_______________________________________

_______________________________________

The Platform Between Worlds

The morning had passed in a blur.

One moment Krittika had been sitting at the breakfast table trying not to cry.

The next—

London stood before her.

King's Cross Station.

Huge.

Busy.

Alive.

People rushed in every direction.

Announcements echoed through the building.

Suitcases rolled across polished floors.

The children laughed.

Parents called after them.

The station felt like its own little world.

And somewhere inside it—

a hidden doorway waited.

A doorway that would change everything.

Krittika tightened her grip around the trolley.

Her owl cage rattled softly.

Inside, Athena blinked sleepily.

Lucky owl.

She looked completely unbothered.

Krittika wished she felt the same.

Beside her, Sanvi clung stubbornly to her robe.

For the last fifteen minutes she had refused to let go.

Every time someone tried separating her—

she grabbed tighter.

Eventually everyone gave up.

Anvika sighed.

"Sanvi."

"No."

"Sanvi."

"No."

"Sweetheart—"

"No."

Aditya coughed suspiciously.

"I think she's made her decision."

Sanvi nodded firmly.

"Exactly."

Krittika laughed.

For a moment the knot in her chest loosened.

Just a little.

But then she looked up.

And saw it.

Platform Nine.

Platform Ten.

And the barrier between them.

Her heartbeat doubled.

This was it.

The famous entrance.

The beginning.

The wall looked completely ordinary.

Red bricks.

Nothing magical.

Nothing special.

Yet somewhere beyond it—

The Hogwarts Express waited.

Anvika noticed her expression.

"Nervous?"

"A little."

"A little?"

"A lot."

That earned a smile.

Aditya stepped beside her.

"You know what to do?"

"Run."

"Correct."

"And not stop."

"Very important."

"And if I stop?"

"You'll meet a wall."

Krittika snort.

Helpful.

Very helpful.

For a few seconds nobody spoke.

Because suddenly the moment felt real.

Painfully real.

Krittika swallowed.

Home was behind her.

Hogwarts was ahead.

And she had to choose which direction to walk.

Then—

a familiar voice exploded across the station.

"KRITTIKAAAAAA!"

Heads turned instantly.

Several pigeons took flight.

A businessman nearly dropped his coffee.

Krittika blinked.

Then , laughed.

Only one person in the world could create that much chaos with a single word.

Tushita.

The girl sprinted through the crowd like she was escaping prison.

Her braid swung wildly behind her.

Two nearly-collisions and one very offended tourist later—

she finally reached them.

Immediately followed by Pranita.

Who looked exhausted.

And deeply embarrassed.

"Tushita," she gasped.

"We are in public."

"I know."

"Unfortunately."

"I'm excited."

"Unfortunately."

Krittika burst out laughing.

And suddenly—

for the first time all day—

she felt normal again.

Not a prophecy child.

Not a bloodline heir.

Not a mystery girl.

Just Krittika.

Standing with her friends.

Tushita threw her arms around Krittika before anyone could stop her.

The impact nearly sent both of them crashing into the trolley.

"Knew it," Pranita sighed.

"Knew what?" Krittika asked.

"That she'd try to break your ribs before Hogwarts even starts."

"I am expressing friendship."

"You're expressing violence."

"I can do both."

The three girls immediately dissolved into laughter.

Even Aditya looked amused.

For a moment—

everything felt easy.

Simple.

Normal.

Then Krittika noticed something.

People were staring.

Again.

Not everyone.

Not most.

But enough.

A group of older students standing near a pillar suddenly looked away when she glanced at them.

Two girls whispered behind raised hands.

A boy carrying a cage full of screeching birds kept glancing over his shoulder.

Watching.

Waiting.

Judging.

The familiar knot returned to her stomach.

Tushita noticed immediately.

She always noticed.

"What happened?"

"Nothing."

"Liar."

"Big liar," Pranita added.

Krittika hesitated.

Then lowered her voice.

"People are staring again."

The two girls exchanged a look.

Not confused.

Not surprised.

Concerned.

Pranita followed her gaze toward the crowd.

A group of students immediately looked elsewhere.

Suspicious.

Very suspicious.

"Huh."

