Chapter Text
The day Professor Black’s ever-so-passionate voice rang out across the Great Hall announcing that Hogwarts was to host the Triwizard Tournament was a hectic one, to say the least. Given everything that was on your plate this year, you didn't even consider the possibility of entering the tournament. So, initially, when the room had burst into a buzz of excitement at the announcement of the tournament — and the upcoming arrival of students from Beauxbatons and Durmstrang — you thought about how nice it’d be to be the spectator for once, enjoying the festivities from a safe distance.
That was, of course, until Sebastian’s eyes found yours across the room from the Slytherin table, that mischievous and excited glint meaning only one thing… One way or another, both of your names were going to end up in that damn goblet.
And, given all that had happened so far this year, you can’t say you were too surprised it ended up being your name spat out of it…
But, as it turns out, the trials of the Tournaments themselves were but one worry of many. For as excited as you were for the trials —and let’s face it, as much as you dreaded it too (hard to ignore that death tally) — you had forgotten that small inconvenience that would be--
“The Yule Ball…” Professor Weasley had called out one day at the end of Transfiguration, the referencing to the tournament naturally perking up a few ears. “We mustn’t forget, everyone. It often does slip by most, but it is as essential a part of this tournament as the contest itself. As the tournament was conceived, so was the Yule Ball. The two hand in hand.”
Professor Weasley clapped her hands together as she spoke, smiling down at the look of dread on most of the class's faces. “Oh, come now. At the end of it all, the purpose of this tournament is to bring us all together. Three wizarding schools, separated by borders, brought together to form bonds that very well may last you a lifetime. And, whilst yes, the bond between you all is sure to strengthen as you rally behind our school's champion--” Naturally, most eyes in the room turn to you at the comment, most giving you encouraging smiles. “--The Yule Ball gives us an opportunity to do not only that, but to participate in a night of dance between all three schools. And, of course, to enjoy yourselves.”
You fought back the urge to send a balled-up piece of parchment paper Sebastian’s way at his suggestive eyebrow waggle from the desk opposite you.
“But Professor--” Natsai had raised her hand, garnering Professor Weasley’s attention. “What if we’re not too confident with dance?”
“Ah, I’m glad you asked,” Professor Weasley chirped. The whole room groaned in unison at the giant gramophone she levitated over, which had been sneakily hidden up until now… “Oh, stop your belly-aching, wouldn’t you? I promise you, this is going to be fun,” Professor Weasley insisted as she carefully manoeuvred the old record player down.
“And, most importantly,” Professor Weasley added, fiddling with the needle atop the record before turning back to the class. “Best we get our very own champion up to speed, shouldn’t we? Given they and the two other champions will be opening the dance.”
That… you had not known. You had faced dragons and corrupted goblins, dark wizards, poachers, and all manner of dangerous beasts. And yet, something as simple as the Yule Ball had drained all the blood from your face. Was it too late to back out now? Maybe if you—
“The Yule Ball.” Sebastian’s voice snapped you right out of your memories, returning back to the Great Hall tables where you had become lost in thought. Well, not so much just his voice but his sudden appearance at the Hufflepuff table, dropping down onto the bench so hard that it rattles the entire table. “I have a proposition for you.”
“Did this proposition include getting orange juice on my eggs?” You complain, staring down pitifully at the orange juice bath your toast was now swimming in after Sebastian’s abrupt entrance had knocked over your glass. A few of your Hufflepuff housemates were giving Sebastian less than savoury looks as he essentially forced them to scoot up the bench and make room.
“Ah. Apologies.” Sebastian at least has the decency to look sorry. “Anyway, I had been thinking… What with you having to dance the first dance of the Yule Ball—”
“Don’t remind me...” You grumble.
“—With you having to dance the first dance—” Sebastian repeats, firmer, because he can be a right git like that sometimes. “I can only imagine you’re going to want to make sure you get it just right, just like the competition itself, am I right?”
“...I guess…” You agree, unsure as to where he’s going with all this.
“Great. Because quite frankly, I’d rather not make a fool of myself at this dance either. And well, let’s face it, Professor Weasley’s dance lessons weren’t exactly all that enlightening. Hence, the proposition—” Sebastian holds his arms out wide. “Dance Practice.”
“...Dance Practice?” You repeat incredulously, unsure you had heard him correctly.
“Precisely.” Evidently, you had heard him correctly. “Makes sense, doesn’t it? Best to embarrass ourselves with only each other around than on the day. In front of the whole school. And Beauxbatons. And Durmstrang.”
Made sense, you supposed. And, truth be told, your brief dancing lesson in Professor Weasley’s class had gone to show just how incompetent at dance you truly were… Maybe some dance practice wasn’t the worst of ideas.
