Dwelling in Silence

✨Navigation✨ This is basically all Sebastian Sallow, if you're not into that, you may want to look somewhere else. ☔-angst 🥰-fluff 🔞-NSFW, MDNI

Templates (and tutorials) (filled out, but also has empties to copy and paste or use to fill) Multiple Chapter Fanfictions

Short Stories

Headcanons

Not sure if there’s an easier way to do this, but this is how I made a master page to all my stuff. 

Every single link is a separate post, so it’s a little tedious but it does the trick. 

Step 1:

Firstly, I made my master list page, I added the pictures I wanted, the breaks, the list of specific things I wanted to link to. 

If your master list page has your art or writing right there, you can link it directly to that work. 

Step 2:

If you’re like me and want your master page to organize more, then you need to make a page for that. For example, my main master page has links to separate categories-templates, multiples chapter, short stories, headcanons, art, music playlists, and my favorites. Each of those categories is a separate post. 

Step 3:

Then in those posts is where I linked the specific art, post, or link to the writing. 

For example, under templates I have spells, nsfw alphabet (with two links under it), Hogwarts house bingo, wizarding world alphabet (with 2 links under it), couple profile, student profile, instagrid, random headcanons, and student ids. Each link takes you directly to the art. 

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For my chapter stories and short stories I did make an extra post page with the links to the specific chapters I’ve posted, and that’s just doing step 3 again as many times as necessary. 

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The way to link a page to the heading is by going to the page that you want linked-that you want it to go to- at the top right corner are 3 dots, click on that and you can ‘copy link’. Go back to the master page where you want it labeled or linked from. Highlight the text you want used as the link. Tap on the highlighted bit and there should be a little picture of two chain links 🔗 connecting. Click that and paste the link that you copied then press done. Now that text should take you to the post or website that has your work. 

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As you continue to make things you can ‘edit’ (It’s the little pencil in the bottom right corner) the master list page or sub list page.

Then you can pin your master list page so it’s always the first post seen. Click on the 3 dots in the top right corner and click ‘pin’. 

Haleigha wakes up early the next morning, excited to start her day.  She took great care in picking out her outfits and makeup regime for the first week of classes.  There aren’t a whole lot of choices when it comes to the mandatory uniforms, but she did what she could.  A tartan skirt that reaches just below her knees, a plain white button shirt with the sleeves rolled up because it’s a bit warm, a matching necktie, and of course her house robe.  Her natural waves pinned perfectly off her face with a few rebellious wisps fluttering out and just the lightest hint of eye shadow to make her eyes pop just a little more.

Poppy watches her get ready, she’s already been up for an hour by the time Haleigha woke.  Poppy kicks her feet back and forth on her bed.  “Are you happy to be back here?”

Haleigha pauses doing her makeup so she doesn’t poke herself in the eye.  “Very.  I wasn’t happy we had to leave in the first place and I’m happier than ever to be away from Ilvermorny.”

“It sounded like you liked Ilvermorny,” Poppy replies.

Haleigha sighs then faces Poppy.  “I liked the school and my teachers and some of the people, but,” she trails off and sighs again.  “I broke up with my boyfriend shortly before summer vacation and I’m relieved to be away from that.”

Poppy shifts onto her belly, giving Haleigha all her attention.  “What happened?”

Haleigha rolls her eyes, but not in a mean way towards Poppy, in exasperation at her own situation.  “I caught Marcus cheating then found out he’d been cheating almost the entire time we’d been together.”  Poppy gasps, her jaw dropping.  “I know.  He acted like I was crazy because I expected monogamy.”

“Did he say that?”  

“Basically,” Haleigha huffs.  “He said, ‘did you expect one woman to be able to satisfy me forever’.  I almost cursed him into the next state.”

Poppy turns her nose up.  “What an ass.”

Haleigha returns her attention to the mirror.  “So now I hate boys, use them for my satisfaction then move on.  I don’t need messy feelings.”

“Isn’t that what Marcus did to you?”

“I don’t plan on engaging in anything serious and I plan to disclose my intentions.  I don’t actually want to hurt anyone, I just want to have my needs met without my heart getting broken.”

Poppy pouts, empathizing with Haleigha’s pain.   “Do you still love him?”

Haleigha snorts.  “Honestly I don’t think I ever loved him.  I thought I did, but looking back I didn’t even enjoy being around him.  I’d want to be with my friends instead, it was just….easy.  And I think if I ever fall in love I don’t want easy.  I want everything, even the messy parts.”  She smiles to herself as she dabs on some lip color.  “Especially the messy parts.”

Poppy chuckles.  “As long as you don’t try to add Omi to your list of broken hearts, I wish you well.”

Haleigha stares at Poppy in disbelief.  “First of all, I really don’t want to cause anyone pain, especially not a friend.  Secondly, that boy is blind and I still saw how he looked at you.  Even if I wanted him, I’m positive he wouldn’t notice my existence.”

“Yeah, he’s something, huh,” Poppy sighs dreamily.

Haleigha giggles.  “Let’s go.  If I’m late to meet Anne, she’ll have my head.”  

They both grab their belongings and quietly slip into the common room, careful not to wake anyone else.  On the way to the Great Hall, Haleigha continues their chat.  “How long have you and Ominis been together?”

“Almost a year, but we were practically together long before that,” she starts.  “We always connected pretty easily and of course I’ve been smitten from the start, but I was too shy and he was too opposed to subjecting anyone to the Gaunt family.  In 4th year we were partnered in Potions.  He is absolute rubbish at Potions.  I think even if he could see, he’d still be terrible.  So after that I continued helping him in Potions and he’d help me in Charms.  I could never get the correct motions. 

“Then we started spending more and more time together.  Sometime in 5th year he asked if he could see me.  I had no idea what he meant, but I wasn’t about to tell him no.  Then he spent the next hour mapping my face.  After that we spent most of our spare time together and that’s when Anne and I really became friends.  Just before Halloween, 6th year, he told me he loved me and didn’t want anyone else to have a chance until he’d attempted to woo me.”  She giggles.  “I told him he’d wooed me long before then.”

Haleigha chortles.  “I cannot imagine the heir of Slytherin being so mushy.”

Poppy locks her arm with Haleigha.  “He is, too.  It’s so soft.”

“I’m sure you’re the only one he’s soft with,”  Haleigha lays her head on Poppy’s shoulders.  “He seems particularly rigid.”

Poppy snorts and buries her head in her hands.  “He is, especially when it concerns Sebastian.  That boy exasperates Omi to no end.”

Haleigha purses her lips in thought.  “A pain, is he?”

“Much more willing to break the rules to suit his purposes.”  Poppy grins.  “I adore Sebastian.  It’s just between all the girls he scorns and all the sneaking around at night he does, Omi is left to bail him out a lot.”

“Why doesn’t he just stop helping Sebastian?”  Haleigha asks, quietly, lowering her voice as they enter a busier part of the castle.

Poppy tilts her head towards Haleigha.  “Sebastian never asks for Omi’s help.  He just can’t stand the thought of Sebastian getting expelled.  Sebastian doesn’t mean to get into trouble, he’s just mischievous and not careful enough to cover his tracks.  Without Sebastian, Omi would’ve been miserable here.  Being an heir of Slytherin doesn’t impress the other students much and being blind only made it worse.  Sebastian established his skill and quick temper pretty quickly.  No one would dare mess with Omi because he was Sebastian’s friend.  Since then, Omi has founded his own reputation of not taking rubbish from others, but he does it in a much more reserved way.  I don’t think anyone would’ve noticed had Sebastian not befriended him to begin with.”

Haleigha grins, fondly.  “Sounds like best friends.”

“They are.”

“Even when we were young, I remember Sebastian causing trouble.  His parents gave him the space to learn safely by his own mistakes, then promptly lectured him on why when he’d finally admit he suffered enough.”

Poppy stops and looks at Haleigha with wide eyes.  “I’ve never heard about their parents.  Neither of them ever speak about them.  It’s just a fact that they live with their uncle.”

Haleigha sighs.  “I wasn’t here when they died, I only met Solomon once when he came to visit Arenshire for All Hallow’s Eve one year.  I’ve never been a fan, but Anne loves him so I keep those opinions to myself.”

“Why?”  Poppy asks as they enter the Great Hall.

“Why don’t I like him or why don’t I ever say what I think?”

“Both.”

Haleigha glances around the Great Hall to make sure Anne isn’t around yet.  “I don’t know to be honest.  I just immediately didn’t like him when we met and I refused to go within arms length of him.  So I can’t tell Anne I can’t stand her uncle when I have no real reason to.  I sound insane.”

Poppy looks at her hands.  “I think instinct and insanity get confused a lot.”

Before either can say anything else, Anne throws open the doors to the Great Hall and bounds for both Hufflepuffs, giving them both a hug that’s a little too tight.  But they both soak it up.  

“I literally could not sleep last night,” Anne practically vibrates.  “I have so many plans.  Once you get a little more settled, we have to go to Hogsmeade.  You haven’t had butterbeer in years, it’s time you have.”

