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anto-pops · 2 months ago

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The Serpent's Paramour CH 19 - Sebastian Sallow x Female!Reader

Summary: It was hard to imagine slowing down after everything you'd been through in the last few months, but that's exactly what you and your friends end up doing. Normal, mundane things that remind you what life is really about. The fact that it just so happens to be Christmas is an added bonus.

Word Count: 6k

Warnings: 18+, aged up characters, slice of life shenanigans, Christmas fluff, mild angst

New chapter is also up on Ao3 :))

Christmas.

It was fucking Christmas.

It shouldn’t have bothered you as much as it did, but time had a funny way of getting away from you when you were preoccupied with dark wizards, ancient relics, and crazy Poachers. At present, it wasn’t the holiday itself that was making you so volatile. It was the fact that for the first time in years, you were spending it with people you cared about, and you had nothing to give them.

Nothing. Not even a pouch of chocolates.

The inside of your lip had been chewed into a messy pulp as you gnawed on it absentmindedly, your mind racing with ideas on what to do to celebrate accordingly. Maybe if you offered to help Natty cook, the two of you could whip up a feast? Nothing as extravagant as the rows upon rows of food that Hogwarts had served, but something nice. A honeyed ham hock, maybe? Or venison? Hell, even a roast like the one she had made for dinner yesterday would be sufficient.

With your lip missing most of its skin, you moved on to chewing your nail, your eyes out of focus as you stared dumbly at the rock on the ground. From her seated position on the bench, Natty sighed loudly, drawing your attention in time to see the bewildered expression on her face. “I don’t think I have ever seen you so distracted before. What is the matter?”

“Sorry,” you mumbled, pulling your hand away from your mouth before you moved past your nails and started eating your fingers. “I’m thinking about what to do for Christmas. I completely lost track of time and now… well, I feel bad. I don’t have anything to give everyone.”

“That is what has you looking so serious?” Natty threw her head back as she let out a boisterous laugh, and you furrowed your brows with annoyance. It was easy for her to overlook the importance of the holiday when she had stayed in civilization all this time. But you? You hadn’t so much as glimpsed a Christmas tree in three years. When she looked back at you, her kind smile prompted you to relax your shoulders. “I didn’t expect you to care so much for the occasion. Although I must admit, we do have the crowd to warrant a celebration. Would you like to put up a tree?”

Pursing your lips, you shook your head. It was far too late to bother with decorating a tree, and leaving Natty to clean up pine needles hardly seemed fair even if it could be done with the snap of her fingers. “No tree, but would it be alright if we made Christmas dinner tonight? I can figure out gifts later.”

Natty nodded enthusiastically, her tight curls bouncing around her shoulders. “Of course! If you really wanted to, we could go to the market stalls in town to look for gifts as well.”

“You mean shops aren’t closed today?”

“Shops are closed. But the market stalls are run by independent vendors, many of whom stay open on the holidays to make extra money. It would be no problem.”

It was a promising idea. Beyond being able to find presents for everyone, it would offer you the opportunity to see more of Uganda. But then you glanced back at the rock on the ground, sighing when you reminded yourself why you were here. It was only ten in the morning, but you had been outside trying to get the damn thing to levitate for two hours now. Once again, you had only succeeded at getting it to launch itself into the air, sending you and Natty ducking for cover too many times to count.

Part of you had hoped that your stellar mental state upon waking up this morning would have helped you reign in your focus and perform better, but that hope was fleeting and unrealistic.

This morning, though…

Wondering what it would be like to wake up beside Sebastian couldn’t hold a candle to the real thing. Much like that morning at the manor, you had woken up with your body draped completely over his, the only difference being that both of you were as naked as the day you were born. He had still been dozing when you’d lifted your head from his chest to gaze at him openly, the rampant fondness you felt for the man driving you to brush your lips over his.

He had come to immediately after that and had made good use of the quiet morning hours with you. You had almost been convinced that you wouldn’t make it out of bed when he rolled on top of you, working you into a tizzy with his hands, curling his fingers inside of you as he made a come hither motion that pressed against you in all the right places. You had only managed to convince him to let you leave when you’d mentioned that Natty would inevitably come looking for you if you weren’t downstairs at the agreed upon time.

