She had been told by her mother's husband that the first train ride was supposed to matter. That one's greatest lifelong friendships could be formed here. The Golden Trio had met on their first train ride to Hogwarts.
She had been told by her mother not to be upset if the other children avoided her. There were so many things they would swear they couldn't see but pushed them away anyway. It was not really their fault and it certainly would not be hers. From the child's muggle education she understood what the term schizophrenic meant, and how a genetic disposition plus child hood trauma like a boarding school full of bullies and a generational war could cause a person to hold all sorts of false beliefs that could only be held at bay by a veritable potion of medications personalized to the patient. The child waved away the gnargles from her head, trying to use her genius for their little tricks.
So she, as always, prepared. Not just read - Hogwarts a History, The Terror of the Death Eaters, The Sacred Twenty-Eight... She limited her time telling her parent and her parent's husband good bye to secure a cabin for herself. She waited for her future friends to greet her. She had seen, really Seen, that this would not work. She ride all the hours to Hogwarts by herself. She should have spent the time practicing her Occlumency. But what if she missed something else the Sight could warn her of because she was building barriers to it directly into her psyche? Stuck between a rock and a hard place. Or at least in a train cabin, all by herself.
At least the trip by boat was more how Dad had told her it would be. She was convinced that every child's parents over hyped the experience of the first time a person laid eyes on the castle. She could admit to herself that she was wrong. People who did not admit they could be wrong could not learn. And the brightest witch of her age could definitely learn.
When she was gathered along for the sorting ceremony, children surrounded her. A red head with absolutely impeccable brand new school robes, looking uncomfortable as if he was wearing them to please a mother who only had hand me downs but could afford new things for the first time in her life. A blonde boy with hair whiter than her left that seemed predisposed to his arrogant stance but would catch himself every now and again and nearly apologize under his breath to no one at all. A true metamorphmagus practicing changing his skin and hair from house color to house color in each of their combinations. Some girls. Some muggleborn holding onto the railing to ensure the stairs did not move on them.
She kept her ears open as they were called. Lily Potter - Gryffindor. Ivy Warrington - Slytherin. How random to any other ear. But she could see patterns where others would not. Finally her turn.
"Selene Prince." The girl walked out after the last of her predecessor's applause abated. While Headmistress McGonagal held the hat aloft she tried to jump into its mind - it had eyes after all, and was speaking. The hat smiled.
With a frown she allowed it to rest on her head. Are you going to rely on your natural talents in your career here?
"Why wouldn't I utilize a useful tool to attain what I want?"
It laughed. Your mind is so active. It races away from you. It isn't just your talent that you practice Occlumency - you're using it to stabilize yourself. You're afraid that your unbridled intellect will leave you like your mother.
"I wouldn't say afraid as in fearful. Washing one's hands doesn't mean one is afraid of the germs, just that you understand the consequences of leaving better-placed-in-check alone."
What if I told you that you were the Brightest Witch of Your Age? Right now. Title granted.
"I'd think that you were stacking houses instead of judging students. That you were placing me for the benefit of others. So I wouldn't believe you. And then I'd be forced to pursue the same course of action anyway."
I tried.
"Slytherin!", the Sorting Hat announced.
It had begun.