#their blood is on ranrok's hands

[ephemerasnape]

MC has filled 1,000 Graves 🎶🎵

The song is "One Thousand Graves" by Sonsombre. I got to use a great song by my current favorite band and simultaneously cast judgement on mass-murdering MC.

Thanks to everyone who contributed their MC! @horizontaldancer0 @sythine @slytherinsomniari @everaftermagic @okeydokeylackey & MJ

[lifadvader]

[voidofz]

my lovely playstation collection! 🎮👾👻

i am missing 4th gen but eh, i basically skipped that era and at this point i don’t need a ps4 since the ps5 can play those games. and i know, i know, ps5 shouldn’t be on her side, but until i figure out a more attractive set up- the pink lady shall rest in this position.

i actually have some crazy plans for customization 😼 see, i have the white plates to my ps5 and was originally thinking of painting them, but then my brain went wild and now i am daydreaming of a 3d custom built, perhaps using molding clay?? not sure, its very much in the idea spark stage and still needs to be researched and planned for.

i will also be customizing my ps5 controllers, one for Z-lite mode and Z-dark mode (which is purely based on my mood because i am a fruitcake gamer, i never go too dark ((as in violence, i have played and enjoyed truly dark themes (((hogwarts doesn’t count cuz their blood is on ranrok’s hands!)))such as alice:madness & little misfortune)))

next post, my collection of nintendo handhelds👽

[zevrra]

never forget—

synopsis: where sebastian is actually worried about MC and regrets casting crucio on them caaaause that moment in the game was not enough for me pfft!

tags: 18(+), lil angst, mostly fluff, sebastian(18) x reader, i didn’t know how to end this oops, one-shot, 2k words.

“Crucio!”

The pain that followed that one little word was excruciating.

Yet the spell casted upon you was of your own doing. You, Ominis, and Sebastian had become good friends since your first day at Hogwarts. Always together, always the 3 of you somehow in trouble. Well, mostly you and Sebastian. Somehow Ominis always managed to get out of the trouble the two of you dragged him into. You were Slytherin after all, it was most likely in your blood.

When you first met Sebastian, he had such an eager to learn that his demeanor was contagious. So much so you couldn’t help but also want to gain more knowledge with him over the years. It was all thanks to Ominis from keeping you two from ending up expelled. Your savior in a sense. But ever since the three of you had become good friends, Sebastian never let up about Salazar Slytherin. He was set on finding his Scriptorium, begging Ominis for so long to show him the way. Seeing as he believed finding it would help cure his sister’s, Anne, curse.

When Ominis had finally given into you both and led the way, the three of you worked wonderfully together. Traversing dark and wary caves. Fending off giant spiders, solving puzzles all that good stuff. Until finally you reach a room with a single note, bones buried in dirt, no way out, the word CRUCIO etched into the stone before your feet, and what looked to be a screaming apparition burned onto a mirror.

You sadly read the note aloud for all to hear. Detailing a grim last few words from Ominis’s aunt. Who unfortunately had gone looking for the Scriptorium, alone, and met an untimely fate. You reach out to gently touch Ominis’s shoulder and he stills beneath your touch.

“I’m so sorry about your aunt, Omni.” You mourn. He nods in acceptance. Nothing they did now could’ve changed what had happened to his aunt. He would at least find some peace in knowing what happened to her.

Sebastian is at your side then. Concerned look on his own freckled face. “Ominis…I know it’s hard. But the letter details using Crucio. You’re the best suited for this—“

“No! I won’t do it. To use Crucio you have to mean it. I will not cast that spell ever again…especially on you two.” Ominis steps away from your reach. Closing off from the activity entirely. You didn’t blame him.

You turn to face Sebastian then who looks..almost disappointed with Ominis's rejection. He gestures for you to follow him closer to the wailing mirror. Hauntingly beautiful, even in its twisted state.

“Well, two options. You cast Crucio on me, or I…cast it on you. It’s the only way we’re getting out of here. We can’t die here and now because of—of morals.” Sebastian whispers to you. The thought of dying in that suffocating tomb alone makes your skin crawl.

Ominis had always been vocal about how horrible any of the killing curses were, especially this spell. Seeing as he was forced to cast it when he was younger. The nightmares still haunt the blonde from what you could tell. His sleepless nights. The flinch at loud noises. It was obvious, whatever you decided, that this would forever weigh heavy on your soul. Yet the spell…could come in handy when facing Ranrok. He was your enemy after all.

You hoped it would never come down to using it though.

“Fine. Teach me the spell but you…you cast it on me. I won’t hurt you Seb.” You mumble. And at first, he’s hesitant. His wand slightly swayed before he reluctantly nods. His hands slightly shake as he teaches you the wave of the wand. He had never performed the dark arts before and this could go very wrong or just really wrong. Either way was going to hurt. But you trusted him.

That’s how you ended up in the here and now. Agonizing pain ripped through your flesh like lightning. Flames behind your eyeballs that force them to shut tight. Hoping to ease the pain away. Your teeth gnash against your lip to hold back screams of pain. It does nothing. Dark magic moves under your skin like writhing red and green tentacles. You gasp between almost suffocating screams.

Breathe in, scream, breathe out.

Your back is against the stone, arched, burning hot. Even as Ominis, or maybe it was Sebastian’s, or both of their hands are grabbing at your arms. Cool fingers press into your hot flesh as the boy’s try to lift you from the floor.

They try to comfort you during one of the worst moments of your life. It doesn’t help. They both fumble as they move you into the room that opened up behind the wailing mirror. The pain is nauseating. Every fumble, correction, and movement makes your stomach churn. Threatening to spill out your lunch. Your consciousness is slowly fading at this point. Stars blinking behind your eyelids as you grasp for whatever you can to stay awake.

Through the pulsing pain in your head and ears, you barely hear the two boys arguing. More or less Ominis yelling about how he was right. How this was a stupid idea as he struggles to help carry you. Ominis can’t see where he steps yet he’s trying so hard to save you now.

“You—you’re both idiots!” Ominis snarls. Struggling with words through his rage and panic. “How could you do something like this!”

“I understand, Ominis! Just—just, Merlin, help me! Help me get to the infirmary!” Sebastian spits back as they continue to fumble around, looking for an exit.

The last thing you hear is Sebastian calling for desperate help before the pain becomes too much and finally takes you under. Passing out from the curse spell later than you would’ve liked.

When concussions come back to you, it’s almost unbearable. Your eyes flutter open but fall closed once again. Maybe you could just stay like that for forever. Lying on a cloud, nice and warm, with your eyes closed. Eh, sounds a little too much like death for your liking.

Thankfully, your second attempt at waking up is far more fruitful. Candlelight flickers rapidly at the edge of your feet as your eyes slowly come into focus. You make out the white sheets laying across your body. Feel the firm mattress against your back. Connecting the dots, slowly but surely, that you were in the infirmary.

Your head moves slightly to continue looking around. Hoping a nurse was close by so you could ask for some water or medicine or anything to make the dull ache in your body stop. Instead your eyes find Sebastian.

His unruly brown hair is somehow even messier than usual. He slumps against the side of your bed and from what you can tell, he might be asleep. Seeing as it was sometime during the night. If you had to guess he probably snuck into the infirmary to be at your side.

Suddenly memories of what happened in the Scriptorium come back to you. Sending a harsh chill down your entire body. The cast of Crucio echoes in the back of your mind. You’ll never forget the feeling. Or the look on Seb’s face as he waved the spell and casted it upon you.

‘Crucio can only be cast if you mean it.’ You remember Ominis’s haunting words. Sebastian must’ve meant it. But you try your best to not blame him. He was just trying to get you all out of that stone grave.

“Seb…” You try to speak. Your throat burns as you attempt to rouse the sleeping man at your side. Voice hoarse, borderline gone, from what you can only assume is from the screaming you barely remember doing. “Sebastian.” You barely manage his full name.

His body shifts at the sound of his name but he doesn’t rise. So you make your way to sit up. Although the moment you prepare to sit up, weight shifting ever so slightly, Sebastian shoots up instantly. His pretty green eyes meet your gaze in a wild look. As if he can’t believe you’re awake. Dried drool sticks to the edge of his lips. You can’t help but laugh. Or what you assume is a laugh. To Seb it probably sounds like you’re coughing.

“I—we—are you okay?” Seb stumbles over his words. Knowing Sebastian, he most likely had something planned to say the moment you woke up. Yet now he was almost speechless. For the first time ever.

“I’m o-okay just…w-water.” You manage to mumble. Now he’s quick to react. A glass of water is held out with lightning speed to you and you take it graciously.

After a moment of what felt like an eternity of being parched, you chug the water given to you, before you hand the glass off and sit fully upright. Your fingers lay in your lap, picking at the cotton of the blanket.

Silence falling between the two of you was so uncommon. It almost felt worse than writhing in pain. Not really but the wall built up was hard to ignore. You needed that wall to come down.

“How long was I asleep?” You ask softly. Breaking the silence as your throat is finally feeling better after some water.

“Three days,” Sebastian replies. He doesn’t look at you. You don’t blame him, not really. The guilt must weigh heavy on his shoulders.

Three days. The fact that it had been days since you had passed out in the scriptorium made your gut twist. You can’t even imagine what rumors must have spread among the school. Or the amount of questions the headmaster will be asking you. Oh you were definitely in for some trouble.

“I’m so sorry.”

Apologies were not something Sebastian was known for. The fact that he was apologizing at all was almost shocking. You didn’t have to guess that he didn’t really mean it when he casted Crucio. It was all just a matter of choices, for you all to survive.

“It’s okay,” Your voice is soft as you speak. “I don’t want you to blame yourself. I agreed to it Sebastian,” You remind him. It only makes Seb angrier with himself.

“Of course I blame myself! I could’ve killed you!” Sebastian says in a strained voice. He wants to scream and yell. He wants you to scream and yell at him. For letting him do something so stupid. For not listening to Ominis in the first place. For being too eager.

“It was a matter of life or death Seb you know that—“ You began to say but he cuts you off as he quickly stands from his chair.

“But what if there was another way!? What if I didn’t have to…didn’t want to—I could’ve changed something!” He angrily hisses as he turns his head away from you.

Silences befalls between the two of you again. Stretched longer than previously as you can’t think of something to say. He had three days to beat himself up for dragging all three of you to that scriptorium. You couldn’t imagine how many scenarios he himself had imagined over and over again while in your slumber.

“What if I had lost you?”

The soft words are barely loud enough to hear. Just a whisper under his breath you almost can’t manage to make out. But you do. The somber confession comes at you like a heavy rainstorm. Unexpected, welcoming, lovely, and a little noisy from his previous minor outburst. Building from a small drop to a straight downpour and you’re caught in the middle of it with no umbrella.

Even in the candlelight you see the tips of ears, beat red as he refuses to look at you. Shoulders tense as he tries to will himself to calm down. It was late, you weren’t supposed to be awake, and he wasn’t supposed to be there. It was not the time for this conversation.

Yet it makes you smile anyway. Butterflies jump around under your skin, in your heart, stomach following suit in doing somersaults. You reach with a gentle hand and grab hold of his shirt sleeve, giving it a tug. For a moment he stands completely still. Debating whether or not it was the right moment to hash all of this out. It wasn’t. Yet a second tug on his sleeve has him turning to finally look at you.

This time when you meet his green eyes, his wild look is gone. He looks at you like you’re the cure to whatever alignment he’s currently experiencing. It’s a saddened, sleepless, relieved look. Feeling every emotion he’s ever felt in his life all in the span of a few short seconds.

You smile fondly at Sebastian, praying he could see it in the soft light of the infirmary. “But you didn’t,” You remind him. Almost gesturing to you, him, and your surroundings. “I’m still here, Seb.”

Sebastian simply nods. Not having the courage to speak for it may bring him to tears. Now that would truly be the end of the world if that happened.

You reach for his hand. Reassuring and gentle as your fingers intertwine with his. He’s stiff as a board at your touch. He has always yearned for it but never had the faith to act upon his feelings.

“Plus, it’ll take more than that to get rid of me.” You say hoping to ease the young man’s feelings. At least for tonight.

A squeeze to your hand is the only response you receive as he returns to his seat. He rests your connected hands on the bed before his head follows suit. Instead of returning to the side of your bed he makes himself comfy on your thigh. You smile at the puzzling picture before you.

The great Sebastian Sallow, a man who rarely asks for any help, unless it involves trekking in some dark cave somewhere, was vulnerably sprawled out on top of you.

You stifle a giggle, fearing if he heard you laugh he would assume the worst and pull away. Instead your free hand pushes through his hair. Pushing away dark curly hair from his freckled face.

“You should return to the dorms before the nurse finds you.” You hum as your eyes scan his own closed eyes. Gazing at the lengths of his eyelashes. Every freckle you could see, thinking how fun it could be to count them one day.

“‘Ts fine,” Sebastian shrugs it off. You hear the softness of his breathing, slowly becoming shallow as he falls asleep. Fast asleep in your thigh with his hand tightly wound to yours. You wish you could have a painting done of this moment. Hoping by every ounce of magic in your veins that you never forget this feeling or the sight. And by Merlin does the sight make your heart ache and pound in equal parts.

You just hoped to never go through something like this ever again. Hopefully Sebastian would see how powerful and dangerous the dark arts could be and look for another solution to healing Anne’s curse. Maybe the ancient magic you wield could help next time instead of turning to the unforgiving curses.

[shadowtriovibes]

mind if i move in closer?

Pairing: Sebastian Sallow x f!MC

Word Count: 2.8k

Rating: PG

Summary: sickeningly sweet christmas fic, loosely a continuation of the potioneer's apprentice (not necessary to have read to read this!)

“Do you want to borrow my scarf?” you ask him, teasingly preening as he glances over his shoulder at your new accessory. “It’s charmed to keep you warm.” Sebastian frowns. “Who sent you that? Ominis?” “No,” you say, throwing one of the scarf’s long ends across your shoulder. “Just this handsome fellow in Hogsmeade who’s grown quite fond of me.”

December 25, 1891

Christmas morning at Hogwarts is a surprisingly quiet affair.

Having spent many of your formative Christmas mornings in a Muggle boarding school before arriving at Hogwarts, you’ve grown accustomed to waking up to the sounds of eager whispers and excited squeals as the handful of holiday holdovers awoke to find a small array of presents laid out for them. Gifts were usually provided by the kindly heads of house who’d remained at the school during the break – many of whom were just as lonely as the children they watched.

A few oranges and sweets here and there, some secondhand books, perhaps a wooden puzzle for them all to share… It was always lovely, even during leaner years.

Of course, Christmas at Hogwarts was spectacular – massive fir trees decorated with floating baubles and shining ribbons lined the corridors, beautiful music drifted down from the Bell Tower, and the annual feast on Christmas Eve teemed with seemingly endless platters of food.

Your first holiday season at Hogwarts hadn’t been lonely at all. With Ranrok still at large and dozens of poacher camps causing trouble throughout the Highlands, many students chose to spend their Christmas at Hogwarts rather than risking the lengthy train ride back to London or hiking out to their family homes in nearby hamlets.

