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[sunnyrealist]

Chapter 41: Follow Me Into the Next Life

The Sun, the Moon, and All Our Stars

Summary and Details…

Previous Chapter Recap/Context: Sebastian and Kate are on an adventurous camping trip in the Scottish Highlands. Their goal is to explore the mysterious Blackfold Castle. Protective wards, set by a queen who took her own life, have kept curious treasure-hunters away for centuries. When the couple first arrives, Sebastian attempts to break the wards with no success. However, Kate is able to stroll past the barrier with no issue and somehow is able to bring Sebastian with her. As they approach, Kate's emotions suddenly transform to ones of fear, grief, and deep sorrow. Soon, it seems that the castle itself is pulling them inside.

Pairing: 25-year-old, post-Azkaban Sebastian Sallow x Kate Mayflower (my OC)

Content warnings: In general, this is rated 18+ - minors should not read or interact with this story. This chapter really doesn't have content warnings, but there are some sad moments related to heartbreak.

Artwork: The illustrated pictures of Kate and Sebastian were commissioned from @giselsann-opencommissions.

The full chapter is available below the cut; it can also be found on AO3 (link is posted below). Please leave some feedback if possible, especially if you like what you read! 🥰

Chapter 41: Follow Me Into the Next Life

When the doors shut behind them, candles suddenly flicker to life, bringing the interior out of the darkness for the first time in over 500 years. Sebastian is surprised to find the air inside the castle fresh, as though someone had been here recently, though in his heart he knows that couldn’t be true. The castle has deemed them special enough to grant access, though he is not sure why.

“Are you alright?” Sebastian asks gently.

Kate’s inner turmoil has disappeared - no longer terrified and overwhelmed with melancholia, she feels a sense of relief. Nodding, she replies in amazement, “I’m… completely fine now.”

Sebastian leads the way, moving cautiously inside the huge hall. It’s oddly empty, with plenty of open space. Plaid tapestries line the walls. Stained glass windows allow colored light into the hall. A wooden table lies in the center of the room and, behind it, a huge pensieve. On the table are a piece of parchment, a quill, and a pot of ink. Ornate candlesticks burn brightly on each side of the set of writing tools.

The eerie silence is only broken by their footsteps as they make their way to the table, which is clean, though it would stand to reason it should be quite dusty and dirty after many centuries.

Sebastian and Kate lean over, examining the only words written on the parchment: Ma tha an dithis agaibh an seo, bha sinn soirbheachail.

Kate glances at her boyfriend, furrowing her brow. She shakes her head. “I don’t know what that means…”

Sebastian appears bewildered. “It’s Scottish Gaelic.” He reads the words aloud fluently, then murmurs its translation. “If you are both here… we were successful.”

“You know the language?” Kate asks, surprised.

“Yes,” he replies, still looking unsettled by the message. “My father taught me Latin, Greek, and Scottish Gaelic. And then I studied some more languages on my own - I can understand Ancient Runes, Phoenician, Cyrillic, and Aramaic.”

Kate looks at him in wonder. “That’s incredible. I had no idea.” 

“‘If you are both here, we were successful,’” Sebastian repeats, his eyebrows knitting together. “I don’t understand.”

She examines the parchment once more, then the items on the table. “Why leave writing utensils and only that one sentence?”

He takes the quill, dipping it into the pot of ink. “That’s exactly the question. I have a hunch. I’m going to try something.” He scribbles two words on the paper and says them aloud in English. Feasgar math. “Good afternoon.” 

Kate gasps as their first exchanged messages disappear, replaced by another. Sebastian narrates and translates. “Tha mi air feitheamh cho fada gus an ruig thu. I have waited so long for you to arrive.”

Who are you? Sebastian queries in Scottish Gaelic.

I am you, the parchment answers cryptically.

Kate and Sebastian glance confusedly at each other.

What is your name?

Eilionoir. And yours?

“Queen Eilionoir of Blackfold Castle,” Kate murmurs. “How…? How is she doing this? It’s impossible. She’s dead…”

“Should we give our names?” Sebastian asks.

“I don’t know,” she replies. “It could be the work of Dark magic… What do you think?”

Sebastian begins scribbling again. What shall you do with our names?

I shall do nothing. I am merely curious to know our names.

Our names?

Yes. Our names. Please. And pray tell, what is the year?

1899. Sebastian glances at Kate, who nods in approval. We are Sebastian Renatus Sallow and Kate Camellia Mayflower.

I see. Much time has passed. I wonder why it took so many centuries. I have never heard such names.

What do you mean by “it?”

You shall understand soon.

Sebastian grows bolder, tired of playing games. Why did you draw Kate into this place? Do you seek to harm us?

It has been so long. I did not wish to risk losing you both. I waited for you specifically. I promise that neither of you shall not be harmed. I want you to understand. Please take note. Should you heed my instructions, you shall be greatly rewarded. You shall leave this place with more knowledge and wealth than you can imagine.

Kate and Sebastian exchange glances, eyebrows raised.

We do not understand, but we await your directions.

If you are Neacal, you surely must know how to use a Pensieve, yes?

Sebastian shakes his head. Perhaps this charmed paper is not as effective or intelligent as he was beginning to believe. My name is Sebastian. I know how to use a Pensieve.

Marvelous. Sebastian, I have left memories for you and Kate to view. You likely enjoy exploring, yes?

Yes.

You shall explore this castle, where I once dwelled. In each room of the southern wing, I left bottled memories. Collect them. If you use them in order, you shall see the story of my life chronologically. Do not disturb any of the items in the rooms - only procure the memories. When your task is complete, I shall reveal more - and provide a reward.

Sebastian is not quite sure what to say, so he ends with: Thank you.

“I’ve never used a Pensieve…” Kate tells him hesitantly.

“It isn’t difficult,” Sebastian assures her.

Kate grasps his hand tightly. “Sebastian, how is any of this possible?”

Sebastian shakes his head. “I’m not entirely certain. It would take powerful magic to link one’s conscious memory to an object, like a piece of parchment. Queen Eilionoir must have had a very important reason to do it - that would take serious determination and skill. I just… I don’t understand why she writes that she has waited for us, specifically. How could she know us?”

“I don’t know, either. But… I do not think we are in danger. Do you?” Kate asks.

“No, I don’t,” he replies. “We should see this through. I’m intrigued by the promise of this reward.”

They set off into the south wing, ready to explore.

An hour later, Kate finishes arranging the memory vials in the order in which they discovered them. 

“I wonder how long each of the memories will last,” Kate muses. “There are so many of them… We will likely be here until the evening.”

Sebastian leans over the Pensieve and gazes into the wispy, swirling basin. “Let’s not wait any longer, then. I am ready when you are.”

Kate nods. “So, what do I do?”

“Stand next to the Pensieve. I will retrieve a memory, open the bottle, and empty its contents. Then, both of us shall place our faces into the Pensieve,” he explains, walking to the table and selecting the first memory. “It will feel strange at first. You will feel like you are truly there, and you’ll see what this person experienced. You will not be able to interact with anything in the memory, but you will be able to move about and see a little beyond what the queen could see herself.” He uncaps the glass top of the memory bottle. “Does that make sense? Are you ready?”

“I’m ready,” she affirms.

Sebastian lets the silvery memory trickle out of the bottle and into the Pensieve. He and Kate stare at each other, resolved. They place their faces into the basin, and their world fades away, replaced by Queen Eilionoir’s. 

At first, Kate feels as though she is falling, but she doesn’t even notice that she lands. 

They’re in a large, green field, bordered by a forest. In the distance is a tiny cottage with a pen for livestock.

A little girl runs by, chasing after a lamb. She has long, blonde, very curly hair, green eyes, and freckles - Kate notes that she almost looks like a cherub, despite her clothing - a dark brown dress with a tattered smock, along with a dark cloth wrapped around the top of her head. Her cheeks are tinted pink, and she’s panting, trying to keep up with the runaway animal. She cries out in a language Kate doesn’t understand. 

Sebastian, standing next to Kate, murmurs, “She’s telling the lamb to stop and wait. But it doesn’t look like it will. We’ll have to follow her.”

 He takes Kate’s hand, and they begin jogging towards the lamb and child. 

Up ahead, underneath a tree, there sits a small boy, about the same age, paging through a book. He has dark - almost black - hair and brown eyes, trained on a book. He appears to be talking to himself. His clothes are in much better shape. As the little girl approaches, the boy finally looks up. 

She continues shouting at the lamb as it furthers its lead. Finally, she trips somehow, falling down hard with an “Oomph!”

The young lad closes his book, stands, and pulls a wand out of his pocket, pointing it at the lamb. He murmurs something, moving the wand, and, as a result, the creature freezes in place. Then, he dashes over to the little girl, checking to see if she is alright. He helps her stand. 

“Merlin,” Sebastian marvels. “He couldn’t be much older than five. How could he do that at that age?”

The children converse with each other.

“She thanked him. Then, they exchanged names. Eilionoir Aitken and Neacal Brody. He has offered to help her to bring the lamb back to its pen,” Sebastian explains to Kate.

Little Neacal picks up the lamb with great effort, and the two begin walking back in the direction from which Eilionoir came.

The memory fades, and Kate and Sebastian find themselves back in their world as they remove their faces from the Pensieve.

Kate touches her face, surprised it isn’t wet. “Neacal… Isn’t that the name the parchment mentioned earlier?”

“Yes,” replies Sebastian. “Let’s view the next memory, if you’re ready.”

Eilionoir cannot be much more than a year older than in the previous memory. The scenery is a one-room home, a very rustic one. Eilionoir’s face is dirty; she is sitting up on a bed stuffed with three younger siblings, fast asleep. Her mother pulls a wooden chair close to the bed. Eilionoir clutches her stomach and appears to complain.

“She’s hungry,” Sebastian translates.

Eilionoir’s mother responds to her, taking a strand of blond curls in her hair.

Sebastian listens to the conversation, then tells Kate what transpired. He’s frowning. “Her mother told her that she should just go to sleep if she’s hungry, for there is no more food. She then taught Eilionoir that someday, she will save the family from poverty by marrying someone wealthy. She told her that it is a woman’s duty to marry and have children for her husband. It is the only thing women are made for, and she tells Eilionoir that she must be so pretty for a reason - that she is sure to attract someone of a higher status.”

Eilionoir smiles innocently, then asks another question. Then, the memory fades.

When Kate and Sebastian return to their world, he translates again. “Eilionoir asked if her husband will have food.”

Kate looks down, troubled by what they saw and heard. “Such poverty… and yet she ended up here, in Blackfold Castle.”

Many years pass throughout the memories inside the third bottle.

Most of the scenes take place after sunset, as it grows dark outside. Kate eventually deduces that they must only be able to meet at night, after the day’s work is complete.

Eilionoir meets Neacal at the same tree from the first memory. He holds his wand out, clearly utilizing Lumos. They laugh, running through a dark forest, side by side. They eventually come to a river, and Neacal finds a fallen tree that might lead them across, but it’s clearly not all that stable or safe. Eilionoir tries to hold him back, but Neacal climbs onto it without any hesitation. Stepping carefully and testing his weight, he makes it across the river. Then, he beckons for her to follow, and she does. The moment she is across, they run further and further into the woods.

The next memory finds Neacal seated at the tree, waiting for Eilionoir again. He reads a book using his illuminated wand. Eilionoir arrives and sits beside him. He recites the words to her. 

“A fairy tale?” Kate guesses.

Sebastian laughs, shaking his head. “Far from it.” He steps closer to the two of them, hovering close behind and examining the words on the page. “It’s a book that teaches about magical theory.” 

Kate furrows her brow. “They can’t be more than nine years old… Are you sure?”