"What?"

"Okay, maybe they're staring."

Krittika groaned.

"See?"

"But that's their problem."

"Not helping."

"Never claimed to."

Tushita stepped beside her.

Then deliberately wrapped an arm around her shoulders.

"Good."

"What good?"

"Now they can stare properly."

Krittika laughed despite herself.

Trust Tushita to declare war on social awkwardness.

Meanwhile Sanvi was glaring at both of them.

"What?"

Sanvi pointed dramatically.

"You stole my sister."

Tushita gasped.

"I did not."

"You did."

"I borrowed her."

"For seven years."

"Temporary borrowing."

Pranita nodded.

"Reasonable."

Sanvi looked betrayed.

Absolutely betrayed.

The station announcement echoed overhead.

A train departed somewhere nearby.

Steam hissed.

Voices rose and fell.

Life continued around them.

Yet Krittika could barely hear any of it.

Because standing between Platforms Nine and Ten—

she felt something strange.

A pull.

Not physical.

Magical.

The barrier.

The hidden entrance.

Calling.

Waiting.

As though it recognized her.

As though it had been expecting her.

She blinked.

The feeling vanished instantly.

Weird.

Very weird.

Anvika gently touched her shoulder.

"Krittika?"

"Hm?"

"It's time."

Silence.

The words settled over everyone.

Even Tushita stopped joking.

Even Pranita became quiet.

Even Sanvi.

Especially Sanvi.

Because now it was real.

The moment had arrived.

Krittika looked toward the barrier.

Then toward her family.

Then back again.

Her heart pounded.

This was it.

No more imagining.

No more waiting.

No more dreaming.

Hogwarts was finally real.

Aditya placed a hand on her shoulder.

"You'll do great."

"I don't know that."

"I do."

His voice carried the calm certainty he always had.

The certainty that somehow made impossible things feel possible.

Anvika smiled.

"We'll see you at Christmas."

"That's forever away."

"No."

Her mother squeezed her hand.

"It only feels like forever."

Krittika suddenly wanted to cry.

Which was deeply unfair.

She had promised herself she wouldn't.

She had planned to be brave.

Confident.

Mature.

Instead she felt eleven.

Very, very eleven.

Sanvi threw her arms around her again.

This time she refused to let go.

Completely refused.

"Sanvi."

"No."

"Sanvi."

"No."

"Sweetheart."

"No."

Eventually Krittika laughed through suspiciously watery eyes.

Then hugged her back.

Tightly.

"I'll write every week."

"Every day."

"That's excessive."

"Every day."

"I'll try."

"Promise."

"I promise."

The younger girl finally released her.

Reluctantly.

Very reluctantly.

Tushita wiped an imaginary tear.

"So emotional."

Pranita elbowed her.

"You were crying five minutes ago."

"I had dust in my eye."

"Inside a train station?"

"Very dusty station."

Krittika laughed.

And somehow—

that made everything easier.

She took a deep breath.

Gripped the trolley.

And turned toward the barrier.

Students were already disappearing through it.

One after another.

Running.

Vanishing.

Like ghosts.

Every instinct screamed not to run into a wall.

Every logical part of her brain objected.

Unfortunately—

magic didn't care about logic.

"You ready?" Tushita asked.

"No."

"Perfect."

Pranita adjusted her grip on her trunk.

"On three?"

"Why are we counting?"

"For dramatic effect."

"That's not a thing."

"It is now."

Tushita grinned.

"One."

People stared.

"Two."

Krittika's heart hammered.

"THREE!"

The three girls ran.

Straight toward solid brick.

Closer.

Closer.

Closer—

And then—

The world shimmered.

The station disappeared.

The wall vanished.

And suddenly—

everything changed.

Steam filled the air.

Scarlet paint gleamed beneath sunlight.

Owls hooted from cages.

Students hurried across the platform.

Parents waved goodbye.

And stretching farther than Krittika could see

stood the Hogwarts Express.

For a moment—

she forgot how to breathe.

It was real.

Actually real.

More beautiful than every story.

More magical than every dream.

The giant engine released a plume of steam.

The whistle echoed across the platform.

Students rushed everywhere.

