"I'm going to be going to a different school," Harry told me solemnly as we rocked slowly on the swing set.

"I know," I said sadly.

"I know, it's shocking for me to-" He started to say before whipping his head around to face me, green eyes wide, "Wait you knew?" He asked, his voice starting to fill with anger.

"Don't get mad," I pleaded with the boy, "I wasn't allowed to,"

He stayed quiet, only acknowledging me with a thin press of his lips.

I adjusted my dyslexia canceling glasses as I looked at him sadly.

"Hare, I wanted to tell you so bad, but this was something you had to find out by yourself," I murmured to the older boy, "I specifically went to this school to find you, you're technically my cousin you know,"

"Why didn't you take me in then?" He asked bitterly, "I thought all I had were the Dursleys"

"Remus can barely support me and Aiden as it is," I said sadly, "I know he would've if he could," 

We sat in an uncomfortable silence, my eyes begging for the green-eyed boy to understand.

"Are you coming to Hogwarts with me?" Harry asked quietly.

"Next year," I promised, "I'm too young right now,"

"But, I don't know anyone going there," Harry told me, "You should just come anyway,"

"A lot of people don't know each other there," I told the boy reassuringly, "Actually, a majority of the first years won't know each other,"

He looked at me doubtfully and I sighed.

"You'll be fine Hare," I told my friend firmly, "You'll be away from the Dursleys and you'll get to learn real magic! I still have to wait another year!"

Harry rolled his eyes at my impatience before turning to look at the setting sun.

"I'm gonna miss you, Ana," He said quietly, "You're my best friend,"

"You're my best friend too Hare," I told him, tears starting to prickle in my eyes.

What seemed like minutes later, I found myself standing at platform 9 3/4's, waving goodbye to my brother and my best friend, as they left on a grand adventure, leaving me behind.

However, when I got home there was a letter waiting for me. A letter from Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry.

"What's that?" Remus asked me curiously as I picked up the letter.

"An invitation to spend a year in America, studying magic at Ilvermorny," I said breathlessly.

"But first years at Ilvermorny are all supposed to be eleven," Remus said, confusion evident in his voice.

I tore open the letter, scanning it quickly, "It says that it's a trial program," I told the man, "And I would be able to go to Hogwarts for my second year next year if I really wanted to,"

Remus took the letter from me scanning it more thoroughly than I had.

"This means that I could be in the same year as Harry next year," I gasped.

"This is incredible Allie," Remus told me sincerely, "And you've always wanted to go back to America,"

"I don't want to leave you though," I said sadly.

"You won't be," Remus told me firmly, "I will always be here, and you can always visit me. This is your journey, maybe you can find out more about your family,"

I sobered up at the thought of my family. 

I already know about my family, they're not around yet.

"They left me," I said quietly, looking at my sparkly blue painted fingernails, "What more is there to find out?"

"I know you're upset with them," Remus told me carefully, "But I also know that you need some closure, you can get it if you go,"

Before I knew it, I stood in a crowd of people all a year older than me, cranberry and blue robes adorning our small bodies, and a large gordian knot on the floor surrounded by statures.

"Hi, I'm Freya Allen," A girl greeted me, "And this is my twin Mason,"

A dark-haired boy with intelligent grey eyes grumbled at the outgoing girl.

"Alana Lupin," I said nervously, "But you can call me Lana," I added hurriedly.

"I'm a little nervous about this," Freya said hurriedly, "I never even knew magic existed before Mr. Dunbar told me and Oliver that we had magic,"

Oh, how I missed the familiar American lilt.

"My adoptive father is a wizard," I told her, "I never expected to come here though, I thought I would have to wait another year to go to a wizarding school in Scotland, but Ilvermorny invited me to come here as a trial run,"

"Oh wow really?" Freya asked me, as Mason's grey eyes narrowed in confusion, grey eyes that reminded me of Annabeth's, "That is so cool, did you hear that Mace? That means that she's ten, a whole year younger than us! And from Europe too! You have a small British accent, but you sound mostly American,"

"I was born here," I told her quietly.