He chuckles. “Yes, I’m certain. And look, they are both so interested…”

“At nine, I would have been reading tales of princesses and heroes,” Kate muses. “How strange.”

Sebastian smiles. “I would have, too, but I certainly would have read things like this, as well. My parents always encouraged studying serious texts along with enjoying fun stories.”

Kate gazes at Sebastian in amazement and admiration. 

The scene changes. Neacal leads Eilionoir to his home, where his parents provide her with a hot meal. Then, Neacal asks his father for something. He returns with three long boxes.

“Wands,” Kate guesses. “Perhaps his parents were wandmakers.”

Eilionoir tries out two of the wands with disastrous results, but the third produces a bright light the moment she touches it. She asks Neacal’s father if it costs money, and he shakes his head, gesturing that it belongs to her now. She beams.

Not much time passes, and Kate and Sebastian again see the two of them by “their” tree. 

Neacal takes Eilionoir’s left hand, and wraps a flower around her ring finger, whispering something in her ear. Eilionoir blushes intensely. He chastely kisses her cheek.

“He said he would marry her someday,” Sebastian murmurs with a smile, nudging Kate. “That he would take care of her.”

“All of this is so sweet.” Kate smiles.

More years go by. Most of the scenes are about Neacal reading to or teaching spells to Eilionoir, helping her to practice and hone her magic. They are thrilled with every success, hugging each other and dancing around.

Kate and Sebastian are sent back to their reality. 

“This is fascinating,” Kate says, “And I want to keep going, but perhaps we should take a break for luncheon.”

Sebastian chuckles. Without Kate, that never would have crossed his mind - he would normally have been too obsessed and enthralled to stop for even a moment, but now that she’s said it, his stomach growls. He agrees, and Kate quickly prepares a cheese and meat plate with fresh bread and grapes. It’s not much, but it will sustain them for a few more hours. 

When Sebastian tips the next silvery memory into the Pensieve, he and Kate dive right in, reinvigorated by their light lunch.

This memory isn’t happy at all.

Eilionoir’s mother lies dead in her bed, a midwife packing up tools. Her father is screaming at the midwife, as if she could have done something more. 

Eilionoir (likely twelve years old now) and her five younger siblings cower in bed, sobbing.

That night, Eilionoir sneaks out as soon as everyone is asleep. She dashes to Neacal’s house and taps at the small window she knows to be right above his bed. A few minutes later, he slips outside. The moment Eilionoir lays eyes on him, she bursts into tears. Neacal leads her to their tree, where she can actually let it all out. She sobs loudly, practically unable to breathe. Neacal holds her in an embrace, rubbing her back. 

This scene fades, and then one begins, with Eilionoir and her father. He is having a serious discussion with her. 

“He says that the family depends on Eilionoir more than ever, with her mother gone. She needs to look after her siblings and mind the house. He actually said to her, ‘Childhood is over,’” Sebastian explains. He listens to more of their conversation, then continues, “Her father is telling her that she is practically a woman now and that he will look for a match for her as soon as possible. Through marriage, Eilionoir could lift the family out of poverty.”

Kate scoffs. “A woman? She doesn’t even look like a teenager.”

Perhaps a year later, Eilionoir’s body has shifted closer to that of a young lady. At night, she and Neacal, who also looks older and more filled out, walk in the woods hand in hand, under the light of the moon. They reach the river where they once used to play as children. Neacal gestures for Eilinoir to sit on a fallen tree, and he settles in next to her, quite close. The stars are reflected in the water, and lacewing flies light up all around them. 

Neacal takes her face in his hands, leans in, and kisses Eilionoir softly. When they break apart, he begins to speak and continues for a long while. She smiles at him, and when he finishes, she presses her lips to his once more. Just like when they were children, Neacal wraps a flower around her left ring finger, whispering in her ear.

Sebastian clears his throat. “Neacal says he will marry her. He will provide for her and her family. He will properly speak to her father about a wedding as soon as he finishes his apprenticeship. He says they will always be happy, and he will always cherish her. They’ll be together every day and not have to sneak around at night anymore. He promises he will procure a real ring for her.”

Kate smiles, then frowns, realizing that she eventually becomes a queen - not Neacal’s wife. 

A couple more years pass. Eilionoir listens in as Neacal speaks to her father about a marriage. To her surprise, her father agrees but says that Neacal must prove that he can actually provide for Eilionoir and her family. Neacal shakes his hand, promising to do so. 

When Kate and Sebastian emerge from the Pensieve, Kate gestures for him to hurry up and pour in the contents of the next bottle.

A year has passed. Eilionoir is smiling, and her siblings are quite excited. There is to be a royal procession through the village. They beg Eilionoir to let them leave their chores for just an hour so that they may see it, and, after some hesitation, she agrees. 

They all stroll towards town, joining a large crowd lining the main road. They soon hear horns, signaling the arrival of the procession. 

There are musicians on horseback at the front of the procession. Then, there are knights and royal officials, riding on unicorns, no less. Eilionoir’s youngest sibling, no more than seven years old, jumps up and down excitedly, pointing at the rare creatures. Eilionoir grins at the joy this has brought them. Eventually, a carriage pulled by thestrals rolls past, slowly. There is a man, wearing a crown, inside, who waves at all of the villagers. His eyes meet Eilionoir’s and do not leave until the carriage has long passed. The procession continues on, and at the end, there is a performer who uses fire magic to entertain.

When it is over, Eilionoir pushes her siblings to return home. The younger ones skip and sing all the way back. 

When Eilionoir opens the door, there is an older man - someone who appears noble - speaking to her father. Eilionoir is taken aback and quickly pulls her siblings back around the house to their livestock pen to get back to their work.

Tiptoeing back around the house, she tries to not arouse suspicion, as she clearly plans to listen in to the conversation, but the nobleman exits, sees her, and slightly bows. Eilionoir appears confused but curtsies. She enters the house to find her father smiling and laughing. He asks her to sit down, unable to speak at first because he is practically cackling with happiness. Then, he begins sharing some news with her. Eilionoir, at first, grins but then turns pale.

Sebastian’s face falls as he listens in. “Her father says that their life of poverty is over. Eilionoir is to be married to the prince of Blackfold Castle, Luthais. He saw her, thought she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen, and immediately requested for someone to speak to her father to arrange a marriage agreement. He does not care that her family is poor.”

Eilinoir begins to tear up. She calmly asks a question.

“Eilionoir asks how her father could do this, when she has already been promised to Neacal.”

Her father shakes his head and answers her as though she is being ridiculous.

“He says that their engagement was never official and that Neacal could never offer her what the prince could. Neacal could not lift her family from poverty. Neacal could not give Eilionoir’s father a hefty annual allowance and a title,” Sebastian explains somberly.

Eilinoir argues with him, then begins screaming and crying, to no avail.

In the next scene, Eilionoir tells Neacal the news. They both cry and hold each other, realizing there may be no way out of this situation as they go through potential options. Neacal promises that, despite their dour circumstances, he will still try to find a solution.

Then, the season changes from spring to summer. Eilionoir sneaks out of the house in the middle of the night, meeting with Neacal at their tree. They immediately begin kissing desperately. Tears spill from Eilionoir’s eyes. She whispers to him.

“I do not wish to leave you. I cannot live without you, Neacal,” Sebastian translates. 

Neacal presses his lips to her forehead, tearing up. “I love you, Eilionoir. I love you. I have always loved you, and I always will.”

“Please tell me you have found a way for us to be together,” Eilionoir begs. 

Neacal looks down, his forehead touching hers. “I did everything I could. There is no solution. Not in this life.”

She is wracked with sobs. They hold each other close, moving to finally sit down. 

“Eilionoir, though I cannot make you my wife, I may have devised a way for us to be together. Not in this life, but the next. Do you trust me?” Neacal asks.

She nods, brushing away tears. “With all my heart. I trust you with my life.”

Neacal reaches into a pocket in his cloak. He gets on one knee and holds out a golden ring with a moonstone. “Will you follow me into the next life?”

Eilionoir appears confused. 

“I want you to have this ring to remember me by. However, it’s also an assurance we shall find each other someday. I have never studied so much or gone to such lengths in my life. I traveled to meet with an elder to ensure my work was not in vain. I have finally done it, Eilionoir. I have actually created a spell.” From his cloak pocket, he retrieves and unfolds a piece of parchment. “It’s… it’s a spell for reincarnation.” He gives her a serious, earnest look, searching her face for approval.

“Reincarnation? I never believed it possible,” Eilionoir replies, mystified, gazing at him. “But if you say it is possible, then I know it is possible.” 

“It will work. I know it will work.” His tone is determined, sure. 

Eilionoir kisses his hand, and then he slides the ring onto her finger - a perfect fit. 

“We’ll have another chance,” he murmurs, placing a green ring with a moonstone onto his left ring finger. Then, he shows her the parchment. “We must cast this together under the full moon while wearing the rings. Our souls will unite in the next life.”

Eilionoir scans the parchment, then gazes upon Neacal with genuine hope in her eyes.

The two, in unison, look up at the night sky, where a full moon watches over them. Neacal takes his lover’s hand and helps her to stand.

“We must use both of our wands at once, with both of our hands, and create a circle around us to bind us,” Neacal instructs. “Then, we shall recite the enchantment.”

Both of them take out their wands. Neacal places his in Eilionoir’s hand and then his hand joins hers. They turn in a circle, which somehow materializes around them in a wispy white. The moonstones on their rings light up. 

“I want to see this spell,” Sebastian insists, strolling right behind them and peeking over their shoulders. As it is a Pensieve memory, Eilionoir and Neacal have no reaction to his close hovering. He reads, “‘Geas a cheangal anaman gu bràth’ - ‘A spell to join souls forever.’” 

Eilionoir and Neacal begin to recite the spell - it sounds more like a prayer than anything, Kate thinks. “Gràdh mo bheatha, bheir sinn aghaidh air bàs gun eagal. Tha sinn gu bhith a’ coinneachadh a-rithist fon ghealach làn san ath bheatha. Chan urrainn ar n-anaman a bhith air an dealachadh gu bràth. Tha sinn gu h-iriosal a' guidhe air na diathan sinn a bhi air ar ceangal aon uair eile.”

Sebastian translates as quickly as he can, while they speak. “Love of my life, we shall face death without fear. We are destined to meet again under the full moon in the next life. Our souls can never be parted. We beg the gods humbly for us to be joined once more.”

The circle drawn with their wands lights up brightly, sparkling. It constricts around them until it disappears in a burst. Little stars, like glitter, fall all around them. 

“It worked,” Neacal whispers. He turns to face Eilionoir. “It truly did work…”

“I love you,” Eilionoir murmurs, pressing her lips to his. Their kiss quickly becomes desperate, passionate, hungry. 

The two fall to their knees, clinging to each other, their hands everywhere, as they kiss.

“Neacal,” Eilionoir pants out. “I will only ever love you. We are truly married now in my heart. Please…” She trails off, unable to finish the words.

“Eilionoir,” Neacal chokes out, his hands in her hair.

“I will not save my innocence for a man I do not love,” she finally breathes out, looking deeply into his eyes. “Please, Neacal… Make love to me… You are my true husband…”

Neacal gazes upon her for a long moment, and then they begin kissing again. Neacal gently lays Eilionoir down, maneuvering himself over her. 

The memory fades.

When Sebastian and Kate find themselves back in their reality, they are completely silent for a full minute, both of their minds spinning.

[sunnyrealist]

Thank you, @ladyofsappho, for the tag! 🥰

Here's Kate Mayflower!

I like that this one makes her look like adult! My story takes place in 1899, and she's 24, so this is perfect.

