Swallow your pride

Epilogue

*After ten years*

Sebastian' Pov

The great hall hummed with joyous chatter as students shared their summer vacation experiences. Headmistress Weasley gave her speech followed by the sorting ceremony. Sebastian was now the deputy headmistress so it was his job to call out the names of the new first graders and put the sorting hat on their heads. He read the names one by one and tried to remember them. He tried his best to appear cheerful and warm, but it was hard. The pain of losing Yarra and Ominis had lessened over the years, but it still lingered in the back of his mind. He sometimes found himself wondering what they would say if they were here now. Would they be proud of him for his new role? He had worked hard to get where he was. But the price of his success was loneliness. He had to cut himself off completely, not allowing himself to get too close to anyone. It was too risky, too painful. So he put on a mask of friendliness and acceptance, but deep down he was still that lost boy who had lost everything that mattered to him.He continued calling out the names, watching as the nervous first years were sorted into their houses. Some of them seemed excited, others anxious. Sebastian remembered his own sorting, all those years ago. How much had changed since then.

His eyes went to the next name on the list and froze. He swallowed the lump in his throat and read the name out loud, his voice breaking a little, "A-Aurelius Gaunt!" There was a buzz around the hall as the name was announced. Everyone knew the Gaunt name, and the reputation that came with it.
His heart thumped in his chest. For a moment, he was transported back to that fateful day ten years ago. He saw Aurelius' small face, his innocent eyes, his soft hair. He saw Yarra and Ominis' bodies in the coffins. A wave of grief washed over him, threatening to drown him. Sebastian's hand trembled slightly. Memories of Lord Gaunt, of the children he had loved deeply. He fought to keep his composure as he looked out at the sea of first years, searching for the boy.  Sebastian's heart skipped a beat when he saw the boy who stepped forward.

The boy looked so much like Ominis, it was almost eerie. The same pale blond hair, the same sharp jaw line, the same serious expression on his face. He walked towards Sebastian, his steps slow and measured, his eyes fixed on Sebastian's face. As he approached, Sebastian could see the resemblance more clearly. It was like looking at a younger version of Ominis. He tried to keep his voice steady as he took the sorting hat and put it on the boy's head. "Aurelius Gaunt," he repeated, his mouth suddenly dry.

He tried not to look directly at the boy, but his eyes kept flicking back to his face, searching for any hint of recognition. But the boy's expression was blank, his eyes fixed on nothing in particular. Sebastian felt a pang of disappointment. He had hoped that maybe the boy would recognize him, but it seemed unlikely. After all, Aurelius was just a small child when Sebastian had last seen him, and it had been ten long years.

The silence in the hall was palpable as the sorting hat considered. Everyone waited, holding their breath. Sebastian tried to ignore the weight of expectation but his heart was thudding in his chest. He felt like everyone in the room was staring at him, waiting for his reaction.
After what felt like an eternity, the hat announced, "Slytherin!"
The Slytherin table erupted in applause, but Sebastian barely heard it. He was staring at the boy, his stomach churning. The boy was making his way to the Slytherin table, taking a seat among his new housemates. Sebastian watched him, his mind racing. He had a sudden urge to go talk to the boy, to ask him if he remembered anything. But he knew he couldn't do that in front of everyone. It would just raise too many questions.

He looked down at the list, his eyes scanning the names. He couldn't let his thoughts linger on Aurelius. He had to keep up the pretense of normalcy.
"Arabella Jones!" he called out, putting on his best poker face. While he was putting the girl's hat on, he realized that when Aurelius was here, then... he quickly looked at the list and scanned the names. Sebastian's heart sank as he realized Isadora's name was not on the list. He had been so caught up with Aurelius that he hadn't even thought about her. He looked around, searching the hall, his mind racing. Could something have happened to her? Was she alright? He couldn't shake the feeling of worry and dread that was building inside him.