art ⋆ masterlist ⋆ seeing sebastian for the first time (aka. dada class scene reworked)
running your hands down your robes to smooth out the almost imperceptible wrinkles, you stand next to ‘the other new fifth year’ (but you just called them by their initials—mc) as you two watch sebastian and leander duel in the defense against dark arts classroom.
you both were new to the school as fifth years—you had transferred from ilvermorny, and they’d come from.. well, no one really knew. you two had gotten close over the past few days, bonding over the fact that you were both new to the school and that you two were still getting the hang of things.
suddenly, while you and mc were chatting and watching the duel unfold, sebastian casts—
“bombarda!”
“merlin’s beard..” you mutter under your breath, eyes widening as you watch the head of professor hecat’s skeleton dislodge from the spell, toppling downwards. leander yelps and ducks, but before the skull could hit him, you hear a loud, stern voice cast levioso.
you and mc look up to see professor hecat stepping out of her office, lightly chiding the two for what they’ve done. she takes slow, measured steps, lodging the skull back into its original position.
while she’s speaking, you glance over and get your first real look at sebastian.
his messy, espresso brown hair falls over his forehead, small pearls of sweat beading down from his hairline and dripping down his fair skin. freckles are scattered across his cheekbones like paint speckled on a blank canvas.
his honey brown eyes are full of mischief as he holds his wand, a small smirk on his face as if it had been permanently etched into his features. he looks effortlessly cool, and you’re incredibly captivated by him.
almost as if he’s felt your gaze, he turns to face you and mc.
“that,” sebastian gestures to the levitating skull. “new fifth years, is how you duel.”
he tosses a cocky smirk in your direction, eyes locking with yours for a brief second before turning his attention back to professor hecat.
you quickly turn to mc, feeling a bit star struck by the whole interaction. “merlin’s beard, he’s so handsome..”
mc giggles and nudges your shoulder. “i have a feeling we’ll see a lot of him soon.”
you really hoped they were right.
a/n: quick drabble! sorry if this is bad—it’s late rn and i’m so tired but i wanted to put this out <3 LOVE writing lil drabbles for sebastian.
Summary: Desperate to escape the suffocating "curation" of her life with Leander, she retreats to the shadows of the Undercroft. A late-night celebration involving a bottle of premium Firewhisky leads to a blurred, honest evening with her oldest friends.
Characters: Sebastian Sallow, Ominis Gaunt.
Word Count: ~1180 words
Masterlist
The familiar, damp scent of the Undercroft felt like a sanctuary.
Sneaking away from the library had been a tactical maneuver, one that required dodging Leander’s watchful eyes and the constant, suffocating offer of "help with her Charms essay." She was growing weary of being watched like a fragile artifact. She needed the shadows; she needed people who didn’t try to fix her.
Ominis was there, seated by the small table, his wand emitting its soft, rhythmic red pulse as he focused on a stack of parchment. He jolted slightly—or rather, his head snapped toward the entrance—as she approached.
"Who’s—?" he began, his voice tense until he recognized the specific cadence of her footsteps. His posture relaxed, though his eyebrows remained arched in genuine surprise. "You! I had almost forgotten the sound of your footsteps, and I certainly wasn’t expecting to find you venturing into the shadows tonight. I’d begun to think the sunlight of the courtyard had finally claimed you entirely."
"I just needed to breathe, Ominis," she admitted, sinking into the chair opposite him.
Ominis stayed silent for a moment, his sightless gaze fixed in her direction with a gentlemanly gravity. "May I ask a question? One that might overstep?"
"When have you ever cared about politely overstepping?" she said with a mischievous side smile.
Ominis offered a faint, tired smile. "Fair point. Tell me... is Prewett treating you properly? Truly? A man of his lineage is taught to cherish his 'possessions,' but I find his brand of care to be particularly... loud."
