Disclaimer / Author's Note I do not own the Harry Potter Universe or its characters. I merely own the original characters you don't recognise.Thank you for reading. I am very excited to be writing this. It's extremely fun to toy with my idea of another Potter.

Description Aurora J. Potter grew up privileged, with the price of having to follow all the rules that comes with being a respected pure-blood in wizarding society. She can't choose her own clothes, her own friends, or even her own likes and dislikes. Though she soon realises that her thoughts may not be her own either. There is a bounty out for her head, and there is a psychopath determined to collect it.

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Chapter Four

Ilvermorny Tradition

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I could hardly sleep for the past three days. For the first time, it was due to excitement and not out of fear. My calendar helped me count down the days until I was off to what I'd been waiting for my entire life. I sat upright, staring at the foot of my bed where my unamed cat slept. He seemed to be rather protective of me and often had the behavior of a guard dog. To pass the time I'd went over a few names like I did every day. I wanted to give him the perfect one. And I hated to admit it but he'd grown on me the last month that I'd had him.

I shivered upon the chill in the room. My eyes went to the opened window and I slid from my bed to go close it. Again. This was the third time that'd I went to sleep with it closed and woke to it opened. At first, I hadn't really cared nor remembered. Yet, the fact that fireflies somehow ended up in my bedroom irritated me. I wished the lock wasn't broken.

The cat rose his head at me, curious as to what I was doing near the window. He didn't seem to like it and was at my feet shortly. He purred, rubbing his body against my leg as if persuading me back to bed.

I'd felt as though it was too late to sleep now.

It may have been dark, but I could see the deep colors of orange and blue in the sky becoming visible. The sun was rising. Bending down to pick up the cat, I went to the bed anyway to put my feet under the covers and looked beside me to my new 'cell-phone'. I'd found it more handy than I'd originally thought. Tossing myself back onto my pillow, I held the screen up to my face. It told the time of 5:46 a.m - in numbers. Not like any other clock that I'd ever had or seen. Then, the picture on the screen seemed to go fuzzy and turned off completely. I frowned and slapped it with the palm of my hand. It didn't work.

My eyes Instead turned to the ceiling. I counted the glowing star stickers that were stuck there with a charm. I'd lose myself in my mind for what felt like hours.

Then the light had flicked on.

"Up, up!" said Anne cheerfully, already fully dressed with dripping wet hair. She'd just stepped out of the shower. "Today is the day. I want you showered, your hair washed and brushed, and you at the kitchen table ready to eat whatever Crink's made for you."

"But - but I hadn't even got clothes ready!" I protested. Before I'd even known it, the sun was already up. It felt like I hadn't even blinked yet. Anne wouldn't hear of it.

"I'm laying out your clothes," she'd told me, going to my drawers and rummaging through them. She held up a black skirt and tossed it onto my bed and a loose T-shirt to go with. I turned my nose up at such a plain choice and looked at her questionably.

"It's a long ride," she'd told me. "And you'll be changing into your uniform when you're almost there anyhow."

I often wondered how we'd get there. We were all the way in New York. So far from a school built in Massachusetts. Whenever I'd ask, though, I was just told 'you'll see'. If it had anything to do with heights, though, I'd rather take a bus there. The cat began to meow and wonder from the room. I made a prediction that he was already stationing himself outside of the bathroom. Or wandering the halls. Anne seemed busy trying to pack my things, so I'd slipped out to follow him.

He picked up speed, like he'd been chasing something. I was curious enough to see what and thought it'd be a rat. He led me all the way to the library, and I'd seen nothing but tall shelves of books with two grey arm chairs sitting on either side of an end table. The cat seemed confused. Then angry.

"I'd call you Lookie," I shook my head and used my foot to nudge him out of the room. "Short for looking."

I pretended I could see the approval in his eyes at the horrible explanation and walked out of the room just in time to hear the doorbell ring throughout the manor. Before Anne could even think of it, I'd ran to the front doors to be the first to answer it. Honestly, I didn't think that I'd ever get used to seeing Aunt Marlene. That was two times in one year. Shocker.

But she looked sick. Under her eyes were purple like she were functioning on only mere minutes of sleep. Her posture seemed off. Like she were tipping forward with her arm cradling some sort of pain in her stomach. Auntie moved to give me a hug before I could even ask, kissing me on the forehead and putting her usual grin on her face. I almost recoiled when I'd head Anne's reprimanding tone.

"I thought you were in the shower," she'd said from her place on the stairs. Her eyes were narrowed and she made her way towards us. She cocked her head curiously at Marlene. "And I thought you'd be too tired to come today."

Auntie laughed awkwardly. She said something about not missing this important event for the world and left it at that.

Anne then ushered me up the stairs to take my shower and called after me that my clothes were laying on my bed as well as my bucket. The one that I liked to carry to the bathroom full of my personal hygiene products. Toothpaste. Tooth brush. Lotion. Body wash. The usual. It made me feel official. And I was determined for everything to be perfect today. I'd wanted to go into that school smelling good with my hair washed and everything. My excitement was too high for my own good.

My adrenaline rushed and I couldn't feel how hot the water was. The steam covered the glass of the shower and I closed my eyes. My mind filled with pictures of the school again. I imagined what the dorms looked like. The eating hall because I liked to eat. I imagined the grounds and the halls. I'd even wondered if there would be a place for me to practice my wandless magic.

