Sebastian Sallow: Duel of Hearts

Chapter Nine

"Are you ready?" Sebastian asked as I approached him. I nodded eagerly; my curiosity piqued as to where he was taking me. He looked stylish in his casual clothes, a departure from the usual school robes we wore. The common room was shrouded in darkness, the only source of light coming from our wands as we made our way up the spiral staircase.

Exiting the Slytherin House, a cool breeze hit us, and I pulled my jacket tighter around me as I followed Sebastian. I didn't know where we were going, but I trusted him completely, knowing that whatever he had planned would be incredible.

As we reached the exit of the Slytherin House, the atmosphere changed drastically. It was like a cloak of secrecy had engulfed us, and the darkness of the corridor only added to the ominous feeling. Sebastian turned to me and spoke in a hushed tone, "Time to cast the Disillusionment charm." We both cast the charm, and I felt a chill run down my spine as I disappeared.

"Remember to keep an eye out," he whispered softly, his voice barely audible in the darkness of the night. "Never know who's watching, but as always that hasn't stopped us before," he added with a smirk smile, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of danger. I couldn't help but giggle at this déjà vu cautionary words. "And again, it has, we were caught." I responded, the same response as I had given to him last year when we were sneaking around. Memories of our previous mishaps flashed through my mind, reliving those moments of trouble and adventure that had brought us closer together.

"Well let's hope that damned poltergeist won't be a nuisance this time." Sebastian chuckled and took my hand, leading me down the long and winding corridor. The dim lighting added to the sense of danger in the air, with the occasional flicker of torches on the walls casting eerie shadows that made it seem like the walls were alive. As we moved further down the corridor, my heart pounded in my chest, and I hoped that the poltergeist wouldn't cause any trouble this time.

A mixture of excitement and nervousness welled up inside me as Sebastian led me through the castle, the sound of our footsteps echoing off the stone walls. As we passed the bathrooms and turned a corner, I recognised the corridor.

It was the same one that led to the secret Scriptorium room we had discovered last year with Ominis. I looked at Sebastian, puzzled. "Are we going back to the Scriptorium?" I asked, but he didn't respond. Instead, we continued down the corridor, passing by the Scriptorium door. Eventually, Sebastian slowed down and stopped in front of a huge iron door that was padlocked.

With a flick of his wand, Sebastian muttered, "Alohomora." The padlock broke off with a loud clank and fell to the floor. He turned to look at me and said, "We can remove the charm now. There's no need to be sneaky anymore." I removed the charm and followed him into a narrow corridor lit only by candles. We walked in silence until we reached a wooden door.

Sebastian asked if I was ready, and I nodded. He opened the door and my eyes widened in disbelief. It was like stepping into another world. The Ghosts of Hogwarts were having a ball, and I was left in awe. The candelabras were placed around the hall, casting a soft white glow, creating a romantic ambiance. Soft music filled the room, adding to the surreal atmosphere. Round dining tables and chairs were scattered around the hall.

"Wow," I breathed, taking in the scene before me. "This is amazing, Sebastian."

He grinned, looking pleased with himself. "I'm glad you like it. The Ghosts are having a Death Day Ball. Not many people know about this place."

I grinned at Sebastian. "You never cease to amaze me, Sebastian. How did you even find out about this place?"

Sebastian shrugged nonchalantly. "Oh, you know, just a little bit of exploring. I like to keep things interesting."

I chuckled. "Well, you definitely succeeded. This is incredible. I feel like we've stepped into a different era altogether."

Sebastian offered his arm, and I took it, feeling giddy with excitement. We strolled around the hall, taking in the decorations and atmosphere.

"Shall we have a dance later?" Sebastian said, looking at me with a mischievous glint in his eye. "Do you think you can handle it?"

I playfully rolled my eyes. "Please, I've got moves you've never seen before."

Sebastian raised an eyebrow. "Is that a challenge?"

I grinned. "You bet it is."

As Sebastian and I continued our playful banter, I found myself feeling comforted and happy in his company. He gently took my hand and led me across the hall, past a group of chatting ghosts, adding to the surreal and magical atmosphere. We arrived at a table, where he pulled out a chair for me like a true gentleman and sat down next to me.

As I sat down, I couldn't help but be entranced by the way Sebastian carried himself. His movements were graceful and self-assured, leaving me a bit flustered. My heart swelled with warmth as I met his gaze, unable to resist smiling at him.

Sebastian took a deep breath and began, "Ella, there's something I need to tell you." I felt my heart rate pick up in anticipation, eager to hear what he had to say. But before he could continue, we were interrupted by a shout. "Ella!" called a familiar voice. It was Richard Jackdaw, a ghost I had met last year during my time at Hogwarts, floating towards me.

Sebastian's expression shifted as Jackdaw floated towards us, his head wobbling dangerously on his neck. Sebastian's frustration was evident, as he had been interrupted for the second time while attempting to tell me something important. I greeted Jackdaw with a polite smile, but my thoughts were still consumed with what Sebastian had been about to say.

As Jackdaw continued to chat with me, Sebastian waited patiently, although I could sense his growing impatience. Despite this, I didn't want to be impolite to Richard, who had been a helpful ghost in the past. I recalled how he had helped me locate the missing pages for the Map Chamber book last year. Eventually, after a few more minutes, Jackdaw said his goodbyes and drifted away. Turning to Sebastian, I was eager to hear what he had been about to say.

As I gazed at Sebastian's face, I could sense his frustration and disappointment. I knew how much it had taken for him to gather the courage to express whatever was on his mind, and I felt awful for the interruptions that had thwarted his efforts. Wanting to make amends, I took the initiative and offered an apology. "I'm so sorry, Sebastian. I know you had something important to tell me, and I should have prevented Jackdaw from interrupting us."

He let out a sigh and averted his gaze. "It's not a big deal, Ella. Please don't worry about it."

But I could tell that he wasn't being truthful. The tension between us was palpable, and I couldn't bear it any longer. "Please, Sebastian. You were about to say something before you were interrupted."

"It's fine," he said. He looked at the time and said, "It's getting late, I think we should head back to the common room."