The possibility of your old friend walking in on you and Sebastian in the nude had been like a bucket of ice water to the face.

Your eyes danced up to the second story window overlooking the courtyard of their own volition. Sebastian was likely still inside, napping like a fat, content house cat beneath the sheets. What you wouldn’t give to be up there with him now…

Natty cleared her throat to get your attention, and you looked over at her to find her eyes twinkling with mirth. “Your body is here, but your mind is elsewhere, my friend.”

It wasn’t hot enough this time of day for you to blame your reddening cheeks on the weather. Bollocks. “Sorry,” you apologized again, then pointed to the rock you had a growing distaste for. “I’d love to go to the market, but I really think I should figure this thing out. We won’t be here that much longer and I have yet to get it to float.”

“Suit yourself,” Natty relented with a shrug, glancing up at the window you had been eyeing moments earlier. “Sometimes, though, a break is good for the mind. You are doing the motions correctly, and you speak the incantations with purpose. A short walk to the markets may prove to be the reset you need.”

All her statement did was convince you that you needed to practice harder, not waste time shopping for trinkets. If you were doing everything right, then why weren’t you seeing results?

“No one on Earth mastered anything worth learning in a day, my dear,” Natty moved so she was blocking your line of sight to the rock, her eyes crinkling at their corners reassuringly, and you sighed. “Trust me; one day to enjoy the festivities. Then we will come back so you can keep practicing.”

It really was an attractive idea, and there was some truth to her words. Taking breaks could be just as beneficial as working uninterrupted. It was something you had been coerced into doing when you were still a student since you’d had a bad habit of pulling all-nighters. Beyond that… you really wanted to find a suitable gift for Sebastian. And everyone else– not just Sebastian! He was naturally the first person you thought of, but that didn’t mean Devlin or Anne, or even Ominis was undeserving of receiving something on Christmas–

Gods. You were giving yourself a headache.

Gently rubbing your temples, you relented, “Alright. If it’s not too much trouble, I’d really like to visit the market stalls.”

Natty brightened, clapping her hands together excitedly. “I haven’t been in quite some time. You will love it, and I am positive you will find what you want. There are lots of vendors that sell old tomes that I am sure Sebastian will like.”

Your head swiveled towards her alarmingly fast, and the knowing smile on Natty’s face was far too smug for comfort. “I– It’s not just Sebastian I want to shop for, you know.”

Her airy laugh sounded a lot like windchimes as she strode past you to head for the front door, her hands clasped together behind her back. Then she was looking back at you from over her shoulder to wink– actually wink– in a way that made your hackles raise. “Whatever you say. I can see it plainly on your face, my friend.”

You muttered under your breath– something about Natty being too aware for her own good– and shuffled out of the courtyard to follow her inside. Your heels dug into the ground upon hearing her next comment, however.

“I would be more inclined to believe you if the two of you had not made so much noise last night.”

—

Natty was as bad as Devlin, you had decided.

Her teasing had persisted for a long while, up until Anne and Ominis had joined the two of you in the kitchen. The Auror had taken it upon himself to brew tea for everyone, and it was at that point Natty had voiced the suggested plans for the day. Everyone was on board with taking a trip into town to check out the stalls, but Ominis was dead set on Sebastian remaining in the house, the possibility of him being recognized posing too great a risk.

After running upstairs to speak with the man in question, he had wholeheartedly agreed to stay indoors for the day. You could hardly blame him; he looked… comfortable. The thin sheets of the bed had slipped down his bare torso to pool around his hips, leaving sorely little to the imagination, and when Sebastian had caught sight of you staring unabashedly, he had flashed you a sleepy, seductive smirk.

“There’s room for one more if you’ve changed your mind about going,” he purred, patting the spot you had previously occupied earlier this morning.

“Tempting. Very tempting,” you rolled your eyes, unable to fight the smile tugging at the corners of your lips. “We won’t be gone long. I’m sure we’ll be back by noon.”