I'd show Anne.

At first, it had been something that I would just skim through because I was curious enough to see if it were possible. Then, it'd turned to motivation caused from complete spite. Obviously, my goal wouldn't be to completely replace the use of my wand but to be able to use it when I didn't have it. Or, I assumed that spells would be more powerful with a wand if I go the hard route.

There was a sound on the shower glass then that tore me from my fantasy. It sounded like someone was rubbing against it. I wiped the water from my eyes and moved my bangs from my face to look over. There was writing.

Hello there, little Potter

My mind seemed to slow a bit, my eyes not leaving the written letters on the glass from the hot water steam. I seemed to somehow come to the reasoning that the longer I stared at it, the more I could come up with some sort of reasoning of it. If I screamed, I knew that Anne would come running in here wondering what was wrong. As well as Aunt Marlene. I wouldn't be able to tell them that some message on the shower was written to me that I could swear up and down that I didn't do myself.

I washed myself as quickly as I could, got out, grabbed a towel, and ran down the hall to my bedroom while I struggled to dry myself. All I could do was stand in the middle of my room silently before I took any action. Now that I had the space to think clearly, I had the second thought of telling someone. The issue is finding someone that'd actually take a small shower message as seriously as I was.

But I know what I'd seen.

I remembered at the last second, when I'd open my eyes to the noise, the message was writing itself. I may be a witch that came from a strange world far beyond any filthy muggle's imagination but even I knew that it wasn't normal.

"See me now? You look shocked."

Anne had refused to ride on Aunt Marlene's motorcycle. Auntie had offered as if there were even room to fit all three of us. I would have laughed at that, but my mind was still stuck on this morning. I'd spent the entire cab ride going over in my head how I'd tell anyone. Going over words. Rearranging them. Then repeat. Nothing I came up with even sounded right when I said it in my head. There was no way in hell I was letting any of it go, though. For now, all I could do was listen to Anne grumble and complain about having to take a cab.

I didn't like it either. The muggle that was driving it smelled a bit and he drove very slow. I'd blame him if we were late. Then again, I'd been the one that refused to apparate there.

"We would have been there by now," Anne had whispered to me harshly. "Not only that but we have to have him drop us off little ways away. If I'd known we would have lect earlier."

"Oh yeah?" I countered. "Well - at least the damn guy doesn't make me hallucinate."

She scowled. Auntie had found it funny and stifled a laughter, but said nothing on our banter. I couldn't help but think that she should have known anyhow that I wouldn't agree to apparation. My tummy was just too fragile. Something that wasn't new to her. I began to ignore them both and turned to look out of the window, petting Lookie as he slept soundly in my lap. We'd be there soon enough. I could see downtown New York in the distance if I strained my eyes hard enough.

The anticipation was slowly eating me alive inside. The reality of it all began to hit me and I grew nervous all of a sudden. I was really leaving. This was it. My bedroom would be vacant for most of every year for the next seven years. My adventure in a world that I'd only grown up hearing about was beginning. I could hardly wait to get my wand.

"How come I couldn't go to the wand shop?" I'd asked in a whisper, the question in my mind now that I'd thought about it. "Auntie told me you had two had to buy yours."

Auntie laughed at me and leaned closer.

"A bit different across the ocean, sugar," was all she told me. I didn't understand, but what I'd gathered from the vague statement was that their school must have allowed them to get their wands before stepping foot on the grounds. The only downside that Ilvermorny had in comparison to the other schools. Aunt Marlene turned her attention forward and squinted her eyes, mumbling under her breath about how we're not much longer. I followed her gaze.

My paranoia got the better of me and I swore that I began to sweat when the buildings began to become larger. Soon, we were bombarded by other cars and muggles rushing to cross the streets. The driver made a loud sound whenever he slammed the wheel he was steering with and graced me with the pleasure of new curse words that I'd wanted to try later. Anne edged forward to the man.

"Drop us here," she'd told him, taking her wand out. I'd been about to question what she was about to do with it. That was, until she'd waited patiently for the guy to pull over to the side of the road and pointed her want to the back of his head. She whispered a soft and swift 'obliviate'. The tip glowed and a bif of steam had came along with it. She turned to us and ushered us out.

"What spell was that?" I asked her all too excitedly. Anne had been about to open her mouth, most likely to tell me that I'd learn it on my own eventually. But Auntie had stepped in quickly as she popped a cigarette in her mouth and lit it.

"Memory erasing," Marlene told me. That only raised another question on why we'd have to do it in the first place. "No muggle money to pay for the ride. Even if I had some already in my pack-pack."

The blonde gestured towards the miniature grey muggle bag with straps that was on her back. She'd always had it with her for as long as I could remember. Anne just gave the woman a look of disapproval. Whether it was about the cigarette, the comment, or the fact that she carried muggle money with her I truly didn't know and didn't give a damn.

"Of course you would," Anne had said with a holier-than-thou tone. She ignored Marlene's scoff and went to the trunk to get my suit cases and trunks. She most likely regretted not having shrunk them now that we had to walk the rest of the way. Then, she pushed us along and told us to hurry. "Aurora, grab your suitcase, now."

"I have Lookie in my arms, though!" I whined as I held up the cat to show her. Anne growled at me and I smirked upon the small victory.

It was what she got for not even telling me where we were going.

