suite with my coworker,” he said.

Why was everyone in Helsinki there for a bleeding conference? MC didn’t want to take him back to Sofia’s room after she’d graciously given her sanctuary. She also didn’t want to waste the hour she’d invested in vetting the guy. She decided she might just have to shift her goals. Maybe he couldn’t fuck Sebastian out of her head, but she might be able to use him to piss him off. She might even still get off in the process.

“I could book us a separate room for the night,” Antti/Artturi/etc. offered, but MC was already picturing Sebastian’s enraged expression.

“No, we can go to mine,” she replied. “My flatmate’s a bit of a tight arse about noise, but she’s out of town.”

Not being able to go to a guy’s place was usually a red flag for MC. It often meant a guy still lived with his parents or, worse, his girlfriend. But MC had heard his coworkers chatting about their dull conference talks, and she wasn’t overly concerned about red flags with the guy she was just using for the night.

She apparated them to Sebastian’s flat and was relieved he hadn’t been waiting in the living room for her. She wanted to have at least a little fun before it all went tits-up. MC ditched her cloak and heels and pushed…she was going to go with "Antti"…back onto the couch before climbing into his lap and snogging him senseless.

She worked his dress shirt open as she pushed her tongue down his throat. Antti slid his hands up the backs of her thighs to her bum and groped it thoroughly.

“Gods, I’ve wanted to grab this arse all night,” he groaned as he gave her another firm squeeze.

Antti seemed to be a fan of all parts of a feminine figure as he soon dove face-first into MC’s tits. She spread her legs wider to grind against the erection tenting the lad’s trousers. He seemed to have a good amount to work with – not as much as Erik had, but then, who did? It worked in her favour anyway, as MC fully planned on using her lovely assistant to give Sebastian a demonstration of the new tricks she’d learned with her “magical tongue.”

MC had been waiting for the crack of apparation. What she didn’t hear over the sound of her own moans was Sebastian’s door clicking open and him padding down the hallway.

She jumped when she saw his reflection in the window she was facing. His eyes locked on her reflection, and he just arched an eyebrow at her.

MC quickly looked away. Antti, fortunately, hadn’t noticed they had an audience since his face was still enveloped in her cleavage. He’d pulled the already low-cut top of her dress out of the way so the only barrier between him and her breasts was the emerald green lace bra.

MC wanted to slide out of his lap down to the floor and suck him off out of spite for her voyeur flatmate, but Antti would immediately see Sebastian if she wasn’t blocking his view. She looked up at her ex’s reflection, and he was leaning nonchalantly against the wall with his arms crossed over his chest and one ankle casually over the other. His eyes were no longer on her reflection.

MC glanced back to confirm that he was staring at her arse. Her dress had ridden up when she straddled Antti, leaving most of her backside exposed as the G-string hid nothing. Sebastian’s eyes met hers briefly, and he winked at her. She nearly growled in frustration.

MC took a fistful of Antti’s hair and pulled him into a heated kiss as she ground more fervently against him. She was getting quite wet from all the stimulation – it really was a shame it was likely to go to waste. As MC wondered if she could vanish his trousers before they got interrupted, Antti returned his focus to her tits. Her head fell back as he sucked her nipple through the thin lace of her bra.

“Oh, fuck,” MC groaned, rutting against him in earnest.

As her eyes fluttered back open, she caught sight of Sebastian palming himself as he watched her. He bit his lip as their eyes locked through the window.

Antti’s hands slid up MC’s back, likely going for the clasp on her bra, dragging her dress up with them. Sebastian’s gaze dropped down to her arse again, and his hand suddenly froze.

Before MC could wonder too deeply about the reason, Sebastian cleared his throat loudly, making her and Antti both jump.

“Could you not? That’s my favourite place to masturbate, and you’re defiling it,” he said wryly.

Antti peered over MC’s shoulder. “Who the fuck are you?” he asked.

Sebastian gave him a tight smile. “Name’s Sebastian. This is my flat,” he replied. “Who the fuck are you?”

“I’m Anton,” he said a bit uneasily.

“Gods, I was so close!” MC said, earning strange looks from both men. She might’ve still been a bit tipsy. She also might’ve just been a right numpty, as she didn’t feel particularly inebriated.

“I think you should go, Anton,” Sebastian said firmly.

Anton seemed to agree, as he quickly scurried out from under MC and apparated away. It was oddly routine at that point to have one of their lovers fleeing the flat.

MC righted her dress as she situated herself on the couch.

“Nice lingerie,” Sebastian said sarcastically.

“Isn’t it?” MC replied brightly. “I mean, Anton certainly seemed to think so.”

Sebastian glared at her. “Seeing as you’re free now, how about we have that chat?” he said tetchily.

MC scrunched her nose. “Ooh, it’s a bit late,” she said, standing up. “I’d best turn in. We’ve got the duels in the morning. Wouldn’t want someone getting hurt.”

“Sit. Down,” Sebastian growled forcefully.

For some inexplicable reason, MC complied immediately.

“We’re going to ignore that–” Sebastian gestured to the couch “–whole situation that just happened and have a civilised chat.”

MC crossed her arms, pouting like a child. “Fine.”

She refused to look at him.

“About what Niko said earlier,” Sebastian started, and MC rolled her eyes. “I told him about our relationship a long time ago. Way before I thought I’d ever see you again. He was ribbing me about how ‘whipped’ I seemed, and I made an offhand comment about it being your mouth that I missed. I wasn’t bragging about details. I was deflecting from emotions that I didn’t want to deal with. But I know it was stupid, I just…I’m sorry it hurt you.”

MC shifted on the couch. She could admit that it didn’t sound that bad. Not that she would admit it to Sebastian, of course, but…to herself, at least. “You said you’d explain your behaviour over the last two weeks,” she pointed out.

“I…” Sebastian sighed. “It’s…complicated.”

MC scoffed, feeling like she should have known he would make excuses. She got up from the couch again, and Sebastian moved to block her path in the corridor.

“I’ll do my best,” he insisted. “But it…it would be easier if I knew why you paraded around in that lingerie on Sunday.”

MC’s brows drew together. She felt her plan had been rather obvious. “I figured if I could get you worked up enough without you being able to do anything about it, you would either change my clothes back or beg me to fix the temperature so you could get hard and have a wank. Either way, I’d get you to give me back my wardrobe.”

“Oh,” he said, sounding a bit surprised. “What was with the reaction to my hair?”

MC’s lips pressed into a thin line. “I thought you were supposed to be explaining your actions.”

“Right. Well…” Sebastian took another deep breath. “After what you said about me not being worth anything, I guess I just went looking for something that would make me feel like I was. With you calling me the worst mistake of your life, it…” He rolled his jaw. “It was similar.”

She raised an eyebrow as she finally looked at him. “Did it work?”

Sebastian let out a bitter laugh. “No.”

He was the one avoiding looking at her now.

MC could relate. Her partners hadn’t exactly done all she’d hoped for her state of mind, either. “For what it’s worth, I shouldn’t’ve said either of those things.”

“I shouldn’t have called you a bitch,” he admitted.

“Or interrupted my tryst tonight,” she replied, only half-joking.

Sebastian scoffed. “You expect me to believe you were enjoying that?”

MC rolled her eyes. “Just because you've never been with a woman who wasn't faking it doesn't mean they can't be pleased.”

His eyes immediately hardened. He stepped into her, forcing her back against the wall. “Don't lie to me, MC,” he growled, his face hovering inches above hers. “I know you better than you think.”

She laughed arrogantly. “You certainly seem to think so.”

“You want to know why we worked so well together? Because, at the end of the day, after you've been running around saving everyone - solving all their problems, making constant life or death decisions - you want someone else to carry the burden for you. You want them to make the decisions. And, for me, being with you was the only time I was ever truly in control. We're a perfect match, you and I.”

“Then it’s a shame you ruined it,” MC replied coldly, pushing his chest to force him to back away from her.

He let out a frustrated noise as he pulled his hair. “I’m trying to fix it!” he said.

“You picked dark magic over me!” she said. “And then you left us all behind like we were nothing! You don’t get to just pretend none of that happened! You can’t undo that! You can’t fix it!”

“I was trying to save Anne!” he argued. “I left to find something, anything that might help her!”

“Well, that worked out splendidly, didn’t it?” MC said cruelly.

Sebastian shook with rage. The air around them crackled with his magic as it fought to burst free. “YOU DON’T THINK I REALISE IT WAS A MISTAKE?” he screamed.

MC fell silent, shocked by his outburst. They had fought loads of times, but he had never raised his voice like that.

Sebastian was still shaking, but it was from the sobs that were wracking through him.  He fell back against the wall before sliding down it into a heap on the floor. “I lost my last months with my sister,” he said, his voice cracking. Tears streamed down his face. “I didn’t even get to say goodbye.”

“Sebastian,” she said softly, taking a step toward him.

“I’m so sorry,” he said between choked sobs. “I know I should’ve come back, I just…” He took a gasping breath as he fought to get the words out. “It was easier to start over. Pretend that version of me had never existed.”

MC reached down and ran her hand through his hair in a gesture she’d done hundreds of times to sooth him in a past life. He looked up at her with red, puffy eyes. “I missed you,” she said. “That you. This you. A new one. It doesn’t matter to me. I just…miss you.”

He started weeping again. He got to his knees and buried his face in her hip as he clung to the backs of her legs. “I’ve missed you somuch!”

MC kept stroking his hair. “I’m sorry you didn’t get to say goodbye to Anne,” she said earnestly.

Sebastian shook his head, his forehead still pressed against her. “It was my own fault.”

“I’m still sorry,” she said as she combed his hair out of his face with her fingers.

He clung to her even more tightly. “She died thinking I’d abandoned her.”

“If you read the letter she left you, you know that isn’t true,” MC replied.

“I still should’ve been there for her,” Sebastian argued. “I would’ve. I swear, I would’ve come back. I just…I thought I had more time.”

“I know, Seb,” she said. She held his shoulders and gave him the best hug she could with him kneeling on the floor. “We all did.”

He shifted to grab her waist and pulled himself slowly to his feet.

MC raised a hand to his cheek automatically. Sebastian covered it with his own as he leaned into the warmth of it. “I don’t want to lose you again,” he said, his voice rough from crying.

MC stared up at him. She didn’t want to lose him, either, but she was scared that opening her heart back up to him would only end in him breaking it again. She’d given him a second chance the day of Anne’s funeral. She couldn’t go through that pain a third time. She’d rather be crucio’d.

But MC couldn’t take the sadness in Sebastian’s big, brown eyes. Not when she could make it better. So, when she felt his hands on either side of her face, MC let herself give in. Sebastian’s lips met hers with a deep hunger, and she returned his kiss in equal force.

One hand slid down to her neck as he pressed her back against the wall, smothering her body with his own. Sebastian’s thumb swiped gently over the pulse in her throat as his lips devoured hers. His tongue skimmed across her swollen bottom lip after his teeth nipped it raw.

MC’s knees nearly buckled as his thigh pressed between her legs. She moaned into his mouth.

“I love you, MC,” he panted, before ravaging her lips again. “I never stopped loving you.”

MC’s fingernails bit into his shoulders as she fought to stay upright. Sebastian scooped her up onto his waist and carried her to his room while she scraped her teeth down the side of his neck. Her heart was racing. With anticipation. With fear. She wondered somewhere in the back of her mind if she would regret this, but she was too far gone to stop now. She felt so good being back in Sebastian’s arms. She would deal with the consequences of it later.

Sebastian threw MC across the bed before leaning over her to kiss her again. She squealed when he pulled her by the hips to the edge of his mattress. He licked his lips as he knelt down in front of her. His hands trailed up her thighs, setting her skin on fire. He pushed up her dress to expose the emerald green knickers, damp with her arousal, and his teeth sunk into his lip as he took in the sight of them.

His eyes flicked back up to hers. They had a fiery glint as he smirked at her. MC could see his intent in his face, plain as if it were written out on parchment – he was going to ruin her. Hooking his thumbs into the waistband of her knickers, he pulled them off of her slowly, keeping his gaze firmly on her own.

He held the eye contact as he leaned in to taste her, but then his eyes rolled back as a groan ripped from his throat. “Fuck, I missed you.” His hot breath fanned over her core as he spoke.

MC was already panting with need, and he’d barely touched her. She tangled one hand into that perfect sodding hair, because she desperately needed something to hold onto as Sebastian’s tongue ran up her folds again. He alternated, tracing up one lip, then the other, and pausing to press delicate kisses against her clit in between. His hands pinned her hips against the mattress, holding her open for him and keeping her from squirming as he teased her cunt.

She gasped as Sebastian’s tongue pierced into her. He moaned as she clenched around him, and the vibrations made her hips jolt.

He chuckled darkly. “Patience,” he said. “I’m not nearly done with you.”

MC whimpered as he pressed another kiss at her apex, using the slightest bit of suction on her clit. He smirked at her reaction, watching as her brow furrowed and her bottom lip disappeared between her teeth.

“I’m going to make you come until you can’t see straight,” Sebastian vowed. He kissed her again. “Fuck you like you deserve. Like no one else can.”

He licked firmly up the centre of her cunt before finally focusing on the sensitive bud at the top. MC’s lungs failed her as Sebastian’s tongue flicked over it again and again. She let out a keening cry when he sucked it into his mouth.

“Fuck, Sebastian!” she moaned. She wanted to buck her hips and ride his face, but he had her firmly pinned down. She was so wound up that her hand in his hair threatened to make him bald again with how tight her grip was. “Oh, gods! Please!”

She chanted the plea repeatedly as her body filled with pleasure, building her up toward release. Sebastian didn’t let up his efforts, consuming her as he held her in place with a bruising grip. He had once had a penchant for denying her orgasm until she begged for it thoroughly, and MC had expected him to pull away from her suddenly. He must have been satisfied, though, because he didn’t stop as a string of swears fell from her lips, or as her orgasm crashed through her, or even long after the ripples had faded. He kept on licking and sucking at her like a man starved, and she soon felt herself coiling again.

“Fuck, fuck, fuck!” she said urgently when she neared that point of no return. She was sensitive and it was too much, but she also never wanted it to stop. It took longer, but the bliss broke over her as a second orgasm was practically ripped out of her body. It was stronger than the first had been, and she felt wrecked as the pulses subsided.

Sebastian had slowed to licking long, languid stripes up her as she came down from her high. But he picked his pace back up again as he slipped two fingers into her, clearly intent on bringing her to a third orgasm. She whimpered at the thought of it. She almost asked him to just give her a break, but it was such sweet torture – and Sebastian looked indescribable when he was coated in her arousal and smirking with pride.

