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

Sebastian and I were whisked away into smoke and air, and found ourselves standing in the Slytherin common room. By the fireplace we saw ourselves from our fifth year, when we met for the very first time. We both watched as the scene unfolded. 

"Can I help you?" Sebastian asked, pulling his eyes away from the book in his hand. He looked much younger and a little bit shorter. I on the other hand cringed at the way I used to style my hair back then, hoping that Sebastian would be too much of a guy to notice how it looked. Though I guess it didn't matter- it was only a memory. "Ah- you're the new fifth year!" he said, upon realizing who I was. He set his book down on the table next to the fireplace and turned his full attention to me. "I'm Sebastian Sallow, welcome to Slytherin."

I noticed a certain look in the eyes of memory Sebastian- one of innocence; this was well before Sebastian and I had taken things as far as we did in pursuit of helping Anne. Watching this now, I felt a string of guilt work its way through my system, as I couldn't help but feel responsible for letting him go down that path in the first place. 

"Thank you," I said. 

"Not everyone has a ministry escort to school," Sebastian teased, with a smile tugging at the edges of his lips. 

"He was a friend of Professor Fig's who merely joined us for the ride," I replied. I truly did feel a bit embarrassed by the whole thing back then. The moment I stepped foot into the great hall upon my arrival, people were already hearing the gossip and spinning stories about who I was. Part of me wished that I'd gotten a normal student experience, like most other kids. 

I looked at non-memory Sebastian next to me, whose eyes were fixated on the scene playing out before us with a very contemplative look.

"Still- impressive," Sebastian said. "Dreadful way to go, poor fellow. Glad you and Fig are alright."

"Professor Fig and I were lucky to escape with our lives," I told him. 

As I watched the scene, I couldn't help but remember the whole thing in vivid detail. That was the very first time that I'd watched someone die, and it certainly wasn't the last. I remember seeing the dragon out of the window for a brief moment before it attacked us a few minutes later, and part of me wondered if everyone would've survived had I said something as soon as I noticed it. 

But it's not worth it to dwell. 

"Indeed," Sebastian said. "And how did you escape?" He had a curious look in his eye as he spoke to me, almost as if he were analyzing me. 

"It's all still a bit of a blur, to be honest," I said, which was a lie back then. I remembered every part of it, but I wasn't sure if I could trust Sebastian yet, as we'd only just met. 

"Didn't mean to press," he relented. "You just get yourself settled in. We'll talk more later."

Part of me back then didn't want the conversation to end, so I went on with the only thing I could think of. 

"What book were you reading?" I asked him. 

"A spell book I picked up. has a few interesting things, but not exactly what I was looking for," he replied. "I'm sure you'll find out soon enough, but not every spell you may need can be found in our assigned textbooks."

He'd said the last part of that line a little suggestively, and I'd noted then that Sebastian was definitely a rule breaker. I knew now that he was probably researching for a way to help Anne. I looked at non-memory Sebastian beside me, but his expression was completely unreadable. 

"Are you saying some spells aren't taught at Hogwarts?" I asked him, pressing him further. "Which ones?"

"Seems I may have met a kindred spirit," he said with a laugh. "That is a conversation for another time. It was good meeting you, good luck today."