No pressure tags: @juneymont, @xxluna-rougexx, @leafler, @harrietlancaster (or your other blog!), @newbienewness, and anyone else interested!

another stolen picrew tehehe! made Lyra in RDR and DBD AUs

looking forward to see your chars (ofc no pressure) @esolean @nadilu @shanaraharlyah @cloudofbutterflies92 @shepardcommanderand everyone who wants to join!

[sunnyrealist]

AUROR SEBASTIAN SALLOW

[sunnyrealist]

How many languages does Sebastian Sallow know?

Requesting some help! In the Undercroft, Sebastian has TONS of notes scribbled in different languages. Can anyone identify any of the languages? I'm not looking for headcanons - just trying to get canonical answers at the moment.

If you can help at all, please reply. Thank you!

[sunnyrealist]

Kate Mayflower in Formalwear

I'm trying to practice drawing here and there! I am greatly looking forward to trying out legitimate drawing pencils this summer and maybe even (properly) using my iPad and Apple Pen for the first time in years. I have lots of reference poses for sketching on Pinterest all ready to go! 💛

I have found myself much enamored with turn of the century fashion, and this dress by Charles Frederick Worth caught my eye. Perhaps Mr. Worth was actually magical, and his beautiful gowns appeared in wizarding clothing shops like Gladrags long before they appeared in the Muggle world. 😉

[sunnyrealist]

My constant struggle when writing PWP

[sunnyrealist]

Chapter 40: It Wants Me Here

The Sun, the Moon, and All Our Stars

Summary and Details…

Chapter Background and Summary: Sebastian and Kate are on an adventurous camping trip in the Scottish Highlands. The couple has faced danger, concluded their first fight, gotten to know each other much more deeply, and had plenty of romantic and memorable moments. It is finally time for them to take on the last part of their journey - exploring the mysterious Blackfold Castle. In Sebastian's research, he learned that a terrible tragedy took place in the mid-1300s - Blackfold's final ruler was Queen Eilionoir, a deeply unhappy woman who was forced into an arranged marriage against her will. Her husband was assassinated, and rather than taking another husband, she dismissed all castle staff, placed powerful (potentially Dark) protective wards over the castle, and proceeded to take her own life. Since then, no one has been able to enter the ancient castle. Sebastian is convinced there must be something of high value inside and is determined to make it past the wards. In this chapter, he and Kate arrive at Blackfold Castle.

Pairing: 25-year-old, post-Azkaban Sebastian Sallow x Kate Mayflower (my OC)

Content warnings: In general, this is rated 18+ - minors should not read or interact with this story. This chapter really doesn't have content warnings, but there are feelings of impending doom, grief, tragedy, heartbreak, and more amidst supposed danger.

The full chapter is available below the cut; it can also be found on AO3 (link is posted below). Please leave some feedback if possible, especially if you like what you read! 🥰

Chapter 40: It Wants Me Here

Finally, Blackfold Castle comes into view.

Following Sebastian’s lead, Kate zooms forward on her broom, circling the castle and taking in its appearance from a distance, not wanting to test the protective wards yet. Truly, it’s a grand but dreary place, and the weather only adds to the effect. The sky is gray; it threatens to pour at any moment. Despite how bundled up she is, shivers run down her spine. This must have been an impressive castle, long ago, but clearly, no one has been able to get anywhere close to it on foot, preventing any maintenance. The bricks and stones of which it is composed are dirty and crumbling. Though not much plant life could grow at this altitude, what can certainly has. At the front of the castle is a long stone bridge; this must be where the wards begin, as Sebastian had explained.

Gripping her broom’s handle tightly, Kate flies closer to Sebastian. He motions to her, and they begin to descend in front of the ancient bridge. She touches down just after he does. Sebastian kindly takes her broom and gently places it next to his on the ground. 

An eerie feeling washes over her.

Trembling, Kate takes Sebastian’s gloved hand. Together, they observe the long bridge leading to the castle. She feels compelled to walk forward, even though she knows the danger. There’s a deep melancholy here somehow… A heartbreak. Grief. Longing. It permeates the air.

“Sebastian,” Kate begins. “Do you… feel that?”

He looks at her, alarmed, clearly experiencing similar sensations.

She continues warily. “I don’t know how to explain it, but I’m… drawn to this place. It’s beckoning me forward. Yet, at the same time, I feel so sad…”

“Yes,” he answered quickly. “It’s odd… I don’t like it. (Lucy voice: I don’t like it!) It’s almost as though the castle is sentient and wants us to come in, when we know better… But, yes… I feel like there was a great tragedy here…”

Facing Sebastian, Kate examines his eyes to make sure he is listening. “Safety first,” Kate reminds him. “How shall we approach this?”

“I’d like to perform some tests first to see what exactly these protective wards are so I might be able to take them down,” he replies. Then, he smirks. “You know, they call me in specifically for things like this at the DMLE. I’m quite adept at this.” 

Kate smiles slightly, shaking her head at his arrogance. “That may be true, but no one has been able to take them down, Bash. Just… one step at a time. Tell me before you try something new so I am not taken by surprise. Please.”

Sebastian nods. “I need some time. Maybe 20 minutes.”

“Sure. That’s fine. I’d like to sketch the castle, anyway,” Kate tells him, pulling out her extendable bag and fishing her sketchbook and pencil from it. “Whether we make it inside or not, I’d like to remember this place someday.”

With the final touches on the parchment, Kate listens and observes Sebastian’s trials.

He is grunting under the exertion, holding out his wand and opposite hand, attempting to break the protective barrier no one has for centuries. He’s not having any luck, which is what Kate expected. 

When he gives up trying to break the wards, it’s after about twenty tries. His forehead is shining with perspiration as he breathes heavily.

Kate approaches him, placing her hand gently on his shoulder. He whirls around, surprised.

“Seb… If we can’t get through, I won’t be disappointed,” Kate murmurs softly, trying to cushion the blow. “I know you’re trying your best. And I’m sure you’re better than most who have tried before you.” She shudders. “Seb, I really don’t like this place. Something is very wrong here. I feel it. Maybe we should just leave.”

“Damn it all,” he mutters, kicking a rock. “No, I’m getting in.” Sebastian shrugs her hand off in frustration, and Kate furrows her brow. “I’m going to try crossing the bridge. Wait for me here, wand in hand, just in case.”

Kate takes in a sharp breath, her blue eyes growing wide with fear. “I… Please, be careful - you’ve seen what has happened with all of the objects you’ve levitated forward… they’ve been thrown back.” She pauses. “And those were inanimate objects - not people.”

Looking over his face, she can see that there’s no point in arguing. Sebastian is going to do this, no matter what. All she can do is stay prepared, ready to help, and hope against all odds that he won’t be hurt. 

Kate pulls out her wand as he begins slowly walking forward. One foot crosses the threshold, then another. He continues, wand at the ready for any danger. Nothing happens… 

That is, until Sebastian reaches the middle of the bridge.

It’s like he hits a spring.

Thrown back suddenly by an invisible force, he lands on his rear roughly on the stones. He jumps to his feet almost immediately with a fist cocked. Kate yells out to him to see if he’s okay, and he turns around and nods. He spends a few moments thinking about what to try next, and then he walks backward several paces. 

Kate suddenly realizes what he is going to attempt. She begins to dash towards him at full speed to try to stop him. She shouts to him to tell him to wait. But just before she reaches him, he takes off in a sprint, attempting to use speed to break through the barrier. 

Kate isn’t a fast runner, but her legs carry her forward so quickly that it would be impossible for her to stop before the protective wards. 

Sebastian is repelled backwards, hard, to Kate’s side and then far behind her. She cries out as he flies past her. Just a second later, she hits what must be the invisible barrier, throwing her arms in front of her for protection, ready to be tossed into the air. She isn’t able to stop running for several more meters. Yet… nothing pushes her back. She feels… nothing… 

Kate turns around to face Sebastian in shock. 

Having been thrown back much harder this time, Sebastian takes a moment to sit up, rubbing his right palm and wincing. When he realizes that Kate is past the boundary, his mouth falls open and his eyes grow wide. Why…? How…?

The wind picks up, blowing towards the castle entrance. Kate glances back to face it, then turns her gaze back to Sebastian. 

“Bash!” Kate yells out. “I… I don’t know what happened!”

Her soul feels… aflame. Something is igniting deep within her belly. Instead of a comforting warmth, she suddenly feels as though she has been crying for hours, perhaps screaming. The weight of tragedy permeates her every sense, seeping deep into her body and bones and mind. And yet, her soul… desperately wants to go inside Blackfold Castle… She takes a few steps forward.

Kate’s reason kicks in quickly. No! Not without Sebastian…

Despite whatever power or force is directing her towards the castle, she marches back, beyond the barrier, to her boyfriend. She helps him stand. His palm is scuffed and bleeding a little. She kisses his hand and murmurs a charm to clean his mild wound. The castle somehow is still pulling at her soul, beckoning her to return to the threshold.

“Kate… What did you…?” he begins, trailing off. 

She shakes her head. “Nothing… I don’t know!” 

With his hand in hers, she faces Blackfold Castle, her eyes searching. Then, she yelps as her feet begin to move of their own volition. Sebastian grasps her hand, not willing to let go. 

“Come with me,” Kate begs desperately. “I don’t know what’s happening. I don’t want to be without you! I won’t go without you!”

Kate’s mind swims with an odd feeling of deja vu that does not make any rational sense. Sebastian follows her as she determinedly moves forward, crossing the invisible barrier. She turns her head when his hand and body are pulled past it as well, just waiting for him to be pushed back, and yet… that doesn’t happen.

Sebastian is bewildered. He follows his girlfriend, tightening his grip on her hand. 

They reach the end of the stone bridge and cross onto land once more, the huge doors to the castle just ahead of them.

“Sebastian…” Kate whispers, throwing herself into his arms. Appearing mystified, she states the obvious.“We… We got through!”

He doesn’t know what to say. Nothing logical can explain what has happened here. Kate did nothing special to get past the wards - in fact, nothing at all… And yet when he took her hand, he was suddenly allowed forward as well…

Sebastian wraps his arms around Kate tightly, pushing his face into her hair and taking in her comforting scent as he considers it all. Somehow, they’re safe…

Could it have been made so that only a woman could enter?

No, that didn’t explain his crossing of the threshold… And certainly Kate could not have been the only woman who tried… Merlin, she didn’t even try…

Kate pulls back, looking deeply into Sebastian’s eyes with sudden tears forming in her own. “Sebastian, I’m… I’m c-confused, scared… so empty… I don’t know what is happening to me… I feel like nothing good has ever happened here… Why… Why does it want me here?!” She lifts a hand and places it on her chest. “Oh, gods, it- it hurts… like heartbreak…” A tear falls from her eye. Her face has gone pale. “Don’t leave me! Don’t let go…” She takes his hand, holding it tight.

“I won’t,” Sebastian answers, trying to stay composed, but her sudden terror is frightening him. He doesn’t understand it. “I promise.” After a few moments of silence, he finally says, “Kate, I don’t know what is at work here. I don’t like that you’re feeling this way… Shall we go back?”

Immediately, a gust of wind flies at them, pushing them towards the doors. 

“I don’t think we c-can,” Kate whispers, her voice wavering. “The c-castle… it wants me here… There’s no choice… w-we must go inside.” She shudders. 

Sebastian studies her face. “Do you still have your wand?”

“Yes.”

“Me too.”

Both of them pull out their wands. Kate nods at Sebastian with a terrified look on her face.

Hand in hand, they move forward and open the large double doors.

[sunnyrealist]

[sunnyrealist]

🌻 Kate Mayflower Commission Collage 🌻

Here is a collection of art of my OC, Kate Mayflower, commissioned by @giselsann-opencommissions! I felt like I should have one of these on hand for references. Check out my fic here!