Honestly, I was torn. On one hand, I liked surprises but hated waiting to know what it was. So, maybe I hated surprises after all. Or, I could just be so anxious for this momentous occasion in my life that I was desperate to get it over with. Or have it last longer. I'd always had a hard time with choosing under pressure. I resorted for just paying close attention to the direction we were going and trying not to lose Auntie and Anne in the crowd of people. If my memory served me right, the last time I'd been to New York City was as a child. Other than that, I made the quick decision that I didn't like it. It was packed with muggles. And things that I'd never seen before.

Truly confusing, the way that these people worked.

"Alright, stop here," Anne told us. She'd stopped in front of a concrete stairway protected by blue railings around it that led underground. I could already smell the stench and I turned my nose up. Not to mention, there were muggles coming in and out of that thing. Certainly, it couldn't be where we were going?

"I'm not going," I declared.

"I second that," agreed Marlene. "I thought there was a train station somewhere that was hidden."

Auntie told me she'd been down here plenty, it'd just been so big that there was no way to tell where our kind hung out. She looked at Anne with quizzical look.

"This is not Hogwarts," Anne snapped. She didn't worry upon the volume due to it already being loud in the city. I doubted anyone listened to us anyways. It seemed they were all in a rush to be somewhere. Probably boring, perhaps. "There is no 'train station' per-say."

"Then how do we get there?" I demanded to know now. If it had anything to do with that stink hole, I wanted nothing to do with it. I'd always picture my big trip to be something big. Something grand. Never would I have even guessed it would be something like this. In front of all of these stupid people. I swore I saw a woman picking her nose on our way here.

Anne would not hear of it, though. She took my arm despite the imminent dangers of a possible tantrum. I tried to even sick Lookie on her, but he wouldn't budge and kept to my arms. I was disappointed. What if Dora Calderon annoyed me and I needed him? It was futile. Anne was stronger than me and she began to go on about how we were cutting it close as it is. It was getting colder as we went further down until we'd eventually come across a pair of doors that separated us from the stairs that led back up to the platform of where I could see a different train that said 'New York Subway' on the side. I realised she lied.

"That looks like a train," I pointed out. Anne didn't reply to me. She looked around, took her wand from her boot, and kept it close to her leg a muttered something under her breath. The remaining muggles suddenly looked strange, like they were stuck in place and could no longer see. It startled me, and I looked to Anne with an alarmed look of wonder just in time to see her tap her wand against the side wall. The bricks there began to rearrange and move themselves quickly and move wide enough to make a large whole for a human go through. When one looked inside, there was a stair case leading below the ground.

I'd never admit that I was wrong, though.

Hesitantly, I began to walk down the cobblestone stairs. I held my cat close to me, as he seemed to be looking around just in case. Aunt Marlene seemed to be just as curious as I was. Then, we both lost what air we'd had left.

Now this was more like it. At the end of the stairs, there was a bright silver thing with doors. It looked just like the train above us that'd said 'subway' on it. Except, it was much brighter. Around the platform was pretty grey tiles with the Ilvermorny crest imbedded in it with light bricked walls. There were pristine benches for people who thought to come early as to not miss it. And there were witches and wizards all around. Those my age that I supposed I would be seeing in class soon enough. If this was what the platform looked like, I was excited to see the school.

"What is that?" I pointed to the train thing. It looked like one, but it was shaped differently and looked different as well.

"Muggles call it the subway," Anne told me. "We call it the Ilvermorny Railway."

"Does it pick up every student in the country?" I'd asked curiously. It looked a bit too small to fit hundredths of students in it. And I wasn't about to withstand hours on end of people violating my personal space. Even if I did like hugs. Not from strangers, though.

"Course not," said Marlene. She had put her cigarette out on the pavement when she caught the disapproving looks of other parents. "Dear Annie here tells me that there are about four different ones across the country."

Five. Probably spread out for all parts of North America. I wondered how many students were in that school for that to really be necessary. I began to picture just how big it was and how many beds were in the dorms. The very image made me a bit dizzy and feel intimidated somehow. I even wondered if each railway looked different from one another. Perhaps different colors and design. As much as I could hardly wait to board, I was scared.

I'd never been away from home for so long before.

The reminder that this was the next decade or so of my life came to mind again. What if the other girls didn't like me in the dorms? Would I get along with these new teachers and would they be different than Professor St. Mark, who'd been my tutor along with my peers my entire life? I hoped not. I'd liked my tutor. He was there for me when nobody else had time for me. He'd even kept Calderon silent. Most of the times. I shook my head of the worrying thoughts and turned my anxious gaze to the contraption. I was sure I was sweating now.

A hand began to run against my head, fingers curling within my hair. Aunt Marlene was trying to soothe me as Anne was double checking that I'd had all my luggage, even going om about how she would be sure to send me more if I wrote to her.

"Relax, kid," The blonde told me in the most sincere 'motherly' voice that she could. "I remember my first day. There was a little girl that'd been just as nervous as you, if not more. Looked like she didn't even no what to do with herself."

"Was it you?" I'd assumed, but wanted confirmation. Auntie didn't seem like the nervous type to me. She took everything like some sort of champion. Though maybe if she'd been nervous, it certainly was normal for someone like me to be. Was I allowed to be nervous? Did us purebloods even resort ourselves to that low? I was supposed to be tough, like Anne had taught me to be. To learn to not bat an eyelash at the slightest misfortunes.

Auntie had chuckled.

