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This wasn’t the first time Garreth had been late to class and it certainly wouldn’t be the last. With the Gryffindor common room being out of the way for most of his classes and his aunt calling on him regularly, teachers we well accustomed to Garreth’s hurried bust through the door.
The one class that was the exception was potions. When it came to potions, Garreth was suddenly an expert in time management. He was desperate to get a cauldron near the front of the class where he could pick Professor Sharps brain for extra knowledge.
Garreth hadn’t been late to a single potions lesson since his fourth year. He had mysteriously tripped down the moving stairs and was rushed to the hospital wing with multiple broken bones and blood dripping from his temple. Nurse Blainey had healed the bones in a matter of seconds, but ruled he remain for observation due to his sustained concussion. He’d barely managed to sneak out on time to make it to hear an insightful lesson on the many uses of mandrake leaves.
He had a feeling his Slytherin classmates had made him trip on purpose. He can still remember barely coming conscious as he stared up at a trio of Ominis, Anne and Sebastian. Although the look of pure horror on the Sallow twins’ faces would try to state otherwise. Garreth cannot remember if the vision of tanned freckled cheekbones and molten chocolate iris’s appearing before his face as he was lifted from the ground was reality or a dream like figment of his imagination.
That was 3 years ago. This time Garreth was kept away by his Aunt Matilda. She had pulled him aside due to the poor state of Garreth’s uniform. Buttons in one hole down, tie barely hanging together, one trouser pant cuffed to the knee, and his robes fallen from his shoulders and fluttering behind him as he ran through the halls after having tea with Natty in the divination classroom.
His aunt had caught him with his wand in his mouth, literally, as his fingers struggled to sort through his books and ensure he had the correct ones ready for Professor Sharp. The strong grip on the hood of robe almost gave Garreth whiplash as his momentum refused to stop. It took nearly 10 minutes before Garreth could escape the scrutiny and continue to hurry to the dungeons, uniform much more intact but robes still falling from his shoulders.
He burst through the classroom door a whole 7 minutes late to double potions. Everyone in the room turned to the source of the bang in an instant.
Garreth was used to being stared at, quidditch had killed that anxiety a while ago, but the intensity of one set of coffee brown eyes falling on him set his hairs standing upright.
Garreth dared not look over at who he knew owned that commanding stare.
Instead, the Gryffindor puffed looking up at Professor Sharp who had stopped mid sentence in surprise and was now awaiting an explanation.
“Sorry I’m late professor, I was uhh… rushing and got caught up by Professor Weasley.” Garreth took a deep breath trying to fill his lungs with as much oxygen as possible.
“It’s perfectly alright Mr Weasley, we were just discussing today’s assignment. Your usual seat has been filled so you’ll have to settle for sitting next to Mr Sallow for today.” Garreth’s eyes followed the movement of Professor Sharps hand towards where he already knew Sebastian was seated. Intense eyes watched him with a murky gaze that hid whatever his thoughts and intentions.
Garreth swallowed hard as his eyes finally met Sebastian’s. A simmering feeling coiled in the pit of Garreth stomach which he tried to stave away. It had been a while since he’d allowed himself to be so close to the Slytherin with a fear that his well guarded feelings would suddenly burst forth. Garreth knew Sebastian wasn’t stupid and had probably caught onto a shift in their friendly rivalry when Garreth had stopped biting back at their borderline flirty banter.
Breaking their gaze, Garreth flicked his eyes to the spare stool next to Sallow, slowly shifting towards it and unpacking his class supplies he desperately tried not to look back at the freckled brunette whose eyes have yet to leave him. The stare was unwavering and questioning. It was distractingly burning holes through the right side of Garreth’s cheek. Attempting to take his mind off the intensity of the situation, he focused back on Professor Sharp who had walked over to a chalk board and was holding up a glimmering vial with a shimmering mother of pearl hue.
“As I was saying before, today we’re discussing Amortentia. It’s special characteristics, side effects, cures and most importantly, why it’s so dangerous. After today’s lecture you’ll be working in pairs with your bench mate to analyse a sample of the potion I prepared earlier.”
Garreth’s eyes shot back to Sebastian upon that information. This was not good. He’d already done a little self study on the potion for light reading. If they were to analyse it, they would be smelling it, and reporting what they smell to one another… this would be fine for almost any other potion, only Amortentia smelled different to everyone. But that wasn’t the issue, the issue was that it smelled like your whatever someone finds attractive. This was becoming frighteningly clear to Garreth, was the very person he was paired up with.
He almost flinched when his and Sebastian’s eyes locked once more, the same intensity he had been expecting was replaced with something that was a chaotic blend of pleading and panic. Garreth felt his breath catch in his throat as he dared to whisper.
“Done much reading on love potions?” Pinching himself to stay grounded. The panic in Sebastian’s eyes simmered falling into the background behind something softer.
“Only to know which gifts to avoid” Sebastian smirked egging Garreth to bounce back.
“Oh, so all of them?” He blurted out without much thought. Sebastian sighed dramatically.
“Yeah, kind of sucks I can’t enjoy any of them really.”
“Maybe I should send you something so you can actually snack on it.” Garreth whispered back feeling a grin form beneath his lips. It didn’t matter how much his comebacks didn’t actually pack a punch. Sebastian had visibly relaxed, it was only then that Garreth noticed just how tense and rigid the brunette had truly been.
