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choco-froggie · 3 days ago

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Something Blue

Summary: Anne Sallow hasn't spoken to her brother Sebastian in five years, since that fateful day in the Feldcroft Catacomb. She has no plans on reconciling with him... until she receives an invitation to his wedding.

Rating: General (just a little bit of angst) Words: ~4,700

Notes: Hi! I am so sorry for my absence -- I know I keep saying I'll be back soon, but I recently received a promotion at work that has kept me busy as hell. Annnnyway, I have no idea what this is -- it's a bit different from my usual Seb smut, but it just sort of spilled itself into a Google Doc and here we are. And have no fear, I'm slowly but surely writing more of my usual work. I love you all, and hope to engage with everyone more soon!

Read below the cut. (Might throw on Ao3 later if people like it.)

The Janus Thickey Ward of St. Mungo’s Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries was still. It was always quiet compared to the hospital’s other floors, which brimmed with all the chaos that accompanies magical misfortunes.

Anne Sallow thumbed through the morning’s Daily Prophet, her eyes scanning its pages for something interesting to read. Another quidditch scandal involving the Wimbourne Wasps, wedding announcements, some story about a witch who survived a kelpie attack. All mundane, if you asked Anne.

Finally, a photo just below the fold on the front page caught Anne’s eye. She froze as she recognized one of its subjects, her eyes staring at the familiar freckled face. Her brother.

A headline that read, “Ministry Auror Makes Major Arrests in Muggle Murders” was just below the photo, in which Sebastian Sallow could be seen accompanying two figures robed in dark cloaks. Sebastian’s wand was out, pointed between the two wizards, as he smirked proudly. Anne’s eyes fell to the article that accompanied the photo.

LONDON – Two notorious wizards are behind bars Tuesday after a months-long tracking operation. Wolfgang Muller, 34, and Lina Antunovic, 29, were taken into custody Monday night, according to the Ministry of Magic.

Officials said the pair were wanted for the murders of 13 muggles that occurred in London over a six-month span. They were also allegedly an integral part of the international illegal poaching operation that was disbanded in Munich last month.

Officer Sebastian Sallow, who arrested other leaders of the poaching ring, apprehended Muller and Antunovic inside an abandoned church outside of Chiswick. No serious injuries were reported.

“The Ministry of Magic is relieved to announce the arrests of two of the wizarding world’s most dangerous criminals,” Minister of Magic Faris Spavin said in a statement issued Monday. “The Ministry is particularly grateful for Officer Sallow and his exceptional work and dedication to keeping the wizarding community safe.”

Muller and Antunovic will be tried separately in the Wizengamot next month.

Anne’s lips thinned. Another remarkable achievement by her estranged brother. Her chest swelled with pride for him, but her heart ached because she couldn’t tell him so.

Anne hadn’t seen or spoken with her brother in five years; not since that fateful day when his descent into dark magic drove him to commit the ultimate unforgivable crime. He’d killed their Uncle Solomon and altered their lives forever.

Though Ominis Gaunt eventually convinced Anne to keep quiet about Sebastian’s actions, she ultimately decided the only fair trade for such a sinister secret was to shun Sebastian for life.

She left Feldcroft and checked into St. Mungo’s as a long-term patient. They kept her comfortable there. The alchemists even offered to work on an elixir that could someday cure her curse. Anne accepted with masked apprehension. But as soon as Sebastian found out she was staying there, he tried to reach her. She had his name added to the hospital’s security list, banning him from visiting her. She also refused all of his letters.

Anne wasn’t sure she’d ever forgive her brother for what he’d done. She had begged him to stop his pursuit for her cure and insisted she had come to terms with her fate. But Sebastian, ever the stubborn one, didn’t know when to stop.

Even his letters showed up for years, arriving on a monthly basis that Anne soon learned to expect. She turned them all away and told the Healers to have them destroyed. Instead, she kept tabs on her brother from afar, whenever an article about his achievements popped up in the newspaper.

So as Anne gazed at the photo of her brother, looking so honorable, so impressive, her heartstrings twisted in agony, torn between his efforts at redemption and his inexcusable past.

She folded the paper and shuffled it into the top drawer of her nightstand.