MC was panting and soaked in sweat by the time she crested again. Her head had fallen back in exhaustion as she fought to catch her breath. She had released her iron grip on Sebastian’s hair, and the muscles in her hand were aching.

She lifted her leaden head to look at the man between her legs.

He was looking up at her like she was everything. As his hands stroked lovingly up and down her thighs, she could’ve wept.

Sebastian pulled himself up and let his weight press into her as he covered her body with his. He brushed back the hair clinging to MC’s sweaty forehead. “You’re perfect. So perfect,” he whispered reverently against her lips before capturing them in his own.

MC pulled him closer as she licked the taste of herself off his lips. He was back. She had him back, and she never wanted to be apart from him again. “I love you,” she said.

Sebastian pulled back, looking down at her in shock. As he searched her eyes intently, she thought he might shatter into pieces. Instead, he crashed his mouth back into hers.

“Please,” she begged when they broke apart for air. She ran her fingers down the buttons on the front of his shirt. “I need you.”

“Fuck,” Sebastian groaned. “I’m here, darling. You have me.”

He shucked his clothes as MC flipped over onto her stomach, feet on the ground and arse in the air. He groaned again when he saw her position.

He smoothed his palm over her backside. “Gods, I’ve been thinking about fucking you like this nonstop since Sunday,” he said as he trailed his fingers up her spine, sliding her dress up higher as he went.

MC smirked. “I know,” she replied. Because she knew him better than he thought, too.

Sebastian bent down to nip the sensitive skin, earning a moan from her. He stood back up and dragged his cock through her slick centre, muttering “bloody perfect” as he did. He lined himself up and sank into her slowly, savouring it as she took every inch of him. He practically growled as her body swallowed him. He folded himself over her and she arched back to kiss him, pouring herself into him.

As he righted himself, his hands immediately kneaded into her arse. He really could be quite obsessive about it. He grabbed onto both of her hips as he set a rhythm inside her. MC’s hands clawed into the sheets beneath her as he rocked her forward with each thrust. She let out a low, needy noise as he hit a spot deep within her that seemed to light up her nerves. Sebastian groaned as she clenched around him, and he pounded into that spot over and over. She pushed her hips back, meeting each quick snap of his as he fucked her senseless.

MC’s legs began to shake, and she wasn’t sure how much more she could take when Sebastian wrapped an arm underneath her and began to rub her clit. She cried out as she shattered once more, her whole body shaking as she fell apart. Sebastian groaned as he stilled inside her. She felt like it took ages to come back to earth.

Sebastian had one hand on the mattress to steady himself as he panted to catch his breath. He was still buried inside her, and she was certain he had come until he pulled and out flipped her back over. He pulled her dress over her head, nearly ripped off her bra, and positioned her properly in the middle of the bed.

“I’m gonna pump you so full that you taste me on your tongue,” he vowed as he crawled on top of her.

She wrapped her arms around his neck, pulling him into a kiss as he slid back into her. Her head slumped back against the pillow, and she turned her head to breathe in its scent – his scent.

He managed to get a hand between them, massaging one breast before shifting his weight so he could dip his head to suck on the other. MC’s back arched and her head pressed back into the pillow as Sebastian keyed her body up again.

“Fuck, I love you, MC,” he said as he moved to press his forehead against hers.

“I love you,” she echoed, though it may have been directed as much to the part of him buried inside her as it was to him in general.

When Sebastian started moving again, MC did her best to meet his thrusts, but she was completely spent. She clawed at his back, holding on for dear life as he sped up. She made a slew of senseless noises as he fucked her into his mattress.

“Tell me…tell me there’s no one else,” he demanded breathlessly. “No one who fucks you like this.”

“Gods, no! No one,” she swore before a moan erupted from her as he pounded into her. “Fuck, Sebastian.”

He groaned as he fucked her harder. “This…cunt…is mine!” he growled. “No one else gets to have you!”

“Just you,” MC vowed. “Gods, I missed you. Please, Sebastian. Please!”

He bit into the curve of her neck as his hips sped up even more. She keened for him, and he moaned out as she felt him release inside of her. Her eyes rolled back as she felt him fill her. Sebastian recaptured her lips, and he was desperate and sloppy as their mouths melded together.

MC buried her hands in his hair as she kissed him until her lungs screamed for oxygen. Then, she kissed him a bit longer before pulling back and gasping for air. Sebastian smiled down at her as he panted wildly.

He placed a chaste kiss on MC’s lips before he slid off to lie beside her. He gathered her against his chest, wrapping her up in his arms and pressing a kiss into her hair.

“Fuck,” MC breathed out, still reeling from the whirlwind that had just occurred.

“Yeah,” Sebastian replied, still beaming at her.

“I forgot how horrendously persistent you are,” she said.

He laughed. “I was going to make you ride my face before I took you, but then you displayed your arse so perfectly for me. I could hardly resist.”

MC rolled her eyes. “Fucking course you were,” she groused.

Sebastian kissed her, not hesitating to slide his tongue into her mouth. “You love it.”

She glared at him. He was right, of course, but she would hardly admit it.

He laughed again. “You’re so bleeding stubborn,” he chided light-heartedly.

“And you’re a bloody menace,” she replied.

“But I’m your menace,” he retorted, looking quite pleased about the situation.

MC forced herself to return his smile, but the assertion set her heart at an erratic pace, like it was pumping as much blood to her muscles as possible so she could make a quick escape.

“All right. Time for some sleep, love,” Sebastian said. “We’ve got a big rematch in the morning. I mean the duel, of course, although…”

“No,” MC said firmly. “Knowing you, we’d end up missing the whole morning of training.”

“Yeah, fair enough,” he replied with a chuckle.

He summoned his wand and then conjured some blankets over them so they didn’t have to move. With another swish of his wand, the lights turned out.

“Good night, MC,” he said as he settled back in.

“Good night,” she replied.

MC awoke the next morning filled with anxiety. She wished it were about the impending duel, but it was really about the man wrapped around her.

Fuck.

She’d let her guard down. She’d given in to her baser urges and left the consequences to a future version of herself. Well, the consequences had arrived. She was a little sore and a lot tired, and she was wholly, utterly terrified. She’d shattered the walls that had been protecting her heart like they had been part of target practice.

MC desperately tried to rebuild them. She could not make the same mistake again.

Sebastian’s arms tightened around her as he woke up. He buried his face in her neck. “Morning, love,” he mumbled into her skin.

“Morning,” MC replied stiltedly.

He chuckled. “Don’t worry. I’m not trying to start anything,” he promised. “I’m just happy to see you.”

MC forced a laugh as she turned in his arms. “Good,” she said. “I’m going to need weeks to recover from last night.”

Sebastian rolled his eyes. “I give it two days,” he replied with a cocky grin.

That damned smirk. It was dangerous.

“Unfortunately for you, I’ll be back in England by then,” MC teased. But it was also a reality check for herself.

“About that,” Sebastian said nervously as he traced small circles on her arm. “I was going to ask if you’d stay for the weekend. I mean, I know you have to go back to work on Monday, but I thought maybe you could stay until Sunday.”

“Oh,” MC said, surprised. “Well, my portkey is scheduled for this evening…”

“You could put in a request for a time change. I could fill out the form for you,” he offered, his warm eyes melting her unprotected heart. “But you don’t have to decide right now. The transport office is right next to Aurori Headquarters. I could pop by at lunch.”

“Yeah, I’ll let you know,” she said.

Sebastian smiled sweetly. “Good. And I could come visit you over the long weekend next week. We can figure it out from there,” he said.

The “long weekend” was Christmas. Sebastian wanted to come spend Christmas with her. Every alarm bell was ringing in MC’s head and her body was telling her to flee, but she kept her pasted smile as she said, “Yeah, that sounds great.”

MC pretended she wasn’t freaking out as she got dressed and had breakfast with Sebastian. She left a little after 7 to “warm up” before training. Really, she just needed space to breathe. Sebastian arrived just before 8 o’clock. He greeted her with a kiss on the cheek, and she pretended that didn’t freak her out, either.

She continued pretending all morning. She pretended everything was fine as she watched the other duels with Sebastian beside her. She pretended she wasn’t distracted as she fought against him, and he disarmed her in minutes. She lied when he asked if she’d made up her mind about the portkey, telling him she’d submitted the form on her way in that morning. And she pretended to be excited as he rambled all through lunch about all the things they could do over the weekend.

MC felt sick the whole day. Every excited smile Sebastian gave her twisted the knife lodged in her gut. She felt awful for lying to him, but she knew telling the truth would give him the opportunity to change her mind. And she was terrified that he would. He would convince her to give him another chance, and he would break her heart again. Maybe not that weekend or at Christmas or for years. But he would eventually.

After Jari gave a touching speech about how proud he was of all of them and how he wished them the best, the group went for a celebratory round of drinks a few blocks down the street. The whole time, Sebastian rested his arm across the back of her chair and whispered in her ear.

“Do you want to go out to dinner tonight, or shall I order takeaway?” he asked.

“I…Um…” MC started.

The obvious choice was takeaway – he wouldn’t need a reservation, and even if he ordered the food before he realised she was gone, he could just keep the leftovers for another time. She only had a few minutes before her portkey took her home. She would say “takeaway” and then “I need to use the loo,” and it would all be done with.

“I can’t do this,” she blurted out.

“What?” Sebastian asked, taken aback as she pushed out her chair.

“I need to go,” MC said as she stood.

“Okay. I’ll take you back,” Sebastian said, getting to his feet, as well.

“No! I…I’m going home. I can’t do this–” She gestured between them. “–with you. Not again.”

She pulled on her cloak as she ran out of the pub, and Sebastian stood dumbstruck for a moment before chasing after her. MC stood out in the falling snow as she fished through her pockets for the stubby pencil.

Sebastian burst out of the pub door as she found it. She watched as he looked down at her hand. The frigid air was already turning his cheeks red as he stood cloakless in the winter night. “It doesn’t leave until Sunday,” he said, but she could tell he suspected the truth.

“I never changed it,” she admitted.

He didn’t look angry like she had expected. MC only saw confusion and sadness. “Why?” he asked, his breath fogging in the air as he begged her to make sense of the last 24-hours.

She looked at him remorsefully. “I’m sorry. I…I just–”

MC was dragged forward as the portkey triggered. She caught herself on the padded walls as she landed in the booth at the English international transit hub. She immediately vomited onto the floor – and her own shoes. It vanished almost as quickly.

“Looks like you had a rough trip home, friend,” Natty observed. She untangled her arm from Garreth’s as she went to her partner’s side.

“Just caught me a bit off guard,” MC said as she gained her bearings.

Natty pulled MC into a tight hug. “It’s good to have you home,” she said.

“It’s good to be home,” MC replied, trying to ignore the ache in her chest. She reminded herself it only would’ve been worse if she’d let things go on. This was better. She would wall off the broken pieces of her heart and let the memories fade into the distance along with the pain of them.

“We thought you might want to go for a pint,” Garreth said brightly as the left the hub.

It was startling to see the lack of snow. MC hadn’t seen grass for weeks.

“Actually, I’m quite knackered from the training. I think I’m going to turn in for the night,” MC said, giving him an apologetic smile. “Another time, though.

Garreth nodded. “Just tell me when. You know I’m always up for a night out.”

“Do you want me to apparate you home?” Natty asked.

MC waved her off. “Nah, I’m all right. I’ll see you at the flat later,” she said.

As MC drew her wand to apparate home, Garreth took Natty’s hand as they headed for the pub. Ugh, did everyone couple up while I was away?

MC had a proper lie-in the next morning, not getting out of bed until half noon when a bird refused to stop pecking her window. She opened it to shoo the thing off, but it flew inside, instead, landing on the owl perch.

“Hello, Pixie,” MC said as recognition finally hit her. She undid the little scroll on her leg and gave her a treat.

Are you coming over today? I may have promised the brood their favourite auntie was coming for a visit. Also, Poppy wants to see you. And I suppose I do, as well.

MC chuckled as she rolled the scroll back up. She penned a quick be there shortly and sent it back with Pixie. She ate a scone, took a quick shower, and got dressed before taking the floo to Feldcroft. She hadn’t even unpacked her trunk, but the snakelets were a perfect distraction from the viper MC was trying to forget.

MC entered the cottage just before Pixie flew in through the window. “Knew I should’ve sent a patronus,” she said.

Ominis gave her a confused sort of smile, but he caught up once he read the note Pixie brought him.

“Where’s Poppy?” MC asked as she shed her cloak.

“Actually, I’m going to go to hers,” Ominis said.

“Oh,” MC said. “Shall I come with you, then?”

“I’d really rather you didn’t,” a tired voice behind her said.

MC looked over her shoulder to find Sebastian standing over a cup of tea in the kitchen. She looked back to Ominis with a murderous gaze she hoped he could feel. “You lying bastard!” she said.

“He came to me and asked for help getting you to talk to him. I think you should hear him out,” Ominis said.

MC scoffed. “I already heard him out. It didn’t lead anywhere good,” she replied.

Ominis sighed. “Look, I know you’re scared, MC. I know better than most the reasons you have not to give him another chance. But I also know better than most how much you two loved each other – and how hard it is for love like that to fade. I can’t have the love of my life back, but I won’t let you regret giving up on yours without weighing it fully.”

MC wiped her nose with the back of her sleeve. “I can’t believe you’re playing the dead wife card on me,” she sniffed.

“Only because I love you,” Ominis said earnestly. He grabbed his cloak. “I’ll be back in two hours. Either waythis goes, I trust you two not to destroy my home.”

MC rolled her eyes as Ominis left. She looked back at Sebastian, who was watching her with wary eyes like she might pop away again. It was a tempting option. But, for Ominis’s sake, she would stay.

She waited for Sebastian to speak. To give his justifications for his actions. Or yell at her. Ask her why she ran off. How she could fuck him and then disappear – she hoped for that one for the irony of it.

“I’m so sorry,” he said. He set his tea on the counter and walked over to her. He stopped when she stepped back. “This isn’t how I wanted things to be between us.”

MC just blinked at him. She hadn’t anticipated him saying that.

“I should’ve been honest with you from the start instead of playing games and trying to manipulate you. I was too much of a coward to just admit from the jump that I never stopped being in love with you,” he said. “I spent years trying to become someone you could be proud of. Someone who could love you like you deserve. I thought that meant giving up dark magic and doing something good with my life. But I clearly have a lot to learn about how to treat you. And I know this probably doesn’t seem like a step in the right direction, but I genuinely didn’t know Ominis was going to lie to get you here.”

MC steeled herself after she felt a treacherous pang in her chest. “You really gave up dark magic?” she asked, eyeing him sceptically.