This year, however, there were only two Slytherins who remained in the castle over the winter break: you and Sebastian.

While the two of you had each been quietly pleased to learn that the other would be staying, you’d both been surprised to learn that even Ominis would be departing to spend Christmas with his family, per their demand. Before he left, he’d darkly insisted that he’d bet a fistful of Galleons that he’d be back before New Year’s Day if his brothers had anything to say about it.

While Ominis sulked, Sebastian had been the one to explain to you that the older pure blood families, many of whom shared your house, are especially traditional during the holidays.

Or, as he’d so bluntly put it, “All the posh ones will be traveling somewhere warmer, and even the snooty half-bloods don’t want to leave their little sprogs here with all the orphans and the impoverished.”

“That’s lovely,” you grumbled.

He’d merely shrugged and smirked, “At least we’ll have the run of the place.”

Christmas Eve dinner, at least, had been fairly lively thanks to a handful of younger Hufflepuffs and Gryffindors who delighted in joining hands and pulling open wizard crackers. Sebastian had insisted you keep the wizard’s chess set he’d received, as yours had contained a live turtle dove that had promptly flown off to roost in the rafters.

(Professor Black, who had also stayed over the holidays, declined Professor Weasley’s invitation to join the holdovers in the Great Hall, which Sebastian insists was the best gift he could have possibly received.)

The pair of you spent the rest of the evening in the common room, taking turns sipping from a bottle of spiced apple brandy Sebastian had managed to charm out of Sirona’s hands during your last trip to Hogsmeade. By the time you’d wobbled up the stairs to the seventh-year dormitories, you’d been unable to stop giggling while Sebastian walked you to your door.

“Get some rest,” he’d laughed, his cheeks flushed red from the alcohol. “Father Christmas can’t bring you presents if you’re still awake, can he?”

“Father Christmas, hm?” you ask, rolling your eyes. “It’s just the two of us, Sebastian. I think he’ll pass over the Slytherin common room this year.”

Something secret sparkled in his eyes, but he said nothing as you opened the door to your room.

Just as you’d turned around to say goodnight, Sebastian leaned in close and pressed a quick kiss to your cheek.

“Happy Christmas,” he mumbled. “See you in the morning.”

Before you could even exhale, he’d quickly made his way up the opposite steps to his room and firmly shut his door behind him. You felt warm all over as you’d changed into your nightwear and climbed into bed – not just from the brandy, you’re sure.

But when you wake up… There’s nothing but silence.

The fire across the room is muted with its usual silencing charms, the popping and cracking of the firewood kept quiet while you slept. There are no roommates eager to open gifts, no smells of Christmas treats like roasted ham or cinnamon pastries cooking in the dormitory kitchens down the hall, which you’d cherished in your old schools.

…But at the foot of your bed, you find a small pile of presents.

You smile to yourself as you sit up and rub your eyes, half expecting the delicate boxes wrapped in bright paper and gently curling ribbons to dissolve away as your vision comes into focus. When they remain, you dare to gingerly pull one into your lap, tracing your fingertips over the crisp paper wrappings.

The first parcel is from Augustus Hill, who’d sent over a fine woolen scarf charmed to remain warm and dry even if it collects falling snowflakes that melt against its magical heat. It’s a deep forest green and is wonderfully soft, and you can’t resist wrapping it across your shoulders as you reach for a second gift.

From your potions master Parry Pippin, you receive a fine set of measuring spoons made of polished copper – much more attractive and precise than the brushed pewter spoons you’d ordered from a supply shop in Diagon Alley.

Professor Weasley had even gifted you a box of stationery supplies that contained a set of quills, a few rolls of parchment, and even a pot of ink. A practical gift to be sure, but thoughtful (and quite generous, you think).

Your favorite gift is from Ominis, who’d sent a box of French candies with magical molten centers from a wizarding confectionary shop in Paris, where his family always visits for the holidays. Inside he’d tucked a note insisting that Sebastian had been sent his own box as well and you were not to let him coax you into sharing yours. You’d fondly rolled your eyes before pinning it to your ever-growing collection of correspondences affixed to the wall beside your bed.

Of course, you can’t resist treating yourself to a piece of candy or two while you change into a simple dressing robe and freshen yourself in the wash basin beside the fireplace. One tastes like cherries and brings a delightful pink flush to your cheeks and lips, and the other tastes like nougat and makes you whistle like a songbird while you pull back your hair into a loose braid.

By the time you wander downstairs, Sebastian is already poking at the common room fireplace, cursing under his breath.

“Happy Christmas, Seb,” you call out, tucking your dressing robe tighter around your waist.

“Happy Christmas,” he mumbles distractedly. “It’s bloody freezing in here.”

You smile to yourself as you take a seat on the cozy settee across from the fireplace. Sebastian has managed to rustle up some extra firewood, undoubtedly from one of the empty boys’ dormitories, to ward off the chill of the common room.

“Do you want to borrow my scarf?” you ask him, teasingly preening as he glances over his shoulder at your new accessory. “It’s charmed to keep you warm.”

Sebastian frowns. “Who sent you that? Ominis?”

“No,” you say, throwing one of the scarf’s long ends across your shoulder. “Just this handsome fellow in Hogsmeade who’s grown quite fond of me.”

To your delight, Sebastian’s frown deepens. “What? Who?”

“Oh, you’ve met him,” you answer, feigning indifference. “He’s rather posh, very stylish, always dressed impeccably… You and I saved him from a troll once, if you recall.”

Sebastian bites the inside of his cheek to keep from grinning when he finally catches wind of your little ruse. “Ah, I see. Just playing one of your little games with me.”

“You make it far too easy,” you tease him, unraveling your scarf and gently draping it across his broad shoulders. “There, that ought to warm you up.”

(Immediately your mind starts to wander off as it conjures up images of how else you might warm up your unfairly handsome friend, but you’re quick to chastise it into silence.)

“You’re too kind, love,” he says, that ever-present smirk still on his lips.

Both of you are silent for several long moments while you hang on to the ends of the scarf, staring up into his warm brown eyes. His gaze dips down to your mouth when you bite your lip, and just as you’re about to ask him if he’d like to walk you to the Great Hall for breakfast, he blurts out, “I have a gift for you.”

“You – a gift?” you ask dumbly. “For me?”

“Of course,” he says softly. “Er, I should warn you that it’s nothing big, but… I wanted you to have it, so…”

He trails off quietly, fidgeting with the sleeve of his robe.

“I have a gift for you too,” you admit. “I left it upstairs. Can I go get it for you?”

“S-sure,” he stutters. “You bought me a gift?”

“Don’t be daft, Sallow,” you tease him. “I made you a gift.”

With that you turn on your heel and march back up the stairs to your dormitory, snagging the delicate potion bottle shaped like a cloud with an indigo ribbon wrapped around its neck. You gingerly turn it over in your hands, watching as the light purple draught inside swirls around languidly.

Downstairs, Sebastian waits for you with a small box tucked behind his back. He looks slightly nervous, you think, so you decide to offer him your gift first.

“Alright,” you say as you take a seat. “First, let me just say that I had Mister Pippin check this to make sure I did everything right, and he said it’s perfectly fine.”

(In fact, Pippin had said you’d done a brilliant job, but you don’t want to oversell yourself before Sebastian has had a chance to try your brew.)

Sebastian eyes the glass bottle as you offer it to him, gently turning it over in his hands.

“You made this?” he asks softly, and then he grins and asks, “Did Weasley help you at all? Because I already learned my lesson with his ‘Fizzing Whizzbeer,’ thank you very much.”

“No,” you insist, biting back a laugh as you remember Sebastian chugging a bottle of Garreth’s experimental brew and being stuck levitating a few feet above the ground for an entire afternoon. “No, I made this just for you.”

“What’s it do?” he asks curiously.

“Well, it’s… it’s a sleeping draught, sort of,” you say softly. “It’s got lavender for comfort, and valerian springs for restful sleep, but I added cinnamon and a bit of shrivelfig to create peaceful dreams.”

Sebastian slowly tips the bottle back and forth, watching the thin liquid dance around the bottle. “Peaceful, hm?”

You’ve known about his nightmares for a while now. He doesn’t like to talk about them often, but he’s admitted that since that day in the Catacombs, he’s hardly slept a full night without being plagued by visions of those damned Inferi, of his uncle’s limp body, of Anne’s face…

The bleary eyes and wan expression he sometimes wears to breakfast after a particularly hard night tell you everything you needed to know, and you’ve spent the last several weeks visiting Hogsmeade after class to work with Mister Pippin to create your own special draught. Not dreamless sleep, but better sleep.

“I just thought… that you deserve to have some good dreams,” you mumble.

The corner of Sebastian’s mouth quirks up. “I do have good dreams, sometimes.”

(You miss the way he glances over at you, raking his gaze down the length of your body. You miss how it lingers where your dressing robe has fallen open a bit, showing off the delicate neckline of the thin chemise you’re wearing underneath.)

“O-oh,” you stammer. “W-well, I suppose now you can… have more.”

You frown disappointedly until Sebastian rests his warm hand on your knee, gently holding the bottle against his chest with his other.

“Thank you,” he says. “Really, I can’t believe you made this just for me. Merlin, it’s… it’s a perfect gift.”

His gaze is heated, and intense, and something about it makes you want to squirm, so instead you breathily ask, “May I have my gift?”

Sebastian holds your gaze as he slowly nods, only letting it break it when he turns to grab the box he’d hidden behind himself. With trembling hands you lift the lid to find a small silver badge inside, reverently tucked inside a nest of tissue paper.

Your hands go still.

“Sebastian, is – is this…?” you whisper.

“My family’s crest,” he murmurs. “You’ve seen it once before, in our fifth year.”

Gently, you lift the crest out of the box and cradle it in your hands. The heat from your skin quickly starts to warm the cool metal, and you trace your fingertips over the “S” hammered into the center of the badge.

“What – how–” you stutter.

“Earlier this year, Anne sent it back to me,” he explains softly, watching with dark eyes as you pour over the symbols that adorn the crest: a cauldron, a flowering tree, a pair of crossed daggers, and a crescent moon.

“Why?” you whisper.

“I’m still not sure,” Sebastian says hollowly. “She just sent the crest, with no letter. But if I had to guess, I think… I think she wanted me to know that she’s safe, but not where she is. Not yet.”

You clutch the crest against your breast. “Oh, Sebastian…”

“It’s okay,” he says, his voice going rough. “It’s – that’s what it’s for, the crest. I gave it to her to keep her safe, and she gave it back to… to tell me that she’s alright. If that’s all she wants me to know, then… then it’s enough.”

You shift closer to him on the couch, the flickering fire casting dancing shadows along the side of his face.

“Why are you giving it to me?” you ask him curiously. “It’s beautiful, Sebastian, but – isn’t it important to you? To your family?”

He swallows nervously. “I don’t… have a family anymore. Not really. Anne is out there somewhere, safe without me, but… you and Ominis, you’re my only family now.”

You let the crest fall to your lap before you throw your arms around Sebastian, burying your face against that warm scarf of yours he’s still wearing. You don’t have the words to say how much this gift means to you, but you think he understands when he wraps his arms around you, skimming one of his large palms up and down the length of your back.

“It kept Anne safe, and – and now it will keep you safe,” he murmurs. “I don’t… I’m not sure you understand how much you mean to me. I need you to be safe.”

“S’bst’n,” you mumble into his shoulder. “Y’re m’vry’th’n.”

He laughs softly and asks, “Sorry, what was that?”

You pull back just enough to press your lips against the shell of his ear, knowing that if you meet his eyes you’ll never have the courage to tell him how you’ve truly felt about him since your fifth year.

“I said, ‘Sebastian, you’re my everything.’”

Then the hand he’d cupped around the back of your head slides down, down, until he nudges his thumb along your jaw to coax you out of your little hiding place. His eyes are so dark, and the soft whine he lets out before he crushes his lips to yours is all the warning you get, but then… then he’s kissing you.

“Seb,” you gasp into his mouth, and then he lightly tugs on the tie around your waist until you shift yourself halfway onto his lap. It feels like hours go by just like that, just the two of you alternating between lazy, curious kisses and frantic, needy surges every time one of you lets slip another heated confession.

“I’ve wanted to do this for so long.”“You taste incredible.”“I don’t ever want to stop doing this.”

Eventually, you let your head rest on Sebastian’s shoulder while he trails soft kisses from the hinge of your jaw down to your shoulder and back. He’s ravenous, he’d told you himself, but it’s not until his stomach growls loudly between your bodies that you even remember that other type of hunger.

“We’ll miss breakfast if we don’t leave soon,” you whine.

“Let’s stay here,” he murmurs against your neck. “We can eat those chocolates you got from Ominis for breakfast.”

“That’s… tempting,” you sigh distractedly, and then you pause.

Leaning back, you quirk a brow and ask, “Sorry, the chocolates I got from Ominis?”

“Well, sure,” Sebastian says smoothly. “He sent me a book on cursebreaking, but I can taste fancy chocolate on your lips, so I assumed…”

“You filthy liar, Sebastian Sallow,” you laugh, throwing your head back. “He warned me you’d try to talk me out of my sweets!”

“To be fair, that’s hardly the only thing I’ll try to talk you out of,” he drawls, sliding his hands down to your hips. “Namely this robe of yours…”

“Scoundrel,” you croon, leaning down for another hungry kiss.

(Ominis’ chocolates make a decent breakfast, even if half of them melt by the fire, ignored entirely while Sebastian makes good on his suggestion regarding your robe.)