Two days later, an elegant envelope arrived at her bedside. Anne didn’t recognize the handwriting and there was no return address. Curiously, she peeled the seal apart and removed a sheet of thick, cream-colored cardstock printed with distinguished gold, glimmering letters.

Miss Madeline Gaines & Mr. Sebastian Sallow kindly request your attendance for their upcoming nuptials. Saturday, June 9, 3 o’clock in the afternoon. St. James’s Church, Piccadilly, London.

Anne didn’t realize she’d been holding her breath until her lungs began to burn. She inhaled sharply to relieve them, her eyes scanning the invitation for a second, then a third time. There was no note with the invitation but Anne knew it was Madeline’s doing.

Sebastian was getting married. Her twin brother was getting married, and it was to the pretty little Ravenclaw Anne had met a few times during their fifth year.

Anne would be lying if she said she liked the girl. Not that she’d concealed her disdain very well. In her defense, everything unraveled when that girl entered their lives.

Anne could tell Sebastian was smitten with Madeline from the start. When he visited Anne in Feldcroft one afternoon, his eyes lit up the moment he began to talk about Madeline. He raved about her brilliance, how she demolished him during a duel on the first day of classes, and how she had taken down a troll in Hogsmeade. He spoke of her like she possessed some sort of captivating power he’d never seen before. As it turned out, that power was love.

When Madeline came to Feldcroft, she was kind and curious about the Sallow family. At first, Anne thought it might be good for Sebastian to have another friend. Her decline in health and absence from Hogwarts weighed heavily on her brother, leaving him with only Ominis Gaunt to confide in.

But Anne’s faith in Sebastian’s new friend quickly faltered. First, it became clear that Madeline was Anne’s replacement. When Anne found out from Ominis that Sebastian had shown the new girl the Undercroft, she was irate. And then, Ominis’ stance on Madeline also began to soften. He also found her intriguing, much to Anne’s annoyance. So as stories of Madeline spending time with Sebastian and Ominis became more commonplace during their Feldcroft visits, Anne developed a dislike toward Madeline.

Of course, her dislike morphed to something much more loathsome when it became clear that Madeline was a bad influence on Sebastian. The closer they became, the lower Sebastian sank toward the bottom of his moral being. And then Madeline helped him steal that stupid spellbook and wicked relic, which became the catalyst for Sebastian’s worst moment.

So no, Anne wasn’t too fond of Madeline Gaines. And now they’d be sisters-in-law.

Still, Anne chewed at her bottom lip, the invitation still in hand. It was clear she was missing out on her brother’s life. What if she someday grew to regret that? Surely Sebastian would soon have a family of his own. Anne wouldn’t want to miss out on the opportunity to be an aunt. And to be utterly, excruciatingly honest, Sebastian was obviously living a much more productive life than she was. He had a flourishing career and a bride-to-be. Anne spent her days in a quiet hospital ward with fellow patients who didn’t even remember their own names.

What if she did attend the wedding? Was she ready to forgive Sebastian for what he’d done? Was she ready to reopen those old wounds that had never fully healed, but merely scabbed over?

But what if Sebastian hadn’t actually changed? What if his career and happy nuptials were merely a performative mask, meant to shield outsiders from learning the truth? What if he and Madeline were just as reckless, just as dangerous as they’d been five years ago? There was a chance Anne would regret reuniting with her brother. But there was an even bigger chance she’d regret missing out on any more of his life’s monumental moments.

—

June 9 arrived and so did Anne. She showed up to the church nearly an hour before the ceremony was set to start. She didn’t know why. Perhaps it was nerves, or the excitement of seeing Sebastian after five years. But as she approached the grand cathedral, its stained glass windows sparkling in the summer sun, she hesitated at the front gate.

What if she wasn’t meant to show up that day? What if Sebastian didn’t want her there? What if Madeline had been misguided in her decision to send that invitation? After all, this was their day, not Anne’s. Though she still held ill feelings toward Sebastian and Madeline, she didn’t want to dampen their wedding day.

Soon, guests started to arrive and Anne realized she’d been lingering in front of the church for a good 20 minutes. She swallowed and filed inside, its heavy oak doors creaking open to admit her.

