Over the semester I learned to adore Ilvermony and accept it as the home I always wished I could have. I even managed to make a couple of friends but I mostly stayed to myself, studying all I could so I was as prepared as could be during the wand choosing ceremony in the fall. Potions and astronomy came surprisingly easy for me while flying was difficult and terrifying. That fear eventually landing me in the hospital wing with a broken wrist after panicking and falling four stories during a lesson. Unfortunately what would have been a ten minute fix turned into a three night stay because the nurse didn't like that I still appeared malnourished, pale and sickly; all of which should have been remedied by my stay at Ilvermony.

Test after test came up with nothing and finally my protesting to leave made headway and I was allowed to go back to my dorm with strict instructions to gain weight. Easier said than done. Halloween was now a day away, but more exciting than my favorite holiday was that evening before dinner was the wand ceremony which I had been looking forward too since my first day of classes.

I admired the beauty and power of the elder students wands and the anticipation for what was too come kept me awake most of the night. I couldn't help but hope that when I finally held a wand in my hand I would feel complete. That the gigantic hole that ached in my chest for as long as I could remember would heal and I would know who and what I truly was.

I rushed through class after class, as did many of the other students. The time seeming to take forever to clock down to 5pm, when it finally did all first years were called to the selection hall where the professors were standing behind tables filled with unique wands of all sorts. One at a time we were called, some the wands chose and others got to chose which one they preferred. All of which were under the rule that we were to leave our wands at Ilvermony at all times, we were not to fully own them till graduation when we were 17. I paced upstairs, anxiously awaiting my turn, finally when every other student had gone I was called, thanks to them going in alphabetical order. I slowly approached the table, Professor Kowalski beaming at me as I stood in awe at the wands before me.

"Here sweetie, try one." Professor Kowalski stated handing me a pale yellow wand. With a gentle flick of the wrist not much happened. One after another I tried, upwards of ten and none of them seemed to fit me; the professors could tell I was losing hope with each swish. Finally I placed the last wand on the table and drew my arms into myself.

"Im sorry Professor's I suppose I am not meant to have a wand."

"Nonsense!" The headmaster laughed, "Queenie would you go get the wands from my office?"

I stood staring at all the failed wands until Professor Kowalski returned grinning like a cheshire cat. One by one they were laid out upon the table, each wand more beautiful than the next.

"Now Ms. Thorn, I want you to run your hands over all of these and if you feel the need to pick one up, please do."

I nodded weakly, almost scared of the result. Slowly I maneuvered my hand over the five. I took my time, with each pass my eyes lingered on the third wand. It was a silky black wood with what looked like a rough emerald moulded into the hilt and swirling lines of thorns carved deep into the length to the tip. I cautiously wrapped my fingers around the hilt and within seconds fog rolled around me filled with dark melodic music; minute later it receded. As I glanced up I saw a huge smile on the professor's faces and could hear Professor Kowalski clapping ecstatically.

"That sweetie is a 13 inch Acacia wood wand with a Horned Serpent horn core, there hasn't been an owner of that core since the Boot boys who helped found Ilvermony, well done!"

"Wha...what happened?" I stuttered, afraid to put down the wand.

"The wand chose you sweetie."

"It..it did?"

"Most certainly, that is your wand, now take good care of it and it will take care of you." Kowalski ensured me, patting me on the shoulder and sending me on my way to the dinning hall. I barely noticed the room illuminated by jack-o-lanterns because I was too busy admiring my wand. The emerald jewel a seeming reflection of my own iris drawing me in at every turn while my fingers nimbly traced the thorns till I knew them by heart. It wasn't until the aromatic smell of the massive banquet dinner that I even looked up to find my seat. A few of the other students noticed the smile plastered on my face but they didn't know it was from experiencing the best day I had ever known. Amazing food on my favorite holiday and finding a piece of me that I hadn't known had been missing. It didn't fill the hole but it did begin to make the ache reseed.

The next month flew by and quickly charms was becoming one of my favorite subjects as I learned to wield spells. The magic flowed from my fingertips like water and that feeling was intoxicating. I really was a witch and a pretty good one at that, my skills kept climbing yet my body seemed to remain withered. As Christmas break reared its head and everyone was leaving to be with their families, I asked multiple times to stay. I didn't want to go back to my foster home. Thankfully Rose greeted me Christmas Eve during breakfast but she wasn't alone. As she approached the table I spotted a tall man clad in black robes, ebony hair and a sour expression following her closely.

"Nyxia my dear, how wonderful to see you!" Rose cheered, wrapping me in a warm hug. I enjoyed the comfort but my eyes never left the man in black.

"Hello." I squeaked to the man, partially hiding behind Rose.

"Ms. Thorn, how do you do?"

"I'm… fine." I whispered.

"Nyxia I would like to introduce you to Professor Severus Snape, he is the potions instructor at Hogwarts, the wizarding school in Scotland."

"I'll give you a moment." Snape stated as he headed towards the head table to chat with the headmaster.

"How are you liking Ilvermony?" Rose cooed, sitting next to me at the table.

"Oh I love it!"

Her smile was wide but fading.

"Is something wrong?" I asked, worried that the light left her eyes minutes ago.

"Oh nothing's wrong my dear, in fact something wonderful has happened."

I sat there, my body feeling like it was stuck in place.

"Professor Snape is here to take you to Hogwarts with him. You've been chosen to study at the most prestigious of magical schools."

"Why?" I asked, tears beginning to swell.

"Well my dear…"

"It's because of your natural talent, the heads of the schools have voted and want you to study under one of the greatest wizards of our time, Albus Dumbledore." Snape cut in.

"I… no… I don't want too. I like it here. I fit in here." I began to weep.

Snape knelt down in front of me. "Nyxia, you are a powerful young witch and you need the very best at what they do to mold you. Ilvermony is wonderful but Hogwarts can help you attain your full potential. It will be rough. It's a new environment but I promise you will soon find your place there and love it as much as you love it here."

I grabbed my wand handle tightly. "But.. I won't be able to take my wand. It's suppose to stay here till I'm 17. I can't leave it. I can't go!"

"Dearest, we talked to your headmaster. You get to take your wand with you."

"But my house. I love being a Horned Serpent!" I screamed.

"You will always be a Horned Serpent." Snape stated, "Nothing will ever change that. The only thing that is going to change is the building you will be learning in. You are always free to return to Ilvermony to visit, even graduate if you wish."

"I…. I… I don't know." I cried, not being able to stop the shaking. Finally I was feeling like I found a real home and now it's being taken away for somewhere I had no idea existed.

"Nyxia, I promise I will be there to guide you every step of the way." Snape insured, patting my hand.

"Please don't make me." I cried, balling in on myself. Fear overwhelming all my emotions. It suddenly went from my first nice Christmas to a nightmare in the blink of an eye.

Rose tried to comfort me but Snape stopped her. He ran his thumbs along my cheeks, wiping away my flowing tears. "Nyxia, this is for the best."

" I'm scared."

"It's only scary because it's new, I bet you thought Ilvermony and the entire wizarding community were scary before you got use to them. If you give Hogwarts a chance, I'm positive you will feel differently very soon."

As I met his eyes I could see a hidden sense of empathy radiating from him. Suddenly this terrifying man who reminded me of the grim reaper appeared sweet and compassionate. As I nodded through a sob a small smile arose on his lips and with it the feeling I have met him before.

"I… I will try it if you promise that if I hate it you will bring me straight back here." I tried to argue.

"As you wish." Snape assured, taking his leave to arrange transportation for the long journey to Scotland and the beginning of the end for me.