She hesitated, the lie rising to her lips from muscle memory. "He’s wonderful, Ominis. Really. He’s thoughtful and sweet." She paused, the weight of the cage pressing against her ribs.
"But…" she hesitated, weighing whether to burden him with her growing unease. Ominis was, after all, her most trusted confidant next to Sebastian, and by far the more level-headed of the two—the calm, rational anchor of their often-chaotic trio. "Lately, it feels like he's trying to curate me," she whispered. "My dress, my speech... he says it's just to impress his family, to ensure the introduction is smooth." She hesitated, the names of Ominis and Sebastian hovering on her tongue, but she couldn't bring herself to admit that Leander didn't approve of them, either. "He's decided lately that I need protection. He sees my dreams of being an Auror and those 'adventures' in the Highlands as nothing but unnecessary risks. But I believe he’ll eventually realize I don’t need protecting. He’ll change once he realizes I’m going to be fine after I've made a good impression on his family; he just worries."
Ominis’s expression remained unreadable, but his silence felt like a quiet disagreement. "People rarely change to fit the person they are trying to mold, my dear. They only squeeze harder."
The heavy thud-clack of the secret entrance opening interrupted them. Sebastian practically stumbled in, his breathing heavy, his leather backpack slumping off one shoulder. He looked exhausted, but his eyes were bright with a manic sort of triumph.
"You're here!" he exclaimed, his gaze locking onto her with a sudden, intense heat. "Perfect timing. I was woodenly worried I'd have to drink this with only Ominis for company, and we all know how much of a buzzkill he can be."
"What is in that bag, Sebastian?" Ominis asked, adopting a tone of theatrical exhaustion that was only half-faked. "It sounds like you're carrying a small armory."
Sebastian swung the bag onto the table with a melodic clink-clink. He pulled up a spare chair, the wood scraping harshly against the stone floor, and reached in to pull out two dark, amber bottles. "The first official purchase of Sallow the Heir," he announced, a proud, crooked grin on his face. "Premium Firewhisky. Picked it up on my way back from London after a long meeting with the goblins and tons of paperwork with a bit of that inheritance gold. Figured if I’m going to be a man of means, I should at least taste like one."
"Firewhisky? On a Tuesday?" she asked, a laugh bubbling up.
"It’s a celebration of rebellion," Sebastian countered, uncorking the first bottle. The sharp, spicy scent of cinnamon and liquid fire immediately filled the air.
The first sip was a localized inferno in the throat, but the second brought a blooming, reckless warmth. The next hour became a blurred descent into chaos. The bottles passing between them as the heat of the alcohol began to melt the weeks of tension. Sebastian was at his most charming, weaving ridiculous tales of his 'banker meetings' and the crumbling ruin of his parents' old house. He’d even had a worker out to estimate the repairs, only to find the cost would swallow nearly every Galleon he’d just inherited—a risk he couldn't afford to take. Graduation loomed like a specter; at Hogwarts, his every need was met, but soon he would have to face the reality of feeding himself and maintaining the Feldcroft home. It was the only suitable place he had left to live with any shred of decency, and the thought of it falling into further disrepair while he struggled to find his footing made his stomach turn.
As the night wore on, the initial, polite distance between their chairs began to dissolve. Seeking the solid, radiating heat of his body against the damp chill that crept through the Undercroft, she found herself shifting her seat. Slowly, almost imperceptibly, she moved her chair away from her original spot opposite Ominis, sliding it along the stone floor until she was tucked into the corner of the table right beside Sebastian.
By the time the first bottle was drained, Ominis was unrecognizable. His usually pristine hair was a chaotic mess from how many times he’ve run his hands through it in drunken frustration at Sebastian’s jokes. He sat slumped on his chair, his chin resting heavily in his hand, his voice a low, melodic mumble.
"Sebastian," Ominis slurred, the syllable stretching as he let out a soft, uncharacteristic giggle. "You're... you're a menace. A literal hazard to my health and my reputation."