[sunnyrealist]

Thank you for tagging me, @witchyafterdark! It was fun to imagine my OC, Kate Mayflower, in present day.

No pressure, but this was fun! I’m tagging @juneymont, @newbienewness, @leafler, @kaidynsarell, @queen-of-stoneharts, @writing-intheundercroft, and @morelikeravenbore! And, of course, anyone without a tag is also welcome to imagine their MC or OC in present day!

My BEAUTIFUL Mc Cariad in the modern day using https://meiker.io/play/13405/online.html

[sunnyrealist]

Thanks for the tag, @newbienewness!

I'm over 5'5 / I wear glasses or contacts / I have blonde hair / I often wear sweatshirts / I prefer loose clothing over tight clothes / I have one or two piercings / i have at least one tattoo / i have blue eyes / i have dyed or highlighted my hair / i have or have had braces / i have freckles / i paint my nails / I typically wear makeup / i don't often smile / resting boss face / i play sports / I play an instrument / i know more than one language / i can cook or bake / i like writing / i like to read / i can multitask / I have never dated anyone / I have a best friend that I have known for over five years / I am an only child

No pressure tags: @ladyofsappho, @rypnami, @hotcinnam0nspicy, @morelikeravenbore, @witchyafterdark, @jeniffler, @queen-of-stoneharts, @loving-him-was-red13. Also, anyone else who enjoys these games is welcome to join!

thx for the tag @illarian-rambling !!

blue 4 yes, black 4 no :3

I'm over 5'5 / I wear glasses or contacts / I have blonde hair / I often wear sweatshirts / I prefer loose clothing over tight clothes / I have one or two piercings / i have at least one tattoo / i have blue eyes / i have dyed or highlighted my hair / i have or have had braces / i have freckles / i paint my nails / I typically wear makeup / i don't often smile / resting boss face / i play sports/ I play an instrument / i know more than one language / I can cook or bake / i like writing / i like to read / i can multitask / I have never dated anyone / I have a best friend that I have known for over five years / I am an only child

tagging : @theartsyswissapple @agirlandherquill @butchingdyke @capnmachete and all my other mutuals :3

blank under cut!!

I'm over 5'5 / I wear glasses or contacts / I have blonde hair / I often wear sweatshirts / I prefer loose clothing over tight clothes / I have one or two piercings / i have at least one tattoo / i have blue eyes / i have dyed or highlighted my hair / i have or have had braces / i have freckles / i paint my nails / I typically wear makeup / i don't often smile / resting boss face / i play sports/ I play an instrument / i know more than one language / I can cook or bake / i like writing / i like to read / i can multitask / I have never dated anyone / I have a best friend that I have known for over five years / I am an only child

[sunnyrealist]

This is the post that originally convinced me that the Sallow twins grew up not only in Aranshire but in the late Mary Portman’s house. Considering there definitely are new fans of Hogwarts Legacy since this was originally posted, please take a look if you haven’t already and see what you think - the reasoning is sound and the unused audio clip definitely backs it up.

Also, this is where I found a screenshot for the background in my commissioned portrait of Anne and Sebastian in 1880. Thank you again, @hogwartslegacypics, for generously allowing me to use it.

I THINK I FOUND IT!!

If you didn’t see my recent post, I discovered an audio file of Sebastian saying, “I actually grew up near here. Not sure I appreciated it when I was younger,” which confirms he and his parents lived somewhere in the Highlands in a location accessible to us. I’ve since thoroughly explored all of the hamlets with Sebastian in attempts to trigger the line, initially suspecting it was something he’d say as a companion near the location, but unfortunately had no success. I also checked every single house in those hamlets for cellars and only found one.

It’s possible his parents’ house isn’t in any of the hamlets, and is a random house in the middle of nowhere we have yet to find, or (if his line was completely cut from the game early enough in game development) the house itself was never put in the game.

It’s also possible that the house I found with the cellar was their house, and the devs just chose to cut Sebastian’s line for whatever reason (or it was never a line intended to be spoken by him as a companion, keep reading). The house is Mary Portman’s house in Aranshire with the spider infested cellar. If true, it’s sad to think that’s what became of their house, but at least MC eventually clears them out.

Considering Sebastian’s quote, the location genuinely does make a lot of sense. Now that he lives in Feldcroft, so far away from Hogwarts and Hogsmeade (basically in the middle of nowhere), he realizes that he didn’t appreciate getting to live so close to all the action when he was younger. Another reason the location makes sense is because his parents were Professors and Aranshire is so close to Hogwarts. I now believe that the quote was cut from the Hogsmeade quest since it would make sense he’d say that as he’s walking us to Hogsmeade and telling us about the school and the surrounding area. He sounds very cheerful in the audio clip too, and he was in a good mood that entire walk. It really does sound like it could have been taken right from that quest. EDIT: Also the word “actually” in the quote makes it seem like it’s not something he randomly says out of the blue but it would have to be during conversation that’s already happening, like the Hogsmeade quest.

If we go inside the cellar, it seems like it could have been used as a library/study (“cellar library” as Ominis told us). Mary Portman even left a note implying she never utilized her cellar before the spider incident. It was almost like she suddenly remembered she had a cellar when she was wondering where to raise her spiders. Because of that, it’s likely those books in there belonged to the previous owner, and the cellar was completely untouched until Mary moved her spiders in. As you can see, they’ve since wreaked havoc in there.

[sunnyrealist]

The Sallow Twins, 1880

I commissioned the talented @giselsann-opencommissions to create a portrait of Anne and Sebastian as six-year-olds in front of their family home in Aranshire.

This portrait will be featured in a later chapter of my fic, The Sun, the Moon, and All Our Stars, but I couldn’t wait to post it - it’s just too cute. I hope you enjoy the little details! 💛

I also need to credit @hogwartslegacypics for the background screenshot. This artwork would not be the same without it. Thank you for your generosity.

[sunnyrealist]

🌶️ Chapter 39: A Delightful Morning 🌶️

The Sun, the Moon, and All Our Stars

Summary and Details…

Chapter Background and Summary: Sebastian and Kate are on an adventurous camping trip in the Scottish Highlands. The couple has faced danger, concluded their first fight, gotten to know each other much more deeply, and had plenty of romantic and memorable moments. It is just about time for them to take on the last part of their journey. This chapter features the morning before they move forward into what may be another treacherous foray - exploring the mysterious Blackfold Castle.

Pairing: 25-year-old, post-Azkaban Sebastian Sallow x Kate Mayflower (my OC)

Content warnings: In general, this story is rated 18+, so MNDI. This chapter features brief references to spanking and suicide, as well as discussion about how to proceed into dangerous terrain and sex in the missionary position.

The full chapter is available below the cut; it can also be found on AO3 (link is posted below). Please leave some feedback if possible, especially if you like what you read! 🥰

Chapter 39: A Delightful Morning

Kate wakes up to find herself curled up to Sebastian’s back, holding him close. He is still sleeping soundly, and she gazes upon him lovingly with a warm smile. She can tell that it’s still early and the sun has not quite risen yet. She makes up her mind to not wake him; carefully, she untethers herself from his warmth and gingerly moves off of the bed, which only creaks slightly. Sebastian stirs a little but remains in the world of dreams.

While she relishes any opportunity to cuddle with her boyfriend, she’s been waiting for an opportunity to do some drawing. Lighting just a few candles, she summons a robe along with her drawing pencil and sketchbook. Then, she descends down the ladder into her extendable bag to retrieve some of the flowers and leafy stems she had picked earlier in their journey. Slightly waving her wand in a circular motion and whispering a charm, they twist in the air slowly until they have transformed into two gorgeous and full flower crowns. She tiptoes back to the bed and gently places one of them on Sebastian’s head and then the other on her own

When Kate perches at the edge of the bed, a sharp stinging sensation radiates all over her bottom. In a sharp contrast to his dominance last night, now Sebastian looks so peaceful and innocent, almost boyish in sleep. Her pencil begins to scratch against the paper as she memorializes this image. Eventually, it expands into a picture of the two of them, sleeping and spooning in a colorful meadow in the middle of a forest with flower crowns atop their heads. Her tongue peeks out between her lips as she begins to color the picture. She uses her wand to frequently change the color of her drawing pencil, adding as much shading and life as possible. 

Smiling at the finished product, Kate creates a duplicate on the next page. Quietly, she tears the duplicate page out of her sketchbook, leaving it on the bed right next to Sebastian so that it will be the first thing he discovers upon awakening.

Stretching, she decides to begin working on breakfast since, after all, she is awake and feeling energetic. That’s when she realizes they never cleaned up after the previous night, and the table is an absolute mess. It all comes crashing back, and Kate’s hand finds her forehead in frustration. There’s a lot of cleaning to do before she can get the morning meal ready. With a slight headache from her hangover slowly building, she groans in frustration, wishing it could all just be vanished, but alas, it is not an option - not unless she wants to spend her precious savings to purchase all new dishware upon their return to Hogsmeade. After spending a few moments of fruitless pouting, she comes to terms with the fact that no one is going to do the work for her, and thus, she gets to work with a grimace.

A half hour later, Kate finally places new dishes on the table - scones with clotted cream and raspberry jam, honey baked ham, and omelettes with cheddar cheese and spinach. She pours out cold water, adding a lemon slice in each glass to provide some flavor. Since her love is still asleep, she decides to do some reading at the table. Soon, she is engrossed in Charlotte Bronte’s Jane Eyre, her imagination conjuring an image of Mr. Rochester begging Jane to not leave him to see her dying aunt. When Sebastian appears, she jumps.

Wearing just a pair of simple linen trousers and the flower crown, he softly says, “Good morning, sunshine.” He seems amused by her reaction after being so deeply engaged in her novel.

Kate grins brightly upon seeing that he hasn’t removed the flower crown. “Did you like my surprise?”

Sebastian chuckles. “Loved it. I’ll treasure that drawing forever.” He gives her a goofy smile. “Though I must say, I never thought I’d find myself wearing a flower crown.”

She rises from her seat, wrapping her arms around him and caressing the expanse of his back, running her fingers over his marred skin. “Well, the moon prince needed his crown,” she whispers playfully, kissing his chiseled chest, then gestures to the spread on the table. “And I’m certain he will also need breakfast after such a strenuous night.” She winks.

“We’ll need strength for the flight and whatever awaits us at Blackfold Castle,” Sebastian notes, quickly taking a seat and digging into an omelette.

Kate generously spreads cream onto a scone. “I wonder what it will look like.”

“Are you excited?” 

“Yes! I’m looking forward to seeing it. I’ve never done anything like this,” she tells him as she adds jam on top of the clotted cream. “So… since you’ve told me how mysterious the castle is, I’m curious - how did you learn of it in the first place?”

“The Kelpies,” he answers with his mouth full, then quickly swallows. “A man I was partnered with for a mission told me about it. When he attempted to explore, he could not figure out how to get past the protective wards surrounding the castle. I was inspired and wanted to learn more. That led to a great deal of research.” He sips his lemon water. “There’s a fascinating history behind the castle, but no one seems to know the full story, and no one has ever been able to access the interior.”

Kate’s eyes narrow. “Then… how are we going to get inside?”

“I’m not sure yet,” Sebastian admits. “It will be trial and error. But clearly, if it’s so well protected, there must be something worthwhile inside. It’s worth trying.”

She takes a bite of her scone. “What did you learn in your research?”