[expelliarmus444]

If texting were a thing in the 1890s: pt 3

Sebastian: OMINIS COME INTO THE BATHROOM RN Ominis: uhm...why Sebastian: there's a centipede cornering me HELP Ominis: you fight giant spiders, goblins, trolls, and inferi and you're telling me you draw the line at...centipedes? Sebastian: could you just shut up and come kill it Ominis: ugh fine

Ominis: Sebastian texted earlier asking me to kill a bug for him in the bathroom. I get there and I hear him literally crying in the corner like a baby. thought i should share that with you MC: ew omg i would've screamed Ominis: ???????? you guys have literally KILLED people MC: no their blood is on ranrok's hands not mine Ominis: bruh

Duncan: hey MC ;) was wondering if you'd wanna..idk go out some time MC: uhm no thank you Duncan: this is what i get for being nice to a mudblood MC: EXCUSE ME? MC: bro duncan hobhouse called me a slur bc i don't wanna go out with him wtf Ominis: interesting. Ominis: hobhouse. Duncan: who is this Ominis: if i hear you ever mutter a word towards MC again i will freeze you, slice you into pieces, and feed you to a pack of starving mongrels. actually if you even breathe in her direction i will throw you into the lake with a bunch of dugbogs and let them rip you to shreds. am i clear? Duncan: omg ??? Ominis: better be clear. don't tell anyone about this. anyway fuck off i'm blocking you now. MC: did you threaten duncan????? Sebastian: no but i'm jealous of whoever did MC: wtf???? who could it have been then MC: wait

MC: Ominis wtf Ominis: what MC: threatening duncan is soooo not like you Ominis: wdym i hate him Ominis: i'd do it again. i'd pay to do it. i'd spend the rest of my life doing hard physical labor on a goat farm until my body is about to give out if it means getting to shit on him one last time MC: and here i thought you were doing something nice for me Ominis: that too ig

Sebastian: OMINIS HELP IN THE UNDERCROFT MC: OMINIS ITS SERIOUS HELP PLS OMG Ominis: what happened????? Sebastian: centipede in the undercroft Ominis: are you fucking joking this is ridiculous Sebastian: PLEASE Ominis: no Sebastian: why not Ominis: quit being a baby and just kill it bro Ominis: acting like ur not grown with a sweater of chest hair on you is crazy MC: this is me finding out Sebastian grows chest hair MC: O _ O ew Sebastian: now you really have to kill it since you wanna air me out like that Ominis: no. MC: you won't do it for me? Ominis: nvm im coming Sebastian: WTF???????? Ominis: be there in 5

[galaxiasgreen]

🎼🌙Moonlight

Fluffy Ominis x MC!Reader drabble [G-rated, 800 words]

"Fitting, isn't it?" he murmurs, so quiet his voice blends with the song's deeper notes. "The verse speaks of how we wear masks to pretend all is well, but only in moonlight do our true feelings arise." "Shall we promise, then, to leave the masks behind tonight?" "I’ll promise that," he says, offering a hand, “if you'll honour me with a dance.”

In search of distraction from Ranrok's rebellion, you dance with Ominis in the Undercroft.

[read on AO3]

A/N: I originally wrote this for @yoshitsuno's #Hogtober challenge last year, but I've since made some edits. Very short and sweet, no use of Y/N (just you/yours) and MC is gender neutral. Enjoy. <3

The music lilts up the lift shaft, reaching your ears long before it clunks to a juddering stop. When the grille slides up, you tiptoe into the Undercroft. It’s a classical tune you don’t recognise, a poignant operatic with a melody that evokes a sense of sadness and beauty – and you know immediately which Slytherin will be enjoying it.

Eyes shut, Ominis is reclined against the furthest pillar. He’s dressed down today, in an unbuttoned waistcoat and loosely knotted tie. You could almost believe he was asleep if not for his wand, gently mimicking a conductor’s baton against his thigh, tapping perfectly in time with each beat.

“It’s a lovely song.”

He doesn’t stop. “From Gabriel Fauré's Clair de lune. I particularly like its message, comparing the human experience to rays of the moon.”

He gets to his feet as you drift closer. The voice swells dramatically; he flicks his wand, and the gramophone quietens.

“No, no, don’t turn it down on my account,” you say; Ominis’ hand hangs in air. “I don’t want to interrupt.”

“Why did you come?”

“To find something to do. To… distract myself. All this business with Ranrok…”

You don’t need to say anything more. He knows.

The corners of his mouth tug upwards. “There’s always homework. I believe we have eight inches to write for Defence Against the Dark Arts.”

“Already finished it.”

“Naturally. Don’t tell Sebastian though, he might want to copy.”

“If he doesn’t I’ll assume someone hexed him.”

Ominis smiles more warmly and takes a tentative step closer; in the light of the braziers, shadows writhe and bend against him, sharply cleaving his features, and it makes him look like he could set fire to the world.

"Fitting, isn't it?" he murmurs, so quiet his voice blends with the song's deeper notes. "The verse speaks of how we wear masks to pretend all is well, but only in moonlight do our true feelings arise."

"Shall we promise, then, to leave the masks behind tonight?"

"I’ll promise that," he says, offering a hand, “if you'll honour me with a dance.”

“You can dance?”

“A little. And you?”

“No,” you admit, yet you breach his space, close enough to smell his cologne, “but it might be nice to learn.”

“It’s simple.” He guides your hand to his shoulder, and clasps the other gently in his own. “If a blind man can do it, you are more than capable.”

“Don’t put yourself down like that.”

“I’m only trying to make you feel comfortable.” His tone is lighter, laced with teasing. “Follow my lead.”

His free hand goes to your waist, and the touch dizzies you as he coaxes you back, to the left, forwards again and around. Ominis commands you so well you wouldn't believe he wasn’t born to play the role of the dutiful heir of Slytherin, born to lead his pure-blood family to its inherent greatness. Were it not for his virtuous beliefs, his unwavering loyalty and kind heart, perhaps it would be true. It was that compassion that drew you to him in the first place, so long ago – and it's the small ways he continues to prove his compassion that keeps you there, a stalwart presence at his side.

With him, leaving the mask behind is easier.

“Let the music show you the way,” he says, when you curse after a misstep. “Feet position doesn’t matter so much as the reason we're dancing.”

You step in again, basking in his scent. “What are we dancing for?”

“That depends on you.”

“To peace, then.” You smile at him though he cannot see. “We dance to carve out a moment of peace.”

“I like that.”

He leads, you follow. The Undercroft becomes your stage, Ominis the prince that sweeps you away. There is no rebellion, no school, no expectation of society, responsibility, or real life. All you see is him, all you feel is his compassion, the shadows that yield to him giving you room to breathe. He may have darkness at his beck and call, and you the tumult of an incoming storm, but together you make something brilliant and beautiful. Together you make the lone ray of the moon that lights the way through the everlasting night.

“You see?” he says, with that inexplicably captivating softness. “You're a natural.”

You squeeze his hand.

“I have a good teacher.”

A loud cough jerks Ominis back, out of your grip.

The grille closes, and Sebastian strolls inside, robe thrown over his shoulder, looking terribly smug.

“Interrupt something, did I?”

“No,” Ominis barks at once, that softness replaced by calloused edges and walls. He steps a polite distance away, but doesn’t turn his back. “You presume too much.”

“Or I don’t presume enough?”

You sweep down your robe, fixing Sebastian a glare. He only wiggles his brow at you. Ingrate.

“Either way, stop that racket. I need absolute silence to copy your Defence Against the Dark Arts essays.”

Moment dashed, masks on, Ominis makes a weary grunt and goes to turn the gramophone off… but you don’t miss the smile that lingers on his face.

Fin.

Please like and reblog if you enjoyed <3

[read on AO3] [Gabriel Fauré's Clair de lune on YouTube] [Divider credit]

[tanaisokay]

Aster Button • Hogwarts Legacy MC • Character Information

(Character Sheet Commission by my amazing bestie, @unholytrio420)

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General Information

Full Name: Aster Jane Button

Nicknames: Princess of Hufflepuff, Sweetheart & Bug

Gender: Female

Sexual Orientation: Pansexual

Date of Birth: April 30th, 1875

Dominate Hand: Left

Zodiac Sign: Taurus ☀️🌙 & Cancer ⬆️

Personality Type (MBTI): ENFP - Campaigner

Blood Status: Half-blood

Alignment: Lawful Good

Nationality: English/Greek

House: Hufflepuff

Wand: Natural shape, English Oak, Unicorn Hair Core, 20 cm, handle is carved with oak leaves and has an acorn on the bottom of the handle.

Patronus: Swarm of Bees or Ibizan Bound

(One is my wants, the other is wizarding worlds take)

Boggart: Herself

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Physical Appearance

Hair Colour & Style: Has wavy/curly dark brown hair, with a bang fringe that curls at the ends because of her naturally curly hair. She tends to keep her hair half up in an updo with a white bow holding it back.

Eye Color: Her eyes are a dark green with a yellow center.

Skin Tone: Light olive tone with peach undertones. Has a flush of freckles all over her face. She also has light rosacea on her cheeks, nose and forehead.

Height: 5’7” (170cm)

Other features:

She does wear makeup, even though it was frowned upon at that time. She has a smudge of eyeliner on her upper lid and goes wear some lipstick/Vaseline for shine.

An overbite with bunny teeth.

Girly wears earrings as well. They are vintage screw backs from 1890 that match her colors and vibe. Gold & Black varnish with diamonds.

Face claim: Hande Ercel is her slight face claim. Hande Ercel has dark brown eyes and doesn’t have freckles, but she’s a Turkish actress with the perfect face shape. Which is why I say she’s a slight face claim. Her role in Azize just screams Aster with her hair as it is as well.

(The right photo was edited by Ellie to give her green eyes and freckles - she’s quite literally perfect!)

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Personality

Positive Traits: extroverted, empathic, patient, elegant, down to earth, in tune with her emotions, lawful, dedicated, loving & kind

Neutral Traits: sensitive, tantalizing, sensual, dominant, can not lie for shite, work oriented & overthinks constantly

Negative Traits: opinionated, materialistic, dense, slow, kind of a mean girl in a domineering way, fair to a fault & spoiled

Scent: Lilac, Moss and Honey

Strengths: Being a walking bug magnet, saying ‘No’, Stability

Weaknesses: being yelled at, crying to easily, Numbers/Math (Dyslexic), dealing with parasites

Fears: Heights & The Dark

Likes: Her family, Insects, Bee Keeping, Running, Gardening, Eating, Talking, Cuddling

Dislikes: The Wizarding Realm, Passive Aggressive Rudeness, People who have a twisted reality that being blunt is actually being nice, Dark Magic, Racism, Slavery, Pure-Blood enthusiasts

Future Dreams: A normal happy life in research entomology

Favorite Classes: Charms, History of Magic, Herbology, Divination

Hated Classes: Potions, Defense Against the Dark Arts, Flying, Astronomy

Music Loves: Frank Sinatra, Vic Damone, Benny Goodman, Billie Holiday, Dean Martin, Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Tommy Dorsey, Artie Shaw, etc.

Aesthetic: Honeycore Coquette

Love Language: Physical Touch & Companionship

Pinterest Board (important): https://pin.it/5APIW6Lqo

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Relationships

Father: Theodore Button - Lord, Wizard, Business Man

Mother: Abigail Button - Lady, Normie, Socialite

Sibling(s): Timothy Button - Older brother, Future Lawyer, Normie

Distant Relatives: Percival Rackham - Many-Great Grandfather

Hogwarts Guardian(s): Matilda Weasley, Abraham Ronan, Aesop Sharp & Dinah Hecate

Love Interest: Sebastian Sallow

Best Friends: Nerida Roberts, Grace Pinch-Smedley, Ominis Gaunt, Adelaide Oakes, Anne Sallow

Rivals: Imelda Rayes

Enemies: Ranrok, Victor Rookwood, Ashwinders

Pets:

Ladybird Spider named Lily

All her bees

A full nest of Fwoopers

4 Nifflers - Quartz, Obsidian, Copper & Tin-Tin

2 Kneezles - Knee & Zazzy

2 Unicorns - June & August (Golden)

2 Hippogriff - Ares (Tawny) & Highwing

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Outside Character Inspirations

Cher Horowitz - Clueless

Nausicaä of the Valley of the Wind

Elora Danan - Willow TV series

Willow Rosenberg - Buffy the Vampire Slayer

Lexi Howard - Euphoria

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I FOUND THE HL PEEP THAT INSPIRED ME FOR THIS POST!! Big thank you to @masqueradereveler21 for their post. I love Gwen so much ~ 💚

[legacygirlingreen]

Part 4, Chapter 7: Repository III (the final) // Sebastian Sallow x Reader

AN: I apologize for this unedited mess. I am also so sorry I’ve been swamped and haven’t uploaded. I have a lot going on right now in my real life and writing has taken a backseat to it. I plan to finish this series soon. Thank you all for holding out with me. This is mostly just filler. Again, sorry.

Pic belongs to @99luka9 on Pinterest! (Not sure if they have a blog here as well but I found in on there)

Warnings: mention of blood, death, violence

Word count: 3,800

Link to Masterlist

The more Sebastian dug into the stone the more blood began to pool in his palms. Sweat dripped down his brow and down the sides of his neck, as well as down his nape, before trailing into his shirt collar. As he went to push yet another piece of piled up rumble to the cave floor, the slick of his palm caused him to lose traction, resulting in him slamming his fingers into the harsh surface as he let out an expletive.

Frustratedly he wiped his hands on the surface of his pants in an attempt to once again gain traction before resuming his efforts to push the stones. The more rubble he cleared, allowing him to gain more information as to what was happening on the other side. More loud taunting, more loud crashing, and thankfully more spell casting. He couldn’t quite make out what she was shouting from wherever this opening would lead, but he could hear the distinct sound of a spell hurling through the air followed by the occasional roar or groan of Ranrok. Everything about this reminded him of how broken she had felt when he rushed into the house with Solomon hot on his heels while he gripped her bleeding body to his chest.

Solomon. That was the strangest part of the ordeal. The more he continued to dig, the more he could hear her sole voice calling back against the goblin. He knew that Solomon had been trapped inside the cavern with her, and a part of him hoped that at the very least the man was alive to help keep her safe, but given the lack of hearing the man’s gruff voice or simultaneous casting there only left a few options for his uncle’s fate: the man was knocked out, the man ran, or he was already dead.

And as callous as it seemed, Sebastian didn’t really care which of three it wound up being.

In fact, Sebastian knew that if he got inside with only the ability to save one of them, he would save her with no hesitation. Solomon may be blood, but that didn’t make him family. Especially after finding out what he had done to Anne, and leaving his love to die at the hands of Rookwood, he had no love left in his heart for Solomon Sallow. That - and years of abuse at the man’s hands didn’t exactly bode well. In some small ways it might be better if Solomon was already dead, he thought. That way he wouldn’t have to kill Solomon himself.

Eventually he pushed aside just the right stone to cause the majority of them to fall away, opening up a small hole which he could see lead into a tunnel. Seeing it as the only way forward he crouched the best he could, pushing through until the tunnel allowed him to once again stand to full height. Inside it appeared similar to San Bakaar’s fourth trial and the location in which he witnessed the memory of the keepers confronting Isadora.

Sebastian felt a chill run up the entire length of his spine before it settled against his nape as he shuddered remembering what he had seen. In some ways he respected San Bakaar more than the others - as the man seemed to understand his policy of using whatever means necessary when your life's on the line. Even during the keeper’s time at Hogwarts the killing curse was forbidden. Knowing all four of them agreed to use it on Isadora in order to protect the wizarding world from her demented actions of corrupting the purity of ancient magic with human pain, made him more inclined to trust their judgment. It also made him glad that he taught the girl how to use it in extreme circumstances.

“Sebastian I am not so sure about this…” she spoke as they rounded that all too familiar staircase of the restricted section. The weight of the books he was returning pressed into his forearms. This was not to do with Anne that he had come back here. In fact he’d given up searching months ago after she finally convinced him they would find a way with ancient magic. But for some reason, after a night where she’d stumbled back even later than his shift with Sirona, covered in blood from poachers, he decided maybe raiding some of the healing spells would benefit her.

“We are just returning what I borrowed. Not taking anything else, I promise” he told her with a sigh.

“What did you take?” She asked cautiously, worried he’d have slipped back into old habits.