“I haven’t touched it since Anne died, and I’m never going to again,” he assured her.

MC rolled her eyes. “Yeah, I’ve heard that before.”

“Really?” he shot back. “And are you referring to when you told Ominis I was done without consulting me in the catacombs? Or perhaps when I told Ominis I understood him wanting us to avoid it? I never lied about stopping.”

MC was silent, unable to refute him but unwilling to admit that he was right.

“And I’m telling you now that I’m done playing games. I’m done running. Or hiding. Or whatever I’ve been doing the last two-and-a-half years,” he said. “I’m not Sepe. He was a mask. A way to avoid owning up to my mistakes. But I can’t keep being him. I want to come home.”

“I’m not stopping you,” MC replied. “I’m sure Ominis would even let you stay with him.”

Sebastian stepped forward again, grabbing her hands and looking pleadingly into her eyes. “My home isn’t Feldcroft. It’s you. It’s always been you – since the day you spared me from Azkaban.” He stepped even closer, moving a hand up to her cheek. “No one else has seen me and looked at what I’ve done and loved me anyway. Even Anne took a year to forgive me. And I know I broke your trust, and it’s okay if it takes years to earn it back. I just…I’m asking for a chance to prove that I’ve changed. I’m still not perfect, and I know I don’t deserve it, but I’ll spend every day earning it, and I just…I have to ask. I have to try to come home.”

Tears streamed down MC’s cheeks, and Sebastian tried futilely to wipe them away until she stepped out of his grasp. She felt split in two. Half of her wanted to run and hide where Sebastian could never find her. The other half – maybe more than half – wanted to fall into his arms and let him hold her and promise it would all be okay.

“I can’t let you break my heart again, Sebastian. I love you. I do. But I just can’t,” she sobbed. She wrapped her arms around her middle – to soothe herself, or to protect herself, or maybe both.

“I know, love,” he said calmly. “I swear to you I won’t. I wish every day that I could redo that night. Stay with you. I was a coward and afraid that you still wouldn’t want me, and I ran. And it was the worst mistake of my life.” He took a shuddering breath as tears began to well in his eyes. “I’m so sorry that I can’t fix it. Especially now that I know how you must’ve felt when I was just…just gone. I would give anything to fix it if I could. But I promise it will never happen again. I’m not leaving. Not ever.”

MC’s face crumpled as she sobbed harder. “I’m sorry. I wish I could believe you,” she choked out.

She sat back on the couch before her legs gave out. Sebastian knelt down on one knee in front of her.

“Hey,” he said softly, resting one hand on her leg as the other wiped more tears from her face. “It’s okay. You don’t owe me anything. I–” His voice choked, and he forced an unconvincing smile onto his face. “I’ll be okay.”

MC shook her head, tucking her legs up protectively in front of herself. Sebastian’s hands fell to the couch on either side of her. “I want to trust you,” she said. “I want to give you another chance, but…I mean, you live in Finland. You’re an aurori. You–”

“No, I’m not,” he interjected.

“What?” she asked.

“I told Teräväinen I quit. Effective immediately. Needless to say he wasn’t happy, but…” Sebastian said. “I’m not going back to Finland. I told you: I’m not leaving you again.”

MC started crying again. Sebastian moved to sit beside her and tentatively pulled her into a hug, waiting for her to tense or push him away. She didn’t. Instead, she let her head tilt to rest on his chest.

“You’re…you’re really staying?” she asked once she calmed again.

“I am, love,” he confirmed. “Probably right here for a while until I can find my own place – and a job.”

He laughed slightly.

MC laughed, as well. And then sniffed as she wiped her drippy nose. “I happen to have an in with the aurors at the DMLE,” she said.

“Do you now?” he joked. “Well, I do have some relevant experience.”

“On both sides of the job,” she quipped.

“Oi!” he said, poking her side lightly and making her jump. “Too soon, darling.”

“Sorry,” she said earnestly.

He pressed a kiss to her head as he held her tighter to his chest. “It’s all right,” he said gently. “I’ve missed your teasing.”

She lifted her head to look at him. “I’ve missed teasing you,” she said, giving him a cheeky grin. “In all sorts of ways.”

Sebastian chuckled. “Funny enough, I noticed that,” he replied. “For the record, I much prefer you walking around in lingerie to riding some ponce on my couch.”

“You seemed to be pretty into it,” she argued.

“I was fucking livid. I just didn’t want you to know it bothered me,” he said. “But I lost it when I saw you were wearing my lingerie.”

“You’re welcome to model it anytime,” she teased before letting her feet fall back to the floor and shifting to face him.

Sebastian rolled his eyes. “You know what I meant,” he groused, making her laugh. His expression grew serious. “Where does all this leave us?”

“I think it’s worth giving us another shot,” she said. “I mean, you did abandon your whole life for me. I suppose that shows a certain level of commitment.”

His face lit up. “Yeah?” he asked in disbelief.

“Yeah,” she said. “But we should take it slow.”

“I can do slow,” he said quickly with an adorable level of earnestness. “How about dinner tonight in London? I’ll make us a reservation somewhere.”

“That sounds perfect,” she replied.

“Brilliant!” he said, beaming at her. He leaned in before catching himself. “Does slow still involve kissing?”

“Slow definitely still involves kissing,” MC replied before connecting their mouths herself.

Apparently, slow also involved Sebatian lying on top of MC as they snogged on the couch. And both of them taking their clothes off. And a very upset Ominis when he returned in the middle of them rather forcefully “taking it slow.”

#sebastian sallow #hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow x f!mc #hogwarts legacy fanfic #sebastian sallow fanfiction #sebastian x mc #sebastian sallow fanfic #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #sebastian sallow x reader #enemies to lovers #roommates

[thenerdykneazle]

Kindred Spirits - Chapter 4

Chapter 1. Chapter 2. Chapter 3. Chapter 5.

Read on AO3.

Chapter summary: Things devolve quickly after Sebastian uses ill-advised means to get answers after a particularly confusing interaction with MC. Then, after an admittedly mediocre attempt at vulnerability blows up in his face, he continues his pattern of poor decisions.

Auror Sebastian Sallow x Auror F!MC

Warnings: 18+, explicit sexual content, aged-up characters, both characters have sex with other people during the story, anger/revenge, toxic relationship, I do not speak Finnish or really know anything about Finland

Word Count: 5107

Chapter 4: Pesky Potions

Thursday morning, MC awoke from a fitful night’s sleep at an ungodly hour. Her body had adjusted to Finnish time, so although it was four in the morning back home, it felt like a reasonable enough time to wake up – aside from the utter absence of sunlight, of course. She dragged herself to the kitchen to make breakfast. When she stepped into the hallway, she could hear Sebastian’s shower running. Evidently, he had either skipped his morning run or was already back from it.

MC had no interest in running into Sebastian that morning. Or ever, but that wasn’t an option, unfortunately. She made beans on toast and was frying up a few eggs when his door opened. She cursed her luck. She turned from the hob to see Sebastian saunter out from the hallway with a towel around his shoulders that he was using to rub his hair dry. Of note, he had nothing else covering him – not a second towel or a stitch of clothing. He wasn’t even wearing socks to insulate his feet from the frigid wood floors.

“Good morning,” he said casually.

MC held up a hand to block his naked body from her view, obstructing the sight of his chiselled abs tapering down to the manhood hanging between his thick thighs. “What the fuck are you doing?” she asked.

“I thought about it and decided you were right,” he said as he walked into the kitchen. “We should both be comfortable here. Et voila.”

He gestured to his nudity, and then he stole a piece of toast.

“That’s not yours!” she said, reaching to snatch it back.

He held the food out of her reach. “And my bed isn’t yours,” he retorted before taking a bite out of the toast.

“I admit that crossed a line, but I really didn’t plan on shagging Erik there,” she said earnestly. “This is just inhumane.”

The smell of smoke singed her nostrils, and she turned back to see her eggs had burned. Brilliant. She turned off the heat and removed the pan from the hob, letting out a groan as she set it in the sink.

“Distracted, were you?” a smirking Sebastian asked before taking another bite of MC’s toast.

“Blinded, more like,” she groused.

He quirked an eyebrow at her as he continued to eat her breakfast. “By my beauty?”

MC glared at him. “By your pasty bollocks.”

He scowled. “Well, thanks for the toast, love,” he said icily. “I’ll see you at training.”

He popped the rest of it in his mouth and trotted back to his room, giving her a prime view of his firm arse. She felt a bit cheated that it hadn’t been nearly so filled out when they’d been together. She shook her head, banishing any further thoughts of his arse from her mind.

MC thought Sebastian had just been trying to prove a point, but if that was the case, he was very dedicated to it. When he returned from training, she came out of her room to find him sat naked on the couch. He cooked dinner in the same state, offering some to MC. She got takeout, having no interest in meat that had been in such proximity to his own. When she got up the next morning, he had ditched his sweaty running gear and was stretching nude in the living room.

She left those details out when she wrote to Ominis after receiving a second letter from him. He had expressed his shock at the news the Sebastian was in Helsinki and inquired how she was coping with seeing him again. Included with the letter were more snakelet pictures, which lifted her spirits until the next time she was assaulted with the sight of Sebastian’s full freckled form. She hated most of all that every interaction brought a new realisation of the ways he’d filled out over the last few years. Gits like him shouldn’t be allowed to become so attractive.

After Sebastian spent all of Saturday morning tidying up his flat in his birthday suit, MC took matters into her own hands. She cursed the flat so that it wouldn’t rise a single degree above 15C. She left him to suffer alone, opting to spend her afternoon visiting beautiful cathedrals and wandering museums.

Sebastian pretended not to care for several hours. Then MC caught him trying – and failing – to find a counter-curse that evening. He still pranced around the common areas naked, but he spent a lot more time in his room where she suspected he covered up for warmth. He didn’t take it lying down, though.

Sunday morning, MC awoke to find all of her clothes had been transfigured into skimpy lingerie. She tried to transfigure them back, but he’d put some spell preventing her from fixing it. She couldn’t even transfigure the sheets into clothes or conjure new ones altogether. She had to admit that he was thorough.

She contemplated wrapping herself up in a blanket and storming over to Sebastian’s room to demand he restore her wardrobe. Instead, she decided to get even a bit more directly. After donning a sheer lace bra and G-string – both a deep emerald green – she dopped the flat down to 5C and cast a modified warming charm on herself. Normal ones didn’t work with her curse. She was also thorough.

MC then went about making breakfast as normal.

Sebastian emerged from the shower while she was leaned back against the kitchen counter, eating her berry porridge. His eyebrows raised when he saw her. “Trying to seduce me?” he asked with a roguish smile.

She scoffed. “Hardly,” she replied before taking another bite. “I mean, it’s not like you could do anything even if you wanted to.” She gave his shrivelled manhood a pointed look.

“Oh, I wouldn’t bet on that,” he replied with a cocky expression.

“Yeah?” she asked disbelievingly as she set her empty bowl on the counter.

She licked across her lips to remove any stray juice from the berries. Sebastian’s gaze immediately dropped to them, his own lips parting as he watched her tongue glide over the pink skin and leave it glistening. She got a thrill out of how utterly desperate for it he looked. It was like a sort of revenge, having him want her when he couldn’t have her – both because he was physically incapable in the current environment and because she would never go down that road again.

“You really think you can get it up when it’s so cold?” she asked doubtfully.

Sebastian just nodded, unable to voice his reply, as his eyes remined locked on her mouth.

She decided to push him further, wanting to see him so frustrated that he broke. She cocked her head to the side. “You think you can get hard enough to fuck my tits?” She taunted him by pushing them together. “I bet you can picture it – your cock slipping between them. This lace you’ve made barely covers anything.”

Sebastian’s chest was rising and falling faster now. “What’re you doing?” he asked, almost seeming frightened of the answer.

She scoffed and she let her breasts drop. “Proving that you’re delusional. I could hop on this counter and play with myself or rub my tits in your face, and you’d still be flaccid as a flobberworm.”

Sebastian swallowed hard, but his smirk returned quickly. “Why don’t you test that theory?”

“Not bloody likely,” she replied, rolling her eyes. “Besides, you were always a bit of an arse man, weren’t you?” She turned away from him and leaned over the counter, sticking her bum out on display and arching her back for good measure. “You used to love taking me from behind. And you always got off on marking my arse – smacking it, biting it…” She looked over her shoulder at him with a smirk playing on her lips. His eyes flicked up to hers. “Coming all over it.”

She clasped her bottom lip between her teeth as she looked back at him through hooded eyes.

Sebastian groaned as his gaze fell back to her arse. His pupils were blown wide with lust, and it gave her a twisted sort of pleasure. Until she looked down.

“Oh, shite,” she said, taken aback. Her arrogant expression immediately fell.

He was rock hard as he leered at her backside, his cock jutting out sharply from the rest of his body. Suddenly, her teasing had an all-too-real potential to lead to more. MC felt her chest tighten with anxiety. She had wanted to frustrate Sebastian enough that he didn’t want her walking around half-dressed – she wasn’t actually trying to seduce him.

She spun around, pressing herself back against the counter to keep as much distance between them as possible, even though he was on the opposite side of the kitchen.

Sebastian’s brow furrowed when he saw the panic in her expression.

“You’re fucking pathetic,” she tried to assert, but the fear edged into her voice. She bolted for her room, leaving Sebastian and his stiffy behind.

She slammed her door shut before leaning back against it. She felt frustrated and aroused and furious and heartbroken and a dozen other emotions all at once.

She pulled the duvet off the bed and wrapped it around herself protectively. She sat numbly on the side of the mattress, pressing the heels of her hands into her eyes as she fought to shove her memories of Sebastian back into the recesses of her mind where they belonged.

An hour later, all of her clothes – save the underwear she had on – reverted to their normal states. She countered the spell she’d put on the flat, letting it slowly return to a proper temperature. When she emerged from her room to grab lunch, Sebastian was nowhere to be found. When she saw him briefly as she left to buy dinner, he was clothed. They didn’t say a word to each other as she walked out of the flat or when she returned. He barely even glanced at her, as if she were a basilisk that might strike him dead if he caught her eye.

Monday morning, MC left her room to find Sebastian in the kitchen with two plates of bacon and eggs and two thermoses of tea. He held one of each out to her.

“It’s a peace offering,” he explained when she eyed them sceptically.

“Thanks,” she said in a stilted tone as she took them. She took a bite of egg before washing it down with some tea that she’d half expected to be poisoned. She reasoned that death would be a mercy at that point and drank it anyway. It was, somewhat disappointingly, poison-free.

“Can I ask you something?” Sebastian inquired timidly.

