Selini sat as her mom rushed about their small yet crowded home. Sito her favorite snake was snuggled on her arm soaking up her body heat as he digested the two baby garter snakes he'd eaten earlier.
He was not the only snake present in their home in fact he was one among nearly 100 many of them deadly poisonous. Selini thought it funny how many people who came by for a rare potion or antidote thought them creepy or that her mom an she were gifted with Parselmouth.
They missed the fact that snake venom was used to relieve the pains of old age in the joints or could counter the effects of paralysis. Poisons had many interesting uses her mother was fond of telling her daughter as Selini stood near helping her by fetching the various jars and boxes of components.
Selini was proud of her mother's work and thought that in ll the wide world there could be no equal to her in the brewer's art.
Selini had grown up with only her mother because her father had died when she was very young, in fact too young to remember him at all. She knew his family for they were from the old country as they called Greece and there they were renowned brewers themselves but their product was Ouzo, Tsipouro and Metaxa not potions.
They had wanted her to attend the Hecate school of maidens in Thessaly but her mom had resisted pointing out that Hogwarts was a much more prestigious school even if Hecate was 1,000 years older.
Her mom suddenly stopped and spun round and embraced Selini saying in the old tongue

[B][I]My sweet Moon Child póso tha prépei na chatheí apó ti̱ mi̱téra sas, den boreíte na fantasteíte[/I][/B]
(My sweet Moon Child how much you will be missed by your mother you can't imagine)

Selini blushed as she tried not to cry all the while melting in her mommy's arms. Few would believe that Kardiá Aimafo̱tiá could be so affectionate but few knew of how much her only child meant to her.
Sighing deeply Selini whispered in her mommy's ear

[B][I]I̱ thálassa vrísketai metaxý mas, allá sti̱n kardiá mou tha parameínei[/I][/B]
(The sea stands between us but in my heart you remain)

She says quoting the farewell of Juniper to her daughter Neria as she moved across the sea from athens to Lycia to establish the new temple to Aphrodite.
This makes her mom nearly crush her and begin talking foolishly about keeping Selini home so that she can protect her from the cruel world.
Once her mom calms down and let's her go she begins fussing over things once more which makes Selini giggle. Not very often is her mommy this silly, it's almost as if she were about to cross the sea to Lycia never to return.
This thought makes Selini sad once more but she fights back the urge to show it less she begin a cycle that will make her late for the Hogwart's express
Finally packed her mom summoned transportation for the two of them and the mountain of luggage that Selini had to take.
Soon she and her mom stood on platform 9 an 3/4s saying their goodbyes as so many other parents and children were saying goodbye.
Selini noticed that some of those present were looking at her and her mother with mixed emotions but mostly shock and some with fear an a few of those ushered their children away as if they were protecting them.

[B][I]Mommy why are..[/I][/B] says Selini before her mom puts a finger to her lips and says

[B][I]Small minds live in small worlds[/I][/B] her smile as soft and motherly as any woman there

[B][I]Now hand him over I know you've hidden Sito on your person and you know that they won't let you keep him at Hogwarts[/I][/B] asks her mom as she holds out her hand
Selini fishes under her jumper and draws out her snake an hands him to her mom after kissing his colorful head. This action seems to electrify those still nearby as moms and dads act as if Sito were dangerous. He is a banded King Snake not a Coral snake as many mistake him for and even were he the latter they aren't truly dangerous when handled correctly

Her mom giggles as she slips Sito in her bag then brushes Selini's wild hair from her eyes so she can kiss her forehead.

[B][I]Don't worry my lovely I'll take care of Sito an you'll see him again soon enough. Now hurry to the train and find a compartment before they're all taken[/I][/B] says her mom as she pushes her daughter like a fledgling out of the nest and into flight.

Selini put on her most stoic face and boarded the train an as she was among the first to do so found an empty compartment with ease. Sitting down she thought about what lay ahead and what it meant in her life. She would so be allowed to practice magic and best of all she'd be able to become a brewer like her mom.
Selini doubted that whomever taught potions could match her mother's skill but they did have one thing her mother lacked and that was permission to teach her.
The ministry of Magic's permission was an important thing even if it was in Selini's estimation a dumb thing.
To do what she was born to do Selini had to submit herself to the indignity of being ridiculed and sorted. Sorted into a house, categorized by some smelly old hat that was thought an expert on the children presented to it. She could really careless about the house structure and what being in one meant so long as in the end she was a potion brewer and one that was respected by any who bought her wares and feared by those that thought to cross her.
She also knew she'd have to endure the ridicule of older students and those of different houses. She'd have to keep her tongue and only use each subject of abuse as a lesson in the stupidity of children an peers.