A/N: I have had this beta'd however any spelling mistakes are entirely my own.
Disclaimer I own nothing to do with and fandom in which I surf, this one belongs entirely to the lovely Lady JKR.

The Cracks in our Foundations

Hogwarts is capable of ruining the life of each and every child that sails to the shore on his or her first, fateful year. I am convinced of this wholeheartedly as I have had the misfortune to see each and every one of them in my time here, fail in some misguided fashion.

As any other emotional, or mental, scar that mares the souls of an eleven to eighteen year old, it came always be traced back to their home.

Or their House, to be more precise.

The founder who came up with the original thought for Houses, probably something like; 'I know! I'll take impressionable minors, take one small character trait out of four and then… and this is the genius bit… I'll build the next seven years of their development on it! What could possibly go wrong?' is beyond psychiatric help. I bet it was Ravenclaw; she seems to have been the only unaccounted founder. Hufflepuff was trying to sow seeds of love and equality while Slytherin and Gryffindor were too busy being prejudiced to actually think of separating themselves from each other. Yes, Ravenclaw seems the likely candidate.

This character trait is then built up to the point that when, seven years later, the child in spouted out the back end of the digestive tract of Hogwarts, to forever remember what they are. Because of Hogwarts.

Each house is hated and loved due to one kind of trait, though nursing these traits their virtues turn to vices and ultimately, we're all screwed over.

The one house comes out the hero, it's inevitable, and their trait which is then a virtue to be envied by all. I've watched the heroes be shrouded in darkness, choking the very life out of them and those that live, the truly heroic ones that will never give in… they shall be the forgotten ones.

Another is to be forgotten because they did what they were supposed to and no-one in the history books much cares what happened to their unlikely heroes.

The third is not only mentioned near the bottom of the list but is generally the butt of most house jokes, if only they knew.

And the fourth house, the house that is mostly silent to the barrage of questions only to give answers to those deemed worthy… Well, that house speaks entirely for itself, just look how you get into their common room.

Once a house, always a house.

I pity those children but who am I to take tradition by the throat and squeeze until I, in turn, am attacked.

Ahh… there's someone here for me to direct yet again in this life, and I hope beyond reason that it is one of my Slytherins, the most heroic of all, for all the wrong reasons.

"You wanted to see me, Headmaster?"

I smile at him as I do no-one else and gesture to my ever-present sweet dish. "Lemon drop, Severus?"

Hope you liked it! Review please!