"No, it was my best friend. I was fine," she said. For a moment a hooded look came about her eyes, but she pulled herself back and put her focus back to me. Her hand traveled from my hair to my shoulder and she gave it a squeeze. "You'll be okay."

I'll be okay.

I'd wanted to repeat this in my head in hopes that I could get myself to believe it. Hope was something that faded fairly quickly in me. There was a beeping, then. Then a woman's voice making a call throughout the entire platform for the parents and or guardians to give their children a final good-bye. I couldn't tell where the voice was coming from and It's startled me.

I didn't ask, because Anne was in tears already. She looked as though she were trying to keep her composure as a lady should, yet she couldn't help herself. She knelt down and wrapped her arms tightly around me and sniffed loudly in my ear, putting some money in my pocket and reminding me that it was for my wand. The woman told me how much she'd miss me. How lonely it would be in the house without me. The whole she-bang. I almost felt sorry for her that I was leaving, but the back of my head told me that this was what I'd been waiting for my whole life.

Before I knew it I had all bags in my hands and Lookie was walking beside me fowards the railway. I looked back at the two the whole time, even nearly running into people as I did. Facing forward was the only way to keep my mind from having second thoughts.

I stepped through the railway door, and I swore that this seemed to be a reccuring trick that our kind seemed to constantly pull. Small on the outside and big on the inside. I'd never get used to that. When I'd asked about it I was told that there were many parts of the school that did that, too. Oh, I was already so tired and the day had just started. I looked to where I could sit. The railway looked as though it could go on for miles. And for miles, there would be one white leather couch against the wall of the railway. Then, a dark brown coffee table in the middle with a single box in the middle. Then, the same white couch facing the coffe table and the other couch. On the back of the last couch looked like a large compartment to put luggage. Another couch had it's back to it and then a coffee table. Then another couch that finally touched the other side of the railway. There looked to be just yards and yards of this set up.

It was overwhelming. I didn't know why I'd felt so helpless. My feet had to he cohersed by my brain to finally move. I just didn't want to end up sitting with someone I shouldn't. Like a mudblood. Or someome I shouldn't. But I was tired and didn't think I had time to pick and choose. I was in for a long enough ride as it was. At least I'd seen a boy put his luggage into the compartments. I then knew where to put mine. So, I did and slid into a seat. My mind then told me to get one last look out of the window.

And they saw me. Anne smiled at me and tried to wipe her eyes. Aunt Marlene had tipped her fadora at me with a grin and pulled out her packet of cigerettes again.

I couldn't look at them anymore.

Sliding back into my seat I began to take deep breaths. I folded my hands neatly in front of me to be poise and watched as the remainder of the students filed in and took their own places.

A boy with beautifully curly hair sat next to me, gesturing towards the box in the middle. I'd only looked at him like he'd been wasting my time until he opened the lid and pulled out a deck of cards.

"Do you know how to play?" He'd asked me. "It's a long ride."

I looked at him like I'd beem forced to swallow a lemon.

"How long?" I asked.

"Ma tells me It's about about five or so hours," the boy told me, to which I made a face at. So, his mother was a witch. I couldn't help myself.

"And your dad?" I pried. He seemed to give me a look that told me I was overstepping some boundaries. I continued to stare until he would give me an answer. Even if there wasn't exactly a way that I could move anyhow. All the other couches were full.

"Um - what are you asking?" the boy seemed to jump to something entirely different than what I'd been meaning to ask. "Look, my dad is the white one and my mom is black if that's what you -"

He looked like he'd been asked this question far too many times.

"I meant blood status," I cut him off bluntly. A couple of nearby students glanced at the both of us, as I hadn't bothered to lower my volume. He replied with the most ignorant of responses, asking why it even mattered. So, I assumed he was a half-blood. I pressed my lips together tightly. His eyes were glued to me for a moment.

"What's your surname?" This seemed to be half a question and half a demanding. I didn't appreciate the tone, so I'd narrowed my eyes at him and crossed my arms at him.

"Why?"

"Because."

He refused to give an answer as well. Anne did tell me that Ilvermorny was far more diverse than Hogwarts, much to her disgust. I hadn't actually believed it until now, actually. Which could cause some issues for me. I had no idea who I could actually talk to nor would accept my just behavior. It wasn't my fault that their parents decided not to keep to their kind. I was lucky enough that my parents had. There was nothing wrong, as I'd been told many times, with taking the upmost pride on that.

That, and I had figured my surname meant nothing here. So, I supposed there was no point in keeping it to myself. They'd find out eventually anyhow.

"Potter," I sneered at him. "What the hell is it to you, though?"

Not a good start for me and I hadn't even reached the school. The boy seemed to be tongue tied. All he did was whisper the name under his breath as if my surname was something complicated to figure out. I glanced over to the other children that sat across from us, obviously eavesdropping, and saw that they had had begun to whisper amongst themselves for a moment.

The boy swallowed, hesitating to speak to me.

"You wouldn't happen to -" he began, cut himself off as his nervous got to him, then leaned forward to me. I curled the corner of my lips. "To be related to - you know - Har-"

"No," I'd cut him off with a lie. The conversation ended there. I turned my body away from him and the others and decided to lean my head against the arm of the couch to rest my eyes and think.