“Alright, then. Suppose I could use the practice…”
“That you could,” Sebastian agrees a little too easily, grinning at the half-hearted glare you send his way. “We’ll sort out details later. Best I get going now before Professor Hecat has my hide for being late again…”
He’s gone as quick as he had come, jumping up from the bench and heading towards the Great Hall's large doors in a flash. You can’t help but watch him as he goes, a tad dazed by the last five minutes or so.
“Huh… That was odd,” Poppy’s voice pipes up from next to you. You startle a little, momentarily forgetting where you were.
“What’s odd?” You ask.
“Sebastian,” Poppy clarifies, nodding her head in the direction of his retreating form. “When he brought up the Yule Ball, I thought it’d be to ask you to go with him, not for dance practice.”
“What? No--” You quickly deny with a shake of your head. “We’re just friends is all. Besides, it’s not a half-bad idea.”
Poppy simply hums in response before returning her attention to her breakfast. You do the same, an uneasy feeling settling in your stomach as you gaze down at the mess of food and beverage Sebastian had turned your breakfast into.
Dance Practice.
This was sure to end in disaster…
* * *
How many times had you snuck out of your common room to meander the hallways of the castle at night now, you wonder? More times than if you had never met one Sebastian Sallow, that’s for sure. In fact, it was due to said boy’s late-night owl that you were currently sneaking down the castle’s endless maze of hallways, keeping a careful eye and ear out for any lingering prefects, professors, or ghosts out on patrol duty for… Well, to catch students like yourself.
Thankfully, you make it to the outside of the Defence Against the Dark Arts classroom without being spotted, quickly making your way to the hidden passageway tucked away in the corner. A quick wave of your wand opens up the passage to the Undercroft; the sun, moon and dotted stars glinting at you in the dark of night as the door swings open.
Sure enough, you find Sebastian waiting down there, just as his letter had entailed. His head swivels in your direction at the sound of the old and rusted gate being lifted up, arms across his chest as he leans up against the wall behind him, awaiting your arrival.
“Ah, good. You made it,” he comments as pushes himself off the wall, nodding in greeting as you approach. “Part of me thought you might have chickened out.”
“I think you know me well enough by now to know I don’t back down from a challenge,” you retort. “Even if it is… dancing…”
“Yes, well.” Sebastian awkwardly cleared his throat. “I was going to propose that perhaps we meet here in the Undercroft to practice, but uh…” He trails off, the two of you glancing around at the admittedly dreary room. “Whilst it might make a good space for games of Gobstones and banned spell practice, it does lack a rather charm needed for dance.”
“Well, I didn’t want to offend you or Ominis by saying it, but…”
“So, it seems we’re in need of some private space to ourselves that’s easy enough to sneak to in the night, large enough for us to practice and… perhaps a bit more well lit…” Sebastian rattles off. “Any suggestions?”
The Room of Requirement would have made the perfect fit. Or, more accurately, it would make itself the perfect fit. A room that’s able to transform itself to contain its occupant's needs… It would only make sense that it’s the first room you think of. And yet, for some reason, it’s not. You weren’t entirely sure why, but as Sebastian detailed the kind of room you’d need, the Room of Requirement isn’t what you think of. No, it’s another room entirely that springs into view, so clearly seen in your mind's eye.
Perhaps because a part of you had been dying to show this particular room to Sebastian for quite some time now…
“I think I might know a place,” you tell him, gaining an interested eyebrow raise for the comment. “So long as you swear not to tell another soul about it. I mean it. Not even Ominis. And I know that’s unfair given you’ve both shared this space with me, but--”
“I’m going to go ahead and assume it’s something to do with… everything that's happened this year. Your, um… trips with Professor Fig and the whole… you sensing and harnessing ancient magic thing,” Sebastian guesses. Correctly, might you add. At your nod, he continues. “I won’t breathe a word of this place, okay? You and I will be the only ones to know. I promise.”
You let out an uneasy breath, hoping you won’t regret this. It was hard to imagine you would with how earnestly Sebastian was looking at you. “Alright… Then follow me.”
“Always will.”
Once again you find yourself sneaking through the castle, relying on the light of the moon filtering through Hogwart's towering windows to guide your way. You’re not sure if Sebastian’s presence beside you as you descend further down into the castle is relieving, or more of a distraction. A bit of both, most likely. Either way, he stays right on your heel as promised, managing to keep any burning questions he must have as to where you’re going from escaping as you get closer and closer to your destination.
You slow down as you approach the door, looking rather out of place in the bland grey stone walls of the derelict corridor leading to it. The sight of it piques Sebastian’s curiosity, moving past you to stand in front of the door to marvel at its beauty. He pressed a hand lightly to the spiralling design pressed into the door, the briefest flash of recognition crossing his face as he studies it.
