The Funerals

Large grey clouds flew quickly in the dark sky as everyone was reunited in the cimetery. Two blond girls were standing in front of the graves, heads down and holding hands. Same heigh, same weigh, same body type and exactly the same hair... this way, it was quite obvious that they were twins. When the ceremony was done they both looked up, tears flowing freely on their cheeks. Although they had similarities, they were not identical and they were easy to tell apart, but they had this connection twins have... and even more.

"My nieces."

Both of them turned around and looked at the weird lady walking to them with a sad expression. Both girls took refuge in the open arms of their aunt who hugged them tightly.

"I'm so sorry." she whispered as one of them sobbed. "I'm sorry you girls have to leave everything you know behind."

One of the girls got out of her aunt's embrace and crossed her arms on her chest, looking away.

"I don't want to stay here anyway." she let out as her sister put her hand on one of her arms.

"Don't be like that, Liv." she almost whispered. "Don't play strong. It's okay to be weak, sometimes."

"You girls will be well in Hogwarts and we can stay together."

Sybill Trelawney was not your common lady. Even though she was attending a funeral, she wore an old beige cloak, a trailing shawl of the same shade and her thick glasses made her eyes appear ten times bigger than they really were. The twins were used to the special dressing of their aunt. In fact, Sybill was also their godmother and although their parents would never let her babysit by herself, Sybill was part of almost all their weekends. And now, Sybill was also the only family member that was still alive and she cared about them even if her manners, clothing style and personality were unusual.

"Are you girls packed?"

"Yes, we are."

Sybill smiled sadly at Julie and carressed slowly her cheek.

"Don't hide your gift." she let out. "I know you don't want to but it's called a gift, not a curse... there's a reason behind it."

Julie half-smiled but restrained herself from nodding. In her old school, she felt like a freak. Not everyone believed in her surprising power and her twin often didn't help the cause. In fact, Livia loved to make up predictions and watch other students fall in the trap. Julie, on the other hand, never wanted to give predictions, true or false.

"Let's go now, okay?" Livia proposed, holding herself in a hug as a shiver ran up her spine.

Julie had never seen her sister like that. She grabbed her hand and squeezed her fingers.

"We'll be fine." she promised. "As long as we're together."

The Sorting

"This train ride was a pain." Livia whispered to her sister as they walked up the stairs of the big castle, followed by first years. "And this is freaking embarrassing."

"It's just for the sorting, Liv." Julie explained in a low tone. "Don't worry, it'll be quickly done and everyone will forget about us."

Deep in her heart, Julie hoped she was telling the truth but a large cloud of doubt was filling her insides, treathening to rain on her desire to pass incognito in this new school. Their last name wouldn't help and the fact that 7th graders tranferring to a new school were being sorted with a bunch of first years was not going to play in their favor either. Sybill had insisted they did like everyone else had. Apparantly, doing otherwise was going to make their journey at Hogwarts chaotic.

"Have you ever really believed Sybill's predictions?" Livia asked.

"You know she made some." Julie argued. "She even predicted some parts of your life."

"She didn't predict our parents dead now did she?"

It was not really a question but it made Julie's heart twist in pain. She had not and it was unfortunate. Their aunt would most likely have done something to save her own brother and his wife from leaving their two daughters in such pain. If anything, Sybill just wanted her goddaughters to be happy. The only thing that reassured Julie was that her parents were still together. That's always what happens with soulmates. And the twins knew what they were talking about when they talked about soulmates.

They both listened as McGonagall told their speech. They could feel the nervousness from the first years and read their fear through their facial expressions.

"Olivia and Julie, you girls will go first."

Taking a big breath at the exact same time, the girls entered the great hall with everyone else, walking up until the other side. McGonagall walked up the unique stair and took the sorting hat in her hand before to call the first name.

"Julie Trelawney!"

The blond girl expected a total silence but whispers started to fill the room with surprise. She bit her bottom lip in shyness and sat on the bench before feeling the hat fall slowly on her head.

"Couragous and brave in the face of adversity... loyal to your friends and family." she heard inside her head. "You're perfect for... GRYFFINDOR."

Only the last word was heard by the whole room as everyone at a specific table got up, clapped and cheered. With a smile, Julie got up from the bench and walked quickly to the table as she was welcomed with pat on the backs and "hey!"'s. She turned around as she heard her sister being called.

"Olivia Trelawney!"

For the second time, surprise and whispers filled the room but Livia didn't seem to matter. She walked with determination and sat on the bench, back straight. Mcgonagall put the hat on her blond locks and she heard it talk inside her head.

"You're cunning, smart and a natural leader. Your heart belongs in... SLYTHERIN."

Out of everyone in the room, Livia was only looking at her sister whom's face expressed disappointment and sadness. That was it. They were going to be separated. The slytherin table started to cheer and clap too as Livia joined them. The first years got sorted too but the twins were not in the mood to celebrate. When they started eating, Livia noticed her sister in deep conversation with some students from her house. With a big breath, she turned around to meet the pale eyes of a blond boy...