Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter.

Author's note: This is something I have been playing with for a while, and I have the world's worst habit of not finishing stories I start. I'm hoping that the readers' reviews might encourage me to change said habit.

Lavinia Cross is not a character from the Harry Potter franchise. She is of my own devising.


A Mudblood in Slytherin

"Cross, Lavinia!" McGonagall called, lifting the Sorting Hat from the head of a boy Lavinia had already forgotten the name of. With a deep breath, she stepped forward to take her place on the stool where she would be Sorted.

"Hmmm, difficult. You're a brilliant, studious girl, but ambitious, and determined to prove yourself. You're a fearless one, willing to do whatever it takes to reach your goals. Should it be Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, or Slytherin?" Lavinia shuddered at the thought of being pooled with the arrogant, headstrong Gryffindors. She would be just fine in Ravenclaw. She knew nothing of Slytherin except that they were known for their cunning and ambition. Thankfully, the Hat hadn't mentioned Hufflepuff. She would have died of shame.

"Better be… SLYTHERIN!" The Hat yelled. The Slytherin table cheered. She smiled and made her way to the table, sitting next to a tall boy with black hair.

"Welcome to Slytherin, Lavinia," he said, smiling at her. They turned their attention back to the Sorting as the Hat bellowed "HUFFLEPUFF!" for the blonde haired girl on the stool.

Once the Sorting was finished and Professor Dumbledore had given his little speech, the tables were laden with rich foods and drinks. The meal progressed with the Slytherins all talking to each other like old friends. It seemed nearly all of them knew each other's families. Finally, the dark haired boy Lavinia had sat next to, Malcolm, turned to her.

"I'm afraid I'm not familiar with your family name, Lavinia. Are you foreign?" he asked, raising an eyebrow at her. She smiled and shook her head.

"I don't expect you would know my family. I'm Muggleborn, first witch in my family," she replied, tossing her long, red braid back over her shoulder. Conversation around them froze, and suddenly everyone within earshot of her was glaring at her with an intense look of dislike. Lavinia, taken aback by the sudden coldness and hostility that had sprung up around her, raised her eyebrows. "What?"

Malcolm glowered at her. "Sit somewhere else. Mudbloods don't belong in Slytherin," he said coldly, turning away. The other Slytherins followed suit, turning their faces away from her.

"Mudblood?" Lavinia asked, nonplussed. A girl with curly, grayish-blonde hair turned to her, nose wrinkled in disgust.

"Muggleborn, mudblood, same thing. You can't sit with us," she said haughtily. Lavinia rose, blood boiling in her veins.

"I don't want to," she hissed venomously. She stalked her way to the other end of the table, resolving not to speak to anyone else, lest she receive the same treatment from the others.

Little did she know, she had sealed her doom.


This is just a taster. If I get good responses, I'll continue. Thank you