In the Shadows - Sebastian Sallow x reader (English)

Chapter 2

Flat assed after the long ride and starving, we made our way from Hogsmeade train station to the Thestral-drawn carriages, only to get our ass flattened again on the way to the castle.

"If I had known how long the journey was, I would've arrived by broom", I complained, stretching my legs to ease the tension in my lower body just a little bit. I would be perfectly fine without the excitement of my journey to Hogwarts last year, but being stuck on the train for ages wasn't a highlight either.

Cressida elbowed me in the side. "Look forward to being able to sit in the Great Hall for another hour or two. At least the seats on the Hogwarts Express are comfortable." Nellie Oggspire appeared behind me, all piped up: "At least we're about to get something decent to eat. I'm starving." As if her body wanted to underscore the brunette's statement, a loud rumble came from her stomach. I stifled a giggle and got into the carriage, which pulled up in front of us just then. The four girls did the same one after the other. I kept a low profile looking for a certain brown-haired head - at least I thought I was being low profile about it.

"You won't find Sebastian Sallow here, Y/N. He helps escort the first years to the boats and then to the Great Hall this year." Natty's words sent a tremendous heat to my face. I felt slightly offended. She, Poppy, and Cressida knew of my crush on the troublemaker, but her sudden broaching of the topic in front of Nellie stunned me. "W-what? No, I was just-" "Fancying at the lad you've been with and practically chained to for the entire past year? Tell me about it, Y/N." Nellie gave me a knowing grin. I must have looked dumbfounded because she explained, "Y/N, your crush on him is so obvious. Can't believe you two aren't together yet! I mean, he's clearly into you as well. The way he looks at you and is constantly near you. He's never done that to any girl before. Am I right or am I right?" The other three just nodded in agreement. My face got even redder. Did Sebastian really have feelings for me? Bullshit! He probably only saw me as a good friend.

"Do you think there's that delicious roast again today?" Poppy tried to change the subject and I was infinitely grateful to her. "Of course! Have you ever had a year where the roast wasn't served at the welcome party?" Cressida made a face. "I just hope I get some chocolate pudding today before Garreth eats it all by himself again. This glutton! Where does he leave all that shit?" As so often on our journey to school, we burst out laughing again. The rest of the way to the Great Hall, we chatted about the delicacies that awaited us, and finally took our seats at our house tables. Poppy sat at the Hufflepuffs' table, practically back to back with Natty and I. Cressida and Nellie sat across from us. The Gryffindor table was situated in the hallway, across from the Slytherins. My seat gave me a perfect view of the aisle in front of me, which the first years would tumble at any moment, accompanied by the helping hands of older students.

"Merlin Y/N! Stop fidgeting!" Natty put a hand on my thigh, which I didn't realize I had been bouncing nervously. "I'm sorry-" At that moment the doors to the atrium flew open and Lenora Everleigh strode down the hall, followed by a horde of small, excitedly chattering first years. Like a herding dog making sure all his sheep are going in the right direction, Sebastian brought up the rear of the small column. Our eyes met and a soft smile crossed his lips, which I returned. There it was again: the heat on my face.

Bloody hell! Y/N, pull yourself together!

Lenora left the first years to the Deputy Headmistress, Professor Weasley, who warmly welcomed the new students and began with the sorting ceremony. I gave the whole spectacle only half my attention. My gaze constantly wandered to the Slytherin table, where Sebastian had meanwhile also taken a seat, DIRECTLY OPPOSITE FROM ME?! Our eyes met again and again throughout the ceremony. My head was a mess.

"Slytherin!" The Sorting Hat announced the house of the last first year. The table next to mine roared and clapped. Sebastian's gaze was still directed at me. The headmaster Professor Black took over the word: "Welcome back! As per every year, I would like to remind you that entering the Forbidden Forest - as the name suggests - is strictly forbidden." As if that stopped me last year. "Due to the events of the past school year and after much deliberation, I have made the decision to lift the Quidditch ban. In addition, all other usual celebrations, which had to be canceled last year, will also take place again." The whole school broke out in cheers. Nellie was close to tears. She once told me she was on the Gryffindor Quidditch team, but then the season was canceled last year. "And with that: Let the feast begin!" With Black's words, a variety of dishes appeared on the long tables. The house elves had outdone themselves again. The long-awaited roast, chicken in a variety of preparations, pumpkin pies, vegetable casseroles to candied apples and cauldron cakes. It was all there. Cressida swiftly secured a bowl of chocolate pudding before Garreth could grab it and stuck her tongue out at him. The sight made me giggle. I only took in the excited conversations around me as muffled noise. My thoughts were still with Sebastian as he strode through the Great Hall with that outrageously adorable smile on his face.

I was dreamily munching on my potato when Natty nudged me. "Hello? Earth to Y/N! We're talking to you." Nellie turned around briefly to see what's caught my attention the whole time. "Of course." She sighed and rolled her eyes. "Hasn't his face slowly burned itself into your retinas the way you stared at him?" "Who can blame her? At least he doesn't look too bad", Cressida smacked her lips as she dug her teeth into a chicken wing. Apparently my face was trying to set a record for blushing because there was that heat on my cheeks again. I felt like I'd had a bottle of Firewhiskey in one go. "Shut up! I don't even look at him that often."

"I see! So you admit staring at Sallow! My goodness, you are driving me insane. Two lovebirds who only have eyes for each other and yet could not see it if their life depended on it!" Nellie shook her head in disbelief.

"Sebastian and I are just friends. Nothing more." Could I blush any harder?

"Yes, exactly! And that's why he hasn't taken his eyes off you for a second since he walked in here." I managed to blush even more. If this kept going, my head was going to explode. That would be an ugly mess.

"Nellie, stop it. She's about to burst", Cressida cackled. One doesn't need enemies with friends like these. I was still chuckling at the fact that Cressida and I shared the same thoughts.

"I love you too, guys." With that, I stuffed a forkful of vegetable casserole into my mouth. We stuffed our bellies and when it was time to head to the common rooms, chaos erupted. I tried finding Sebastian in this mess, but I wasn't succsessful. I wasn't finished talking to him earlier that day when Garreth interrupted us so rudely. Admittedly, I was never done talking to him. Except for our argument about the goblin Lodgok when Sebastian called me ignorant for forming an alliance with said goblin. He could have kissed my ass and there was a few weeks of silence between us before he apologized to me.

"First years follow me, please!" A Ravenclaw prefect gathered the ducklings to show them the way to their common room. I continued to watch as the crowd pushed me through the doors of the Great Hall. In vain. A little disappointed, I made my way to the common room with the other Gryffindors. In the end, it was a good idea not to stand alone in front of the fat lady's portrait. I didn't get this year's password. "Radix Taraxaci." At a prefect's words, the portrait swung open, revealing the entrance to our common room. Upon entering, I realized how tired I really was and fell asleep as soon as my head sank into the pillows of my four-poster bed.