Haleigha lets out one small shout of excitement.  “Agreed.  Absolutely.  I may not even care about getting settled.”

“Yes!” Anne pulls her schedule out from her bag.  “Firstly, what made you so late?”

“It was a nightmare.” Haleigha groans and buries her face in her hands, fear shaking her frame.  “Our carriage was overtaken by a dragon.  Not sure how it happened, but the coachman got us in it’s migration path.  Obviously, the dragon attacked from there.  The coachman and Professor Fig’s friend didn’t make it and we were a little lost.  But he got us here.”

Anne and Poppy stare at Haleigha in horror and amazement, respectively.  Anne shrieks, “I could’ve lost you before I even got you back.”  At the same time, Poppy leans forward and gasps, “What was it like being so close to a dragon?”

Both Haleigha and Anne look at Poppy like she’s mad.  Poppy smacks her lips and crosses her arms.  “What?  She’s clearly ok.”

Then all three break into a fits of laughter.  When they’ve calmed down, Anne unfolds her wrinkled and torn parchment with her schedule.  “We need to figure out classes and see if you have any with us.”

Poppy lays her own schedule on the table.  “We have Beasts and Charms together and I know Omi is in our Charms class, too.”

“Excellent,” Anne mumbles as she looks over everyone’s schedule.  “Looks like we’ve all got Transfiguration together too.”  She looks closer at Haleigha’s schedule.  “How come you don’t have History?”

“I’m special,” she grins with a chuckle.  “I tested out of it because the curriculum at Ilvermorny was a little ahead.”

Anne shakes her head.  “Not fair.”  She’s quiet for a moment.  “Oh! You have Herbology with Bash.  Even though it isn’t required for all 7th years, he enjoys it for some reason.”

“Hey!” Haleigha snaps, playfully.  “Plants are awesome and necessary.  Maybe if you respected them a little more you could grow one.”

Anne rolls her eyes.  “You have Potions with Bash and I and I think you have Defense with Bash and Om.”

Haleigha grins happily.  “So I have at least one of you in all my classes.”

Anne pouts.  “I only have 2 with you.”

“Well you can come have sleep overs in our room to make up for that, ok?”  Haleigha offers.  

Anne rolls her eyes with a huff.  “Fine, I guess that’ll work.”

The Great Hall begins to fill up quickly with students looking for nourishment before classes begin.  Anne drags both of the others to the Slytherin table.  “We can sit wherever we want for breakfast, since there are more Slytherins in our group than Hufflepuffs, you can sit at the Slytherin table.”

“Kind of bossy, isn’t she?” Haleigha pretends to whisper to Poppy, making sure she’s actually loud enough for Anne to hear.

The girls sit down and save two seats for the boys then chat and giggle until food shows up on the tables.

It’s at that moment, the two Slytherin boys reach the Great Hall.  “It’s too early for this.  I don’t need breakfast,” Sebastian whines at Ominis.

“What you need is a proper sleep schedule, but since that isn’t going to happen anytime soon, you should at least get some energy.  Besides, the girls are waiting for us.”  Ominis shoves Sebastian toward the open doors of the Great Hall.

Sebastian groans.  “They’re always waiting for us.  I could’ve gotten another hour of sleep.”

Ominis stops pushing him.  “You have Dark Arts in 45 minutes.”

“I said what I said.”  Sebastian yawns as he stumbles toward the Great Hall.  But then he spots Haleigha sitting at the Slytherin table.  Somehow she looks even more alluring than the previous night and when she laughs, Sebastian’s entire brain shuts down.  Ominis still urging him forward mixed with his inattentiveness to anything but the new Hufflepuff causes him to walk into the door that isn’t open.  He groans loudly in pain, cussing under his breath.  “I knew I should’ve stayed in bed.”

“Stop being a baby.”  Ominis grinds out then leaves Sebastian to fend for himself, too eager to say good morning to Poppy.

The only seat open is across from Haleigha, which is fine.  He can keep his head down and not stare, it’s fine, he’s fine.

He exaggeratedly drops his head onto his crossed arms with a dramatic sigh, refusing to look at anyone.  But then he feels fingers on his forehead, sliding into his hair.  He jerks back, unwilling to think too much about how good that felt.  

“Oh,” Haleigha’s eyes widen.  “I- are you ok?”

“I’m fine,” Sebastian snaps.

She tilts her head and reaches toward his forehead.  “You’ve got a red mark.”

He pushes her hand away.  “I said I’m fine.”  He dares to lift his eyes and immediately regrets it.  Haleigha’s eyes look watery and her chin quivers just the tiniest bit.  Not only is Sebastian on edge due to Haleigha’s stunning presence, but now he feels like a complete git.  “Damn, I’m sorry.”

She closes her eyes as she takes in a deep breath.  Then she stands with her bag, her breakfast left unfinished.  “It’s fine,” she snipes then stomps out of the Great Hall.

Sebastian chances a glance at his friends only to find each of them staring at him with disapproval.  Too stubborn to admit he should apologize, he loads his plate with food and begins to shovel it into his mouth.  He can feel the judgmental stares from everyone, but it’s the knowledge that he hurt Haleigha’s feelings that actually gnaws at his insides.  “Dammit,” he grumbles and shoves his plate away from him hard enough for it to tumble off the table.

He curses at himself again, but stands up, ignoring how Poppy asks Ominis what his problem is.  He doesn’t want to, but he needs to find Haleigha and apologize, for his own sanity.  He anticipates she went back to her common room, but he finds her just down the hall, sitting on the floor.  He cautiously stands next to her.  He has a sister, he knows how feral women can be.

Haleigha glances to the boots next to her.  She doesn’t need to look up to know it’s Sebastian.  His scent is all around her, citrus and pine and water with something singed just underneath it all.  She turns her head away from him.  “I don’t know how to get back to my room.”

Sebastian sighs as he slides down the wall to sit next to her.  “I am sorry.”

“You are an ass,” she mumbles in retaliation.

He smirks.  “There is an argument for that.”

She sighs but relents and turns to him.  She doesn’t notice the way he swallows thickly when their eyes meet.  “I just wanted to make sure you were ok.”

“I know.  I am.”  He rests his head against the wall, keeping his eyes on her.  “I’m heinous in the mornings.”

“Clearly.”

Sebastian stands and offers her a hand even though he thinks that’s a bad idea.  Considering his skin tingles and heat gathers in his abdomen when she clasps his hand, he’s right and admonishes himself.  “Let me walk you to your first class.”

Haleigha pulls out her schedule.  “I think it’s the same for both of us.”  She hands him the bit of parchment.

He grins outwardly, but groans inwardly.  The last thing he wants is more time with a girl he has no business finding attractive.

Apple playlist will probably be more up to date, but I do have a Spotify playlist

Chapter 1- I Got Rammie, Rammie, Rammie Chapter 2- Friends

Chapter 1- I Got Rammie, Rammie, Rammie

“Ugh, Sebastian!” Anne growls under her breath, already beyond irritated with her twin. 

Without glancing up from his book, he smacks his lips. “What did I do this time?”

“Where did you put my wand?” Her voice raises in pitch with each syllable. 

He slowly brings his book down to his lap and looks up. “You mean the one on your chest?”

Anne glares at him and mumbles a curse under her breath. “You could help, you know.”

“I could,” he replies coolly, returning his attention to his book. “But I’ve already completed all my chores and have my bags packed and ready by the door. Now, I believe it’s in my best interest to stay away from you.”

Once again, she glares and curses before stomping away to complete her tasks. 

“Why are you so uptight anyway?” Sebastian calls. 

“I haven’t seen Haleigha since we were 9. I’m nervous we won’t get along as well together.” Anne flits from one side of the house to the other, mentally checking off her list of things to pack. 

Sebastian watches as she looks around, confused, then grabs the stack of quills on the table and holds them up for her. “I definitely think you’re overthinking this. You two were inseparable when we lived in Aranshire and you’ve posted weekly since. I see no way that you’ll not be inseparable again.”

Anne turns to him, her hands on her hips, a sneer on her face. “I see one very large, arrogant, and obnoxious reason we may not stay friends.”

Sebastian sighs, dramatically and slides his glasses to the top of his head, mussing his already disheveled hair. “I already told you a million times that I’d stay away from her.”

Anne relaxes minutely, crossing her arms over her chest instead of the stiff hands on her hips. “You’ve said that before. And we both know there are very few girls that will speak to me anymore.”

He snorts. “If sleeping with your brother and him never calling keeps you from having friends, perhaps they’re not good enough to be friends with anyway.”

“Or perhaps you’re just a numpty and being related to you is a curse.” She snipes. 

He stares at her blankly just before the corner of his mouth twitches. “There’s an argument for that.”  He closes his book, takes his glasses off his head to place beside his book, and walks to Anne, gripping her shoulders. “I promise I will not ruin your friendship with Haleigha. I won’t even glance at her.”  He grabs the overflowing chest behind Anne to carry to the door. “What does she look like so I know who to stay away from?”

