A Man Has Horns // Sebastian Sallow

Chapter 1 - As Normal as It Was Before

My face pressed against the train carriage window, the glass cold and damp from the condensation of my breath. Every so often, I had to wipe away the fog with my hand, clearing a view of the blurred greenery rushing past.

I hadn't slept for months since returning to the Muggle orphanage in London, and with the nervous tension tightening in my chest, I knew that sleep would continue to elude me.

It felt strange to return to a place devoid of magic. After Professor Fig's death, Professor Weasley arranged for a Muggle-appropriate letter to be sent to the orphanage, informing them that I was now a ward of a Scottish boarding school for gifted students and that I would be leaving again in September.

That I ultimately only required of them lodgings for between year periods.

It did not help my social currency. 

The patrons themselves gave me high brow scoff as they read the letter. Word spread fast and I became quite a favourite target for bullying - it most commonly manifesting in others saying"posh twat" in passing on the daily. 

Yes, my personal items got stolen and yes, I was shoved and pushed a lot.

But it made no difference.

I was finally coming back at Hogwarts for my 6th year of studies.

The train horn rang as it announced it slowing down at its final station, Hogsmeade written on a wooden sign just zibbing past the window.

Students were already gathered at the doors.

I sat alone in the carriage. Despite all the socialising, I was still the new face - everyone else had known each other for six years. It made sense that I only received a brief wave at best; to them, I had only existed for the past 10 months.

The train finally stopped with the last loud ring and the doors opened. I was more than happy to be back - even with everything happening last year. 

I was simply too elated to feel that returned sense of belonging.

The word 'purpose' danced on the tip of my tongue but I ultimately shied away from considering it. The Old Magic that I absorbed was a thought that had preoccupied me the whole summer. What it meant, what I should do with it. I was too exhausted to think the same thoughts again.

I picked up my bags and went to the door, rolling the little flimsy wooden frame open to get to the corridor. I could smell the crisp air drifting in through the open doors.

Three years out of seven. I always seemed to draw the short end of the stick in life.

I poked my head out of the door and carefully walked the small iron steps off of the train, finally looking around me when my feet made impact with the solid brickwork.

Bustle and rustle. A stream of students were walking to the carriages that were to lead us the final way to the castle. Many had come by train, but as I looked around, other carriages with students and parents seemed to have had a more personal farewell.

As I walked to join the line, I noticed a blonde haired boy across the platform with two towering adults

Ominis.

Unmistakably him.

Was that his parents?

I pulled on my coat and b-lined to him, aware that this might be a horrible mistake.

What I heard was limited and that what was said was bad. They were not good people.

"He was obsessed with blood-status. A pure-blood maniac."