Eve
Of course, I got lost on my way to Charms. Why did this castle have to be so damn huge?
By the time I finally wandered into the right classroom, most of the students were already there. I felt my heart sink as I looked around the room; great, here we go again. And Blaise wasn't even here to offer me a seat.
But then I spotted Ginny Weasley sitting alone towards the back, and I automatically started forward. She'd been so nice to me on the train—surely my being a Slytherin wasn't that big of a deal to her?
When I came to stop by the table, she looked up and almost seemed surprised to see me. I clutched the strap of my bag and said much too quickly, "Can I sit with you?"
"Um," she said uncertainly, watching me carefully. "I guess so."
I awkwardly set my bag down and pulled out the chair next to hers, somewhat shocked she had actually said yes. After I had sat down, there was an empty span of uncomfortable silence between us as we waited for the professor to arrive.
This is my chance, I thought, knowing I had to talk to her. She'd let me sit next to her, hadn't she? I had to at least explain myself.
"Look," I said, "I dunno why I was put in Slytherin. I really, really don't." Ginny still wasn't saying anything, but she looked over at me so I knew she was at least listening. "I honestly wish I was a Gryffindor, but there's nothing I can do."
I was rambling now, desperate to make her understand I wasn't a Slytherin at heart. "Both my aunt and uncle were in Gryffindor, so it doesn't even make sense. It's not like I'm a mean person—I'm really not. Some of the people in Slytherin are just plain awful; Pansy Parkinson actually makes me sick to my stomach. I just don't understand—"
I broke off then, because Ginny was giggling uncontrollably. When I turned to look at her, she laughed, "Relax, you don't have to explain yourself. It isn't a big deal—really, it isn't. We just thought you weren't who you said you were."
I felt the familiar tug of guilt at my stomach, but I pushed it away. Smiling uncertainly at Ginny, I still felt unsure if she was kidding or not.
"No worries, Eve. Slytherins can be friends with other Houses," Ginny said brightly, leaning back in her chair. Her grin was huge as she added, "Plus, you hate Pansy almost as much as I do. I'll have to tell Neville and Harry that you're actually sane."
This made me laugh out loud. "I don't know what it is about her, she's just so terrible."
"She really is," Ginny agreed, rolling her eyes. She leaned closer with a smirk on her face and asked, "So, tell me how it is with the Slytherins. Are they really just as mean to each other as they are to everyone else?"
So I explained how Blaise and Malfoy snapped at each other all the time, and even dared to relive the events of the feast last night—"You said that to her? That's priceless, I'm so proud of you—"
By the time the Charms professor finally entered the classroom, the hard knot in my chest had almost completely disappeared. I suddenly felt okay again, like I wasn't going to be a complete loner at this school. If Ginny got along with me, maybe the rest of her friends would too. For the first time since being Sorted, I had a real smile on my face.
YOU ARE READING
Little Bird
Fanfiction"It's much harder to stay hidden from the Dark Lord when you're in love with a Death Eater." Evelyn Hawkings' parents were well-known Death Eaters, but they died when the Dark Lord fell and Eve was only an infant. Now fifteen years have passed and V...