He sighed theatrically, pouting as he tucked his hands behind his head. The motion gave you a glorious eyeful of his biceps, making you think back on how you had watched them flex and strain above you the night prior, and you swallowed thickly. Don’t get distracted. Quit ogling him.

Around a sigh, Sebastian lazily drawled, “All this rushing around to go shopping because I reminded you it’s Christmas. So what?”

“So… I want to celebrate. It’s been forever since I last did, and with everyone here together…” you shifted by the bed uneasily, noting through the corner of your eye how the humor on Sebastian’s face vanished and was replaced by something more serious. “I don’t know. I just thought it would be nice for all of us to mark the occasion. Presents, Christmas dinner, all that stuff.”

You were unbelievably bashful on the receiving end of his probing gaze. Fully expecting for him to tease you further, you were unprepared when he shot forward to wrap his arms around your waist, pulling you down onto the bed against his chest. Your startled yelp was immediately silenced by his searing kiss, his warm hand wrapping around the back of your neck so he could hold you firmly to his lips. It was a kiss of unadulterated passion– one that left you weak in the knees and triggered a swarm of butterflies to come to life in the pit of your stomach.

When he pulled away after a few seconds, you were left panting heavily, your palms braced against his shoulders. “If that’s the case, then of course we’ll celebrate,” Sebastian declared. The hand on your neck slid around to cup the side of your face, his thumb brushing affectionately over your cheekbone. “Whatever you want, princess. Christmas carols, a grand feast, and we can even make snow angels if you’d like.”

“But there’s no snow here.”

“Dirt angels then,” he remedied with a smirk, and you laughed. “Don’t worry about getting me anything, though. I already have everything I need.”

“Everyone always says that,” you remarked dryly, flicking the tip of his nose playfully. “That doesn’t mean I won’t still try to find something for you.”

“If you really want to get me a gift, see if you can buy a giant ribbon.” He lowered his chin so his lips were directly against your ear, his voice low and ripe with promise as he murmured, “Then wear it to bed later. I’d love to unwrap you.”

Sweet Merlin– he was making it increasingly difficult to leave the room. Blood filled your cheeks and warmed your skin, and you frantically pushed him back against the pillows so you could break out of his embrace. The grin plastered to his face was anything but innocent, and you smacked his chest lightly as you rose to your feet. “You’re incorrigible. Try thinking with the head on top of your shoulders for once instead of the one between your legs.”

“But you like the head between my legs,” he retorted, waggling his eyebrows your way. His laughter echoed throughout the room as you turned on your heel to head for the door.

If you didn’t leave now, you didn’t think you ever would.

Forty minutes later, you found yourself in the bustling town center with Natty, Anne, and Ominis. Devlin had also opted to remain at the house. At least, that’s what it had sounded like when you’d knocked on his door to invite him. His muffled, noncommittal grunt had told you that he had more pressing matters to attend to, namely sleeping.

The stalls were exactly like you had imagined; pop-up shops with colorful canopies hanging overhead to provide shade, each stand overflowing with goods that varied from booth to booth. The one closest to you seemed to specialize in selling what looked like snake-skin accessories, and you subtly pointed that one out to Anne.

“Do you think Ominis would appreciate a reptilian handbag?”

Anne followed the line of your finger and started cackling, clutching her stomach and drawing the attention of the blond man. Ominis scowled, “Just try it, and I’ll stick an actual snake in your bed later.”

The four of you ambled about the market leisurely, stopping at every booth to peruse the selection of goods with rapt fascination. Natty was explaining the history behind a particular totem to Ominis, leaving you and Anne to your own devices for a while, which gave you a chance to bring up what you had discussed with Sebastian the night before.

“I thought you would like to know that I talked with your brother,” you started, setting down the pair of sandals you had been looking over. Anne glanced at you curiously, tucking a few strands of her short hair behind her ear. It had warmed up considerably since venturing into town, and a thin layer of sweat glinted against her forehead and kept a few stubborn pieces of hair stuck to her face. “I told him to get your consent before we move forward with the plan to cure you. Your opinion never really seemed clear and I haven’t had the chance to talk with you about it, but regardless of what you choose, Sebastian will accept the decision.”