Anne shrugs then grabs another case of hers. “We never sent photos, I haven’t a clue. But I’m sure I’ll know her. She’s the same girl she was 8 years ago.”

“Not helpful. I can’t even remember what she looked like then.” He leans his shoulder against the doorframe while Anne gathers a few more bags. “Will she be meeting us on the platform or train?”

Anne shoves a large bag into Sebastian’s arms. “Neither. She’s being escorted in early since she’s never been to Hogwarts nor is she a first year.”

Sebastian hums in acknowledgement. Just as he’s about to reply to Anne, their uncle, Solomon, stomps up the walk. “Let’s go,” he yanks the collar of Sebastian’s shirt. Once Anne is out of earshot, Solomon pushes Sebastian against the frame of the door. “You won’t be getting into trouble this year, right?”

Sebastian bites the inside of his cheek hard enough for a metallic taste to slide along his tongue.  “I can’t make any promises,” he whispers, his lip curling. “Wouldn’t want to disappoint you twice as much.”

“You’re a real piece of work.” Solomon bites back through his teeth. 

Sebastian sighs as he scoops up his own belongings. “So I’ve been told,” he mumbles too low for anyone to hear. 

He grinds his teeth when Solomon jokes with Anne and picks up her smallest bag. Not that Sebastian is jealous or wants any relationship with his uncle, because he doesn’t. He just can’t stand his uncle; he can’t stand how Solomon smells like Scotch every morning, or how smiles for the world, convinces them all he’s a hero auror but saves his anger for Sebastian, and he really can’t stand how Solomon degrades his father then compares Sebastian to him. 

But, Sebastian will be on his own soon enough. So he takes the jabs and the hits and the little cuts to his self esteem for Anne’s sake, to keep the peace, because fighting back isn’t worth the pain he’d receive for it. 

As soon as they’re on the train, away from Solomon’s heavy judgement, Sebastian finds a private car and drops into one of the seats.  He can feel a headache beginning behind his eyes.  Since that’s the last thing he needs tonight, he closes his eyes and prays for some blessed silence.

But he must have truly pissed off someone in another life, because that’s the moment that his best friend, Ominis, smoothly slips into the car with his overly energetic girlfriend, Poppy.  Sebastian groans internally.  Not that he doesn’t like Poppy, he does, very much.  She’s one of the only girls in the school that’s earned his respect and holds her own against him and his band of Slytherins.  Just not right this moment.  

No one would ever know, though.  He plasters on a smile and gives Poppy a warm hug and Ominis a pat on the back.  “How was your holiday?”  Sebastian asks them both as he sits back down.

Although Ominis usually spends the break from school with Sebastian’s family, this summer he joined Poppy on trip to Paris to study magical creatures.  It was a once in a lifetime opportunity that their Beasts professor, Howin, set up for her.  Ominis had been able to wave around the Gaunt family name to go with her.  He’s happy for Ominis, Poppy warms him in a way no one ever has; but he’s jealous.  He’ll never mutter any of this out loud, but he is.  He doesn’t want Ominis for himself, he doesn’t even want to have the burden of a relationship, but without a buffer, Solomon was harsher than he’d ever been; which made for a very miserable holiday for Sebastian.

Before Poppy can begin her story, Anne comes into the car, arms packed with treats and drinks.  She practically throws it at Sebastian in lieu of gently setting it down so she can wrap Poppy in a huge hug.  She pushes Poppy’s cheeks together then kisses all over her face.  “Ohg, I missed you.”

Poppy giggles and stumbles, launching both of them onto the seat next to Sebastian.  He does his best not to seem irritated, and with how excited the girls are to see each other they don’t notice.  Ominis does, though.  He silently kicks Sebastian’s foot and raises an eyebrow.

“Just a small headache,” he whispers so the girls don’t hear.  Both of them will throw a fuss if they hear he isn’t feeling his best, he doesn’t want that from either of them.

Once the girls finally stop squealing, Anne dolls out the snacks and Poppy regales everyone with tales from the last few months.  Sebastian is barely paying attention.  What he’d really like is a quiet room with a warm body under him, but that won’t be happening for at least a few hours.

They finally make it to their final stop and everyone clambers into the thestral drawn carriages.  One thestral paws repeatedly at the dirt and snorts at Sebastian as he walks by.  Sebastian scoffs, “I don’t like you, either,” and quickly moves on to the next carriage that doesn’t have such an ornery guide.

Despite his irritation and his headache, Sebastian relaxes immensely upon seeing the castle.  It’s warm, safe, and familiar; it’s home and lets that knowledge sweep over him.

Soft whispers of a dragon attack of a ministry member filter through the Great Hall.  By the time the rumor reaches Sebastian he hears that a whole thunder of dragons attacked the Ministry of Magic, not a sole survivor.  While he does find a dragon attack strange, he doesn’t believe all the stories everyone is spreading.

All the students file in, leaving the first years to get sorted into their houses.  Anne frantically pats Sebastian’s hand over and over.  “I don’t see Haleigha.  She should’ve been here by now.”

Sebastian pats Anne’s hand to soothe her.  “Maybe she’s already been sorted and she’s not in Slytherin.”  He tips his head toward the other tables.

Ominis snorts.  “There are a few good witches and wizards in those other houses.”  His deadpan humor flies entirely over Anne’s head, she’s too worried to laugh at a poor excuse for a joke.

“I still don’t see her,” Anne grumbles then tries to subtly check the other tables without making a scene.

“Maybe the dragon got her,” Imelda pipes in, entirely unhelpful.

Anne’s eyes nearly bug out of her head, both Ominis and Sebastian give Imelda looks that could kill an ordinary witch.  But, Imelda doesn’t believe herself to be an ordinary witch, so she shrugs off their glares in lieu of watching the sorting ceremony.

Samantha Dale manages to catch Sebastian’s eye and silently signals to meet her back at the Great Hall after curfew.  Sebastian smirks and nods once.  At least he’ll be able to relax a bit soon.

The sorting ceremony is nearly finished when a pleasant shiver runs down the length of Sebastian’s spine, causing him to move his gaze from the front of the room to the doors opening.  No one else has caught onto the intrusion, but Sebastian is suddenly keenly aware of the commotion.

A sprout of a girl steps into the room with Professor Fig, the professor of Magical Theory.  She’s trying to stay hidden behind the good professor, but it’s no use.  It wouldn’t have mattered anyway, Sebastian saw enough.

His heart jumped into his throat then stopped dead, his lungs seized, his mouth went dry.  That’s not to mention the more obscene reaction happening between his legs. He drops his head into his hands, mortified.  He hasn’t had an uncalled for reaction like this for years, he always has control over himself.  He hadn’t even started having dirty thoughts of her, yet.  But it’s like his body was keenly aware of something his mind wasn’t picking up.

Sebastian had never seen the girl before, he didn’t think, but she looked older than any first year.  He bit his lip as he leaned over the table a little to get a better view.  Bonnie lass, is the only thought that could take hold.  She was clearly petite, but even through her wrinkled robes her curves could be seen.  He couldn’t decide what color hair she had, since it seemed like every color shimmered through her locks.  He even thought the sticks and leaves in her hair were charming.  He leans closer to the door to see better, getting in Anne’s space.

Anne shoves at his shoulder.  “Get tae,” she huffs, but then turns to see what Sebastian is looking at and she has to clap her hand over her mouth to keep from wailing.  She does wave maniacally, though.  “Bash, Haleigha’s here.”  She slaps his shoulder with one hand while continuing to wave at her friend.

Sebastian chokes on his tongue.  “What?”  He still can’t take his eyes off her and when she finally looks at Anne, her blue eyes practically glow in the light, causing Sebastian’s heart in gallop at what he’s sure is an unhealthy pace.

“That’s Haleigha, dummy.”  Anne replies much too loudly, causing several people to turn their attention to the girl coming in.

Immediately Haleigha’s cheeks turn bright red and she covers her face with her hands.

Cute, Sebastian thinks, then mentally recoils.  He doesn’t think girls are cute.  Or charming.  Or devastatingly gorgeous.

Fig escorts Haleigha to the front of the Great Hall, whispers a few things to Headmistress Weasley and Headmaster Black, then finds his seat, leaving Haleigha on display.

Black opens his mouth to speak, but Weasley gives him a terrifying glare before turning her attention to Haleigha.  “No worries, now, dear.  Come sit.”

Haleigha tilts her head while analyzing the hat.  Of course, she knew of the sorting hat.  She had spent the first 9 years of her life in Scotland with all the other mini witches and wizards, but having spent all her schooling days at Ilvermorny, she’s Leary and overwhelmed.

Professor Weasley offers her a soft smile and pats the stool.  Haleigha takes a deep breath, sits, and waits.

‘Hm,’ a low voice hums in her head.  ‘Quite a bit older than the rest, but not new to our world.  We’re a long way from America.  Brave, you are, for starting over and determined to prove your place.  Sharp mind with a gentle heart.  Your friend is a Slytherin, but as much as you want to be with her, you want to do the work and make your own friends.  You wouldn’t mind continuing your mother’s legacy in Hufflepuff, which is good since your heart does, in fact, belong in’, “Hufflepuff!”  

