Chapter Text
Thunder rumbles across the Scottish Highlands, causing the window shudders to tremble and the framework of the cottage to creak and moan. You read the animated newspaper, holding your place with your left index finger whilst scooping the stew with your right hand. The delectable concoction you had brewed all day was nearly at your lips whence a sharp knocking on your front door interrupts your evening.
You drop the spoon in your bowl and grumble to yourself about someone coming by at such an hour and during a storm, no less; you halt suddenly as you open the door to the sight of an old friend drenched head to toe from the raging storm. "Sebastian?"
"May I come in?" He grit his teeth between each word, enunciating his discomfort with trembling, tense shoulders. "It's bloody freezing out here for June." He tries to smirk, but his frigid posture makes it appear more like a grimace.
"It's raining," you reply, rather unhelpfully in Sebastian’s humble opinion. "It tends to make the air brisk."
"Don't start..."
Regardless of your seemingly uninviting words, you open the door wider and gesture into your cozy abode. Sebastian shuffles inside and shakes his fingers through his thick brown locks as you shut the door behind him, latching it securely. He scans across the open living space, feeling eerily reminded of his uncle's hut in Feldcroft; the main difference being the staircase leading up to an unknown space where his and Anne's bed would have been.
"Quite a homey place you have here. I'm surprised you live so humbly," he rambles offhandedly, turning his gaze to you.
"You're really awful with small talk, you know," you grumble with a raised brow. You fold your arms across your chest and stand firm by the front door. "Why are you here?"
"Ouch. That's no way to greet an old friend," Sebastian teases with a smirk. "I was in the area and needed shelter. You're the only person who answered. You’ve got some rude neighbours."
Your posture loosens up considerably, your hands sliding down your skirt until disappearing into hidden pockets. "You weren't intentionally seeking me out?"
"How the hell would I have known you live out here?" Sebastian replies. "And here I thought you were ignoring my owls. I thought you were still in London."
"I was… I mean…" you sigh, gesturing towards the dining table. "Are you hungry? I have plenty of stew."
Sebastian smiles, wringing the water from his cloak and hanging it on the hook by the door. "I'm starving, actually. Is it your mother's recipe?" He thankfully doesn't comment on the subject change.
You smile nostalgically. "T'is, indeed." You tap the back of the seat across from yours before sauntering into the kitchen to grab a bowl. Sebastian removes his muddy boots and sits down in the proffered chair. He drums his fingers rhythmically on the oak-wood tabletop, his wandering eyes floating between various photographs on the fireplace mantle.
Sebastian smiles as he spots an old school photograph; you were clad in your golden flying uniform with Sebastian's arm hooked around your neck in his emerald uniform. "I remember that day," he recalls whilst pointing at the photo. "That was year six when Black reinstated Quidditch. Imelda threatened to murder us after Hufflepuff destroyed us in that match."
You hum as you glance at the animated photo, watching the looping motion of Sebastian pulling you close and your eyes crinkling joyously; no doubt laughing at some long-forgotten jest that slipped past Sebastian's lips moments before they snapped the photograph. "That was quite a fun day, wasn't it? I recall seeing Poppy giving Ominis a play-by-play in the Slytherin stands. How she snuck her way up there as a Hufflepuff, I'll never know."
"We Slytherin’s were always on good rapport with you Hufflepuffs," Sebastian quips as you place his bowl of stew in front of him. You slide into your seat across from him and lift your spoonful of stew to your plump pink lips. He stares at his stew to distract his wandering eyes. "This smells delicious. Just like how I remember it."
"Thank you," you reply earnestly.
You both duck your heads, eating the stew in silence, and listening to the rainfall pattering against the house and the occasional rumble of thunder. Sebastian's spoon scrapes against the bowl and you internally cringe at the unpleasant sound.
"So, what brings you out here?" You ask conversationally.
Sebastian hastily slurps his stew before dabbing his face with a cloth procured from his chest pocket. "I'm actually researching mallowsweet and its undocumented healing properties when brewed in a tea. I've been on the road recently, working on developing a new medical textbook."