"Oh, hush," Sebastian teased, nudging Ominis’s shoulder across the table.
"No, no, you truly are," Ominis insisted, pointing a wavering finger at her as he let out a sharp, liquor-laden hiccup. "A hazard to my peace, a hazard to your friend’s... delicate relationship... and a hazard to every other poor girl in this damned castle." He chuckled, the sound thick and lopsided.
"Maybe he's not wrong," she added, her voice bubbly as she played along with Ominis’s drunken assessment.
"You've become quite sassy in your old age, my friend," Sebastian countered, his eyes flickering toward her for a heartbeat before he pointedly looked back at Ominis, clearly wishing for a subject change. "Tell us, Ominis. What have you been doing with your spare time now that I've been busy with... well, with girls?"
Ominis let out a soft, mysterious hum. "Things," he whispered, a smirk playing on his lips as he tried to look dignified while swaying. "Important... Gaunt things. You wouldn't... understand." He tried to stand, stumbled, and eventually gave up on the table, choosing instead to sprawl out on the small, moth-eaten sofa in the corner. He was asleep within seconds, his breathing deep and even.
She watched him from her seat, a soft chuckle escaping her. "Do you think we’re a bad influence on him, Sebastian?"
Sebastian looked over at his friend, his expression softening into a rare, genuine fondness. "I’ve never seen him sleep so deeply," he whispered. "He’s always so tense, waiting for a letter or a lecture. How could giving him a few hours of peace be bad for him?"
"I suppose you're right," she said, her laugh soft and bubbly from the firewhisky. She glanced at Ominis’s peaceful face and shook her head, the sharp edges of the last weeks finally starting to melt away into a hazy, golden warmth. "Though I don't know if I'd say you've never seen him sleep this deeply. Have you ever actually looked at him during one of Binns' lectures? He’s practically radiant in his slumber while the rest of us are fighting for our lives against the boredom."
Turning her gaze back to Sebastian, the air in the Undercroft suddenly felt dangerously thin. She realized with a start that the space between them had vanished; her chair was now pressed right against his, their shoulders nearly brushing in the newfound closeness. The small table, which had seemed so expansive an hour ago, now felt like a narrow, fragile bridge. The second bottle of Firewhisky sat half-empty between them, its amber contents glowing like a trapped soul in the torchlight, but it was no longer enough to fill the shrinking gap. In the wake of Ominis’s departure, the silence was no longer empty—it hummed with a new, jagged energy that made her skin prickle.
"So," she began, "how are things with 'the girls'?" she asked, referencing Ominis’s earlier comment with a playful arch of her eyebrow.
"It isn't 'girls,' plural. It’s just Nerida," he said with a feigned tone of annoyance, though he was clearly loving having his friend back—pushy, sassy comments and all. The tension that had been building between them felt momentarily lighter, anchored by their old, familiar rhythm.
"Well, I imagine the Mermish research is keeping you very... occupied."
Sebastian took a slow, deliberate sip of his Firewhisky, the heat of the liquid hitting his throat. "Everything is fine…" he said shortly. "She’s certainly dedicated to her cause."
He didn't elaborate. He didn't mention that he was already growing bone-weary of the endless monologues about underwater acoustics and fish-scale variations. Any intellectual connection he’d thought they shared was now starting to seem like nothing more than her weird, unsettling obsession.
A short, heavy silence followed, the air thick with the unsaid.
Sebastian stared into his glass, the amber liquid swirling like the very thoughts he was trying to drown. "We’d be terrible together, you know," he whispered, the Firewhisky finally stripping away the last of his pride to voice the mantra he’d been repeating to himself for weeks. Ever since their talk in the Undercroft, he’d used those words—the very ones she had thrown out so casually—as a shield to keep his own heart at bay. He hadn't been sure if she was joking or deadly serious when she’d said it, but he had latched onto the idea like a lifeline, a way to convince himself that the barrier between them was for the best. "As a couple. An absolute disaster."