Her thin lips parted around a shaky laugh, “Do you honestly believe that? He’s one of the most stubborn people I’ve ever known. If three years wasn’t enough to deter him, I don’t know what will.”

Fair point. “I can’t say how well he’ll take the news if you decide against a cure. I’m sure we’ll see the tantrum of all tantrums if that’s the case. But truthfully… I think he’ll listen. With Rookwood having lied to him for so long, I think he’s more willing to back off if that’s what you want.”

Anne was quiet for a long time. Her gaze was fixed on a pair of hide boots, but you didn’t think she was really seeing them. She had a faraway look in her eyes that told you she was a thousand yards away, deep in thoughts that you couldn’t begin to comprehend. Not wanting to push her any further, you went back to scanning the shoe selection, tracing your fingers over the embroidery on a pair of fancy looking sandals that had caught your attention. If you were going to buy anything here, you wanted it to be something you were able to wear when you returned back home. Sandals wouldn’t serve you well in Great Britain’s cold, wet climate, even if they were stunning.

“I do want to be cured,” Anne finally said softly, her voice no more than a whisper. Your eyebrows nearly disappeared into your hairline at the revelation. Her hands shook slightly as she turned them upwards to stare at her palms, a pained expression crossing her face as she frowned. “I’ve always wanted to be cured. It’s not fair what happened to me. It’s not like I was born with some illness– I was given one by the same lunatic that got away with manipulating my brother and lying to him for years. I want to stand on my own two feet without stumbling. I want to use my magic again without feeling exhausted. I want to travel and see the world and explore everything that life has to offer outside of a hospital bed.”

The roar of the market’s crowd seemed muted as you listened to Anne. It was like time was standing still for the two of you as she voiced her desires to you, and you briefly wondered if she had ever let herself admit what she really wanted out loud.

Her hands curled into weak, trembling fists as she turned to stare at you fully, her dark eyes glimmering with resolve. “Did you know this is the first time I’ve ever been outside of the country? Going to France, and then coming here? I’ve never moved around like this before, and… it’s fun. The world is so much bigger than I ever could have dreamed, and I want to see more of it. I want to live.”

The two of you stared at one another for a long time. Anne with her hands clenched and her eyes burning with innate strength, and you with your heart thundering in your chest. There had never been a moment where you didn’t admire her for getting through the trials and tribulations life had thrown at her, but right now– in this moment– you had never been more impressed with her. She was much braver than anyone gave her credit for, and you nodded seriously.

“Then you will. We’ll find a way– whatever it takes.”

Her lower lip trembled as she returned to staring at the rack of shoes before her. “That’s just it… I’m scared. I want a cure. I really, really want one. But what if this plan of Sebastian’s doesn’t work? What if everything goes wrong and someone gets hurt?”

Out of the corner of your eye, you saw Natty and Ominis heading towards the two of you. This wasn’t a conversation they needed to be clued in on– not yet, at least– so you lowered your voice and placed a reassuring hand on Anne’s arm. “No one is going to get hurt, Anne. I swear it. Sebastian won’t let that happen and neither will I.”

“You can’t know that for certain,” she smiled sadly, eyeing the rest of your group approaching from over your shoulder. “But thank you. I’ll talk to Sebastian when we get back. Maybe… maybe he can put my mind at ease.”

You could only nod in agreement, because Ominis and Natty siddled up beside you in the next second. The Auror had a small, wrapped parcel tucked under his arm, and you shot him a questioning look in a bid to act natural. “Is it a handbag?”

“Shut up.” Those milky blue eyes of his made a full trip around their sockets, and you smirked. “You’ll find out later.”

The remainder of the shopping trip went relatively smoothly. Anne found an assortment of animal charms that she claimed reminded her of everyone, which had prompted Ominis to wordlessly purchase all of them. Natty had bought fresh ingredients for the feast the two of you were planning on making later, along with a new pair of beaded sandals, the likes of which you had never seen before. They were intensely colorful– so much so that you relented and bought yourself the pair you’d been admiring earlier as well.