The church was quiet, save for the sounds of chatty guests and an abrasive bridesmaid who was barking orders as a string quartet set up near the front of the church. It took a moment for Anne to realize it was Imelda Reyes.

The sight of her former housemate sent a surge of panic through Anne’s nerves. She’d spent weeks thinking about how it’d feel to reconnect with Sebastian. She hadn’t considered how it would feel to see her old friends and classmates again. What if they were cross with her? What if they judged her for abandoning her brother? Anne assumed that was how the tale was spun, given that no one but Ominis knew the truth about the nature of her sudden departure.

Still, Anne was struck by a wave of nostalgia as she watched Imelda tease a man with red hair that had to be none other than Garreth Weasley. She realized she had missed these people. They’d once been a part of her daily life and she never even said goodbye.

Perhaps they all thought she was dead. Perhaps they hadn’t given Anne another thought.

Unsure how to handle the inevitable entrance into the nave of the church, Anne hovered in the front hall until a shriek of laughter echoed from a nearby corridor. Curiosity got the best of Anne, who was still stalling her entry toward the pews anyway. She wandered into the corridor, where a trio of doors stood open.

The sounds of giggles and gushing voices carried from the first door on the right. Anne wandered toward it, creeping quietly to avoid drawing any attention to herself. She peeked around the doorframe and stilled.

Madeline stood at the center of the room as she gazed into a floor-length mirror. Her lace gown draped from her hips to the floor, where a modest train pooled at her feet. Her dark hair was pinned up and her lips were a soft shade of coral. Anne had always thought she was pretty but now, she was positively stunning.

To Madeline’s right, Anne recognized Natsai Onai and Poppy Sweeting wearing matching champagne-colored gowns. The trio were laughing over Madeline’s veil, which clung to her behind rather than draping delicately over her frame as intended.

Anne couldn’t help but smile to herself at the warmth and energy within the room. She wondered if she would have been a part of this moment had she stayed in Sebastian’s life. Would she and Madeline have become friends? Would she have been the first to know when Sebastian and Madeline were engaged? Would Sebastian have asked Anne for her opinion on an engagement ring? Would Anne have been the one to help Madeline pick out a wedding dress?

There was no use dwelling on what could have been, but the notion left a sharp pang in Anne’s chest. Maybe writing Madeline off and missing out on these important moments had been a mistake.

“Oh Maddie,” Poppy sighed. “Seb is going to die when he sees you. I’ve never seen a more stunning bride.”

“You don’t think the dress is too much?” Madeline wondered. “It’s a bit ostentatious compared to my usual style.”

“Maddie, it’s your wedding day,” Natsai noted. “If there were ever a day to dress up, this is it. Poppy’s right, Sebastian’s going to keel over.”

Anne smirked at the thought of her brother seeing his bride. Something made her chest swell with pride. Maybe her brother really had changed, and maybe his commitment to Madeline was another indication of the reparations he’d made for his past.

Still, Anne had always been the careful and calculated one. That hadn’t changed over the years and she was still apprehensive. Just because Sebastian and Madeline were getting married didn’t mean their crimes would be erased, nor did it even mean they’d moved past them. What if they were still dabbling with dark magic? What if Solomon’s death had merely been a gateway to more egregious acts?

As Anne mulled over all the possibilities, she suddenly realized Madeline’s wide eyes were staring into the mirror straight back at her. Anne froze, her entire body unable to make sense of what was happening. Her tongue became heavy, leaving her void of any words.

“Anne?” Madeline breathed. Anne swallowed and nodded silently, stepping into the room as Poppy and Natsai’s eyes grew wide. “You came,” Madeline said in disbelief.

“I… I thought I might regret missing such a big moment in my brother’s life,” Anne managed. Her mouth was still cotton and her heart was still closed. She wanted to exude warmth, to embrace Madeline as her sister-in-law, but years of resentment don’t disintegrate in one mere moment.

“I’m glad you came.” Madeline seemed to have a mutual understanding of Anne’s hesitant behavior. After all, she’d dealt with a similar reception from Ominis at first. She had to earn his trust – and then his forgiveness. But she’d never had Anne’s trust to begin with.

