#professor sallow

"Yes Professor." She sighed, slumping into her chair. Groans erupted from the class, eye rolls, mumbles under their breaths were heard throughout the room, before everybody filed out for the day.

You finally managed to get a minute to yourself in your office. Sitting down in your chair felt amazing, after being on your feet all day, running round cleaning up the first years boiled over potions. Cleaning up Miss Weasleys potions too...you would've thought Garreth would've stopped her from doing this after your strongly worded letter to him a couple of weeks ago. Going to have to do it again.

As you settled in to finish marking the 3rd years assignments. There was a very loud bang from down the hallway, faint shouting and yelling. And then a voice you recognised all too well. Sebastian Sallow. Professor of Defence against the Dark Arts. Goodness knows how he got this position.

"That's enough Mr Grastley, you too Mr Musgrove. I thought you two would know better by now than to use these spells at all! Nevermind on school property! You two should be ashamed." He shouted. "Detention. Both of you."

The two boys began arguing back with him. You stepped out of your office and headed towards them. To back up your 'fellow professor'.

"You two. Again? He should be expelling you for this. consider yourself lucky!" You said, crossing your arms, they shut up very quickly at the threat of expulsion, hurrying away.

"Thanks for the back up, but I didn't need it," He rolls his eyes at you, pushing you playfully.

"You definitely did, they were going to keep arguing with you. And we all know you can't handle arguing with people." You reply, regaining your balance. "Just accept the help every once in a while, remember I'm the potions professor, I'll get you with one of Miss Weasley's potions."

"Will you now?" He smirks, looking at you from the side. "I'm the Defence against the Dark Arts teacher, And you know me. I feel like you should be more worried."

"Okay now you're actually threatening me. Rude"

"How did I manage to get you pestering me in my office?" He was sat on your desk next to you, talking your ear off.

"Because I'm just that great." He says, pointing at the paper you're currently marking. "By the way, they misspelt that.

"Yes thank you Sebastian. I would've got that if you weren't pestering me." You put your hand up to his face, shoving him away from breathing down your neck.

"You love me pestering you, I know you." He gets closer to you again. You feel his breathing on your neck, sending a shiver down your spine.

"No I don't, its frustrating having you literally breathing down my neck!"

"Is it? Is that what's frustrating you?" He says quietly, getting closer to you, you can feel his lips trail against your neck.

"No. It's not that.." You breath, pausing your writing. And turning to face him...

"Good morning, I have a class with a Professor..." MC scanned her parchment instructions to remind herself. "...McNeath, for Magical Ancient Studies."

The older witch smiled up at her. "Ah yes, you're right on time," she said, warmly. She gave MC an apologetic look. "However, Professor McNeath has had to step down from taking the class, for personal reasons, I'm afraid. But not to worry, we have a replacement, and he is highly recommended for the role. You will now be taught by Professor Sallow, and you will be in lecture room three which is just down this hall to the left."

MC stilled, her mouth slightly parted, her fingers clutching a little tighter to her parchment letter. "I'm sorry, forgive me," she said, licking her dry lips. "You did just say, Professor Sallow, didn't you?"

"Yes, that's right," she replied. Her eyes scanned MC quickly and a worried crease appeared on her brow. "Is that a problem?"

Was it? MC felt a flutter of panic as she thought back to when she had last seen Sebastian Sallow, not long after graduation if she remembered correctly - in a bar, and they had got drunk...

They had been quite close at school, and they certainly had some dark history between them, secrets they swore they would take to their graves. But, she hadn't seen him for years. It was quite sad really how they had lost touch. She certainly hadn't known he was a professor now.

But, wasn't she getting ahead of herself here? Surely Sebastian wasn't the only living Sallow in the world, so it might not even be him. It might be some stuffy old man in a moth eaten suit for all she knew.

MC glanced down the hall in the direction the receptionist had indicated she needed to go and took a shaky breath. She managed a small smile and turned her gaze back to the witch's worried face. "No problem at all," MC said. "I'm looking forward to it."

"Oh, good. I can assure you, Professor Sallow is quite the gentleman," she said, relieved. She tapped an open book on the table. "Sign in here and then make your way to class. I hope you enjoy it."