You had never owned anything quite like them, so you vowed to find opportunities to wear them out once you returned home.

Even though you had chastised Sebastian for his earlier gift idea, you found yourself perusing the stalls in search of something… risqué. Nothing quite so gaudy as a ribbon, but anything that seemed prurient. You’d already found a leather-bound journal that you thought he might like since he seemed to be the note-taking type, but you were hoping that you could find something a tad more intimate.

The disbelief you felt knowing that you were actually looking for something like that was as sobering as it was exhilarating.

Just when you were about to give up your search and accept that you’d have to settle for strutting into his room naked as a present– which you knew he would still love– you spotted a booth that intrigued you. The woman running the make-shift shop looked positively ethereal; ornate jewelry dangled from her neck and ears, and the outfit she had on revealed more skin than you had ever seen a human show in public. Your cheeks reddened as you stared at her in wonder, but what you really focused on the most was what she had on around her waist.

Whatever it was, her stall was lined with them. All different colors, styles, and sizes.

“Hey, Natty?” you called, and she picked up her pace to catch up to you. All the walking had to be taking its toll on her, because her limp was far more pronounced now than it had been earlier. “What are those?”

Natty’s eyes widened as she looked to where you pointed, and then a cheshire-like smile was spreading across her face. She had a teasing glint in her dark eyes when she glanced back at you to lift one singular brow. “I have a feeling I already know why these interest you.”

The flush on your cheeks grew stronger, and your spine stiffened. “I’m just– they look pretty! Can’t I think they’re pretty without being scrutinized?”

“Of course, of course, I’m sorry.” Natty schooled her expression, but you could still see the humor in her eyes even without that blinding smile playing alongside it. “Come. We can go and look. I will tell you.”

—

The gifts you had acquired for everyone were simple but fitting. Your entire body was buzzing with excitement as you walked back to Natty’s home with your purchases in hand, eager to move forward with celebrating the holiday with your friends. Heat from the sun seemed to radiate from the very ground you walked on, but unlike the day prior, you didn’t mind in the slightest. With such juvenile merriment right around the corner, you didn’t think anything could sour your mood– not even the buckets of sweat that dripped from your temples and soaked through your shirt.

Baths were in order for everyone upon returning to the house. You intentionally steered clear of Sebastian’s bedroom as you ducked into the bathroom in the hallway, knowing all too well that he would derail your plans of getting clean if given the chance. Afterwards you changed into clean, loose clothing, trying exceptionally hard not to fiddle with the item Natty had helped you purchase. It wasn’t uncomfortable to wear at all, but it was strange to feel its weight around your hips. Before rejoining everyone in the kitchen, you slipped on the sandals you had bought, wiggling your toes and smiling at the sight of such fun, unique footwear.

Devlin and Sebastian had to have heard all the commotion coming from downstairs, because they were already seated in the living room when you walked in. Anne and Ominis were sorting through all of the ingredients you’d picked out with Natty, separating the spices from the solid foods, and when you failed to spot your old friend, you made your way over to the group.

“Where’s Natty?” you asked no one in particular, immediately getting to work helping by gathering the potatoes together beside the faucet.

“She’s cleaning up right now. She asked us to wash the produce and measure out spices in the meantime,” Ominis replied, blindly feeling around on the counter until his hand touched a container of red powder. He lifted it to his nose to give it a good sniff, wincing at the same time his face contorted into something akin to a grimace. “Can we put this one back in the cupboard?”

Anne was quick to snatch the container out of his hands, shooting him a sidelong look. “No. She specifically said she wanted pepper for the recipe.”

“That is not pepper. That smells like it could be used as a weapon.”

“Just because you don’t like spicy food doesn’t mean we’re going to keep it out of the dish,” she scolded further, smelling the contents herself before closing the lid and setting it aside. “That’s not even bad. You’re just too accustomed to bland food, Ominis.”

“Says the woman who's been eating hospital food for years now. Are you implying St. Mungo’s laces your meals with foreign peppers?”