“Basic information about the late history of the castle. It’s quite tragic, really,” he begins. Determining that she is completely engaged, he decides to tell her everything he knows. “Prior to the mid 1300s, Blackfold was a thriving, bustling castle. It was originally built so high up in the mountains to keep Muggles away. Muggles could never access it. There were, in the past, wizarding villages down below, but they are long gone, and truly, nothing remains of them. It seems that when Blackfold Castle became abandoned, the village inhabitants slowly left as well, seeking protection from other Scottish wizarding royals.” 

“Abandoned?”

“Not… quite. The final monarch was someone named Queen Eilionoir. Supposedly, she was forced into a marriage with the prince, who soon became king, and the two were deeply unhappy. Amidst a war between clans, the king made the unfortunate decision to not lead or even join his people in battle. He was afraid to engage in combat without an heir. Eventually, he was assassinated. Eilionoir refused to remarry and soon dismissed all of the castle staff. She was found dead weeks later, and the leading theory is that she used poison to kill herself. The locals considered the castle cursed, as no one could enter due to whatever magic the queen placed over Blackfold. That is all I know.”

Kate’s brow is furrowed. “That’s a terrible history! Why would she harm herself? Why would she seal off the castle? I wonder what would drive someone to do such a thing.”

“No one knows, or at least, no one confessed to knowing anything. Simple as that. She didn’t leave a note. Villagers just… found her body one day, and that was it,” he replies. “There are strong, very strong magical wards at the entrance to the castle. It seems that Queen Eilionoir didn’t want anyone to enter her world of misery.”

“Do these… protective wards… injure people? Or are they simply repellants? I’ve never heard of wards lasting for centuries. Could it be the work of dark magic?”

“Well, the man who told me about the castle was spooked,” Sebastian explains. “He made several attempts to enter Blackfold. Originally, the wards threw him back over and over. When he figured out what triggered that, he pushed past with great difficulty, but then his arm was slashed, and he felt as though he had been punched directly in the heart.” He takes a scone. “He quit after that. He was too afraid after the injury to go further.”

Kate’s heart rate speeds up, already feeling anxious about what could happen. They’ve already been in one dangerous situation on this trip, and she is certainly not eager for another. “I don’t want either of us to get hurt. We’re up here in the mountains alone… That’s worrisome.”

Sebastian’s gaze never breaks as he meets her eyes. “I will not let anything happen to you. I promise. But after doing all of this research, I just… I have to explore. I can’t just let it be until I’ve at least tried.”

Kate nods, contemplative as she cuts a slice of ham into smaller pieces. “Well, it sounds like we’ll most likely be repelled. If that happens, was this trip even worth it to you?” Her eyes are downcast.

Their tent flaps with a gust of wind. The fire in the wood-burning stove crackles.

“No,” he replies, his voice soft as he reaches out to take her hand. “It will still have been more than worth it. This trip wasn’t just about exploration. It was just as much about spending time with you, my sweet sun.”

Kate’s worry melts away. “I’ve loved our time together. That is - other than the terrifying experience in the cave.” She chuckles, thankful she can laugh about it now. “I feel as though we have learned a lot about each other these past few days.”

Sebastian scoots his chair closer to her. He tilts her chin up. “Learning more about who you are is worth far more than treasure, my Kate.”

She smiles sweetly, closing her eyes in contentment as Sebastian caresses her hair. “And you’ve opened up so much to me. Now I know more about your past, and even better, I know what you want for your future. I don’t know how you managed it, but you’ve somehow made me fall even more deeply in love, Sebastian.”

Drawn to each other, their lips meet. 

Soon, they’ve made their way back to the bed, all of their clothing discarded.

Kate settles her head on her pillow, her golden hair flowing in every direction, as Sebastian leans over her. Her soft skin is his addiction - he just cannot get enough of touching her. He allows himself to indulge in this - in her - in the moment. Their breath mingling, his lips close around hers. He lets himself be pulled in deeper as he falls into the softness that is his girlfriend, his entire world becoming Kate.

She sighs as his weight settles upon her. Rather than feeling crushed, there is something so comforting about his body on hers. Kate’s fingers trace over his freckled face, neck, and shoulders. Sebastian’s hair is a wild mess, and yet, she loves it all the more, running her hands through it as they make out. His kisses become more needy as he becomes lost in the touch, the smell, the taste of his lover. 

Kate gasps for air as they break apart momentarily, then begin making out again. His hands are everywhere - her neck, her breasts, her nipples, her hips… Her mind, just like his, is spinning with only one thought: Sebastian. She kisses and sucks on his neck and shoulders, then nips at his warm skin; she hears him let out a moan, sparking her to continue. 

When he pulls back for a second, he whispers, “You drive me insane… you make me so desperate…”

She whimpers as he kisses and licks and sucks and bites at the sensitive spot between her neck and shoulder. 

“Sebastian…”

His hungry lips travel further south, worshiping every centimeter of her breasts, suckling at her nipples. She squirms beneath him, arching her back. Her breathing is growing heavier, her gasps becoming louder. 

Sebastian’s fingers find their way between her legs. He knows she’ll be dripping, yet still must feel it for himself. He slides a finger over her sensitive bud, tracing circles as she shrieks. 

Kate can feel how hard he is. “Sebastian… please,” she begs. “Please make love to me.”

His heart races at her request. Still teasing her clit, he whispers seductively, “I am going to fill you to the brim. You… You are making me crazy. I want you more than anything.”

Sebastian kisses her lips again, languidly and full of passion. Then, he takes himself in hand, sliding his thick manhood along her slick. Guiding himself, he slowly enters her heat as she moans his name, her legs opening wider for him as she accepts his full length. His eyes never leave her face. Fully sheathed, he leans in to press his lips to hers again. He squeezes her breast as he kisses her, waiting for her to be completely comfortable before he makes any further move.

“Oh, my gods, Bash,” she whines. “Please…”

He begins to slowly thrust, watching her face twist in pleasure. He himself moans, wishing to move faster, and it isn’t long before he makes that change. Picking up her legs, he throws her feet over his shoulders, allowing him to plunge even deeper. 

Sebastian groans. “So tight… so wet…”

His strokes are powerful. Gripping her hips, his fingertips dig into her skin. His speed increasing, he pounds into her as if his life actually depended on the motion. It’s loud. He slaps against the flesh of her arse, still tinged red from yesterday’s spanking.

Kate can’t stop shrieking, not for even a moment. This position is intense, and she feels herself winding up. Wanting to draw it out, Sebastian suddenly changes his pace. After moving so quickly, he begins thrusting slow and deep, over and over. Then, he switches it up again, back to stroking as fast as he can. Kate can hardly breathe; release is coming. Her full breasts bounce up and down, providing a view to her boyfriend that only turns him on more.

“You’re so perfect… so beautiful… Kate… I can’t stop…”

Sebastian cannot think anymore of anything other than fully claiming her as his. His groans grow more frequent and loud as her inner walls tighten around his cock. 

“I’m gonna-” she begins and cuts out, shouting his name as she comes. “Seb! Seb!!!”

There is no slowing down. Sebastian continues thrusting into her tight heat. Her orgasm is long and drawn out, much to his pleasure. Her cheeks are rosy, her body marked by love bites. He wants Kate to only dream of him, to be his possession… This thought and the sight of her lustful release makes him lose control. With raspy breath, he spears into her a few more times and then comes, panting. He moans as an excessive amount of his hot seed spurts out, coating her inner walls. 

As if Sebastian was actually trying to impregnate Kate, he uses his own cock to push his cum, threatening to spill out of her, right back in. The ultimate claim, what he most desires, is for his seed to take root, for life to grow - it is enough to make his heart burst and make him want to fuck her all over again.

Kate’s eyes are blank, as if she is looking at another world entirely. Breathless and trembling, it takes her a while to come down from her high. When she does, she gazes upon Sebastian, his expression both feral and adoring all at once. 

Still inside her, he leans in to kiss her again. “Gods…” he mumbles. “I cannot get enough of you. I cannot get enough of these kisses. All of this - it’s just too short. It needs to be extended for hours.” He presses his lips to hers again, his tongue tracing her bottom lip.

“Oh, my moon,” she whispers, then is quickly pulled into another kiss. “We… We have a lot to accomplish today…”

“But… to do what we must…” Sebastian whispers in her ear, his voice sultry and husky, “Perhaps we should get all worked up again.”

“That’s a terrible idea. There is only so much daylight, and we need our energy for the castle!” Kate laughs. “We can spend whatever is left afterward.” She flashes a flirty smile. “Let’s make our final night of the trip… memorable later.”

“Of course,” he whispers hoarsely, kissing her neck and causing her to whimper as he focuses on a sensitive spot. “Let’s make sure this is the most memorable night of our entire holiday.”

Kate gently pushes him away and speaks playfully. “It’s going to be difficult to top all of the romantic moments we’ve had. Hopefully you have something in mind to make tonight even better.” 

“I have so many ideas - I’m not even sure where to begin,” he tells her suggestively. “I’ll just have to let my instincts take over… and allow myself to lose control…”

“My goodness, Mr. Sallow,” Kate replies innocently. “Is that wise?” She bats her eyelashes. “That sounds a bit dangerous to me…”

“Wise, Kate? I never claimed to be wise… But dangerous? That is precisely the point. I want to just let it all go - let go of my reason and better judgment.”

“If you’re saying you’ve never yet lost control with me, then what on earth will tonight be like?” Kate questions with a sly grin on her face, tracing a finger over his jawline. “But perhaps…” She plucks her finger away. “Perhaps it is best left as a mystery until later.”

Sebastian’s brows raise as she teases him. “Ah, but Kate, my dear…” he whispers in a low tone with a playful smile as his hand reaches out to run through her hair, brushing over her bare shoulder. “Do you really want to leave it all to mystery? You could let yourself imagine… just how uncontrollable your future husband might become…”

Kate chuckles. “I can imagine a lot of things. I have a very active imagination, my moon.” She kisses his cheek. “But come, now, we had best clean up breakfast, gather our supplies, and prepare our brooms.”

He sighs. “You are right, my love. We have a lot to do today…” He turns around, getting a hold of himself. “Let’s get ready to go. We have a whole day ahead of us, and then we can explore your… active imagination.”

Kate stands up, laughing, and then gets to work before Sebastian changes his mind.

[sunnyrealist]

Thank you for tagging me, @morelikeravenbore and @witchyafterdark! I love these games!

🌻 Here is Miss Kate Camellia Mayflower and her sword, which she would likely never use and just keep on display in her living room amongst all of her houseplants. 🌻

No pressure tags: @ladyofsappho, @newbienewness, @animasola86, @hotcinnam0nspicy, and @underthenightskydreamsneverdie! Anyone else interested who isn't tagged is always welcome to join the fun, too!

oh, these are such beautiful picrews, and I just had to!

make your OC + their sword of choice

np tagging: @valyrra @localravenclaw @shanaraharlyah @thriftstorebabayaga @eternalremorse @charmedcleric @sebastianswallows @ominisss @trulyblockedout @ephemerasnape, and really anyone who'd like to join

[sunnyrealist]

Who was born first - Anne or Sebastian Sallow?

[sunnyrealist]

🌶️ Chapter 38: Fierce Love 🌶️

The Sun, the Moon, and All Our Stars

Summary and Details…

Chapter Background and Summary: Sebastian and Kate are on an adventurous camping trip in the Scottish Highlands. The third day is quite eventful. They explore a cave infested with Dementors, who show them illusions - ones depicting their dreams and their fears before attacking (Kate actually has to save Sebastian this time!). We learn more about Sebastian's time in Azkaban. There is intense lovemaking, followed by a rejected proposal (not rejected forever, but Kate isn't impressed to say the least). To top it all off, the couple has their first real fight. Kate decides to reveal to Seb that her family has incredibly high standards and likely will not approve of their relationship because of Sebastian's past. Unsurprisingly, he gets emotional, and both of them are very upset. Kate decides that they need some space, so she heads into her extendable bag to cry while Sebastian goes outside to get some air and clear his head.