MC felt her anxiety switch up a notch as she approached a pair of black double doors with a brass number three fixed on a plaque beside it. She hesitated and smoothed her palms over her hips, looking down at her smart skirt and blouse. She patted at her hair that was twisted up at the back of her head, a few loose strands softening her face.

She felt ridiculous worrying about her appearance. Why should she care? It wasn't going to be him.

But, what if it was?

There was only one way to find out. She pushed at the heavy, wooden door and slipped into the lecture room.

Immediately, she was impressed with the size of the room, the tall arched ceilings and grand mullioned windows made her think of Hogwarts. Her heels clicked on the stone flooring as she made her way past the rows of tables, students already seated with parchment and quill to hand. One wall was covered with huge, fully stocked bookcases, and nearer the front was a selection of chalk boards on wheels. Front and centre before the far wall was a large wooden desk, and behind it stood her new professor.

MC paused in her step. That was no old man in a moth eaten suit. Oh fuck! MC made a small strangled sound in her throat as her gaze swept over the tall figure of Sebastian Sallow.

He had matured into a fine looking man indeed. His hair was still a little unkempt, brunette locks tumbling above his forehead, but his shoulders had broadened rather fetchingly, and he had a pair of spectacles on as he read from a book on the desk in front of him. His sleeves were rolled to the elbows, his shirt a deep blue colour matched with a black vest and tie. He leant a hand against the desk, bending to pore over the book and she had a flash of memory, hours spent in the Hogwarts library with him, often by candlelight.

A memory of soft lips on her neck, warm hands on her hips...

MC cleared her throat and spotted an empty seat a few rows back and hurried towards it. She sat down and busied her hands with getting her notebook and quill ready, her fingers fumbling as she tried to open her ink.

She hadn't gone to his bed that night. It had stopped after some rather passionate kisses against her lodgings door. He had walked her home, ever the gentleman, and she had given in to her secret, desperate urges for him. Luckily, it had stopped before it got out of hand.

Luckily, or regrettably? It was an ongoing debate.

Peering across the room at Sebastian and remembering that rather fluster enducing moment had warmth creeping into her cheeks. Would he remember it? She twirled her quill in her fingers and glanced around at the other students, searching for a distraction.

There were a varied bunch of students of all ages, and MC felt a little more relaxed about that side of things. She had feared she might look out of place, but perhaps not. Her urge to return to her studies had been a strong one after two years travelling. There had been much to discover and it opened up new questions regarding ancient magical practises. She had always felt one step behind her fellow students at school having started so late, and she still felt like she had a lot to learn. Coming here to study ancient history in magic had seemed like a good place to begin, plus, she did have a head start on the subject.

Her eyes were drawn to the front of the class as Professor Sallow called for their attention, his voice a familiar sound that sent a shiver of memory through her.

Oh, for goodness sake, she was not an awkward 16 year old any longer, she was a woman grown. And, he was not a roguish teenage boy anymore with a terrible habit of making her blush, he was her professor.

She took a deep, steadying breath, and tried to focus. She was here to learn after all.

....*....

When Sebastian had scanned through the student roll before taking his first class, he had paused when his eyes fell upon one name in particular. Why was the Hero of Hogwarts taking a class here? Anticipation had thrummed through him.

He was not new to teaching, he had taught classes before, but this last minute step-in had been a great opportunity for him to work at a more advanced level. His ultimate goal was a permanent position, and this would be good experience. So, while he hadn't been particularly nervous, he had felt the tremor of apprehension as he entered his classroom for today. And it was because of her.

He hadn't seen her since she had kissed him goodnight at her door. He could still remember the feel of her in his arms, how much he had wanted more, but he had been a gentleman. He had held back. And then, the next day, she had disappeared without a word.

Now, as he stood before a class of eager students, she was sitting there at her desk, eyes on him, looking as beautiful as she always had. Pushing down the memories of how his sixteen year old self had been under the influence of a ferocious crush, he took a deep breath and got his brain in professor mode.

"Good morning, and thank you for coming to Ancient Studies class today. I am Professor Sallow, and for today's lesson we will be outlining what these classes will cover, and familiarising ourselves with the subject matter. However, let's start things off by introducing ourselves."