The yellow and black table jumps up with cheers and praise and welcoming hugs.  A girl that looks about her age, grabs her hand.  “I’m Poppy.  Anne is one of my closest friends, she hasn’t stopped talking about your arrival.”

Haleigha trails behind Poppy in a daze.  “You know me?”

Poppy offers a warm smile.  “I know your name and they did announce it to everyone.”

Haleigha rolls her eyes.  “Of course.”

Once the sorting ceremony is completely finished and all announcements have been made, including finally reinstating Quidditch, the feast appears on the tables and Haleigha stares in amazement.  “It was never like this.”

Poppy chuckles.  “It is a bit indulgent.”  She reaches for the platter of meat.  “You eat meat or no?”

Haleigha nods, “I definitely do.”

Poppy places a thick slice of beef on Haleigha’s plate.  “The roast is the best.  I’m always craving it.”  Haleigha thanks her and tries to decide what other food she wants, while Poppy continues.  “What’s Ilvermorny like?  Do they have houses?”

Haleigha’s eyes light up.  “They do, I was in Wampus, but I think ‘houses’ is where the similarities end.  Ilvermorny is not this grand and not just the castle, in general, it’s not over the top and lavish.  It doesn’t feel like old magic, like Hogwarts does.”

Poppy continues to ask a few more questions about Haleigha’s old school, while Anne pulls Sebastian by his collar to join her in bombarding Haleigha.

The two Hufflepuffs are laughing amongst themselves when Anne taps Haleigha’s shoulder.  

Immediately Haleigha jumps up, tripping on the bench only slightly, and throws her arms around Anne.  “I missed you,” she mumbles into Anne’s neck.

“I’m so happy we get to spend our last year together.” Anne vibrates with excitement.  “We’re required to go to our rooms after this for classes tomorrow, but if you meet me here early, I’ll help you figure out where everything is.”

Poppy yips happily.  “I’ll make sure she’s here and is taken care of tonight…”

Poppy continues to talk, but it all fades to a quiet din to Haleigha.  She finally notices the other Sallow twin, standing behind Anne looking painfully bored.  All she wants is to hug Sebastian, the memory of his warmth and playfulness something she always held onto.  So, she indulges, pushing past Anne and jumping into Sebastian’s arms.  

He’s caught off guard, having spent the whole feast determinedly not looking in Haleigha’s direction.  Even still, he catches her easily to keep her from falling.

“Sebastian,” she says quietly, a teasing light in her eye.  “Remember me?”

He clenches his teeth for just a moment, catching any reaction he may have had to the way his name sounds on her lips.  He smirks, coolly and confidently replies.  “Of course, who would forget you?”

Haleigha shakes out her hair and it wafts into Sebastian’s face, the subtle scent of apples, books, and fire catches him off guard and her soft, little giggle makes all the progress Sebastian’s done to tame himself obsolete.  “You’re such a liar.  Good news is, I won’t let you forget me ever again.”

He gently places her back on solid ground, mildly desperate to get away from her.  “What fool would be able to forget you?”

She laughs at his self deprecation and gently shoves his arm.  “The biggest fool of all, obviously.”

Sebastian swallows, thickly, his throat far too dry and scratchy.  He likes being the reason she laughed far too much.  “Obviously.”  He takes a step back, then stops to look at Haleigha again.  “Just so we’re clear, I never forgot you, I just didn’t recognize you.”

“I’ll forgive you this time, Sallow.  A lot can happen in 8 years.”  She presses her lips into a small smile then turns her back to him completely to continue talking to Poppy and Anne.  

👀A - Attractive - what do they find attractive about their partner? Sebastian’s a complete sucker for you, everything draws him in and distracts him. One of his favorite things you do is duel, even if you don’t like it, you’re good at it, and it never ceases to amaze him.

👣B - Body - what is their favourite part of their partner’s body? Sebastian’s favorite part of you is the crook of your neck, your pulse point. He nuzzles in whenever you hug and gets a deep catch of your scent, all of that together makes him feel very comfortable and safe and the longer he’s allowed to stay there the longer he feels loved.

🫂C - Cuddle - how do they like to cuddle? Full body cuddles. Doesn’t necessarily matter if he’s on top crushing you or if you’re on top or side by side as long as you’re touching everywhere possible and limbs are probably intertwined. The boy is starved for affection and once he gets a true taste, he can’t get enough. He’s shameless. Cuddles aren’t just for bedtime as far as he’s concerned. Class lecture? His lap is free. Meal time? He’ll happily feed you. Dueling? He’s got two hands…ok, maybe he’ll let you go for dueling.

📅D - Dates - what does their ideal date look like? He likes being active and he’s mischievous, so exploring somewhere restricted is always a good day to him. But so is reading passages of each other’s favorite books by the fireplace. Depends on his mood, how much time you’ve had together recently, and the weather.

🟰E - Equal - are they the dominant one in the relationship, or rather passive? He’s not passive, but he doesn’t want you to be passive either. He also loves a good argument and making up. (🔞 In the bedroom he tends to be more D, but toes the switch line for whatever your needs are.)

🥊F - Fight - would they find it easy to forgive their partner? how are they fighting? He’s hot headed and doesn’t think nearly quick enough for his words. He also misunderstands easily and before figuring out what was meant, jumps to the worst conclusion. But he’s learned that he needs a lot of forgiveness so maybe he should forgive a lot. There are a few things he won’t forgive. Abuse of any kind done to anyone or anything. Any harm done to those closest to him.

🎁G - Gifts - how do they feel about gift giving? what are their habits when it comes to this?   He loves getting and giving, but having grown up more meager, it isn’t usually his first thought.  Does begin to pick up wildflowers and potion ingredients randomly as he explores.

🤝H - Holding Hands - when / how do they like to hold hands? Death grip. All the time. Everywhere.

🩹I - Injury ( how would they act if their partner got hurt? ) Depends on the injury and on how you act. If you act a little dramatic to get attention but it was clearly nothing serious and no one did it to you, he’d play along.  If it was serious, no matter how you acted he’d be a bit of a wreck, seeking aid immediately and doing whatever he could to fix it. You are either his last or almost last remaining family and he’s had to watch everyone die and suffer. It brings out his trauma response. He can’t lose you. He can’t.  And if someone else hurt you-they better watch their backs. Sebastian will not hesitate to use an Unforgiveable to avenge his love even if he’s put the Dark Arts behind him.  If they somehow managed to survive, they’d beg for death.

😤J - Jealousy - do they get jealous easily? how do they deal with it? A bit. Especially if you give attention to another man. He struggles with being deserving of your love. He thinks you can do better and will one day realize that. So yeah, he can get a bit jealous, but he doesn’t tend to act petty about it. Much.

💋K - Kisses - how do they like to kiss their partner? His favorite are the long slow ones where he can taste each part of your mouth. But every kind has a time and place and he’ll take any kiss at any time.

💕L - Love Language - what’s their love language? Physical touch. Nothing else to say. Physical touch.

🌞M - Mornings - how are mornings spent with them?  Usually sleeping. He’s a night owl and doesn’t like to get woken up early. If he is woken up, he stays in bed as long as possible.

🌜N - Nights - how are nights spent with them? Reading, cuddling, being intimate, sometimes exploring.  It’s when he likes being the most active.

🔓O - Open - when would they start revealing things about themselves? how would they do it? Before he even begins courting. He feels so comfortable around you he spills more secrets than he means to.

🤗P - PDA - how comfortable are they with pda? Very. Loves it. Loves showing off his love. Doesn’t care if he makes anyone annoyed or if he’ll get in trouble.

🤪Q - Quirk - what is a random ability that helps the relationship? His charm makes it difficult to stay angry at him for too long.  But that’s also annoying because sometimes you want to stay mad.

🌹R - Romance - how romantic are they? cliche or creative? Not overly too much of anything. He enjoys doting, just because he thinks you deserve it, but he doesn’t try to be romantic. He does things because he’s thinking of you or wants to keep you safe.

🔐S - Security - how protective are they? Very. Overly. Stifling. But after losing his entire family and himself for a while, it’s understandable.

🎙️T - Talking - what do they like to talk about? Everything. He’s very cerebral. Sometimes he’ll just drop random facts: “did you know lemons float but limes sink?” “The lead roof of St. Paul’s Cathedral melted during the Great Fire of London causing a molten river.”

💭U - Understanding - how well do they know their partner? He knows you better than he knows anyone else. He strives to know all he can and he puts that knowledge to practical use.  He doesn’t always understand your reasoning, but he learns to trust you.

📣V - Vaunt - what are they proud of? do they like to show their partner off? Sebastian thinks you are incredible, he is proud of all your accomplishments, probably even more so than you are. Not only he is proud of who you are, but he loves showing you off on his arm.