She looked at him, their proximity making the heat of the Firewhisky feel like a fever, and managed a husky laugh. "Oh, the worst," she agreed playfully, her cheeks blushing.
Sebastian leaned in, his face flushed, the scent of cinnamon and sandalwood radiating off him. "I’d spend all my time dragging you into tombs," he said, his eyes dropping to her lips, "and you’d spend all your time trying to save me from myself. We wouldn’t last a month."
"Two weeks," she countered, her heart hammering a frantic rhythm, her eyes half-lided. "Max."
They were inches apart. She could feel the radiating warmth of his body, a sharp contrast to the cool air of the Undercroft draft at her back. There was no "safety" here. There was no bright, Ministry-approved future. There was only the taste of the forbidden and a thrill that felt like lightning trapped in a bottle.
"Leander would have a heart attack," Sebastian breathed, his gaze flicking back up to meet hers. There was a raw, undeniable hunger in his eyes—not just for her, but for the version of her that belonged in the dark.
"Leander isn't here," she whispered.
She didn't know if it was the alcohol or the weeks of being "molded," but she reached out, her fingers grazing the hair at the nape of his neck. The attraction was inevitable, a physical pull that felt like Ancient Magic itself—destructive, powerful, and utterly out of her control.
Sebastian didn't move to close the gap, not yet. Her hand on the back of his neck felt electrical, a jolt that burned far more fiercely than the Firewhisky ever could, carving a hollow, aching hole right through his chest. The heat from her touch radiated through him until his skin felt feverish, and he bit his lip hard enough to taste copper, a desperate attempt to stay grounded. He just hovered there, his breath ghosting against her lips, letting her feel the full weight of the choice. It wasn't love, but it was something much more dangerous. It was the thrill of the fall.
She leaned in further, her eyes fluttering shut as the world spun in a hazy, amber blur. For a second, Sebastian’s heart nearly stopped, his hands reaching out to steady her, certain that the choice had finally been made. But as she moved closer, her head didn't find his lips; it slumped heavily, and with a soft, content sigh, she settled against his shoulder.
The Firewhisky had finally won. Her breathing deepened instantly, the reckless tension bleeding out of her as she surrendered to a sudden, heavy sleep. Sebastian froze, his arms awkwardly hovering around her for a long minute before he slowly let out the breath he’d been holding. He didn't move. He couldn't. He just sat there in the silence of the Undercroft, the scent of her hair and the radiating warmth of her body a quiet, agonizing torture, while across the room, Ominis let out a soft, rhythmic snore.
Someone else had posted an image asking whose hand we're seeing in the Undercroft. I had the lighting hit just right and I can confirm it is DEFINITELY the Indifference / Murmur.
With the head being near the bottom of the Undercroft it gives me the impression of Thrax being dragged down by it.
Request: "Hello! May I request an one shot of Ominis x MC(Reader)? (Gender neutral if possible. If not, female mc is OK)
So I just got an idea that the reader(mc) is so deeply in love with ominis. But after everything that they went through (spoiler: Sebastian situation), they think they’re not suitable for ominis (heartbreaking angst please 🙏🏻) so they cried in the undercroft(which they tried in silence) or their own room of requirement to let it all out. (The place to cry is up to you!)
But tbh I hope ominis found them and talk it out. And if the feelings are mutual would be so great - @foggyblazewitch "
Pairing: Ominis Gaunt x GN!reader
Warnings: Angst, mentions of intense guilt, Sebastian's and Anne's situation being brought up, Sebastian's Quest Spoilers, Crying, Fluff , Mentions of Murder , sad ominis hours (grab your tissues) , first person perspective
Word Count: 1.8k
It wouldn’t go away. It won’t go away.
Every recollection of what I have done, what I had encouraged sent another agonizing stab to my chest. My Lungs always seemingly stop functioning after every unsteady beat my heart gives. What’s worse, there seems to be no remedy for what I was feeling. No potion, spell, or charm to cast aside the guilt of having led the sweet Slytherin boy to his demise in a potential cell in Azkaban.