Luggage carts rattled.

Cats darted beneath benches.

Excited voices filled the air.

And somehow—

through all that noise—

Krittika heard a whisper.

"That's her."

Another.

"The prophecy girl."

Another.

"The one born under the golden moon."

Her smile faltered.

The whispers had followed her.

All the way here.

And judging by the looks being thrown her way—

they weren't going anywhere.

Not anytime soon.

Far above the platform, a cloud drifted across the sun.

For a brief second the light dimmed.

And Krittika felt that strange sensation again.

The feeling of being watched.

Not by students.

Not by teachers.

Something older.

Something patient.

Something waiting.

Then it disappeared.

Leaving only the station.

The train.

And the beginning of a journey that would change everything.

The train journey continued.

Hours slipped by almost unnoticed.

Outside the window, the bright afternoon slowly softened into evening.

Golden sunlight stretched across fields.

Shadows grew longer.

The sky turned shades of orange, pink, and violet.

And for the first time since boarding the train—

the excitement began to settle.

Reality took its place.

Hogwarts was no longer a dream waiting somewhere far away.

It was getting closer.

Every minute.

Every second.

Every turn of the wheels.

Krittika rested her head against the window.

The glass felt cool against her skin.

Outside, forests flashed past.

Rivers reflected the sunset.

Small villages appeared and disappeared like memories.

Everything looked peaceful.

Yet her mind refused to be.

The whispers from the platform kept returning.

The prophecy.

The letters.

The strange looks.

The way people seemed to know things she didn't.

She hated that feeling.

Hated being the last person to understand her own story.

Across from her, Tushita was attempting to stack Chocolate Frog boxes into a tower.

A very unstable tower.

A very doomed tower.

Pranita watched with the patience of a saint.

Which was impressive.

Because the tower had already collapsed three times.

"No."

Tushita adjusted another box.

"This one is different."

Pranita didn't even look up from her book.

"You said that last time."

"And?"

"It fell."

"That was a tactical collapse."

"It exploded."

"Tactical explosion."

Krittika laughed.

The tower immediately collapsed again.

Tushita stared at the ruins.

"...betrayal."

"Gravity."

"Same thing."

The compartment dissolved into laughter.

And somehow—

the heaviness inside Krittika eased again.

Maybe that was friendship.

Not making problems disappear.

Just making them easier to carry.

The train rattled onward.

The sky darkened further.

And eventually—

a sharp knock sounded against their compartment door.

Three knocks.

Firm.

Precise.

The laughter immediately stopped.

The door slid open.

A tall older student stood outside.

His uniform was immaculate.

Silver Prefect badge gleaming beneath the corridor lights.

Dark hair.

Serious expression.

The kind of face that looked like smiling required paperwork.

His eyes swept across the compartment.

Then stopped.

On Krittika.

Immediately.

The atmosphere shifted.

Tushita noticed.

Pranita noticed.

Krittika definitely noticed.

The Prefect spoke.

"You three are first-years."

It wasn't a question.

"No," said Tushita.

"We secretly run the school."

Pranita buried her face in her hands.

The Prefect blinked.

Slowly.

Like someone reconsidering life choices.

"I'll take that as a yes."

"Wise decision."

His gaze returned to Krittika.

Again.

Too long.

Too focused.

As though he was comparing her to something.

A story.

A rumor.

A warning.

Finally he said:

"We'll be arriving in less than an hour."

Krittika nodded.

"Okay."

"Make sure you're wearing your robes."

"Okay."

Silence.

Yet he didn't leave.

Something seemed to be bothering him.

Finally—

he spoke again.

This time quieter.

Only for her.

"Krittika Rajvansh?"

The compartment froze.

Every single person froze.

Because she had never introduced herself.

The Prefect shouldn't know her name.

Krittika sat up straighter.

"Yes?"

For a moment he simply stared.

Then—

surprisingly—

his expression softened.

Just slightly.

Almost imperceptibly.

"I thought so."

Before anyone could ask what that meant—

he stepped back.

And left.

The door slid shut.

Silence exploded inside the compartment.

Tushita pointed immediately.

"ABSOLUTELY NOT."

Krittika blinked.

"What?"