🧩W - Whole - would they feel incomplete without their partner?  Before meeting you, he hadn’t realized he was missing anything, other than his parents and his sick twin. Once he met you, he knew nearly immediately you’d be his, there was no other option. He wasn’t in love, although you were by far the most enchanting person he’d ever seen. He just knew, so once he’d officially locked you in, he became well aware of what complete and incomplete felt like.

💘X - XOXO - are they affectionate? Sebastian’s affection can sometimes be suffocating. He lacks personal space when comes to you and when he’s having a particularly bad day or feeling lonely or guilty or missing his family he’s even more affectionate.

☹️Y - Yearning - how well do they cope when they’re separated from their partner? Sebastian can usually cope decently well for a few hours, a day of school with meeting for lunch. Much longer than that and the intrusive thoughts start. He can usually keep his anxieties tamed for another day before he has to find you, or at the very least hear from you.  The older he gets, the better he gets at handling his fear of losing you. Still, if for any reason you  two can’t spend the night together, he asks you keep him updated.  If you become pregnant, he rarely lets you out of his sight unless completely necessary. It gets to the point that you go to the bathroom just to have some peace.

💤Z - Zzz - what are some sleeping habits of theirs?  He’s a terrible sleeper. He usually reads until well into the morning. Once he decides to go to sleep and his head hits the pillow, he’s falls asleep almost immediately, is a bear to wake up.  He usually doesn’t need more than a handful of hours of sleep to be rested if given the chance to sleep as long as he wants.  Unless he’s having nightmares, he sleeps soundly and deeply.  He’s hot, whether anyone is next to him or not, he heats up. He won’t sweat, but he warms up anyone in bed with him.  He doesn’t usually like too many covers unless he’s sick. He hates pajamas but has learned to use them because of roommates, but he will sleep with as little clothing as possible.  

divider by @cafekitsune

Blank:

🥰Fluff Alphabet🥰 👀A - Attractive - what do they find attractive about their partner?

👣B - Body - what is their favourite part of their partner’s body?

🫂C - Cuddle - how do they like to cuddle?

📅D - Dates - what does their ideal date look like?

🟰E - Equal - are they the dominant one in the relationship, or rather passive?

🥊F - Fight - would they find it easy to forgive their partner? how are they fighting?

🎁G - Gifts - how do they feel about gift giving? what are their habits when it comes to this?  

🤝H - Holding Hands - when / how do they like to hold hands?

🩹I - Injury ( how would they act if their partner got hurt? )

😤J - Jealousy - do they get jealous easily? how do they deal with it?

💋K - Kisses - how do they like to kiss their partner?

💕L - Love Language - what’s their love language?

🌞M - Mornings - how are mornings spent with them? 

🌜N - Nights - how are nights spent with them?

🔓O - Open - when would they start revealing things about themselves? how would they do it?

🤗P - PDA - how comfortable are they with pda?

🤪Q - Quirk - what is a random ability that helps the relationship?

🌹R - Romance - how romantic are they? cliche or creative?

🔐S - Security - how protective are they?

🎙️T - Talking - what do they like to talk about?

💭U - Understanding - how well do they know their partner?

📣V - Vaunt - what are they proud of? do they like to show their partner off?

🧩W - Whole - would they feel incomplete without their partner? 

💘X - XOXO - are they affectionate?

☹️Y - Yearning - how well do they cope when they’re separated from their partner?

I think I’m going to throw up. I’ve never been so nervous in my life. In reality, I’m not sure I’ve ever actually been nervous at all. But in this moment, my entire life is in the hands of a stunning little witch. 

Loving her has been the easiest thing I’ve ever done, the best thing I’ve ever done. I knew she was different the moment I saw her storm into the Great Hall like a hurricane. I knew I was her the moment she dropped me on my arse without breaking a sweat in our first class together. I knew she loved me just as fiercely as I loved her the moment she kept my darkest secret. 

I knew Anne and Ominis were displeased with me, to say the least. But this girl fought tooth and nail to keep me from Azkaban. Not only did I love her irrevocably, I owed her every breath I took. She’s also the catalyst for my reconciliation with Anne. She is everything. 

I told her the day Anne’s curse was lifted that I was going to take her on a proper date, and not in catacombs with undead crawling around us. 

She merely smirked at me, flipped her hair, and said, “you better.”

I fumbled through our relationship, not from nerves but sheer stupidity. I kept my foot firmly lodged in my mouth and my knees bruised from my constant groveling. I truly can’t believe her patience, she’s a saint. And maybe mildly masochistic.   

Even the night I asked her to formerly and legally tie her life to mine, my nerves weren’t this out of control. 

This moment is the culmination of everything and she has all the power. If she wanted to ruin me, now would be the perfect moment.  

I pull at my necktie, unable to breathe, a cold sweat dampening my hair line. 

Ominis lets himself into my room without knocking or any notice. “We’re ready for you.”

I nod but don’t move. I’m frozen, paralyzed by a stifling fear that I won’t be enough. My veins feel like ice has been pumped into them and a dread fills my chest. 

Ominis smacks my back hard. “Stop. She chose you. Don’t sabotage yourself now.”

I nod again, dumbly. “Yes, she’s choosing to give herself to me. She’s not running.”

Ominis guides me to the front of the church. She insisted on a church and I can’t refuse her anything. 

It feels like I’m waiting forever and the irrational fear that she’s figured out that I’m the worst choice she could make begins to make another appearance. 

The moment before I run down the aisle in panic, I see her. Her beautiful smile, her bright eyes filled with love, her obvious excitement. I feel a weight lifted off my chest and close my eyes in relief. 

I open them, not to find my blushing bride joyfully coming to me, but covered in blood and gore, her stare filled with hate. I turn to Ominis to check if he’s seeing this, but he’s glaring at me with a sadistic smile I’ve never seen on him. I look to Anne, but she’s not there. At all. Solomon is, though, pointing his wand at me. “Anne is dead because of you, you couldn’t let it go.”

I stumble back a bit but gentle hands grab my biceps. “What is it,” Ominis’s cool, calm, level headed voice whispers. 

I prepare to scream at him. How can he not realize that none of this is ok? Before I can utter a sound, I see his worried expression. Then look to Solomon, but Anne is there giving me an annoyed expression. Finally I look back at my anchor and she’s there, just as lovely as always, not a drop of blood marring her pure dress. 

“Nothing. Nothing,” I mumble to Ominis. I try to choke back the lingering fear. That was entirely unwelcome. 

I’m shaking as my beloved reaches me. Her smile soft and slightly mocking. “Were you off dueling, darling?” She sasses me as she fixes the tie I’d loosened earlier. 

“Not today, love. You’re my sole focus. Perhaps, tomorrow?” I link our fingers. 

She blushes fiercely, that’s just a beautiful shade on her cheeks. “We might be otherwise preoccupied.”

I throw my head back and laugh, I don’t care about the ogling guests or the impatient pastor glaring. This is our day, it will be done in our way. “Preoccupied with you sounds far better than any duel.”

She bats her pretty eyes at me and looks at me coyly from under her lashes.  Are we married yet? The desire to claim her as mine is quickly turning into a distracting need. 

The ceremony is relatively quick. I’ve nearly forgotten that unnerving vision from before, until I lean in to kiss my new wife and blood trickles down her chin. I shake my head to rid myself of that sight and everything is right again. 

The moment we step out of the chapel, I’m dragging her behind the building to apparate her to a small little house near Hogwarts.  

“Sebastian,” she scolds. “What are you doing?”

I smirk at her. “Giving you a gift then claiming what’s mine.”

Her cheeks again flush that color I love. “W-what gift?”

I wave my hands to the cottage. “Anne and I sold the Feldcroft home. You and I can begin our life here.”

Her jaw drops and eyes widen. “You bought me a house?”

I grin, pleased by her reaction. “I couldn’t let my new wife sleep outside.”

She sputters a little then throws her arms around me. 

I pick her up to take her into our new home and she squeals in delight. “Welcome home, my love.” 

As soon as we step into the house, a chilling wind slams the door and thunder rumbles while freezing rain pours and the windows frost over. 

“What the…?”  I glance out the window. It had just been beautiful, sunny, and warm. Now it’s so cold I can feel it seep in through the closed window. 

“Sebastian?” My wife’s sultry voice brings my attention back to her. “We have a party to get to.”

I grin wolfishly at her. “My love, the party will have to wait.” I stalk after her. She steps back pretending to be fearful. “You have something I want.”

“What’s that, darling?”  She tilts her head as she eyes me. 

I undo my tie but keep it around my neck. I softly trail my fingers down her cheek. “Your innocence. We won’t be leaving this house until you are officially mine.”

We never actually make it to the party, which is just fine by me. I have my favorite person with me, why would I want to waste precious moments with her on anyone else?

Occasionally through out the evening, a draft from the outside would come in and chill me so deeply I couldn’t move. It never lasted as my wife was much more interesting than some strange, dreary weather. 

I’ve got her wrapped tightly in my arms, so I waken when she slips out of the bed.  

