She's not one of mine. I can see that straight away, as soon as I get a glimpse into her mind. She's not one of mine. Not a Gryffindor.
I shouldn't have feelings on this. I shouldn't have feelings on any student, but I do, of course. I'm simply here to make decisions, to see their personality and potential, and put them in the place which will help them achieve the best they can. But I'm not here to judge, not here to have personal opinions.
They seem to be getting younger, these days. They're older than they used to be, when wizards were more persecuted, and began their training a little younger, but still they're a lot younger than I. A lot younger.
I do have feelings towards them. A kind of responsibility. Benevolent amusement. Affection, sometimes. But nothing like this before. Nothing like the spark I felt from her.
Perhaps I should be disgusted by myself. I'm an old man after all, especially compared to her, just a pre-teen girl. If I were ever a man at all – my memory is a little fuzzy on that one.
I believe I am not a man – I am an echo of a man, much like the moving portraits around the castle. I am a copy, a clone almost. But what clone can live as long as I have, and not develop feelings?
I can see the potential for greatness in her, or perhaps I just want to see it. Perhaps it's not her potential that attracts me, but merely something about her. I have no idea what. She has a quick mind, but then many students do. I have only the vaguest image of what she looks like, born of her memories and feelings, and therefore biased so as to be almost completely inaccurate. I don't know what it is about her, but I do know that there's something.
It doesn't matter. Soon, I'll have to make a decision, and she'll be gone. Forever. I can feel her growing more and more nervous. I don't want to worry her, scare her. I don't want her to ever spend a moment being uncomfortable, never mind anything else. I must make a decision now. She'll wonder why I'm so silent, although of course, she wouldn't know any better.
I already have my decision. Once I announce it, I know that she'll leave, forever.
It's a sacrifice I must make, but one I shouldn't have to. I shouldn't have these feelings. Something has gone wrong, somewhere.
"Ravenclaw."
There, my decision is made. The only choice I had.