Pairing: 25-year-old, post-Azkaban Sebastian Sallow x Kate Mayflower (my OC)

Content warnings: In general, this story is rated 18+, so MNDI. This chapter features a conclusion to the couple's first argument, the hypothetical idea of parental disapproval, lots of talk about deep and true love, a discussion about future children, and intoxication. This is also a spicy chapter that features domination and submission, punishment (spanking), loss of control, and doggy-style sex against a table.

The full chapter is available below the cut; it can also be found on AO3 (link is posted below). Please leave some feedback if possible, especially if you like what you read! 🥰

Chapter 38: Fierce Love

As Kate places the last dish on the table, Sebastian slinks inside the tent. She inhales and exhales, trying to find some inner peace.

Luckily, his expression looks much calmer. He quickly notices the dinner set on the table and a sigh leaves him. His face is still grim. Sebastian takes a deep breath and lets it out slowly, trying to focus, as he holds on to the back of a chair at the table.

"Sorry," he says in a low, raspy voice that betrays the emotions just unleashed while he was alone. "I should not have reacted that way. That was out of line." He pauses for a second and then finally adds, "Are you… alright?"

Kate sighs. "Yes, I'm fine." She wipes a final tear from her face. "And you know what, I'm sorry, too. Maybe this was not the right time to bring this up." She gestures for him to take a seat at the table. "Perhaps I should have waited until we got home."

"Yeah… that might have been better," he mumbles, sitting down. "Still… It’s out now, and I do want to talk about it. I think it's necessary." A pause. "Kate, look..." He meets her eyes. "I know this is going to be a... difficult thing. With your parents, and how they will see me and... everything." Another pause. "I just... I don't want to mess this up with your family. I don't want to be rejected by them. I don't know what I'll do if they hate me." He sighs. "I want to win them over. I want them to give me a chance, even though I'm probably a hell of a lot different than whatever it is they expect. And that’s putting it lightly."

“It’s going to take time,” she finally murmurs after a moment. “Ugh… I already know how it’s going to go.” She shakes her head dejectedly. “But… Seb… they are good people - my parents. They just want what is best for me, but… this-” she gestures between them, “-is not for them to decide. It’s my life. I get to choose who to love.” She exhales and waits a moment before speaking again. “I do believe they will eventually come around. And if they don’t, they will be the ones missing out on an incredible son-in-law.” She gives him a small smile.

His expression softens. "Yes, it may take time..." he muses. "And it likely will not be easy. But if they are good people, like you said, they will come to realize that my past doesn't define me. My past doesn't define my ability to be a good partner for you and a good father to their- their grandchildren..." Sebastian meets her eyes. "I truly am sorry for how I spoke to you, Kate. I don’t know how you have such… infinite patience.” He sighs. “And thank you for being honest, even when I don’t want to hear the truth."

She reaches for his hand and squeezes it. “Of course.” She plates sauteed salmon, lemon parmesan rice, and roasted green beans for both of them. “Bash, they are sensible people. It will be difficult at first because my mum is emotional and concerned with reputation.” She pauses. “I want to lead this with honesty. I will tell them that I am not leaving you, that I will not change my mind. And it will be up to them to decide whether or not and how to integrate their future son-in-law.”

"Yes, that sounds like an excellent idea..." he replies, and his grip on her hand tightens as he finally gives her a small smile. "Honesty is critical. We can't build a foundation based on lies. Not with this. That way, whatever the outcome, at least we can say that we handled this with maturity." He sips his white wine. "Your parents have every right to be concerned for you. But I'm not the same person who made those terrible mistakes when I was sixteen. I have learned and grown up. I’m ready to start my life anew. I'm ready to build a life with you.”

“I know all of that, I do. It’s just going to be tough to tell them the news. I think… I think I should speak to them alone first. It might go over better if you aren’t there.”

His face falls as he processes this, having expected that they would stand and face it all together. But, after some thought, he nods finally and says, "You're right... And you know your parents best.” He pauses after a moment and then asks worriedly, "They won't be terribly mean, will they? Or rude?"

“They won’t be openly rude or mean when you meet them, Sebastian,” Kate replies, looking bothered. “Don’t worry about that. They would never. They’re good-mannered people.” She takes a bite of salmon. “It’s more what they might say or think when you are not around. They’ll feel more comfortable to ask me difficult questions and get their feelings out. They will almost undoubtedly attempt to make me rethink us. It won’t work, though.”

He is quiet as he takes a few bites of his dinner, attempting to mask his anxiety of the ordeal ahead. "So, they will be asking you questions like, 'Why can't you see that he's a dark wizard and bad for you? Why are your feelings more important than our family’s reputation? Are you sure you want to marry a man like him?'"

Kate cringes. “I mean - I hope not… but my mum can come off very strong. Irene and my papa will likely come to terms with us as a couple sooner than she will.” She sighs. “Damn it all. You probably think so badly of my family now. I promise you that this is not who they are at their core. They’re loving and kind and generous and…” She trails off, trying to assess his feelings. “Merlin, I want to add you to the family so badly. I think it would do you so much good to have people in your life that maybe… Maybe someday you’ll consider them parental figures. I just know that you’ll fit in perfectly, personality-wise, with all of us. It’s just… going to require patience.”

"I don't think badly of them," Sebastian replies. "They want to protect you. It's going to be hard for them to understand why you want to be with me, and I suppose I do not blame them for that." 

He savors the last bite of his salmon, and the anxiety inside him begins to soften. Kate is willing to risk her family's approval in order to be with him. It demonstrates just how deeply she cherishes him. 

"You're right," he says. "Patience and understanding will be crucial."

Kate is relieved to hear him say he doesn’t see her family as evil, but she kind of doubts that is the truth right now, especially after Sebastian’s tirade earlier. “I- I don’t think there is much else to discuss on the subject. We’ll face whatever comes together. And we will do it with love and maturity.”

"Yes, and with honesty," he adds. "We'll just have to accept that they may not approve of the idea of me at first. I don't think there's much else we can do besides letting time do its work, and I will be patient as necessary. With that said..." He smiles slightly. "I truly do hope they are not as harsh as you think they will be. And I hope you will stand up for me, if necessary, to tell them that I am not this bad person that they might think I am."

“You don’t need to worry about that at all, my love,” she replies. “I would do anything for you. Even… fight off a dozen Dementors.” Her smile is cheeky. “You’ll never have to wonder if I would protect you in a life or death situation.” 

As crickets chirp and the wind blows outside, the two enjoy some more bites of their food in comfortable silence. Kate’s eyes make their way to Sebastian, looking over his features. His face, lit by flickering candlelight, is swimming in freckles. Unbeknownst to him, his chestnut hair is a mess, probably from being outside in the cold wind. A broad chest with muscular arms, sculpted from fight after fight in prison, then from training with the Department of Magical Law Enforcement. He’s a masterpiece, Kate thinks to herself.

“I never thought you’d be able to battle so fiercely,” Sebastian remarks. “No offense. You’re just… full of surprises. You keep me on my toes all the time, Kate.” He stares as she smiles and drinks her wine. Then, he smirks. “Are you sure you aren’t a warrior at heart?”

Kate almost spits out her wine, then laughs heartily. “Godric’s heart, no!” She shakes her head dramatically, still chortling. A playful look comes over her face. “Little librarian me? Not in a million years. However… if I have to defend someone I love, watch out.” She raises her hands to make them look like claws. “A true Hufflepuff - gentle and patient and kind, yet fierce when provoked.”

Sebastian chuckles at her charade. Her silly side is adorable. “So… just a meek, petite, polite librarian… until there is a need to protect her love. Then, she turns into a dangerous wild beast.”

“Roooooooaaaaarrrr!” Kate growls and lunges at Sebastian, immediately erupting into giggles.

After settling down and enjoying quite a bit more wine, she turns more serious. “I suppose we are one for one now. I saved your life today, and you saved me from that monster, Clyde Parkinson. I guess we’re both rather protective. Is that also a Slytherin trait?”

Sebastian tilts his head as she asks about Slytherin. “Of course. It’s a big part of the Slytherin mentality. We look out for our own; we don’t hesitate to defend the ones close to us, but for us, it doesn’t matter what methods are required.” An image of Clyde Parkinson, his face filled with blood as Sebastian landed blow after blow, comes to mind. Upon reflection, Sebastian wonders if he went too far. But when he remembers Kate screaming, half-dressed, and the position in which Parkinson had forced her against the wall, ready to prey upon her honor, he doesn’t feel sorry. Not one bit. “It’s one of our best qualities. Being protective is how we survive and achieve our best.”

“So, I suppose I fall into that category, then? Someone close to you?” Kate bats her eyelashes in a silly manner.

“Well, of course. Someone very close to me. The closest anyone has been to me in a decade.” He gives her a small, teasing grin after sipping more wine. “I suppose, in that sense, you have become part of the Slytherin family.”

Kate laughs heartily. “Slytherin family, huh?” She eats a little more rice, then pushes her plate away, finished. A mischievous look takes over her face. “Will we be a Slytherin family?”

“Erm, yes. Yes!” His grin grows bigger as he realizes what she means. He meets her eyes. “Yes, I absolutely hope we will be a Slytherin family.”

Kate is poised and more than ready to tease him. “Or… we could be a Hufflepuff family…”

Sebastian bursts into laughter. “Oh, no, you don’t!” He playfully reaches out to grab her hands and clings onto them tightly, shaking them. 

“Oh, yes, I do!” Kate shrieks.

“You’re not turning me into a Hufflepuff!”

 “Just imagine it: Every time a new little Sallow comes to the front of the Great Hall, the Sorting Hat immediately declares, ‘Hufflepuff!’” She cackles. “Wouldn’t that be delightful?!”

He groans at her comment and then chuckles, despite his protests, still shaking her hands. “Oh, no. Please, no. I simply could not have my family line be cursed in that way - by having the Sorting Hat declare them all Hufflepuffs year after year!” His smile is huge. “It just wouldn’t be right!” 

They can hear the sound of crickets outside as the sun begins to set whenever the chuckles momentarily subside.

Kate takes a large sip of wine and then pours herself another very full glass, refilling Sebastian’s cup as well. It doesn’t escape his notice that her face is growing more rosy by the minute, her giggles getting louder and more high-pitched. “Cuuursed?! Cursed?! Do you really think it would be that awful to have little Sallows in Hufflepuff?! I would be soooo proud to see them…” she hiccups. “...in my h-house!” She lifts her arm, pumping dramatically, as if in victory. In doing so, wine splashes out of her cup and onto her dress.

Sebastian hasn’t smiled so hard in ages. He is now completely on board with this game they are playing. He’s sure to win if her red complexion indicates anything. “Yes - cursed! Being sorted into Hufflepuff is the worst curse I could possibly imagine! I cannot fathom having all of my descendants be doomed to wear that yellow, the color of sunflowers!” He continues in an even more dramatic manner. “And being proud of it?! Never! It would be a disgrace to the Sallow name!”

“Nnnnnnow you’ve done it!” Kate cries, banging her hands on the table and shooting up. She stomps over to him and violently shakes him by his shoulders. “You’ve i-insulted Hufflepuff aaaaand sunflowers! How dare you, Mr. Sallow!!!” She starts giggling again and doubles over. “I declareeee it now - our precious babies will be Hhhhhhufflepuffs!”

Sebastian can’t help but laugh at her antics, eager to goad her tipsy tomfoolery further.  “Never! Never in a million years! No matter how much wine you drink and how pissed you get, Kate Camellia Mayflower, you will not curse my children with that!” He observes her huffing and puffing. “I’ll never let them join that house! I’ll send them off to Hogwarts with green scarves instead. If anything, they’ll be Slytherin! I will not accept any… lesser option!”