The cold slips in, freezing the air in the bedroom. I attempt to light a fire but a wind tamps it out just as my wife comes back. She stands next to me, so I look up her soft, curves to find her sneering at me. 

“Whatever made you think you were worth my time?”  Her voice is hard, disconnected, her eyes emotionless as she slits her own throat. 

I stand so quickly I get dizzy and trip as I pull her into my arms. But instead of the horror of being covered in her blood, her sweet giggles fill my ear. “Darling, what’s gotten into you?”

I lean back so I can properly see her. Her look of love, patience, and desire is back and her throat is as pristine as always. “I…thought I saw something.”

“Silly boy.” She presses her lips to mine and urges me back to bed. “There’s plenty you can see.”

I growl quietly as I crawl over her body. “Love, are you sure?” I press a kiss to her jaw. “Are you not sore?”

She threads her fingers in my hair and arches against me. “Slightly, but not enough to turn you away.”

I swallow thickly then claim her lips. 

Even though the heat of our bodies feels like an inferno, I suddenly feel a chill run down my spine and not in a good way. 

I look down at my wife only to find I’m somehow alone. I flip onto my butt to scan the bedroom, only we’re not in our bedroom. We’re in the catacombs. 

Inferi swarm me. I stumble to my feet so I can grab my wand, my sole concern protecting my wife. Except I don’t see her anywhere. What I do see turns me colder than even the strange weather. 

Anne, pale, thin, shambling on decaying legs. I’m completely immobilized. This isn’t possible. I can’t move, so when Anne swipes at me, deep gashes appear on my cheek.  Warm sticky blood leaks down my cheek and neck. The pain pulls me out of my shock enough to dodge another inferius beside me. 

My lungs burn from the inability to breathe and the smoke from the fire. I hold my breath and pinch my eyes shut, praying that I’ll be back in bed with my wife, not in this hellscape. 

But I am still here, the angry gurgling from the inferi getting closer again. An ear splitting scream forces me into motion and I finally start blasting these inferi to a permanent death. Not the Anne inferius, not that one. 

I make it to my wife, inferi cover her, clawing at her, no matter how many times I cast confringo it doesn’t do anything. I resort to throwing them off her. It’s too late, there’s a gaping wound in her neck spurting blood. I press my hands over the wound with one hand while I struggle to grab my wand to cast a healing spell. 

She opens and closes her mouth as if she’s trying to say something to me. 

“Stay with me, ok, I’ll fix you.” I sob. 

She weakly grabs for my arm and motions for me to come closer. I brush some hair out of her face. She scratches at my chest. “I…” blood dribbles from her lips, but she doesn’t seem to care. “I should’ve…turned…” She takes a deep, shuddering, painful breath, straining to tell me this important message. “You in.”

I couldn’t have heard her correctly.  My heart cracks at the thought that she could regret me. Before I can say anything else or confirm what she meant a bright green light flashes by my head. The light in my love’s eyes is immediately extinguished. 

“This is your fault,” a familiar threatening voice says. Solomon glares at me. “Look around at the mess you’ve made.”

Ice crackles along the catacomb walls, the cold soaking in so deep I can barely move. Everywhere I look, I see the bodies of the people I love, cold and lifeless. My parents, Anne, Ominis, my love. 

I need to wake up. I need this to end. I rub the heels of my palms into my eyes, praying this ends. 

I feel even more cold, but I force my eyes open. And I am no longer in the catacombs. I am somewhere far worse. I know that this is my reality. Not the catacombs, not my wedding, this. This endless nothingness. My only reprieve the dreams my mind tries to convince me are real. 

Cold stabs at the back of my neck. I know what I’m going to see before I look. Deformed, disembodied, damned.  Creatures with a bottomless appetite for human souls. Tattered scraps of what may have once been a soul. 

Bitter tears pour down my face. Not for where I am but for what I could’ve had. That’s my favorite dream, even though the dementors ruined it this time with their starving presence. I try to stay in that dream as long as possible before the dementors taint it with nightmares. 

The reality isn’t much better. No, my love didn’t turn me in, she begged Anne and Ominis to spare me, she even came to my hearing. 

No amount of begging changed my sister’s mind. She turned me in and didn’t cast a glance at me as they carried me to Azkaban. Ominis didn’t even come. 

Haleigha and I planned our presentation on the Imperius Curse as well as possible. We decided to enact a quick play to demonstrate what overcoming the curse may look like and then a detailed presentation of the steps needed to fortify our minds. 

Hecat calls us first and my palms begin to sweat. Haleigha said she wanted to pretend to go under the curse. We both decided I wouldn’t tell her what I planned on making her do, for a more realistic performance.  I promised I wouldn’t ask her to do something embarrassing, but otherwise she said she didn’t care. I still haven’t a clue what I’m going to have her do and I’ve got mere seconds to figure it out. 

Haleigha explains what the Imperius Curse is, what it does, and how to tell if anyone is under the curse.  “It’s very difficult to tell. If the curse is cast properly, there aren’t any visible tells. Only a suspicion if someone is acting unlike themselves. Sometimes if the curse is done poorly or someone is resisting, there’s a slight glaze to their eyes. Even that isn’t a guarantee. If you’re suspicious that someone may be under it, it’s best to tell someone. Make sure to pay attention to the people closest to you and learning how to fight the curse yourselves is the greatest weapon against it.”

She glances at me. I think I’m supposed to say something but my head is entirely empty. 

Haleigha’s lips purse then she turns back to the class. “Since we can’t cast the curse, we’re going to act out how someone may react when under it, how someone may fight it, then explain the process.”  She looks at me again, eyes wide and questioning. 

As soon as I raise my wand, she relaxes slightly, which is the opposite reaction she should have, even if she knows I would never hurt her. “Imperio.” I make the right movements but don’t put any meaning behind my words. Immediately, she relaxes visibly for the class, but I can see the vibrant spark in her eye, the tell that my girl is still lucid. 

A chair dragging harshly against the floor steals my attention. Garreth is standing, leaning over his desk like he’s about to leap over it, his hands placed firmly on top, a sneer clear on his face. 

His reaction raises my hackles. Does he really think I’d do something to hurt her? Damn barbarian. His possessive stance and the reminder of his not so thinly veiled threat at the beginning of this assignment turn me petty. 

I know exactly what I’m going to make her do. I should feel bad. This only proves I’m a cad that never deserved her to begin with. “Kiss me,” I whisper, but at least half the class hears me because they gasp and whisper. 

Haleigha, a masterful actress, doesn’t pay them any attention and only briefly glares at me before she pulls my tie from the vest of my uniform. My mouth goes dry and I shift from foot to foot, never wavering our eye contact. Is she actually going to do this? I wouldn’t blame her if she slapped me, even I know I’m crossing a line. In actuality, I’ve taken a running leap over a line, the line, all the lines. 

My breath becomes ragged when I grasp her waist in my hands. I slowly lean down, terrified that she’ll pull away, but just as unnerved that she’ll kiss me in front of her current boyfriend. She pushes herself up on the tips of her toes and I hear an angry growl from across the room. I know it’s Garreth but I’ve got the most lovely woman in my hands; he gets absolutely none of my attention. 

We’re so close, her breath washes over my lips, making me pull her closer to me. I lift one hand from her waist to brush hair away from her face and cup her cheek. 

It’s a soft kiss, but it can’t be described as a small kiss. Almost immediately her tongue brushes my bottom lip and I’m done for. I pull her closer still and her hands go to my hair. There’s a slight hum of voices but none of that matters when I can taste Haleigha on my tongue. 

A sharp, violent tug separates us and Hecat’s displeased eyes meet mine. “Is kissing your partner really apart of your presentation?”

I look at Haleigha, lips slightly swollen, eyes full of unshed tears, her hands covering her face. The look that Garreth is giving both Haleigha and me makes me hate myself just a little more.  Of course I want to kiss her and of course I want to rub it in Garreth’s face, but why do I keep hurting this beautiful, innocent woman?

“Actually, it is.”  I speak loudly enough for the whole class to hear but I look at Hecat because I can’t stand the judgement in my classmates eyes or the pain in Haleigha’s. “I had to make her do something that she would absolutely loathe, to show how much control the Imperius Curse has over someone.”

Hecat raises an eyebrow, clearly not completely believing my story, but not willing to call me out either. “Proceed.”

I make eye contact with Haleigha, she’s stopped crying even though her face is still red. She slowly walks to me and manages to sidestep Garreth as he reaches for her. 

“Professor,” Garreth snaps. “Shouldn’t you put a stop to this? It’s inappropriate.”

Hecat looks bored with Garreth. “This is their presentation, Master Weasley.  If you and Master Prewitt have to kiss for your presentation, I’ll allow that, as well.”

The entire class snickers as both Garreth and Leander blush profusely. 

Once Haleigha stands directly in front of me, I hold her face in my hands and try to portray with my eyes how sorry I am for being so selfish. I don’t know if she gets the message or not. 

I take a deep breath. “Kiss me,” I whisper. I know she can’t, but damn, I’m desperate for her to kiss me again. 

