Under Your Scars || Sebastian Sallow x MC

Chapter 23 - Fears on Top of Fears

Sebastian POV

My eyelids were heavy as I scanned the shelves in the deepest, coldest rooms of the Restricted Section. The only light at my disposal was the one emanating from my wand, illuminating the shelves and the dust particles hanging in the air. 

I was exhausted, but I was on a mission. I was once again on the hunt for a book for the woman of my dreams, only this time she was not with me. Juliette was off in the highlands with my student, tracking down Ancient Magic. She couldn't know what I was looking for, so having her away from the castle was fortuitous.  Thankfully, the Restricted Section was also free of poltergeists this evening. 

I dragged my fingers across the spines, pulling out any tomes of interest and adding them to the stack floating behind me. 

Emotion-Based Spells and Curses: From Patronus to Cruciatus 

Lexicon of Ancient Curses and Runes

Magical Oddities and Anomalies 

Secrets of Goblin's Silver 

I pushed my glasses up with the back of my hand and checked my watch. 

1:40 am

It was dangerously easy to loose track of time in a place like this. Considering that I had class to teach in 6 hours, I called it a night and ascended the stairs to the library, my footsteps the only sound echoing through the long-deserted aisles. I left a note for Madam Scribner, detailing the books I was taking- no... borrowing. I deposited the books into my charmed satchel and headed for the door. 

I put my hand out to push the door open and suddenly felt lightheaded, my vision blurred as if I may faint. I leaned against the wall to support myself, wondering if perhaps I was getting old and had climbed the stairs too quickly. The next thing I felt was an immense pressure on my head and the sensation of feet get pulled from beneath me. 

And everything went black. 

________________

I let out a grunt as I landed on cold hard stone, my glasses flying off my face and clattering across the floor. It took everything in me not to vomit. The nausea felt... familiar. I was a bit out of practice with apparating after spending so much time at Hogwarts but...

My blood turned to ice in my veins with the realization that I had just apparated against my will, without a wand. From inside Hogwarts.

My vision was still spotty, as if I could pass out any moment. Not that it mattered because there was no light wherever I was. I tried to prop myself up on my hands but the floor was slippery and I couldn't support my own weight. I groaned in frustration. I was skilled in apparition but for some reason I felt uncharacteristically weak and dizzy. Something was off. 

My Auror training finally kicked in and I cased the room to assess my situation. 

I squinted and strained my eyes to focus without my glasses.  The room was very dimly lit, as if by the moon, and eerily quiet. It appeared that I was alone. The walls were lined shelves, drawers and paintings.  I craned my neck to find a familiar glass ceiling, with enchanted books and candles floating about.

I was in the atrium of Juliette's Room of Requirement. 

I let out a breath I didn't know I was holding. A brief flicker of relief that was quickly snuffed out when I remembered that she was not yet back from her trip to the hamlets, so there would be no one to help me if I lost consciousness.