Like Moths to a Flame // Sebastian Sallow [Book One]

The Christmas decorations had been up for a week, but Sebastian felt anything but festive. It had been two weeks since the mine, two weeks since he'd last spoken to Damien. Not a single word had passed between them since then. To make matters worse, Ominis still wasn't speaking to him either. Sebastian was so profoundly alone that he hadn't even been bothered when he was paired with Leander in Herbology yesterday. Leander had even been - Merlin help him - cordial, perhaps thrown off by Sebastian's terrible mood.

Sebastian shifted his weight on the bench in Defense Against the Dark Arts Tower, idly examining his nails with disinterest. Damien's birthday was fast approaching, not that it mattered anymore. Sebastian didn't anticipate a magical reconciliation between them, especially in a few days, nor did he want it. Of course he didn't want it! Not after Damien's admission he was working with a goblin. Truly disgusting creatures. His very skin crawled at the thought.

In the past month, Sebastian had also sent three letters to Anne, none of which had yet received a response. This only fueled Sebastian's suspicion that Uncle Solomon was preventing her from receiving them. As much as Sebastian despised his uncle - his stubbornness, his controlling nature - he never thought that Solomon would stoop so low.

The good news, if there was a bright side to his isolation, was that with so much free time on his hands, Sebastian was on the verge of finishing Salazar Slytherin's spellbook - a daunting but illuminating read. In fact, he'd spent the past few nights in the Undercroft practicing some of the forbidden spells hidden within its pages. Better to have a working knowledge of them than to be caught unprepared, if the need arose.

And last night, while poring over a particularly dense chapter, he'd stumbled upon something entirely unexpected - an old student report tucked between the pages. It mentioned a relic. According to the report, the student discovered it in the catacomb near Feldcroft but hadn't been allowed to take it. 'Relic' was a very broad term, so it was a long shot, but right now, it was the only lead he had. The only problem? He couldn't retrieve it alone. If there were traps - like the one in the scriptorium - Sebastian couldn't risk it.

Naturally, in thinking about the scriptorium, Sebastian's mind drifted back to Damien. He sighed. Why did Damien have to go and ruin everything? And so close to his birthday - and Christmas, no less? It had thrown all of Sebastian's plans into disarray. He'd started saving for Damien's birthday gift right after his own birthday, still enamored with the satchel Damien had given him.

Sebastian was still using the satchel, of course. Their falling out didn't change that. After all, it wasn't the satchel's fault that Damien had become acquainted with a goblin. Ridiculous!

Sebastian's brooding was interrupted by the sound of footsteps on the stairs. He glanced up to see Ominis descending, wand in his right hand, a bound notebook tucked securely in the crook of his left arm.

"Ominis," Sebastian said, hoping for some sort of acknowledgment but not expecting one.

To his surprise, Ominis halted, turning toward the sound of his voice. His expression remained unreadable, per usual. "Sebastian," he said evenly. He deactivated his wand, slipping it into his robe pocket, then thrust the notebook into Sebastian's face.

"This is for you," he said.

Sebastian blinked, then grabbed it, glancing down at the pristine cover. "Is this my birthday gift from Anne?"

Ominis gave a curt nod.

"You went to see her?" Sebastian asked quietly. "How is she?"

Ominis drew in a slow breath before replying. "The same. Perhaps a bit worse. It wasn't a good day."