“Maybe you should. I’m dying for some every flavour beans that don’t smell of almond and over saturated perfume.” Sebastian let out a light chuckle as he leaned forward resting his chin in his hand with a smile. Sebastian offered Sharp a glance before returning his attention back to Garreth.
“You know they only do it because you’ve never said yes to anyone. They’re all too scared to approach you first.” Garreth internally grimaced at his own words. However, it was in fact true. Sebastian had been through a lot after the passing of his uncle and his sister’s suffering that he’d had no time or mental space for anything extra during fifth year, then replacing those troubles with a dedication to helping Anne recover and joining the quidditch house team in sixth year didn’t help the romantic side of things much either.
Sebastian blinked up at Garreth, his eyelashes catching as they clasp together. His tongue darted across his bottom lip to wet it as he opened his mouth to respond.
“Yeah… well… I blame Ominis for leaking that my type includes people proficient with potions to a witch who kept bugging him. He did it in order to get her off his back but the news spread like bloody cursed fire after that.” Garreth’s heart stopped. There was something about the way Sebastian was staring at him as he spoke that raised so many questions. He wasn’t certain he had the courage to ask further... so much for being in Gryffindor.
Just as Garreth had raised enough will power, Professor Sharp’s voice cut through snapping their attention back to the front.
“Now everyone pay close attention. This is extremely important.” Garreth spared a glance back to Sebastian who just shrugged at him and mimicked Garreth own movements of opening his notebook and dipping his quill in the ink.
Time passed quickly as Professor Sharp explained in explicit detail as much information about the potion as the class could handle in one sitting. It had been just over an hour and a half of frantic note taking when Professor Sharp had finally finished and offered a five minute break to stretch their wrists and backs.
Garreth leant back tipping his stool and blinking slowly at the ceiling. “Yup, that’s about what I expected.”
“Really? I expected another ten minutes at least.” Sebastian retorted standing and stretching his arms up above his head. Garreth couldn’t help but catch a small glimpse of the way his shirt lifted ever so slightly with the movement and to reveal a corner of tanned skin above the Slytherin’s waistline. Garreth gulped falling back further and almost toppling the stool as he lost grip of the table. “Merlin! You alright?”
Garreth was steadying himself as he looked up to meet Sebastian’s eyes again in shock. “I… think… my life just flashed before my eyes…” Sebastian chuckled at Garreth’s mooncalf like expression.
“Well at least you’d die with me being the person to grace your vision.” Sebastian placed a hand on Garreth’s shoulder helping to ground him. All Garreth could do in that moment was focus on the light sparks bursting beneath the contact.
“I guess I’d die happy then...” Garreth mumbled inaudibly.
Sebastian undeniably heard him. The shocked expression he failed to keep beneath his usual stoic mask gave him away. His hand almost flinching off Garreth shoulder at the lack of retort.
“You stay here, I’ll go collect the potion sample.” The words finally fell from Sallows’s mouth after what could have been a full minute of staring at each other in stunned silence.
Garreth watched the Slytherin walk away with internal cringe. It was hard to not wish a swift merciful death upon himself.
Barely a moment later and Sebastian had returned with a small beaker of shimmering iridescent nacre liquid… Amortentia.
Garreth gulped, sizing up fluid within.
“Okay, now class be very careful on your examinations. You will be allowed the rest of class to gather findings. I will be expecting a two page report on the potion at the start of next class. Your reports should include both information I have divulged in class as well as your own findings so use your time wisely.” Professor Sharp stated as he moved towards his desk.
“So, I guess we have to take this seriously.” Sebastian mock sighed sitting back on his stool and placing the beaker on the bench. Garreth stifled a laugh as he leant on the table in front of him to get a closer look at it.
While others around the classroom had quickly lifted their beaker for whiff and started gushing about how it matched their significant other’s or unrequited loves, it was clear the pair at the back of the class were putting it off for as long as possible.
Sebastian and Garreth had worked diligently taking notes on the potion. Noting things such as the colour, the density of the liquid, clarity, time taken for the liquid to still, even the shapes made by rising steam. Anything they could think to study other than smell it was jotted down in their notebooks. That was, until there was literally nothing the two could come up with to prolong the more intimate task at hand.
“Merlin...” Garreth thought aloud. “So uhh… do you want to go first or should I?” A moment of silence was held as the two locked eyes unmoving.
“Gryffindor’s first, right? Don’t you always dive headfirst into things?” Sebastian shot a smirk as he leaned back in a faux relaxed motion. Garreth tried not to look at the way Sebastian’s shirt fabric pulled tight when he crossed his arms.
“Right… do first, think second and all those other stereotypes.” Garreth picked up the beaker tentatively and brought it up to his face. Standing up as though that would distance himself from what he was about to do. He tried not to focus on Sebastian’s intense gaze as he closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
Merlin… it was like heaven in a bottle. The fresh air of the Scottish Highlands was a statement undertone, painting a picture in Garreth’s mind of a small hamlet he imagined would be similar to the Slytherin’s old home. The beautiful scent was somehow complimented with the smell of old books. Potent and powerful and still just…. Sebastian. His late night trips to the restricted section or his hours spent leant over tomes older than Garreth’s grandparents. His surprising dedication and thirst for knowledge that he played off despite having some of the best grades in the school. And finally, there was something else. He couldn’t quite place it. It was all over the show and somewhat bizarre. But it was certainly sweet and... Garreth’s eyes shot open looking at Sebastian.
