After All This Time// Sebastian Sallow x Reader Hogwarts Legacy Fanfiction

The rest of September passed by in a blur-

Me and Sebastian were totally friends again, slowing talking more and more and even hanging out outside of class together. 

It felt so good to finally be able to hang out with both him and Ominis in the Undercroft, just like old times, practicing spells, doing homework, or just chatting about random things. I noticed him slowly beginning to smile more and more, which made my heart happy. I know how much he'd been through, and it was good to see him finally returning back to some sort of normalcy.

I know in my experience, it was almost impossible for everything to feel normal again after all of the death and trauma we'd experienced, but we'd yet to have any sort of conversation pertaining to our fifth year. It felt a bit odd that we went on, pretending like none of it happened, but I didn't want to pry. It might be the best thing for Sebastian and our friendship right now. 

My eighteenth birthday would be this Saturday, and I was a bit nervous about that; Imelda and Nerida had been whispering about some sort of party in our dorm, only to pretend like nothing had been said as soon as they saw me eavesdropping. I've never been a partier, but I'd been to my fair share of Slytherin parties last year after quidditch wins and the likes. They were always fun and intense, but still, it made me nervous thinking about how I'd be the center of attention. 

I'd had enough of the spotlight to last me lifetimes, between being new in my fifth year, which is something that rarely happens, and having defeated Ranrok. 

Poppy had been coming up to me every day, telling me how many days until my birthday. She seemed more excited than I was. 

If throwing me a party would make them happy, I wasn't going to take that away from them. 

As I sat in the Undercroft with Sebastian and Ominis working on our potions essays, I wondered if they knew anything about it. Maybe I could pry a bit and see if they'd spill any details. 

"So, Ominis," I started. "You wouldn't lie to me would you?" I jabbed. 

"Oh, he's always been one to tell the truth, even where it isn't wanted," Sebastian interjected. 

"You're not wrong," Ominis said. "Did you need to ask me something?"

"I wanted to know more about the supposed party this weekend," I poked. "Have you heard anything about it?"

He put down the book he was holding and turned his head in my direction. "I haven't heard anything about a party," he said. "Why? What's the occasion?"

Sebastian jabbed him in the side. "What was that for?" he asked.

"Nothing," he said, looking to me. "Where did you hear about this?"

"Imelda was saying something about a party, so I was just curious if you two knew about it as well," I said. I decided not to push further. I could tell they weren't going to let anything slip, though they were acting silly about it. "Seems like it was a misinformation is all. Nothing to worry about I suppose." 

We went back to our papers. At least I knew there was something going on. Even if I didn't know the exact plans, they acted odd enough which told me there definitely was something. 

Classes seemed to go at a grueling pace, and the onslaught of homework and studying never seemed to end. With that and quidditch practice after classes, my time was well accounted for. 

There would be no time for crazy adventures and deadly missions this year, and I totally didn't mind that fact. 

In our potions class, we were currently learning about polyjuice potions and what it took to brew them. Professor Sharp was only demonstrating the steps during class, and not permitting us to brew it ourselves. Said we would cause too much mischief with it, though I noticed his eyes were on Garreth when he said that. We'd be done with that lesson towards the end of the week, when our papers on the subject were due. He expected a whole fifteen inches of parchment on the subject, which is definitely beyond standard essay length. 

Once we reached the end of the week, we walked into potions class not to be greeted by Professor Sharp, but rather, Professor Ronen. Everyone was a bit confused as to why the charms professor would be teaching potions, but we went along with it. 

Ronen seemed to have a shorter temper with is than normal, and definitely seemed to know what he was talking about when it came to potions. 

Towards the end of the class, it was revealed that it wasn't Professor Ronen at all, but Sharp, who had taken the polyjuice potion before class. 

It was definitely a good way to display the use of polyjuice. Pretty much all of the students in the class had never used it or seen it used before, so it was definitely an experience for them. For me, it brought back silly memories of the time Professor Fig and I used it to get into Black's office. I'd definitely heard things that I wasn't supposed to, and I was so scared someone would notice, but I thought it very hilarious and useful in the end. Nobody knows about that except for me, and well.. I guess just me now. 

After that class, I wandered the hallways for a bit, reminiscing about old memories. Most of them were bittersweet now, tainted by someone either getting hurt or killed. I knew it wasn't always my fault, but it sometimes felt like it. Like any time someone gets too close to me, bad things happen to them. 

There was Natty, Ominis, Fig, Sebastian, and Poppy, all of which seemed to go through hardships while I was around. I encouraged some of the risks each of them took, not knowing the hurt it would cause. I know they didn't feel the same way, but it was hard not to feel that way myself.