Time reveals all. Whether you want it to or not. "You Know Who" is long gone after the battle of Hogwarts, but what if his reign wasn't? Could there still be supporters lurking in the shadows? My name is Athena Green and I'm here to tell you a little story about a girl with a dark past. (It's me by the way, I'm the girl).

Hogwarts:

It was third-year at Hogwarts and relationships had been struck up. Roots have been planted and, for what seemed like once in a lifetime, everything was peaceful. After the war, the community was devastated. Hogwarts was in ruins but the other ten schools from around the world banded together to make Hogwarts whole once again. A very mighty contribution came from a school across the seas: The Llvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry in America.

As the first years filed into the stairway, Headmistress McGonagall was pleased to help them settle as she had done for years before. This year could have been as plain as the others; however, I was here. And I was about to make a huge mess.

McGonagall finished her instructions and proceeded to ask the first years to make their way into the Great Hall. As I walked my way up the stairs I felt a light hand on my shoulder and looked up to see two very concerned eyes looking at me.

"Yes, Headmistress?" I said cautiously.

"You don't have to do this in front of everyone, Miss Green," she stated calmly. "We can arrange for a private sorting."

I couldn't tell you what I felt when I heard her say that. When her eyes looked at mine with such care. I was confused, but I did know one thing: I was raised to be confident, independent.

I remember thinking about this the whole train ride. Did I really want my first appearance to be in front of the whole school? Could I handle the stares and the whispers?

Lifting my head high and brushing back my fiery red hair from my face I replied stiffly, "Headmistress, I will already be the talk of the school, so I might as well make an entrance."

With that McGonagall gave me a look of what I believe was confidence and guided me into the Great Hall with the rest of the first years.

To clarify, I am not a first-year. I am in my third year of schooling but for reasons that will be revealed, I have to be sorted with the first years. Remember, time reveals all.

I manage to slip into the crowd of pale, fear-stricken first years without any detection. I guess people only know my name, not my looks.

There wasn't a very large crowd of first years, so sorting went by a little faster than usual. It still felt like forever since there were a lot of names before mine in the alphabet.

As the crowd dwindled, I hear my name called and that's when it started. The whispers. The looks. I believe I heard one boy call out "go home death-eater". Great first day, am I right?

I made my way up the stairs to the stool with the sorting hat. McGonagall still had the honor of helping to sort the students so I was thankful I didn't have to feel so alone up there. I could see the students whispering and the confused looks on the first years faces. Only for those faces to be turned into pure fear when the older kids explained who I was. Who my parents were.

I hadn't even noticed that McGonagall had placed the sorting hat on top of my head until its' raspy voice cut into my thoughts.

"Well, this is an interesting one. Not even a first-year, yet here we are sorting you into a house," said the hat intrigued. The hat continued its monologue, "you have a very dark past, but I can tell that you're a leader. Your mind is clouded by what-ifs. So you like to think things through before jumping in, eh?"

At this point, everyone was dead set one me. I assume it's because they want to hear who will be burdened with my presence in their house.

"Where to place you. Your mind is a great attribute, but your selflessness also prevails. I think I know where you would be most comfortable though. Slytherin!" the hat screamed loudly.

No claps, no cheers. As I walked my way to the Slytherin table, I see that the students had already distanced themselves from me, leaving me all alone at the end of the table.

It wasn't long before the rest of the students had been sorted and the feast had commenced. I didn't feel like eating. I didn't even want to be here, but I was told it's for my safety. I looked to the long row of teachers and longed for the feast to end. As I was engulfed by the empty seats around me, I wished that for one day, just one day, I could be normal.

Halfway through our dinner, the tall doors to the dining hall opened and I watched as two boys, who looked about my age, in Slytherin uniforms enter the room. One was of average height with jet black hair, and light skin. The other was taller and skinnier. He had hair that reminded me of snow and pale skin. The white-haired boy had bloodshot eyes and a tear-stained face. I saw many stand and hug the boy until the two finally sat down towards the doors they had just entered. As I continued looking at the two, the black-haired boy turned and looked at me, rather confused. I saw him turn to a boy across from the pair and ask a question as the student leaned over the table to see who the black-haired boy was talking about. I saw his face morph from confused to terrified to angry. Great another friend I couldn't make.

The feast had finally ended and first-years were instructed to stay behind to get a tour of the castle from our prefect. A boy with dark, curly brown hair and brown eyes instructed us to follow him into the halls of Hogwarts. With one last glance at the teachers still seated in front of the large glass window, I made my way out into the staircase I had just arrived at hours before.

The tour itself was pretty mundane. We walked around and talked and everyone made sure to stay away from me. Story of my life. I was given a private room a McGonagall thought it would be best so I could ease my way into the situation. My things had already been placed in the dorm along with my cat, Demeter. I sat down on the bed as Demeter crawled her way into my lap, falling asleep rather quickly.

I remember thinking how much brighter the stars are here compared to America. I missed it. I wasn't accepted there either, but at least I was used to it. Here, I have to get used to a whole new bunch of kids eyeing me down in the hallway. These thoughts clouded my mind until I fell asleep.