“Well? What do you smell?” Sebastian was at the edge of his seat eyes wide and expectant.
There was no way Garreth could say what he truly smelled. His secret would be outed so quickly that he’d have to pack up and move schools despite only having a couple months left.
He should lie. Come up with something else, something random and generic that…
Why did Sebastian look almost scared? He looked far too apprehensive for a casual classmate rival waiting for the results.
“Country air, old books and…” Garreth hesitated. The words had fallen out of his mouth before he could stop himself. Sebastian sucked his bottom lip between his teeth not breaking their eye contact. “…and, every flavour beans.” Garreth felt confusion ripple through him as the Slytherin visibly relaxed. Maybe he might never be able to make sense of him.
“Oh…” Sebastian reached to pick up his pencil with a shaky hand, dropping it twice before it was steady in his grip. He turned his body fully back to the front to scrawl down what the ginger had said. Garreth couldn’t help but notice the deepening pink hue that was blooming upon the brunette's ears. “That’s good.”
“Good?” It was an interesting choice of words nobody could deny that. Everything that was happening in this moment felt a tad too surreal for it to be reality. Maybe the fumes from the sample were starting to mess with Garreth’s brain.
It was as if nothing else mattered in this moment other than was happening right in front of him. He knew Sallow was attractive but Merlin, he was behaving so out of character to his usual cocky self. It was so endearing that Garreth didn’t know what to do with himself.
By Godric, if every sense wasn’t on full alert with the mesmerising fragrance he had continued to inhale. It was almost like a drug, like some hypnotising potion that heightened just how aware Garreth was that he liked the boy in front of him. Hell, he might even love him.
The longer he stood there in the potion’s aromatic embrace the more finer notes he felt he could pick out. There were small hints cinnamon. He could almost taste some sort of cheapened broom polish. Something flammable, like singed hair. The smell of primroses, a flower Anne had mentioned was her favourite. Layer upon layer became unravelled the more intensely Garreth breathed.
And then he had finally reached the deepest point. A point that unequivocally proved without a shadow of a doubt that he was in love with Sebastian.
The myriads of smells could have really been anyone. Any number of people could have been the owner of everything else if you thought about it long enough. Those were all just things that Garreth was supposedly attracted to. But no one else could have the scent of Sebastian himself.
There, beneath everything else was the specific scent that you would only find on Sebastian. A consistent mix of his soap, his clothing, his hair, his sweat, his skin and even his natural body odour. It was intoxicating. Something Garreth had become familiar with the closer they got over the years.
Whether it be the celebratory arm slung around the shoulder, the occasional tussle, or the time in sixth year where they had bawled their eyes out on the three broomstick’s floor after one too many butter beers. Garreth knew this scent perfectly.
He was so engrossed in the aroma that he didn’t notice Sebastian trying to get his attention. Nor did he feel the way he had started to move the beaker to his mouth.
His glazed over eyes snapped into focus as Sebastian gripped his wrist staring up at him with wide, terrified eyes.
“Garreth!” Sebastian was breathing heavily standing from his seat. “Hey, you okay? Do not drink that.” He took the beaker from Garreth’s hand placing it on the bench before gently rubbing the ginger’s upper arms. “You scared me for a second there. What happened?”
“I uhh… I see why it’s so dangerous.” Garreth’s breaths were shallow as reality stopped spinning. “Bloody hell. That was just… yeah… wow.” His heart was running a million miles an hour. Now not just from the potion and the depths he’d gotten to, but also from the way Sebastian was looking at him concerned. He wanted to kick himself for making the brunette worry.
“I swear, I look away for one second and your causing trouble.” Sebastian rolled his eyes letting hands his drop to his own hips.
“I’m pretty sure that’s normally my line.” Garreth laughed feeling himself beginning to settle again. “Did you jot down what I smelt?”
“Indeed, country air, old books, every flavour beans, cinnamon, broom polish, singed hair, primrose flowers and… didn’t quite catch the last one. What was it?” Sebastian had the paper in his hands as he read the list factually. Garreth’s heart was in his stomach again. Was he in such a daze that he was saying whatever he could sense out loud?
“Oh… it was so faint. I can’t quite remember.” Garreth lied through his teeth as he looked at the rest of the class. They were all too engrossed in their own tests to have witnessed what transpired.
“Just as well, usually people only really smell around three big things. Caught me off guard when you kept going.” Sebastian had placed his book back down, replacing it with the beaker of Amortentia. “I suppose I should really give it a go. It’d only be fair.”
Garreth nodded gobsmacked. He didn’t really know what to do with himself anymore. How was Sebastian being so nonchalant right now. He has basically told the brunette things that all somehow related to himself. Was he purposely ignoring it, or had he just not connected the dots. The only hint was a low lying blush that had settled on Sebastian’s cheeks after reading out the list. He had to be just playing it off.
Either way, Garreth felt like he was going to throw up. He was not ready to hear just how opposite he was to the person Sebastian is attracted to. Probably someone like the hero of Hogwarts. Someone with more acclaim and tenacity.