A collection of sighs and shuffling seats sounded throughout the room and his lips twitched up into a smirk. It was the standard reaction he had come to find. He strolled around his desk and flipped open the student register. "Let's start with Mr Abbot, shall we? Tell us, what brings you to this class today."

Following through the list, they began to introduce themselves, and it was rather a mixed bunch of people, but they all seemed keen which was a good start. When it came to MC's name on the list, he had to pause for a second to steady himself before he spoke her name aloud. When he did, there were a few muttered whispers around the room. It wasn't surprising really, her name and photo had been all over the Daily Prophet more than once.

His eyes lifted to meet hers, no need to scan the room to see who it would be to stand next. She met his gaze and for a blistering second, it could have been just them two in the room, her cheeks turned a delicate shade of pink and he had to force his mouth to stay neutral. Oh, how he loved to make her blush.

"Hello, my name is MC, and some of you may recognise me from the newspaper. I have the ability to wield Ancient Magic, and I have spent the last two years travelling the world and searching out magic hotspots. I was intrigued by other magical cultures and their history, and that is what brings me to this class today."

Hearing her voice made his heart pound a little. To say he hadn't missed her would be a lie. The friendship they had forged as kids had been one he had wanted to hang to, but sadly life had got in the way. He was already intrigued to hear about her travels, his thirst for knowledge and information a constant pull, but he had to be professional. Being her professor came with a set of rules regardless of their age now. It was the department's policy.

He smiled with genuine warmth however. "Thank you, Miss MC. Welcome to my class."

....*....

Her parchment pages were filling up with notes, and she listened attentively to Professor Sallow's lesson. He was good, she realised, assured, and passionate about his subject. Glancing around at the other students, she could see she wasn't the only one caught up in his enthusiasm. She was already looking forward to getting stuck in to his suggested reading list as well.

As the class came to an end, she began to put away her things. The girl who had sat beside her smiled. "This was much better than I thought it was going to be," she said. "I'm Bella, by the way, and I must say, it was rather an honour to sit next to the Hero of Hogwarts. I graduated last summer, I was there when you saved our school."

"Oh, really?" MC smiled. "It's nice to meet you, Bella. And honestly, the whole hero thing is a little over rated. I did have some help."

"I'm sure you're just being modest," Bella said. She glanced towards the front of the class and frowned curiously. "I'm fairly sure our professor went to Hogwarts too, he looks a little familiar."

"Oh, well, yes he did," MC said. "He was in my year group in fact, although not in my House."

Her eyes brightened. "Merlin, of course! You were duelling partners in Crossed Wands! Oh, how exciting! Are you two friends?"

"Erm, no, not really. In fact, I hadn't seen Professor Sallow since school before today," she said. Her eyes skipped away from Bella's at the lie as they stood and moved towards the centre walkway.

"He is awfully handsome," she whispered. "I wish all professors looked as he does, it certainly makes for a lovely view."

"Perhaps," MC said. Her lips thinned a little. "I'm not sure it's very appropriate, though."

"Oh, of course," Bella said, quickly. A blush stained her cheeks. "Still, no harm in admiring from afar, is there? I will see you next lesson, nice to chat with you."

Bella's cheeks remained flushed as she hurried from the class, MC watching her go. The girl's words had irritated her somewhat, and she couldn't help the frown that creased her brow.

"Oh dear, my lesson wasn't that bad, was it? You look positively vexed."

Her gaze swung to meet with warm brown eyes, and an irresistible smirk. Her face relaxed. "Hello Sebas...erm, I mean, Professor," she said. Her cheeks flamed at the stumble.

His smile widened. "It's going to take some getting used to, am I right?"

"Maybe a little," she agreed. Maybe a lot. She glanced around as the students were filing out, the room almost empty now. "I think being a professor suits you. I enjoyed your class."

Seemingly pleased at her praise he held out his hand toward his desk. "Do you have a moment? I would like to show you something."

"Of course," she said.

She followed her Professor towards his large desk, her gaze wandering over his back and down towards his hips as he walked. She clutched her notebook tightly in her hands. Hadn't she just snipped at Bella for being this inappropriate? Fool.

