The Hedgehog Dilemma

September 4th 1890: The Sorting Ceremony

September 4th, 1890:

Ominis Gaunt had been attending Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry for four years now, and as he stepped into the grand entrance hall for his fifth year, he felt the familiar mix of relief and palliation as he always had. Whilst the sonorous thunder of the great hall did little to alleviate his growing overstimulation, he would take the clamouring first years over the pained isolation of the Gaunt estate every year.

The castle smelled of dust and fire, a smell that had become so familiar to him. It was although the dust of ages had settled deep into the very walls themselves. The smell was overwhelming, a tangible reminder of the history that had unfolded within those stone walls. It was a scent that encouraged his own tranquility. If Ominis had a home it was Hogwarts Castle.

"Ominis!" The boys name was called out across the sea of students, barely audible in the mess of people. Not a moment later He felt a hand on his shoulder.
"Home sweet home." Sebastian Sallow Ominis' best, and frankly only, friend in the castle. He hadn't seen him since their departure at the end of last year, and their letters had been sporadic at best and none existent at worst. He didn't blame the boy, he'd had an arduous end to their fourth school year. His sister, another if Ominis' friends, had been cursed with a harrowing pain and the poor boy had been frantic ever since. There were times he felt he had lost his friend to the suffering, it seemed all the boy could focus on, but at times like these Sebastian Sallow was a sunny light in the consuming darkness.

"Sebastian," he turned around to face their friend. "How was your holidays? How is Anne?" He knew the answer long before the words could spill from their lips. Anne, unlike her twin brother, had kept in regular contact with him. She hadn't gotten any better, and her brother was still spiralling in his dream to cure her.
"She still suffering. It's terrible, I feel so helpless. I didn't want to leave her, not with Solomon. But she insisted, and truthfully I'm better off researching here. How were the Gaunts"
He hesitated, Sebastian knew everything about him. He knew of his families past, many a night had the pair spent wrapped in each others arms in silent sorrow.
"As they always are. Terrible people who do terrible things. This years game of choice was cat and mouse, you can only imagine how that must have ended." He squeezed his eyes shut, trying to push the memory from his thoughts, the sound of her screams, the coppery smell of her body in the wet grass.

"If everyone would please take their seats." Proffesor Black. Hogwarts headmaster and perhaps the most hated man in the castle shouted frivolously into the crowd. His family was almost as bad as Ominis', pureblood entirely and not at all as opposed to the dark arts as the schools strict rules would have you believe, Ominishad seen it himself. Not a soul moved as they continued in their personal pursuits.
"Ahmm. I said, If everyone would please take their seats."

He pulled his wand from the pocket of his cloak, allowing the wooden stick, which had become almost as much apart if him as his arm or leg, to guide him towards the familiar table. He found his seat, next to Sebastian, on the farest table on the oppositeside of the room. The Slytherin table, the table of his ansestors. If it hadn't been for meeting the Sallow twins, Ominis would have truely resented his placement in the house. He felt he shared none of the textbook qualities of a Slytherin. He was not cunning or resourceful, nor was he particularly ambitious or prideful. His placement in the house seemed nothing more then debt to his lineage.
"Good evening everyone, I hope you had a splendid Summer and you're ready for your new start here at Hogwarts." The voice that spoke was elegant and proper yet laced with the kind of warmth that the headmaster's had lacked. Proffesor Weasley was perhaps Ominis' favourite Proffesor. He was far from adept at her subject, it is hard to transfigure something when you don't know what either objects looks like, but the Proffesor had been nothing but accommodating.
"First year students. When I call your name you shall come forth, I shall place the sorting hat atop your head," She rested on her words for a moment, allowing them to sink in. "And you will be sorted into one of the four houses you see behind you." She stopped again. He could hear the movement of the young witches and wizards as they turned around to scan the the four tables behind them.
"Gryffindor, the house of the brave and courageous. Hufflepuff, the house of the hardworking and loyal. Ravenclaw, the house of the intellectual and creative. And Slytherin, the house of the Resourful and Ambitious." Cheers abrupted one by one across the room, echoing off the ceiling.
"These houses will act as you family for your time here, and you common room your base of operation. And with that, let us begin."
And with that the all too familiar parade of names ran on.

