In The Shadow of Love // Sebastian Sallow x Reader

Chapter 23 - One last moment of solace

Theo POV

On the morning before Christmas Eve, nestled together in bed, y/n and I sought solace from the mounting tension that surrounded us. Her warmth pressed against me as I gently ran my fingers through her hair, attempting to provide some semblance of comfort. It had been a trying week since y/n first revealed Harlow's sinister plans to attack the repository, turning what should have been a joyous Christmas break with friends into a period fraught with sleepless nights and rigorous training in the undercroft.

Y/n had been noticeably reserved, keeping her plans and the details of her pact with Sebastian tightly guarded. I could sense the burden weighing heavily upon her, and it pained me to see her carry the weight alone. Though I strived to be her pillar of support, she remained closed off, making it challenging to offer the solace she so desperately needed.

With a sigh, y/n softly suggested, "We should probably make our way to the undercroft."

Gazing down into her eyes, I leaned in to plant a tender kiss on her forehead. "Why don't we take a day off?" I proposed, hoping to redirect her attention. "It's almost Christmas, and we've been practicing the same spells day in and day out, my love."

Repositioning herself to sit on her knees, facing me, y/n clasped my hands tightly, her gaze unwavering. "Theo, we can't afford to fail" she whispered, tears brimming in her eyes. I pressed my lips together, silently acknowledging her resolve. "Alright, princess, let's go," I acquiesced. I chose not to contest her decision, recognising that engaging in preparations would provide her with a sense of purpose and calm amidst the storm. We dressed ourselves and set off to the Defence Against the Dark Arts tower, determined to face the challenges that lay ahead.

*** 

As the intense training session continued, y/n unleashed a powerful Stupefy spell that sent me flying into a nearby wall. I managed to deflect her subsequent Confringo spell, but the toll of our hour-long duel left me utterly exhausted.

"Y/n, can we please take a break? I don't know how many more hits I can endure," I gasped, clutching my hand to my aching stomach. She lowered her wand, a chuckle escaping her lips. "I could use a snack," she replied nonchalantly, shrugging her shoulders.

"That's my girl," I exclaimed with a wide grin, wrapping my arm around her shoulder to pull her close for a hug. As we gathered our belongings, I noticed y/n's gaze fixated on the wall covered in parchment from our previous attempts at formulating a plan to confront Harlow.

"Are you sure you don't want to talk about it?" I asked cautiously, moving to stand by her side. She appeared to be suppressing a flood of emotions, lost in a distant gaze. She shook her head and sniffled, "No, thank you," she whispered.

"If you ever feel like talking, remember that I'm here for you," I said softly, my voice imbued with love and reassurance. "Thank you," she whispered, retrieving her bag and slinging it over her shoulder.

"How about we grab some lunch and then arrange to meet Samantha and Ominis on the astronomy tower? We can exchange presents," I suggested, leading the way up the stairs. Y/n turned around, a faint smile gracing her face. "I like the sound of that."

*** 

Y/N POV

After enjoying a quiet lunch in the Great Hall, Theo and I gathered his gifts from his dormitory before heading to my room to wrap any remaining presents. Sitting on the floor, I couldn't help but laugh as Theo struggled to wrap a book.

"It's not funny," he grumbled, his eyebrows furrowing in concentration.

"Have you never wrapped a present before?" I asked, trying to stifle my laughter. He simply shook his head in embarrassment. Crawling over to him, I took the book and paper from his hand and started wrapping it for him. Once I finished, I placed a bow on top and planted a kiss on his cheek.