“You can, but I have absolutely no interest in answering, so it’d be a waste of breath,” she replied more cruelly than she had intended.

Sebastian scowled. “I don’t know why you keep insisting on being such a bitch,” he said.

“And I don’t know why you can’t just accept that I want nothing to do with you,” she bit back.

The muscles in his cheeks bulged out as he clenched his jaw. He was clearly simmering with anger, barely contained as it roiled just beneath the surface.

“Thanks for breakfast,” MC said coldly, plucking up the bacon and abandoning the rest of the eggs before heading out the door.

It was a bit difficult to storm out whilst pulling on a cloak with two pieces of bacon in one hand and a thermos in the other, but MC did her best before apparating to the Aurori headquarters.

She did her usual warm-up workout, which she regretted once Jari told them they’d be working on endurance that morning.

“Oh, fuck me!” she’d blurted out. Fortunately, he hadn’t heard her.

Sofia did, though, and she giggled at the slip. It was a brutal morning full of running, weighted jackets, and casting spells until they physically couldn’t. MC was dripping by the time she reached the shower. She was dragging with exhaustion the whole way to the cafeteria. She sipped her mostly untouched tea, hoping the caffeine would give her even a small boost.

Everyone was subdued as they sat at their usual table.

“I’m definitely going to need the sauna after today,” Mikko said, rubbing at the large, sore muscles in his neck and shoulders.

“Ugh, I’ll never step inside one of those bloody things again,” MC groaned.

“I thought you said you liked it!” Mikko replied, looking hurt.

“Well, the sauna itself was nice at first,” she explained. “It’s just that the company was shite.”

MC gave Sebastian a pointed glare. He avoided her gaze.

“I’ll take you myself this time,” he offered. “You’ll love it if you get the authentic Finnish experience.”

MC chuckled to herself. “You know, when you first mentioned Finnish relaxation methods last week, I thought you were going to offer yourself,” she admitted.

Mikko looked scandalized. “I’m so sorry if I made you uncomfortable! I wasn’t trying to suggest anything,” he said earnestly.

MC shrugged. “Oh, I wasn’t offended. I would’ve accepted if you had been offering,” she said simply.

Mikko blushed. Sebastian choked on his food. Sofia gaped at her.

MC’s eyes widened as she realised what had just come out of her mouth. She was so knackered that it hadn’t even registered at first, but her exhausted mind had clearly betrayed her.

“You just look like you’d give a lady a good time, you know?” she continued, the words spilling out unbidden. MC slapped her hand over her mouth. Shut up, shut up, shut up!

“You’re, um, very flattering,” Mikko said uncomfortably.

“I’m so sorry!” MC said, uncovering her mouth briefly. “I don’t know where that–”

She stopped in the middle of her sentence as recognition hit her. She had been poisoned. In a sense, anyway.

“You adolescent twat!” she hissed at Sebastian as she stood.

He up looked at her guiltily.

She stormed over to the bins and chucked her tea into one. She abandoned her half-eaten lunch and headed straight for the conference room. She bit her tongue and waited for the veritaserum Sebastian had slipped her to wear off.

The afternoon was mostly without incident except for being the only one to say “no” when Jari asked at the start if they were ready to discuss practical arithmancy for out in the field. She just muttered a “sorry” when he frowned at her, and he carried on.

She was still livid when Jari dismissed them for the day.

“We’re gonna have a chat tonight,” she growled as she passed Sebastian on her way out of the conference room.

She all but stomped out of the headquarters before apparating to Sebastian’s flat.

When he appeared after his usual cleaning duties, MC was waiting in the living room with her hands on her hips and murder in her eyes.

“What the fuck is your problem?” she demanded, feeling a bit like a chocolate frog card – always saying the same thing.

Sebastian flinched away from her. “I didn’t mean for you to take the tea to training,” he said.

“So, you just meant to dose me privately?” she said accusingly, crossing her arms over her chest. “Yes, that’s so much better!”

“I just wanted some answers,” he insisted meekly.

“And you drugged me to get them!” she roared, her hands flying into the air. She couldn’t believe he was actually trying to justify himself.

“Would you have given any otherwise?” he asked defensively.

“No!” she said unapologetically. “And I have every right not to! I don’t owe you any explanations!”

Sebastian snapped his mouth shut. His chest still heaved with each breath, but he said nothing more.

“Gods, you’re so bloody entitled, you know that?” MC continued, fuming.

His shoulders sagged and his eyes were glassy. “I just want to understand, or…or to get closure,” he said, so quiet he was almost inaudible.

“So did I – three years ago,” she said forcefully. She couldn’t believe his audacity at asking for “closure” when he was the one who left without a word. “I moved on, Sebastian! I just want to survive this week so I can go back home and forget it ever happened!”

He stepped closer to her. “Well, I don’t!” he replied, his voice cracking.

“I don’t care!” she yelled, trying to get the words to penetrate his thick skull. She was nearing the limit of what she could take.

His posture sagged. “I don’t know how to fix this if you won’t talk to me,” he said, defeated.

“You can’t!” she said, feeling like she must have died and ended up in purgatory – doomed to have the same pointless conversation over and over for eternity.

“I can’t accept that,” he stated. His eyes pled with her not to force him to try.

She groaned in frustration. He was impossible. She didn’t know why he wouldn’t just let it go. He’d had years to decide he needed closure and never once made an effort to contact them or come home. And he certainly hadn’t seemed broken up about things when he brought those two bints back to the flat.

She stormed to her room. He followed.

“We’re not done here!” he said.

“I am!” she replied. She slammed and locked the door with a flick of her wand.

Sebastian tried to open it. “MC, let me in,” he implored.

She ignored him.

“MC, please,” he begged, even more desperate.

She didn’t move.

He knocked on the door. “MC!” he called pleadingly.

She could hear him sigh before giving up and trudging to his own room. She was finally able to relax slightly. The longer she sat in her room, the angrier she grew – about him leaving, about the lies, about the veritaserum, even about the women. She made sure he was still in his room, and then she sneaked out of the flat to go for a walk. She got some dinner, stopped in an apothecary, and apparated directly into her bedroom. She was so exhausted physically and emotionally that she fell asleep on top of the sheets in her day robes.

The next morning, she woke early and listened for Sebastian to leave for his run. Once he did, she crept into his bathroom. She opened his shampoo and poured in the contents of the vial she’d purchased the previous evening. She mixed the liquid together before carefully returning the container to exactly where it had been on the shower ledge.

An hour later, MC heard a shriek as she was cooking breakfast. There was lots of rustling about before Sebastian came storming into the kitchen in just a towel – wrapped around his waist this time, as he hadn’t any hair remaining to dry.

“What the fuck did you do?” he demanded.

MC blinked innocently at him. “Your hair’s gone,” she observed. She had to work very hard not to laugh. He looked ridiculous.

“You fucking think?” he bellowed.

She slid one of the plates of food she’d made toward him. “I guess we’re even,” she said calmly. “On the bright side, the rest of us can rub your bald head for luck before training today.”

He sneered at the plate in front of him. “You’re an actual lunatic,” he said.

“Bold talk from the man who drugged me yesterday,” she replied coolly. She pasted on a false smile. “See you at work, love.”

She set a charm to wash her plate and headed for her cloak by the door. Sebastian just growled in frustration before marching back to his room.

Sebastian arrived at the training room wearing a knit cap and a deep frown in addition to his usual workout attire. “Nice beanie,” Niko said brightly.

“Shut up,” Sebastian grumbled to the confusion of the young lad.

“He’s on his monthly,” MC whispered conspiratorially to the boy, who only looked more befuddled.

Sebastian, hearing her, sent a scathing glare her way. MC just smiled and waggled her fingers in a taunting wave. Jari took their focus as he rounded them up for training. The whole morning, Sebastian kept tugging at his cap to make sure it stayed in place – to the point where his performance in the drills suffered, which had MC chuffed to bits.

Some of the other trainees gave him odd looks, but no one else commented on the hat.

Sebastian was absent altogether for their lunch hour. Henri showed the rest of them the pictures from his daughter’s 5th birthday party over the weekend – he’d been too exhausted to share them on Monday. She had a huge smile in every moving photo, showing off her missing baby teeth.

Henri talked all about how her uncle bought her a broom and she had barely gotten off the thing since. She had become a hazard in the house, flying from room to room, but when he tried to bundle her up for a flight outside, she couldn’t move her arms down to grip the broom. Niko teased him for being overprotective.

“She’ll be fine. I used to fly all over town with my dad at her age. Can’t tell you how many times I fell off. And look how I turned out!” Niko said.

“That’s not exactly reassuring,” Henri replied seriously, making the whole group laugh – except for Niko.

“Bastard,” the younger man grumbled as he threw a piece of bread at Henri.

Henri just batted it away, still chuckling to himself.

When they all returned to the conference room, Sebastian was already sat inside. He no longer had the knit cap and had somehow managed to regrow his hair. They took their seats, and Jari started their lesson.

MC’s mother used to caution her that a person never knows what they have until it’s gone. MC had frequently found the reverse to be true – she often didn’t recognise how much she had lost until it came back to her. That had not been true of seeing Sebastian for the first time in years, but she did find that it held for his hair.

His freshly regrown locks were looking particularly silky, and MC’s fingers tingled with the memory of running through them while he kissed her breathless or rested his head in her lap with his arm curled possessively around her thigh. His hair was styled to be purposefully messy – a look MC had always found attractive whether he was just out of a shower or dragging himself back to the castle after a long mission. She recalled the scent of his spiced shampoo. She would take long, slow inhales of it until she drifted off back when she had slept in his bed more than her own.

Sebastian caught her eye, and she could tell by his arrogant smirk that he knew she’d been staring at him. She did her best not to blush as she refocused on Jari’s presentation. He was droning on about the fine details of legal policies for undercover work, and MC wasn’t quite sure how much actually applied back home anyway.

When they were dismissed, Sebastian followed MC out of the conference room. “Gods, I’m starving. I had to miss lunch to go to my hairdresser’s,” he said.

“I didn’t realise you were so vain,” MC replied coolly.

Sebastian smirked at her. “You seemed to think it was worth it,” he quipped.

MC rolled her eyes. She refused to dignify his comment with an answer.

He jogged ahead of her a bit and spun around, walking backwards as he faced her. “Let’s go out to dinner,” he said.

MC’s brows rose in surprise. “Together?” she asked dimly.

“Obviously,” Sebastian replied with an easy grin.

MC scoffed. “Don’t you have cleaning to do?” she asked.

He shrugged. “I can do it after,” he said simply. “So, how about it?”

She frowned at him. “No,” she said.

It was Sebastian’s turn to be surprised. “What d’you mean ‘no’?”

“It means that I don’t want to go to dinner with you,” she explained as if to a very stupid child.

Still walking backwards in front of her, he cocked his head to the side. “Why not? You obviously still fancy me.”

He hadn’t said it teasingly. He stated it as an obvious fact. That infuriated MC even more, and her expression showed it. “Hardly.”

“You were staring at me all meeting, love,” he pointed out. He bumped backwards into a wall, and she darted around him.

“I was not,” MC argued as she pushed open the door to the outside.

“Oh, you absolutely were,” Sebastian argued, still grinning as he followed her toward the alleyway. “Why can’t you just admit that you’re still interested?”

“Because I’m not,” she stated firmly, marching ahead.

“No? And parading around half-naked this weekend was for what exactly?” he asked sceptically.

“You were the one who turned all my clothes into lingerie!” she argued. “And you were walking around fully naked.”

He smirked. “I just find it comfortable. It’s how I dress in my flat when I don’t have a houseguest,” he said simply. “But you’re trying to tell me there’s no part of you that’s even the least bit curious about getting dinner?”

He raised an incredulous eyebrow at her.

MC whipped around. “None,” she asserted with a tone of finality. “There is no force on this planet that could make me want to rehash our relationship.”

Sebastian, cocky bastard that he was, practically scoffed at her. “Want to try that again after you’ve sipped some tea?” he asked arrogantly.

MC had hit her limit. “Gladly!” she spat. “I’d sooner cut off all four limbs than come crawling back to you – the absolute worst mistake of my life!”

Sebastian looked as if she’d slapped him in the face. He gaped at her as he absorbed the words. Then, he began to shake with rage.

MC didn’t wait for him to recall how to speak. She apparated to the flat, leaving him behind. Bracing herself, she just stood in the entryway, waiting for him to appear and start yelling. But he didn’t. There was no yelling – nor the crack of apparation.

MC decided not to waste the delay and retreated to her room. He’d likely decided to work on the cleaning first, after all. However, even an hour later, there was no sign of Sebastian. MC made dinner, ate it, cleaned up, and lingered in the kitchen for a bit. Still, he hadn’t come back.

She couldn’t stop thinking about his expression. The shock, followed by rage. But she wasn’t sure he hadjust been shaking with rage anymore. His eyes had been wet, and she’d never known him to be an angry crier. She thought back to the devastation on his face when she told him after their duel that he was nothing without dark magic. He had looked betrayed. She had no love lost for him, but she could admit she’d gone too far with that comment. And calling him the worst mistake of her life, even if it had felt true at the time.

She hated Sebastian, and it was easier to convince herself he deserved every drop of her venom than to try to be amicable. He had hurt her, and she wanted to hurt him back without feeling guilty. It was a coward’s way out. But MC was no coward. She resolved to apologise when he returned to the flat. If he returned to the flat.

MC almost jumped out of her skin when the loud crack echoed through the flat late that evening. Before she could untangle herself from her sheets and rush out of her room, she heard the sounds coming from his.

“Fuck, just like that, sweetheart!” Sebastian cried out.

MC saw red. She’d actually been worried about him. How stupid could she be?

Sebastian had clearly not learned anything from his last escapade, because MC heard every moan filter through her wall. She could leave, but she wouldn’t give him the satisfaction. Or let his slag do it, either.

She transfigured her watch into a wedding band and gave herself a swollen belly. She charged into his room. “Sebastian Bartholomew Sallow, what on earth is going on here?”

Sebastian had been leaning back against his bed, head thrown back. The topless woman he’d brought home was kneeling in front of him, sucking him off.

His head snapped up, and the woman’s mouth popped off his cock as she whipped around to see MC standing in the doorway. She gaped at MC’s stomach, her hand still around the base of Sebastian’s prick. She started screaming in Finnish at him as she gathered her things. She slapped him across the face before storming out.

She said something unintelligible to a wide-eyed MC as she rushed past her. It sounded sympathetic.

Sebastian, who had barely reacted to being struck, gave a dramatic sigh. “I was quite enjoying that…It only seems right you should finish the job, Mrs. Sallow.”