“It’s my fault,” I whispered between uneven gasps, my fingers entangling themselves through my hair as I sat there, crouched down in the middle of the undercroft where the cold empty stone walls could swallow my screams and cries within them, “I did this.”
How was I to face Ominis now?
Oh, sweet Ominis, how I should have heed his warnings. I should have listened to the voice of reason instead of the desperate pleas of Sebastian, I shouldn’t have let my own selfish agenda in helping the Keepers get in the way of truly helping the duo. No, instead of listening I practically ruined not just their friendship but their lives. Sebastian would end up imprisoned for the murder of his uncle, Anne would succumb to her illness and Ominis…
Ominis Gaunt would have lost the last person who he considered family, leaving him utterly by himself with no one to rely on. I wouldn’t even blame him if he stopped talking to me completely, I was the reason he would be losing the only family he cared about.
I was the reason he lost it all.
Throat tightening, a burning cry wanting to escape through it was held down. My lips trembled as the salty and warm taste of my tears ran through them. My whole body was trembling, shaking non stop as the culpability of my own involvement swam around my thoughts.
I should turn myself in as well…No! I ….I should just take the blame…yes!
I should just face the consequences of what I have done, ensure that Ominis doesn’t lose his only friend after all if it really came down to it… he would always pick Sallow over me, it’s how it should be…right?
With one final sniff, my legs slowly started to straighten themselves right back up. Small cracks and aches sounded through my joints for having been in the half seating position too long, but I didn't let the slight ache get in my way of doing what I thought was right. If Ominis comes to resent me, so be it. But I will not take from him what he values most in his life, I don’t think I could continue on if I robbed him of that.
However, as I gave the undercroft one final look around to commit its once pleasant and welcoming aura to memory, the gates to the Undercroft clinked shut, sending a loud echo through the hidden stone room. Whipping my head towards the entrance, I’m met with the doleful expression of the wizard himself; Ominis Gaunt. The very boy who managed to make my stomach fill with butterflies, the one who never failed to make a smile appear on my lips even in the most serious of situations, the very person who I’ve let down more times in our short time of knowing one another.
“y/n? Is that you?”
Quick to wipe the tears from my cheek, I stifled a sniff and wrapped my arms around myself, attention fully on the blonde. “Yes, it’s me Ominis..”
A small sigh of relief left him, making his way towards the sound of my voice. As he neared closer to the light I could make out just how badly everything has had an effect on him. His skin was paler than usual, going to an almost gray tone. His eyes had dark circles under them and his cheeks were a bit hallowed and sharp. His complexion was no better but the slight red underneath his eyes were a tell-tale sign that he hasn’t stopped worrying over the situation either.
He looks like death itself has snatched the very last essence of life within him. He hardly looked like himself anymore…and I'm to blame…
I bit my lip hard, holding back any remaining tears that threatened to fall as I witnessed first hand just what kind of sorrowful state I had left the Slytherin boy in. If only I could turn back time. If only I could have done things differently, then perhaps I could have prevented all this heartache from befalling him.
“Ahem…uh…well has Anne come to a decision?”
I tried my best, but my voice was weak and still quite shaky. It didn’t help that my throat felt sore and raw, I simply hoped he wouldn’t pick up on it. The last thing he needed was to worry about the likes of me, not when there is already so much on his plate to worry over.
“Oh, y/n, if only you knew,” His voice dripped with pain, his tone sounding even more gloom and doom than I have ever heard it, “ Anne is beside herself with grief. Part of her believes Sebastian should face the consequences- yet, another can’t even bear the thought of it.”
Ominis scrunched up his nose, his glazed eyes shining with tears ready to make themselves present but he held them in. Whether it was because he felt like he needed to be strong at the moment or he didn’t want to break down in front of me, I don’t know. All I do know is that I would do anything to ensure he never had to feel like this again.