Averting her gaze she stood before the desk as he circled around it. "I came across a book not so long ago that made me think of you," he said. He shuffled some old tomes in a pile and pulled one out. "Ah, this is the one." He held the book out to her. "This isn't on the reading list, however, I think you might find it interesting."

MC looked down at the old leather bound book. 'Ancient Magic, Truth or Myth'. She lifted her eyes to his, surprised. "Where did you get this?"

He gave her his trademark smirk. "I have my ways. You know me."

"I do, or rather I did," she said, taking the book. "It's been a while, but it's nice to hear that some things haven't changed. I shall look forward to reading it."

"Let me know what you think. I'm interested in your views on it, almost as much as I'm intrigued about your travels. You shall have to catch me up when you have the time," he said. His face took on a serious look. "In a strictly professional sense, of course."

MC stared at him across the desk and swallowed, nodding. Was that disappointment sliding through her stomach? Of course it would be in a professional sense. An exchange of views between a professor and his student. It was best to start as things were meant to go on, wasn't it?

"Of course, Sir," she said, politely. "I would be happy to."

While his face remained quietly serious, his eyes flashed with something a little more fiery when she called him sir. He nodded, his gaze flicking away for a moment, and he shuffled some parchment on his desk. "Great, well I won't keep you any longer," he said. "See you next class, Miss MC."

"Goodbye, Professor Sallow," she nodded.

It took everything in her not to look back over her shoulder as she left his lecture room.

....*....

"Ancient Egypt," Professor Sallow said. He wrote the words on his blackboard, before turning back to his class. "A fascinating culture that is filling up the Muggle newspapers at an alarming rate, archaeologists making brand new discoveries everyday while they try to understand what it all means. Has anyone here been taking an interest?"

MC glanced around the room and saw a few nods. She had definitely taken an interest and consumed every news article and pamphlet she could get her hands on. She sat, quill poised, attentive. Beside her, sat Bella, her blouse open at the throat and her eyes fixed dreamily on the professor. MC resisted the urge to roll her eyes.

"There are many secrets to uncover in Egypt, and in the magical sense, a whole lot more," Professor Sallow continued. "I'd like you to open your texts to page 227 and take a look at the star charts printed there, for Egyptians were top class Astronomers and the building of their structures is no happy accident."

Once again, MC was completely engrossed in her lesson, her quill scratching out her notes as fast as her hand would allow. She even raised her hand to offer some words of her own, the professor's eyes warming when he invited her to speak.

"There has been much speculation around hidden, secret chambers beneath the Sphinx," she said. "There has been talk of enchantments concealing such secrets below the ground."

As their eyes met, his smile was one of knowing, a teasing glint in his eye as he nodded. "Indeed there is," he said. "What I wouldn't give to go snooping around in such places? Imagine the secrets you could uncover."

MC blushed, memories of sneaking about the castle at night, exploring hidden caves in the Highlands drifting through her mind. She tried to imagine doing similar things with him in the mysterious desert plains of Egypt and it made her heart flutter quickly. In the look they exchanged in those brief seconds, the memories tumbled madly, experiences shared.

As he moved on with his lecture, Bella leant in towards MC. "I thought you said you two weren't close?" She whispered.

"We're not," MC said, quickly. She wouldn't look at Bella, keeping her gaze fixed on her notes.

She heard the girl's huff of disbelief. "That was one hell of a look he gave you. I wish he looked at me like that."

"You're imagining things," she said, sighing.

MC looked at her professor, warmth gathering deep in her belly at the mere suggestion of being close with him. Her gaze lingered on those long fingered hands, the curve of his lips, and the tempting curve of his bottom as he turned to write on the blackboard.

She closed her eyes and tried to refocus. She wanted to learn, she was here for knowledge, but Professor Sallow was becoming a rather dangerous distraction.

....*....

By the fourth lesson, MC realised that she was slipping deeper and deeper into the realms of a crush. She refused to put any other name to it. It was a crush on an old school friend, nothing more.

But, my goodness, was it distracting!

When he walked past her desk, his scent lingered behind him, teasing her senses with that and the way he moved, his hands gesturing as he spoke with passion about his subject.