"That was weird."

"Very weird," Pranita agreed.

"He knew your name."

"He stared at you."

"He gave mysterious dialogue."

"The worst kind of dialogue."

Krittika groaned.

Because unfortunately—

they weren't wrong.

Something about that interaction felt strange.

And she couldn't explain why.

Outside, darkness continued swallowing the landscape.

The last traces of sunlight faded beyond distant hills.

Night arrived.

Quietly.

Patiently.

The compartment lights flickered on.

The train continued racing forward.

And then—

something happened.

At first Krittika thought she imagined it.

A movement outside the window.

A flash.

Gone almost instantly.

She frowned.

Looked again.

Nothing.

Only darkness.

Only trees.

Only her own reflection staring back.

Weird.

Very weird.

She turned away.

A few minutes later—

it happened again.

This time she was certain.

A pale shimmer.

Moving between the trees.

Keeping pace with the train.

For only a second.

Then disappearing.

Krittika sat up.

Heart pounding.

"What?"

Pranita immediately noticed.

"I think I saw something."

Tushita pressed her face against the glass.

"What?"

"I don't know."

"Helpful."

The three girls stared outside.

Nothing.

No movement.

No shimmer.

No mystery.

Just darkness.

Finally Tushita leaned back.

"Congratulations."

"What?"

"You've unlocked paranoia."

"Thanks."

"Anytime."

Yet even as the conversation moved on—

Krittika couldn't shake the feeling.

Because deep inside—

she knew she had seen something.

And somehow—

it felt connected to her.

The train suddenly slowed.

Not much.

Just enough to notice.

Excited voices immediately filled nearby compartments.

Students stood.

Luggage shifted.

Doors opened.

The atmosphere changed.

Electric.

Anticipatory.

Alive.

Someone shouted from the corridor:

"We're almost there!"

Instant chaos followed.

Students rushed everywhere.

Owls protested.

Cats complained.

Trunks rolled.

People laughed.

And suddenly—

Krittika's stomach flipped.

Hogwarts.

After all the stories.

After all the years.

After all the waiting.

She was finally here.

The train rounded a final bend.

And then—

through the darkness—

she saw it.

Far away.

Across the hills.

Glowing against the night sky.

A castle.

Massive.

Ancient.

Beautiful.

Thousands of golden lights shimmered from its windows.

Towers stretched upward like they were touching the stars.

The silhouette stood proudly against the darkness.

Majestic.

Timeless.

Magical.

For a moment—

nobody spoke.

Not Krittika.

Not Tushita.

Not Pranita.

Because some things were too beautiful for words.

The Hogwarts Express continued forward.

And Hogwarts grew larger.

Closer.

Brighter.

Waiting.

As though the castle itself had been expecting them.

As though it already knew her name.

And somewhere high above the towers—

the moon shone softly.

Pale.

Almost golden.

Watching.

Waiting.

Remembering.

The train gave one final whistle.

And began slowing toward Hogsmeade Station.

Their journey was ending.

But something far bigger—

was only the beginning.

*****************************************

Across the Black Lake

The train finally stopped with a long hiss of steam.

For a moment—

nobody moved.

As though the entire train was holding its breath.

Then chaos erupted.

Doors slid open.

Students grabbed trunks.

Owls hooted loudly.

Cats complained.

People rushed into the corridor.

And suddenly everyone was trying to leave at once.

"Move."

"No, YOU move."

"You stepped on my foot!"

"Because you stepped on mine first!"

Tushita grinned.

"Hogwarts already feels like home."

Pranita sighed.

"That explains a lot."

Krittika laughed.

Then carefully lifted Athena's cage.

Her heart was racing.

After eleven years of stories—

she was finally here.

The three girls followed the crowd out of the train.

The moment Krittika stepped onto the platform—

cold evening air brushed against her face.

Fresh.

Crisp.

Different somehow.

The station wasn't large.

Just a simple platform surrounded by darkness and hills.

Yet it felt magical.

Lanterns glowed softly.

Mist drifted between the trees.

The mountains loomed beyond the horizon.

And somewhere in the distance—

Hogwarts waited.

Then a voice exploded across the station.