He decided to settle for just watching Sebastian give the damned thing a whiff. His deep coffee coloured eyes were down cast on the potion as it was brought up to his face. Garreth’s breath hitched as he saw the pupils dilate as far as they could the second the scent hit the Slytherin. He gulped as long eye lashes fluttered shut and the beaker was lifted further so that Sebastian’s nose was touching the rim.
There was a beat where nothing happened. They were just standing there as Sebastian took in the odour. A minute passed, then another. Neither of them moved. After a third minute Sebastian looked up drawing the beaker away from his face in a reluctant haze.
“Okay… yeah, wow.” He was looking up at Garreth with shaky eyes. He wobbled a little on his feet and Garreth moved on instinct. Grounding him with his hands on his shoulders.
“You alright? What did you smell?” Garreth wanted to kick himself once again, this time for his impatience.
“I’m just fine, it was just… reaffirming.” Sensation looked down at Garreth’s tie which had loosened over the course of the class. The was a small smile ghosting at the Slytherin’s lips. It was subtle and bashful. Garreth’s heart stupidly skipped a beat. He knew that smile wasn’t going to be for him and yet… The way that Sallow was being open and vulnerable in front of him was pushing forward a bubble of hope.
“Reaffirming?” Garreth spoke slow, almost a whisper. Instead of answering this new question Sebastian started to list what he had smelt.
“There was fire, like a cozy living room fireplace.” Garreth blinked taking in the soft smile for all of one second before entering his ‘top potions student’ mode. He leant over his own pushed out stool, grabbed some paper and inked his quill. He started noting what Sebastian was saying with the kind of terrible handwriting that comes from writing on an uneven surface.
“A home cooked meal, braised beef, potatoes, rosemary, that sort of thing.” Sebastian paused waiting for Garreth to write. He was yet to look up. His smile was still present on his lips, stretching further as he reminisced what was moments ago.
“Ink stained fingertips.” Garreth tried to focus, it was so specific, so much more than he himself had given. He paused mid word as he noticed the fingers he had gripping the quill. They were stained with ink. They always were. An almost permanent feature of his hands. He was always jotting down ideas for new experimental brews or just his thoughts on the day in his diary. Garreth thought Sebastian might stop at the regulated three main smells but he kept going.
“Woollen blankets. Freshly squeezed orange juice. Quaffle leather. Fire whiskey… and knotgrass.” Sebastian looked up at Garreth finally with a content smile across his face. Garreth felt like he was burning alive. His face must have set ablaze because, if he wasn’t reading too much into things, it all connected back to him. Finishing the last ‘s’ in knotgrass he looked up from the paper to meet Sebastian’s soft gaze. It’s like his heart was sent into overdrive. How could it not.
He was renowned for sitting cozied up in front of the fireplace to read. He’d often sneak into the kitchens to cook his mum’s home recipes whenever he felt homesick. He never cared to limit the amount of ink in his quill, so his fingers were almost infinity stained. He had many knitted woollen blankets, sweaters and accessories from his parents as birthday and Christmas presents. Garreth was pretty sure all wool smelt the same. He never skipped a glass of orange juice with breakfast. He was the best chaser on the Gryffindor quidditch team. His favourite drink on nights they visited Hogsmeade was fire whiskey, and everyone knows he was constantly out gathering ingredients such as knotgrass for potions.
He didn’t know what to do. It felt like a confession. Is this how Sebastian had felt about his own list. Never mind that. Sebastian liked him. And if this potion was anything to go on, potentially even loved him. Garreth’s heart was beating so fast he almost couldn’t breathe.
He set the paper down on the bench and gulped as he turned back to the brunette who was still staring with a soft smile. Garreth didn’t know what to say. He could throw Sebastian’s words from before back at him with a little ‘that’s good’, but that didn’t sit right with him.
“It was you.” Garreth sputtered out failing not to trip over his words. He watched in real time as confusion spread across Sebastian’s features. Garreth took a breath praying to Godric Gryffindor for the courage he needed “The last scent. It was you. Just you.” He took Sebastian’s free hand that wasn’t holding the beaker in his own and lifted it to his nose. He closed his eyes and inhaled deeply with a hum lowering their hands again but not letting go. “Couldn’t mistake it if I tried. It perfectly you.”
Sebastian’s eyes were wide full of shock at the sudden declaration. His hand trembled in The ginger’s loose grip, he was wordless. Garreth really chose the most unusual times to take initiative. Sebastian’s mouth opened and the words formed on his lips, but no sound came out. So instead, he squeezed Garreth hand.
Garreth was about to speak up again until he noticed a Ravenclaw uniform coming towards them out of the corner of his eye. He clamped his mouth shut, dropping Sebastian’s hand. He took the moment to turn and scan the room. Everyone else was still at their stations but most had finished their work by now. Looking at the person approaching, it was Samantha Dale. Because of course it was. It was always Samantha freaking Dale.
Looking back at Sebastian the hardened look he’d gained softened in an instant at the nervous apprehension displayed by the Slytherin. Garreth smiled, a smile full of admiration and adoration that calmed Sebastian immediately.
“Let’s talk more after class.” Garreth was thankful that double potions was their last class for the week. Sebastian’s face morphed back into his usual cocky expression and smirked in agreement. The Slytherin nodded for good measure just as Samantha happened to bump into Sebastian’s back with more force than a regular accident.