Her eyes followed him, as did the girl's next to her, and MC hated the bitter sting of jealousy that was coiling in her gut. Bella was clearly equally enamoured with their professor, and she found every excuse to remain after class, or get his attention.

After a lesson on magical Ancient Greek symbols, Bella was up out of her seat, adjusting her blouse just so, before sauntering off towards the professor's desk. MC gathered her things with a sour grimace at the welcoming smile Sebastian offered Bella on her approach. Ever the charming gentleman so he was.

With an assignment to write, MC made her way to the Ministry's library. It was fast becoming one of her favourite places to be. She had adored the Hogwarts library, but this one was a whole other level of perfect. The grand scale of it took her breath away, it was almost on a par with those beautiful religious buildings Muggles built centuries ago, with ornate stone columns and bookcases stretching forever in each direction, combined with intimate study spaces and comfortable seating.

She found her favourite spot and got out her things, burying her head into her books and losing herself for a couple of hours.

At the tread of soft footsteps she looked up, her cheeks immediately warming as Professor Sallow appeared beside her. He leant curiously over to see what she was working on and smiled. "Working hard I see," he said. His voice was low and soft in the quiet of the library, intimate, and it almost made her shiver.

"Well, I do have a Professor to impress," she said, her eyes twinkling with mischief. "I'm afraid I've gone over the word count you suggested. I'm trying to edit it down, but I'm not having much luck."

"May I?" He asked. He indicated her parchment. She nodded and slid it across to him. He reached to pick it up, his fingertips grazing her hand. MC drew a swift breath in at the touch, her eyes flicking up to his a little alarmed, as she quickly put her hand into her lap. Oh my...

There was the barest flicker of reaction on his freckled face at the touch, before he slipped on his spectacles to read her work. Her heart pounded, cheeks too warm for the cool air of the library, and she tried not to stare at him. Since when did a pair of looking glasses look so bloody sexy?

He lifted an eyebrow, impressed. "You have certainly done your research," he said. His lips quirked. "It's nice to see some things haven't changed."

A call back to her words to him after the first class. She couldn't help but smile. "All or nothing," she said.

"I see you made mention of the great fire of Alexandria," he said. He looked at her. "It's painful when you think about all those lost scrolls, isn't it?"

She nodded. "Oh, absolutely, such a tragic loss. I would have lost myself for hours in such a place."

He gazed at her thoughtfully, something deep and intriguing in his gaze. Her pulse quickened under his stare, and then he was leaning in a little closer. "Would you like to know a secret?" He whispered. As entrancing as his eyes were, her gaze nevertheless risked a peek at his whispering lips. "I'm sure I can trust you with it. It's a Ministry secret after all."

"You can trust me," she whispered. "After all, I've got secrets I've kept from the Ministry."

His gaze held hers, more memories swirling between them. He nodded and continued. "The fire at Alexandria was deliberate, and certain important scrolls and texts were removed by wizards for safe keeping."

Her eyes widened. "Where are they?"

His smirk did delicious things to her insides. "Right here, under your very feet, in the Restricted Section of this library," he whispered. She shivered. Of course there was a Restricted Section. He slid his hand into his pocket. "And the best part is, I have a key."

He pulled out a key chain and held up an ornate iron key. She stared at it, her lips curving into a smile.

"Would you like to go and take a look? I can sneak you in," he offered.

She met his gaze. "Do you really have to ask?"

....*....

They were like teenagers again, casting glances over their shoulders as he led her down a narrow curving staircase. Anticipation thrummed with her pulse and her fingers trembled as they walked quickly, but quietly along a dark corridor. How was it that she was once again, sneaking into dark, forbidden places with Sebastian Sallow? She honestly couldn't seem to help herself.

As they approached an ornate iron gate, the design similar to his key, he paused, a gentle hand on her lower back as he listened for any sound of other people.

"There's not any Peeves type poltergeist menaces down here, are there?" She asked, quietly.

He chuckled. "No, there's that at least," he said. He slipped the key into the lock. "But, we must be quiet all the same. While not forbidden, a student down here after hours is not common practise. I may be accused of favoritism."

"Hmm, very unprofessional, sir," she said, playfully. "It's a good job I'm rather good at keeping your secrets."