Now, why I'd lied was because of the simplest of reasons. This hadn't been the first time that someone had tried to put two and two together and refused to restrain their sense of curiosity. That was how me and Dora Calderon had unfortunately met. She had a strange obsession with this famous figure across the ocean and had been taken with my last name. Thus, beginning to target me. Whether it was from jealousy or whatever the hell, I had no clue. Nor did I care. I just wanted her out of my damn face.

I also wanted nothing to do with that damned hero. I'd rather die than share any spotlight with him.

"You're not welcome."

"Hey!"

I felt someone shaking me and made a sound of discontent at being woken up. It felt as though I had gotten no sleep. My eyes refused to open. Whoever was trying to wake me grew impatient and shook me harder.

"I know you hear me," said a female voice. "Wake up and give me your ticket."

Ticket?

My eyes opened. It took a moment foe them to adjust to the setting and I came face to face with a girl that had chopped blonde hair that made her large ears look too big for her head. She already had her school uniform on, but a golden badge on the left side of her chest. Much older than me from what I could see. If I didn't know better, she looked rather sleepy as well and that it was my fault or something. Sitting up, I rubbed my eyes and the realization came to me as her words registered. I must have questioned this out loud.

"Yes, ticket," She emphasized snootily. "I'm a Prexy. I need to puncture your ticket."

Oh, right. I'd forgotten all about that. I patted both of my pockets to see if I could feel it. Yet I could not. Frowning, I strained my mind for where it could be. Until I remembered that I'd put it in my luggage. That'd gone into the compartments. I told her as such. She pressed the bridge of her nose and took a deep breath.

"The ticket is gone until we reach the school in an hour," she'd told me. "Those compartments are enchanted and only the school staff know how to retrieve the luggage."

I wondered if that meant that I'd just be left alone. Instead, she looked to her notepad and asked for my name. I scoffed, refusing to make such a fuss over a mere ticket. It was obvious I belonged here, if that's what the ticket was there to prove. How would I have gotten here otherwise? I told her as much. But she'd only let out an annoyed breath upon my attitude.

"Look, miss, the tickets are there for a reason," she said. "If you don't have one then I need to write your name down so you can see the Headmaster. Now, your name please?"

I'd sunk in my seat.

"Aurora Potter," I'd said. She stopped scribbling my name for a moment to gather her thoughts, then continued. She'd soom walked off and I looked to those who'd fallen asleep. I'd seen that the boy from before was no longer here. As much as I expected that, It still made me ache inside a bit.

Why should I care?

Why did I care?

I thought on it no longer and waited the remaining hour. When I'd looked out of the window some time later I'd seen that we were no longer underground, but rather high up on a mountain somewhere. I willed it out of my mind and took deep breaths. Heights were not exactly pleasing to me. I'd also forgotten that Ilvermorny rested nicely tucked away on a mountain. That meant I was going to be high up all year. Just my luck. At least Hogwarts was on the ground. It also got a bit colder the higher we went. I could feel it.

I shivered. From fear or from the temperature, I didn't know.

The school Prexy came around once again, telling everyone that we were arriving in ten minutes and to prepare ourselves for the sorting. My nerves began to eat me alive from the inside. It seemed that everything was slipping my mind today due to being so focused on just not panicking. I vowed then that I'd be sure to remember everything. Nothing could get past my mind now.

Soon the railway stopped and everyone was forced into a single file line. The air was chill when I'd stepped out. I swore that I could see my own breath. Looking around, everyone felt the same. Behind me, I saw that the other railways were pulling up behind ours and that there was already one in front.

"This way, up the hill!"

We followed the Prexy students where they lead us, eventually coming to a large white bridge that connected land separated by a big waterfall that fell off of the mountain. I was already mesmerised. My eyes went to everything and anything that they could. Even the stairs with the silver rails were something I couldn't get past. I swore that Lookie even couldn't wait to explore the grounds.

Then, my eyes saw the castle.

It was just as it's been described to me all these years. The building was nearly blinding. White bricks. Some silver stain glass windows. I looked out to the lake and could see that it was where the waterfall had been coming from when we were below the stairs. In the middle, a single golden bell with an archway that had the Ilvermorny symbol edged into it. The smooth stone pathway led us to a large entrance

I saw a statue there of a woman I'd already knew was the founder of the school, Isolt Sayre. She seemed to have been very pretty in her youth.

My eyes drifted to a creature that held a towel and a bottle in his hand, polishing the foot of the statue. A Pukwudgie, if I recalled correctly. I'd learned that they had been rather dangerous to humans back then, but now had been more tame. Like wolves into gods or lions into cats. I found it funny, so I must have stared a little bit longer than I'd meant to.

"I heard that his name was William," a girl had leaned forward to whisper to me. "Rumor has it he's about thousandths of years old, you know."

I couldn't imagine living that long.

I knew that our life span was car longer than muggles, but to live through so much and see that much change to the world was something that bothered me. I was alright with the 250 year life-span that witches and wizards already had. I turned my eyes forward as we passed the statue and onto the double doors.

The foyer was big. With four large statues made of mostly white wood and solver marble of creatures I'd been taught about my entire life. One was a snake with a jewel on it's head. It seemed to beckon all of the students. A 'Horned Serpent' I'd been told. Anne had told me thT they favored scholars and focused more on the mind of a witch or wizard. Next, was the carving of a bird. 'Thunderbird'. The house that represented the soul of a student and favored adventurers. Third, was a 'Wampus'. Something that strongly resembled a tiger and often chose warriors. It represented the body. And lastly, 'Pukwudgie'. The creature I had just seen outside. I found it quite ironic that it represented the heart and wanted healers.