His face had split into a wicked smirk.

MC scoffed. “Fair’s fair. You ruined my last orgasm,” she argued as she transfigured herself and her watch back to normal. “Besides, I did her a favour keeping her away from you.”

He tilted his head and arched a brow. “You haven’t come since before you fucked that prick in my bed?” He stalked towards her, a predatory gleam in his eyes. MC pointedly held his gaze, glaring back and refusing to glance down at the erection jutting out at her and bobbing with each step he took.

“Actually, he made me come first. He was just going for round two,” she said.

“What a bloody gentleman,” he spat sarcastically, though MC wasn’t sure why. Erik had been quite the gentleman. “But you’re not denying that you haven’t come since.”

MC just rolled her eyes.

Sebastian’s smirk returned. “I could help you with that.”

She felt a flood of indignation, stepping back as Sebastian closed in on her. “Are you really coming onto me while your dick’s still wet from some slag’s mouth?”

 “You sound jealous,” he said huskily. He bit his lip as he looked down at her through hooded eyes and ran the backs of his fingers down her arm, leaving a trail of goose pimples.

“You sound insane,” MC shot back before storming out.

She rushed to her room and slammed the door behind her. Her heart was pounding as she sank down onto her bed. She really needed a good shag – before she did something utterly stupid like let Sebastian Sallow crawl back into bed with her.

#sebastian sallow #hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow x f!mc #hogwarts legacy fanfic #sebastian sallow fanfiction #sebastian x mc #sebastian sallow fanfic #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #sebastian sallow x reader #enemies to lovers #roommates

[thenerdykneazle]

Kindred Spirits - Chapter 3

Chapter 1. Chapter 2. Chapter 4. Chapter 5.

Read on AO3.

Chapter summary: MC needs some stress relief after all the tension with her roommate. After Sebastian ruins her first attempt, she finds a better method.

Auror Sebastian Sallow x Auror F!MC

Warnings: 18+, explicit sexual content, aged-up characters, both characters have sex with other people during the story, anger/revenge, toxic relationship, I do not speak Finnish or really know anything about Finland

Word Count: 5066

Chapter 3: Causing Commotion

The next morning, MC lay in bed as she waited to hear Sebastian leave for his run. Come six in the morning, he still hadn’t left. She figured he’d opted for a lie-in and decided to snag a quick breakfast and slip out before he woke.

As soon as she’d crept into the hallway, Sebastian’s door opened. He looked…dishevelled didn’t even begin to cover it. He looked utterly wrecked as he stood in his doorway, staring at her with dark bags under his wide, bleary eyes. His hair was a complete mess, and his pyjamas were rumpled. His eyes were bloodshot from a hangover he’d probably been too drunk to take a potion to prevent the night before.

MC wondered darkly what other precautions he’d forgotten to take the night before.

“Long night, I take it,” MC said as if she couldn’t care less.

Sebastian didn’t even have the decency to blush or look the least bit ashamed of himself. He just tensed his jaw like she’d been the one to ruin his night.

“Well, do you think you could go two weeks without bringing more bints back here if you’re going to be so shite at using silencing charms?” she said. “Surely, they have flats, too. Go to theirs.”

“Do you think you could go two seconds without being a cunt?” he sneered.

MC felt her rage bubbling up again. “What the fuck is your problem?” she demanded.

“My problem? I was nothing but nice to you when you got here! You’re the one that’s been acting like a bitch the whole time!” His face had turned red, but it was from anger, not shame.

“You’re such a bastard!” MC seethed as she started down the hallway.

She grabbed her cloak and apparated out before Sebastian could insult her further. She picked up coffee and a bagel from a café on her way into the building. When she arrived in the training room, Mikko was already there. He was lifting weights, but he paused when he saw her.

“You’re here quite early,” he observed. He wiped at the sweat on his brow with the back of his hand.

“I needed some stress relief,” MC replied. “Figured I’d come get a workout in.”

“Well, there’s plenty of room for both of us,” Mikko said kindly. “Just let me know if I’m in your way.”

MC laughed. “I don’t think we’ll be reaching for the same weights,” she replied, observing the massive dumbbells he’d been curling.

He smiled. “Good point.”

MC started with jogging a few laps around the training room and warming up. Then, she joined Mikko at the weight rack. She tried not to feel like a child standing next to the hulking blond. He chatted amiably with her as they lifted weights.

“You know, if you’re looking to relieve stress, we have better ways for that here in Finland,” he said, smiling.

“Oh?” MC asked. She had an inkling where this was going. Normally, she wasn’t the type to appreciate uninvited advances, but, given recent events, she wasn’t entirely opposed.

“You should try the sauna,” he said.

“A sauna?” she replied, baffled. That was not the suggestion she’d expected.

Mikko nodded, still grinning broadly at her. “Trust me, nothing is better for stress than a Finnish sauna,” he insisted. “There’s one here or a fancy public one around the corner.”

“I’ll, uh, have to check it out,” she said, though she still felt confused.

MC took a quick shower and scourgified her clothes before everyone else arrived. Sofia was back to her usual, smiling self. Though, MC did catch her looking sadly at her once or twice.

Jari had them running drills all morning – mostly working to improve accuracy and reaction speeds. MC carefully avoided pairing with Sebastian. She mostly stuck to Sofia or Mikko.

Sebastian did join them for lunch that day, which MC had expected but still found disappointing. Her mood greatly improved when an owl swooped in and dropped a letter in her lap. She recognised the script at once and tore it open. Inside, she found a short letter from Ominis and several pictures.

Dear MC,

The snakelets are doing well – everyone’s healthy and getting along for now. They’re already getting bigger, and Martin is a soppy mess that they’ll be all grown up in no time. As if six months will just pass in the blink of an eye. I did manage to get him to take some pictures when he wasn’t crying. I hope they turned out.

Poppy also came by to see them. She had just as many questions as she had at the pub. I think she might grow even more attached to them than Martin is if that’s possible.

I hope your training is going well. Have you gotten to explore Helsinki at all? I can’t wait to hear all about it once you get home.

Miss you,

Ominis & the babies

MC smiled as she read the letter. She looked through the photos next. There was one Martin had taken of him and Ominis together. A few of Ominis by himself and holding various Runespoor snakelets. Several more just of the snakes. She lingered back on a photo of Ominis laughing. She had only been gone a few days, but it still made her homesick.

“Who’s that?” Sofia asked, looking over at the photos.

Out of the corner of her eye, MC saw Sebastian’s gaze snap to her.

“A friend from back home,” MC replied.

“He’s cute,” she said, smirking at you.

“I’m quite protective, so you can look, but that’s it,” MC joked.

Sofia chuckled as MC shuffled back through the photos, and Mikko peered over her shoulder, as well. Sofia yelped at the sight of the snakes. She had a hand over her heart. “Merlin! Warn a woman before just springing a snake on her,” she said dramatically, making MC and Mikko laugh.

Sebastian stared openly at them. His eyes were narrowed at the backs of the photos in MC’s hands.

MC ignored him. “Sorry,” she said to Sofia.

She tucked her photos away before heading off to the owlery to write Ominis back before the afternoon session. She debated for a while about whether to tell him about Sebastian. In the end, she decided that honesty would be best. She penned a note to Natty, as well, before heading to the conference room.

In contrast to the previous day, Sebastian seemingly wouldn’t look anywhere except MC. It was quite unnerving, but she did her best to ignore him after shooting glares his way did nothing to break his focus.

She decided to take Mikko’s advice about the sauna. Once Jari dismissed them, she got the address from Mikko and was out the door.

She walked into the lobby, and it was quite reminiscent of the spas back home. She checked in at the desk up front, and a young witch explained the process to her. There were a large sauna and a room inside with a fire. There was also a jetty that led right into the Gulf. The locker room had several rows of showers for washing up after.

MC took her locker key and went to change. She conjured a bathing suit and locked the rest of her things away. After slipping on the coil wristband containing her key, she walked through to the sauna. There were two tiers of benches lining the room. She tucked herself away on the higher one. She closed her eyes and let her head rest back on the wooden wall behind her. A few people were talking to each other in low voices, but otherwise it was blissfully quiet. Since MC didn’t understand what they were saying anyway, their voices quickly faded into the background.

Every so often, one of the other patrons would pour water over the hot stones, filling the room with fresh steam. It would feel a bit like breathing in hot foam for a moment before it would ease again, though MC found herself growing accustomed to the sensation.

She partook in the icy water of the Gulf exactly once about fifteen minutes into her session. She shuffled down the jetty, jumped into the frigid water, and quickly climbed up the ladder to get back out. The air was bitingly cold as it whipped around her sodden flesh.

It was a relief when she made it back into the sauna, and she tucked herself back into her spot, resolving not to leave again. Finns, she had decided, were mental if they enjoyed that sort of thing. The hot steam caressing her body she could get behind, though. It was like every inch of her was wrapped in a heated blanket.

She’d almost fallen asleep when someone sat beside her – entirely too close. She resolved to ignore them rather than let them disturb the Zen she had achieved. She did try to subtly shuffle away from them, though.

“Enjoying yourself?” came a low rumble that MC sincerely hoped she was imagining.

She cracked one eye open, and it confirmed that it was indeed Sebastian Sallow sat beside here. She opened her other eye, too, in order to glare at him. “What the fuck are you doing here?” she asked irritably but quietly so as not to disturb the strangers around her.

“I’ll take that as a ‘no,’” he mused. “I finished up my cleaning early, so I came to check on you.”

“Are you stalking me?” MC asked accusingly.

Sebastian rolled his eyes. “I’m supposed to be your guide while you’re here. It’s my job to keep an eye on you,” he said. He smirked at her. “Not that I mind it.”

She wished she had grabbed a towel as his gaze dropped to her near-naked body.

“I don’t need a babysitter,” she groused, crossing her arms mostly just in an attempt to cover her chest more than the bikini top did. “I’m just fine. You can go.”

“Go?” he asked, leaning back against the wall. He was sat so close that his shoulder brushed against hers. His face was dangerously close to hers as he leaned into her. “I just got here.”

MC scooted away from him. “You’re really set on ruining this for me, aren’t you?” she said dismally.

He arched a brow at her. “Ruin? Most people enjoy my presence, you know,” he replied.

MC scoffed. “Most people haven’t fucked you and been left cold in the morning.”

His smirk grew. “You underestimate me,” he quipped.

She grimaced at him. “Yes, you do seem to get around,” she retorted.

He narrowed his gaze at her. “Are you slut shaming me?”

MC rolled her eyes. “Just normal shaming. You disgust me in a multitude of ways, I assure you.”

His haughty expression didn’t falter. “I seem to remember a time you thought I was far from disgusting.”

He let his gaze drag down her form again, and he shifted in his seat. There was a rather noticeable bulge in his tight swimming trunks, which MC found both irksome and pathetic.

“Funny how things change when you find out who someone really is,” she said sarcastically.

“And who am I really, then?” he asked, returning his eyes to hers and looking intrigued.

MC scowled at him. “Someone willing to bring home two random women just to keep me up and piss me off, apparently,” she said.

“You flatter yourself,” Sebastian sneered. “Not all of us want to be tied down all the time. I like to have fun. I’m sure your boy toy back home wouldn’t know the first thing about it if he’s resorted to sending you dick pics in the post.”

“What are you talking about?” MC asked, equally irate and confused.

“Your little special delivery at lunch,” he said as if it were obvious.

Her eyebrows shot up. “You mean the letter from Ominis?”

The colour drained from Sebastian’s face. “Ominis?” he repeated in a roar, causing several of the patrons to snap at him. He gave them an apologetic smile before continuing quietly, “You’ve got to be fucking joking. You’re with him now?”

“No!” MC said automatically, forgetting to mind her volume and earning them more glares. She hissed in a low voice, “It’s none of your business, anyway.”

“Then why’s he sending you pictures with his ‘snake’ in it if–Oh, gods, it was a literal snake, wasn’t it?” Sebastian hid his face behind his hand.

“Obviously, you twat!” MC said in a scathing whisper.

Sebastian had always been too nosy for his own good. There was a time MC had found it endearing. Now she just found it aggravating.

“Why wouldn’t you have told me Ominis wrote you?” he asked, seeming genuinely hurt that she had left him in the dark. She honestly didn’t know where he found the nerve.

“Because it’s none of your concern. You cut contact,” MC replied bitterly. “Now will you shut up and let me enjoy my sauna?”

“How’s he doing?” Sebastian asked, ignoring her request.

 “Ask him yourself,” she replied coldly. She turned away from him, hoping in vain that he’d take the hint and fuck off.

“You know I can’t. He’d never respond,” Sebastian said.

“And whose fault it that?” she shot back, glaring at him over her shoulder.

Sebastian pursed his lips. “I just want to know how my friend has been,” he said.

“Well, he’s not your friend, anymore! You don’t get to know!” she yelled.

“He’s my brother-in-law! I have a right to know!” Sebastian argued.

MC stood. “Gods, you just love to make yourself seem like the victim!” she said. She stormed out of the sauna. There was no chance she would find anything close to relaxation there. Sebastian followed her out, but she headed straight for the locker room.

“I’m not done here!” he said.

“I am!” she retorted, shoving through the door. Sebastian started to come after her, but she pushed him back. She pointed to the symbol on the door. “Women’s locker room.”

She tucked inside, leaving him spluttering. She was easily twice as tense as when she’d arrived. MC snatched her things from her locker and slammed it shut.

She took a leisurely shower, not because she was able to relax under the hot water but because she hoped to wait out Sebastian. It was a full hour later when she had redressed and done her hair. She went to the lobby to return her key and was glad Sebastian was nowhere in sight.

She had no interest in returning to his flat, so she decided on de-stressing the British way and walked into the nearest pub. She was two whisky sours deep when a man who looked to be in his mid-twenties approached her at the bar. He had slicked-back blond hair and a neatly trimmed beard covering his square jaw. He seemed to ask her a question, but she didn’t understand a word of it.

“Sorry?” she said. “I don’t speak Finnish, I’m afraid.”

“Not a problem,” he replied. “My English is much better than my Finnish.”

“You’re not Finnish?” she said dimly before she could think better of it.

He chuckled. “No, I’m Swedish,” he replied. “Well, I’m Erik. I’m from Sweden.”

MC laughed. “I’m MC, and I’m from England,” she replied.

“So, MC from England, is this seat taken?” Erik asked, gesturing to the stool beside her.

“Nope. All yours, Erik from Sweden,” she replied light-heartedly.

He laughed as he sat down, angling himself toward her. “Just Erik is fine,” he said.

“That you are,” MC said brazenly, eyeing his broad chest and thickly muscled arms.

