"Gender is based off of anatomy, therefore, there can be only two. Male and Female. In Ravenclaw, this is common knowledge. However, Sam begs to differ. However, they end up shunned, pushed away. That is until, she meets someone who she last expected to understand."
They
"Interesting, quite interesting."
The hat was speaking, voice scratchy and irritating. Not knowing how to feel, Sam replied quietly.
"What's the matter?"
"A lovely young lady you are, but two houses seem to be fit for you."
Lady.
God how Sam hated that word.
To be honest, they hated both, lady and man. Sam was neither of those things, just another child at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. If pronouns must be chosen, they or their would be sufficient.
"Ah, I see."
A slight red blush flooded Sam's cheeks, realizing they had spoken that out loud. Before Sam could reply, the hat spoke again.
"I wish you luck Sam."
"RAVENCLAW!"
At first, Sam was unsure what the hat had meant. Maybe it was custom, wish luck to every student who passed through the gates. Give them words of encouragement before they begin their journey.
But no, that wasn't what he had meant at all.
When they had been able to talk with their fellow Ravenclaws, Sam noticed two things.
One, Ravenclaw's believed that gender was based on anatomy, not emotions. Therefore, there were only two: male and female.
Two, they wished the hat had put them in the other house.
"Drama queen."
"Did you see Sam? She wears eyeliner yet pretends that she's not a girl."
"Attention whore."
"Why was she even put in Ravenclaw, she obviously doesn't belong here."
It was funny, how they spoke behind Sam's back, not even trying to hide their insults as if Sam weren't sitting just in front of them.
Sam would always try and think.
Their words don't matter.
They just don't understand.
I don't have to chose.
I don't have to be either.
But every day, it grew harder to say that. To pretend as if everything was okay.
"Yes Professor Flitwick?"
They stood expectantly beside his desk, textbooks clutched in hands pulled tightly across their chest. Green eyes followed the teacher small form as he moved, stopping before them and letting out a sigh.
"Sam, this has to stop."
A wave a confusion crashed over them, eyes widening slightly.
"What are you talking about Professor?"
Sam asked quietly, confusion quite evident in their voice. The Professor sent Sam a glare before replying.
"This attention seeking behaviour! Sam, you are a female, born with two X chromosomes. I understand that starting a new school may be difficult for you, but is this really the best way of dealing with it?"
He didn't just say that.
He couldn't have.
Without looking back, Sam fled the room, pushing tears back as they ran.
By now, the verbal insults had stopped bothering Sam. Onslaughts of rude words flung their way simply bounced off Sam's outer walls which had been built and strengthened over the year.
So why, could they hear that Slytherin so clearly as he spoke.
"Have you seen Sam? They're always alone, sitting in a corner. What a loser!"
Sam watched him as he left, completely unsure of why that insult had pierced the barrier. Much worse had been thrown through the year, so why was that the one they could hear?
The insult was frankly terrible, something a two year old could come up with.
But maybe is wasn't the insult at all.
That was when Sam realized.
When the Slytherin had spoken, he didn't say "she."
He had said "they."
They.
For the first time in a long while, a smile graced Sam's lips.