Chapter Ten: The Shocking Truth

I found nothing funny in what they said to me. Neither man looked like he was capable of making a joke let alone was as far fetched as that. I found myself nodding at the ludicrous notion. I didn't know why but realistically it made sense. I was strange; mother never let me forget that. Maybe there was a reason for my oddness. Maybe it wasn't my fault after all.

Then another thought crept into my mind, one that was less comforting then my previous ones. I voiced my concerns to the two men charged with my capture.
"Are you taking me away?" I asked nervously. I had once read somewhere that witches were captured and burned by people who believed they were evil. I didn't know if this was true but why else would I have been hunted?

Hector laughed quietly, looked at Alistair and nodded to him. He pulled up a chair to join our conversation.
"Yes Anastasia, we are taking you away. But you don't need to be scared. You're going to be taken to Hogwarts to learn more about being a witch".

"Hogwarts?" I asked, "What on earth is Hogwarts?"
"Well," said Alistair, "Hogwarts is a school where wizards and witches go when they are about 11. They learn all they need to know about their craft in 7 years."
"I'm 18," I said astonished and a little frustrated, "Your sending me to a school where I will be older then everybody?"

"That is unfortunate" Hector answered me, "Ideally you would have been enrolled in Hogwarts when you were born. However when your mother took you out of the country the ministry of magic somehow failed to identify you as a witch. You weren't conceived in Australia so the Australian ministry didn't identify you either. Until you entered London no one realised you existed. Unfortunate business that but better late then never."

"Better late then never," I repeated ruefully, "You still haven't answered my question! You expect me to become a student when no one else my age will attend the school? That's ridiculous!"
The men look at each other, clearly confused and a little surprised at my outburst. Alistair spoke first.
"I'm sure they will explain it best when you get to Hogwarts."