“Sorry?” he asked with a bemused smile.

“I meant that you are fine. It means fit. Like attractive,” she explained.

He smirked. “You’re quite fine yourself, then,” he said.

She gave him a coy smile. “So, what brings you to Finland, Erik?”

“I’m here for a conference. You?”

“Training course with the Aurori.”

“I’ve heard they’re quite good,” Erik said. “Are you an auror back home?”

MC nodded. “What do you do for work?”

“I’m a potioneer at Bryggeri,” he said. “I work in R&D there. They’re always wanting to tweak the brews – make them stronger or last longer or get rid of side effects. It’s a bit boring, really.”

“Impressive, though,” MC replied.

“I’m sure being an auror is much more difficult and exciting,” he said. “Maybe you could tell me about it over a drink?”

MC smiled. “Why not?” she replied.

He ordered a pint, and she got a third whisky sour and a water. She started with some harrowing tales from her first year on the force. They talked for over an hour as she nursed her drink and he ordered a second beer. He was a great audience – gasping or laughing at all the right moments.

“You’ve led quite the life already,” he remarked. “I feel so unaccomplished.”

“Well, I hope you’re not the type to be turned off by high-achieving women,” she replied cheekily.

“Oh, quite the opposite. I’m turned on by practically everything about you,” he said huskily.

“Practically?” MC replied teasingly.

“Just hedging my bets,” he assured her with a wink. “You might turn out to be the sort of freak who shares a toothbrush with their roommate or still sleeps with a stuffed bear.”

“Well, I suppose I could put Mr. Snuffles away for the night,” she joked.

Erik laughed. “So, are you saying you’d be interested in spending the night together?” he inquired.

MC stared at him appraisingly for a moment before leaning into him. She pressed her mouth to Erik’s, and he quickly kissed her back, threading one hand into her hair while the other steadied her at her hip. His lips were soft while his grip on her was firm.

MC pulled back smiling. “Yes, I would,” she stated, a bit breathless. “Shall we go to mine? They’ve put me up in a local flat.”

Erik paid the tab and followed her out of the pub. She apparated them to Sebastian’s flat. She was on him instantly, mussing up his perfectly styled hair as she nibbled his lower lip. He squeezed her arse with both large hands as he pulled her flush against him.

MC pulled back suddenly. “Sorry, did you want tea or anything?” she asked.

Erik chuckled as he shed his cloak and tossed it over the arm of the nearby couch. “Just you,” he said in a low voice before reconnecting their lips.

He slid her cloak off, too. He gripped the hem of her shirt, and she raised her arms so he could pull it off her. As he cupped her breasts in both hands, he dipped his head to her cleavage and placed open-mouthed kisses on the exposed skin. She let her head tilt back as she luxuriated in the feeling of his hot tongue on her chest. Erik slid his hands behind her and unhooked her bra as he worshiped her breasts with his mouth. He discarded the barrier before trailing his tongue down to her nipple, suckling it, and then moving to the other.

“Fuck,” MC breathed out as she fisted his blond hair. She was definitely more relaxed than she’d been in that stuffy wooden box.

“Gods, you’re gorgeous,” Erik groaned against her.

She pulled his head up to reattach their mouths. They devoured each other like the world was about to end. She worked the buttons of his shirt open as he walked her back toward the hallway. When MC had successfully undone all of his buttons, Erik let the shirt slide off his arms and to the floor. He pinned her to the wall with his body. He controlled her head with a hand slid into her hair as he drank from her lips and MC moaned into his mouth.

She’d been planning to play up the noises she made to get back at Sebastian for the previous night, but she found she didn’t need to. Erik was doing just fine drawing them out of her naturally.

He grabbed the backs of her thighs and lifted her up without breaking their kiss. She wrapped her legs around his waist as her hands dug into his shoulders.

“Room?” he asked before burying his face into the side of her neck.

MC moaned as he sucked a dark mark into a particularly sensitive part of her throat. “On the l-left,” she said.

She was enraptured as he speckled more love bites across her skin and massaged his fingers into her arse. She didn’t notice he’d gone for the wrong door until he tossed her down on a decidedly unfamiliar bed. As he worked off her trousers and then dropped his own, her correction died in her throat. Just the outline of his thick cock had her squirming with anticipation.

Erik crawled into the bed next to her. At first, he just snogged her, letting his hands roam over her chest and arse as his tongue glided over hers. He clearly wasn’t in a rush.

Eventually, when he seemed to feel MC was sufficiently riled up, he switched his attentions. He sucked her nipple back into his mouth as his hand slipped down into her knickers. He groaned as his fingers parted her slick folds.

“Fuck, you’re so wet,” he groaned before suckling her tit once more.

MC moaned and writhed at his ministrations. Everything he did felt incredible, but Erik clearly liked to tease. It reminded her of another man who’d loved to get her to the point of begging before giving her any sort of release, but MC quickly shoved those thoughts aside.

Erik slipped two fingers into her soaked core, pumping them deep inside over and over. “Merlin, that feels so good!” she gasped. His thick fingers stretched her in ways her own couldn’t.

“What else do you need, MC?” he asked, and she could’ve wept with relief that he wasn’t going to tease her further.

“C-can I?” she replied, moving her own hand toward her apex.

“Of course.” He pressed a kiss to her jaw and then returned his attention to her breast.

She circled her clit with her fingers while Erik pumped her full of his and flicked his tongue over her nipple. She felt the tension building inside her rapidly, and she couldn’t help but appreciate that Erik was a team player.

Her hips raised off the bed as her muscles drew painfully tight. It almost felt like too much as the sensations overwhelmed her – the stretch of his fingers, the warmth of his tongue, and the pulsing pleasure from her clit. “Fuck, I’m gonna–” She cut herself off with a cry as her orgasm crashed through her.

Erik grinned at her before kissing her passionately. MC wasted no time tugging his pants down, and he pulled back to remove them fully before casting a barrier charm on himself. The sense of urgency was back in full force.

“How attached are you to these?” Erik asked, gripping the waistband of her knickers as he knelt naked between her thighs.

“They’re replaceable,” she said with a shrug.

He ripped the seams on both sides before tossing them off the side of the bed. He covered her body with his, letting his shaft press against her centre. He rocked his hips, coating his cock in her arousal as it slid between her folds.

“Gods, you’ve no idea how much I’ve needed this,” MC groaned.

Erik smirked at her. “Then I won’t make you wait any longer,” he said.

He lined himself up, and his breath hitched as he pressed into her. He buried himself deep inside before releasing a loud moan. He backed out until just his tip was inside her before pressing in again. MC clung to his shoulders as she met his thrusts with her hips. She was going to milk him for all her was worth.

Erik held himself up on his forearms as he drove into her with harsh snaps of his hips. “Fuck,” he hissed as MC squeezed around him. He slowly increased his speed until MC had surrendered to his rhythm and he was pounding her into the mattress. She was a mewling mess.

“I want you to come for me,” MC groaned.

“You don’t…want me to…wait?” he asked between panted breaths.

MC shook her head vigorously. “I–” She moaned as he hit a spot deep inside her. “–want to see you…c-come!”

“Inside?” he asked.

“Wherever you want,” she replied.

He continued pounding into her before ripping himself out suddenly, dropping the barrier charm and stroking his length as his cum shot out onto her chest. She wasn’t opposed to his choice, but she couldn’t help but feel a bit disappointed. It had been so long since she’d felt those hot spurts inside of her – not that she would’ve felt much with the charm. But still.

Once he was spent, Erik collapsed forward and kissed her again. He held his weight up with one arm by her head while his other hand danced across her skin and the seed he’d spilled onto it. His kisses were tender – almost doting. “You’re incredible,” he said once he broke the kiss.

He summoned his wand to himself and cleaned his hands – though not her chest, which she found a bit rude. She thought he’d been about to redress, but, instead, his hand was back between her thighs.

“Oh,” she said involuntarily.

“Do you need a moment?” he asked, looking at her with concern as he retracted his hand.

“No, I just…was surprised,” she said, feeling foolish as the words came out. But this wasn’t usually how her dalliances went.

He chuckled, and it rumbled deep in his chest. “You expected me not to get you off?”

“Well, you already did,” she pointed out.

“Technically, I think you did,” he argued cheekily. He rested his hand on her inner thigh. “I’d like a turn – if that’s all right.”

“More than all right,” she replied, squirming eagerly at the heat of his touch on her skin.

Erik slid his hand up until his fingers brushed over her clit. He gently circled his fingers over it, and MC felt heat building low in her abdomen. He kissed her again, fucking his tongue into her mouth as his fingers continued to tease her clit. They would dip down to gather more of her slick before circling the bud again.

He moved his fingers firmer and faster until she was keening uncontrollably. She could feel her body coiling again. “Oh, fuck! Oh, fuck!” she said as the tension peaked. She was on the precipice of release, just needing that little bit more to push her over.

They both jumped as the door to the bedroom burst open. “You have got to be fucking kidding me!” Sebastian roared, looking murderous.

“Shit,” MC said. She’d entirely forgotten where she was.

“When I said ‘make yourself at home,’ that did not mean you could fuck some random prick in my bed!” he yelled. MC could see the vein in his forehead throbbing.

“No? I guess you should’ve been more specific, then,” she replied more casually than she had any right to whilst lying in his bed with some other man’s dried semen on her tits. She grabbed a pillow to cover herself.

Sebastian’s gaze moved up to the bruise Erik had left on her neck. His eyes narrowed, and MC suddenly felt self-conscious about the mark.

Erik was quick to hop out of the bed and pull on his trunks. “I’m gonna go,” he said.

“Probably for the best, love. I had a lovely time,” MC said, giving him a grateful smile.

Erik returned it with an awkward, nervous smile before bolting out the door with his trousers in hand. The crack of apparation a moment later announced his departure.

“You’re psychotic, you know that?” Sebastian said, vibrating with rage. “On what planet did you think this would be okay?”

“It was an honest mistake,” MC replied. “I said the door on the left. I meant my left. He picked his left. It’s funny, really, if you think about it.”

Sebastian did not look amused.

“And so you thought, ‘Well, I’m already here. Might as well stay and shag’?” he said scathingly.

“I know you didn’t see him erect, but, if you had, your mind would’ve gone blank, too,” she said, smirking.

Sebastian’s nostrils flared and his chest heaved as his hands clenched into fists at his sides. He looked ready to explode.

“Sorry, can we talk ground rules when I’m not naked and covered in cum?” MC asked, knowing she was playing with fire.

“Get out!” Sebastian shouted.

MC was happy to oblige, scurrying past him with the pillow clutched to her body. She scooped her trousers off the floor without stopping. She turned back just outside his door and glanced down at her stolen bedding. “Did you want this back, or…?”

“Keep the sodding pillow,” he growled before slamming the door in her face.

She thought he was being rather childish. There was barely any semen on the thing since most of it had dried already. What little had gotten on it would wash out quite easily. She tossed it on the foot of her bed before going to take a shower. When she returned to the room, she picked up the pillow with the intention of tossing it into the corner of the room. However, she made a horrible discovery: it smelled like Sebastian. Furthermore, he smelled exactly the same as he always had.

A wave of memories washed over MC: sneaking into Sebastian’s dormitory to sleep next to him, napping in the cool air of the Undercroft during the oppressively warm summer months at the end of term, clinging to him after a fight against a group of dark wizards with too many close calls, being tucked into his side as they lay out under the stars in Feldcroft during the summer holidays.

MC crumpled to the floor, clutching the pillow and breathing in the familiar scent. Smoke and spice filled her nose until it felt like she’d never smell anything else again. She chucked the pillow away from her before incinerating it with a slash of her wand. She crawled into the bed and sobbed into her own pillow until she fell asleep.

#sebastian sallow #hogwarts legacy #sebastian sallow x mc #sebastian sallow x f!mc #hogwarts legacy fanfic #sebastian sallow fanfiction #sebastian x mc #sebastian sallow fanfic #hogwarts legacy fanfiction #sebastian sallow x reader #enemies to lovers #roommates

[thenerdykneazle]

Wild Ride

Summary: You and Seb aren't on the best of terms in sixth year. He's desperate to get you to let him back into your life - to the point of inviting himself along on a trip to Clagmar Coast to get ingredients for Garreth's newest potion. The simple errand turns out to be much more dangerous than either of you could have anticipated.

Sebastian Sallow x M!MC

Another collab with the talented @darch7995 who turned this story into audios. Listen to part 1. I gave Rina a task with this one with all the fighting, and she killed it. If you've never heard her audios, you're missing out.

Warnings: violence, swearing, angst with a happy ending, reckoning with the Scriptorium b/c I'm still mad it's glossed over in the game lol

Word count: 6203

You stalked along the edge of the raised platform, scoping out the perfect angle. “Accio!” you said, dragging the blue stone towards you. You held on longer than normal. You released the spell, and the stone kept rolling. It smacked into a red one at the end of the court, which jolted forward – right off the platform and into the grass. The blue sphere slowed to a stop just before the edge, earning you another 50 points.

“Ugh! That’s the third game in a row,” Leander groaned.

“You really should stop going first,” you said, unable to hold back a chuckle.

Leander glared at you. “I should just stop playing,” he said hopelessly.

“Also a valid option,” you replied drily before smirking at him.

You grabbed your bag and sauntered off to head into the library to get some studying done for once.

“Hey, MC! Do you have a moment?” Garreth said as he jogged up to you.

“Sure. What’s up?” you replied as Garreth joined in step.

“I’ve got a favour to ask,” he said. “I need you to help me track down an ingredient.”

You sighed. “Yeah, okay. What is it this time?”

Garreth beamed at you. “You’re the best! It’s just knarl quills,” he said.

“Knarl quills? Seriously?” you interrupted, indignant. “Can’t you just buy some in Hogsmeade?”

“Normally, I would, but Brood & Peck is wiped out after Sharp’s lesson on Laughing Potion. It’ll take weeks for them to get new stock. But it gave me a brilliant idea for a new drink. I’m calling it Gigglewater. Imagine pairing a nice buzz from firewhisky with the euphoria of Laughing Potion! So…think you could get some quills for me?”

He looked at you with a hopeful expression.

“All right. I know where to find a den,” you said, resigning yourself to being an errand boy yet again. “But if this brew of yours works out, I expect a steady supply.”

“Brilliant!” Garreth said, clapping both hands on your shoulders. “You’ll have as much as you can drink, mate. I promise.”

Garreth bolted off to go prepare the rest of his ingredients. You picked up your pace to head inside before your to-do list could grow any longer. Before you’d taken ten steps, you were stopped by another voice.

“Oi! MC!” they called from across the grounds.