I'd always thought that I'd get Thunderbird growing up, not that I'd wanted it. I heard that house always got in trouble the most, which ultimately resulted in the entire house paying for it. I got into enough trouble as it was on my own, and I didn't think my temper could handle punishment caused by another person.

Yet, discovering new things seemed to be my forte. Getting into new areas and trying new stuff.

In the middle of the circular room was a Gordian Knot. The first years stood to the sidelines, while all of the oder students seemed to go to the staircase that led to the railings above the statues for which they could look down at the sorting.

A middle aged looking man made his grand appearance in the middle of the Horned Serpent and Thunderbird statue, more teachers and staff appearing beside him. He had brown hair that was slicked back into a thin ponytail and a large smile upon his face. He looked pale.

"Welcome, first years to Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," he spoke. His hands made a gesture to us all. The students couldn't help but cheer, which required them to be calmed down immediately by the other teachers. He waited for a few moments, his eyes scanning the sea of first years with delight before he continued with a laugh. "You all look tired from the long journey. No doubt absolutely starving."

Now that he'd said it, I was.

"Well, then I now see no reason to not get right to it so we can go into the dining hall for a nice dinner," he forced a grin. "I am Headmaster Charles Knox. The school and my lovely staff here are lucky to have you here."

He then explained how things would go. When a students name was called they would step in the middle of the platform, answer three key questions, and that the house that wanted the student would choose them itself when a part of the statue began to show a light. After that, the student would then be free to pass through the middle door to get our wands and sit in the dining hall, eventually to be joined by the older children.

Seemed simple enough.

He unrolled a list and cleared his throat. As he began to call the students in alphabetical order by last name, I grew nervous as it became very close to mine. I thought it went on forever. There were so many people ahead of me that I became impatient. I wanted to get it over with, and the more I thought about it the more irritated I got at having to just stand around and wait for my name. My legs hurt. I was hungry and thirsty. I wanted to see another part of the castle already. There should be chairs in here, I'd thought.

Lookie began to stretch in my arms and yawn. Great, now he was tired. They needed to get onto it.

The first person to go up was a girl named 'Axel, Selvia'. After a another few students I was glad when I saw that Dora Calderon had been sorted into Pukwudgie and sulked off knowing she'd been sorted in what was rumored the most useless house.

"Knobber, Nadia."

I'd had to laugh at the same. She'd been sorted to Wampus.

"Luck, August."

Another Wampus.

"Meckler, Harold."

That one was a Thunderbird and Horned Serpent. Both houses must have wanted him. He chose Thunderbird.

It became less and less crowded around me. I'd really just wanted to get this over with and head to get something to eat. I grew tired of hearing loud cheers after each person was sorted and my ears began to ring. Not from the volume, but from the anxiety that'd been building since the platform. It'd been too long since I'd heard Anne's voice. I began to realise that not having her around to direct me every day was something that I'd have to get used to.

I began to try and breathe in and out, all while trying to pay attention at the same time.

What was I going to do about therapy? Anne said she'd work something out, but I didn't see how anyone would be available for me here. Also, it must have been lonely there in that house alone. I wondered if she'd be alright without anyone there. I thought maybe I'd get in touch with Auntie in hopes that she could at least stay in the house with her while I was gone. I knew they didn't like one another, but surely it was better?

"Potter, Aurora."

I clutched Lookie closer to me and my hazel eyes turned warily to those who began to whisper for some reason.

I saw Headmaster Knox stare at me with a sudden stoic expression.

I ignored them, and took shaking steps up the small set of stairs onto the platform with the knot in the middle. I wondered what the questions would be and how it determined for the student. I should have been paying attention instead of complaining. I'd heard one or two but I'd forgotten what they were.

"Question number one," another man with a smile said. He tried to reassure me that it was all fine. "What is more important: family, fortune, or intelligence?"

I didn't know.

I had to say, I thought very little about family. After all, I had nobody aside from Anne and sort of Auntie Marlene. I'd also struggled internally about the fact that I felt no interest in the lives of my parents or my celebrity of a cousin across the sea, even if he was the only blood that I had left. I wouldn't even care if he went his entire life never knowing I existed.

It was really between the other two, yet I had no idea what they'd meant.

"What does fortune mean?" I questioned.

Some of the older students laughed or scoffed. The man that was asking the questions did as well. I didn't like being laughed at but I managed to bite my tongue due to how nervous I was.

"It means money, essentially."

What person would not want money?

Though I knew I had plenty of it anyways.

"Intelligence," I eventually said. Maybe I'd really said it just so I wouldn't look too bad to the other kids. The man only nodded and continued.

"Question two, what is your greatest possession?"

This seemed to be a little harder. I had a lot, but not much that I'd put any value on it. I wished I could have answered this after I'd gotten my wand. But I managed to think long and deep.

"My wandless magic guide," I replied quietly. I repeated myself when he didn't hear me. He moved on.

"And finally, what is your aspiration in life?"

I questioned what that long word meant, to which he gave me the description. I'd always been encouraged to take a job at the ministry when I became old enough to. Yet, It didn't seem like that was what I'd wanted to do. If that was what it really meant - basically the job I wanted. The only thing I could think of now that it'd been brought back up was my wandless magic.