It all happened within seconds. Sebastian stumbled forward hitting Garreth with equal force, transferring momentum than had Garreth tumbling backwards towards the ground with a thud. Sebastian had managed to catch himself but the same couldn’t be said for the open beaker of Amortentia that sloshed outwards and covered Garreth as he fell. Worst of all, it was all over his face.
The sound made everyone in the room turn to look at them. Garreth stared up at Sebastian in shock, who in turn looked down at him in panic and concern. This could be bad. People were starting to shuffle closer.
“Oh my goodness! I am so sorry! I thought there was more room, why were you standing in the middle of the walkway instead of being seated.” Samantha sputtered already trying to shift the blame for her purposeful actions onto the two boys. Samantha shoved Sebastian out of the way rushing to where Garreth was on the floor. She shoved her face right in front of him completely filling his vision.
“Are you all right? You didn’t swallow any did you? Oh no what a mess that snake made of you.” Garreth cringed internally.
He had indeed swallowed. Some of the potion had got into his mouth on his way down to the floor. He knew he shouldn’t, but he’d licked his lips, swallowing looking Sebastian in the eyes. It had tasted exactly how he thought it might. Like sweat, and jellybeans. Sweet but salty. Just like Sebastian Sallow.
Sharp had said that even a drop can have a potent semipermanent effect. But nothing felt different. He looked passed Samantha and back at Sebastian who was looking at Samantha in disgust. A crowed had formed now with everyone in the room. People asking what had happened and surveying the situation.
“Move aside please.” Professor Sharp spoke as he pushed through the other students. “What is the meaning of this?”
“Oh professor! It was horrible! That idiot Sebastian was standing in the walkway! I bumped into him trying to get past. He pushed Garreth and spilled the potion all over him.” Samantha wailed standing to her feet and rushing to the professor. Professor Sharp squinted his eyes quizzically.
“Boys? What happened.” Sharp offered the floor for either of the two to speak while waving his wand, silently cleaning the drenched Gryffindor.
“We were just examining the potion when Dale basically pushed me. There was so much force I fell forward and hit Garreth, and he fell in the floor. The potion spilled in the process.” Sebastian recapped as Garreth nodded along.
Garreth was still looking up at Sebastian. For some reason, he couldn’t quite bring himself to look away. Nothing else really seemed to matter anymore in this moment. He was sure he could hear talking, but it all sounded so faraway. Now this only thing in his mind was the god like being in front of him. Although that didn’t seem much different to usual.
“Sir I think he swallowed some. Not much but defiantly some of it.” Sebastian’s voice cut through the muffled background. Garreth was reminded just how much he liked his Scottish accent.
An overwhelming urge to be closer to Sebastian filled Garreth. He found himself on his feet after pulling himself up with help from the stool. Sure, everything ached but nothing would stop him from reaching the tanned beauty before him…. Except for a round face with black hair cutting in between them.
“So, he might be in love right now?” The face spoke. It annoyed him.
“How long will the potion be in effect professor? Shouldn’t we whip up a quick cure?” The Scottish accent smothered his annoyance in an instant.
“If it was no more than a teaspoon, he should be right by the time he wakes tomorrow. If it’s any longer than that we’ll make a cure in the morning.”
“You’re kidding!” Sebastian yelled frustrated.
“Had you not finished the examination yet?” Sharp sounded concerned as he waved away the crowd of students.
“No, we just finished right before… this.” Sebastian sighed.
“Do you think he’s in love with me?” The face asked sounding way to excited at the premise.
“Not bloody likely. Get out of my face already.” Garreth heard himself say the words before they’d registered in his head.
“You’re an asshole.” Samantha slapped Garreth across the face and stalked away mumbling under her breath. “After everything I did, stupid Garreth.”
“Miss Dale, please come see me after class. That will be a further 5 points from Ravenclaw following the pending number for causing this mess.” Sharp turned back to the two boys. He sighed and waved his want cleaning the mess from Garreth’s face, shirt and the floor. “So, who are you in love with Mr Weasley?” Professor Sharp asked already knowing the answer.
“Sebastian.” Garreth said without hesitation. Internally he knew part of this was wrong. He didn’t want to confess like this. This sucked. Samantha freaking Dale.
Sebastian looked at Garreth, a deep look in his eyes. It was a pained understanding. Like he could read his mind. They had all but confessed moments ago so he knew this was not how Garreth wanted things to go down.
“Mr Sallow, would you mind looking after Mr Weasley for the rest of the evening then?” Sharp gestured to Garreth, who finally peeled his eyes away from Sebastian to look at his professor.
“Of course, Sir, it’d be an honour.” Sebastian nodded at Professor Sharp with a confident smile.
“Good. Come find me in the morning if he’s still artificially in love.” Garreth blinked hard at their professors retreating form. He was almost certain the man just winked at Sebastian.
Garreth gulped. What had the professor meant by ‘look after’. He paused a moment before once again looking back at the brunette.
“You’re going to look after me?” Garreth felt breathless, the Amortentia’s effects were getting stronger. He could feel the way the world began to spin again like the first time. “Sebastian.”
“I… yes?” The Slytherin quickly picked up on the almost desperation in the Gryffindor’s voice. “Don’t worry, I’ll make sure everything is okay.”