You turned to see Sebastian headed toward you with his broom slung over his shoulder.

“I’m headed to the pitch to get in some practice before Quidditch try-outs start next week. You want to join? Ominis mentioned you’re planning to go for chaser,” he said. He added under his breath, “Not sure why he knew before I did, but…”

“Oh,” you said uncomfortably. “I was just headed inside to study, actually. Got to finish that essay on bowtruckles for Howin. But you have fun.”

“Oh,” Sebastian said, crestfallen. He had been excited to practise with you – you never turned down a chance to fly. He’d also hoped a little rough-and-tumble play on the pitch might relieve some of the tension he felt around you lately. “Yeah, no problem. I suppose school does come first.” He forced a laugh. “So, what, uh…what did Garreth want?”

You assumed he had been aiming for a ‘casual’ tone with his question. He ended up sounding rather nervous. “Just help with another potion,” you said shortly.

“Oh, are you going into the forest?” he asked, eyebrows raising slightly. He stood his broom up on the ground, leaning on the handle. “Need a hand?”

“No, I’m fine, thanks,” you said with a tight smile.

“It’s no trouble,” Sebastian insisted with an annoying level of earnestness. “Besides, I can’t have my charge wandering through the woods alone.”

You rolled your eyes. “Professor Weasley put you in charge of me for one trip to Hogsmeade – a year ago. I can handle myself, thanks,” you said before turning to head inside.

“Wait!” Sebastian called as he shouldered his broom again and jogged after you. “I know you don’t need my help. I just thought it might be nice to hang out. It’s…been a while.”

“Has it?” you said, feigning ignorance. “I hadn’t noticed, really.”

“Are you cross with me about something?” Sebastian asked, grabbing your arm to stop you.

You pulled it back out of his grasp. “Maybe I’m just not in the mood to hang out,” you replied coolly, avoiding the question.

“Well, I could come with you to study,” Sebastian said. “I miss my friend.”

You gave a bitter laugh. “Is that what we are?” you asked as you crossed your arms over your chest in what you hoped was an imposing stance.

His brows drew together. “Don’t be ridiculous! Of course, we’re friends!” he asserted.

You flattened your mouth into a thin line and gave a disbelieving grunt. “I figured I was more of a useful acquaintance,” you replied.

“Are you actually joking?” Sebastian asked, gaping at you.

You sighed. “I don’t have time for this,” you said. “If you want to help, then fine. Meet me in the Room of Requirement at half 9.”

“Yeah, okay,” Sebastian said, looking like he wanted to say a lot more. “I’ll see you then.”

“Grand,” you said sarcastically.

That night, Sebastian arrived in the Room of Requirement at 9:35. “Sorry I’m late!” he said as he burst in. “Weasley was asking me all sorts of questions when she found me wandering the corridors. I swear that woman has an extra sense about when students are planning to sneak out.”

“It’s fine,” you said tersely. “We’ve got a long journey ahead, though. We should get going.” You checked your supply of potions again. You made sure Sebastian had a full set, too. Garreth had set you up with a large store of all sorts of potions, including a particularly strong form of the edurus potion. You had to admit that your partnership with the ginger was quite mutually beneficial.

“Is this what you did all the time last year?” Sebastian asked. “Sneaking out and running around the Highlands?”

You shrugged. “Basically,” you confirmed.

“No wonder you were always so exhausted,” he said. “I swear you had permanent bags under your eyes.”

You shot a glare at him. “Cheers, mate,” you said sarcastically.

“Not that you looked bad,” he assured you, hands raised in defence.

“Mhmm,” you said sceptically as you grabbed a handful of floo powder. You threw it into the little flame. “Clagmar Coast.”

You disappeared in a haze of flames and soot.

Sebastian sighed. “Smooth, Sallow. Real smooth,” he said to himself, shaking his head. He quickly went through the floo, as well.

He landed in a small cabin. It was cold, as the shabby building let the wind rolling off the sea slip through its many cracks. He pulled his cloak more tightly around himself as the two of you stepped out of the little hut and onto the beach. “Merlin, it’s freezing out here!” Sebastian groused.

“Yeah, that tends to happen when the sun goes down,” you snapped as you started down the beach.

“What is your problem lately?” Sebastian asked as he followed you.

Before you could answer, you heard a distant voice.

“I swear, every time we draw straws for patrol, I get the short one,” a man said.

“Hide!” you hissed in a low voice. You practically body-slammed Sebastian against the cabin, tucking yourselves just behind the chimney. As you did, Sebastian steadied himself with a hand on the wall and the other on the chimney, while you slapped your hand over his mouth so that he didn’t make noise. All he got out was a little “oof” as his back hit the stone wall.

You cast a nonverbal disillusionment charm over the both of you. Sebastian’s heart was racing. He genuinely wasn’t sure if it was due to the sudden presence of unfriendlies or your practically invisible body pressed against his in the near-perfect reverse of the position he so frequently desired to put you in lately.

You both heard the crunch of their footsteps on the sand as the two dark wizards approached.

“I don’t see why you’re complaining. Going on patrol’s more interesting than standing around at the camp,” a feminine voice replied as the footsteps continued to draw nearer.

“At least there aren’t dugbogs at the camp,” the man huffed. “That last one nearly took my eye out with that slimy tongue!”

Just then, Sebastian’s hand slipped as the brick he’d been holding came loose. He squeezed his eyes shut, wincing as it clattered against the rocky ground.

“What was that?” the woman asked.

“It came from over there!” the man replied.

“Bombarda!” the woman yelled.

Sebastian launched you both away from the cabin just before the spell hit the chimney you’d been hiding behind. It burst apart, sending dust and brick in every direction. Your disillusionment released as you tumbled across the damp sand before clambering to your feet.

“Stupefy!” you yelled, aiming for the man in front.

“Confringo!” Sebastian said just a split second slower.

The man, who was dressed in a soldier’s uniform, dodged your spell but was hit with Sebastian’s. He yelled in pain as the fiery curse burned his side. “You’ll pay for that!” he said.

The woman, an assassin, sent a slew of curses your way. You dodged and deflected, waiting for an opportunity to strike. Meanwhile, the soldier was locked in a duel with Sebastian.

“Time for some assistance,” the assassin said, aiming her wand at the ground.

Several inferi burst out of the sandy shoreline. They lunged for you. “Incendio!” you shouted. The ring of flames that erupted around you knocked them back. You levitated one before dispatching of another. A third clawed deep gashes into your back. As you whipped around, sending a blasting curse its way, the assassin hit you with a disarming charm.

The inferius crumpled in a burst of flames as your wand went flying. With your wand gone, the inferius you had levitated crashed back to the ground.

Sebastian finished off the soldier with a severing charm before summoning the remaining inferius away from you just as it lunged to attack. You dove into the sand, and just as you grasped your wand, the assassin attacked. “Petrificus totalus!”

The spell hit you as you were half-way to your feet. You could do nothing as you heard the assassin cry out, “Expulso!”

You were blasted back into the rocky cliffs that rose up from the sand behind the ruins of the cottage. You collided with a crunch before falling to the ground. Your lungs burned as you tried to replace the air that had been knocked out of them by the impact.

“Reducto!” Sebastian roared. A blue jet of light erupted from his wand. It arced through the air before striking the assassin in the chest. She shattered into ash – the sea breeze scattered her remains across the wet sand before the tide rinsed them away.

Sebastian turned to you, looking panic-stricken as he saw your crumpled form. Behind him, the soldier who lay bleeding on the beach raised his wand. You summoned your remaining strength, reaching deep inside to your connection to the ancient magic, and sent a nearby boulder soaring through the air before crashing it down on the man’s body. It collided with a sickening crunch as his bones splintered apart. His arm fell back to the earth. He didn’t move again.

Sebastian had watched the final blow with wide eyes. His attention quickly snapped back to you as you struggled to get back to your feet. He rushed over and grabbed your arm. “I’ve got you,” he said.

“I’m fine!” you bit out, ripping your arm from his grasp in a painful, jerking motion.

“I was just trying to help!” Sebastian said irritably.

“Yeah, well, you helped enough giving our position away by knocking that stone loose,” you said. You uncapped a wiggenweld and gulped it down. The ache in your side faded, and you were able to breathe easily again.

“You’re seriously blaming me for a loose rock?” he asked.

“It’s an old shack. You should’ve been more careful,” you argued. “Clearly it didn’t take much to bring down that chimney.” You gestured to the wreckage.

“Yes, well, we’ll certainly be needing a different way back to the castle,” Sebastian said bashfully.

“What an astute observation,” you said sarcastically. You sighed, running a hand through your hair. “We should get going before anyone notices that two Ashwinders are missing. The knarl den is in a cave just west of here.”

You made haste up the rest of the coast, breathing a sigh of relief when you reached the mouth of the cave without incident. “Well, that’s inviting,” Sebastian said, noting all the warning signs and paintings of skulls and crossbones. “‘Turn back or perish.’ What more invitation do we need?”

“Oh, it’s not so bad inside,” you said. “Especially since all the poachers should be gone.”

“Any other surprises that might be awaiting us in there?” he asked.

“I mean, it’s a cave, so spiders are likely,” you said.

“Naturally,” Sebastian replied unenthusiastically. “I’ve been living arachnid-free for too long, anyway.”

You gave him a cheeky smile. “Look at you learning the difference between insects and arachnids,” you said with mock pride. “You studied over the summer didn’t you, you little bookworm?”

Sebastian gave an exaggerated roll of his eyes. “I’m so glad that Ashwinder didn’t knock that charming sense of humour out of you,” he said sarcastically.

“Come on, you grump,” you said. “I don’t want to be out all night.” You ducked into the cave, and he followed after you with a begrudging “fine.”

The first half of the trek into the cave was uneventful other than some cobwebs and egg sacks, both of which were easily burned away. Fortunately, there was no sign that any poachers currently occupied the cave. It was just damp corridors, jumping over crevices, and climbing ladders.

Sebastian groaned as you started up yet another ladder. It was even taller than the earlier ones. “You were just gallivanting through caves like this all the time on top of all the things we got up to together?” he asked.

You paused in your ascent. “Pretty much,” you confirmed. “That and helping Poppy to fight poachers and Natty to take down Harlow.”

“Oh, I haven’t forgotten that. Or all the errands you were running for other students – which, clearly, is one hobby you haven’t given up,” he said. He followed you up the ladder. He had to admit, all this climbing did come with the perk of some very nice views of your arse as the fabric of your trousers was pulled taught against it. You were waiting casually as Sebastian hauled himself up the last bit of the ladder. He doubled over, hands on his knees, as he caught his breath. “No wonder you’re so fit.”

You raised an eyebrow at him.

“I-I mean, not fit fit, but actually fit,” he added quickly. “Not that you’re ugly, though! It’s just that you’re very, erm…athletic…is my point.”

You nodded slowly, resisting the urge to laugh at him. A small smirk had found its way to your lips, though. “Right…Maybe you should worry about your own stamina, Sebastian,” you said. “You do have quidditch try-outs coming up.”

“Yeah, that’s probably good advice,” he said sheepishly. He was thankful for the flush he had already had from all the climbing, or his embarrassment would be obvious in the blush on his face.

You just shook your head at him before marching on. The awkward conversation was quickly forgotten as he had to focus on crossing rickety boards and passages with steep drop-offs. You progressed rather quickly through the maze of tunnels as you were able to recall the proper path forward.

“You know, it’s quite nice going through a cave without you stopping every five feet to rummage through an old chest,” Sebastian teased.

“Well, if we’re sharing, it’s nice having you actually follow my lead to hide and assess a situation before rushing in wand blazing,” you said, glancing back at him before ducking into a tunnel.

“That was one time!” he argued as he followed in behind you.

“Only if you don’t count the second trip into the catacombs. Or the scriptorium. Where you cursed me. Which, I never got the chance to say, but fuck you for being able to, by the way,” you said.

Sebastian was taken aback. This was not how he anticipated the night going.

“What had I done to you at that point, anyway?” you continued.

You were out of the low tunnel now and were moving at a quick pace. Sebastian grabbed your hand so you would stop and look at him. “Just wait a second, will you?” he said.

He sighed, releasing your hand and then shifting nervously on his feet as he tried to find the right words. You watched him impatiently with an arched brow.

“You hadn’t done anything,” Sebastian said honestly. “I just wanted to get us out of there.”

“Well, you must’ve had some reason to hate me enough to want to cause me that much pain,” you replied bitterly.

“I didn’t,” he vowed. “I imagined that the day I brought you to Feldcroft to meet Anne – when you talked to Uncle Solomon after our fight – you sided with him. And I imagined that you would try to stop me from finding a cure for Anne. Obviously, I know that’s not true. But it was the only way I could think to want to hurt you. Even then, I…when you started screaming…” He squeezed his eyes shut as if in pain. “I don’t think I could do it again. I still have nightmares about it.”

You nodded in understanding. “So do I,” you admitted.

Sebastian knew he had caused you immense pain that night. He loathed himself for it. He had lost his nerve the second you started screaming, though the curse had still crackled between you and the door for what seemed like an eternity afterward. He had never considered, though, that it haunted you like it did him. “Merlin, I’m so sorry. I…I didn’t know,” he said. His eyes had welled with tears.

“I think it’ll help – knowing what you were thinking, I mean,” you said. “In the dream, you just don’t stop. Not when the door melts away. Not when Ominis begs you to. The pain goes on and on until I wake up.”

“I swear I’ll never, ever hurt you again,” Sebastian vowed. He couldn’t bear the thought of all the pain he had put you through. The curse alone was bad enough. But having to relive the torture in your sleep? More than ever, Sebastian regretted not insisting you learn the curse to cast it on him, instead.

“You’d better not,” you said light-heartedly. “Now let’s keep moving. We’re almost to the den.”

You reached the nest of the knarls with only a few spider hatchlings to dispose of during the rest of the trek.

The den was in the middle of a grassy patch. Moonlight filtered in through gaps in the cave ceiling. Several knarls scurried about, fleeing into their nests when they saw you and Sebastian approaching. You two filled a satchel with shed quills. It was tedious work picking up the tiny spines, and you were admittedly thankful you didn’t have to do it alone.

“That should do it!” you said. “Now, we’ve just got to get back out of here.”

Sebastian quickly spotted an exit from the cave right by the nest. “Why didn’t we come in this way?” Sebastian asked as you walked along the gravel path.

“I didn’t remember it was here,” you admitted. He gave you an irritated look. “I’ve been in a lot of caves, you know. I can’t remember every detail.”