"To master wandless magic, sir," I'd said. He smiled. And with that he stepped aside and I looked up at the statues that seemed to loom dangerously over me. It gave me the creeps, even if they were very pretty.

It was several heartbeats later that the crystal of the Horned Serpent glowed the brightest and the Thunderbird began to beat it's wings. The mind and the soul wanted me.

I looked towards the man who'd given me the questions. He had his eyebrows rose, surprised. Then, he quickly recovered.

"Now it's up to you," he told me. "Choose wisely."

I wish I could have asked him what he thought. But the words became trapped in my throat. I'd already known that Thunderbird students often got in the most trouble. They were quite reckless and non-caring. On the other hand, they had ways to find thrills. Something I admittedly been missing from my life. Then again, the 'punishment for someone else's wrong-doings' got to me.

Then there was the Horned Serpent. I'd heard legends like everyone else. I was an honor, to be considered smart. Yet they were known for being thieves as tricky as a fox. For a house that valued intelligence, I'd heard there was a heavy disregard of homework anyhow.

I thought of Anne, beginning to wish that she could just choose for me. She always did. Maybe she'd never spoken to me about Ilvermorny houses before because she'd never been here.

How could I possibly choose what the rest of my school days would be like?

Out of pressure, I'd almost blurted.

"Horned Serpent," I said, feigning the confidence I knew I didn't have. Immediately, the snake stoped glowing and the Thunderbird stopped flapping it's wings.

It was decided.

The students cheered as I began to be led out into another room to get what I'd been aching for my entire life. My wand. I was told that the wand chose the wizard. I'd even been told that some wands are kinda feisty. I liked that they seemed to have personalities of their own.

In front of me then were four walls with large rectangular holes in them, hovered by a white wooden canopy. I could see now that they were stores of some sorts in the walls. Each onewith their names on the signs next to them. 'Thiago Quintana' - Who looked quite sad, 'Shikoba Wolfe' - In which she stood patiently waiting for the next student, 'Johannes Jonker' looked as though she had other places to be, and finally 'Violetta Beauvais' seemed to be bouncing excitedly on her heels.

I took the money that Anne had given me earlier out of my pocket and looked between the booths. It was as if I suddenly didn't know how to make any choices of my own. A girl that had a similar looking badge as the one on the railway came to me upon the sight of my struggle.

"Can't decide?" she asked, to which I nodded slowly. She then commented on how adorable I was. I thanked her. "I got my wand from Violetta's. She has to most popular wands ever since the core she'd tried to keep secret came out. Wolfe's wands seem to do what they want - Thunderbird feather cores. Jonka's wands are often very angry."

"What about him?" I noticed she hadn't commented on Thiago. She frowned and lowered her voice to a whisper.

"Might be goin' out of business soon," she'd told me. "Wands are quite out of fashion."

I felt a bit bad, I did. I looked longingly over at Violetta's, though, wanting one of those prestine pearly wands that were so popular. I just knew that Dora Calderon had one. What would I look like going in there without one of her wands?

Behind me, a boy came from the sorting foyer, did the same as I did and looked at the four shops in front of him, and low and behold chose to go for Thiago's. I took this as a chance to sort of speed walk to Violetta's.

"Oh, my," she'd brushed a bit of blindingly light blonde hair from her face and smiled down at me. "Another one. The correct choice."

The one in the booth next to her - Wolfe - heard her and scoffed.

"What color are you looking for?" Violetta questioned. "Pearly white? Cream? Light wood pink?"

I rather liked the sound of pink, so as soon as I'd asked for that color she was reaching under her counter for about ten or so boxes. I didn't even see how I could choose one. Luckily, she'd done it for me. It had a decorative handle. It seemed to be carved in a flowery pattern. I saw now that this wand maker went more for aesthetics and looks than anything. I rather liked it. My hand reached for it hesitantly when she'd handed it out to me.

"Don't worry about the whole negative reaction thing when it doesn't choose you. My wands have class, sweetheart."

This time, a growl from Wolfe who was now busy helping a student.

When I'd held the wand in my hand, it did nothing. I waved it, and the only thing that'd happened was a few sorry sparks that came from the tip. Even so, it felt absolutely amazing to me to be finally holding one other than Anne's.

Violetta waited for a moment, but seeing clearly that nothing was happening she took the wand back and tucked it back into it's nice case. She seemed to think on it for a few until she uncovered another one with a confident smile. This one was also light link, carved in leaves on the side with a handle wrapped in white leather.

"Now I'm sure this will be the one," she smiled, flicking her hair from her shoulders. I felt confident as well. I think I'd liked this one better than the first one. It had a leather handle. I took it in hand, did the same, but again got nothing. I scowled. I was ready to be angry at the many wands I already envisioned myself going through. That would be just my damn luck.

She took it back.

"Hon, calm down. Happens to everyone," She reassured me, putting on a smile. I tried to calm myself upon her words. Sometimes, it just seemed like everything happened to me and only me. Like the world was out to get me when all I wanted was magic and food.

We went through three more wands. I was sure that the sorting was done by now. I'd seen a couple students already come in and wait in line for their wands behind me. Even more was already in the Dining Hall.

"What the hell?" I'd snapped. Again, she reassured me that this was normal and told me to mind my language in front of an adult.

