Allurement | Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 15 - Dance with me

Liya and Ominis exchanged a good-natured eye roll as they followed Sebastian out of the common room.

***

As they strolled through the bustling streets of Hogsmeade, the atmosphere buzzing with the chatter of students and shopkeepers alike.

The Three Broomsticks was just ahead, but before they could make it inside, a lively melody floated through the air, stopping Liya in her tracks.

Following the source of the tune, a young wizard busker stood near the river playing an enchanted violin, the instrument floating in the air as his fingers danced over invisible strings.

A small crowd formed around him, some clapping along and some even dancing around.

Without wasting a single second, Liya hurried into the crowd, twirling and dancing to the beat.

"Liya!" Sebastian gasped and Omins chuckled.

"She's gone dancing, I'm assuming."

"She sure did."

Liya spun effortlessly to the lively melody, her movements light and fluid, as if one with the music. The hem of her dress flared with each twirl, her laughter echoing through the air like bells ringing through a cathedral. She clapped along with the rhythm, her joy infectious, drawing more onlookers into the dance.

Sebastian remained where he stood, watching her. The world around him blurred - the crowd, the music, even Ominis muttering something beside him - all of it faded into the background...

For his focus was solely on her.

She looked so free, so weightless, so carefree. The way she smiled, unabashed and radiant, sent an unfamiliar warmth surging through him.

Sebastian had seen Liya in countless moments - when she was furiously scribbling notes in the library, when she was engaged in fierce duels, when she was deep in thought over some ridiculous theory - but never like this.

Never this carefree, this...dare he say, beautiful.

His heart pounded against his ribs, a feeling both exhilarating and terrifying creeping into his chest.

"Sebastian."

He barely registered Ominis nudging him.

"Sebastian." This time, Ominis's voice was laced with amusement. "Stop staring at her."

Sebastian blinked, his face heating instantly. "What? No, I'm not."

Ominis rolled his eyes. "I may be blind, Sebastian, but I'm not dumb. You've gone completely silent."

Sebastian scoffed, but the way he cleared his throat and awkwardly ran a hand through his hair.

Liya beckoned the duo who were awkwardly standing in the middle. "Dance with me!"

"Asking your blind friend to dance...truly, your thoughtfulness knows no bounds."

Seeing the flustered look on Liya's face, Ominis laughed heartily. "I'm kidding, but you two go ahead. I'm perfectly content standing away and listening to the tune." With that, he gave Sebastian a push, sending him stumbling forward a few steps right into Liya.

They

were

So

Close.

Being in such proximity, Liya could properly study his features. She hadn't realized how many freckles he had till now, which dotted his face like a thousand tiny stars.