Finding Hope (Book 1)

Chapter 5:The start of a new life

Hope kinda zoomed out for the rest of the sorting ceremony, but when Ginny's name was called and she was also chosen to be in Gryffindor. She applauded for her. Ginny was the last person.

Hope looked down at his empty gold plate. He had only just realized how hungry he was. All she had that day was an apple. But she couldn't eat even if she wanted to. Her father made sure that she packeted her scale and told her that if she came back home even 5 pounds heavier that she woldn't get anything but bread and water for a month when she got back.

Albus Dumbledore had gotten to his feet. He was beaming at the students, his arms opened wide, as if nothing could have pleased him more than to see them all there. "Welcome," he said. "Welcome to a new year at Hogwarts! Before we begin our banquet, I would like to say a few words. And here they are: Nitwit! Blubber! Oddment! Tweak! "Thank you!" He sat back down. Everybody clapped and cheered. Hope didn't know whether to laugh or not.

"Is he -- a bit crazy?" she asked Herminoe uncertainly.

"Mad?" said Herminoe airily. "He's a genius! Best wizard in the world! But he is a bit mad, yes." Hope's mouth fell open as she looked back down at the table. The dishes in front of her were now piled with food. SHe had never seen so many things she'd liked to eat on one table: roast beef, roast chicken, pork chops and lamb chops, sausages, bacon and steak, boiled potatoes, roast potatoes, fries, Yorkshire pudding, peas, carrots, gravy, ketchup, and, for some strange reason, peppermint humbugs. But her fathers warning creaped into her mind.

"Oh , and by the way Hope, where are you from? YOu are obviously not from London, and your accent is not like most Americans here."

"I'm from Texas... That is in America. We sorta have an accent all on our own." I looked around and noticed that 2 of Ginny's brothers weren't here. "Hey Ginny, where are your other 2 brothers?"

"Ummm... I only have one other brother and his name is Ron..."

"Well isn't the guy with the black hair your brother?"

Ginny started to laugh. "No he is Ron's and Hermione's best friend. He stayed over at our house for a couple weeks before school started. His name is Harry Potter." She then looked at me expectantly, like I was supposed to react to his name.

"Oh okay."

"Your telling me you don't know who Harry Potter is?"

"Ummm... Am I supposed to?"

Hermione then butted in, "Do you know a guy named... Voldemort?" She whispered. Hope didn't want to tell them about meeting him and about how her dad was a Deatheater. So she decided to just say that she has heard of him.

"Ya I've heard of him." I said.

"Well in really dark times, Voldemort started gathering followers and bringing them to the dark side. Anyone who stood up to him ended up dead. Harry's parents fought against him, and he decided to kill them and everyone in his path. Everyone ended up dead, everyone except Harry. Harry was only a baby. And to this day he is marked by it. A lightning scar is on his forehead. No one has seen Voldemort science and his followers went into hiding." Hope started to feel even worse. His father was one of Harry's parents killers, followers. Harry and everyone else would hate her if they knew. "But to answer your question about where the boys are, I have no idea and nether does Ginny. I'm starting to get worried."

"Potatoes Hope?" But her fathers warning creeped into her mind once again.

"I actually am feeling kinda sick, I don't think I'm gonna eat." I lied threw my breath.

"Your so skinny Hope, I can practically see your bones. Just eat." I knew that I needed to eat. In fact if it was up to me I wouldv'e, but my father's and voldemorts words held me back.