"FIRST YEARS! FIRST YEARS OVER HERE!"

Everyone jumped.

Several students nearly dropped their luggage.

The voice came again.

Louder somehow.

"FIRST YEARS!"

Krittika turned.

And froze.

The giant was impossible to miss.

He towered above everyone.

Wild hair.

Enormous beard.

Massive coat.

Massive boots.

Massive everything.

Tushita blinked.

"That's a human?"

Pranita looked unconvinced.

"Allegedly."

The giant smiled.

The expression somehow made him look kinder.

"Hagrid," he announced proudly.

"Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts!"

Several students stared in awe.

A few looked terrified.

One first-year actually hid behind another student.

Hagrid noticed immediately.

"Oh don't worry."

He laughed.

"I don't bite."

The student looked unconvinced.

Very unconvinced.

Hagrid scratched his beard.

"Well... not usually."

The entire group froze.

"..."

"..."

"..."

Hagrid blinked.

"That was a joke."

Nobody looked reassured.

Krittika couldn't stop laughing.

Hagrid immediately pointed at her.

"There we go!"

"Someone gets me."

Tushita nodded seriously.

"She's brave."

Pranita nodded too.

"Or insane."

"Could be both."

The giant laughed loudly enough to shake nearby leaves.

Then his gaze landed on Krittika.

For a moment—

something strange happened.

His smile softened.

Almost like recognition.

Almost like he'd heard stories.

Stories he wasn't going to tell.

Not tonight.

"Right then."

Hagrid clapped his huge hands.

"Follow me!"

And the first-years obeyed.

Because nobody wanted to argue with a man who looked capable of lifting a dragon.

They followed him down a winding path.

The forest surrounded them on both sides.

Dark.

Ancient.

Silent.

Moonlight filtered through the trees.

Shadows stretched across the ground.

The farther they walked—

the quieter everyone became.

Excitement slowly replacing conversation.

Because somewhere ahead—

Hogwarts waited.

And then—

the trees opened.

Gasps echoed everywhere.

Krittika stopped walking.

Not because she wanted to.

Because she physically forgot how.

Before them stretched a vast black lake.

Moonlight danced across its surface.

And beyond it—

stood Hogwarts Castle.

Huge.

Magnificent.

Glowing like a dream.

Thousands of windows shimmered gold.

Towers reached toward the stars.

Ancient stone walls reflected in the dark water below.

For a moment—

nobody spoke.

Nobody could.

Because some things were simply too beautiful.

"Merlin..."

Tushita whispered.

Pranita nodded slowly.

For once—

speechless.

The castle seemed unreal.

Like something painted into the night sky.

Like a place that shouldn't exist.

And yet—

there it was.

Waiting.

Watching.

Welcoming.

Or perhaps judging.

Hagrid smiled proudly.

"Beautiful, innit?"

Everyone nodded immediately.

Because there was only one correct answer.

Then Hagrid pointed toward the shore.

Small boats

Lanterns glowing softly.

"Four ter a boat!"

The spell broke instantly.

Students rushed forward.

Groups formed quickly.

Krittika ended up in a boat with Tushita and Pranita.

Just as they were about to sit—

a cheerful voice interrupted.

"Wait!"

A girl hurried toward them.

Curly hair.

Bright eyes.

Confident smile.

The kind of person who looked like she'd make friends with a dragon.

"Mind if we join?"

Before anyone answered—

three more girls followed.

One looked quietly observant.

One looked permanently amused.

One looked like sunshine in human form.

Krittika blinked.

The first girl smiled.

"I'm Sharvari."

She pointed toward the others.

"Nupur."

A dramatic wave.

"Lakshmi."

A calm nod.

"And Aaratrika."

A warm smile.

Tushita grinned immediately.

"You're joining us."

Pranita didn't even protest.

Which basically counted as approval.

The girls climbed aboard.

And suddenly the boat felt far less intimidating.

Far more exciting.

As the boat pushed away from shore—

Krittika looked toward the castle.

Toward Hogwarts.

Toward her future.

And somewhere beneath the water—

something moved.

Just once.

A ripple.

Small.

Strange.

Gone before anyone else noticed.

But Krittika saw it.

