She walked into the entry hall of the great castle for the first time. Hogwarts, the name rolled so nicely off the tongue. It sounded like home and hope, things she had thought gone from her life since the death of her parents. Beside Artemis stood her twin brother; his once bright eyes now dull, with the merest trace of hope left in them. Artemis smiled at her brother and murmured, "Atticus, pace in fine." Peace in the end. That wasn't her best Latin, but he understood anyway.

The auburn haired professor who had retrieved them had warned them that England placed much greater value on the purity of blood than America. Everyone was half-blood in America. Transfer students to Hogwarts were rare; they were the first in over a hundred years. As the professor, his name was Dumbledore, explained this they had sat rapt carefully hiding their nervousness. Afterwards Artemis and Atticus had decided not to reveal their heritage. After all who would believe that line of Merlin now ended in these two American mudbloods. It didn't matter that their last name had such power that only those with the blood of Merlin in their veins could bear it. It didn't matter that they were beginning to develop his powers, shrewdness of mind, clarity of vision. No one here would see that, except maybe for that professor with the blue eyes, blue eyes that looked straight through you.

"Excuse me," cried a deep voice, "you are the transfer students?" An incredibly handsome boy strode up to them. "I am to take you to be sorted, I am Tom Riddle the Head Boy." He smiled at them kindly, but his eyes looked murderous. As his eyes met theirs a vision flashed through Artemis' mind. A green-eyed boy with a lightening scar swan past her eyes. As Tom turned and walked away Artemis leaned to her brother, who was shaking of the after effects of what he had seen. Atticus leaned towards her and murmured "Slytherin's blood." Artemis murmured back," green-eyed boy with scar." Together they murmured "darkness" before stepping into the Great Hall after Tom Riddle.

They looked away from the sea of eyes towards the grubby hat that would decide their future. Atticus bravely went first and, after a long time, the hat cries out "Gryfinndor!" He stood waiting for Artemis to try on the hat. Nervously she slipped the hat onto her head.

"Oooh," said the hat, "another one of Merlin's blood, twins no doubt. Where should I put you? Where should I put you? What a mind, maybe in Ravenclaw. Hmmm..."

Put me with that boy, Tom Riddle, I want to help him. I want to stop him.

"Ah, your brother said the same thing, such a kind heart; those logical Ravenclaws would eat you alive, Hufflepuff would be better."

Put me with that boy, I have to change things. I want to be with Tom, you can see so many things hat, and I know you have seen the darkness he will bring. I choose his house.

The hat's voice was sad as it spoke, "what a dark path you have chosen. Just like you brother, you would have made a truly great Gryffindor. Remember always the power of your choice, and your love. Those who fear death are already in the grave. I will let you be in Slytherin!" The hat shouted the last word to the entire hall. As Artemis slipped it from her head she could have sworn she heard the hat say, "what is it to be human..." but it may have just been in her mind.

So began the school year of 1943.