Chapter 10

The carriage rattled on through a gate. I looked out of the window, and I saw tiny lights in the distance. Hogwarts... Excitement ran through me, and I couldn't help myself but smiling widely.

''Glad to see that at least someone is happy,'' I heard George saying.

''Don't you like school?'' I asked.

''It's a waste of time!''

''Although mum sees that in a slightly different way,'' Fred said lightly. ''But don't let us ruin this day for you.''

I smiled at him.

''You said that you were tought magic at home. I wonder what that's like.''

''Well, it's not that much fun,'' I said vaguely. I thought of the portrait, how it always had forced me to study and how it had shouted at me when I didn't succeed in performing a spell.

Fred shrugged his shoulders. ''At least there's one good thing about this new school year.'' He catched my gaze. ''You.''

I blushed, and looked away.

''Yeah, you seem all right,'' George said approvingly. ''I think you'd be a good Gryffindor, Antares.''

''You know what,'' I said. ''I think that too.''

But when the carriage slowed down I felt my confidence vanishing like vapor before the sun. Sure, being in Gryffindor seemed a lot more welcoming to me than being in Slytherin, but the consequences would be terrible. And I wasn't sure whether I was able to take them.

''Make sure that you don't lose sight of us,'' Fred said. ''It's always very crowded at the entrance.''

I nodded, and wanted to pick up my trunk.

''You can leave that here,'' George said. ''Hogwarts' House Elves will bring it to your dormitory.''

''That's very nice of them,'' I said.

''Well, it's impossible to do that without magic,'' Fred grinned. ''All those staircases...''

We jumped out of the carriage, and started to walk along with everyone else. I felt the same as I did this morning; a little uneasy but very curious. I noticed that some people were staring at me. I hastily looked to the ground.

At last we reached the steps.

''Where's McGonagall?'' Fred asked.

''I don't know,'' George said. ''She should be here, though...''

''Who's McGonagall?'' I turned to Fred.

''She's head of Gryffindor House. Moreover, she's the one that leads the Sorting Ceremony.''

''And you're not assigned yet, are you?'' George asked.

I shook my head.

''We'd better find out where she is.''

Fred pointed at a group that stood somewhere further on. ''Look, the first years are over there. I bet McGonagall is with them.''

We walked towards the group.

''Hello,'' Fred said, and he smiled at the small kids. ''Any chance that you know where McGonagall is?'' The first years slowly moved backwards.

''This year hasn't even begun and you're already misbehaving,'' a familliar voice said.

I turned around, and I saw Snape. I smiled at him, but he didn't notice that. He peered at Fred and George. ''You two, get into the Entrance Hall.''

''But-''

''Now!''

Fred and George shuffled away, while rolling their eyes. ''See you,'' Fred whispered when he walked past me.

''Why did you do that?'' I asked upset. ''They tried to help me!''

Snape ignored me. He turned to the firstyears. ''Some of you might now that the Sorting Ceremony normally is led by professor McGonagall. This year, however, I'll take the lead.''

I looked around. The kids seemed all very frightened of Snape.

''I'll say this only once, so listen well. When the doors of the Hall open you'll have to follow me. I'll bring you to the Sorting Hat, and you've got to wait untill I call your name. Then you will be sorted into a House. Are there any questions?''

I was sure that everyone had a lot of questions, and that they were too afraid to ask them. I myself was full of questions as well, but right when I was about to ask them Snape pointed at the oak door, which slowly opened. The kids started to walk inside. I wanted to follow them, but Snape stopped me.

''You have to wait here,'' he said. Then he too walked inside, and the door closed behind him.

I sat down, and wondered what that was all about. Why was Snape in such a bad mood? And why was he so cold to me? I tried to think of anything I could've done wrong. Was it the way I treated Malfoy? Or the fact that I'd been friendly to Fred and George, who were Gryffindors, after all? I thought of all the things that had happened on my way here but I couldn't think of anything logical. After a long while my back started to hurt. Right when I stood up I heard some people coming closer. Their footsteps echoed in the Entrance Hall.

''Hello there,'' I heard someone saying. I quickly turned around to see a boy with black hair and a girl with bushy brown hair. They were followed by a severe-looking woman who wore green emerald robes.

''Aren't you allowed to get in?'' she asked.

''Sna- Professor Snape told me to wait here,'' I said.

''Snape?'' the boy said. I nodded.

''Harry, I think we've missed the Sorting Ceremony!'' the girl said, and she sounded disappointed. ''Let's go and meet the new Gryffindors.''

The boy – Harry – gazed at me. ''Want to come with us?''

''I think it's better for me to stay here,'' I said.

''See you later, then.'' He and the girl swiftly sneaked into the Great Hall. The woman with the stern face shook her head.

''I think it's all right for you to come with me,'' she said. ''I'm Minerva McGonagall, Hogwart's Deputy Headmistress and Head of Gryffindor. I'd like to assist you on your way to the Sorting Hat.'' She smiled at me. ''It's a long way to walk on your own,'' she added.

I took a deep breath, and walked past her into the Great Hall. I tried not to make eye contact with anyone, which was really hard considering that a lot of people were staring at me. I heard them wispering to each other as I walked by.

''Who is she?''

''I thought the Sorting Ceremony was already over.''

''She doesn't look like a first years to me.''

''I wonder what she's doing here.''

''Can't they just give us some food? I'm starving!''

''Do you think that she's a transfer student?''

Finally I reached the Sorting Hat. Everyone fell silent when I put it on. A lot of things ran through my head. Walburga's portrait, my task, Sirius Black, Slytherin, Malfoy, Fred and George, Gryffindor, Snape... I almost jumped into the air when I heard a voice talking to me, and realised that it was the Hat.

''You confuse me, girl,'' it said. ''When I read your mind it is clear to me that you want to be a Slytherin. You heart, however, tells me something different.''

''No, I... I want to be a Slytherin,'' I whispered.

The Hat laughed. ''I'm not so sure of that. Furthermore, I can't make you a Slytherin. You have to be a Slytherin. Only then I can assign you to that House.''

''I am a Slytherin,'' I quickly said.

''Part of you is,'' the Hat agreed. ''Your blood is pure.''

I frowned.

''Aren't you happy with that?''

''Well, it didn't help to save my parents lives.''

''Hmm?''

''If my blood is pure, my parents must've had pure blood as well. I was told that the Dark Lord prefered pureblood wizards. Nevertheless he killed them. He killed my parents...''

''Did he?'' the Hat asked sharply. ''Do you know that absolutely sure?''

''... Yes,'' I said. ''Walburga told me.''

''You mustn't take everything for granted, girl. You have one year to discover the truth. Find out who you 's only one more thing I can say to you. You truly are... a GRYFFINDOR!''