“You look beautiful,” Anne offered.

“Oh! Thank you,” Madeline beamed. “You look great yourself. That shade of blue suits you so well. It’s lovely, really.”

Anne smiled. It was a thin smile, but it was genuine. No one had complimented her appearance in years, and the pale blue dress she’d found for the occasion made her feel pretty for once.

“Thank you,” she said.

An unwieldy pause settled over the room. Poppy and Natsai had been watching the exchange with bated breath, as if it were live theater. Madeline’s lips thinned for a moment as she mulled over her next words.

“Poppy, Natty, can you give us a minute?” she asked kindly. “Maybe you could check and make sure Imelda hasn’t hexed anyone?”

The two bridesmaids nodded, both flashing reassuring smiles at Anne before they filed from the room.

Madeline moved from the mirror to sit on a sofa that had been shoved against a wall. She motioned for Anne to sit next to her and inhaled audibly.

“How… how are you?” Madeline asked cautiously, her eyes unable to meet Anne’s.

“I’m well,” Anne replied. She hoped her tone sounded civil. She didn’t want to be a cloud over Madeline’s wedding day, but she also found it difficult to simply cast the painful past from memory. “Still at St. Mungo’s,” Anne added. “No change in my condition, but I’m feeling okay most days.”

“That’s good to hear,” Madeline said. “I’m so glad you’re here.”

“Thank you for inviting me,” Anne said politely.

Anne shifted uncomfortably in her seat as a silence fell over them. She decided she should have planned better, should have rehearsed her words. She had intended to demand answers from Madeline, but as she sat and stared at the bride, she couldn’t help but soften her stance.

Perhaps now wasn’t the time to discuss their turbulent past, Anne decided. But before she could ask Madeline how she was doing, Madeline looked up to catch her gaze.

“I’m so sorry for everything,” Madeline said quietly, her eyes unable to meet Anne’s. “I swear, I never wanted any of that to happen. I tried to stop Sebastian, tried to reason with him, but that relic… it held magic that was far too powerful and sinister. I had no idea it was affecting him like that.”

Anne nodded silently in acknowledgement, torn over her emotions. Part of her was still angry, still bitter. She still wanted to blame Madeline for Sebastian’s downward spiral. But she knew that wasn’t true. Sebastian made his own decisions, including the one to steal that stupid relic. And even if all that dark magic had spurred him to kill Solomon, it had still been his choice to venture into that realm in the first place. Sure, Madeline could have done more to stop him, or could have been more forthcoming with Anne and Ominis about Sebastian’s actions, but Anne knew Madeline had been way in over her head.

It wasn’t fair to keep blaming Madeline, Anne realized.

“Sebastian really is remorseful for everything,” Madeline continued. “He’s worked so hard to do all the right things. He hasn’t touched dark magic since fifth year. He’s a good man. He’s an Auror now-”

“I know,” Anne interjected gently. “I read The Prophet and I see him. I see all of the articles about his arrests and his work, and how respected he is at The Ministry.” Madeline smiled at the revelation, as if it confirmed that Anne still cared about her brother. “I’m proud of him,” Anne continued. “I’m proud of him but I’m still angry at him, if that makes sense.”

“I understand,” Madeline said. “I was angry with him for a long time, too. But I’ve seen how hard he’s worked, how sorry he is.” She shifted to face Anne more directly, her dress bunching around her in a pile of fabric. “I can’t tell you to forgive him and let him back in,” she continued. “I wouldn’t do that, because I respect your feelings. So all I’ll say is I’m sorry for my part in it. And I hope you’ll see the same man I do now. He’s a good person – a great person – and I’m so proud of who he’s become, Anne. He’s brilliant and he’s so deserving of the good things he has going in his life now. The only thing missing is his sister.” Madeline paused to study Anne carefully. “Nothing fills your void.”

Tears welled in Anne’s eyes. She hated crying. She’d hoped years of bitterness would have drained her internal well of tears, especially when it came to Sebastian, but she couldn’t help herself. Everyone else had grown and moved on from Solomon’s death. She was the only one who had allowed it to take root and twist itself into her heart.