Kate traipses back to her side of the table to retrieve her glass of wine, downing what is left. “Your children? Your children?! I think you are f-forgetting something, Sebastian Renatus Sallow - they’ll be ours!” She points at him dramatically. “And what are you gonna do? Bribe the S-Sorting Hat?!” She bursts out laughing.

Sebastian shakes his head as he watches her wine disappear. He can’t help but chuckle himself at her good cheer. She’s a hilarious drunk. “I suppose that’s true, but they will still be my children, and they’ll be just like their father - all Slytherin! And as for the Sorting Hat, do you think that I would not do anything and everything within my power to ensure that they are sorted into Slytherin? You know that’s Slytherin to the core!”

“You ffffffucking Slytherins! You play diiiiiiiirty!” she cries, throwing up her hands. She marches towards him again but trips over her own feet drunkenly, ending up sprawled across his lap. Then, as though it was his fault she fell, she yells, “Sebby! You naughty boy!”

The laugh that erupts from him when she trips and falls into his lap is one of pure amusement. Kate attempts to sit up in his lap, and he places his hands lightly on her waist in assistance. “Oh, really?” He chuckles, then leans towards her and whispers, “If I’m… a naughty boy, what are you going to do about it?” Kate giggles. “Your breath is tickling my ear, Sebby!” She squirms around, kicking her feet. “Naughty boys… need to be punisheddddd…” 

Sebastian can’t help but lean even closer, whispering directly in her ear. “Punished, huh? Is that so?” His eyes flicker down. The bodice of her dress is wet, drenched in wine, and a button has come loose, exposing some cleavage. He lets his eyes linger for a beat before slowly looking back up. “I could think of a few ways of punishing you,” he begins to tease, “but you might be too pissed to know what I’m talking about.”

Kate gasps. “Punish me?” She laughs. “Whatever for? I’m notttt pissed!” She notices his gaze has fallen upon the bodice of her simple pink frock, causing her to narrow her eyes.

“Oh, I know you’re drunk, my love,” he replies, then leans in again and flicks at the loose fabric. “You’re so drunk you don’t even recognize that that button has fallen loose.” He lets a beat pass before finally whispering, “But I know what to do about a dirty, naughty little Hufflepuff…”

“You’re the one sssssaying mean things abou- about Hufflepuff,” she whines, then hiccups. “I just know our babies will beeeeee…. In Hufflepuff, and you- you’ll be sorry, Sebby…” Her bottom wiggles over his groin as she squirms around, attempting to get away from the tight grip he has around her waist and torso. “Why? Why…. does a Slyyyyytherin get to punish a… Hufflepuff???”

“Because we’re better - we really are,” he answers in a mocking tone, his smile curling deviously. “And because Hufflepuffs like you need to know their place - that’s why! You belong to a Slytherin now, and your children will belong to Slytherin as well. It’s high time you realized that there is a hierarchy… and how that hierarchy really works.”

“Oh, p-piss off,” Kate spits. “There is no such… hi-hierarchy….” She grinds more on top of him, feeling him grow hard. “I-It’s all about… control for you lot. And Slytherins… they like to t-think they h-have control, but they d-don’t…” 

“Oh, yes there is - don’t be ridiculous! And control is what we have - it’s a simple fact.”

Kate suddenly unbuttons her bodice further, fanning herself. “Why is it so fucking warm in here?!”

Sebastian raises an eyebrow. “Warm? Maybe you should take off that pesky little dress.”

“Y-you’d like me to- to take my clothes off?” she asks innocently.

His eyes flicker towards her open bodice as he grins. “I would absolutely love it if you took this dress off, my love.”

“W-well…” Kate begins. “The t-thing about control… is that… I don’t have to do what you want… Y-you’re the one under my controlllll…. Just look at the state of you! I’m getting exactly w-what I wanted… You’re already hard because of meeeeee. I’m in control… Your control is just a… facade…”

Sebastian’s smile suddenly falters, but he decides to stand his ground. “Really? You think you’re in control? If so, maybe you should demonstrate… and do something about this… monster you’ve created.” He gives her a cheeky grin and bounces her on his leg.

“T-That’s right. We make Sssssslytherins think they have control because they like to think they have power. But it’s us - the Hufflepuffs - behind the curtain!” Kate smirks, her demeanor slightly changing. “You know… I don’t think I am going to do anything about this.” She gestures towards his lap, then giggles and moves to hop off of him.

His grin turns into a grimace; he grabs her wrists as she tries to leave. “Oh, no, no, no - not so fast…” He sounds playful at first, but after struggling to keep her on his lap, his tone becomes firm. “You are going to reap the consequences of your teasing, my love.”

Kate hiccups. “You’reeee the one getting punished!” She begins another attempt at escape, but his grip tightens around her waist, keeping her in place.

With a raised eyebrow, he asks, “Is that so? Well, if you think I’m being punished right now, let’s just see how you feel when I really punish you…”

Her smirk turns to confusion and then a slight bit of fear. “W-what?”

Sebastian leans in close, his voice lowering. “If you think that was a punishment, then just wait until you see what I have planned for you, my love. You will beg for me to stop, and I won’t...”

Kate’s mouth drops. She stops squirming, defeated, but also curious, exhilarated, and fearful all at once. 

He can’t help but smirk as he sees what kind of effect his words have on her. He leans back a bit, keeping one hand on her wrist and the other tight on her waist. “Let me tell you something,” he begins, his voice still low and with a somewhat threatening edge to it. “You have been a very naughty, very dirty girl tonight, and you need to be reprimanded.”

“Seb…” Kate’s tone is full of worry. “Please…”

His grip suddenly tightens. “Oh, a punishment has to happen, my dirty little Hufflepuff. There will be no more warnings. I’m going to teach you a lesson…”

“No,” she squeaks. “I… I don’t want that. Please…” 

“You should have thought of that earlier. You should have known what would happen.” The hand around her wrist tightens.

“Ouch!” Kate yelps. “Don’t hurt me!”

There is an audible scoff. “Oh, but why should I not? You teased me, and for that, you’re going to be punished. So, now, it’s just a matter of how I’m going to punish you.” He suddenly lets go of her wrist, sliding his hand up her thigh and onto her rear.

Her eyes go wide. She shrieks as he suddenly flips her over so that she is bent over his knee. He slides the hem of her dress up, exposing her bottom. That’s when Kate finally realizes what is about to happen. “Sebby… n-no! Pleeeeeease!” 

“Oh, but dear,” he murmurs, “I’m afraid that the time for pleading has passed.” He squeezes her arse and gives it a hard spank.

“OW!” she shrieks. She tries fruitlessly to get away from him. “Seb…”

Another hit. “Sorry, my love, but you need to be punished… I’m not going to listen to you anymore.” The moment he finishes speaking, he gives her another firm spank, the sound echoing off of the walls of their tent.

Her body jerks as he slaps her arse over and over again, handprints blooming red against her pale skin. 

“Stop! Stop!” Kate pleads. “Please, Seb!”

“Stop? I’m not done yet, my love.” He smirks and gives her a firm slap again, his palm lingering on her skin. “There’s still so much more that you need to learn about your place…”

Tears well in Kate’s eyes. “I didn’t do anything wrong!” she protests. “It hurts!”

“It’s meant to hurt!” His grip on her hip tightens. “Oh, you did plenty wrong, my love,” he murmurs. “You were teasing me, grinding up on me, all while knowing how badly you wanted to be punished. It was inevitable; that’s just how it works with a dirty little Hufflepuff like you.”

“But you w-were being so meannnn! Aren’t we even?!” she cries out, tearing up, as he resumes spanking her over and over.

“No, we are not even,” he hisses, watching her red arse jiggle slightly with each hit. “You know why we aren’t even? Because you drove me to it. You are the one in the wrong here - that’s why you’re being taught a lesson.”

“Stop! Stop! Please!” she wails as he lands blow after blow. “This is over some stupid argument about what house our children will be in! It’s not right!”

There’s a moment of reprieve as he mockingly responds. “Oh, is that what this is about? Just that silly banter?”

Kate breathes in and out slowly, trying to manage the pain. “I-It was… also about… control…” she answers quietly.

There’s a moment of silence.

“I see… And… you were the one wanting to be in control during that argument?” Sebastian asks calmly and seriously.

“I… yes…” she answers hesitantly, not wanting any further pain. “B-but not anymore, Seb. It’s you. Y-you’re in control.” She lowers her head.

“Is that so?” he questions. “Then would you say that I am still in control for whatever I do right now?”

“Yes,” she replies obediently, and in the next moment, she is thrown over the table, her arse in the air. “W-what?!” She hears Sebastian hastily unbuttoning his trousers.

As his trousers and shorts slide down his legs, he tells her with a slightly more playful edge, “I can do whatever I want to you right now, can’t I?”

She feels his groin press flush against her stinging bottom and whimpers. His manhood pokes against her center, and he starts chuckling darkly when he realizes how wet she is. “Guess you enjoyed that, didn’t you, my dirty little Hufflepuff? There was no need to protest so much. We’re about to have some more fun, alright? It’s gonna feel so good. You don’t have to hide how much you love this…”

Kate gasps as he pushes inside her heat. Without giving her any time to adjust, he starts moving, his pace quick. Every time his groin snaps against her rear, she yelps in both pain and pleasure. “Seb… Seb… Oh… Seb!” she shrieks.

“That’s it, my love,” he hisses as he speeds up. His moans intermingle with the slapping of skin and that of wet squelching. “Oh, gods… it’s good…” He closes his eyes in satisfaction. “Who’s in charge, my naughty girl?”

Kate can hardly breathe, her eyes shut tight. “You! You are!” she screams. “Sweet Merlin! Oh, gods!”

“Yes, that’s right… I am! So what does that make you, my love?”

Even thinking is difficult. Almost all she can register is the stinging every time he thrusts against her arse. Drool slips out of her mouth. “Yours. Yours to control! Oh, fuck! Oh, fuck, I’m close!”

The dishes on the table are rattling; a wine glass is close to the edge, but he pays it absolutely no mind and continues on.

“And what…. what do I own of yours?” Sebastian asks. When she doesn’t answer, only breathing heavily, he repeats the question. “What do I own of yours? Answer me!”

Kate lets out a long moan, then struggles to answer as he absolutely pounds into her. “My body. It’s… It’s yours! Aaaahhhh… Sebastian! You… You own me!” Her vision starts going white; she is falling over the edge.

Sebastian groans as her walls tighten around him. Thrusting hard into her a few more times, he feels himself giving into bliss as well. He pushes as deep as possible as he unleashes a huge load, his heart pounding in his ears as he utters unintelligible words of praise.

Coming down from her high, Kate whimpers. Sebastian collapses on top of her, reaching forward to grope her breast as he tries to return back to reality himself. 

“Oh my gods…” she murmurs breathlessly.

“Sweet Merlin…” he agrees breathlessly. “That was amazing.” He looks utterly winded, sweating and panting profusely, as he finally pulls out of her.

Kate slides from the table to the floor, absolutely boneless and shaking from the aftershocks of their shared pleasure. Her breathing is as heavy as his. “Sebastian…” she chokes out. “Seb…”

He follows her down on all fours, moving carefully next to her. After a moment, he presses a gentle kiss to her lips. “Kate…” he murmurs. “You were incredible. You know that, right?”

Her face is flushed as she gazes upon him. One of her breasts has completely fallen out of her bodice; she can’t be bothered to fix it. She just needs to revive herself first. Naturally, it doesn’t escape Sebastian’s notice. He reaches up to squeeze her breast gently. “I think your dress looks… better… like that…” 

Kate allows Sebastian to pull down her bodice enough to expose her other breast as well. He kneads her soft flesh, flicking her pebbled nipples as she whimpers.