“Healing spells they just don’t teach at the school. I wanted to be able to teach them to you. I’m sick of seeing you stumble back broken and bloodied.” He explained, finally coming back to the spot in which he’d removed a few tomes on advanced healing.

“Oh. I thought - nevermind” she said, coming forward to help place the books back on the shelf near him.

“You thought, what? That I was messing with dark magic again?” He asked playfully, not concerned about her response because he genuinely hadn’t. Sebastian had no reason to be embarrassed or start a fuss over something he wasn’t engaging with any longer. And if he was honest with himself… he felt better. His head felt clearer. His back, less weighted.

“Well… why else would one sneak into the restricted section…?” She asked as she peaked open one of the books seeing it did in fact have very complex healing spells before putting it back on the shelf.

“Pornographic material” he said with a shrug.

“What?!” She shrieked and he laughed at her response as he pointed back to a dimly lit alcove all the boys at school had heard about. It was true that several boys always found a way to sneak in and raid it. On occasion he’d grabbed a few on his way out to make the trip more worth it…

“Yeah some of them even moan and make noises and such-“ he started and she smacked his arm as he chuckled.

“Stop being a brute and just put back the healing books you stole. Merlin, why am I courting such a delinquent?” She asked.

“Because you love me?” He teased stretching his hand out, which she graciously took.

“I do. And I’m also glad you stopped looking into dark magic. I know there’s been circumstances your knowledge has come in handy but… overall I prefer not using it as a first resort”

“I agree. I admit, I might’ve started getting a tad loose with some spells I shouldn’t have. I do still think it’s important to have knowledge of dark magic. And there are times I think the ends justify the means…”

“What are you talking about?” She asked, feet stalling as she looked at him.

“Well, if you do face Ranrok, and he has you pinned down without a moment of your life or his, I would prefer to know that you at least knew the killing curse. At that moment I believe it would be a justifiable means to kill him. And I don’t think the ministry would care either given goblins and human rights aren’t the same. But either way, I would like to know you would do anything to keep yourself safe if it came to that. Not as a first choice but a last resort” he explained, somewhat timidly. He knew she didn’t love the use of dark magic, but she never discouraged him trying to gain understanding of it. She saw past the black and white nature of it all, and it was something he deeply loved and admired her for.

“Oh… I hadn’t really thought about it.” She said nervously.

“You don’t have to-“ he tried to explain he wasn’t demanding she learn one of the three unforgivable spells on his account purely, but she cut him off.

“No. You’re right. This is too important. This magic is too dangerous to leave in Ranrok’s hands. I should at least know what to do if it came to that. Not necessarily for my sake but everyone else’s” she explained leaving him stunned.

“I’m really surprised you are so quick to want to learn an unforgivable curse” Sebastian told her honestly.

“Like you said, this mission is important and killing him may be the only way to protect it. Come on down here. I’ll show you the athenaeum. It’s where I went that day you took the fall for me. You can teach me in there how to use it” she said, dragging him along further into the restricted section.

Sebastian had been surprised at her willingness to see the greater good and now he just hoped that she had both paid attention and was alive to make the call if it came down to it.

Finally having a plan seemed to help. The more she continued to use the attack strategy suggested by Sebastian, the more Ranrok began to absorb the pain as the magic separated from the toxicity contaminating it. This strategy seemed to be the solution, however the more desperate Ranrok became, the more she continued to be knocked down with his futile attempts at preventing her from removing his power.

Each fall felt worse on her already aching body. But at the end of the day, she knew that she would need to stop the goblin, even if it was the last thing she did. This was too important to give up now.

The swirls and conflicting magic surrounded them both as he drew smaller. And then with the most deafening scream of pain did the blast of red and black magic surround them as Ranrok once again returned to his original state.

“You are… but a child…” he grunted out in pain as he stared up at her.

“You shouldn’t understand anyone on account of being young” she spat as he quickly moved to his feet once again, only to be shoved down by her usage of the ancient magic around them.

Watching in horror as the last of the pain entered the goblin, he rose from the ground, screaming in agony as the pain she removed became too much. In horror she watched as she slowly began to glow, breaking apart into thin ash like parts before suddenly he was gone.

A gasp left her lips as she fell to her knees, shocked that it was over. It was finally all over.

Loud banging filled the space before the cavern lurked, loud sounds of falling rocks once again filling the space as she looked above. The chamber she was in began to collapse, as she struggled to rise. Energy depleted from the fight with Ranrok, she wasn’t sure she would be able to stand long enough to search for a way out.

And in her heart she found comfort in knowing at least everyone would be safe. The world at large had been saved. The likelihood of her walking away was low. And yet, she simply wanted to be granted the opportunity to say goodbye to him. To the handsome Slytherin boy, who had taught her so much. Who had shown her great care. Who had loved her beyond a shadow of a doubt.

Laying down, she simply closed her eyes, accepting her fate. Perhaps her mind's eye could recall his big brown eyes one more time. Or imagine all his adorning freckles. If she really concentrated she almost felt as if she could hear his voice shouting her name. What she wouldn’t give to feel him hold her one last time.

But then she felt it. A dirty trick of the mind to shift to the afterlife is what she assumed, but when she opened her eyes and saw the cavern collapsing just behind his head she gasped.

“Bash” came the hushed whisper before she was desperately pulled into his arms as he stood.

“Hold on, we are getting out of here. Just hold onto me” he spoke before whistling loudly, the sound of loud flapping filling the space as her eyes drifted closed. Flashes of feathers, falling debris and his worried face filled her mind before it all faded to black.

“Mr. Sallow set her down on the cot so the nurse can look over her injuries!” Professor Weasley shouted as the rag tag team of staff and students bust into the hospital ward.

The girl, having lost consciousness somewhere on the journey out of the repository, was still perched in Sebastian’s arms. The boy damn near growling earlier when someone tried to remove her. Lurching forward he set her down, unaware of the wards existing students.

Their friends and educators all coming around to stare down at the battered girl who had saved them. Well, all of them except one.

“Sebastian…” whispered behind him and when he finally tore his eyes from the girl he saw Anne.

“Annie…” he said in shock, having forgotten until now that poppy spoke about his witch find a cure.

“What happened? Where’s, where’s Solomon?” She asked, looking around.

His mind flashed back to the cavern, seeing his uncle crushed on the floor no longer breathing just as he had fled. She had whispered something akin to Solomon before she had fainted but he already knew the man was gone.

“He didn’t make it Anne” he spoke softly as his sister begun to wail loudly. Ominis coming forward to remove his sister from the already chaotic scene, he turned back to his love who still had yet to wake as the nurse began to try and heal some of her injuries.

“Is she going to be alright?” he asked softly as the nurse turned to him.

“I’d say so. Diagnostic spells show most of the damage is external, not internal.” The nurse spoke mending gashes and wiping away blood. As she did so, he took note of the already pink forming scar along the girl's face, now running through the middle of it. It wasn’t the kind of mark that happened by accident, the way it looked was deliberate. Poppy’s cries in the room of requirement were all he needed to know that it had been the result of Rookwood.

“Merlin…” he whispered as Professor Fig tugged him aside.

“It’s best to let them clean her up first. I need to speak with you” the man spoke and all he could do was nod. Deep down Sebastian knew the man was likely playing the events in December over in his mind, recalling how awful the boy had reacted to seeing her injured. Sitting at the edge of a separate bed he sighed.

Soon he found himself in front of the professors. Sebastian hadn’t noticed that Professor Weasley had escorted out all the other students, leaving only Leander who sustained a slightly sizable gash on his leg. But when the adults stared down at him as they refrained from talking he grew confused.

“Mr. Sallow you need to remove your shirt” Professor Sharp said sternly as he looked up confused.

“What?” Sebastian asked as the man harshly pointed at the wound on his shoulder. “Oh. I forgot about that…” he said gritting his teeth as he tried to unbutton the shirt with his non dominate hand.

“Adrenaline can make the body forget the trauma it’s experienced. It doesn’t look as bad now but still shouldn’t take too many chances with it.” The man said as he finished using spells he knew from his time at the ministry to examine the wound. Knowing the nurse would likely be too busy, helping the young Sallow man fell to him in responsibility.

“Is everyone decent?” Came a voice behind Professor Sharp who simply nodded as Matilda Weasley came forward.

“Mr. Sallow. I am going to need much more information this instance.” She demanded.

“Alright.” He spoke grumpily.

“Do you have any kind of idea the danger you put yourself, and your classmates, in?” She asked.

“Did you? Because from what I have come to realize, is that only Professor Fig and I were aware the danger everyone was in this whole time. I was likely more prepared than most of you to handle this”

“That doesn’t excuse your actions-“

“I will not apologize for wanting to make sure she walked out of there alive. Give me detention for the rest of the year. Expel me. Lock me in Azkaban. I don’t care. She is alive and going to be okay. That is all that matters to me” he spoke with exasperation.

“Matilda, perhaps given none of the students were in danger we should consider thanking Mr. Sallow for his assistance. Has they not arrived I am not sure even we all would have walked away” Professor Sharp spoke up.

“The distraction provided by Mr. Sallow and the other students allowed us to gain the upper hand during the battle.” Hecat pointed out.

“Yes but, they could have been hurt. How would I have explained it to their parents or the headmaster?” She questioned.

“Considering Sallow and I are the only two who got hurt, new fifth year excluded, I’d say it’s not something we need to be concerned with Professor Weasley. Chalk it up to some Slytherin resourcefulness and Gryffindor bravery.” Leander grunted as a house elf finished wrapping his leg.

The woman sighed before looking around. Eyes landing on the floor network as two figures emerged.

“Everett found me but when we made it back to the cavern everyone had left” Andrew Larson spoke walking forward with Officer Singer.

“What in Merlin’s name happened here? What is this I hear of a goblin attack?” She asked looking around at the battle worn professors and few injured students.

“Yes. And it appears several of our students mounted a counter offensive” she said with a frustrated sigh.

“Students?! The minister-“

“Will be delighted to know that Hogwarts has such brave, resourceful, loyal and intelligent students that they would be willing to sacrifice themselves for the greater good. Going so far to go against the measure we took to ensure their safety” Professor Weasley spoke.

“I will need to contact the minister and start a full investigation into the matters-“ Officer Singer began before Matilda once again cut her off.

“Tomorrow. These students, and us for that matter, have been through a great deal. Let them rest. Recover from their injuries before we go bringing up such events again.” She said sternly, nodding to Sebastian that his witch was alert.

No longer caring about the logistics he ran forward, sliding onto his knees as he took to her bed side.

“Sebastian?” She asked gently as he grabbed her hands in his own, kissing the skin along the back of her hand firmly over and over again.

“You are alive. Merlin be praised, you are alive!” He said excitedly as he no longer cared about the hospital ward full of people as he reached his hand out along the back of her neck and brought her into a kiss. It conveyed all the fear, anger, love and pain he was dealing with at all that had happened.

Breaking away to catch her breath the sighed in pain before looking back up at him sadly. “Sebastian… Solomon he…”

“I know” he told her, not really finding it in his heart to care about it at the moment.

“No. He saved me. I was falling. I - I would’ve died had he not saved me. And then he fell to his own death. Sebastian, it was horrible…” she said as tears began to well up in her eyes. He reached forward, hoping to provide comfort as she sobbed. Inside, the boy knew it was rather callous to not feel bad about his last remaining adult relative being gone, but after what he did to Anne, what Solomon did to him and most importantly what he had let Rookwood do to her, he didn’t care.

“We don’t have to discuss it now… you are alive and that’s all that matters” he told her gently as he wipped the tears from her face and she nodded. Reaching towards the table beside her bed, she produced Solomon’s wand and handed it to Sebastian.

“I managed to grab this before everything happened. I thought Anne might want it. But Sebastian-“ she started to speak as the girl in question ran forward.

“Why do you have our uncle’s wand?!” She shrieked.

“We got separated and he was with me when Ranrok-“

“So it’s your fault.” Anne spoke harshly as a gasp fell over them.

“Anne, I’m not sure we have all the information to make claims like that-“ Ominis spoke but the girl interrupted.

“No. She walked out. Solomon didn’t. That’s all I need to know” Anne responded.

“Anne. You have no idea the vile things Solomon did to even you. He-“ Sebastian started only to be interrupted by the witch at his side.

“You are right Anne. Solomon sacrificed himself to save me. And there’s nothing I can do to bring him back or make it okay. I’m sorry.” She said sadly.

“Maybe if you weren’t so careless he’d be alive. It is all your fault.” She spat before standing up.

“Anne! She saved you-” Ominis said standing up and rushing after the girl who was fleeing the hospital ward, leaving Sebastian and her to sit in silence over what had happened.

“Poppy told me what happened. Don't worry. Anne doesn’t know what Solomon did to her. We will talk to her-“ he spoke after a moment and she stopped him.

“No. Let Anne grieve him. She deserves that. I won’t take that away from her” she told him.

“She deserves to know she was dying because Solomon is a coward.”

“Sebastian, I will not be the reason your sister loses the image of her protective and loving uncle.”

“He was anything but that. I won’t have her speak to you that way. You saved her. For heaven's sake, you saved us all '' Sebastian told her sternly.

“And right now she is a girl who is sad over her Uncle’s death. She should be allowed to do that.” She replied.

“Not at the sake of your good name” he told her.

“We will tell her eventually. Right now I really just want to rest.” She said sadly.

“I have talked to Officer Singer. Tomorrow you will all report to discuss the events of today first thing in the morning. Classes have been canceled. For now you are released to go rest.” Professor Weasley spoke before turning on her heels to discuss with the other professors.

“Let’s get you back to the dorm-“ he spoke and she shook her head.

“Room of requirement. I can’t… I don’t want to face anyone right now” she spoke and he nodded, helping her rise to her feet and start down the stairs to their private sanctuary.

To be continued…

[thetaxicabber]

Chapter 15 art for Voyagers of Time and Shadow! 

This amazing art by @giselsann-opencommissions I'm so excited to continue getting art for this series! If you've read it let me know which scenes you'd like to see! :) 

Here's an excerpt from this chapter!

She abandons her bag on his stone floor and flees out of his office. She can hear a commotion upstairs faintly through the blood pounding in her head. But right now she doesn’t care. Her shoes slap along the stones of the dungeon as she sprints to the one place she can have the solitude she needs. The one place that only belongs to her. She never wanted to return, but right now it will be her sanctuary. The iron gate of the storage room creaks loudly as she swings it open and she disappears into the darkness.

The air is heavy with the scent of mildew. The stone walls are as dirty as they were when she discovered this place. A sob rips past her lips as she shoulders open the glimmering door that’s imbued with ancient magic. The room normally takes her breath away but all she can feel is panic that threatens her control. She’s relieved to see the massive portraits stand empty. The last thing she needs is to hear the Keepers judgmental advice. That’s why she hasn’t been down here since coming to this time. They must be in their other portraits right now. Good. This place no longer is theirs to rule over. It belongs to her; she's the only reason it's still standing.