“Wait until you see inside,” you remark, giving him a wry smile as he turns his head to face you. He smiles back, the allure of exploring a mostly unknown piece of Hogwarts shining bright across his face. Looking at him now, you could almost picture his excited eleven-year-old face as he looked upon Hogwarts for the first time from the lake, ready to start a new adventure. He steps back from the door, gesturing with a wave of his arm for you to step forward and grant the two of you entry.
You place a hand on each door, pushing them open and stepping into the Map Chamber. You immediately glance behind you at Sebastian as he enters the room, fighting back a grin at his gobsmacked expression as he takes in the room for the first time. Not that you could blame him in the slightest.
“What is…” Sebastian tries and fails to begin, eyes darting around the expanse of the room as the two of you make your way over to the guard rail to the balcony overlooking the room, standing on either side of the pedestal. “What is this place?"
“The Map Chamber,” you answer, noticing his gaze had been drawn to the centre of the room. More particularly, the part of the room that had given it its name. “The Keepers built this place to guide those with the ability to sense ancient magic to the trials that would deem them worthy of possessing it.”
“As in… you?” Sebastian asks, tearing his eyes away from the beauty of the map to you.
“As in me,” you quietly agree, not yet to move your own gaze away from the mapped floor. It truly was something to see, no matter how many times you had made your way down here. Those countless dots of light making up the castle and its surrounding landscape, floating within a deep ocean of blacks and blues… Almost like the stars above in the night sky, right below your feet.
“Nearly five whole years I’ve been in this castle…” Sebastian breathes in disbelief, shaking his head. “And I didn’t have a clue. It feels as if I could live a hundred lifetimes within this castle walls, and I’d still never uncover all its secrets…”
The two of you descend the short staircase into the chamber, Sebastian a tad quicker than you in his eagerness to get a closer look. You can’t help but smile at the almost childlike wonder on his face as he first steps upon the glass-like surface of the map, the scattered light from below reflected across his face.
“This is incredible…” He whispers, the brief moment he turns his beaming smile in your direction making your stomach flip. “This is Hogwarts, isn’t it?”
“And most of the Highlands it resides in,” you add, joining him atop the map. He had crouched down, a hand outstretched as it gently trailed across the dotted recreation of the castle. His eyes quickly flicker up the four tall portraits looming over the two of you, his hand slipping away as he stands back up.
“What about those?” He asks, pointing to the portraits. Thankfully, all four were empty.
“They’re the Keepers Portraits,” you answer. “This is where I come to speak with them whenever there’s a trail I need to partake in, or news to share about… everything that’s been going on, I suppose.”
“And… where are they now?” Sebastian asks, eyes darting perhaps a little nervously over at the portraits before returning to you.
“Well, these aren’t their only portraits,” you point out. “And given the time of night, I’d imagine they’re asleep. Probably best I double-check in the future whenever we practice though…”
“Yes, I’d imagine that’d be a rather awkward conversation,” Sebastian agrees. “Should we be concerned that paintings currently have a better sleep schedule than we do?”
“I did have a normal sleep schedule until you came along,” you remind him.
Sebastian grins, not at all ashamed. “And isn’t your life all the more enriched for it?”
Rather begrudgingly, you agreed. Not out loud, of course.
“I suppose we best get started then,” Sebastian announces, interlocked hands resting by his stomach as he cocks an eyebrow at you. “How did you want to do this?”
“Uh…” You hadn’t thought that far ahead. Mostly because this was his idea, after all. “We’ll probably need music for this, but…” Your eyes scan across the room, even though you already know there is nothing in this room to produce music, given it was a map chamber and all, and not a music room.
“Good thing I came prepared,” Sebastian remarks, reaching into his cloak pocket and pulling something out.
“...Is that a gramophone?” You ask. It certainly looked like a gramophone, but… most gramophones you’d seen before weren’t exactly small enough to fit in the palm of your hand.
“Thought it’d be easier than trying to drag the thing through the corridors all the way here.” Sebastian heads over to the edge of the room, the rushing waterfall creating quite the backdrop behind him as he carefully places the miniature gramophone on the ground. You have your doubts on how loud that tiny record player could possibly be, and are about to express said doubts when Sebastian pulls out his wand, pointing it towards the gramophone.
“Engorgio!”
The structure of the gramophone seems to warp and twist as the spell hits it, increasing in size in the blink of an eye before a regular-sized gramophone is sat where the model version used to be. Sebastian looks much too pleased with himself as he gestures towards the machine, tucking his wand back into his cloak pocket so he can get the music started.
It’s not until the first few soft notes of whatever classical piece Sebastian had chosen fill the room that your nerves hit you full force — along with the realization of how absurd this was all going to be. Really, you shouldn’t be nervous; that was the point of this after all. It was just Sebastian. Just a dance with a friend where you can embarrass yourselves and laugh about it to yourselves, because it was just yourselves.
