Chapter Text
At the top of the stairs, you slow to a stop when you heard your name being called behind you.
"Yes?" You turn around to see the boy who you'd beaten in a duel on the first day of Defense Against the Dark Arts, which happened to be just yesterday, approaching you from the lower steps. Sebastian, you think his name was.
To be honest, he sort of scared you. The nervousness that crept in from actually winning against a student who seemed very sure of themselves and confident when it came to dueling couldn't be helped; you wondered (and worried) whether he'd have his ego bruised from his defeat in something that clearly meant a big deal to him. That was quite a duel. The whole castle's bound to be talking about it. His potentially-meant-to-scare-you-and-also-hold-back-deep-upset words echo in your mind, anxiousness rising as he continued to climb the stairs.
"Fancy seeing you here," he quipped once he reached you, moving just a bit to be standing near you on the same step, forcing you to turn your body to face him. You assume he wouldn't have liked the height difference if he had stayed in front, which didn't help your growing nervousness.
"You thought over Crossed Wands? The dueling club?," he asked, adding the last part to clarify in case you'd forgotten. Again, not helping how below him you felt, or at least how high above you it seemed he felt. Thought, he used, as if to make you believe you were supposed to think about it and make up your mind a while ago. Or maybe you're just overthinking. You decide to try and push your worries and anxiety aside, giving him the benefit of the doubt. Surely he can't have thought out all of this, and what, to simply make you fear him more? Besides, it seems you've been standing without responding for far too long; Sebastian blinks as he shifts his weight slightly from one leg to the other, clearly waiting for your answer. At least he's patient, or is trying to be.
"I'm sorry, I haven't made up my mind yet," you admit. Why would I give my attention to that when I have other things going on? you thought to yourself. As if school stress wasn't enough (including not only new magical classes but being both a new and late student), you had also just witnessed someone get murdered and fought off things you didn't even want to think about right now, just around a few days ago at this point. Oh well. You suppose his priorities are different than yours, and you decide you'll respect that.
His eyebrows rise from your response, although it seemed like he wasn't too surprised and likely anticipated it. More like he was hoping you would have a different answer.
"I see," he muses, his arms coming up to cross over his chest. Not too unfriendly-like; he was likely just looking for something to do with his hands.
"Well, I've already told Lucan about you," he says. At the lack of response or recognition in your eyes, he says, "Lucan Brattleby. The Crossed Wands leader, pretty much. Ring a bell?," he teased, lips turning up to the slightest smirk. At the slight flush you get and how your anxiety is slipping through the cracks of your mask, he drops the smirk and continues, tone less forward this time.
"He really is looking forward to meeting you. Nobody, and I mean nobody's bested me in a duel before," he explains (and at least partially brags).
"It's quite a big deal over at Crossed Wands. By it, I mean you," he compliments, moving one hand to point at you. You nod in acknowledgement and blink, finally truly meeting his eyes in a moment of courage.
"Alright, I'll think about it--"
"But that's what you said last time," Sebastian presses, unable to hide how pushy he is now.
"Come on, it's your first year at Hogwarts and you've only got two more after this. Don't wanna graduate with any regrets, now, do we?" You swallow, getting a bit scared again at how forward he's being. You don't want to tell him no, so:
"I-- Alright. Alright, yes, I'll--"
"Brilliant!," he cuts you off, face breaking into a smile, brown eyes practically shining as his hands form fists and come to the front of him, the movement that one makes after a victory.
"I knew I wasn't wrong about you!," he says, still smiling at you as his hands drop to his sides. You blink a few times, trying to hide how startled you are with the tiniest forced grin, not wanting to spoil his fun.
"Ah, they do smile," he says, amused and probably proud it was him to discover it.
"That's it! Don't be so up-tight all the time, enjoy your time here!," he exclaims, causing passerbys from your staircase and others to look over. He practically runs down the steps then, after remembering something, turns around to look at you, the height difference definitely present now.
"Oh, I almost forgot-- Meet Lucan by the Astronomy Tower court yard at 10:00 Friday morning. Remember, it's top secret!," he yells out at you, turning around to run all the way down now, disappearing into the halls.
You can't help the sigh that escapes you. Whether it's out of exhaustion or relief, you don't entirely know. Ignoring the stares you're now getting, you continue your interrupted journey to Professor Fig's office.