Madeline smiled gently at Anne and offered her a handkerchief. “Sebastian’s getting ready with the groomsmen in a room off the far corridor,” she said. “I don’t mind making our guests wait a little longer if you’d like to go see him.”

Anne returned the smile in gratitude. “Thank you,” she said, rising to her feet but Madeline shook her head.

“No, thank you for coming,” she said as she also stood. “I know you didn’t do it for me, but I’m glad you did it for Sebastian.”

Anne paused to consider her words briefly. “It was for you, too. You make Sebastian happy,” she finally said. “And he deserves to be happy.”

Anne had never been one for hugs, but she welcomed Madeline’s embrace. Madeline felt like warm, welcome change from the cool, jaded veil Anne had adopted over the years. Anne decided she was happy to call her a sister-in-law.

The pair swapped one final smile before Anne retreated from the room in search of her brother.

But the warm feeling from her reconciliation with Madeline quickly evaporated as Anne strolled toward the opposite side of the church. What if Sebastian didn’t want her there? What if he had decided he didn’t need her in his life? What could she possibly say to him?

After all, the last time Anne saw her brother, he had just killed their uncle.

A chorus of male voices echoed from a room as Anne found another corridor. Her breathing became quicker and shorter, her heart threatening to slam against her ribcage as she lingered outside the door.

A bout of laughter erupted from within the room, causing Anne to still. Was it really fair of her to interrupt her brother’s wedding day? But before she could make any decisions, the door swung open and Anne found herself face-to-face with Ominis Gaunt.

He froze immediately as the crimson tip of his wand alerted him to her presence. She didn’t need to announce herself. He recognized her instantly.

“You came,” he breathed, snapping the door shut behind himself.

“I… hi,” Anne managed. Ominis didn’t seem to have words, and it became clear to Anne that she had abandoned him, too. Worse, she had punished him for Sebastian’s actions.

“It’s great to see you,” Ominis finally said. The warmth in his features shredded the curtain of uncertainty between them and Anne couldn’t help but wrangle him into a hug, relieved to be in his presence again.

“I missed you,” she admitted once she released him. “And I’m sorry for not keeping in touch.”

“I understand,” Ominis said. “Things were… heavy.”

Anne nodded in quiet agreement. Ominis turned back to the door and creaked it open. “Oi,” he called into the room. “Sebastian, can you come out here?”

“Are we starting already?” Sebastian’s voice asked.

“No, just come out here.”

Anne held her breath as the familiar tread of Sebastian’s footsteps could be heard across the wood floor, clunking in a rhythmic pace toward the door. Each step seemed to spike Anne’s pulse until she could feel it ringing in her head. The door creaked open wider and Sebastian appeared. “Ominis, if this is about Poppy, I told you to just man up and ask her to-”

Sebastian’s face paled as his gaze landed on Anne. He blinked in disbelief, shutting the door behind himself as his brain scrambled for a reaction.

“I’ll see you two in a bit,” Ominis said softly as he ducked back into the room.

“You’re here,” Sebastian croaked. Anne’s guard was waning, sinking with every moment that Sebastian’s wide eyes stared back at her. But his sad puppy dog expression was reminiscent of that fateful day in the Feldcroft catacombs, right after he killed Solomon. It rocked her with the memories – the trauma – from that cataclysmic moment; the stench of death in the air, the light leaving Solomon’s eyes, the hope for a better future vacating Anne’s body.

Her mouth filled with cotton. “I… how did you…” Sebastian stumbled.

“Madeline invited me,” Anne rasped.

“Oh. I didn’t know. I-”

“It’s okay, Sebastian.”

The twins stared at each for a beat that seemed to stretch for hours, taking in the other’s appearance as they both scrambled for the right words. Sebastian noticed that some color had returned to Anne’s complexion, in spite of the curse. Anne noticed that Sebastian had grown taller, his facial features now sharper as he had shed some of his boyish baby weight.

Anne decided she needed to be the first to speak. After all, she was the one who had appeared out of the blue to crash his wedding after years of cold silence.

“You look so handsome,” she said, smiling as she admired his suit.