Your eyes snap upward at that, raising a curious brow. "Oh? I would’ve assumed you’d become an Auror after graduating from Hogwarts?"
Sebastian's laughter sounds deeper than you recall but still fizzles the blood in your cheeks the same. "I thought so, too. But, well, after Anne was cursed, I had far too much knowledge in my brain regarding curses and I was intrigued to learn more. I grew devoted to making sure what happened to her would never affect anyone else again…" Sebastian's eyes are downcast to a spot on the table. "She actually recently started talking to me again. You were correct, after all, it seems. She just needed some time to forgive me for what happened in the fifth year…"
Your spine stiffens at the recollection of your fifth year at Hogwarts. You speak up again, hoping to avert the subject once more. "Are you working with anyone on your research?"
"I write to Ominis about it, but otherwise, no, not really. For a while, I was at St. Mungos, working directly with cursed patients, until I grew irritated with the lack of knowledge out there on such a subject. My current patient, Florence, is only Thirteen, and stricken with an eerily similar curse to the one Anne had." Sebastian scratches his cheek as he frowns. "Anne was thankfully cured after you had killed Rookwood… but the one who cursed poor Florence had also been killed and her curse still remains. So I'm hoping I can find a cure for her."
"That's very noble of you," you reply with a tiny smile. "I truly hope you find what you're searching for, Sebastian."
He smiles at you in response before returning to his stew. "What about you? What brings you out here and away from the big city?"
You sigh, lazily stirring your stew. “As much as I love London and my family, I decided that I needed a fresh start. Now I run a small shop in Upper Hogsfeild, providing herbs and potions to weary travelers. I also work with Poppy on occasion when she requires extra assistance with her business at the Hogs Head."
"And here I thought you'd become an Auror," Sebastian teases before slurping his stew. You huff, kicking his ankle under the table, and struggling to hide your growing grin.
After the stew is eaten and the mess is cleaned, you pull out some blankets and pillows from the cupboard. “I don’t have much room, unfortunately, but I do have a sofa in the living room that you could use.”
Sebastian accepts the blankets and pillows with a grateful smile. “Thank you. I really appreciate your hospitality. I promise to be out of your hair tomorrow morning.”
You chew the skin from your bottom lip and suck on the droplet of blood forming there. It’s been two years since you’ve seen him, and nearly seven months without any correspondence. Having him show up out of the blue is like an ice dump of realization regarding how deeply you had missed his presence. You decide as his back is turned towards you that you will do everything in your power to keep him close for as long as humanly possible.
“Do you have anywhere proper to stay during your research project?”
Sebastian tilts his head towards you as he tucks the bedsheets around the cushions of the sofa. By some miracle, you manage to keep your eyes away from his bent-over lower half. “I have a tent provided by the hospital, but it was a tad difficult to set up tonight due to the storm.”
You fold your arms across your chest and scratch your collarbone nervously. “You could stay here if you must,” you state cooly. “I have another room behind the kitchen that I can clear out and add a cot for you. I had only used it for brewing potions, but I can easily do that in the kitchen.”
Sebastian snaps his head towards you with wide eyes. “Oh, I couldn’t possibly impose on you…”
You wave him off with a click of your tongue. “Oh, no, you wouldn’t be imposing, Seb. I’m offering, after all.” You lift a brow and place your hands on your hips. “Besides, There’s a nearby field filled with mallowsweet that you could use for your research. This is the perfect spot to stay.” You internally cringe at how desperate you appear.
Sebastian sighs, straightening his back and dropping his shoulders. “You’re not going to allow me to argue against this, will you?”
Your cheeks hurt as you smile against your will, and you shake your head at him resolutely. Sebastian stares into your eyes, searching for a flicker of doubt, but you stand firm, having made up your mind. Sebastian chuckles warmly, waving his hands in defeat before dropping onto the makeshift sofabed he had hastily set up. “Fine.”
“Good, its settled.” You cast a soft lumos as you blow away the candles lighting up the space and stride to the stairwell. “You’re making breakfast in the morning, roomie,” you add with an arched brow and a devilish smirk.
Sebastian’s bellowing laughter can be heard as you reach your bedroom at the top of the stairs.