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

It was now nightfall, and I found myself dressed and laying in my bed, waiting to make sure Nerida and Imelda were for sure sleeping. After I was absolutely sure (Nerida was snoring and Imelda was talking in her sleep about a rogue bludger), I quietly crept to the door and through the common room. every nerve on my body was on fire as I tried to keep myself from turning back. I knew that I needed to do this. As far as I could tell, the authorities haven't got a thing on Charles, and this might be the only way to put a stop to this once and for all. 

I wondered what Charles would have to teach me about the ancient magic. I knew that I was just meeting him to find a way to take him down, but I didn't see any issue in gathering as much information as I could. It was definitely plausible that the keepers weren't telling me everything- after all, Isadora found new ways to use the magic, and I'm sure it's not just limited to what she found out as well. The keepers really didn't teach me much. They had taught me the importance of wielding it responsibly, but other than that, I was mostly left to my own devices. Because of this, I really didn't find much personal use for it outside of combat and basic things like that.

As I made my way into the forbidden forest, I took a few deep breaths and kept my wand drawn at my side. I didn't know what to expect going into this, but I was hoping that as long as I followed instructions and kept my word, that he would too. Though he liked to play games, it always appeared that he preferred to play them fairly, which I was relieved by. I hoped that I would know what to expect. 

Once I reached the lake where we were supposed to meet, I waited. Looking around, I didn't see  him anywhere. The air was brisk and I pulled my robe tightly around my body as I waited, keeping myself aware of my surroundings. The bushes to my left rustled, and I whipped my head around to see Charles and three of his men come out into the small clearing, stepping over tree roots carefully as they made their way towards me. Their faces were barely illuminated by the soft neon light of the lacewing flies that hovered over the lake and surrounding area. 

"Glad to see you made the choice to come," he smiled as he approached me. "Though for your sake, I hope you didn't bring anyone along this time." A playful glint flashed in his eyes as he spoke to me, an uneasy churning setting itself deep within my gut. 

"I followed all your instructions," I informed him. "I came alone."

"I sure hope so."

He held out his hand to me, and I froze, not sure what to do. 

Should I take his hand? 

I hesitantly reached out and placed my hand in his, and he swiftly brought my knuckles to his lips and placed a gentle kiss upon them, sending unpleasant shivers and nausea through my body. 

"No need to act so repulsed by me, darling," he said softly. "You'll soon learn that I'm not as bad as you think."

I highly doubt it. 

I hated how he always seemed to read me like an open book. I get that I've never really been good at monitoring my facial expressions, but I didn't like that he seemed to know everything about me, when I knew hardly anything about him. But then again, that's the only reason I was doing this. Either to get information on him, or to take his life, whichever one I had an opportunity to do. 

Without warning, Charles apparated, taking him with me. The feeling of doing so still made me feel uneasy, no matter how many times I've done so with others. I still needed to learn how to do it by myself. It could be useful, especially in situations regarding Charles. 

When the process was complete, I started to find my balance and look around at my surroundings. We now stood in the foyer of a very large Victorian style home. It was brightly lit in warm light, and the interior gave off an equally warm feeling with light brown and tan wallpapers and warm honey colored wood accents. A large staircase went up the right side of the room, leading to an upstairs. Right across from me was a very tall set of closed doors that were embossed in gold and silver. 

So he has money, at least.

"This is my family home," he explained, walking farther into the foyer. A house elf suddenly appeared and took Charles' cloak, and offered to take mine, which I declined. Charles greeted and thanked the house elf as he took the coat and hung it on a coat rack by the entrance, which surprised me. I would never have taken him for someone who would treat house elves with respect, but here we are. He seemed to read the confused expression on my face, as he immediately answered the questions that were swirling around in my head. 

"Like I said, I'm not all evil, as you are so desperate to believe," he told me. 

And maybe I would have believed him, except I remembered all the terrible things I'd already witnessed him doing. Killing one of his own men, leveling a hamlet, and making me use obliviate on my boyfriend. No one who was good would do any of those things. 

But then again, this got me thinking. 

Have I senselessly killed other witches and wizards before? Yes.

Did I have experience with all three unforgivable curses? Yes.

Was I also responsible for the destruction of that hamlet? Yes again.

And was I the one to perform the obliviate spell on Sebastian? Sadly yes. 

So where did I stand on my own scale of good and bad? Was I as good as I thought I was, and was he as bad as I took him to be?