Somebody You Loved

Chapter Five ~ Pointing Hat

Vega woke up, dry-mouthed and sweaty. She had been dreaming of the Sorting Ceremony and all the awful ways it could go. It was a very terrible thing, having the weight of a powerful wand in her hands and feeling like she had to live up to its expectations. Lily Potter was a brave and intelligent Gryffindor that looked Voldemort dead in the eyes. Vega was just an eleven year-old girl that grew up in poverty with a werewolf father that abandoned her at a school. While she had come to the conclusion that she was going to have to keep Lily’s wand, she still felt she didn't deserve it nor did she feel she could ever live up to its expectations. Vega felt it was a great burden on her, and that if she wasn't in Gryffindor she would let everyone down, even herself. No matter how many times Minerva tried to comfort her, and tell her not to worry, Vega couldn’t believe it.

Vega was much more scared today than ever. The students would be coming to Hogwarts and it was all she could do not to vomit every few minutes. She got dressed and cleaned up, then went to find Minerva because she was not going to add food to her nervous stomach. 

She had no trouble finding the teacher, not one bit. More like Minerva found her. Vega had just started heading down the stairs when an elated McGonagall popped out of nowhere.

    “Ah, there you are, dear. I’ve been waiting for you to get up. Isn’t it a great day?”

          “It’s okay, I guess,” Vega muttered.

          “What do you mean, ‘I guess’? You’ll finally get to meet your classmates and get your own room.” Minerva knew Vega wasn’t happy about the ceremony, but she wished she could be just a little more excited.

          “I’m sorry, I just don’t really want things to change. I like sharing a room with you and I like the quiet halls. And I wouldn’t mind not being sorted, that way I wouldn’t have to be stressed so much.” Vega wasn’t sure how Minerva would take this, since she had been preparing Vega for all of it.

    “Listen, dear.” She got on her knees and grabbed Vega’s shoulders, “Each Hogwarts house has their own traits and their own histories. Never has there been a child that doesn’t consider if they belong in that house. But, your house doesn’t define who you are, it’s your choices. You get to choose how you act and how you handle things. You have to understand that, because you can’t fit the mold of what others think and what history says. And no matter what, you will always be loved by others. You’ll just need to learn to love yourself.” Minerva smiled, and hugged Vega.

           “Thanks, Minerva,”Vega said, wiping away a tear.

    “Of course. Now, I wouldn’t mind some help decorating the Great Hall.” She walked away, Vega right at her heels.

    It was now an hour away from the students' arrival, and all the teachers were taking their positions. Some professors had just traveled back to Hogwarts, so Vega had been greeting them all. She thought one very strange; the professor for Defense Against the Dark Arts, Professor Quirrel. He stuttered a lot and seemed very shy for a defense teacher. But, Vega didn’t think much of it because her heart was racing and she had thrown up twice now. The teachers she knew had been comforting her all day, but none could amount to the wisdom of Minerva. Although she was thankful for all the support, it got her mind to think positive for a few moments. 

    Before she knew it, Dumbledore was announcing the students’ arrival, Filch was running off to collect baggage, the teachers were sitting down at their long table, and Minerva was ushering Vega along. She looked back to see Dumbledore, who winked, and Snape, who just stared back. Minerva took her to the stairs just by the first-year entrance.