Uninterested in a repeat of the last four years, the boys occupied themselves with their own idol conversation.
"Have you seen Fig, he's not with the other Proffesors."
"No Sebastian I have not seen Proffesor Fig, nor have I seen Professor Garlic or indeed Proffesor Weasley. Infact I can't say I've seen you today either. What a shame."
"Very funny. But seriously he's not here, it's the sorting ceremony all the Proffesors are supposed to be here."
"Yes, well I'm sure he has a very good reason for his absence. Anyhow, since when did you care for Proffesor Fig, you don't take theory of magic."
"It's not that I care for him, I'm just curious. Merlin Ominis must you always be so dull."

As though summoned by Sebastian's complaints, the large double doors of the great hall creaked open before abruptly slamming shut on themselves again. He listend as heavy feet headed past them, across the tilled floor as the doors opened and closed once more. It seemed his friend had noticed as well.
"What was that?"
He didn't have to wait long for an answer.

Blacks foots steps returned not a minute later, just as fast and heavy as before. Only this time they were followed by a second pair of feet. Far to light to be Proffesor Fig, and by the sound of his peers, someone far more interesting.

"Proffesor Weasley," the Proffesor sounded less then impressed by the turn of events as he walked the new arrival up steps towards the Proffesors. "We've one more to be sorted." A new student, arriving so late. It was entirely uncalled for, in all his time a student here he had never seen a first year be late.
He listend intently as the new student sat using the stool infront of him. The hall had gone deathly silent, all craning to hear anything the late arrival had to say. The silence last only a minute.
"Better be...Gryfindor!"
The hall erupted once more into a fit of Cheers and Whistles emanating for the most part from the table at the other end of the hall. Before the noise could quiet down naturally was dispelled once again by Proffesor Black
"Oh and one more thing. Due to the unfortunate injury on the pitch in last springs quidditch final, this years quidditch season has been cancelled."
If the noise recieved by the new student was loud, then the news of the quidditch season being cancelled must have brought a storm into the castle. Sighs of disappointment, the occasional slam of the table and, especially from the woman across from him, a large number of unrepeatable profanities. Ominis' head spun, as he became increasingly disorientated. He had grown used to the noise of sorting ceremony, but never at once had he heard so many different sounds coming from his peers. It seemed everybody had a thought about the announcement.
"Enough! It's not as though I've banned flying altogether but don't tempt me." Ominis wasn't sure if that would be such a bad thing. He was pathetic on a broom, could hardly keep himself balanced let alone maintain a consistent sense of direction, and the idea of nolonger having to deal with brooms rocketing inches from his head disrupting any conversation he may be having seem rather heavenly. Though he wasn't sure if he'd be able to cope sharing a living space with a flightless Imelda Reyes, she was vexing enough when the pair would play chess.
"You are here to focus on your academic futures. I'm sure you all have plenty to do before classes tomorrow."
Silence spread across the room once again.
"I said, I'm sure you all have plenty to do before classes begin Tomorrow!" Sebastian grabbed his arm as the pair rose from their seats at the dinning table.
"Merlin's Beard. The new fifth year." Sebastian gushed.
"What about them."
"What about them, Ominis they're gorgeous. Everyone's eyes were on her."
He only hummed in reply.
"Do you think we'll share any classes? I'd love for her to watch me duel. Not that it would take much to impress her in that class."
"Sebastian, calm yourself you sound like you've taken ammortentia. And yes she will likely share a class with you considering you're in the same year."
"Merlin Ominis, please for once just have some fun." The pair continue towards their room and the sweet release of sleep.