Chapter 1 B. Reunion... By coincidence.

Irene

The same way the chubby man entered in my place we left the house, namely through the balcony door. Along with me, my dog was running at my heels and for a moment I stopped walking when a thought popped into my head like a parsley. I won't be able to leave like this.

"I can't just walk away like this," I said to the man and he turned to look at me.

"I didn't even say goodbye to my parents I don't even have all my things and my dog... I wouldn't want to leave him behind." I said while looking at the furry bear I had for a dog and the man looked at me with an inscrutable look, however his expression changed showing almost sadness.

"Your parents have been informed Irene, your things will be sent directly to Hogwart's as for the dog. " He said and took out his wand.

"metamorphosis." He said and my once huge dog transformed just as I had seen him 2 years ago, into a puppy.

"My dog! " I said in surprise and teased the frightened puppy in my hands.

"Don't worry, he didn't change anything, when he needs to he will transform to protect you" he said and I looked at him with rolled eyes.

Then again I looked at my dog who was looking at me with wide eyes. This was far and away different from reality, it made it so fantastic that I began to get scared of the unfamiliar world I was forcibly beginning to invade. Giving up the weapons, with the dog in my arms and the bag in my lap I walked out of the intangible like the fugitives with the man walking faster now.

"Wait why are we running? " I asked him and he looked at his roll.

"We're going to make a stop to pick up one more person you're with and I'll take you to stay at an inn for the night." He said cryptically and I nodded casually not being able to digest, so agreeing I followed him.

I looked at the large man and processed his appearance.

I wouldn't call him handsome but he had that look of a small child, making it impossible to describe him as dangerous despite his large build.

His long unkempt curls tangled with his also unkempt beard and the cloak he wore didn't allow me to give up more, however my instinct though many times he stood silently in his corner, made me realize that the man though unassuming was trustworthy.

"What is your name?" I asked him with interest while remembering that I didn't know it.

"I am Hagrit, and you little lady ask a lot of questions. " he said good-naturedly laughing and motioned me to climb into his vehicle.

I looked at the old cream colored Vespa he had and climbed into the parallel seat that was right next to him.

It was an antique but he had definitely eaten his bread and butter on this little bike.

"I want you to hold on tight. " he warned me and I nodded putting on my seatbelt.

The scooter made a loud sound and immediately began to gain altitude.

I opened my mouth for the thousandth time in surprise.

"I didn't know that" I said as my voice went up an octave more in fear and I hugged my furry companion a little harder while he whimpered.

"Here we go" he said and after quickly picking up speed making my vision go from blurry to non-existent.

As soon as I opened my eyes I was amazed at the neighborhood we had just arrived in. This street, this apartment building. Am I wrong or are we under my cousin's house?

"I need your help here. As you can see, in addition to you, Aphrodite has also received the same letter as you, so since her parents are upstairs, I need you to tell her to come down." she said and I was dumbfounded.

I felt my energy gathering in one place and my joy overflowing like a full glass of water that because it is full that water overflows.

"The second person is Aphrodite? " I asked with exuberant excitement and he nodded impatiently.

" Come on get up let's go together" he said and I nodded happily.

I don't know why, but this was getting very interesting.

Aphrodite

Having read the letter hundreds of times, to the point of learning its contents from the outside, I was waiting for someone or something to knock on my door. Lost in my thoughts, the sudden appearance of my parents and the sound that for some reason I didn't hear from the doorknob that creaked like a rusty iron made me realize that whatever it was that they were looking at all this time made them have that serious expression they have when something is wrong. As soon as they moved to the couch, the teasing they gave me to sit next to the one they were sitting next to caused me to move towards them with increased curiosity. I sat next to them visibly uncomfortable when I noticed that something was being held in their hand. It was a small black velvet box a little bigger than the one they gave you in jewelry stores when you bought a necklace.

"We have to tell you something, darling."

"Well? did you want something from me?" I asked curiously and for a second they looked at each other.

