Chapter 3 B. The choice of hat

Aphrodite

As Irene was judged to enter the Gryffindor, she stood at my right, smiling gently at me. She may have looked happy but I saw her troubled.

She nodded that all was well and gently pushed me towards the hat.

As I walked on I felt numb all over my body while my legs didn't want to obey me no matter how hard I tried.

On the one hand I was sad for Irene, all day she had been cheerful while now she seemed so upset, almost lost in her world, and with good reason that is, from the moment we had entered the school, we had been running all over the place with the only thing we had managed to do was to get even more confused than at the beginning.

Before I analyzed the situation further in my head I felt someone make me sit on the stool where Irene was sitting before.

My eyes almost popped out of their sockets from the fright I got and before I could protest the hat was placed on my head.

For a moment there was silence, but before he started talking, he got a little more comfortable ruffling my hair.

"Generation after generation they all eventually return to Hogwarts" said the hat in his heavy voice with a hint of sarcasm and I furrowed my brows in confusion.

What does he mean they're all going back to Hogwarts? Who? And what business do they have with me. Wait. Maybe he knows something very important that will haunt me for a long time.

"So different from those you long to know, yet so much the same. Welcome back, Aphrodite. " Said the hat again with a hint of mystery before making another move to get more comfortable.

"Many questions, which will be answered when the time comes. Have patience young lady. Your road is long and rough " he said and I felt my cheeks flush.

He certainly knew how to keep the other man on his toes, this hat.

"Well, young lady, let's see which dormitory we'll put you in. " he continued to monologue while now he was moving around starting to get on my nerves.

"Mmm Slytherin? Nah, no, you won't do well there. " he said and from the opposite mirror I saw that I raised my eyebrow.

"Ravenclaw? No. You don't look good with the ambitions they embrace. Hufflepuff? No. Very solid stuff for your prospects. Gryffindor? Why, of course, how did I not see it all this time; your ambition, with the bravery and pride you possess, are his most basic characteristics. Ready to sacrifice yourself for those close to you and your family. You love deeply and want to take care of your loved ones." the hat continued to monologue with pride before pausing for a pause.

"You are a classic example of a Gryffindor and of course you go to Gryffindor." he finally shouted and I unconsciously looked at the headmaster.

He was looking at me with a warm gaze full of wonder while under his beard I could see the hint of a smile.

"Remember though. Don't get attached to people who won't stay long in your life and always observe those around you. People come in and out of our lives very often. But almost always these changes are engraved in our hearts. " said the hat in advice and smiled.

As soon as Mrs. McGonagall took the hat off my head , I felt the added weight lift off my head, while my hair became electric and began to fly left and right. Trying to shake it off I ran joyfully towards Irene first to give her a shotgun hug.

"We are together. " I told her and she laughed full of relief.

"Thank God. " she said softly, while the principal coughed to get our attention.

At that moment we both turned to stand in front of the tall man with intense blue eyes that looked at us inquiringly. It was as if the unknown man in front of us was trying to probe our deepest secrets. Then he stroked his beard and smiled.

"Minerva, you see these two girls. They are in your dormitory. Seeing how much they care for each other, I feel that, indeed they were judged correctly. I hope you both stand worthy in your dormitory, and of course earn many points. Moreover, I hope Miss Charity had told you about the place. ' He said in a warm voice, and we nodded in the affirmative.

"Yes, I can say that Miss Baggartz did a very good job for the time she had at her disposal. "I replied in a proud voice and Irene stirred beside me.

"Yes, but for that matter, why now? I mean the years start in the tenth year of the student. But we... " Irene said in a whispering voice and I saw the headmaster now moving from one part of the room to the other with gestures.

"A quite apt observation, Miss Irene. I'd love to discuss this, which will happen at some point that is, but now is not the time. All I'll say is, whatever happened, it was for your own good. So I guess you'll just have to wait. ' He replied as he headed for the office exit before disappearing down the stairs and leaving us alone with McGonagall trying to judge her smile.

The deputy headmistress deposited the heavy hat on a wooden slab and with a graceful movement of her wand, it was left in the air. Then she turned to us and looked at us.

"Come on girls, I believe you two are hungry. " she said as she motioned for us to follow her once again.

" I'm glad you'll be at the Gryffindor. Anything you want you can address me anytime. " She told us with a small smile and I smiled back at her.

" Thank you very much. Mrs. McGonagall, may I ask a question though?" I asked her and she motioned for me to continue while she paused for a few minutes and stayed looking at me, waiting for what was coming.

"If we are asked why we joined the school now what will we answer? " I asked and the teacher was thinking about it .

"You could answer that your powers have now appeared. " she said and we started walking again.

As we walked quickly towards the dining hall McGonagall monologued about the history of the school and the activities that were available. Quickly we had reached the huge hallway again where students were still entering from outside.

"I'm going to go prepare the freshmen. You two get in with the rest of the children and go sit with Miss Granger Hermione at the Gryffindor table you had come with ." she said, and disappeared among the people.

Left alone among thousands of unfamiliar faces, I looked inwardly at my cousin who was gazing fearfully at the space around us. I took her hand and she looked at me.

"Don't worry we will be together. " I said softly and she woke up smiling.

We blended into the crowd almost immediately, first following the route that the other students had taken. Until we passed a large wooden door, which as the vice-principal had told us, led to the large , huge I would say, dining room of the school. I immediately looked up in surprise at the ceiling of the large hall where there were huge black clouds that probably changed depending on the weather outside. Slightly further down there were large breathing white candles floating around which gave extra warmth than was already there.

For a moment I felt at home, as if I belonged here, as if I had experienced this before or, better yet, had been born in these parts. Passing the roof, my eyes fell on the opposite side of the hall, where there was a large raised platform with tables forming a large Pi, while at the beginning was a pedestal adorned with the heavy wood of which it was made, a large

owl with wide-open wings. For a moment I admired the finely wrought sculpture when the bustle that began to swell in my ears drew my attention. The noise pollution was coming from the student tables that were slowly filling almost every table that was perpendicular to the room so that everyone could see the teachers and the principal. Like a flash it occurred to me that we had to sit at our dorm table and as soon as my eyes spotted the huge banner of Gryffindor I pulled Irene towards the huge table. With a bit of searching I spotted Hermione sitting on the outside of the aisle having plenty of empty space next to her and without wasting any time I staked myself, crawling Irene too, quickly next to her.

She looked at us curiously at first but once she realized who we were she smiled broadly with pleasure.

"Unbelievable! And you two here? " Hermione said excitedly while hugging me.

"Yes, you see? " I replied in the same tone while hugging her.