“You look great, too. That shade of blue is nice,” Sebastian said. “St. Mungo’s… have they…”

“The alchemists are working on a cure,” Anne answered knowingly. “But there are, of course, no promises. But I’m comfortable there. And the more time I spend there, the more they can learn about me… about my curse, which brings them closer to a cure.”

Sebastian nodded in silence as he absorbed her words. He’d hoped she was going to reveal that she’d been cured. But to simply see her standing before him – alive – was enough.

“I… can’t believe you’re here,” he said, tears stinging his eyes.

“Honestly, neither can I.”

Five years of unspoken words loomed over them. Both shouldered a cloud of clashing emotions; Sebastian, full of guilt, sorrow and shame; Anne, full of resentment, fear and apprehension. But Anne also carried her own guilt for punishing Sebastian for so long. They were only 15 when he killed Solomon, and he’d been driven by an adolescent desperation that could only be explained by a deep love and devotion to his twin.

Another silence. And then, Anne took a deep, slow breath.

“Sebastian, I’m sorry,” she exhaled. Her twin blinked back at her.

“You’re sorry?” he repeated stupidly. “But… you didn’t do anything.”

“Yes, I did,” Anne said, her voice barely above a whisper. “I shut you out.”

“You had every reason to.”

“I did at first,” Anne agreed. “But I should’ve heard you out, should have considered how things change… how you’d change.”

“Anne, I’m so sorry for everything,” Sebastian said quickly. It felt eerily similar to Madeline’s apology, and had the context been lighter, Anne might have smiled at their similarity. Instead, Sebastian’s eyes shone with sorrow. “If I could go back and undo everything, I would. I never meant for things to get so out of hand.”

“I know.”

“I just… just wanted to help you, to take your pain away.”

“I know, Sebastian.”

“But that doesn’t excuse what I did. But I swear, I’ve done everything I can to make up for it. And I see things more clearly now. I would never, ever do anything like that again. And Madeline, she’s been there for me every step of the way. She’s so good for me, Anne, and-”

“Sebastian, I know.” Now Anne couldn’t help but smile at him. “I know. And I’m so proud of you.”

Sebastian crumbled at her words. A sob escaped his throat and the twins quickly embraced, Sebastian burying his face in Anne’s shoulder as five years of despair dissipated. He went limp in his sister’s arms, clinging to her to ensure she was real.

“I’ve missed you so much, Anne,” he sobbed. “So much has happened and all I’ve wanted was to share it all with you.”

That marked Anne’s turn to break. Her resentment toward her brother and his bad decisions was replaced with grief for the years she allowed them to lose. She was shredded by the guilt of denying her brother her precious time, especially when it could be cut short by life’s razor at any moment.

Anne was hit with the sharp clarity that life wasn’t black and white. Sebastian wasn’t black, marked by evil and malice, and Anne wasn’t white, innocent and pure simply because she’d never killed anyone.

She realized her judgment of her brother had gone on long enough. They were still one in the same, despite their decisions to sin differently.

“I’m here now, Sebastian,” Anne said soothingly, though her own tears were streaming warm, stinging trails down her cheeks. “I never should have left you. I was hurt by what happened but I didn’t consider how hurt you were, too. Instead, I hurt us both.”

“Please don’t leave me again, Anne,” Sebastian begged.

“I won’t, I promise.” Anne’s arms tightened around Sebastian and he did the same. Both were terrified to let go in case fate decided to insert itself between them again. But this time, Anne was determined to be there for her brother in all the ways he’d been for her.

Finally, the door behind them could be heard creaking open and Ominis reappeared.

“Alright, you two?” he asked. Sebastian sniffled and Anne choked a laugh.

“We’re fine,” she mused, her own nose running. “We just need to get a grip.”

“Better get it soon,” Ominis warned, though the smile across his lips revealed his elation at the reunion in front of him. “The ceremony was supposed to start 10 minutes ago. Lucky the bride is an understanding woman.”

“Even the most understanding has her limits,” Sebastian noted. “Best get going.” He turned to face Anne, his eyes still wet and his heart still swelling with happiness. “Thank you for coming,” he said. “It means everything.”

“I couldn’t miss it,” Anne answered. “I’ve missed enough these past five years. But most of all, I missed you.”

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