“No-“Garreth could hardly stop himself from lurching forward and crushing the boy in front of him in a bone crushing hug. “The symptoms...” Garreth panted struggling to fight off the full effects he knew would take over in a moment. He was honestly shocked he’d held clarity for so long in the first place. “I’m gonna…” he stumbled back grasping the fabric of Sebastian’s uniform at the top of his chest. He raised his head holding firm eye contact. Something that had quickly over the course of the lesson become their most effective way of converging their emotions.
“You’re going to what?” Sebastian yelped out in surprise at the sudden pull above his heart. Garreth felt arms wrap around him to steady him should he fall.
“Don’t…. Do not.. let me forget… we were gonna….. after class..” the final words coming out in a small sob as Garreth let his head drop to join his hands on Sebastian’s chest and allow his weight to be supported.
Sebastian stood there speechless. Of course. Upon the potions effects being broken the drinker will forget all that had transpired during that time. It was something said during Sharp’s lecture. Sebastian wracked his brain trying to think. What other potentially bad symptoms were there. Thankfully none immediately sprung to mind, however he would be going over Garreth and his notes later to double check.
Later… what on earth was he going to do. The boy in his arms was now completely out of it. His drained slump had gained energy again. The ginger’s arms wrapped around his waist as he rested with his cheek now to Sebastian’s chest in contentment. He was listening to his heartbeat, something Sebastian was desperate to slowdown despite everything that had occurred. This was not how he thought this class would go. Hell! Sebastian thought he would be sat with his sister again but was shocked to see her up near the front with Imelda. The odds of Garreth being late to potions had been 1 in at least a thousand.
Sebastian sighed once again trying to wrack his brain. Where on earth would they stay tonight. It was unlikely that either of their common rooms would be a good option. Neither of their roommates had good opinions of the rival house’s. It was a wonder they had managed to get this far despite outside bias. At least now Sebastian could rationalise why Garreth had put an arms length between them.
It had honestly been troubling him, especially the last couple weeks. His usual rival in crime was openly avoiding him for reasons unknown, and it was finally getting to him. Sebastian had always been idly aware of his brewing feelings. He’d noticed them in third year and chose to ignore it. But the last two years would have been almost impossible without Weasley and his annoying compassion.
Despite their house differences and Prewets obvious distain towards Sebastian, Garreth had managed to get him to lower his guard and give him hope. Hope for a somewhat normal final few years of study. It hadn’t taken long until Sebastian had stopped denying the butterflies he’d felt whenever Garreth smirked with a rebuttal.
He started running his fingers through Garreth’s hair as he thought. He found himself getting distracted for a quick second at just how soft the ginger’s hair was. It felt silky and delicate between his fingers.
Sebastian shook his head and looked up to see the rest of the class packing up. That’s when his eyes landed on ‘the Hogwarts Hero’ who was at bench off to the side with Amit. It was like a light bulb went off in his brain.
“Okay Garreth, it’s time to pack up! Then we can go somewhere nice together.” Sebastian said hoping he’d phrased it a way that entice the love stricken boy. It seemed to have worked as he saw eyes flash open and Garreth face turn and look at him.
“Like a date?” Garreth’s eyes were completely dilated and ever so slightly glazed over with a silver glassy hue.
“I wouldn’t call it a date, but we should definitely go on a date tomorrow.” The potential of a date the next day seemed to be enough for Garreth to quickly release the brunette and start packing up.
The two boys worked quickly to gather their quills and books. Just as they were nearly finished tidying up the bench and a couple loose note pages Anne approached with a brilliant smile.
“Hey Seb…. Saw what happened earlier, you gonna be okay? You know with your whole..” Anne made a funny face in the direction of the ginger haired boy who was focused on the task at hand. Sebastian raised an eyebrow, knowing exactly what she meant but still finding the gesture to be misleading.
“Don’t be silly, I’ll be fine. Can you catch Ominis up on what happened at dinner?” The brunette rubbed his cheek with the back of his fingers in contemplation. “I bet he’ll especially like the part where Samantha lost Ravenclaw house points and failed the main goal of her silly scheme.” He finished with a small chuckle.
“You should just tell him yourself, you’re way better at story telling… unless you aren’t eating with us?” Anne tilted her head to the side and looked up her brother in curiosity.
“No, we won’t be, gotta take care of this one.” Sebastian nodded his head over to Garreth who was now just watching their conversation with an awe struck admiration. “Don’t think the Slytherin’s will allow him at the table for diner and honestly, I don’t want him to make fool of himself and not remember tomorrow…. Oh right, can you tell Natty or Leander he won’t be back tonight too, just say it has to do with potions and they won’t blink an eye.”
Anne eyed her brother and his uncharacteristic maturity. Ensuring noone will worry and making plans that don’t serve his own wants or needs? Anne was aware of her twins little crush but she didn’t realise it could make him a so thoughtful.
“Who are you and what have you done with my brother?" Sebastian rolled his eyes.
“Ha, ha, very funny. Just say you’ll do it yeah?”
“Fine, but only because you aren’t being a total dick like normal.” Anne started to walk out of the classroom, meeting with Imelda and Amit who were waiting for her by the door.
“So where are we going?” Sebastian turned and smiled.
“You’ll see, just come with me.” He gently took Garreth hand in his own and tugged him in the direction of the door, shrugging his satchel over his shoulder as he went.