By the time Evie makes it as deep underground as the where the repository once stood she lets out a shriek. It’s the kind of scream that’s been building for months. All her frustration, all her anger, her grief, is unleashed. Her hands glow red and she feels the power simmering inside her. For the first time since summer she lets go. A crack echoes through the empty cave and Evie watches the stone path beneath her fracture. She’s left scorch marks in the shape of her hands. Everything around her turns red as her power is summoned to the surface.

This place withstood Ranrok in all his might and power. It held their fierce battle though it was close to falling apart at the end. If there was a single place in the school that was safe for her to let go its right here. This was a place built to contain ancient magic. It was built to contain her. As tears cascade down her cheeks that’s exactly what Evie does. She lets go.

[writingsoftarnishedsilver]

okay I just killed a troll with the killing curse abd sharp pulled up behind me and my first reaction was I'm going to jail

LMAOOOO. Off to Azkaban for you!

(no but fr Seb kills one guy and he's in deep shit but we kill hundreds of ppl with unforgiveables and the blood is on ranrok's hands...?)

[ephemerasnape]

Best of Ashwinders & Poachers AI

I've been having a lot of fun with AI stuff, and while there have been horrors beyond your wildest imagination, a lot of really good images have come from it also. Here are some of my favorites!

Ignore the eye color.

Mortimus is a thoughtful guy.

Sleeping with his mask on.. That second could be straight out of my fic Paying the Piper.

AI had some ideas of what he'd look like without the mask.

Tempeste Thorne.. I wanted her to have one of those long cigarette holders that I'm sure weren't popular until the 20th century but no dice.

I love how it always want to put the same clothes on anyone else in the picture as are on the main guy.

The blood we deserved to see on Poacher Executioner. From Ranrok's hands, obviously.

To be or not to be..?

OK, now for some funny ones.

I wanted to get Oswald with a baby. The damn thing insisted on putting a mask on the baby every single time. Couldn't get it to change the hair either.

Mortimus and his pet walrus...

For some reason the AI gave him an emotional support lemon in bed. Sleep well, mister Mortimus.

[ravenclair]

In the Shadow of You | Hogwarts Legacy

☆ Summary | Previous Chapter | Next Chapter

☆ Available on Wattpad

Chapter 3: Nightmares

(Word count: 2,162)

"You are a traitor to our kind…!

Children should be seen and not heard…

…the wizarding world could not be in more capable hands."

Your eyes shot open, your heart beating wildly in your chest. You were struggling to breathe.

You had been having nightmares periodically throughout the summer. They were hazy, and you usually couldn’t recall exactly what happened in them once you awoke. But you’d always wake suddenly, sweating, your heart hammering. 

You still hadn’t told anyone, not even Sebastian.

This was the most vivid nightmare you had experienced. It was like you were reliving your worst moments of fifth year all over again, leaving you feeling shaken and disoriented. 

I’m safe…I’m at Hogwarts, in the dormitories, you thought, trying to calm yourself.  Ranrok is dead. Rookwood is dead. Professor Fig is…but I am alive. I am safe.

When your breathing finally returned to normal, you noticed there was a faint blue glow emanating from beneath your pillow. Lifting the pillow, you saw that the locket was glowing with those traces of ancient magic that only you could see. 

It hadn’t done that since the day you discovered it in Professor Fig’s bedchambers. 

You actually hadn’t had any experience with your ancient power since that day you found the locket. Hadn’t felt any pull of magic, guiding you to an unknown destination. Hadn’t summoned one spark of that blue light all summer. You had begun to fear that maybe you had accidentally locked up your power as well, that day you resealed the repository of dark magic beneath Hogwarts. 

A very small part of you was relieved. Which was yet another secret you kept to yourself.

Having that ancient magic was a wonderful gift, but it had brought such hardship into your life. Having it made you a target. A weapon. A savior.

It was a complicated relationship. 

The locket continued to glow. Deciding you weren’t going back to sleep anytime soon, you grabbed the locket by the chain and used its blue glow to guide you toward the girls’ lavatory. 

Keeping your footsteps light so as to not disturb your roommates, you quietly snuck from the dormitory and made your way down the hall. The blue light illuminated your path and cast eerie shadows along the walls. You pretended not to notice them.

Once in the bathroom, you glanced at your reflection in the mirror. You looked…haunted. After gently setting the locket on the counter, you splashed water on your face, trying to chase away your nightmares. Memories. Whatever. 

Suddenly, you felt a sharp pain spike in both of your temples. It caught you so incredibly off guard that you cried out and fell to your knees. You clutched the sides of your head, squeezed your eyes shut, tried not to scream. 

It was agonizing. 

The locket’s glow began flickering chaotically from blue to red. Red to blue. 

You felt…something. Foggy and distant. But you couldn’t focus. Your blood was roaring in your ears. You couldn’t see, couldn’t hear, couldn’t think.

And as quickly as it happened, it was over. Mere seconds had passed. It felt like hours. 

You were keeled over on the cold floor, gasping for air. You couldn’t move. 

The sunrise had begun to peak through the lavatory windows before you were able to pick yourself up and sneak back to bed. 

⋆｡°✩

It was officially your first day of sixth year. 

You tried not to think about what had transpired early that morning. The nightmares. The…pain. 

Whatever that was.

After all that had transpired during your fifth year, you were desperate for a normal Hogwarts school experience. You didn’t want to dwell on what was happening with your ancient magic. You wanted to attend class with your friends and learn about ordinary, everyday magic. 

You pulled on your new uniform and robes, feeling slightly nauseous. You ignored that, too. 

Luckily, you had somehow managed to appear well-rested. You could almost convince yourself that everything was perfectly fine. 

Everything is perfectly fine…! you thought stubbornly. 

“All set?” Samantha said, pulling you from your thoughts. Your first class of the day was Advanced Potions with Professor Sharp, which you two had together. 

You grabbed your textbook and your school bag. You double checked its contents: parchment, quill, ink, extra parchment, and your wand. You purposefully left the locket stuffed beneath your pillow, wanting nothing to do with it at the moment. 

You nodded. “Let’s go, Professor Sharp will never let us hear the end of it if we’re late on the first day.”

By the time you walked into the classroom, most of the students had already arrived. And, unfortunately, most of the potion stations had already been claimed. 

“Over here, there is space for you both!” you heard a familiar voice say.

Natty was waving you and Samantha over to the potion station she and Garreth Weasley had occupied. Which, of course, was front and center, directly across from Professor Sharp’s desk. No wonder those spots were still available. 

That and everyone else most likely wanted to be as far away from Garreth as possible. 

You smiled and walked over, Samantha leading the way ahead of you. 

“Natty! So good to see you,” you said as you set down your things across from her. “I missed you at the Sorting Ceremony last night.”

“It is good to see you as well, my friend!” Natty returned. “I cannot wait to hear all about your summer holiday.”

“What am I, chopped Dugbog tongue?” Garreth complained. “Did you not miss me as well?”

You laughed at the Gryffindor to your left. “Of course, Garreth. How was your holiday?”

“Very nice, thank you for asking,” he smiled. “I spent most of the summer thinking up new recipes to try this year. Don’t worry, you’ll definitely be the first to know once I’ve perfected them.”

“As long as it doesn’t explode in her face, I’m sure it’ll be great,” Samantha teased, sitting to your right. 

You had gotten stuck with the seat closest to the front, so your back currently faced Professor Sharp. It did, however, give you the best vantage point for surveying the rest of the classroom.

Amit was at the station closest to the door, the same spot he had been in the previous year. A Hufflepuff girl you recalled having herbology with sat next to him. Lenora Everleigh, you remembered. There was also a second Hufflepuff girl you didn’t recognize. 

To your far left sat Imelda, Ominis, and Sebastian. He sat on the side facing toward Sharp, Imelda across, and Ominis to his left. Sebastian was already glancing in your direction when you looked over, sitting with his chin resting casually on his propped hand. You gave him a quick smile and wave. 

“Alright, class, may I have your attention,” Professor Sharp said, as he stood from his desk. You and Imelda both had to turn to face him. 

“I hope you all had an enjoyable holiday,” he continued as he made his way around his desk, “and I am pleased to see you decided to take Advanced Potions. As the name suggests, this will be more difficult than your previous potions class, as it is considered a N.E.W.T. level course. Be prepared.”

Garreth barely stifled his groan. 

Professor Sharp walked over to the chalkboard and flipped it, showing a written list of various potions. “These are the potions we will be covering over the course of the term. They are also listed in your textbooks, along with their descriptions and ingredients.”

Your eyes glanced quickly over the list. 

Polyjuice Potion, Felix Felicis, Veritaserum, Draught of the Living Dead, and…Amortentia. 

Your eyes widened. Love potion? It didn’t seem like a particularly brilliant idea to teach that to a bunch of teenagers. You could hear the two Hufflepuff girls giggling excitedly behind you. 

Definitely not a good idea.

“Yes, Miss Everleigh?” Professor Sharp asked.

Lenora had apparently raised her hand. “Is that the order we’ll be learning them in as well?”

She wasn’t happy that Amortentia was last on the list. Oddly enough, the textbook only mentions what ingredients you need, not how to actually brew it. During your reading of it the other night, you had supposed that was done on purpose. 

Professor Sharp nodded. “Precisely. Now, by next class, I’d like a three scroll essay on the historical uses of the Polyjuice Potion, as well as what might affect its potency. You’re dismissed for today.”

⋆｡°✩

“Damn that Sharp, I can’t believe he assigned an essay on the first day of class!” Sebastian grumbled at lunch. The Great Hall was fairly empty, so the two of you and Ominis sat together at the Slytherin table. 

You had just come from your N.E.W.T. level Charms class, which the three of you took together after Potions. You had been pleased to find Poppy waiting outside the classroom, and the two of you decided to sit next to one another. Similarly to Potions, Professor Ronen briefly discussed the charms that would be covered throughout the term, although he was kind enough to dismiss you without an assignment. 

“You shouldn’t be surprised,” you responded after swallowing your food. “He probably hates the thought of students actually having fun during school.” 

Ominis nodded in agreement. “It’ll only get worse from here on out. Remember what he said in class today. Be prepared.”

Sebastian sighed in frustration. “Quidditch practice will be eating up most of my afternoons now. Schoolwork will just have to wait.”

“You need to sort out your priorities,” Ominis replied. 

Rolling his eyes, Sebastian turned his attention back to you. 

“So,” he drawled, “thoughts on joining for quidditch trials today?”

You honestly hadn’t given it any thought. After this morning’s events, you definitely didn’t know if joining the quidditch team was the best idea. But the thought of spending more time with your best friend…had its appeals.

“Well, I don’t have the proper equipment,” you responded, trying for an excuse. “And I, for one, think schoolwork takes precedence over quidditch practice.”

“Don’t be such a Ravenclaw!” he mocked playfully. “You’ll be able to finish that essay for Sharp in no time and you know it. You’re the brightest witch in this school.” 

You tried not to blush at the compliment, but he was right. You had planned on starting the essay tonight and wrapping it up by lunchtime tomorrow. It was straight forward enough, and you already knew exactly what to write about from your summer reading.  

“As for the equipment predicament,” he continued, “I think we both know a place that could provide you with exactly what you need.”

⋆｡°✩

The Room of Requirement hadn’t been touched all summer. 

Everything was exactly as you had left it, but a certain house-elf seemed to be missing. The animals you had been caring for were turned over to Professor Howin to look after over the holiday, so the vivariums were empty as well. 

“I can’t believe you had this entire Room to yourself last year, and you didn’t tell me about it!” Sebastian said, astonished, as he surveyed the area. He was quite shocked this summer when you finally admitted where you had been disappearing to.

“The appeal was that I would have a quiet and peaceful place to study. Alone,” you gave him a pointed look. Sebastian shrugged. 

“So, you just think about what you need and the Room reads your mind?” he asked. “I know we’re magic, but even I find that hard to believe.”

You smirked, “Precisely.”

You closed your eyes and began imagining all of the gear Sebastian had listed off to you on your walk over. Nothing happened. You kept trying, suddenly embarrassed. You probably looked ridiculous. 

Not sure what good this gear will do anyway if I don’t really know what I’m doing…

A dusty book thumped onto the ground between you and Sebastian. He stared in wide-eyed shock. As he bent and read the cover, he laughed.

“Quidditch Through the Ages? Brilliant!”

You crossed your arms. “Not exactly what I had in mind.”

Sebastian picked up the book and wiped off the dust. “Guess the Room thinks you’re not quite ready to take to the pitch. A little light reading ought to settle your nerves.”

“I’m not nervous!” you said defensively. A lie.

Stupid Room.

Sebastian prompted you to hold out your hands, which you obeyed, and he handed over the book. “You most certainly are. Take a few more days to think about it. I didn’t mean to pressure you into practicing today…I guess I was just eager for you to get some experience.

“Quidditch is loads of fun, but only if you want to play,” he continued. “And, if not, it’s just as fun to watch.”

You looked up from the book to meet his eyes. Sebastian gave you a soft, reassuring smile. 

At that moment, you wanted to tell him about your nightmares. You wanted to tell him about the pain you felt that morning. About being afraid to use your ancient magic again. You wanted so badly to admit everything you had been keeping bottled up inside of you. 

But you simply nodded and returned the smile. 

It didn’t quite reach your eyes.

[serpentsillusion]

⚜Jessica Garyn Burke⚜

Slytherin baddie breaking social standards since 1890

House: Slytherin

Birthday: October 16th 1875 (age 15)

Blood status: Half-Blood

Wand: Hawthorn wood, Dragon core, 12 ¾" and slightly yielding flexibility

Special abilities: Ancient Magic, Hand to hand combat, musically inclined, excellent cook.

Pets: Mackerel Tabby Cat with white paws (Oliver)

Favorite subject: DATDA, Potions, Beast class.

Amortentia: Sandalwood, Lemon Zest, Rosemary and Dragons Blood.

Enjoys: Slayin' Gobs, Punching Rookwood, hanging out with Sebastian and Ominis, practicing hand to hand combat with her father when she's home, dancing like a moron for her friends, making people laugh, teaching Sebastian secrets about cooking, throwing parties at her house with the crew, Making music with Ominis.

Dislikes: Imelda Reyes (doesn't like bullies) Sometimes Leander, unsolicited advances, Ranrok, getting rocks stuck in her boots, giant spiders.

Traits: Incredibly intelligent; but insanely goofy. Very outspoken, blunt, cheeky and opinionated. Hot-headed but sensitive around Sebastian. Actually is very friendly and kind hearted. Is really good with foreign languages, History and Science. She loves animals and healing.

Appearance: 5'2" and sassy. She has fair skin with a small amount of freckles speckled about her face. Chestnut/Ash brown hair, usually in a messy/twisted bun. Bright ocean blue eyes. Naturally wavy hair when she has it down. When she's not wearing her proper Hogwarts uniform, she likes to dress down and comfy, usually in edgy and alternative outfits.

