The Trial of Sebastian Sallow

The Funeral of Anne Sallow

Althea Moonlace stood in front of the mirror in her bedroom, trying to untangle the knots in her short pink hair. She looked almost exactly the same as she did a year ago before Professor Fig took her to Hogwarts. Her eyes were still blue, her hair was still short, and her skin was still freckled. Really, the only difference to her physical appearance was the long, jagged cut on her left cheek.

She raised her hand, watching her reflection as it moved as well. Hesitantly, she touched the cut on her face. Althea winced, drawing her hand away as soon as her fingers made contact. It burned, feeling as if her skin was on fire.

It was her keepsake from her final fight with Ranrok. Well, she also left with a bunch of trauma, but that wasn't physical.

After a few more minutes of wrestling with her hair, she decided it was as good as it was going to get. Althea grabbed a black cloak and put it over her shoulders. A heavy sigh escaped from the Hufflepuff's lips.

"Time to go," she muttered.

Althea began the first steps of her long, depressing journey as she stepped closer to her fireplace. Her first stop was Gaunt Manor to pick up her friend and classmate, Ominis Gaunt. Together, they would make the trip to Feldcroft for the funeral.

Anne Sallow's funeral.

As Althea walked out of the Little Hangleton Floo Flames shack, she thought of the girl that had passed. She wasn't very close with her, but she was close with her twin brother, Sebastian.

No, close wasn't the correct word for their relationship. Not with the feelings she felt for him and all of the near kisses they shared in the Undercroft.

A house elf opened the door to Gaunt Manor before she started to go down a rabbit hole about the nature of her relationship. Althea shook her head, looking down at the house elf.

"Hello," Althea greeted. "I'm here to see Ominis? He's expecting me."

Unlike Deek, the house elf who helped her out in the Room of Requirement, the Gaunt's house elf looked significantly smaller and more feeble. He did nothing but stare at her with his large brown eyes until she tried to step closer to the door.

"Scully will fetch his Young Master for you," the house elf said before slamming the door shut in Althea's face.

The way he shook like a leaf in the wind during their interaction made her blood boil. She knew the Gaunts weren't the kindest people, and she knew that house elves weren't really treated fairly most of the time, but seeing how he shook in the presence of a stranger made her feel sick.

Ominis Gaunt stepped out a few moments later, holding his wand in front of his body, the tip glowing red. The last time she saw him was before Solomon Sallow was killed. Before Sebastian ran away.

As soon as he shut the door behind him, Althea pulled Ominis into a tight hug, her body shaking. Ominis' body stiffened for a second before he returned the embrace, hugging Althea back with equal ferocity.

"I'm so sorry Ominis," Althea whispered.

She felt droplets of something wet roll down her back, sliding down her silky black cloak like raindrops on a leaf. Ominis had known Anne a lot better than she had. He had probably seen her like a little sister.

Althea pulled out her handkerchief, gently placing it into her friend's hand. She waited until he was done wiping his face before speaking again.

"Whatever you need, just ask," Althea said, her voice soft.

Ominis simply nodded, his milky blue eyes unfocused.

"Let's just get this over with," Ominis mumbled.