Slytherins vs Gryffindor
The buzz from the morning's events in the Great Hall carried throughout the day, lingering in the corridors, classrooms, and courtyards like static electricity in the air.
Hogwarts had been transformed overnight, banners of crimson and gold intertwined with emerald and silver, draped across the corridors and swaying from enchanted rafters. Posters featuring the Gryffindor and Slytherin team captains were charmed to snarl and taunt at passersby, while enchanted Quidditch helmets hovered near the stairwells, shouting out team chants at random. The students had never been more divided.
In the common rooms, halls, and even classrooms, the match was all anyone could talk about. Ravenclaws were furiously debating player statistics, while Hufflepuffs were preparing snacks to watch the big game. The Slytherins and Gryffindors, of course, were engaged in an all-out war of words, some even hexing posters to spit ink at rival supporters.
As Astoria made her way through the castle, she couldn't help but overhear snippets of gossip—some of it, to her surprise, about Sebastian.
"Have you seen Sebastian Sallow lately? He's gotten ridiculously attractive—"
"I'd say! Did you see him in that undershirt this morning...It left little to the imagination—I almost fainted."
"That smirk of his is deadly. Do you think he's single?"
"Please, he's always with Blackwood. I bet they're secretly together."
"Imagine having Sebastian looking at you like that all the time."
Astoria rolled her eyes, though she felt her stomach twist uncomfortably. The idea that people were fawning over Sebastian wasn't new—he had always been charming, a natural flirt—especially when it meant getting his way. But after everything that had transpired since their return to Hogwarts, something about it felt different. From the moment they reunited after the summer, there had been an undeniable pull between them, an attraction she couldn't quite name that was different from their connection before. Sebastian had always been protective of her, always been close—but now, it felt different. Stronger. More intense. And the confrontation with Garreth that morning had only brought it to the surface.
She pushed the thoughts aside.
This feeling that constantly threatened to overwhelm her, the heat that rises every time they lock eyes, her heart beating wildly, her senses thrown into overdrive. It was all consuming and she was too afraid to dwell into what this foreign sensation might be.
Later that afternoon, as the match loomed closer, Astoria was heading back from the library when Sebastian found her near the courtyard.
Astoria smiles "There you are."
"There you are," his face relaxed into a cheeky grin at their usual greeting. His Quidditch gear was already on, the green and silver robes fitting snugly over his broad shoulders. He had a lazy, confident gait, but the usual mischief in his eyes was sharper—focused, determined.
Astoria raised an eyebrow. "Shouldn't you be warming up with your team?"
"I have a more pressing matter," he said, pulling something from behind his back.
A Slytherin Quidditch jersey—his jersey.
Astoria blinked, confused. "Sebastian, you need that for the game."
"I have two," he said easily, pressing it into her hands. "This one's for you."
Astoria hesitated, holding the soft fabric between her fingers. "Why, exactly?"
He shrugged. "Consider it a gift. My best friend deserves to look the part while she cheers for me."
Astoria smirked. "Oh? And did you get a matching one for Ominis as well?"
Sebastian snorted. "Of course. He loved it. Said he might even wear it to bed, in fact."
She laughed, but her chest felt warm, a strange flutter settling in her stomach. She glanced down at the jersey, 'Sallow' embroidered in elegant script in the corner.
Still, she narrowed her eyes at him. "This wouldn't happen to be an elaborate scheme to one-up Garreth, would it?"
Sebastian's expression darkened immediately. "I can't believe you were actually going to accept his ridiculous ribbon."
Astoria rolled her eyes. "It was a harmless gift."
"Nothing about Garreth Weasley is harmless," Sebastian muttered. "He has ulterior motives."
Astoria smirked. "Oh? And what about you? Do you have ulterior motives?" She teased—as a joke at first but Sebastian paused, clearly caught off guard. His mouth opened, then closed.
He didn't deny it.
Astoria's eyes widened and she coughed, not expecting the response.
Sebastian exhaled sharply, turning away to hide his face that was quickly turning red "Just wear it, Blackwood."
She did. Pulling the oversized jersey over her robes, she felt the lingering warmth of the fabric. It smelled faintly of fresh parchment, pinewood, and something undeniably Sebastian.
Sebastian took one look at her in it and felt something stir deep inside him—a strange, unfamiliar possessiveness. He liked the way his name looked on her.
Astoria cleared her throat, sensing the intensity of his gaze. "Now go out there and win. And come back in one piece, no bloody noses."
Sebastian smirked, stepping back. "Don't worry. We're winning. And I can't wait to see the look on Weasley's face."