Together the two traversed the castle hand in hand. Many sideways glances were thrown their direction as they passed through the halls. Neither boy spared the others a second look, one too focused on where he was headed and the other too focused on their interlaced fingers.
Eventually Sebastian reached the corridor he was looking for and slowed to a halt. Garreth looked at the blank wall perplexed. Sebastian gulped and closed his eyes tightly trying to think with a clear certainty. The Gryffindor turned to ask why they were here but paused noticing the look of concentration on Sebastian’s face. Looking back at the wall still confused, Garreth began to notice a small swirl etch its way through the cobblestone. Another followed, then another, this continued until an entire door formed in place in front of them. Garreth squeezed Sebastian’s hand to get his attention and the boy's eyes slowly fluttered open.
“Okay, hopefully this worked.” Sebastian’s free hand delicately grasped the door handle and opened the heavy door.
“Is this, the room of requirement?” Garreth asked as he was lead inside a narrow hallway that was dimly lit.
“Yes, it should be, hopefully it understands what we require.” Sebastian smirked at his dumb pun, continuing to lead them towards the end where the narrow hallway opened into a moderately sized room.
There was an enchanting expanse of cobble castle walls that incorporated homey wooden accents and a marble floor. The room was warmly lit, a flickering fireplace on one side casting an orange hue out into the room. The wall directly opposite the hallway they and entered through held marvellous floor to ceiling faux windows. The windows were charmed to look as though they were looking out into the black lake.
Sebastian’s jaw fell slack as the best way he could describe the room was if someone had taken the best parts of the Slytherin and Gryffindor common rooms and put them together.
In front of the fireplace was a nice sofa and coffee table that was laden with two plates of food, presumably for their dinner. On the wall opposite the fireplace was a large king sized four poster bed, quite unlike anything either of the boys had seen before.
“Woah,” Sebastian said finally after a solid 3 minutes of staring awestruck at the room. “This is beyond anything I could have hoped for, thank you Hogwarts.” He said blatantly ignoring the lack of two beds.
“Woah indeed…” Garreth was looking at Sebastian again rather than the room. The brunette sighed internally wishing that the real Garreth were here instead, rather than some loved up zombie.
“Okay I’m uhh, feeling quite tired, what do you say we quickly have dinner and head to bed?” Sebastian suggested leading the way towards the sofa.
“What? I was hoping we could stay up all night talking or something cute like that.” Garreth pouted looking away. Sebastian nearly caved. That’s sounded amazing, like a dream true, but once again, with his Garreth. He wracked his brain as that sat down on the sofa closer than necessary.
“Think of it this way, the sooner you sleep the sooner you’ll get to wake up and we get to go on our date!” The brunette picked up the plates, handing one to Garreth. He was thankful it was all food easily consumed with his fingers.
“You raise a good point there darling.” Sebastian froze hearing the pet name fall from the ginger’s lips like honey. He felt a shiver run up his spine, being addressed as darling by Weasley did crazy things to his heart all over again. He really did love this idiot.
The two quickly ate and then took turns changing into the sleepwear that was conveniently provided for them on the bed. Not long after the two were in bed with the fire’s glow being the only light source. Garreth was cuddled into Sebastian’s side with his head rested in his chest.
“I can’t wait for tomorrow to come.” Garreth sighed snuggling in closer. Sebastian blinked looking down at the ginger curls that were falling on prettily on the Gryffindor’s face.
“Me either, goodnight love.” Sebastian took a deep breath to still his heart and mind before turning into the cuddle and wrapping his arms around the other boy.
“I love you.” Garreth whispered sleepily.
“I… Love you too,” Sebastian whispered knowing the other boy would forget he’d said it.
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Garreth blinked, his eyes opening to an unfamiliar bed. It was spacious unlike his usual bed. Looking down he became mesmerised but tufts of brown hair that brushed his chin. That was when he noticed, his arms were currently wrapped around the most handsome boy in all of Hogwarts. The brunette boy was nuzzled into his chest, breathing slow and steady breaths.
In that very moment Garreth felt like he had died and gone to heaven. If he hadn’t, he would happily die now in this moment. He didn’t want to move, in fear of waking the peaceful sleeper in his arms.
Closing his eyes, the ginger savoured the moment, not caring about what might have gotten him to this point. He didn’t have to tilt his head very far until he was nose rested in the unkempt bed head. He inhaled deeply feeling a wave of comfort roll through him and a nervous spring coil in his stomach.
It wasn’t long before there was a stirring movement from the Slytherin. A soft groan escaping his lips as he was pulled further into consciousness caused Garreth to gulp. Garreth felt an arm move from being snuggled up on his chest and slink over his waist. Sebastian somehow snuggling in closer before dozing again completely oblivious to their beyond close proximity.
“Whys your heart beating so fast?” Came a low husky mumble that vibrated across Garreth’s chest. The Gryffindor gulped at just how deep and gruff Sebastian’s voice had been. It was clogged by sleep.
“Good morning to you too, love.” Garreth own voice was similarly deep and groggy. He felt the body in his arms stiffen entirely. “Did you sleep alright?” It wasn’t long until Sebastian pulled back ever so slightly so he could look up at Garreth.