We chatted a little longer before Headmaster Whiteberry cleared his throat, she small noise roaring for attention.

"Welcome to Ilvermorny School of Witchcraft and Wizardry," He began, his low voice ringing clear over the rustling cranberry and blue robes, "For the students who don't already know, we are about to begin the Sorting Ceremony,"

I cast my gaze around the hall, peering at the majestic statues that seemed to guard the Gordian knot that was set into the floor. Above each statue was a balcony, full of students who looked down at the incoming students. The ancient statues captivated me, each brimming with ancient power. 

My eyes connected with the glimmering jewels of the Thunderbird, and I felt a rush of energy tingle through my body, was it possible that there are more to these statues than just sorting first years?

"Here at Ilvermorny there are four houses," The Headmaster continued, "It is often said that the Ilvermorny houses they represent the whole of a witch or wizard: The Horned Serpent as the mind; The Wampus as the body; the Pukwudgie as the heart; and The Thunderbird as the soul. Others claim that like our Scottish counterparts, each mascot represents a certain trait in a witch or wizard; claiming that the Horned Serpent favors scholars, Wampus, warriors, Pukwudgie, healers, and Thunderbird, adventurers,"

"Which one is right?" I heard a cocky voice ask.

"It is up to you to decide," The Headmaster said mysteriously, "I will call you alphabetically, and after everyone's sorted you will all receive your wands,"

"Freya Miller," Headmaster Whiteberry called and Freya bounded up to the knot not an ounce of hesitation in her gait as she stepped on it.

Almost immediately the Pukwudgie's bow raised, it's jeweled eyes glinting in the hall. We waited for a bit to see if any other statue would claim the girl but none did.

"Pukwudgie," Headmaster Whiteberry confirmed and the members of the house roared with approval as the grey-eyed girl grinned. 

Next, Mason stepped up to the knot, stumbling onto the golden mark on the floor.

After a few minutes, the Horned Serpent's crystal lit up, and not long after, the Thunderbird beat its wings in approval, the twins were split apart. 

"Which house do you choose?" Headmaster Whiteberry asked the grey-eyed boy.

"Thunderbird," 

Said house started to roar with excitement.

A few more names were called, and then it was my turn.

I felt everyone's eyes burn into me as I slowly walked up to the glowing sign set in the floor. Heat began to flood my body as my nerves kicked in.

What if no house guardian wanted me?

Seconds turned to hours as I waited, begging at least one of the mascots to accept me. A tingling sensation flooded my senses as I felt each mascot read my soul.

Then, the Wampus roared, startling me from my worries.

Followed closely by the bright beam of the Horned Serpent.

Then the bow rise of the Pukwudgie.

And finally, the wingbeat of the Thunderbird, which drummed along with the beating of my heart.

The crowd sat stunned, as I felt a cold sensation tingle in my fingertips. 

How did this happen? Why did this happen?

"This hasn't happened in decades," I heard students whisper to each other and a nervous heat flushed through my body.

Chose wisely

I jolted at the chorus of voices in my head as I stared at the glowing gems of the mascots. 

Time seemed to slow as I thought out my choices. 

Wampus or Thunderbird. 

Anxiety started to claw at my stomach as I tried to decide.

A warm rush flooded my system again, and I once again made eye contact with the glowing jewels of the Thunderbird.

You know what to choose

"Thunderbird," I said without a second thought and the members of my new house cheered.

My eyes searched the crowd as I started to walk towards the crowd of first years, connecting with the disappointed grey eyes of Freya. She gave me a bright smile that never quite reached her eyes, she was all alone in her new house. I felt the curious eyes of Mason burn into me as I worked my way towards the girl.

"Are you mad?" I asked the older girl quietly once I reached her side.

"Why would I be mad at you?" She exclaimed in shock.

"Me and your brother are in the same house, and you're all by yourself," I said quietly.

"No!" She exclaimed, "I'm so happy for both of you! Trust me, I need a break from Mason," She studied me for a few seconds, "I've always wanted to be a healer. And besides, just because we're in different houses doesn't mean that we can't be friends,"

The next few hours felt surreal, as my new housemates not only greeted me but approved of me.