Ignition // Anne Sallow X Ominis Gaunt

Chapter 1: She's the Most Beautiful Girl in the World

Ominis - Beginning of 5th year

"Better be... Slytherin!"

As if my life weren't difficult enough, I thought I would have to add being deaf to my list of issues with the way Sebastian cheered next to me. The new fifth year, had been sorted into our house, and I already knew Sebastian was going to do something incredibly stupid to get her attention.

Just moments before she walked in the room, Sebastian was babbling on about Merlin knows what when the doors to the great hall suddenly opened.

And for the first time, in the past 4 years I've known him,

Sebastian stopped talking.

I thought he had mysteriously dropped dead, or someone had put a mute charm on him. But then I could almost hear the drool hit the table.

"Sebastian, close your mouth before you catch pixies" I said while using my hand to close his jaw.

Now that she was sorted into our house, I smiled a bit thinking of all the annoyingly egotistic things Sebastian would do to try to get her attention.

"Did you catch her name?" he whispered as Professor Black babbled on.

"Ariel," Imelda had answered, "wipe your mouth, Sallow. You look like you just ate a slug."

I could hear his sleeves rustling on his face, hoping the new girl hadn't seen him make a fool of himself.

Professor Black ended his speech, and dismissed us to our common room. The new fifth year must've caught Sebastian's gaze and smiled at him. I could hear his heartbeat suddenly increased.

"Merlin Ominis," he began in a dreamy voice as we started walking to our common room, "she has to be the most beautiful girl in the world."

But he was wrong.

The most beautiful girl in the world hasn't been at Hogwarts in a long time.

Ominis - Few Days Before 1st Year

Shopping for my first day at Hogwarts was already hectic enough without your family caring to help you, but when your family is cruel to you, it makes it so much worse.

Marvolo ripped my walking stick from my hands and vanished into Hogsmeade with a cruel laugh.

I knew he wasn't going to give it back.

Sadly, but luckily for me, the occurrence of having my only form of navigation ripped from me was nothing new, and I had other methods to get around. They were embarrassing, but they did the trick.

I started by shuffling one foot forward, slowly feeling for the handle or wall of the bridge. Once it was in my grasp, I put my fingers on the wall and slowly let the wood be my guide.

I paused momentarily.

There was this magnetic pull deep into the heart of this magical place that was drawing me near. The further in I went, the stronger it became. I probably passed every other stop I needed to make, but this buzzing in my heart felt more important.

It called to me, I obeyed.

Slowly...Slowly... shuffling my feet and feeling for the walls of shops, I continued to let the feeling guide me.

A sudden giggle from across the way briefly snapped me out of my hypnosis.

There had been kids of all ages laughing and running through Hogsmeade all day, but this one little giggle was different.

It sounded like music.

As soon as it happened, it stopped suddenly, so I continued on.

As I finally entered into a shop, the pull was as strong as someone yanking me by the arm. I reached out my hand, and my fingers grazed a long box. Slowly I grabbed the box, opened it, and let my fingers slide over a slim piece of wood.

A wand.

This wand had lead me to straight to it.

"It's been waiting for you, Mr. Gaunt," Mr Ollivander said, finally appearing from the back, "it must've sensed your presence."

"It.. it was calling to me. Like a siren."

"Ah, a very special bond indeed! Most wizards and witches have to mess around with multiple wands and destroy half my shop before finding their match. Go on, dear boy, give it a swish!"

Almost hesitantly, I picked up the wand, and a rush poured over my body. My soul has been missing multiple pieces, and one of them had finally been found.

"I...I can sense everything in this shop. Th-There's your desk," I turned pointing my wand "and Merlin, I... I... I can even sense you!" I said, almost a tear in my eye. Being blind hasn't stopped me before, nor has it been easy, but with this wand, it would never be a burden again.

"A very special bond" Mr. Ollivander said in a whispered, happy tone. "I shall ring you up whenever you're re-"

The giggled reappeared as the door to the shop burst open and it caused me to freeze. Why did I freeze?

"Come on big nose, there's going to be no wands left!" A girl's voice shouted.

I could sense her stop and look at me.

"Why is your wand blinking red?" She asked, curiously.

"Uhm, well I-I uh... you see" What is your problem, Gaunt? You're not a bumbling idiot, why the hell can't you answer her?

She giggled again. Oh, the sound was so sweet to my ears. But why?

"Well," I finally began, pulling myself together, "I'm blind... and, um, this wand helps me to see or, sense."

"No way! That's so cool! I'm here to get my wand too! Maybe mine will blink green, that's my favorite color! I'm Anne by the way, Anne Sallow!"

Anne Sallow didn't even react to me being blind. There was no pity in her voice, no remorse. It wasn't even a thought to her.

"Hello, Anne Sallow," I hesitated to tell her my name, but it was the polite thing to do, "my name is Ominis. Ominis Gaunt."

Another sweet giggle. "Well it's very nice to meet you, Ominis Guant." She grabbed my hand and shook it excitedly. I smiled nervously as the butterflies in my stomach danced around vigorously.

She didn't shy away at me being a Gaunt. She didn't seem taken aback.

She just didn't care.

"Well, my stupid brother seems to have disappeared. I need to go find him before he blows something up or releases another stink bomb in the hair salon. He's quite daft. Anyways, I'll see you at Hogwarts, Ominis Gaunt!" With that note, she dashed out of Ollivanders.

I stood frozen in my spot for a moment, until Mr. Ollivander cleared his throat, breaking the spell I was in.

Anne Sallow.

I have never once been able to see, but I didn't need sight to know that she's the most beautiful girl in the world.