“Yeah.. morning.” Sebastian coughed to clear his throat and reached the arm that was around Garreth’s waist up and placed the back of his hand on Garreth forehead. “Are you feeling alright? Not feeling feverish or anything?” Garreth raised an eyebrow.
“Not sure why I would be feverish. But I do have a number of other questions, such as, where on earth are we?” Sebastian blinked. A moment passed with wide staring eyes before Sebastian relaxed and hugged Garreth tightly.
“Oh thank Merlin you’re back. You scared me.” Garreth felt speechless but laughed a little as he hugged Sebastian back. He felt as though he were in a dream he would surly wake from at any given moment. Pulling back once again Sebastian continued. “Quick, what’s the last thing you remember?”
Now that was one thing Garreth had forgotten to consider, too wrapped up in the moment. What was the last thing he remembered? There was a lot of stuff that was fuzzy and overlapped with a false dream like haze.
“Okay let’s work backwards,” Garreth said more to himself than Sebastian
. “I was trapped in a tiny white room that was sound proof? But I also couldn’t move so I just wriggled as I struggled against the restraints, but I felt extremely happy while this was happening…?” Sebastian watched Garreth’s eyes while he explained. Something about the way they flicked back and forth as though looking around within his mind was fascinating and surprisingly attractive. Sebastian figured the recollection was probably more of a dream Garreth had had rather than what had happened, but he was happy to listen either way.
“Before that I was dragged into that room down a long corridor, you were at the other end… and at one point so was Professor Sharp… and bloody Samantha.” he spat out through gritted teeth. “I was trying to say something to you… what was it? I was asking you to uhh,”
“Not to let you forget?” Sebastian looked up a little terror in his eyes that only faded when Garreth smiled brightly with recognition.
“That’s it, not to let me forget that we were meant to talk after class.” Sebastian sighed letting out his pent-up stress release. “I can remember the rough gist of what transpired between me saying that and when I was falling which I’m assuming is when Samantha pushed us. It’s just that anything in between is a little… odd to grasp. It’s as though I know, but in more of a feeling way than a factual way”
Sebastian was staring up at Garreth with such intensity that Garreth had to look away. Sebastian’s hand somehow found its way into Garreth’s hair and was twirling the ginger locks around his fingers.
“Well after you said that-“ Sebastian relayed the jist of what had happened afterwards. He made sure to leave in any extra cringeworthy moments just so he had something to hold over the Gryffindor’s head. Garreth closed his eyes in shame as Sebastian explained just how many times he had to tell him to eat rather than just stare at him. But just to ease the pained expression on the other boys face he finished up with a simple “but really though, you were nowhere near half as bad as I thought you’d be. Must be because you only had a couple drops.”
“That is so embarrassing! How am I meant to ask you out on a date now, let alone ask you to be my boyfriend.” Garreth sighed in frustration without much thought. Garreth froze, his shaking mossy eyes meeting the warm coffee brown ones in front of him.
“Good thing I want to be your boyfriend, and I already promised your love sick self yesterday that we would go on a date together today. No, you can’t opt out of it.” Sebastian smiled.
Garreth blinked feeling his heart swell with pure joy. “Really? You do? We are?”
“Yes really.” Sebastian hand stopped playing with the curls of Garreth’s hair, moving to rest on his cheek.
Garreth couldn’t help it. It was probably the worst place and the worst time. There was something just so mesmerising about the way Sebastian was looking up and him with such adoration. Garreth, in that moment felt overwhelmed by the affection he carried for the reckless Slytherin. He leaned his head down until his face was directly in front of Sebastian’s. They were mere millimetres apart, breathing in the same air as one another. Sebastian’s breath hitched ever so slightly as Garreth whispered, “Sebastian Sallow is my boyfriend.” Before softly pressing his lips into said boys.
It was a soft and sweet moment filled with pure love and adoration. Eyes falling closed in an innocent bliss. Sebastian reciprocated pulling Garreth’s face further down to create a more comfortable angle. The Gryffindor sighed into the kiss, the sound creating low vibrations. The Slytherin gasped at the sensation, allowing Garreth to slip his tongue into the gap. The two fought for dominance, barley acknowledging the need for air.
It wasn’t long before the kiss ended with Sebastian pulling away gasping. Garreth’s breaths were equally as ragged. After forcing enough oxygen into his lungs Garreth placed a quick peck back in Sebastian’s lips.
“So where do you want,” he placed a kiss on Sebastian’s cheek. "To go for,” he placed a kiss on his forehead. “Our date?” Sebastian hummed, relishing the tingling sensation left behind with every soft touch.
“I don’t know, it’s silly… but I was thinking we could have a picnic in the dark forest.” Sebastian snuggled back up against Garreth’s chest after returning a kiss to the gingers jaw. “I know this beautiful place by a lake, it really comes alive at night, and the stags always gravitate towards it for some reason. There are also a variety of potion ingredients nearby we could collect on the way.”
Garreth smiled hugging the boy in his arms tightly and resting his chin upon his head. “That sounds perfect, I can’t wait, I’ll make sure to pack the special release every flavour beans I’ve been saving.”
“Special release? But they sold out in an instant! I thought I would never get a chance to try them.”
“Let’s just say I know my way around a bribe when I have to.”
Sebastian leaned in and kissed Garreth again. Garreth’s heart felt full and he was certain that as long as he had Sebastian, everything else would fall into place.