Favorite colors: Green, Blue, Purple

Patronus: Husky

Family: Father (David Burke *brother of Caractacus Burke*) is a Pure blood Gryffindor but definitely also probably should have been sorted into Slytherin because his daughter is JUST like him. Her mother (Ramona) is muggle born. She has two slibings; An older estranged brother (Roderick) that served in Azkaban but was released later on, an Older sister (Seraphina) who works directly under the Minister of Magic at the Ministry. Jessica and her family are American but Moved to London after her Father was transferred because he worked in the Wizarding Military Force under the Ministry. She grew up in Georgia and has a slight southern accent. They were in London long enough for both of her older siblings to attend Hogwarts and also be sorted into Slytherin but Jess didn't have magic yet. Her brother is 9 years older than she is and her sister is 7 years older than her. They eventually were transferred BACK to the USA where Jessica continued to grow up and attend Ilvermorny for only a couple of months before they were ultimately transferred BACK AGAIN to London where she started 5th year at Hogwarts, which was her very first year of having magic (she's a late bloomer) *Hints* opening game where she doesn't have a wand of her own, and is incredibly surprised by the amount of magic she sees at Hogwarts where she obviously meets Sebastian and Ominis who become her (truely real) best friends.

Usually found: in the undercroft learning how to play gobstones with the 2 Slytherin boys, sneaking into the kitchens after hours cuz she internal chonk, sneaking into the restricted section with Sebastian, in the front garden at the summoners court or in the clock tower participating in crossed wands. Sometimes in Feldcroft with Ominis taking care of Sebastian after his uncle dies suddenly and mysteriously 👀 (Sebastian technically owns the property after that)

Future career: Ancient Artifact Collector, (claims ownership of Borgin and Burkes later on) and Healer of sorts.

Inspiration for post by: @quinnsallow 💝✨

Photo creds: Lensa AI, NightCafe, Google images, image creator.

[blueraineshadows]

Dark Betrayals Part Eight

Sebastian 🔺️F!MC 🔺️Ominis

While Sebastian and Ominis have a moment alone, MC wakes up and begins her recovery.

Chapter 8 - Wounds That Cut Deep

The mood was tense as Sebastian led Ominis into an office. The air down here underground was stale and Ominis felt the oppression. He could smell the tang of blood coming from Sebastian's clothing. MC's blood.

His wand had revealed the awful lacerations on her body, long slices across her arms and stomach, the wounds sealed but likely still raw. He ached at the marring of that beautiful skin. Flesh he had touched with adoration, worshipped with his mouth. Skin healed by the man who wanted to steal her from him.

Sebastian pressed a flask into his hand, his touch firm but gentle as he nudged Ominis to one side. "There you go, it's Firewhiskey," he said. "Take a seat, there's a chair just to your left."

Ominis could only hope that the chair was clean as he lowered himself in to it. He sighed and clutched the flask in his hand but didn't open it. His chest was tight, his mind still back in that awful room where MC was laying. It was a measure of his distracted thoughts that he had allowed a little whore to shove him out of there. He turned his head, wondering if he should just return there and argue his way back in. He should be there when MC wakes. She would need reassurance, comfort. He wanted to be the one who gave it to her.

And, what of the man who was currently with him? Ominis flexed his hand, remembering the feel of Sebastian's skin against his fingers, MC's hand encased tightly in his grip. He had placed his own hand over theirs. Sebastian's warmth and MC's cold, still hand.

What a strange feeling. To love her, to feel a sudden pang of grief and loss of Sebastian's friendship, and yet utter loathing at the thought of them both touching.

He had always been jealous of their bond. Firstly, because MC had taken Sebastian's attention away from him in 5th year. And then, gradually, Ominis had come to crave her attention more than Sebastian's.

How easy it was for Sebastian to capture her attention, to draw her in. Did he realise how lucky he was? Ominis felt the slither of his envy coiling thickly in his stomach.

"Do you love her at all, Sebastian?" Ominis asked. "Or do you merely wish to punish me? I know you are trying to lure her away."

"What if it was both? Would it make a difference?"

Such arrogance and assurance. It niggled at Ominis, made him shift in the chair.

"This is not a game, Sebastian. I didn't start out with the intention of stealing her, if it makes a difference," Ominis frowned. "I was just trying to protect her. After everything she had been through, what with Ranrok and her ancient magic on top of everything that happened with you and Anne, I was worried about her. And you just wouldn't quit with your dangerous explorations."

"I've said this before, Ominis. MC can make her own choices," Sebastian said.

Ominis grit his teeth. "And yet you lure her in, persuade her to take part in foolhardy escapades that end up with her hurt, or embroiled in murder cover ups!"

"I didn't lure her in. She offered to help me back then. She was the only one who did. Everyone else tried to stop me, told me to move on, and accept what was happening to my sister. MC didn't give up on me, unlike you. She believed in me. Why is that such a problem for you?"

"Because it was dangerous," Ominis insisted. "There are too many risks meddling in stuff you shouldn't. It was a dark path and she deserved better."

"And you're going to make that decision for her, are you?" Sebastian stood, and Ominis could hear him pacing the floor. "You can't cage her up like a little bird, Ominis. She walks the dark path if she chooses, not because I force it on her. Instead of blaming me, you need to look a little closer to home for your problems."

Ominis flinched as though he had been slapped. The comment was a little to close to the mark, for there were problems between him and MC, a void between them that he was desperately hoping to close.

"You didn't really answer my question," Ominis said. "Do you love her?"

Sebastian's footsteps stilled. Ominis shifted his wand, aiming it across the room, and Sebastian's familiar shadowy outline appeared before him. "Yes. I do love her," Sebastian said. "Nobody else will ever come close to how I feel about MC. The bond we have, it's like nothing else. I won't give up on her Ominis, never. But it will always be her choice."

Ominis swallowed, the movement almost painful as his throat constricted. What would it take to make him disappear? Guilt, shame, and disgust at himself slithered alongside his bitter jealously.

The deepest, darkest corner of his mind fantasised about uttering the words, aiming his wand at his once best friend and inflicting agony upon him. His fingers twitched around the delicate wood of his wand, his Gaunt blood whispering through his veins.

No Sebastian, no problem. MC was his.

He heard Sebastian sigh, and move to open a cupboard. There was rustling as Sebastian changed his shirt. Ominis kept his wand pointed towards him, the shadowy outline of him a tempting target.

She would never forgive you.

He blinked at the sting of tears. It was true. MC would never forgive him. Would he ever forgive himself?

Sebastian moved across the room, a delicate waft of citrus and cinnamon swirled under Ominis' nose from the clean shirt he had put on.

Ominis closed his eyes, remembering the night MC had come home at dawn with that scent all over her.

Ominis gripped his wand so hard his knuckles ached. He stood, stepped towards that scent, there was the scrape of boots on the floor as Sebastian turned.

"Ominis?" Sebastian asked.

Hand trembling, Ominis thrust the whiskey flask forward, pressing it against Sebastian's chest. "I'm not thirsty," he said.

Warm fingers brushed his as Sebastian slowly took the flask from his grip. Ominis shivered and snatched his hand back.

"I know you have touched her," he said. His voice was so low it was almost a whisper. "She came home with your scent on her skin."

A silence that stretched so taut that Ominis hesitated to draw a breath filled the room.

"I didn't ask her. I didn't want to hear her lie," he continued.

"Im sure if you were to go in that room now and smell her skin you would smell me again," Sebastian said. "We duel, we practise. Sometimes we get close. It doesn't mean anything. She even borrowed my robe once when it was raining. You shouldn't jump to conclusions."

"Liar!" Ominis hissed the word. His fingers hooked into the front of Sebastian's shirt like a claw. "Do you take me for a fool?"

He felt Sebastian tense, warmth radiating off the solid muscle beneath his shirt. Ominis knew Sebastian could fight, but he figured he could take him on if he had to.

"You're a fool if you think you can take me on and win," Sebastian warned. "Back off, Ominis. I won't tell you again."

The air pressed down on Ominis, his anger and his jealousy clashing into a solid ball that sat heavy and thick inside him. He shook with it.

"Well, well, what do we have here?" Marvolo chuckled. His footsteps sounded as he entered the room. "Are you going to kill him little brother? Wound him a little?"

Ominis released Sebastian and stepped back. He made an effort to quell his emotions, forcing a blank look onto his face. Marvolo was a reminder of what acting on your base emotions could lead to. Ominis loathed his brother almost as much as he feared him. The fact that a sliver of that cruelty resided him filled him with shame.

"What do you want, Marvolo?" Ominis asked.

"I came to check on my little hero," he said. "She is awake."

....*....

The first thing MC was aware of when her eyes blinked open was the dull ache that throbbed through her body. She winced and felt hands grab one of hers. Her gaze swung towards whomever it was, eyes dry and itchy as she focused on Daisy. Her face was reddened from crying.

"You're awake!" She gasped. She glanced towards someone at the foot of the bed. "She woke up!"

MC swallowed through her dry throat and then choked in shock as Garreth Weasley appeared beside Daisy. "Garreth?" She croaked.

He smiled, warm and kind as he leaned over her. "How are you feeling, MC?" He asked.

"Like I've been hit with a Diffindo," she said. She winced and tried to sit up, but Garreth gently held her still. Her eyes scanned the room behind him. "Where's Sebastian?"

"Easy, MC," Garreth said. "You've been out cold a while, and you're still healing. It's alright. Sebastian is nearby with Ominis."

Her stomach lurched, and she gaped at him. "He's what?" She rasped. She tried to sit up again, gritting her teeth against the tug under her wounds. Garreth let her go as she stubbornly struggled into a sitting postion. But then the room tilted violently, dizziness took over, and she swooned. Garreth caught her immediately and lay her back down.

"Will you listen to me now?" He asked, wryly.

"It's alright, MC," Daisy soothed. "Do you want me to fetch them back?"

MC eyed Daisy. The thought of Sebastian and Ominis alone together made her stomach tilt and spin. Would Sebastian tell him what they had done? Gods, this could be bad.

She eyed Garreth awkwardly, not really wanting to say too much in front of him. "Erm, were they fighting?"

"A bit," Daisy said. "Over you."

MC groaned and lifted a hand to her face, her arm protesting tightly under her wounds. She looked at the twisted scar that was there and grimaced.

"Oh, Gods, my arm!" She lifted the other to see similar marks there. "Bloody hell!"

"From what I can gather, Sebastian had to heal them before you bled out," Garreth said. His eyes dropped to her torso and he blushed a little. She felt with her hands, the slices through her clothing exposing more twisted scars across her ribs and stomach. She gulped, a shudder running through her as the memory of the spell hitting her flashed through her thoughts.

"I killed her," she whispered. She looked at Daisy. "Agatha, I killed her, didn't I?"

Daisy nodded. "Yeah, she's dead alright."

"You're lucky the wounds didn't go any deeper," Garreth said. "You ought to be dead, MC. You're lucky."

The door swung open and Marvolo strolled in, his cold face lighting up when he saw MC. "Ah, so she lives!" He said. "Sallow didn't let me down after all."

Daisy shrunk back a bit, holding MC's hand tightly, her eyes anxious. Garreth's eyes widened and he stared at MC, confusion and disbelief all over his face. MC felt a twinge of regret that Garreth had been dragged into this mess.

Marvolo winked at Daisy and gave Garreth a curious look. "And who is this?"

"I...I brought potions for MC," Garreth said.

Marvolo raised his eyebrows, the wheels in his mind turning over. His eyes slid towards MC and he surveyed the damage. "That was a close one," he said. "You're not going to be fit to duel tomorrow I'm guessing."

"A few days at least," Garreth said.

Marvolo gave him a look through narrowed eyes and Garreth shifted awkwardly. Marvolo turned hard eyes back to MC. "You can have three days," he said. "Sallow can fight in your place until you return."

Ice slid over MC and she shook her head as she tried to sit up again. "No, no," she rasped.

Marvolo leaned over her and she halted in her efforts to sit up, leaning on one elbow, sweat beading on her brow with the effort.

"No?" He drawled. "What's the matter? Are you scared he will lose?"

MC stared into those cold dark eyes. Yes. She was terrified that Sebastian would lose. He never backed down from a fight. Win or die. She swallowed. Marvolo smiled, crooked and unfeeling.

"He saved your life, little hero," he said. He tilted his head, his eyes wandering over her face. "Screamed and cried like a grieving widow as you bled all over him. You know, I think he might have a soft spot for you. Judging by the look in your eyes, I would say you feel the same."

"He is an old friend," she croaked.

Marvolo's grin was sly. "Indeed."

He straightened, staring down at her, his hair and robes immaculate. If he had been warmer, and more sane, he might have been handsome, but he was nowhere near as beautiful as Ominis.

"Three days," Marvolo stated. "I will be checking on your progress."

He turned to Daisy. "Where is my brother? I'm surprised he let you out of his sight. You two were looking rather cosy earlier."

MC looked at Daisy in surprise, especially when a blush stained her friend's cheeks. "I think they went to the office," she said. She looked down, not meeting anyone's gaze.

Marvolo chuckled. "Don't look so surprised little hero. Did you think you were the only one to get their jollies elsewhere?"

MC tried to picture Ominis touching Daisy, and it was surprisingly easy to do so. It made her shift uncomfortably.

Daisy looked up, quickly, her blush deepening. MC was gazing at her curiously. Daisy wasn't one for blushing a lot. Did she like Ominis? "He never touched me," she insisted. "He was the perfect gentleman."

Marvolo tilted his head back and laughed, coldly. "That does sound like Ominis," he said. "Well, let's go and tell him the good news. His little plaything lives another day."

Marvolo turned and left the room. Garreth shivered as he disappeared and he rubbed a hand on the back of his neck. "Bloody hell, he is horrid," he muttered.

MC gave Garreth a grim look. "You have no idea."

....*....

Feeling out of sorts after Ominis had grabbed him, a cold, almost murderous look on his face, Sebastian let his old friend walk ahead down the tunnel towards the Healer's room.

Sebastian knew he could take him down in a fight, easily, and that was the problem. Despite everything that had happened between them, Sebastian realised that when it came down to it, he didn't want to fight him. He didn't want to take Ominis down.

Ominis strode on ahead, his wand blinking as it led him to MC. Relief washed through Sebastian at the news that she had awoken, but he knew that it would be Ominis who would hold her. It left a sour taste in his mouth.

MC was sitting up, looking pale and drained as she gripped the edge of the cot, her legs dangling over the edge. Her eyes brightened as he and Ominis walked through the door.

"MC..." Ominis breathed. He hurried forward and drew her into an embrace. "Thank Merlin!"

Sebastian swallowed and turned his gaze away, noticing that Garreth was packing up his bag, ready to leave. Daisy was watching MC, her face flushed and awkward.

His eyes were drawn back to MC, and he found her staring at him over Ominis' shoulder. Their eyes met and a thousand unspoken words passed between them. Her gaze softened and she held out her hand towards him. He moved a little closer, his own hand reaching out, desperate for the contact. She clasped his fingers in hers, a soft smile lifting her lips as she was held by Ominis, but reached for him.

She mouthed the words 'Thank you', without making a sound, and he nodded, he squeezed her hand. All the emotion threatening to burst out of his chest burning in his eyes.

