for the hope of it all // Sebastian Sallow x reader

As we walk through the Central Hall I see traces of ancient magic. I haven't seen them since my last trial. I am shocked and thrilled at the same time.

''Sebastian,'' I say. Grabbing onto his arm. The warmth from his body does not take more than a second before it reaches my hand. I let go. ''Do you see that?''

He looks confused and looks at me.

''Ha! Funny. Let's keep going.'' Of course he cannot see it. But I had to check anyway.

''No.'' I argue. ''You know the ancient magic I told you about?''

He nods slowly while stopping to have a look around. There are no prefects around. It must be so late that they stopped patrolling the castle.

''I see traces of it.'' I explain. ''Right there.''

I nod towards the library.

''Don't tell me,'' He sounds hesitant. ''It's going towards the library.''

''It is.'' I reply.

''Very well.'' He says and starts walking towards the entrance.

I take the lead and unlock the door into the library. The traces are leading us to the restricted section. Of course, I think. I explain to Sebastian that we're going to need the key to restricted section. Together we get it and get back to the locked door and head into the restricted section.

The traces lead further down into the library than I have ever been. We must be pretty far, because I can feel the air getting colder and more humid than before. I rub my hands together to gain some warmth.

''Always cold, huh?'' Sebastian asks. ''You need to get gloves to wear even inside the castle.''

I'm really not in the mood for jokes right now, so I don't even reply. To be honest, I'm terrified of where, or rather what, these traces might lead us to. Furthermore, I feel bad for having Sebastian following me. He has no idea what could possibly happen. I think about the trials I had to go through last year.

Finally I see where the traces lead us. It's in a pitch black corner in the library. We are still surrounded by books. Some paintings had gotten upset with us for using Lumos at this hour, but I honestly couldn't care less about waking up an old painting that hasn't seen daylight in likely over a hundred years. I take a closer look and investigate it.

Suddenly, our surroundings shift. We are no longer in the library, but on what looks like a small island. Around us are miles and miles of water, trees trying to reach the night sky and no land to be seen.

''Curious.'' Sebastian says. ''But terrifying.''

I nod in agreement and keep exploring the small island.

''Look for something that seems out of place.'' I explain. I know he cannot see the traces around the object we're looking for, but since he's my only company he might as well help in the search. ''It could be anything. Let me know if you find anything, I will be able to see if it's what we're looking for or not.''

Sebastian looks confused but starts looking. We seem to divide the island into two, where he searches one half of it and me the other. Most places are covered in spider webs and some small camps that look as if only two or three people have slept there. Curious, I think. After a couple of minutes I hear Sebastian calling for me.

''Take a look.'' He says, nodding towards a cave entrance covered in spider webs. ''From the sounds of it, this is the perfect date for you.''

''Not really.'' I admit, yet confused if he was implying we were on a date. Correctly, I see some traces of ancient magic. I burn away the spider webs and enter the cave. Sebastian stays behind, as if he's considering let me walk into the cave alone.

''Come on now, you're more scared than a snidget.'' I taunt him, but it works as he pushes himself in front of me to take the lead.

We walk down the cave and I follow the traces. Eventually, we're led to a smaller cave inside the cave to a place where it looks as if a podium has been placed. I walk up to it for further investigation. I see ancient magic flowing around the podium and I found a crystal ball.

''Look!'' I call out. My voice echoes on the cave walls. ''It's a crystal ball.''

''Hoping to see your future?'' Sebastian jokes. I give him an angry eye.

''I never used one. Do you know how?''

He takes it out of my hands and seems to clean it with his robe. From the crystal ball comes a massive ray of light and I move closer to him to see what's going on. There's a low voice coming from the crystal ball. We hear unforgivable curses and see a man in the crystal ball. He seems to be a student at Hogwarts. The crystal ball keeps showing events that are difficult to sort out. We see another boy, who looks slightly younger but also a Hogwarts student. He has a remarkable scar on his forehead. We see tons of what appears to be dark wizards and finally the crystal ball whisper Merope Gaunt, followed by a glimpse of the pale face of a man with red eyes and a missing nose. He looked human, yet unhuman.

''Gaunt?'' Sebastian asks. ''As in Ominis' last name?''

''I heard it too,'' I say. ''But that doesn't mean anything.''

''Not necessarily.'' Sebastian says. ''But we cannot be sure.''

He explains that it was likely that this was no ordinary crystal ball, but rather a prophecy. He seemed to be almost as confused as me, but we decide to head back to the castle and discuss this another time.

''Well, new girl.'' He says once we reach the Slytherin common room. ''One thing's for sure - you don't disappoint.'' He continues with a grin. ''But next time you drag me on a date like this, I'm going to need a fire whiskey after.''

As we part ways, I smile like the happiest girl on the planet and I'm convinced the butterflies that flutter might actually make me levitate.