Always || Sebastian Sallow x Reader

Chapter 3

"Bloody hell" you mutter to yourself as you make your way out of Professor Hecat's classroom. Why do I have to do extra assignments? You complain to yourself.

Professor Weasley pulled you aside shortly after your arrival to the school and told you that you had to complete extra assignments in order to catch up with the rest of the fifth-years. All of your professors were aware of it, and they wasted no time in forcing loads of work upon you. The only motivation that you had to complete the assignments was that you were learning new spells after you completed them.

Nothing makes a Ravenclaw feel more powerful than knowing they are reaching the fullest academic potential, but with everything occurring around you considering Ranrok, Rookwood, Harlow even, it was leaving an unsettling pit in your stomach. It was difficult to pretend to stay focused and interested in your work when you knew that there was so much evil in the world around you– that Ranrok was unraveling the information that you and Professor Fig were so desperately trying to keep hidden from everyone.

You're so focused on the personal hailstorm of worry in your mind that you don't even recognize that a small red orb had protruded into your peripheral vision. You whip your head towards the wand, immediately recognizing him.

"Ominis," You say, partly startled, "I didn't see you there."

"To be fair, I didn't see you either," He laughs as you stare, your jaw practically skidding on the floor.

"Only kidding (Y/N), I guess some people are not as prepared for the whole 'I'm blind' jokes yet. Which is fine, considering we've only met in passing".

You were taken aback by how vocal he was with you. He never seemed to have paid attention to those around him other than Sebastian. The two were practically inseparable, it was difficult to see one without the other.

"What do you want, Ominis?" you ask, a sense of irritability coating your tone.

"Relax, I wanted to talk to you about Sebastian for a moment— if you don't mind that is." He stops walking and looks as though he is staring vaguely in your direction, but not quite. You stop with him and sigh lightly, adjusting your cloak.

"Okay," you agree, "What would you like to speak about?"

"Follow me" He says blandly before he whips around, his cloak catching air underneath it causing it to float behind him. I wonder if he is aware of how dramatic his movements are since he can't see.

You linger about 3 meters behind Ominis, your glistening black wingtips slapping against the intricate marble floor. After a flight of stairs and three turns, you make it in front of the floating orchestra encased with velvet ropes.

"What does this have to do with Sebastian?" You gesture toward the orchestra.

"Assuming that the this that you are speaking of is the orchestra, it has nothing to do with him. However, we required an overlying disruptive noise near us in the event that someone were to overhear what we are talking about in passing" he states plainly, placing his wand inside his robe. You stand in wonder at Ominis for a moment.

His eyes were glazed over in a haze, almost as though it was a sheer layer of icing over a cinnamon roll. His features were very pronounced, a sharp jawline and nose, his collarbones slightly protruding outward as though he were slightly sickly. His skin was pale, with a gentle pink undertone while his hair was a peculiar combination of blonde and brown.

"I can feel you staring at me, '' he says quietly. You get pulled out of your soft stare and smile at Ominis.

"Sorry, I've just never truly gotten the chance to look at you." You laugh lightly.

"Okay, well, anyway, about Sebastian... There's something you should know about him."

You stare at Ominis, his hand traces his neck up and down slowly.

"His sister, Anne, used to attend Hogwarts. She's... sick. Cursed. It was an accident, and it was truly awful." He begins.

"Sebastian told me she had fallen ill when we were on our way to Hogsmeade on my first day, but I was not aware that she had been cursed" you reply.

"Yes, and it's irreversible. However, Sebastian believes that she is the exception. He has been driving himself mad to try to find a solution to help her. Sebastian may have an abrasive exterior but underneath it all, he has the potential to care about people other than himself."

"I don't quite understand why you are telling me all of this Ominis." You say, tilting your head in slight confusion.

"I need you to know. Sebastian has changed ever since that day. He sneaks into the restricted section of the library often in an attempt to find remedies for her. He has gotten a plethora of detentions for it. He is also one to skip class often if he gets stuck reading about a potential cure. (Y/N), Sebastian has taken a liking to you. As his oldest friend, as his family, what little left of it he has anyway, I have a fear that he may lose himself trying to save her."

"Ominis, I think you are mistaken, Sebastian and I barely even talk, barely even know each other. I can surely presume that we could be friends in the near future, but I do not need to preoccupy myself with the personal matters of someone who does not seem even merely interested in my existence outside of class." You respond quietly.

Sebastian Sallow had taken a 'liking'-- to you. This was all too confusing. Sebastian and you were purely acquaintances. Outside of defeating him in that duel and surviving the troll attack together, you had barely interacted with him.

"I get it, I do. But I need you to listen. Sebastian has more foes than friends here, and I can tell that he enjoys having you around. I-" he sighs, running a hand along his face in subtle frustration. "I would appreciate it if you would take the time to see him as a friend and not an enemy. He has a... challenging personality to say the least. You look as though you can handle it though. I trust that you will heed my warnings, correct?".

You glance blankly toward his eyes, which have now adjusted to the direction of your voice. They were burning right into your own. It was freakish, and probably the first time he has ever made direct eye contact with anyone. You swallow deeply, slowly, and take a shallow breath.

"I will Ominis, you have my word." you assure him, placing a gentle hand across your chest.

"Wonderful." He says curtly, as he whips out his wand and begins walking away. The orchestra behind you was reaching the end of their piece, the music decrescendoing to the volume just above a genuine whisper.

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A/N: I know I said there would be a Sebastian appearance this chapter but I got carried away while writing and this chapter would have taken way too long to read if I included what I wanted to, so I broke it in half. Brace yourselves for the next chapter!