When they finally decided to talk, they turned and looked at me with almost sad eyes.

"You know, Aphrodite..." my dad started in a serious tone.

"We want to tell you something serious, something that concerns you, and that must not be kept secret." he continued, and my mother gave me something in my hand.

Opening my palm I discovered that the heavy thing was the black velvet box which I had seen before keeping. I processed it for a while and discovered an inscription in use with letters that had been obscured by polychromy making it difficult to read.

"What is this?" i asked and looked at them showing it.

A deep silence fell between us as they looked at each other once again, expressing all the pain and distress that was tearing them apart at that moment.

My heart seemed more and more like it was going to break as time went on and the answers I was still seeking were not coming. Unprepared, my mother took my hands and looked at me with a commanding stare.

"We found this locket in the basket the day we adopted you." She said and my breath caught for a moment.

That suggestion, the sudden realization that I didn't belong anywhere made my stomach churn, my ears ring and my eyes glaze over. I barely swallowed the knife that was now lodged in my throat and urged my parents to continue.

"We desperately wanted a child, and you came to us, heavenly one." my mother said, and I felt my desperation rising.

"Isn't that a good joke, we don't even have a prime rib. I'm not laughing... you're kidding me right?" I said with a gasp as the craziness didn't take long to set in.

They nodded in the negative and continued to hold my hands.

"We've been waiting for the perfect moment to tell you, we love you Aphrodite, don't forget that. You're our child, we raised you, we hurt for you. Just because a letter came, doesn't mean you shouldn't know at least our part of the story so you can move on." Daddy said and I wiped my tears, regretting thinking that these people didn't love me.

They opened their arms and I jumped into their arms. After a short time I got out and I looked at them.

"Do you think this has anything to do with my real parents?" I said and pointed to the letter with the box.

They shrugged their shoulders in disbelief and I sighed.

"I'd like to go to bed, all this talking has tired me out. "I said and stood up.

"We understand your position, you can go." Daddy said and I smiled.

I hugged mom, kissed my dad and slowly walked towards the room. once inside, I saw my brother calling on the computer and just like he didn't care, I climbed up the stairs to lay on my bed.

The time passed and my eyes wouldn't rest. I was tossing and turning when I saw that I couldn't sleep at all, so I decided to open the box to see its contents. As soon as the velvet lid came off, a gold locket the size of a pocket watch made its appearance. With gentle movements I removed it from its sheath and took it in my hands. My hand passed over the carved jewel while the figure of the strange bird passed completely unrecognisable to me.

It wasn't long before a long yawn escaped my mouth as I processed it. I settled back into my pillow and sleep was not long in coming.

It must have been an hour or more from when I was asleep when the repeated sound of a horn blast woke me. Feeling angry, I slowly descended the stairs and headed awake towards the balcony. The cold breeze made me shiver and woke me up for good. I noticed that across the street there was an old motorbike with a basket, probably white in color, glowing in the lamplight,

Before I could make out more things, the doorbell rang and I hurried in. Before I could get there, my brother Stavros came running out of the room, to answer it.

"Yes, who is it?" he asked.

"It's Irene, can you ask Aphrodite to come down?" her voice sounded and I was momentarily stunned.

"Irene who? "he asked and I ran to the room.

I opened my closet and one of my blouses flew out, as if it had a mind of its own, folded itself up and disappeared into a large trunk I didn't know I had.

" Aphro... Since I'm not getting along with your friend, come talk to her because she's getting on my nerves. I think it's an Irene. She says she's Uncle Savva's, but I know his daughter's been dead for almost 13 years." he said, and I stayed for a while.

Without understanding what exactly he meant I ran and grabbed the intercom and answered it almost breathlessly.

"Yes, who is it?"

" I'm Irene. Its not funny, and I don't like it , tell your brother , come on, are you coming down to leave or are we going to wait for more?" he said monosyllabically and I smiled.

"Yes, yes, I'm on my way." I told her and I heard her huff before I put the phone down.