And for reasons she couldn't explain—

she had the feeling that something beneath the lake had noticed her too.

****************************************

The boats glide silently across the lake.

No one spoke much anymore.

Not because they had run out of things to say.

Because Hogwarts was right there.

Growing larger with every passing second.

The castle towers stretched high into the night sky.

Thousands of windows glowed golden.

Ancient stone walls reflected across the dark water.

It looked less like a school.

And more like a kingdom.

A place from legends.

A place that had existed long before them.

And would continue long after them.

For a moment, Krittika forgot about prophecies.

Forgot about whispers.

Forgot about bloodlines.

She was simply a girl staring at Hogwarts.

And Hogwarts stared back.

The boats reached shore.

Students carefully climbed out.

Hagrid led them toward a huge oak door.

The entrance alone was larger than most houses.

Lantern light flickered across ancient stone.

The air smelled faintly of wood, magic, and history.

Krittika walked beside Tushita, Pranita, Sharvari, Nupur, Lakshmi, and Aaratrika.

Already it felt strange.

This morning she had been home.

Now she was surrounded by people she barely knew.

And somehow—

it didn't feel uncomfortable.

It felt right.

Like the beginning of something.

The enormous doors opened.

Every first-year gasped.

Including Krittika.

The Entrance Hall was breathtaking.

Marble floors.

Towering ceilings.

Grand staircases twisting upward.

Portraits talking quietly among themselves.

Suits of armor standing guard.

Everything felt alive.

Magic existed everywhere.

Not hidden.

Not secret.

Open.

Proud.

Ancient.

A portrait near the staircase suddenly leaned forward.

Its painted eyes widened.

"Well now..."

Another portrait looked over.

"Oh my."

A third whispered:

"Could it be?"

The first portrait nodded slowly.

"I believe it is."

Krittika frowned.

The portraits immediately pretended nothing happened.

Very suspicious.

Professor McGonagall appeared.

Tall.

Elegant.

Strict.

Terrifying.

The hall instantly became silent.

Even Tushita stopped talking.

Which was impressive.

Very impressive.

McGonagall surveyed the first-years.

Her eyes briefly stopped on Krittika.

Only for a second.

Yet Krittika noticed.

Then McGonagall spoke.

"Welcome to Hogwarts."

Her voice echoed through the hall.

"In a few moments you will enter the Great Hall and be sorted into your houses."

Excitement immediately spread through the group.

McGonagall continued.

"Your house will become your family while you are at Hogwarts."

The word family settled warmly inside Krittika.

Family.

She already had one.

A huge one.

A complicated one.

Perhaps Hogwarts would become another.

The doors opened again.

This time—

to the Great Hall.

Every first-year froze.

Because nothing could have prepared them.

Nothing.

Floating candles filled the air.

Thousands of them.

The enchanted ceiling mirrored the night sky above.

Four long house tables stretched across the hall.

Hundreds of students watched them enter.

Whispering.

Watching.

Waiting.

The staff table stood at the front.

And at its center—

sat Albus Dumbledore.

His blue eyes twinkled.

As though he knew something everyone else didn't.

Which honestly—

was probably true.

The Sorting Hat waited upon a stool.

Old.

Worn.

Ancient.

And somehow alive.

Krittika felt a strange chill.

As though the hat was watching all of them.

Measuring them.

Understanding them.

Names began.

One by one.

Students walked forward.

One by one.

The hat decided.

"Aaratrika Singh!"

The hat barely touched her head.

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Cheers erupted.

Aaratrika grinned brightly.

"Lakshmi Nair!"

The hat thought briefly.

"RAVENCLAW!"

The blue table exploded with applause.

"Nupur Gohel!"

The hat laughed.

Actually laughed.

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Nupur practically skipped to her table.

"Sharvari Joshi!"

"GRYFFINDOR!"

Sharvari winked dramatically at everyone.

"Pranita Khollam!"

The hat considered.

Then shouted:

"RAVENCLAW!"

Pranita smiled proudly.

Exactly where everyone expected her.

"Tushita Gawai!"

The hat touched her head.

Paused.

Then immediately yelled:

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The hall cheered loudly.