“No, but that’s besides the point. Be a little adventurous! What’s the harm in trying new things?”

“I might have water for dinner if we’re about to eat something unbearably spicy,” Devlin called from his seat on the couch. That damn hat of his was in its usual spot on top of his head, and you were suddenly incredibly eager to get to the gift-giving portion of the evening so you could see the look on his face when you handed over his present.

“Oh, come on lads,” Sebastian chimed in, rising to his feet so he could make his way into the kitchen. He had also bathed, seeing as his hair was damp and curling at the ends more than usual. The black dress shirt he had on was hanging over a pair of linen trousers much like the ones you wore, his sleeves rolled up to his elbows and allowing you an unobscured view of his tattoo coiling around his forearm. It was as captivating to see now as it had been back when you’d first seen it, and when your eyes danced back up to meet Sebastian’s dark ones, he was smirking knowingly at you. “A little spice added to your life is good for the soul. I hear it prolongs longevity.”

Ominis scoffed and crossed his arms, “You must eat pepper for fun then, since you’re annoyingly hard to kill.”

“You’re just peeved that I lived through your attempt at gutting me,” the brunet fired back easily, only mildly irritated with the Auror’s comment.

“Give me another chance, and I promise I won’t fail a second time.”

“Boys,” Anne said sternly, pointing a carrot at her brother threateningly. “This is not a very festive conversation to have right now. It’s Christmas, so just for today, try not to kill one another.”

“No promises,” both men muttered at the same time. They glared openly at each other, annoyance flittering across Ominis’ face while Sebastian looked wholly disgusted that they were accidentally speaking in sync, and you sighed loudly.

Natty elected to return at that moment, her eyes narrowing as she padded barefoot into the room and took in the sight of everyone– sans Devlin– gathered around the counter together. She looked particularly perturbed to see Ominis and Sebastian squaring off, their spines rigid. “Should I be concerned?”

Anne set her handy carrot down and flashed the lady a bright smile. “Nope!”

That was that, then.

Making dinner became a group effort remarkably quickly. Natty and Anne worked together to mix up all the spices and sauces that were meant to be slathered on the heaping slab of lamb that was tempering on the counter. Devlin and Ominis worked quietly as they set the table, then moved on to washing any and all dishes that ended up dirtied. You and Sebastian were responsible for peeling the potatoes and chopping up the vegetables, and while it all could have been accomplished with a quick wave of your wand, there was something calming about doing it all by hand.

Sebastian’s hands moved rhythmically as he removed the potato skins, the outer layers he shucked falling into a shallow bowl situated beneath. The steady, even sound of your knife slicing through carrots and herbs intermingled with the homely sounds that filled the kitchen, and you couldn’t help but think that the scene playing out inside of Natty’s house was incredibly serene.

You had come here to learn wandless magic, which was still the goal. But here you were, preparing Christmas dinner with friends both old and new. To think that none of this would have been possible unless Sebastian had kidnapped you from Bainburgh all those months ago…

It was a shocking turn of events that you found yourself grateful for.

You scraped the pile of rosemary to the edge of the cutting board, then wiped the blade on a rag before grabbing for the potatoes Sebastian had already peeled. His head turned towards you as you began dicing the vegetables into small cubes, and you felt his eyes against you for a long time before you deigned to glance at him.

His eyes were like glimmering pools of ink. Affection, love, yearning, and something far more profound than all of those things combined was painted plainly across his face. It was the kind of expression that made your breath catch in your throat, your hand halting its movements over the board as you stared back at him.

“What?”

His lips parted, but no words came out. Those compelling eyes of his looked at you, then the cutting board, then all around the kitchen as he appeared to take in the full breadth of the room. “I just… this is nice.”

You were almost tempted to tease him for the lacklustre reply, but the vulnerability he radiated in that moment made you reconsider. “It is. I’m glad Natty agreed to this. I think it’s good for everyone to take a break and slow down a little.”

He nodded stiffly, averting his gaze back to the whittling knife he held in his hands. There was obviously something else he wanted to say, so it was your turn to stare at the side of his head, and you knew he caught on to you when the tips of his ears started to turn red. “You’re staring awfully hard, princess.”

