Mine to Protect
Sebastian heard about it entirely by accident. He was sitting in the common room, drowning out Grace's chatter, when another student casually mentioned it in passing—
"Astoria Blackwood? Yeah, got caught in that mess in Hogsmeade. I heard she was taken to the hospital wing."
Everything else ceased to exist.
Sebastian shot up from his seat so fast that Grace startled, blinking in surprise. But he wasn't paying attention. He wasn't listening.
It didn't matter how furious he had been. It didn't matter how betrayed he had felt. It didn't matter that he had convinced himself he wasn't going to be the one chasing after her anymore.
Because the moment he heard she was hurt, none of that meant anything anymore.
He found her in the hospital wing, propped against a mound of pillows, her wrist wrapped in bandages. A faint scrape marred her cheek, but she was otherwise—mercifully—intact.
Relief crashed over him like a tidal wave.
Astoria looked up as he entered, eyes wide. For a moment, the tension that had haunted them evaporated.
"You're here," she said softly.
Sebastian exhaled, his voice tight. "Of course I'm here."
Silence fell, full of things unsaid. Then, more quietly:
"Don't ever do that to me again."
And without thinking, he crossed the room and pulled her into his arms.
He held her tightly, like if he let go, she'd disappear all over again. Astoria froze for a beat, then melted into the embrace, clutching the front of his robes. His warmth surrounded her, grounding her.
"I won't," she whispered, voice barely audible.
After a long moment, she eased back, eyes a little wet, and reached toward the bedside table.
"I... got this for you," she said, placing something in his hand.
He glanced down, brow furrowing as he took in the weight of the pocket watch.
"I was getting it when... well," She gestured vaguely to herself. "It reminded me of you."
He blinked, moved. "Astoria..."
"I charmed it," she added quickly, a small smile tugging at her lips. "Echo spell. Try saying my name."
Skeptical, he obeyed. "Astoria."
The watch whispered back, in her voice: "I've missed you."
His eyes widened. He nearly dropped it.
Astoria laughs. "It records our conversations. Over time. Now if you ever miss my voice—and need a scolding—you can say the magic word."
Sebastian laughed, breathless and warm for the first time in weeks. "You're absolutely impossible."
"I know," she said, laughing too.
Then her smile faded, just slightly. "I know what happened. In the Quad."
Sebastian's expression tensed, but she pushed forward.
"I know what Theon said. Why you fought him."
He looked away, jaw tightening around the memory.
"I'm sorry," Astoria whispered. "I scolded you when all you did was defend me. And I'm sorry I pushed you away."
Sebastian turned back to her. His expression softened.
"All I ever wanted was to keep you safe," she whispered. "But I should've known—you never needed protection from me."
His gaze met hers, steady. "Astoria..."
She swallowed. "I was scared. About Magnus. About everything."
At his name, Sebastian's expression darkened, but he didn't speak.
Tears brimmed in her eyes. She looked like she was unravelling—vulnerable, open, real.
Sebastian pulled her close again, hand gently cradling the back of her head as she buried her face in his shoulder.
"You don't have to explain it now," he murmured into her hair. "It can wait. All of it can wait. What matters is—you're here now."
And she let him hold her, head tucked beneath his chin. They stayed like that, still and quiet, wrapped in each other.
Then—
The door creaked open.
"Oh, thank Merlin," Ominis groaned. "If I had to endure another day of this emotionally constipated nightmare, I was going to hex you both."
Astoria laughed—a breathless, bright thing—and turned just in time to see Poppy, Natty, and Garreth trailing in behind Ominis.
Sebastian quickly looked away, face flushed.
And for the first time in weeks, she felt whole again.
The Undercroft was silent, save for the soft crackle of torches along the stone walls. Shadows danced across the floor, the air still with that familiar, quiet kind of magic only this place held.
Astoria stepped inside.
Sebastian was already there—leaning against one of the old wooden desks, fingers tapping idly. He looked up the moment she crossed the threshold. His eyes met hers, unreadable, but filled with something unspoken. Like he hadn't seen her in years.
Not just hours.
Astoria swallowed, her pulse quickening. She didn't know where to start. There was so much—too much.
She stepped closer, grounding herself on the edge of the desk. "Sebastian..."
"You don't have to explain," he said softly, voice even—but raw underneath. "Not if you're not ready."
But she was.
So she told him.
Everything—the note, the meeting, apparating away from Hogwarts, Magnus and the visions. Poppy's ribbon. How Magnus used to be a student. How much he knew. How much he wanted.
Sebastian said nothing, but he never looked away. As she spoke, his thumb brushed slow, steady circles over her wrist—anchoring her, like he always did.
"I didn't know what to do," she whispered. "I was scared. That if I told you—if I let you in—he'd take you from me. I thought... if I pushed you away, maybe I could keep you safe."
Sebastian drew in a slow breath, his voice calm but firm. "Astoria. If I had a choice—if you'd let me choose—I would choose to stand by you. Every time." He paused, lifting her chin gently. "Just like you chose me. Back then."
Her breath caught. Guilt pressing into her chest. He was right. If it had been him—she never would've walked away.
His fingers curled tighter over hers. "You shut me out," he murmured, voice strained. "And I didn't know what I'd done to deserve it. But there wasn't a moment in the day where you weren't devouring my thoughts."
She reached up, hands cupping his face. "You didn't deserve it," she said fiercely. "I'm so sorry."
Sebastian leaned into her touch, closing his eyes for a brief moment like he was savouring it.
Astoria moved first. She wrapped her arms around him, holding him close, burying her face into his shoulder. He sank into her, holding her tight, like the world might vanish if he let go.
"Promise me," he murmured into her hair. "You won't shut me out like that again."
"I promise," she whispered, her laugh soft with relief.
"What were you thinking anyway? That you were going to take down some 'cult-y, masked up doomsday' dark wizard all by yourself?!"
Astoria laughs at him quoting her "You don't think I could?" She teases.
"Oh, I know you could. I'm just worried about this poor Magnus fellow. I don't want my favourite duelling partner being send to Azkaban for murder. Whatever should I do then?" He mocks.
"Brood yourself to death hopefully, or finally let Grace Pinch-Smedley take a bite out of you."
Sebastian cocks an eyebrow, the corner of his lips curving into a smirk. "Astoria Blackwood, are you jealous?"
"You wish. Go hang out with her for all I care." she huffed, attempting to pull away—but he tightened his grip around her waist.
"Never," he said, the teasing fading into sincerity. "For the record—there is no one, in this castle or on this bloody continent, I'd rather waste time with than you."
Her heart ached with affection as she stilled in his arms.
"And don't you ever think of leaving me out again," he added. "My life goal is to interfere with every bit of trouble you get into."
Astoria settles into his arms, quietly processing his words.
"If anyone tries to hurt you, I'll stop them." He smiles. "Or, you know... I'll just kill them."
"Sebastian!" she hit him—lightly.
He only grinned. "You wouldn't love me if I weren't a little unhinged."
She didn't reply—just buried her face against his shoulder, smiling despite herself.
And just like that, they were whole again.