Sebastian just chuckled at you. Though, his smile disappeared when you shrieked. In the darkness, you hadn’t noticed the path took a steep downturn. Sebastian yelled your name as you slipped out of sight. He jumped down after you without hesitation. You tumbled out onto a path carved between the rocky hills of the seaside. Sebastian soon slid next to you. He stood up first and extended a hand to help you. “Are you hurt?” he asked as he pulled you to your feet.

“Just a few scrapes,” you assured him.

All of a sudden, jets of light streamed all around you. You and Sebastian dove for cover as the spells blasted dirt up from the ground and ricocheted off the rocks. You two managed to scramble behind a large rock formation along the path. “I guess the Ashwinders noticed their scouts went missing,” Sebastian said.

“Or else heard me yelling when I went arse over tit,” you replied.

More spells flew overhead. They were coming from the ruins atop a nearby hill.

“Cover me,” you ordered.

You popped up, and Sebastian sent a deluge of spells up at the hill.

“Accio! Bombarda!” you said, summoning one of the Ashwinders into range before blasting them back into the cliffs. Sebastian levitated another foe before slamming them back to the ground. You and Sebastian each sent a flurry of curses at respective enemies, while dodging curses sent from a third. When the other two Ashwinders were down, you both focused on the sole remaining combatant. You each sent a blasting curse at her, and the infernos seemed to magnify each other. She was taken out instantly.

“Well, that was surprisingly easy,” Sebastian remarked brightly.

The wooshes of apparating forms sounded all around you as enemy after enemy appeared in a haze of black smoke.

You sighed. “You had to say it, didn’t you?”

Before you knew it, there were a dozen Ashwinders around you. You and Sebastian quickly downed edurus potions and started firing off spells. You injured several of them, but it was difficult to focus on any particular foe with so many running around. That made it difficult to thin their numbers. You took a thunderbrew, as well. You also threw out some tentaculas. You were pulling out all the stops to try to get the upper hand. You quickly took out three of the Ashwinders, using your ancient magic to call down additional lightning upon them each in turn. You both took another edurus potion to keep your protection. A few exploding charms, blasting curses, and a severing charm later, and you were down to the last four enemies. You disarmed one, and the fire they had been summoning rained down on them instead of you.

As Sebastian dispatched another one of the Ashwinders, another wave started apparating in. There were close to twenty surrounding you now. “Well, this is just perfect,” Sebastian said sarcastically as he sent several basic casts at an animagus, forcing them back into human form. “Where are they all coming from?”

“Clagmar Castle is just over that hill. They’ve got a stronghold there,” you replied while dodging incoming spells.

You downed potion after potion – edurus, thunderbrew, and maxima. You even threw out more tentaculas and a few Chinese chomping cabbages for good measure. You threw spells, boulders, and even dark wizards you’d transfigured into barrels of explosives until you and Sebastian were the only two left standing.

You both gasped for breath. “Are you okay?” Sebastian asked.

“Yeah. You?” you replied.

“I’m fine. This better be some bloody magnificent potion Garreth’s working on, though,” Sebastian groused.

You rolled your eyes. “Let’s just get out of here before–”

More Ashwinders began apparating in around you before you could finish your sentence. Around the bend, a troll collared in goblin metal emerged on the path.

“Bollocks,” you said as you realised you were out of edurus and thunderbrew potions. You downed a maxima potion.

The troll charged you both, and you dove in opposite directions to avoid its attacks. It caught Sebastian’s side with a swipe of his club, and he flew high into the air before landing hard on the ground.

You focused on the troll first, while dodging attacks from the dark wizards. You dodged another swing of its club before flipping it back into its own face with a knockback jinx. While it was dazed, you sent spell after spell at it. In your rush to attack the creature while it was vulnerable, you didn’t see the duellist behind you. They blasted you with a reductor curse as you dealt a final blow to the troll. It knocked you forward as a burning pain spread through your back. You yelled in pain. You landed on your stomach, but you quickly rolled over despite the agony it caused. You cast a protection charm just in time to block their next spell.

Sebastian disengaged from the executioner he had been duelling to focus on your attacker. “Confringo!” he yelled, blasting them off their feet. “Accio! Incendio!”

Sebastian cast a severing charm that separated the witch’s head from her already lifeless body and both thudded to the ground. His eyes were filled with pure rage.

Just then, a bolt of green light coursed through the air, hitting Sebastian in the leg. For a brief, terrifying moment as he crumpled to the ground, you thought he’d been hit with a killing curse. But as he cried out, you knew he was alive. For now, at least.

“Reducto!” you yelled, blasting the executioner back, but, somehow, he was still standing.

You scrambled to your feet as the three remaining Ashwinders began to close in. Sebastian was still writhing in pain. “Now this has become personal, you little brat,” the executioner growled.

“Like lambs to the slaughter,” another wizard said.

“I'll put some flowers on your grave,” the third said, chuckling darkly.

They froze when a loud roar came from behind you. The ground shook as a large beast leapt into view from the cliffs and sprinted forward. The wizards shrieked, but their cries were short-lived as the massive graphorn trampled them. Sebastian yelled in fear as the graphorn rounded on him.

“No!” you yelled.

The graphorn turned and headed straight for you.

“Hey, you stupid monster!” Sebastian said, raising his wand as he struggled to his feet.

“Sebastian, don’t!” you yelled, lunging to get between the wizard and the beast.

The graphorn growled behind you.

“Get out of the way, MC!” Sebastian yelled.

“Stand down,” you ordered before turning to the large beast. “Easy boy. He’s on our side.”

The beast instantly relaxed. You reached out a hand to pet his muzzle. He nuzzled into your shoulder, closing his eyes as you stroked his neck.

“You know this overgrown lizard?” Sebastian said, flabbergasted.

The graphorn huffed.

“He didn’t mean it,” you said soothingly. “This is the Lord of the Shore. He was part of my final trial with the Keepers. Lord of the Shore, this is Sebastian. He’s my friend.”

“So, we’re back to being friends now, are we?” Sebastian asked.

“I’d say we’ve been through enough tonight to merit it,” you replied. “Speaking of, do you have a spare wiggenweld? That reductor curse bloody hurts.”

“Yeah, here,” he said, limping over to you. He handed you a phial before downing his own.

You grimaced as you downed the brew. You hoped you never had to take another potion in your life, as you felt near bursting with how many you’d had to drink that night.

“We should get moving before the next wave finds us,” you said as you mounted the graphorn.

“You want me to ride that?” Sebastian asked in disbelief.

The Lord of the Shore growled.

“No offence,” Sebastian added quickly.

“The nearest usable floo is in Bainburgh. Unless you brought a broom, then your only other option is to walk and face whoever you find along the way,” you said, holding out a hand to him.

“I’ll take my chances,” he said stubbornly, crossing his arms over his chest.

“Sebastian, just get on!” you urged.

“Ugh, fine!” he relented.

He grabbed your hand and mounted the beast behind you.

“You can pet him if you like,” you offered.

“I think I’ll pass,” Sebastian replied, looking horrified by the idea.

You rolled your eyes. “Suit yourself. Now hold on,” you said.

For a moment, Sebastian didn’t know where to place his hands. He eventually decided on holding onto your hips. His face flushed as he settled in behind you. It was a rather intimate position to be in.

“All right, boy, Sebastian’s not used to this, so unless we see any dark wizards, let’s start nice and–” The Lord of the Shore started out in a sprint, making both of you yelp. “SLOW!”

You held onto the graphorn’s neck, while Sebastian clung to you with his whole body as he yelled ineffectually.

“No need to race now, my friend,” you said nervously.

The beast continued on at full speed.

“Slow down now,” you said, willing him to listen. He did not.

“Is he always like this?” Sebastian asked as the graphorn crashed through barricades blocking the path.

“No, he’s normally much calmer,” you replied, yelling over the rushing wind. “I think you offended him.”

“Offended him?” Sebastian roared.

He shrieked again as the Lord of the Shore leapt into the air over another set of barricades. The beast landed on the ground with a hard thud that nearly bounced you both off. A few remaining Ashwinders attempted to slow the massive animal, but he mowed them down.

He crossed the bridge toward Bainburgh, then deviated down to the beach.

“Where are you going? We need to get to the floo!” you said, but the graphorn trekked on. “Stop! Not through the–”

The Lord of the Shore splashed through the creek, soaking you and Sebastian.

“…water,” you said dismally as the beast continued splashing his way down the stream. You gave an exasperated sigh. “Thanks for that.”

Sebastian, who had gotten a mouthful of water due to his screaming, coughed and spluttered. “Okay! I’m sorry I called you an overgrown lizard!” Sebastian said. “Just let us down!”

The Lord of the Shore slowed to a walk, and you breathed out a sigh of relief. “There’s a lad,” you said, patting his neck. “Are you done with your tantrum now?”

The animal growled at you.

“Guess not,” you quipped.

“Sorry,” Sebastian muttered when he realised he was still wrapped around you. He quickly went back to holding your hips.

“Oh, erm, don’t…don’t worry about it,” you said, a blush rising to your cheeks.

The Lord of the Shore kept a leisurely trot toward Bainburgh. It was rather bumpy riding bareback on a graphorn, even when he was just walking. Every step the beast took was making your arse bounce along Sebastian’s front. He had his eyes squeezed shut and his teeth digging into his bottom lip as he tried not to be hyperaware of the sensation.

He tried to push himself backward to put space between you two and end the maddening friction.

“Ow! Sebastian!” you said as his hands dug into your hips. “Enough with the death grip! I promise you’re not going to fall off.”

His cheeks flushed as you glared at him over your shoulder. “Sorry,” he said sheepishly. He looked like a scorned child as he stared down, avoiding eye contact with you. Eventually, Sebastian was still able to shift his hips back enough to stop his suffering.

“Merlin, I can’t believe the sun’s starting to come up!” you said as you noticed the light peeking over the horizon. “I guess it’s been a longer night than I realised.”

“Time flies when you’re having fun,” Sebastian joked. “Or, you know, fighting for your life.”

You laughed. “I’m gonna squeeze in a bath and a nap before defence against the dark arts when we get back,” you said.

“Maybe Professor Hecat will give us a free period if we tell her we fought two dozen dark wizards and a troll,” he joked.

You laughed. “Wouldn’t that be nice?” you said. “Thank you for your help tonight, by the way. I don’t know what would’ve happened if those Ashwinders had found me alone.”

He smiled, but there was a sadness behind it. “Anytime,” he said.

He was relieved when you reached Bainburgh and he could finally dismount. “Thank you for rescuing us,” you said, patting the graphorn. “I’ll come visit you soon.”

The beast chuffed happily. He even gave Sebastian a lick before setting off.

“Ugh, that’s disgusting,” he groused once he was certain the Lord of the Shore wouldn’t hear him.

You just chucked. “At least he likes you now,” you replied. You threw floo powder into the green flame. “Room of Requirement, Hogwarts.”

You whirled through the floo, appearing almost instantly in the familiar room. You stepped aside and Sebastian whooshed into the room a moment later.

“You know, I was hoping that he’s not the only one who’s forgiven me,” Sebastian replied. “I really am sorry.”

“What for?” you asked.

“All of fifth year, basically. But especially cursing you,” he replied. You had almost forgotten about your earlier fight. “I should’ve insisted you or Ominis cast the curse on me. It was my fault we were trapped down there.”

“I don’t think either of us would’ve preferred that,” you said honestly. “It’s not a night I’d wish to repeat, but…we did what we had to. All three of us would be dead otherwise.”

Sebastian ran a hand through his hair anxiously. “What if Ominis was right? What if we could’ve found another way?” he argued as he began pacing. “I mean, I didn’t even try. Not bombarda or confringo or finite incantatem. I didn’t do anything to try to protect you.”

You shrugged. “You were focused on helping Anne,” you said simply.

He turned back toward you. “And I’ve used that as an excuse to hurt too many people,” he said. He looked at you imploringly. “I just…I want you to know that I really am trying to change.”

You pulled him into a tight hug. “I know, Sebastian. And I’m glad you are.”

Sebastian melted into your embrace. Of all people, he needed you to accept him. If you could see all the parts of him you had and not run away, then perhaps there was hope for him yet. If you still saw good in him, then he would continue to believe it was there.

Sebastian pulled back to look at you. “I was really scared that Ashwinder was going to finish you off,” he said gravely.

You nodded in understanding. “I thought that executioner hit you with a killing curse,” you admitted. “I was terrified that I’d…I’d lost you.” You cleared the emotion out of your throat. “I mean, you’re a git, but…I don’t know what I’d do if you were gone.”

He gave you a crooked smile. “You’ll always be stuck with me, I’m afraid,” he said.

“That doesn’t sound like such a bad thing,” you replied.

Sebastian bit his lip. He looked uncertain about his next words. “MC, I realised something…when I thought you were going to be taken from me,” he said. “I…I don’t want to never have told you…”

“Told me what?” you asked, prodding him to continue.

He took a steadying breath. “Well, you see, I…I like you…as more than a friend, I mean.”

You stared at him in disbelief.

Sebastian shifted uncomfortably as the silence stretched. “Could you…say something?” he asked. “I mean, it’s okay if you don’t feel the same. I know I haven’t treated you the best. But I swear I don’t just see you as a means to help with Anne or defeating goblins. I really do care quite–Mmph!”

You had crashed your lips into his. The kiss was brief but passionate. “The feeling’s mutual,” you said, beaming at him.

Sebastian, though he had been caught off guard, recovered quickly. He reconnected your lips, kissing you fiercely as he pushed you back against the wall. He gripped your robes in both hands as he pinned his body against yours. You gripped his strong arms as you returned his fervour, sliding your tongue across his bottom lip teasingly before delving into his mouth. He had the coppery taste of a hard-fought battle, and it spurred you on as you thought again of how close you’d been to losing him.

You were the one to break the kiss as your lungs burned, begging for oxygen. “We should get what sleep we can,” you said, and Sebastian reluctantly let you go.

“Right,” he said as he recollected himself. “Well, maybe we could…go to Hogsmeade this weekend?”

You smiled. “Only if you promise there won’t be any trolls,” you joked.

“I’ve always thought you handled them quite well,” he said playfully. “But I’ll scope it out beforehand to make sure it’s troll-free.”

“Then it’s a date,” you said, unable to stop grinning. “We could go visit the Lord of the Shore after, too! He’ll probably even let you ride him alone.”

“Erm, yeah. Course. Brilliant,” Sebastian replied uneasily.

“Only joking!” you assured him.

He breathed out a sigh of relief. “Oh, thank Merlin!”

A/N: Not me headcannoning that Garreth invented gigglewater. Also, the cave is modelled after the phoenix cave, just in a different part of the map now. That whole entrance/exit thing is true in the game, and I felt the need to include it in this story.

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