He started to walk off but turned over his shoulder, grinning.
"Oh, and get ready to call me 'Captain Sallow' after the match."
Astoria rolled her eyes. "Good luck, Captain Sallow."
Sebastian paused for a beat, as if committing the moment to memory. He liked the sound of that. More than he should.
And then, with one final wave, he was gone.
The Quidditch stands shook with excitement, the entire student body roaring with anticipation. The sky was clear and crisp, perfect conditions for the match.
Madam Kogawa blew her whistle.
The balls were released, and the game exploded into motion.
Blurs of red and green streaked through the sky as the Chasers fought viciously for possession of the Quaffle. Bludgers whizzed past at alarming speeds, deflected skillfully by the Beaters.
Sebastian and Garreth clashed instantly.
Hovering high above the field, both Beaters intercepted a single Bludger, batting it back and forth, neither giving ground.
Their exchanges grew fiercer, each hit harder than the last, their rivalry reaching a boiling point. Meanwhile, the Chasers fought relentlessly—Imelda weaving through Gryffindor's defense with near-impossible agility, passing the Quaffle to Grace, who executed a stunning feint before sending the ball soaring through the hoop. Gryffindor retaliated swiftly, keeping the score locked in a nail-biting deadlock. The crowd roared as the teams traded goal after goal, neither side relenting, the tension mounting with every passing second.
Garreth grinned, taunting, "You know, Sallow—I think I'll ask Astoria to join me at the Three Broomsticks after this. Maybe I'll finally get her to wear that ribbon."
Sebastian's grip tightened around his bat.
His focus wavered for half a second.
And that was all it took.
The Bludger slipped past him, hurtling towards the Slytherin Keeper—
Slamming into his side and knocking him clean off his broom.
The crowd gasped.
The Keeper, dazed, was forced to return to the goalpost, leaving Slytherin a man down. Gryffindor capitalized immediately, their Chasers scoring three successive goals.
Imelda pulled up beside Sebastian, furious. "GET YOUR BLOODY HEAD IN THE GAME, SALLOW!"
Sebastian gritted his teeth. The anger inside him burned hotter than ever.
He threw himself back into the match, hammering Bludgers at Gryffindor with renewed determination.
Astoria watched, heart pounding. Then—
She saw it. A glint of gold.
The Snitch.
"HEMLOCK! BELOW THE GRANDSTAND!" she screamed.
The Slytherin Seeker dove instantly, a streak of green cutting through the air.
But Gryffindor's Seeker was just as fast.
Both Seekers pushed their brooms to their limits, slicing through the air with breathtaking speed. The Snitch darted left, then shot upwards in a near-vertical ascent. The crowd gasped as both Seekers followed, their forms blurring as they ascended higher and higher above the pitch.
Jerome Hemlock leaned forward, his eyes locked onto the golden sphere as it zigzagged unpredictably, trying to evade capture. But Gryffindor's Seeker was relentless, matching his every move.
A sudden, sharp dive—the Snitch plummeted towards the ground. Gasps and screams erupted as both Seekers followed suit, their brooms tilting at terrifying angles as they raced downward, the wind roaring in their ears. The Snitch darted beneath one of the goalposts, forcing them into a perilous swerve to avoid colliding with the wooden beams.
Then—a final, desperate lunge. The Gryffindor Seeker's fingers stretched out, grazing the Snitch for a fleeting second before closing around it.
The whistle blew.
The match was over.
Gryffindor had won.
The crowd erupted, Gryffindors screaming in victory.
Sebastian, still hovering in the air, was staring in disbelief when—
A Gryffindor Beater slammed into him.
His body lurched violently backwards—and then—
He was falling.
Astoria's heart dropped.
She fumbled for her wand but she couldn't find it in time, panic gripping her chest.
But it was too late, Sebastian hit the ground.
She was running before she could think, shoving past people, sprinting onto the field.
She fell to her knees beside him, her hands gripping his face. "Sebastian—Sebastian, say something, please—"
A groan escaped his lips as his body protested the fall. His eyes fluttered open, dazed, a weak smirk tugging at his lips.
"For the love of Merlin, Blackwood stop yelling at me. You're giving me a headache." he muttered.
Astoria let out a half-sob, half-laugh, overwhelmed with relief "That's from something else, you idiot."
And as Sebastian gazed up at her, the sight of her in his jersey, eyes filled with tears, stirred something primal inside him.
He passed out, his last thought singular—
He never wanted her to wear anyone else's name like this.