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

Everything went as smooth as it could while we were at Hogsmeade. I had a good time with everyone, despite the fact that I was absolutely exhausted. My body was craving a nap, but I wasn't sure if that was a good Idea. Without the sleeping medication, I had nightmares, and with it, I could hardly function once I woke up. I'm honestly surprised Sebastian was the only one to notice. 

We all returned back to Hogwarts in the afternoon. The sun was still high in the sky, and it was pretty warm for an autumn afternoon in October. Leaves were scattered across the path on the way and blew through the wind whenever a light breeze swept through the trees. The beautiful scenery has always been one of the things I loved most about Hogwarts. I sure would miss it when I graduated. 

Once back inside the school, everyone went their separate ways. Imelda said she would collect me for part two of their special birthday plans later in the evening, which meant I had a little free time on my hands. I planned on heading back to my dorm, but I was stopped on my way by Sebastian.

"I hope you plan on getting some rest this afternoon," he said. "I didn't want to make a big deal out of it, but I can tell you're not well, y/n." 

"Like I said, I really am just tired," I said. "It's true I've still been having bad dreams, so Nurse Blainey gave me something new to help me sleep better. If only I'd known it would have such side effects." He nodded his head in response and pursed his lips. 

"Would you come to the Undercroft with me?" he asked me, rather suddenly. "I have something for you."

"Yeah, of course," I replied. Had he gotten me a gift?

He led me to the entrance and once again gripped my hand to help me down the steps. When we reached the bottom, the gate rose up and we entered the room. It was just the two of us down there. 

Sebastian went in first, and began to pull something from his pocket. "I've been trying to find the time to give it to you all day," he told me. "It's not much, but I hope you like it." 

He handed me a small black box. I took it and flipped the lid open, revealing a small silver ring with a little green gemstone that laid flush with the surface of the band. 

"Sebastian, I-" I stuttered. It was beautiful. This was a really nice gift. "I'm speechless, I love it."

"You do?" he grinned. "To be honest, I was nervous you'd think it was weird."

"No Sebastian, this is really special. Thank you!" I instinctively came towards him and wrapped my arms around his torso to give him a hug. For a second he seemed surprised but quickly returned the favor, wrapping his arms around me as well. After realizing what I was doing, my face immediately began to burn. I buried my face in his chest and took a deep breath. 

His scent, which smelled like wet soil right after a light rainfall, pine, and a hint of mint, filled my nose. I didn't know why, but his scent seemed familiar, though I know I've never been close enough to Sebastian to have smelled him before.

Sebastian squeezed me tight, and rested his head in on my shoulder. His breath tickled my neck and filled my stomach with butterflies. For how long I've known Sebastian, I was mad at myself for not having hugged him sooner. He was probably the best hugger I've ever had the pleasure of hugging. 

I started to pull away, but he brought me back in and held me even tighter. I felt his lips brush my ear. "I don't want to let go of you just yet," he breathed. I sucked in a breath and buried my face even deeper in his robes, knowing that if he saw me right now, he might mistake me for a tomato. 

After a minute longer he finally let go. "You give nice hugs," I giggled. 

"You've got some color back to your face now," he joked. I punched him in the shoulder, and then flopped down on the floor against the wall. I let out a long breath. It felt nice to sit down after being on my feet for so long today. Sebastian followed suit and sat down next to me as well.

"So, Birthday Girl," he started. "How's the day treating you so far?" 

"It's been really great," I said. "I only wish I wasn't so tired, then I could enjoy it more. I hope I haven't come off as uninterested to the others."

"Don't fret about that, you were smiling all day. You looked perfectly content to me."

I was still holding the ring box, turning it over in my hands. "Aren't you going to put that on?" he asked me playfully.

"Well yes, it's too beautiful to just sit in the box," I exclaimed. I opened the lid and reached for the ring. I hadn't noticed before, but my hands were shaking, probably worse now than they had been all day. I tried to pull the ring from the box but couldn't get a good grip on it due to my unsteady hands.

"I've got it, it's okay," Sebastian fretted. He took the box from my hands and pulled the ring out. "Give me your hand." I did as commanded and held out my hand to him. He slid the ring onto my finger gently while resting my hand on his other palm. After it was in place, he closed his fingers over mine. "It looks good on you," he smiled.

"I think so too," I agreed. "Thank you again."

"You don't have to thank me." 

He suddenly wrapped his arms around my body pulling me close to him, moving my head into his lap. "You should take a nap," he suggested. 

"I know," I sighed. "I don't want to, but I know I should." 

He placed his fingers on my head, softly running them through my hair. It calmed me down and definitely made me more tired than I already was. 

"Do you still get them?" I asked him rather suddenly. "Bad dreams, I mean. Like about all the stuff we saw and did?"

"It's never really been nightmares or bad dreams for me," he replied. "I have a hard time shutting my mind off and getting to sleep at all. It's like as soon as everything is quiet and dark, my mind likes to remind me of everything terrible that's ever happened to me all at once."

"I'm sorry," I told him.

"What for?"

"I'm not sure," I sighed. 

I was starting to drift off a bit, but was trying to fight it. I didn't want to fall asleep in his lap and leave him trapped under my head, nor did I want to see what productions my trauma had put together for my viewing after I went to sleep. It was only minutes later when I couldn't hold it off any longer and drifted off. It was too hard not to, seeing as Sebastian's lap was the best place in the world to take a nap.