Ominis shifted, moving back from MC and she let her hand slip free from Sebastian's before he could detect it.

"Let's go home," Ominis said. He turned stiffly towards Sebastian. "Thank you for your efforts tonight. But, I will take it from here."

Sebastian nodded, and with one last look at MC he turned to leave. But MC called his name. He turned back and she slid awkwardly from the cot, stubbornly pushing Ominis' hand away as she wobbled and he tried to hold her again.

"Wait," she said. Her voice was raspy and dry. She held out her hand again and he took it. She squeezed it, hard. "Marvolo said you are to duel in my place."

He nodded. "It's alright," he assured her. He even managed a smirk. "Nothing I can't handle."

She shook her head, her eyes full of things that she wanted to say. Her eyes flicked towards Ominis and her mouth clamped tightly shut as tears welled in her eyes. She looked down, steadying herself, before meeting his eyes again. "Don't you dare fucking die while I'm gone, Sallow," she said. "I will never forgive you if you do."

He reached out to brush his thumb against her cheek. "It will take more than a duel to bring me down, MC," he said. "Besides, you owe me one. I just saved your life. I expect to claim on my debt when you get back."

She smiled weakly and nodded. "I will see you in three days."

Ominis' face was dark and pained as he took her arm again.

....*....

The ache in her body was fading with the help of Garreth's Potions that he had pressed into her hands before he had left her. He had refused any coin for them, but she was determined to pay him back for his kindness. Rest was also helping after spending the first day of her three in bed reading.

Ominis was fussing around her, seeing to her every need, and while she appreciated the care, she felt like she just needed some peace and quiet. As she stared out of the bedroom window at another smog day in London, she craved fresh air.

"Ominis, I think I would like to visit my shop tomorrow," she said. She was laying propped up against the pillows, Ominis sitting beside her on the edge of the bed holding her hand. He stroked her knuckles with his thumb, his face brightening at the thought of the trip.

"Are you sure you are up to travelling?" He asked.

She gave his hand a little squeeze. "Takes more than a little duel to stop me, Ominis," she said. "I need to keep going, keep busy. Lazing about won't get me fit for returning to the pit."

Ominis frowned. "I wish you didn't have to return at all."

"You know I have to," she sighed. She gently pulled her hand from his and adjusted the bed sheets.

"We could take Daisy with us on the trip," he said, tentatively. "Maybe we don't come back at all."

MC gaped at him. "What are you saying?"

"That we run, MC," he whispered. "Leave here, and don't come back."

The enormity of what he was suggesting washed over and her blood ran cold. He would leave his work, his family, everything, to run with her? Her heart pounded.

"Ominis, that's crazy," she gasped. "Marvolo would come after us, your family would..."

"I don't care about that," he interrupted. "I care about you. I hate the thought of you going back into that pit to fight. You almost died, MC! Do you not understand how terrifying that is!"

Her thoughts turned to what would be happening at the pit today, Sebastian stepping in to her slot to fight, and her stomach clenched in fear. She understood. She also understood that if she ran, if they ran, Sebastian was a dead man.

"I can't think about that right now, there would be so many repercussions if we were to just run. Let's just go to Hogsmeade tomorrow and take a break," she said. "The fresh air will do us both good. I just want at least one day without any darkness. Would that be alright?"

He thought a moment and then nodded. His hand sought out hers again and he held it. "Of course, whatever you need, my love."

That night, as MC changed into a fresh nightdress and brushed her hair, she heard the front door and the murmur of low voices. Her stomach clenched. She was on edge, her nerves stretched taut knowing Sebastian would be duelling tonight.

She pulled on a dressing robe and made her way downstairs to see Marvolo standing in their kitchen looking as cold and immaculate as ever. His smile glittered as she appeared.

"Good evening, my little hero," he said. His gaze travelled over her, assessing. "You are looking much better already I am pleased to see."

Ominis was glowering beside him, and at the risk of upsetting him further, she just had to know. She stepped towards Marvolo, eyes on his.

"The duels tonight, did they go well?" She asked.

Marvolo's smirk was knowing. "Sallow lives," he said. "Worry not."

Relief washed over her, her hand pressed to her chest as she nodded.

"You might also be pleased to see this," Marvolo said. He pulled a cloth bag from his robe and dropped it onto the kitchen table with a clinking thud. MC eyed the bag in surprise. "Your cut of the gold, MC. As promised. You are quite the little earner I must say. The sooner you are back in that pit the better."

That was a lot of gold. Blood money. But she had earned it, with blood and tears. She picked up the bag, testing its weight, and lifted her shocked eyes to Marvolo. He chuckled.

"Pay Sebastian as well," she said. "He helped me."

"Already done so, little hero," he said. He turned to Ominis. "You could be a kept man soon little brother, the way she is going."

"This isn't forever," Ominis said, coldly. "Clearly, earning so much gold will soon pay off this so called debt you hold over her."

Marvolo's grin was sly. "Maybe I will keep her fighting until she has a little Gaunt growing in her belly. Then she would definitely need to stop with such precious cargo on board."

MC gasped, her eyes flying towards Ominis who was flushed and furious. "Get out," Ominis spat. "You overstep yourself in my house. You have done what you came for, MC is fine and healing. Now, leave us."

Ominis was shaking and MC moved towards him, her hand taking his. She knew how he felt about children, and she glared at Marvolo as he laughed. Marvolo grazed a finger under her chin and she fought the cringe that wanted to play across her face.

"Two days and counting, little hero," he said. "Sleep tight."

He laughed again before he Disapparated with a crack.

Ominis let out a shuddering breath and MC held him, stroking his back. "Don't let him get to you, Ominis," she soothed. "He is deliberately trying to cause trouble. Just ignore him."

His arms came around her, his face burying into her unbound hair. "The worrying part is he probably wasn't joking. He knows how I refuse to bow to our parent's demands. What better way to manipulate the situation than to use this as leverage?"

She tensed against him. "You mean force me to duel until..."

He nodded against her neck, his arms tightened around her and she felt her breath quicken. Her heart clenched. "I'm sorry," she whispered.

She honestly didn't know what else to say. He didn't want children, and there was no way that she would have one just to please his awful relatives, or to get out of Marvolo's grip. Again, the thought of bringing Marvolo down danced around the edge of her thoughts.

He lifted his head, his eyes looking down at her, roving over her face. A longing to meet those eyes pierced her and she moved to cup his jaw. He stilled, and she looked into the empty swirls of blue.

"Running doesn't sound so bad now, does it?" He said with a grim smile.

"Marvolo doesn't get to win, Omi," she said. "He doesn't get to win. Remember that."

....*....

Weak sunlight warmed his face as they walked through the main street of Hogsmeade. Ominis tilted his head appreciating the clear air and sunlight as MC held his arm. For a moment, he felt a little peace.

"How are you feeling?" He asked. He dipped his head, turning slightly towards MC. She had struggled after travelling by Floo from London, but time was short and they needed to travel fast.

"I'm feeling better already," she said. She leant against him, her softness welcome. "Do you fancy a visit to Honeydukes?"

He could hear the smile in her voice. "Do you really have to ask?"

Spending the day with her, hearing her laugh, it was almost easy to forget about the dark clouds that hung over them. But they were still there, throwing their shadows over the day in quiet moments.

The shadows were there when she would slip her hand out of his, in the way she tensed if his hand wandered too much over her waist, if the conversation moved too close towards London, the pit, and Marvolo's taunt about children.

Of course, the shadow of Sebastian loomed over them. He knew she was worried about him, her first question to Marvolo the night before had been about the duels, and even Marvolo had known it was Sebastian she was most concerned about.

His jealousy lay thick and heavy over him, he couldn't help it. Sebastian had revealed his feelings for MC, and had made it clear he would not give up. Sebastian's lies about how his scent had been on MC only added fuel to the sick envy in his guts.

Being here, away from it all, made him wish that she had considered his suggestion to make a run for it more seriously.

Pleased with how her shop was doing, they had eaten dinner in the Three Broomsticks before retiring to their rented room upstairs. They would be returning to London in the morning.

MC was quiet, withdrawn, as she brushed out her hair at the dressing table. He moved towards her, his hands seeking out her shoulders, the softness of her hair sliding across the backs of his hands. He could feel the tension in the way she held herself.

"What is it?" He asked. His thumbs moved in circles against the tight muscles. "Talk to me."

He felt her small sigh. "It's been a good day, Ominis, and I'm tired. Let's not spoil it by speaking of things that will only upset us."

His grip on her tightened, and he pressed harder with his thumbs. "Maybe it would make you feel better if you spoke about it. You are very tense."

She put something down on the dressing table top and took a deep breath. "Fine," she said. "If you really must know, I am concerned. As we speak, Sebastian is duelling in the pit on my behalf. Who knows what could happen? He...he could die. I should be there."

Irritation swept over him and he heard her sharp intake of breath as he dug his fingers into her shoulders. He didn't loosen his grip. He was growing very tired of hearing that name from her mouth. "Sebastian is more than capable of taking care of himself, its his damn speciality. You waste your time worrying over him. Worry about yourself," he said.

She stood, shrugging out of his grip. "You asked, and now look," she muttered. She moved across the room. "You're annoyed. Don't make me feel bad for worrying. He wouldn't even be fighting if it wasn't for me."

"How can you blame yourself? Sebastian was deep in that world before you arrived there. He thrives on this stuff," Ominis said. "Don't you see? This is why we need to get you out of there. I want you out of there."

"It's not that simple, Ominis!" She cried. "Your job, our home, Daisy, and even Sebastian. I will not selfishly run away and leave them to clear up this mess!"

"We can take Daisy with us," he said. He stepped towards her. "I have already asked her, and she is open to the idea."

"You did?" MC gasped. "Well, Marvolo was right. You two have been rather cosy, haven't you!"

He tilted his head. "You're not jealous, are you? That would be rather hypocritical of you if you were."

"You have never been interested in Daisy before, why now?"

"Because she is important to you, because she is the leverage that needs to be solved to get you out of that pit and back at home with me."

"So we can be bullied into putting a child inside me instead?" She taunted. "Will you solve that leverage too?"

"We can solve both by leaving," he said. "Then you don't need to walk a dark path and put yourself at risk anymore."

"And what if I like the risk? What if doing something like that is exciting? What then?" She asked. "I don't want to sit in an office, or scrub washing for the rest of my life. I crave more than that, and London is slowly suffocating me to the point that I can't breathe anymore!"

"All the more reason to leave!" He insisted.

She made a sound of frustration and he heard the rustle of clothing, the catch on her suitcase as she pulled items out onto the floor.

"Are you pushing to leave because of the duelling, or because of Sebastian? Do you not even care a little about what happens to him? He was your closest friend!" Her voice was rising, filled with frustration. "Marvolo will destroy him if we leave. Is that what you want?"

Ominis went quiet. Leaving would certainly get her away from Sebastian, and yes, he wanted that desperately. But he knew that if Sebastian was hurt because of his actions, MC would never forgive him, and he would lose her anyway. There had to be a way out of this.

"Your silence speaks volumes, Ominis," she said coldly.

He heard the sound of her putting her boots on. His heart clenched. "What are you doing?" He asked.

"I need some air," she bit out.

"But, we were out all day!" He pointed out.

"Yes, well, suddenly its a little stifling in here," she said. She moved towards the door. "Don't wait up on my account."

"MC..."

The door opened and then closed. She was gone. The sound of her footsteps fading down the hall.

....*....

She walked blindly, swiping tears of frustration from her cheeks. They were leaking from her eyes despite her best efforts to hold them back.

All day she had tried to find that close connection she had shared with Ominis back when they had been school leavers. Walking the streets of Hogsmeade, and seeing the beauty of the Highlands had swamped her with memories. Yes, Ominis had been in them, but so had Sebastian. Always, her thoughts would wind back around to him.

MC smoothed her hands over her stomach, the ridges of her scars easily felt through the fabric of her blouse. Scars that Sebastian had healed. They were less red now, fading to silvery white, but she was sure they would never fade completely.

She had almost died, and Sebastian had pulled her back. The thought of him dying on the floor of the pit, alone, in pain, it filled her with icy fear. It was taking everything inside of her to not run to the nearest Floo and go straight back to London.

She needed to know he was alive. She would not sleep until she did.

She found herself outside the owl office, walking in to see the night clerk and asking for parchment and ink. Her hand shook as she wrote her message to Sebastian. She folded it neatly and placed it in the addressed envelope before handing it to the clerk.

"Please, send this with your fastest owl," she said. "I'm happy to pay extra."

Leaving the owl office, she had nothing to do but wait. She didn't want to return to Ominis. Just looking at him filled her with guilt, sadness, and reminded her of her own cowardice.

Facing down enemies was nothing compared to facing your own demons, your own emotions.

Her feet took her towards the graveyard, she crossed the river and entered through the gates, heading towards the graves of Eleazar and Miriam Fig.

She stood, staring at the names engraved in the stone and she stopped trying to fight back the tears. She sank to her knees, letting the dull ache of grief widen and spread. Losing her teacher in the way that she did had ripped a hole in her chest that had never fully healed.

She had never known her parents, never had anyone to guide her, and she stumbled through life as best as she could. She made mistakes despite trying her best, and sometimes she was selfish because looking out for herself was something she had to learn very young.

Fig had been the first person to truly believe in her, and encourage her to reach out and own who she was. His kindness and generosity had opened her up to the beautiful world of magic, and while there had been much darkness, she would be forever grateful for that first chance at a new life.

Ominis was pushing for a new life. He wanted to slip away in the night, run away from the dark clutches of his family, and start anew.

She could see the appeal, but it wasn't that simple. It was dangerous, there was risk, it would mean people potentially getting hurt.

She had admitted that she felt smothered, trapped, but the reason she had given to Ominis had been London. She wasn’t so sure that was entirely true. She wasn't happy, she hadn't been for some time, and while the horrors of the pit were real, there was an excitement about dabbling in something risky and challenging. It had woken up that desire for more, for adventure, the love for living the life she had discovered through Hogwarts. Somehow, she had lost her grip on that, let that passion slip through her fingers, settling for a domestic life that didn't fit quite right.

She cared deeply for Ominis, but it wasn't enough. She suspected she did not love him as much as he loved her, and admitting that was painful. She could not let him rip up the roots of his life for someone who wouldn't do the same for him.

She leaned forward to brush her finger tips over her old professor's name on the stone. Fig had always encouraged her to follow her heart, to make good choices. Maybe Ominis had a point about her putting everyone else's safety first and ignoring herself.

She thought about the bag of gold Marvolo had given her. It was a lot. She could haul in a lot more if she focused, upped her game, and fought harder. If she played Marvolo's game and saved up the gold, she could set Daisy up somewhere new, away from London.

And what about herself? What was she going to do? If she was going to follow her heart, then she had a decision to make. Deep down, she thought maybe she had already made it but was too scared to admit it. A near death experience had forced her to look more closely at it.

There would be enough gold for her to leave too. It was going to shatter her to do it, but she was going to have to break Ominis' heart. It wasn't the leaving that she was resisting, it was the leaving with him that she didn't want.