“You - ahhh - you love them, don’t you?”

Sebastian lets out a low chuckle. “You know damn well I do.” He gives her breasts another squeeze. “I mean, look at them! How could I not?!”

She giggles and scrunches her nose. “Do you ever think they’re too big? I certainly do.”

“Too big?” he asks incredulously. “No. Trust me, your breasts are perfect.”

“They’ll be unbearable someday when you get me pregnant,” she muses nonchalantly, a far-off look on her face. “Absolutely unbearable.”

“Oh, trust me,” he responds, leaning in closer, cupping her tits. “I’ll be more than happy to bear them… in my hands, that is. All the time.”

Kate scoffs and playfully swats him. “Sebastian!”

He smiles even wider than before, an amused look forming on his face. “You say my name as if you expect me to behave. You know I can’t manage that.”

“Do you need to be punished now?” she asks, playfully rubbing her hands together as if she’s some evil mastermind. Propping herself up on one arm, her breasts swing as she moves - his eyes are trained on them. “I think you’re far more naughty than me.”

“Yeah?”

“I can see what you’re thinking about right now, Mr. Sallow. You’re absolutely insatiable. I swear, you’d go at it all night if I agreed.” She scoffs.

His eyes light up. “Do you agree?’

“Gods!” she laughs. “You’re like a rabbit. Sometimes it feels like you’re trying to breed me.”

Sebastian is caught off guard by her comment and lets out a soft snicker. “Yes, and…? Maybe you’d like that. Maybe you’re not entirely against it yourself.”

Kate’s face turns red quickly as she looks away and attempts to compose herself. “Seb… I…” she stammers.

“Mm, so I was right then, wasn’t I?” His tone has once again gotten flirty and teasing. “Are you embarrassed? Don’t be. Would you want… to be bred by me?”

She continues blushing silently but finally answers after a few moments. “Not now… not until after we’re married and ready for babies.” She’s quiet again, thinking about it. Then, she gives him a lopsided grin. “Anything before that is just… practice.”

“Is that so?” he chuckles. “So… what I take away from that is that you’re saying we have been doing lots of practicing, then…” Smiling, he leans down to give her another kiss, his lips lightly brushing over her cheek. “We should continue practicing…”

Kate breathes out shakily, his face so close to hers. One of his hands glides up her leg, caressing her thigh. “Oh, Seb…” she murmurs, filled with desire. “Take me to bed.”

Sebastian scoops her up, carrying her over to the bed as she giggles, still slightly buzzed. 

“How should we practice?” she asks innocently as he finally removes her dress and then his own tunic.

“Oh, you know the answer to that perfectly well,” he responds playfully, laying her down on the bed and clambering over her. His hands roam all over her body. “Practicing is not the same as the actual thing - you know, actually trying for children…” His tone is more sensual. “But we must practice, you see, so we can be ready after marriage…”

“Mmmm… I see.” She gives him a coy look. “So… how often must we practice, darling?”

“Oh, often,” he whispers, his lips now brushing against her neck. “Every single night until we’re married. At least once every night. And even after we’re married… we should continue practicing, maybe even more…” He squeezes her thigh. “Don’t believe for even a single second that I’ll ever get tired of it.”

“Oh, goodness!” Kate puts on an air of naivety. “But, darling, we cannot - not until marriage!” She puts the back of her hand to her forehead as though she might faint, then cracks up and continues her charade. “Perhaps we should get dressed. One of us ought to sleep on the floor. We wouldn’t want to cause a scandal by sharing a bed!”

Sebastian’s grin is crooked. He presses little kisses all along her collarbone. “Oh… I suppose you’re right. We wouldn’t want anyone to get any wrong ideas if they were to find us.” He lets out an amused chuckle. “Yes, we should sleep in different beds, just in case.”

Kate lifts her head to kiss his lips. “It would only be proper!” She wraps her legs around his waist, bringing their naked bodies even closer. “You wouldn’t want to take advantage of a sweet young lady like me…” She bats her eyelashes.

“I would never,” he responds in the same playful tone. “Who would have ever thought you’d find yourself in a situation of such… lewdness!”

Kate lays kisses all over Sebastian’s face as she hugs him, pressing his chest against her pillowy breasts. “We are in a proper courtship, Sebastian Sallow. We should never give in to our passions prior to marriage.” She runs her hands over his back. “And talking about making babies is not fit for polite society.”

“Oh, my apologies…” he responds as he runs his fingers over her arms in a featherlight touch. “I should never speak of such things, not with your sweet innocence. We must never speak of it again. Not until our wedding night.”

Kate looks at him with doe eyes, feigning confusion. “Our wedding night? What happens on one’s wedding night?” Her hands travel up his back and neck to settle on his cheeks, pulling his face to hers so she can kiss him deeply.

“Oh,” he says before giving into the kiss as his hands continue to explore her body. “Well… most people like to… practice even more of what we just did…”

“Most people… Hmmm…” she muses. “But what about you, Sebastian? What would you want to do on our wedding night?” She bites her lip.

He grins, breaking out of character momentarily. “I would want… to be inside of you…” His hands start to slide lower. His tone becomes more seductive. “To fill you with my seed.”

Kate giggles. “Only once that night, of course, right, Seb? And only when we’re ready for children. Never before.”

“Certainly, that’s what a proper couple might think…” His teeth nip at the sensitive spot between her neck and shoulder. His voice is husky. “But I want to do improper things to you all day, every day… And on our wedding night, I’ll never leave your body. We won’t sleep at all.”

Kate grinds against Sebastian, speaking in the tone of a well-mannered society girl. “Oh, but Seb… I must know how to please my husband on our wedding night. I wonder who could help me? I need a teacher desperately.”

“Oh, dear Kate,” he teases in a playful tone. “Whoever could that be?”

She gasps as he suddenly grabs her hands, pinning them high above her head. Her pert nipples graze his chest. “Oh, Sebastian. Please, please teach me…”

“Perhaps I might… teach you all the different ways you could make me… love you… crave you… make me want to worship you…”

Kate groans as he grinds against her. Her voice is desperate, needy. “Show me. Sebastian, teach me. Show me what to do, my love…”

Sebastian smiles as he whispers in a seductive voice. “And Kate… Just as you should learn how to please your future husband, he should… learn how to please you. So, tell me, my dear, what should your future husband know?”

Squirming underneath his powerful body, she manages to quietly respond, “Well… the first thing for my husband to know is… hmmm… I love romance and kisses…” She places her lips on his cheek. “Now, what should your wife know that you like?”

“Yes, me too. She should know… I like to feel wanted.” Sebastian leans in and captures her lips in his. 

Kate smiles adoringly. “ Seb, oh, gods, does she want you. She wants you like nothing else in this world. You’ll never have to question that - ever.” She kisses him again, slowly and tenderly. “I… I think my husband should know that I love when he touches me all over my body…” “Yes. Yes, she does like that,” he chuckles, running his free hand up and down her abdomen. “And I already know she loves having someone take charge… someone who can take control. She likes when her husband is a bit more… assertive.” His grip tightens around the wrists he has pinned over her head.

“True,” she murmurs, moaning as his other hand reaches her breast, settling and gently squeezing. “And… mmmmm… What else should your wife know about you, Bash?”

“She should know I am often curious and experimental. That I enjoy trying new things… and exploring,” he pauses to bite and suck a mark into her neck as she whimpers. “She should know that I am an incredibly patient man… who is able to last a very long time…”

“Adventurous,” she breathes out. “And absolutely insatiable…” She chuckles a little, dragging her fingertips down his back and settling them over his arse. “Your wife definitely knows how relentless you can be. She might not be quite as insatiable as you, but she loves how desired her husband can make her feel. It’s flattering.” She kisses his cheek.

Sebastian’s breath becomes more labored. “Yes… and my wife knows that I’m also possessive and protective. She knows she is mine. She knows that I am an incredibly jealous man.” He lets out a small laugh as he pulls her body closer, flush against his. “But somehow, she is capable of making all of my negative feelings just melt away.”

“Your wife belongs to you completely, darling,” she whispers in his ear. “There is no other man she would ever consider. And she knows full well what you might do if a stranger ever touches her… She feels so safe with you.”

They kiss for a few moments, slowly and languidly.

“My wife knows I would kill for her if I had to, but luckily… because she has me, I doubt anyone would dare get too close.” He continues nipping the skin of her neck over and over, then giving a soothing kiss to each new, blooming mark. The sound of her little whines makes him desire her even more.

“And my husband should know… that his wife would lay down her life for his if necessary,” she murmurs. “Really. She would.” Kate gives him a gentle smile as they make eye contact. “My husband deserves the entire world and more. I want to fulfill his every desire, to try just about anything he wants to try…”

Sebastian flashes a smile and blushes as she says this. His hand finally releases hers, but she doesn’t move them, leaving them laying high over her head. Sebastian caresses her cheeks, then pulls her in for another tender kiss. “I love you, Kate.”

“I love you, Sebastian,” she tells him. “Please don’t ever leave me. I couldn’t bear it.”

He squeezes her as he responds, “I will never leave you. Never… I could never.” He kisses her again. “Not now, not in a thousand years. I am yours, and you are mine. You are my everything, from this moment until the end of time.”

The only sound other than their lips smacking against each other is the chirping of crickets - a perfect soundtrack.

Kate takes his face in her hands. “We haven’t been together long, and yet, this feels so right, so perfect. Some people never find what we have, Seb… and I pity them. I do. I could never live without this love anymore.” She pauses, kissing his shoulder. “I don’t understand it - how it just seems like I’ve known you forever, loved you forever. The moment we spoke that night in Diagon Alley… the first time you held me when we apparated to Hogsmeade… It just felt so good to be with you.”

Her words fill Sebastian with butterflies. He can’t help but smile. “I know what you mean. It seems as though I’ve known you far longer than I have. From the moment I laid eyes on you, I felt something. Something powerful… something deep… something I just had to have and keep.”

Kate chuckles. “I remember it well - how it felt when you were staring at me that night.” She smiles fondly. “The moment I saw you, I just had to speak to you. I was so curious.” She caresses his cheek. “And ever since then, everything I feel… It’s just so intense, Seb. So intense.”

“I felt the same way. I saw you and couldn’t look away. There was so much desire to meet you… to know you… and maybe even to love you. And after that first night…” His words are filled with affection, a deep warmth, as he looks in her eyes. “Everything I’ve felt with you… it’s far more powerful than I’ve felt with anyone other than family.”

“That first morning, when I sent you away because you admitted to me about your past and dark magic… I don’t know if I had ever felt so depressed in my entire life,” she admits. “It felt like something was being ripped away from my soul - my very soul. I was miserable for weeks.”

“I thought I had lost you…” Sebastian’s eyes are far off, contemplating how melancholy he felt back then. “I thought that I had lost the love of my life forever.”

Kate presses her forehead to his. “Thank Merlin you wrote to me. Thank Merlin. Who knows where we would be otherwise…”

“Yes. I might never have seen you again…” A sigh escapes him as he imagines that outcome - not having her in his life. Pure loneliness. Wandering from place to place without purpose, drinking every night in an attempt to forget the past, debating if it’s worth being alive at all…

She kisses him tenderly, recognizing his expression and pulling him out of his thoughts. “I love you, my moon. My sweet moon.”

“And I love you, my sun… my beautiful sun…” A smile curls on his lips as he runs his fingers through her yellow hair. “Please… I want to make love to you again…”

Kate’s answer is a deep kiss. She allows herself to be ravished once more.