To her surprise his cheeks turned a little pink. He cleared his throat and pushed open the gate, it swung open silently and they entered. He closed and locked it behind them, slipping the key back into his pocket.

She was utterly at his mercy, and she realised she was alright with that. He had always meant safety to her, something she had always been grateful for.

He led her through various aisles of bookcases and shelves stacked with various curiosities. Her eyes were everywhere and they exchanged smiles of understanding.

"This must be like your own personal heaven down here," she said.

He nodded and rubbed the back of his neck with his hand. "It certainly keeps me out of trouble."

She quirked an eyebrow. "Why do I find that hard to believe?"

"Come on, this way," he said. Whether out of habit, or not, he took hold of her hand as they walked. His palm was warm, comforting, familiar, and she didn't pull away.

The deeper they went the heavier the silence of the place surrounded them, it was like they were in their own little world. When he showed her the ancient scrolls, she almost cried at the significance of them, her fingers trembling to be able to touch such rare and important items.

"Merlin," she gasped. "I cannot believe it. Scrolls, from the Great Library of Alexandria! I must be dreaming!"

"You and me both," he said, softly.

She looked up at him, the air evaporating from her lungs at the way he was looking at her. Soft, but so very flammable. He reached up to brush a stray strand of hair from her face, and then her lungs seemed to be working double time, desperate to draw in enough oxygen to keep up with her thudding heart.

Her lips parted without thought as his mouth lowered to hers. The softness of his kiss making her eyes flutter closed. He tasted of whiskey and peppermint, he smelled like home, and she melted into his touch as his hands grazed her waist.

As he deepened the kiss, his tongue flicking at her lips, she welcomed him, moaning softly. His grip tightened at her waist and her hands were in his hair, grazing at the tender flesh of his neck.

Their feet were moving and she felt the press of a bookcase up against her back, his mouth found her neck, hot and teasing. Her breaths sounded loud to her own ears but she was powerless to stop herself from sliding down this slippery slope.

"Sebastian," she whispered. It was a plea, an expression of her desire for him.

His face lifted to hers, his forehead resting against her own. "Call me Sir," he groaned.

Heat pierced through her core and her thighs clenched tightly. She stared into those deep brown eyes, drowning in them. "Yes, sir," she breathed.

He devoured her, pressing his hips into her eagerly, crushing her against the ancient books. His tongue fought for dominance and she let him win, his kiss deep, hungry and possessive.

His hands slid lower, gripping her hips, fingers sliding to tease her backside. She moaned into his mouth, her hips rolling eagerly towards him. Gods, she wanted him, all restraint withering under his touch. As she rocked against him, she felt the hard nudge of his arousal through their clothing, and both of them gasped.

He stilled, his eyes squeezed tightly shut. "Gods...MC..." His voice was tight, strained. "Forgive me," he whispered.

Reluctantly, he moved back away from her, breathing hard. Her fingers dragged over his shoulders, aching as he slipped from her grip. He turned to adjust his trousers, getting control of himself.

"It's alright," she panted.

"I shouldn't be taking advantage of you like that," he said. He turned to meet her gaze. "It could get us both into trouble. I'm sorry."

She bit her lower lip. Disappointment flooded through her, but she understood, no matter how hard it was. Her body ached for him, need so hot and desperate she was practically throbbing with it. She couldn't help herself, her lips lifted into a teasing smirk.

"Look at you sticking to the rules," she said. "I'm impressed...Sir."

His expression was pained. "Don't..."

She straightened, smoothing her hands over her clothing and patting her hair. "Sorry, Sir," she said. She gave him a sweet smile. "I promise to be a good girl from now on."

His eyes flashed dangerously. "Don't do that," he warned. "Don't tease me."

"Whatever do you mean?" She stared at him, her eyes wide and almost innocent. "Now, I thought you brought me down here to see forbidden ancient scrolls, Sir. Shall we continue?"

His jaw clenched and his throat worked, but he nodded. He gestured towards where the scrolls were. "Of course," he said.

As they finished up and snuck back out of the Restricted Section, MC couldn't help the flutter of anticipation for their next class. She would be sure to smile sweetly and call him Sir, knowing what secrets lurked in the dark between them.