Ravenclaw in Gryffindor
The Gryffindor common room was bursting with noise after another successful Quidditch game against the Slytherins. They had brought out butterbeer and were all toasting to the Quidditch team; all except one temporary Gryffindor.
Alena Mcarthy could not believe her luck. Out of all the possible houses, she was picked to join the Gryffindors for a week. The group of students whom she found most annoying and obnoxious.
She sat by the fireplace trying to study when one of the Weasley twins (she could not tell which, nor was she bothered to) came up to her and offered her a butterbeer. "Come on now, claw! You can't just sit here reading when we've won a Quidditch match. Have a butterbeer!"
"No thank you. I have a Charms test tomorrow which I do not intend on flunking, thank you very much." She did not mean to come off as rude, but she had been trying to master this particular subtopic for a while, and it just wasn't sticking to her.
"Suit yourself, claw. Join us when you're ready!"
She hated to admit it, but for the 5 days she had been living the life of a Gryffindor, they had made her feel most welcome. They included her in their activities and always invited her to play with them. This was new to her, as the Ravenclaws didn't find anything much entertaining except for books and puzzles. She was beginning to see new ways to have fun.
Just then, Hermione Granger walked over and took the seat opposite her. "They can be a bit loud, can they? I know how you feel. I've been trying to tell them to take their celebrations outside, by they just won't have it. What are you working on?"
"I have a Charms test tomorrow, but I just can't seem to wrap my head around this topic. It's getting pretty frustrating, if I were to be honest." Alena didn't like admitting her weaknesses. As a Ravenclaw, she always thought she was expected to be smart and to know everything. Telling a Gryffindor that she didn't understand something was a great blow to her pride.
"Oh! I could help you if you'd like. I just went through this myself yesterday, and I was pretty confused too, at first. Here, let me show you."
Alena felt a surge of relief and happiness. She'd finally covered all the topics she was supposed to. She thanked Hermione and hugged her. The red-haired girl was slightly taken aback but laughing, she hugged her back. Without a second thought, Alena picked up the butterbeer that Fred had left her, and began to join the crowd. They cheered and clapped as they saw Alena making their way towards them, and they embraced her in a group hug, as she joined them for another chorus of "Weasley is Our King".
Maybe, just maybe, thought Alena, the Gryffindors weren't so bad after all.