Tushita pumped her fist.

McGonagall looked mildly horrified.

Eventually—

the list grew shorter.

And shorter.

And shorter.

Until only a few students remained.

Including Krittika.

Her stomach twisted.

The whispers had started again.

She could hear them.

All around her.

"The prophecy girl."

"Rajvansh."

"The golden moon child."

"Both bloodlines."

"McGonagall's letters."

"What house will she be?"

Then—

the moment arrived.

"Krittika Rajvansh."

Silence.

Absolute silence.

The entire hall seemed to freeze.

Even older students looked up.

Watching.

Waiting.

Expecting.

Krittika slowly walked forward.

Her heartbeat thundered inside her chest.

The stool felt cold beneath her.

Then—

the hat touched her head.

Darkness.

And a voice.

Ancient.

Wise.

Amused.

"Oh my."

The Sorting Hat sounded surprised.

Very surprised.

"Well now..."

Krittika swallowed.

The voice continued.

"Interesting."

"That's not reassuring."

The hat laughed.

"No, I suppose not."

Images flashed through her mind.

Family.

Friends.

The golden moon.

The prophecy.

The letters.

Sanvi.

Anvika.

Aditya.

Everything.

The hat grew quiet.

Studying.

Thinking.

Understanding.

"Power."

It murmured.

"Enough for Slytherin."

The Slytherin table leaned forward.

"Wisdom."

The hat continued.

"Enough for Ravenclaw."

The Ravenclaw table , watched too.

"Courage."

The hat mused.

"Enough for Gryffindor."

The Gryffindors looked interested.

The hall waited.

Everyone expected one of those three.

Even Krittika.

Then the hat spoke again.

More softly.

More thoughtfully.

"But none of those are what define you."

Krittika blinked.

"What?"

The hat chuckled.

"They see bloodlines."

"They see prophecy."

"They see power."

Another pause.

"But I see something else."

The hall remained silent.

"You build bridges."

The hat whispered.

"You choose people."

"You protect."

"You stay."

"You love fiercely."

Images flashed.

Her family.

Her friends.

Sanvi.

Everyone she cared about.

The hat laughed warmly.

"Oh yes."

Now it sounded certain.

Completely certain.

The next word echoed through the Great Hall.

"Loyalty."

And then—

the hat shouted:

"HUFFLEPUFF!"

Silence.

For one second.

Two.

Three.

Then—

GASPS.

Everywhere.

Actual gasps.

Even some teachers looked surprised.

A few students nearly dropped their goblets.

"Hufflepuff?!"

"No way."

"Seriously?"

"THE prophecy child?"

Krittika sat frozen.

Hufflepuff?

Really?

Then Aaratrika jumped up.

"WELCOME!"

The Hufflepuff table erupted into cheers.

Loud.

Happy.

Genuine.

No judgment.

No hesitation.

Just welcome.

And suddenly—

Krittika smiled.

A real smile.

Maybe the first completely genuine one all day.

Because nobody there cared about prophecies.

Nobody cared about bloodlines.

They were simply happy she was there.

The feast began.

Food appeared magically across every table.

Students cheered.

Conversations exploded.

The hall became alive.

Yet even during dinner—

people kept looking at Krittika.

Whispering.

Wondering.

Watching.

At the staff table—

McGonagall looked thoughtful.

Dumbledore simply smiled.

As though everything had happened exactly as expected.

Eventually Dumbledore rose.

Instant silence filled the hall.

"Welcome to Hogwarts!"

Cheers followed.

His speech was warm.

Funny.

Wise.

Exactly what first-years needed.

Finally—

the prefects began leading students toward their dormitories.

The feast was over.

Their first Hogwarts night had begun.

As Krittika followed the Hufflepuffs toward the exit—

she glanced upward.

The enchanted ceiling still showed the night sky.

And there—

high above Hogwarts—

hung the moon.

Pale gold.

Almost identical to the moon from the stories.

From the night she was born.

For one impossible moment—

she thought it looked back.

Watching.

Waiting.

Remembering.

And somewhere deep within Hogwarts Castle—

something ancient stirred.

Because Krittika Rajvansh had finally arrived.

_______________________________

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