“I don’t want to lose Sebastian, but I don’t think we have a choice.”
“But we do have a choice!” I placed both my hands on either side of his arms, gently gripping onto him in slight desperation as I tried to meet his gaze. “Turn me in instead.”
“What?”
“I’m the reason Sebastian used the unforgivable curse to start with. I’m the reason he murdered his uncle, if not for me than-”
“What you are saying is absolutely ludicrous, what makes you think that you of all people-”
“Because I’m the one who helped him!”
A silence ranged through the Undercroft, tears finally managing to drip from the edge of my already puffy eyes as my grip on him loosened. My whole body was shaking, legs trying hard to keep me upright as I leaned a bit against him.
“I…I’m the one who encouraged his ideas of finding the cure, I was the one who he was trying to protect from his uncle hurting me…I…I”
I choked on my words as a sob escaped my lips, body now completely collapsing beside Ominis who caught me in his arms in time. I felt my feet just give out and slowly we sunk down onto the stone floor, my head on his shoulder and his arms wrapped around my body, holding me close to him as one tear at a time my undying guilt poured out.
“It’s my fault… it’s all my fault..”
Running a soft touch down the side of my head, Ominis caressed my hair, his own tears only barely managing to slip past his cheek. A few drops landed on me but I just couldn’t find it in me to care. I needed to convince him that I needed to do this, that it’s my own doing that caused all this to happen. He needed to see it was-
“My sweet y/n,” His voice cut through the crying, whispering softly against my hair before giving the top a small kiss, “ how long have you had this eating at you?”
The young slytherin slowly pulled away from me, his cold hands cupping either side of my face, thumb gently caressing my wet and puffy cheeks.
If only he could see me now, perhaps he would know just how much I would be willing to go through and endure just to ensure his own happiness. If only he could see how much I loved him… see how painfully sorry I was for all of this.
“You are not to blame for this, you couldn’t have know-”
“But I should have listened to you-”
“But Sebastian wasn’t your responsibility, even if you did listen he wouldn't have.”
His brows were furrowed, cheeks stained with new tears as he held my face so tenderly. Yet, I could still feel how they trembled against my skin. How his thumbs went from grazing my cheeks slightly to rubbing small circles against them.
“ But I…”
“Please, y/n…” He pressed his forehead against mine, his minty breath hitting my face slowly as he squeezed his eyes shut,” I feel like I’ve already lost my best friend, don’t let me lose you too…”
Nodding against him, his eyes open, his gray eyes steadily lifting up to meet where my eyes should be. My own eyes stared right back at him, feeling myself fall deep into the calm storm that his gaze always reminded me of. The beauty mark adorning the side of his face peeking through my peripheral vision as we kept each other locked on one another.
“I don’t want you to lose your family, Ominis. I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I did that.”
“Losing you, would be losing my family.”
Holding in his breath, Ominis leaned in and placed two tender kisses on each of my eyelids. His lips lingered against the flesh of my lids for a few seconds before he moved onto the next one, kissing the tears away as he did.
I could hear my heart beat against my ears, my blood running its way onto my cheeks. A deep red blush now coating my face as my eyes stared down at his lap. Right now was perhaps the worst moment to get shy, but a part of me just couldn’t help but react to him admitting just how much I actually mean to him. Despite not having known or grown up with me like he has with Anne and Sebastian.
“So then..”
“So, it would appear that I would have to talk to Anne… consider the possibility of Sebastian having to live on with his actions for now.”
Rubbing the cloth of my robe against my nose, trying to prevent any more snot from running down, I gave him a weak nod. Glad that just maybe, Ominis didn’t lose his other half after all. That perhaps there was a chance I finally did the right thing in this situation and I remained hopeful as Ominis wrapped his arms around me once more, holding me close to him as we both did our best to come down from our ache. Seeking the comfort of it all in one another’s embrace.