MC would leave, but she would do it alone.

To be continued... Part 9

[shadowtriovibes]

before the origin of love

Pairing: Sebastian Sallow x f!MC

Rating: PG-13

Word Count: 2.7K

Warnings: Canon-Typical Violence, Minor Character Death, Blood, Major Hogwarts Legacy Spoilers, Canon Divergence, Ancient Magic Theory

Summary: request [paraphrased]: "You know the part during the game when MC visits Ollivander's alone and Rookwood Apparates her away? Can I request an angsty version of this where Sebastian is with f!MC? Rookwood is angry they killed all his men and casts Imperio on Sebastian to force him to attack her. Even though she’s expecting to die by Sebastian’s hand, he eventually fights the curse off because love is more powerful than dark magic."

a.k.a. y'all thought lily potter was the only one with ancient love magic? think again!!!

“Show your face, Rookwood!” you shout into the darkness. “Come out and fight me!” “My dear, why should I fight you?” Rookwood laughs from high above you, still unseen. “This is child’s play, after all…” You feel like time stops as you see a bright green curse rocket through the air toward Sebastian, who is powerless to do anything to stop it. The curse hits him in the chest with such force that he’s knocked backward, his head tipping forward as he lets out a sickening groan. But instead of watching your friend die while you stood by helplessly, you watch in abject horror as he tilts his head up and locks eyes with you – smoky-green, soulless eyes.

The moment you and Sebastian step outside Ollivander’s shop, you realize that the typically bustling streets of Hogsmeade are disquietingly empty. It’s nearly sundown now, and instead of seeing a friendly mix of witches and wizards doing their holiday shopping or stocking up on supplies for the winter months, you find yourselves all alone.

“Take out your wand,” you murmur to Sebastian. “Something’s not right.”

Wordlessly Sebastian draws his wand and takes a step closer to you, warily glancing up and down the empty streets.

Then in the blink of an eye, a well-dressed figure Apparates into view just across the way – Victor Rookwood, you realize, complete with that infuriating hat of his.

“Rookwood,” Sebastian boldly calls out. “So we meet again. Didn’t you get enough of a telling-off last time?”

You silently aim your wand at him, daring him to take one step closer.

“Well, well… looks like your friend Sirona isn’t here to stick up for you little menaces this time,” Rookwood says with a sneer. “I’m afraid you two are on your own. In fact, I’ve ensured that we have a moment to ourselves.”

Sebastian quickly lifts his wand and aims it squarely at the man’s face. “What do you want, Rookwood?”

“Oh, come, come, no need for such theatrics,” the man drawls, slowly creeping closer to you both. “In light of what Ranrok now knows, you must agree that our interests are aligned.”

Sparks crackle at the tip of your wand as you lift it toward Rookwood.

“Our interests will never be aligned,” you murmur.

Rookwood glances significantly at Sebastian before he challenges you.

“My dear, you would let goblins take what is rightfully ours? The final repository belongs to wizardkind. We would be fools not to work together.”

Beside you, you observe the slightest falter in Sebastian’s aim. You should have known that someone like Rookwood would immediately be able to pinpoint and exploit his biggest weakness – his resentment toward goblinkind, his uncompromising belief that only they carry the blame for his sister’s curse.

You imagine him thinking, Could he be right? Are we fools to allow Ranrok’s goblins to continue ransacking Isadora’s Repositories? Could we instead be using them to cure Anne?

But before Sebastian says a word, Rookwood’s eyes land on the long, thin box in your hands.

“What’s that you’ve got there?” he demands.

Quickly, you slip the box safely inside your robes. You shake your head only slightly, but Rookwood easily detects its significance.

Rookwood continues, “Might this sudden visit to the wandmaker have something to do with our… mutual pursuit?”

“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” you say softly.

Suddenly, you see Rookwood’s countenance shift as his true motives become clear.

“That repository is my birthright!” he shouts, stepping toward you with a hand outstretched.

Instantly Sebastian steps in front of you and points his wand at Rookwood once more. “I know one thing for certain, and that’s that Charles Rookwood wouldn’t have wanted you anywhere near it!”

Rookwood laughs darkly as he takes a step back.

“The arrogance,” he murmurs, gaze fixed on Sebastian’s determined expression. “I should have known better than to try to reason with a Sallow, after all – you’re no better than your sister, you simpering fool.”

In a frighteningly low voice, Sebastian asks, “What would you know about my sister?”

“Nothing, of course,” Rookwood sneers. “I only meant that I’ve always thought that children should be seen and not heard.”

You inhale sharply, absently lowering your wand as you process Rookwood’s words – the very same that Sebastian had told you were the last words Anne had heard before she was hit with her curse.

Sebastian understands the implication a split second before you do, and you can see bolts of green light shooting down the length of his wand before you even understand what he’s doing.

“Avada–”

Before he can finish his spell, you feel a hand on your shoulder and suddenly you’re hurtling through time and space as you’re forcibly Apparated away from Hogsmeade, landing in a crumpled heap in the snowy grass. You’re smack in the middle of a desolate bandit camp somewhere in the Highlands.

Beside you, Sebastian is catching his breath while his hands tremble with rage.

“Where did he go?” Sebastian demands. “Where did the bloody coward go?!”

“Careful, Sallow,” Rookwood’s voice calls out from the darkness. “Wouldn’t want to get yourself into a bind!”

Sebastian suddenly shouts as thick lengths of rope appear out of thin air and wrap themselves around his body, forcing him to his knees.

“Sebastian!” you yell. “Finite!”

Your spell deflects right off the enchanted ropes, and Sebastian grits his teeth.

“I’m okay,” he insists. “It’ll be alright, just – just get him, you can do this.”

Desperate, you find yourself alone while Sebastian struggles against his ropes. You’re keenly aware of the dozen or so fully-grown wizards Apparting into the camp with their wands drawn. You’ll have to take on every single one of them by yourself, you realize, with nothing but your own wand and the ancient magic coursing through your veins to defend yourself.

It feels endless. Simply deflecting their spells takes nearly all of your focus, even if you try to spare some for Sebastian while he struggles uselessly against his bindings. You toss curse after curse at Rookwood’s men and eventually you’re forced to start tossing actual barrels and crates at them as well, until finally you pare down the lot of them to the last executioner with his wand trained squarely at your heart.

“Bomarba!” you holler, and across the field, the burly executioner goes flying into a pile of rubble and melts away into smoke, the last to abandon his mission and surrender.

“Show your face, Rookwood!” you shout into the darkness. “Come out and fight me!”

“My dear, why should I fight you?” Rookwood laughs from high above you, still unseen. “This is child’s play, after all…”

You feel like time stops as you see a bright green curse rocket through the air toward Sebastian, who is powerless to do anything to stop it. The curse hits him in the chest with such force that he’s knocked backward, his head tipping forward as he lets out a sickening groan. But instead of watching your friend die while you stood by helplessly, you watch in abject horror as he tilts his head up and locks eyes with you – smoky-green, soulless eyes.

Imperio.

 “So go on, then,” Rockwood demands. “Play!”

The ropes that had bound Sebastian’s arms to his side quickly fall away, and before you can even react he lifts his wand and rounds on you.

“Confringo!” he shouts, and a blaze of fire soars just past your ear.

“Sebastian,” you call out. “Can you hear me? Don’t do this, please!”

You know it’s fruitless. Sebastian himself had taught you that the Imperius curse cannot be fought off, even by the most powerful wizards who have ever been trained to resist its impenetrable influence. Despite his dueling skills and his broad knowledge of the Dark Arts, you have to assume that Sebastian doesn’t stand a chance against Rookwood’s voice in his ear.

“Levioso!” you counter, hoping to merely hold him off long enough to get to Rookwood and force him to free Sebastian.

But to your chagrin, the Sebastian you’ve known and loved since your first days at Hogwarts is indeed one of the most disciplined and talented duelers you’ve ever fought, and even though he doesn’t want to, he’ll surely give you a run for your money.

“Diffindo!” he growls, and the edge of his curse just barely nicks the side of your calf. You cry out in pain and collapse to the ground as you press a hand to the bleeding wound.

“Want me to release your little friend?” Rookwood calls out. “It’s simple, darling. Join me against Ranrok and I’ll let him live!”

You know deep down that you can’t ally yourself with Rookwood. Despite Sebastian’s initial hesitance, you have to imagine that if he were able to understand your position, he’d do the very same thing that you’re about to do.

It wasn’t the goblins after all, it was him, you can hear him say. We can never join him, not after what he did to Anne. There’s only one way out of this.

Merlin, you think. This is it.

Without your ability to wield ancient magic or the wand made of the Pensieve artifacts, Ranrok may never gain access to the final repository, you convince yourself – especially if he splinters from Rookwood. Sebastian can give the wand to Fig after you’re gone, he can hide it somewhere Ranrok will never find it…

It could all work out, you reckon, if you die.

“Never!” you call out to Rookwood. “I’ll never join you!”

“Then you’ve made your choice,” Rookwood’s voice echoes back. “I’ll let the Sallow boy show you what happens to anyone who says no to me.”

Rockwood’s twisted laughter rings out all around you as Sebastian’s opalescent eyes look you up and down. He lifts his wand and aims it at your heart, and you close your eyes with your own wand at your side.

“Avada Kedavra!”

…

…You’re still breathing.

How are you still breathing?

When you open your eyes, Sebastian is standing before you looking entirely drained, his eyelids drooping as he sways from pure exhaustion. However, just before he collapses you catch a glimpse of his eyes – his usual warm brown ones, the same magnificent eyes you’ll never tire of seeing after all this.

“Sebastian!” you shout, running over to support him as he tumbles to the ground. “Wh-what just happened?”

“Did I get him?” he asks in a whisper. “Rookwood?”

Stunned, you cast Lumos and peer across the empty field until you notice a figure lying in the snow far at the other end – Rockwood, you assume. He isn’t moving, and his legs are bent in a sick, absurd way as if he’d fallen from the watchtower that he now lays below.

“Yes,” you breathe. “You did, b-but… Sebastian, how did you–”

“I don’t know,” he sighs. He’s clinging to your arm as you help him to sit up and rest his head between his knees. “I have no idea, I just… I couldn’t do it.”

“He wanted you to kill me,” you surmise.

“I wouldn’t,” he says hollowly. “It… felt like my head was being split open right down the middle, with one half of me forcing my body to move and aim my wand and the other half knowing that I’d rather die than use that curse on you.”

“Oh, Seb,” you whisper.

You’re both quiet for several long moments while Sebastian takes deep breaths, his face still hidden between his knees. You slowly rub his back through his cloak and wait for him to sit up. He looks haunted when he finally does – even more so than he usually looks.

“I hurt you,” he mumbles. “I’m so sorry, I didn’t mean to.”

“I know, love,” you say softly, the pet name slipping out so easily that you barely even register at first. “I’m okay, it’s just a cut. Some Wiggenweld will fix me right up when we get back to the castle.”

“Can I?” he asks hesitantly, and you reluctantly let him pull your cloak to the slide so he can see the gash on your calf.

It isn’t deep, and it isn’t even bleeding anymore, but the ripped trouser leg and drying blood stains make Sebastian curse under his breath nonetheless.

“I shouldn’t have done that,” he whispers. “Why did I do that?”

“You have no choice,” you remind him desperately. “No witch or wizard has ever fought off the Imperius curse like that before, Sebastian, and you spared me my life. I don’t care about a bloody cut when I should be dead.”

“Never,” he chants mindlessly. “Never, I wouldn’t.”

That’s when a thought occurs to you.

“Sebastian…” you say softly. “It’s possible that there are… other types of ancient magic in addition to mine.”

He frowns. “What are you saying?”

“Maybe there’s something… something primeval, something elemental to our magic that you accessed,” you wonder aloud. “Professor Fig told me that his wife Miriam had spent years studying ancient magic, and it can’t only be that which I have the power to wield. Perhaps you were able to defy Rookwood’s will because you – you connected with a magic that’s more powerful than even an Unforgivable.”

“More powerful than that kind of darkness?” he asks softly. “...That type of magic exists?”

“Of course, it must,” you say simply. “Darkness can’t be more powerful than light, can it?”

He considers your supposition as if it’s the first time the thought has ever occurred to him.

“So… so what, the power of ‘friendship,’ something like that?” he asks, a corner of his mouth quirking up into the first thing resembling a smile that he’s shown since you entered Hogsmeade hours ago.

“Something like that,” you tease him. “Maybe the power of ‘love.’”

You’d meant it entirely in a platonic way, but as soon as the words are out of your mouth, Sebastian goes red and ducks his face.

“That’s – that’s ridiculous,” he mumbles. “I mean, love, that’s… Who said anything about love?”

You’re quiet while you watch Sebastian try and fail to gather his thoughts. He’s flailing, and all of a sudden you realize something clear as day that you can’t quite believe you never recognized before.

“Sebastian,” you murmur. “...Do you suppose you broke through an Imperius curse because you’re in love with me?”

“Wh-what?!” he laughs.

“Because if you did, that would be probably the most romantic thing I’ve ever heard, in all the books I’ve ever read,” you continue. “And if that were the case, I would have to tell you that I’m madly in love with you, too.”

Sebastian is stunned into silence.

“You love me?” he eventually whispers.

“I do,” you tell him. “And… and I never really thought about it before, because it doesn’t really feel all that different from being friends with you, except – except I would have let you kill me rather than kill you, even though I know what’s at stake.”

“I still think you should’ve,” Sebastian jokes quietly. “You’re much more important than I am.”

“Regardless, we couldn’t have let Rookwood find out about the last Repository, and I would have taken the Killing Curse to stop him,” you sigh. “I trusted you would have taken the Pensieve wand back to Fig.”

“I would’ve turned my wand on myself first,” Sebastian says plainly. “Without a second thought.”

Merlin, you can’t believe he actually says things like that.

Rather than continuing to dwell on what could have been, you offer him a hand up and support him by the elbow while he shakily makes his way to his feet. He still looks pale and rattled, but he’s able to start to walk toward the exit of the crumbling ruins – still clinging to your hand.

“Come on,” you murmur. “When we get back to the castle you can rest.”

“What about the Repository?” he asks weakly.

“Let me and Fig worry about that,” you murmur. “You’ve already done more than enough for me today, love. You need to recover.”

“M’not even hurt,” he protests, but he sounds utterly depleted.

“Hush,” you whisper. “Just keep holding onto me, alright?”

It’s not easy getting Sebastian back to the castle; he keeps pitching to the side on the back of your broom as he fights to stay conscious, but you manage to keep him from falling off. Despite his protests, you take him straight to Nurse Blainey so he can get some proper rest (and so someone will be forced to keep an eye on him for you).

“Be safe,” he murmurs while you squeeze his hand in his infirmary bed. “Please.”

“I promise, Seb,” you tell him, leaning down to press a quick kiss to his cheek. “Just be here waiting for me when I get back.”

“You’ve made sure of that,” he grumbles, but he offers you an encouraging smile before you leave for the Map Room one final time.