“I’m trying to read your mind, but it’s not working. What’s wrong?”

“Nothing. Nothing is wrong, I’m just–” full, bushy brows slammed down atop his eyes, and you watched as Sebastian struggled with whatever thoughts were plaguing him. Finally, he managed to whisper, “I really like this. It reminds me of my parents. I used to watch them cook together when Anne and I were kids. The two of us would be breaking something or other in the living room while they made dinner, and then we’d all sit down to eat.”

Oh.

“I guess I just realized how much I missed that,” he finished softly, resuming his peeling without looking to see your reaction. “It’s been a long time since I’ve done something so normal.”

Part of your heart cleaved in two as you processed what he was saying. Sebastian’s life before being forced to move in with his uncle was still much of a mystery to you. You knew he had hated every moment of living in Feldcroft, but he had never talked about what things were like for him prior to his parent’s deaths. If something as mundane as cooking dinner side by side could trigger such a light, authentic memory for him, you figured he had to have been raised in a loving household with affectionate parents.

It further proved just how drastically his life had changed. To go from playing with his twin in his childhood home to working for Victor Rookwood and leading Ashwinders as a dark wizard himself…

His sentimentality made perfect sense when you considered everything he had been through in the past five years.

“What will you do?” you found yourself asking, going back to cutting the previously forgotten potatoes. Sebastian glanced at you again, but you kept your eyes glued to the knife in your hand. “When all of this is over, what do you want to do?”

“I… I don’t know,” he admitted with a shake of his head. “I’ve spent so long pursuing a cure for Anne. Working for Victor, the Poachers, the Ashwinders. I don’t think I know how to live normally now. When all of this is over, I’ll still be a wanted man who escaped Azkaban. If Ominis doesn’t drag me back into a cell, someone else inevitably will.”

You peeked over your shoulder in search of the man in question. Ominis was directly beside Natty, lazily drying a plate as he smiled in response to something she had said. You watched as she lifted up a small bowl to gather a tiny amount of whatever sauce she had mixed up for him to try, and he narrowed his eyes before relenting rather quickly, taking the spoon so he could stick it into his open mouth. Sputtering, Ominis frantically set down the plate and motioned for water, and Anne’s laughter then filled the kitchen and drew everyone’s attention.

Well, except for Sebastian’s. He was still staring at you as though you were the only person in the room with him. “I don’t think you have to worry about Ominis. Something tells me he’d look the other way if you honestly wanted to leave this life behind.”

“Wishful thinking,” he muttered with a frown.

“Then tell me; if you didn’t have to worry about any of that and you had all the freedom in the world to do what you wanted, what would you do? Where would you go?”

Silence. Sebastian went completely quiet, a muscle in his jaw popping intermittently as he thumbed over the handle of the knife he held. It was far from a philosophical question, but you supposed it made sense that he needed a moment to consider his answer. You were about to go back to chopping potatoes when you heard, “I’d want to stay with you.”

He said it so softly that you barely heard him with Anne’s rancorous laughter still echoing off the walls. But you still caught the response, and your heart fluttered in your chest against your better judgement.

“If I didn’t have to worry about repercussions, I would want to live a life like the one my parents did together with you. I’d like to go for walks together and cook dinner with you every night. I want a house with a yard– maybe a dog if I’m feeling adventurous. And maybe other things if you were so inclined.”

Was he implying what you thought he was?

There were no adequate words you could form. When you tried, all you managed to voice was a weak hum. Sebastian’s lips quirked up into a small smile at the sound before looking back at the counter, resuming his earlier task of peeling vegetables. The sadness in his eyes didn’t escape you, and you were left to swallow around the lump in your throat as you scrambled for something to say to reassure him– to add to the fantasy he’d so heartbreakingly clued you in on. Even though part of you wanted those things with him too, your tongue felt like a lead weight in your mouth.

“In another life, maybe,” he murmured to himself. “One where I haven’t doomed myself by making so many mistakes.”

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