And yet, as Sebastian came to stand in front of you, the two of you stood upon the centre of the map chamber's circular floor, you were almost sure you saw a few flickers of nervousness on the young boy’s face, too.
“You remember the basics from Professor Weasley’s lessons, right?” He asks, voice oddly softer than usual. At your confirming nod, he nods in return. “Alright then…”
There’s an odd beat of silence where neither of you know what to do, waiting to see who would move first. In the end, you both move at the same time, muscle memory from Professor Weasley’s lessons kicking in. Your left hand comes to rest on his right shoulder, your right hands meeting in the air between you. The first timid touch of Sebastian’s hand against your waist hitches at your breath, which you’re thankfully able to conceal.
“Ready?” Sebastian asks. Not trusting yourself to speak you can only nod once more. His fingers momentarily tighten against your waist, evidently having to prepare himself for this as much as you were. “Then let’s begin.”
It’s… perhaps the most ungraceful dance of your life.
The first few steps seem to go well. At least well enough that you can almost fool yourself into thinking you’d have this mastered in no time. But there’s one step, then two steps, then three steps, then on the fourth step there’s a miscommunication somewhere, and you step on Sebastian’s foot so hard that it makes you wince in sympathy.
You have to hand it to him, he does remarkably well at hiding his pained grimace. You’ll just pretend the shine in his eyes is from the reflection of the floor below you, and not tears of pain.
In your defence — and admittedly also your relief — it wasn’t exactly as if Sebastian was faring any better. Yes, you’ll admit that a fair chunk of the missteps was on you, but you’re sure it wasn’t you that was to blame for where you danced straight into each other, almost sending you both sprawling to the ground.
But… here’s the miraculous thing. Somewhere along the line, the nerves do start to fade. Not completely, rather annoyingly, but… Professor Weasley was right. For the first time, dancing was fun. Flushed faces and stumbling apologies at every misstep quickly turn into unabashed fits of laughter, both of your quiet giggles echoing around the chamber at particularly funny mistakes (you’re not even sure how it was possible for a person to trip over their own feet, but you had achieved it tonight).
What you were sure was going to be a gruelling hour of practice flies by, and before long you’re reaching the end of your last song, dancing at least marginally better than when you had at the start. The last of the songs notes spill out from the gramophone as the two of you slow your dance, bringing it to an end. For a few seconds you stand together in the quiet of the room, gramophone now silent, yet still holding onto each other. Then, he smiles, this small one that’s barely a flicker of his lips before he’s pulling away, bowing to end the dance. You return his courtesy, and, weirdly are rather keenly aware of the absence of his touch against your waist, whilst once odd to feel now more so without it. Your hand was already starting to go cold, no longer warmed by the press of his palm against yours.
You think, just maybe, you miss it.
“Rather a productive evening, don’t you think?” Sebastian breaks the silence. Curse that suggestive tone of his. “Although, for future references, I am quite keen on keeping my toes attached to my feet and not flattened.”
You scoff at the clear exaggeration. “Flattened?”
“Like pancakes.” Sebastian delivers his line dead-serious, somehow able to keep his face as serious as his voice.
“Well I’m rather keen on avoiding a trip to the hospital wing to repair a broken arm,” you tease right back, not ready to let him forget about his spectacularly wrong dance attempt. “Did you really think that arms could bend that way?”
“Hmm… Fair enough,” he concedes. “You have to admit, it has worked, hasn’t it? I’d be confident in saying we’ve made a good start from Professor Weasley’s ‘lessons’.”
“It was… better than I thought it’d be,” you confess, being rewarded with a smile that’s more in the eyes than the lips. “And yes, I’d say we’ve made a good start. Or at least, I’m feeling a bit more prepared for the Yule Ball now…”
At the mention of the Yule Ball, Sebastian’s smile dampens a little. Seems he was dreading the event as much as you were. “Right… That...”
“I’m sure we’ll both be feeling more confident about it when we’re able to get through a song without stepping on each other’s feet,” you tell him, which, oddly, seems to perk him up a little.
“Given this was such a success and all, does that mean I should expect you back here for practice again? Perhaps tomorrow evening?”
“Looking forward to it,” you say, and you genuinely were. You didn’t think you’d end your last dance of this evening disappointed that it was coming to a close, and yet… here you are, unable to ponder over just how many more practices like this you’ll manage to squeeze into your busy schedule before the big day.
Your answer brings that smile back from him, the one that makes the corner of his eyes crease and lights his eyes with a warmth that makes it difficult for you to hold his gaze. “In that case, we should probably start heading back. I don’t know about you, but I can only ignore the alluring siren call of my bed for so long.”
You were really going to have to talk with him about that suggestive tone.