Her fingers inch up my chest, her breath is choppy as she rises to her toes again. I lean in, my mouth watering for another taste. I dip my head as I tilt hers up to mine and slot my lips against hers, so close, with every breath we take our lips graze just slightly. She tightens her fists in my vest and pulls me minutely closer and I’m prepared for her to actually kiss me again, even though she’ll have no excuse because this time she’s supposed to fight Imperio, she whimpers so quietly I know I’m the only one that heard, then she shoves me away from her as hard as she can. I’m so lost in her eyes and our almost kiss that I’m unprepared for her strength and stumble into a desk, the corner jabbing my thigh so hard I hiss. 

Haleigha’s eyes turn remorseful, but just as she takes a step towards me, Garreth pulls her into his arms. Watching him pat her head and ask if she’s ok, as if I’d actually cast an Unforgiveable on her, is even more painful than the desk.  Then I remember I have, in fact, cast multiple curses on her and part of me wishes she would just run away from me with Garreth.

Garreth doesn’t let Haleigha out of his hold for the remainder of class, so I finish explaining how Haleigha and I built huge walls to protect our minds from a curse like this, similar yet entirely different from Occlumency. 

Hecat awards us an A on the spot for all our hard work and doesn’t call me back when I walk out of class before it ends. 

The following week I don’t know exactly what to do with myself.  I’ve been spending so much time with Haleigha that now, without her, I’m lost.

I’m laying in my bed on a Saturday afternoon, when Ominis comes into our room.  I don’t think he’d been expecting me.  “I thought you’d be with Haleigha.”

I sigh, heavily.  “Our project is over.”

“Come on.”  He pulls me up by my sweater.  “A bunch of us are going to play Summoner’s Court.”

I shuffle my boots behind him.  “I don’t want to play Summoner’s Court.”  Merlin’s beard, I sound like a whiny toddler.

“Quit acting petulent,” he demands.

I grumble under my breath, but graciously he ignores me.

After losing three games in a row, I want to give up.  I’m not having fun and I seem to be taking away everyone else’s fun as well.  

Ominis snorts to himself.  “You’ll be on your way soon.”

I don’t have long to wonder why he said that because a little butterfly made of paper lands on my shoulder. 

If you are free, come to my Room.

-H

I almost don’t go because I’m positive she didn’t mean this note for me, but on the off chance she did, I say farewell to everyone I’ve been playing Summoner’s Court with and make my way to Haleigha’s Room.  I happen to pass Garreth racing brooms with Imelda and Everette. I can feel a hole being burned into my back.

When I get to the Room, Haleigha is playing a game of keep away with Jack by levitating a shiny, silver ball just out of his reach.  Jack notices me at once and claws his way up to sit on my shoulder where he chitters.  I don’t speak niffler, but he seems annoyed with Haleigha, who’s trying to hide her laughter.

I accio the ball away from Haleigha, catch it, and offer it to Jack. He takes it from me, puts it in his pouch, then runs back down my body to, I can only assume, tell Haleigha how unhappy he is with her before running to his nest.

Haleigha glares at me.  “Traitor.”

I chuckle and offer my hand to help her off the ground, which she takes.  “Did you mean that note for me?”

She looks terribly offended.  “Do you really think I would mistakenly send a note meant for someone else to you?”  She clutches her heart, dramatically.  “You wound me, Sebastian.”

“My apologies.”  I bend my head in a sort of bow, then raise my eyes to hers with a grin that she returns with a beautiful smile.  “Why did you ask for me?”

She sighs.  “I wanted company.”

“Why not your boyfriend?”  I don’t mean to fill the last word with as much hate as I do.

Haleigha looks away from me and bites her lip before answering.  “I adore Garreth, I do.”  She says this a lot.  I’m beginning to wonder if it’s the truth or if she’s trying to make herself believe it.  “He’s sweet and fun, but sometimes I need both quiet and company. He’s not very good for both.”

I try not to laugh at her.  “But I am?  Constantly moving, always getting you into trouble, forever frustrating you.”

“You can be quiet and even though we do tend to find ourselves in unsanctioned places, you are capable of relaxing.”  She sits at the table where her chess set sits.  “Play with me?”

“Of course.”  I cast a spell to start her phonograph.  “Is music quiet enough?”

She doesn’t bother to answer me and instead moves her king side knight to 3F.  

I’m sure we play for hours, but it feels like she beats me within minutes.  

I cast reparo on her board, then brush some of her hair behind her ear.  “Nicely done.”  I don’t want to leave her yet, but I realize she may be ready to reunite with her real life.  “Are you ready for me to leave?  I can get Garreth…”

“Are you so tired of me,” she pouts.

I answer her honestly.  “I’ll never tire of you, kitten.”

“You can do whatever you want, I want to start this new book I purchased.”  She waves said book before me then trots off to the hidden spot  behind one of her vivariums where she likes to read.

Of course I follow her, I’d follow her anywhere.  Besides, now I want to know what book she plans to read.  I ask as such while I peruse her shelves for something to read myself.  I grab a random book off her shelf that the title has faded from the spine.  I crack it open, and it naturally flips to a page.  Between the pages are pressed leaves from the lacewing fly bush.  Are these the same ones I gave to her on our first trip to Hogsmeade?  A gentle warmth spreads through me at the thought, so I gently close the book and place it where I found it.

“The Adventures of Tom Sawyer,” she tells me what she’s reading.  “Have you read it?”

I grab ‘The Raven and Other Poems’ by Edgar Allan Poe off her shelf then go sit next to her.  “I have, actually.  I quite enjoyed it.  Felt a sort of kinship with his friend, Huckleberry Finn.”

“I’ll be sure to keep that in mind.”  She opens the book, making it clear it’s time for me to stop talking so she can read.

She throws a blanket over both of us, scootches up close to me, and pulls over a foot stool for both of us.  

I’m well passed ‘The Raven’ by the time I feel Haleigha rest her head on my shoulder and I’m in the middle of ‘Tamerlane’ when ‘Tom Sawyer’ falls to the floor.  I check on Haleigha to make sure she’s ok, which she is, she’s merely fallen asleep.  I move closer so I can rest her head in my lap and continue reading.  Once I finish my book of poems, I accio Haleigha’s book from the floor, and levitate it so I can read and play with Haleigha’s hair at the same time.

This is the most at peace I think I’ve ever been.  I’m not afraid of my uncle or Anne’s curse or goblins; I’m relaxed, at ease, and enjoying these quiet moments.  

Haleigha wakes up just in time for curfew, so I make sure she gets to her room safely.  “Thank you for spending the day with me,” I whisper, still not quite ready to leave her.

“I guess I got used to spending all my time with you.”  She plays with my fingers while she speaks, refusing eye contact.  “I didn’t know what to do with myself.”

“I know the feeling.”  

Her cheeks turn the sweetest shade of pink.  “Good night, Sebastian.”

-Sebastian is incredibly insecure. His confidence is mostly an act so people can’t see how desperate he really is for love and affection. He tried not to let his uncle’s constant ridicule affect him, but it does. He thinks he’s an annoyance and terrified that the people he loves will realize how useless he is. 

-He is fluent in several languages including Latin and Scottish Gaelic. His Father would speak Scots around the house all the time, so after he died it was a comfort to Sebastian but Solomon hated it and beat it out of him. Even though he can still understand and speak it, he rarely does because it causes trauma flashbacks. But when he’s very comfortable and relaxed or completely out of control it’ll slip out. 

-He’s all or nothing with everything. Either you’re his friend or you’re not. Either he puts effort into his classes or he doesn’t try at all. Either he is all in in a relationship or he doesn’t bother. He doesn’t do anything halfway. It’s level:obsession or not on his radar. 

👓Looks (How he looks as an adult): Tall, about 6 feet.  Refuses to grow a beard after he tried it once and swore he saw Solomon in the mirror.  Broad from playing quidditch and dueling.  Cursebreaker-leather trench coat, collar up, dueling gloves, hair very similar to Hogwarts days.  Professor/research-suspenders, sweaters, glasses, hair barely taken care of or rarely cut, he’s much more focused on classes or researching to care much about his hair. 

💼Job (What they want to be when they grow up/what they are when they grow up): Sebastian has no desire whatsoever to be an auror. All it does is remind him of his uncle and his own failures.  If Anne gets cured, he’d take that adventurous side and delve deeper into curse breaking. It would satisfy his need for adventure, mischief, curiosity, and dueling.  Regardless if Anne is cured, Sebastian will end up as a researcher or a professor. His love of books and need for stability overriding anything else, especially if he has children. He won’t want to continue living hazardously. 

🏠Home (what kind of home they have): Regardless of how much money he makes with his SO, he doesn’t long for a huge mansion. He’d like something outside a hamlet with a little more land. He enjoys manual labor and would like a small farm with animals. Location itself doesn’t matter much, as long as it isn’t Feldcroft. He’ll follow his SO anywhere. 