She then gave me another light pink wand. As I wanted, it had a white leather handle and tulips carved into the side. I really liked this one. Sadly, by now my hope was very low that it would choose me. I was even very hesitant to take it. It was as if I knew there was no point in it. Maybe I should have went to Thiago's instead.

A feeling rushed over me when I gripped it, though. At first, I couldn't breathe. Then it felt all the blood was rushing throughout my body for the first time, as if the flow had been cut off before I touched this wand.

Violetta clapped happily, eyes beaming.

"Eleven and a half inches, rougarou hair - as you already know - made from the finest maple tree one find and finally enchanted to change to such a fine color of beauty like all of my wands," she gloated proudly, setting the boxes aside so she could count the money I'd given her.

Me?

I had my eyes on my wand.

I completely forgotten that she'd needed to give my change back. I allowed the Prexy to guide me out of the room and into the hallway that was lined with portraits. Across the way were double doors that inevitably had to be the dining hall. I simply couldn't get enough. It had four large white marble tables, each with its house symbol above it. A giant crystal chandelier above everyone with clouds above us. Enchanted, most likely. I went to the Horned Serpents table and joined the rest of my house. As I sat, examining my new wand happily, I'd seen a boy and a girl talking amongst themselves and glancing over at me occasionally.

Somehow, I knew what they were thinking.

I'd hesitated for a moment, swallowing my nerves because I didn't want their to be any anxious falter in my voice.

"Why don't you take a damn picture," I managed to get out, glaring at the two of them. One of them curled their lip at me and the other just snorted and forced the other one not to pay me no mind. It stung a bit.

I waited until everyone in the castle filed into the large hall. It got noisy to the point where I could no longer hear my own thoughts. All I could hear was a family voice complaining at the table next to ours about how she'd gotten Pukwudgie and didn't deserve it. I actually smiled to myself as Calderon went on and on about it with that loud annoying voice of hers. Her unhappiness made me happy.

A ringing rang out throughout the hall.

"Attention, students!" Headmaster Knox raised his voice. He was obviously used to this. It took awhile for him to get the whole hall quiet. When he did he spoke. "As I began earlier, welcome my dear first years to the school. I am Headmaster Knox, and if you ever need me I'll be right here. First off, I wish to tell everyone that nobody is to leave the school grounds - that goes for seventh years as well."

He gave a pointed look towards a particular group of what I could only assume was seventh year students, who in turn only snickered to themselves.

"Second, I'd like to inform the first years, ofcourse, to ask the older students and your teachers about after hour clubs. I'm sure that your peers would love to have you," he then cleared his throat and began to go over the rules. First through third years were to be in their common rooms by eight o'clock unless they had detention. That was the only thing I'd really paid attention to because I was a first year. I was sure that the older kids had a different curfew. Then, he finished with saying that there were school packets on our beds with more rules that we'd have to send home by Owl to get it signed by a parent or guardian and turn into our first class teacher.

As he spoke, Pukwudgies were going around and setting the remainder of the plates and silverware onto the table.

Then he took a deep breath.

"I would also like to announce my retirement, after this year."

I could've heard a pin drop.

The hall had grown unbearably silent. Then just like that the chatter began. It was as if the very news had shaken the students. Me included. I didn't know the headmaster all that much, but it was my first year here. Hard to think that by next year there would be someone new that would be in charge. I looked all around me to see the reactions of everyone. It seemed that very few actually showed raw emotion towards it. They seemed to gossip instead.

Was this headmaster beloved?

The hall quieted again.

"Unfortunately, by next year the school will be ran by someone entirely new," he nodded sadly. The hall stared at him with baited breath, unable to breathe. "I deeply apologise, and will dearly miss being your headmaster."

And that was that. He'd refused any questions as well.

"I can see right through you."

The Horned Serpent common room was on the second floor. Above the archway was a fancy carving of a snake and the door was a very light brown made of wood. The first thing I'd seen was three green couches, a white coffee table, and a fireplace that the Prexy went over to light. One wall was lined with bookshelves, the other were a number of portraits.

We were shoo'd off to bed, being directed to the girls' dorms.

"I call the top!" I immediately said when I saw how the beds were. They seemed to be made in the walls. Two beds on the bottom with a thin wall and shelf in between the beds for privacy. Also in between was a later that led to the top two beds higher up on the wall. On the opposite wall was the same thing I went to the ladder so nobody else would.

"You aren't going to put your pajamas on, Potter?" A girl asked, examining me. I found myself trying to gather words again. I'd had a hard time processing for a moment.

"And you are?" I'd asked her snootily. It just came out that way. She recoiled, then crossed her arms.

"Beth Quimbie - and there isn't a reason to be mean," she'd told me. "By the way, our stuff was put onto random beds anyhow."

I paused, glancing at the bottom bed to see that she was right. Our luggage was on our beds and a trunk was provided for us at the side of them. Taking my hand off of the ladder I joined the other girls in searching for which was which. Sadly, I got a bottom bed. Sulking, I'd climbed into it and decided to be grateful for the fact that it was comfortable and that there was a curtain I could draw so nobody could look at me.

I changed into my nightgown and thought I may collapse from today's events. Finally, some well deserved rest. Slipping under the sheets, I almost went to sleep instantly.

Almost.

I couldn't exactly sleep with the other girls going on about how the headmaster was leaving after this year.

I pursed my lips.

'Why?' was the last thing I thought before I'd succumbed to my exhaustion.

"What a brat. Nothing like him."