🧹Household Chores (What they enjoy doing around the house and what they hate): Loathes🤬- Dishes, please for Slytherin’s sake he will do any other chore 100 times if he just doesn’t have to do this one. 

Loves🤩- Outdoor work, manual labor of all kinds, farming, wood working, animal care. Fixing things.  Sweeping, he doesn’t know why, he just does. 

Lukewarm🌡️-  cooking, he’s good at it but he doesn’t get enjoyment from it.  Cleaning after meals, putting away food.  Cleaning the house. 

🩵Possible Patronus (Different possible Patronus forms): I think everybody has the possibility for different Patronuses depending on what has happened in their lives up until that point. These are Patronuses that I think would all potentially fit Sebastian, some just might be better under different circumstances. My own personal headcanon, specifically in my story, his Patronus would be a Hebridean Dragon.  I also believe with how obsessive and addictive his personality is, he’d be one whose Patronus would change after falling in love. So ultimately his Patronus is what his love’s animagus/Patronus is.  Black Bear- Common traits seen in black bears are cleverness, resourcefulness, adaptability, protectiveness, gentleness, and many are free spirited. Black bears are often seen as frightening and dangerous, but in reality tend to have a very sweet side that they try to keep hidden.  Dragon- Passion, ambition, instinct, impulsive, fury, power, and dominance are main traits of a dragon and they’re often associated with fire. They can be temperamental and impulsive, but that’s what causes them to be fearful and respected. Dragons are fiercely protective and strong. They will face any challenge, even if violence is necessary.  They have good instincts, rarely regretting their decisions, and tend to keep their emotions encased tightly which could make them seem cold. They are natural leaders that don’t tend to back down when challenged. They have a strong sense of their own morals and stand firm in their convictions.  Fox- Cunning, resourceful, intelligent, (can be) manipulative, charming, and a bit of a trickster are the most commonly seen traits in foxes. Although, independent at heart, foxes are social creatures. They are playful, mischievous, brilliantly charismatic, able to speak to any and everyone and seamlessly blend in and adapt to any conversation or environment. They’re also very unlikely to sacrifice their personal beliefs for any reason.  Irish Wolfhound-  They’re traits are power, swiftness, gentleness, reliability, intelligence, and a wee bit of dopiness. They are often associated with hunting, guarding, and the after-life. They are seen as an imposing force and can be extremely aggressive, especially when protecting loved ones. Underneath all that fierceness is sweetness and a deep loyalty.  Runespoor- Intelligent, ferocious thinkers, cunning, resourceful, and complex.  The runespoor is a three headed serpent, each head having a different purpose. Looking at the snake, from left to right, the planner, the dreamer, the critic. Together, they use their wits to outsmart enemies and sense danger from far away.  Often the critic will hiss continuously, causing the other two heads to attack and bite the third head off. Shortly after the runespoor would die. This symbolizes life, not all plans lead to good outcomes, not all dreams should be dreamt. The critic is needed to be kept on the right path and grow. All three heads are needed to live and work together. The wizard or witch that learns to thrive with their critic becomes wise and brings greatness to their name.  Vulture- Traits of a vulture are intelligence, adaptability, acceptance, resourcefulness, and dominance. Being a carrion bird, vultures are extremely efficient and are able to utilize the barest of materials. They are unafraid and unapologetic of who they are. They also tend to be willing to get their hands dirty and do what few others are willing.  

❤️ Love Languages- -He’s very needy, he needs constant reminders of love from the people closest to him. He’s starved for love and doesn’t try to hide it. 

-He’s terrified of losing the people he cares about. His boggart is related to this.

-Physical touch is his main love language to give and receive love. He’s constantly touching the people he loves. Hugs, rough housing, gentle pats, high fives for anyone celebrating. He sometimes has trouble respecting personal boundaries because of his need to constantly touch. For his s/o his touching is even more free. Holding hands, arm around shoulders while walking, carrying them around playfully, stroking their legs or back in classes together. After having been abused by his uncle for years, erasing the bad physical touch with good is important to him. His abuse is also why he’ll never raise a hand to someone he loves and why he’s slow to physical violence even though he’s strong. Striking him is one of the most painful things his s/o could do to him. 

-Words of affirmation are his second most common way to show love. He loves encouraging his friends and s/o. He knows how damaging hurtful words are and tries to lift up those around him. He’s also quick to speak without thinking and says things he regrets when he’s angry or hurt. 

-He loves presents. Gifts aren’t his main love language but he acts like a little boy whenever he gets a gift. It’s because he didn’t receive many when he was younger.  His parents died before he could remember getting many and Solomon never put effort into it. So a thoughtful gift makes him giddy. Giving gifts doesn’t come quite as naturally and he won’t get someone a gift unless they’re incredibly important to him. He didn’t grow up with a lot of money so he doesn’t automatically think of gifts for others. That’s not to say he doesn’t, picking wildflowers or drawing a picture or even playing them a song he learned just for them are more often than not gifts he’d give. 

-Quality time with his friends and s/o comes naturally since he’s an extrovert. Growing up around introverts he always felt like he was annoying the people around him, so when someone makes it clear they like his company it’s makes him feel more secure. He doesn’t have to do anything, just being around someone reading quietly or working on different projects is enough. 

-Acts of service aren’t something he pays much attention to. He’d rather do work, chores, and responsibilities himself than have help from others. He is happy to help others but it’s more because he doesn’t like being bored than consciously doing something out of love. 

🐍MBTI/Alignment -There’s plenty of controversy over this but in my headcanon he’s an ENTP-A, the debater.  (Other debaters include Weird Al, Adam Savage, Mark Twain, Tom Hanks, Thomas Edison, Captain Jack Sparrow, Tyrion Lannister, the Joker, Jim Halpert, Dr. Emmett Brown)

-Extrovert or introvert-Extrovert.  He loves being around others and gets energy from their energy. When he’s alone for too long he’s gets stuck inside his head and tends to overthink or lose track of time. He enjoys group activities and team sports. His charm and charisma draw people to him. 

-Observant or intuition-Intuition. He’s very open minded and non judgmental. He accepts everyone until they give him a reason not to (like pure blood status). Whether or not he agrees with your life style, he’s very much “to each their own”, he’s not in any position to determine how others should live. He’s very curious and mischievous, not afraid to break rules if it gets him what he thinks he should have. He also doesn’t believe anything should be not allowed if it doesn’t cause direct harm. Knowledge is power. 

-Thinking or feeling. Thinking. As far as Anne is concerned, he’s become desperate and has let his feelings overpower him, but as a general rule he thinks things through, and is aware of consequences. He enjoys learning about everything. He has a distinct moral code from years of taking in knowledge and doesn’t tend to waver from it.  He enjoys deep conversation and difficult questions and will often take an opposite views for the sake of getting more insight into an idea or person. 

-Judging or perceiving. Perceiving. He can go with the flow and doesn’t need lists or schedules, which can be bad because he may wait until the last minute to finish something unintentionally. He likes learning other views and lifestyles. While he doesn’t mind making plans, he also doesn’t mind if plans change. 

-Assertive or turbulent. Assertive. He’s very confident and doesn’t hesitate to go after what he wants. He also determined and doesn’t stop until he’s accomplished his goal. 

-He’s always yearning for more information, curious to a fault. That’s part of the reason Dark Arts intrigues him, it was off limits and he couldn’t fathom how any knowledge could be bad. He’s a quick thinker, always on his toes, can shift focus from one thing to the next. 

-He can be argumentative, arguing for the sake of arguing. If he feels strongly, he can become insensitive to other views and defends his thoughts to the point of being cruel. Even though he can think quickly, he finds it hard to focus on any one thing for any long period of time. He gets bored easily and fidgets constantly. 

-Sebastian enjoys active time together. Exploring caves, flying to new areas, sneaking into forbidden areas, finding hidden corridors and rooms. But he also enjoys sitting and having deep conversations next to a roaring fire, cuddles under a blanket, with a mug of butterbeer. He’s passionate and eager and willing to learn. He takes guidance well and yearns to show his s/o how they’ve improved his life. 

-Unless he feels like a situation is life or death, he enjoys being tested and pushed. He wants friends and partners that will call him out and challenge him. He rarely admits failure or that he’s wrong, but if he’s been bested he isn’t ashamed to admit it. 

-His alignment is Neutral (undecided) to Chaotic Neutral (free spirit). He isn’t as concerned with good over evil as much as he is personal liberty.  He can be unpredictable, but he isn’t random. He has distinct reasons for all his actions; most of those reasons are connected to his own moral code and what suits him best. His seemingly irrational jump into fighting goblins isn’t irrational, it’s from his desire to heal his sister and fear that he’s out of time.  ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Here is an empty 'template' if anyone wants to do the same headcanons for their characters.

💼Job (What they want to be when they grow up/what they are when they grow up)-

🏠Home (what kind of home they have)-

👓Looks (How they look as an adult)-

🧹Household Chores (What they enjoy doing around the house and what they hate)-

Loathes🤬-

Loves🤩-

Lukewarm🌡️-