Okay so this one-shot came from the top of my head. So don't go looking for it on Tumblr. It's not there.

Name: Briar Henry

Age: 11

Year: 1st

House: Unsorted

Status: Muggleborn

Briar's POV

I sit alone on the train ride, I was never one to make friends easily and I figured I would have plenty of time for fun when I reached the school. Right now I was reading Hogwarts a History, I had big plans for myself at Hogwarts. Getting lost would not do.

Sighing lightly, I slap the book closed. Reading on the train was giving me a headache and my dyslexia made it increasingly difficult. I wish I could read like everyone else, it was embarrassing being different.

Says the witch.

I roll my eyes at myself and lean my head against the window, peering out at the landscape rushing by.

A knock at the door wakes me from a dreamless sleep; I groggily rub my eyes and look at the brown haired, fair-skinned girl standing at the door of my compartment.

"Hey, we'll be at Hogwarts soon. I would get in your robes, don't want to show up in jeans." Her Irish accent is very pronounced and I have to work to unscramble her words. She then gives me a small smile and starts to slide the door closed.

"Wait!" She reopens the door and gives me a quizzical look, "What's the matter?"

I chew on my lip, deep in thought, "What's Hogwarts like?"

She gets a dreamy look on her face, "It's the best place in the world, and not nearly as intimidating as it looks at first." The girl snaps out of it and adds, "If you need anything look me up, the name's Ailynn and I'm in Gryffindor." This time I let her slip away.

Moving quickly, I pull my robes out of my messengers bag and look at my reflection in the window. Same hopelessly curly hair, same dark skin, and the same brown eyes.

So why do I feel so different?

Taking a deep breath I leave my compartment, robes clutched in my shaky fists.

I can handle this.

I cannot handle this.

Hogwarts was huge and it made me feel so small. More than anything I wanted to do well at this place, I wanted to be the best. A legend even.

But here I was, leaning over the side of the boat, about to loose my lunch. The other kids in the boat were laughing at me, all except the girl holding my hair off my shoulders.

I shakily move back into the boat and wipe my mouth with my sleeve, "Thank you." It comes out as a whisper; my throat was too raw to do anything more.

She smiles, "No problem, the name's Amethyst Greengrove." Amethyst sticks her hand out rigidly towards me, oddly enough; gloves cover her hands and continue under her robes.

I take her hand in mine and frown, it doesn't feel like a regular hand, "I'm Briar Henry. Why does your hand feel weird?"

Amethyst laughs and pulls off her glove, revealing her prosthetic limb, "I was born without it. Don't feel bad."

I smile lightly at her, "What's it like? Not having a hand I mean." My seasickness is forgotten, I'm much more interested in her hand.

"Sometimes I forget that I'm supposed to have two." We laugh together, "It's really not that bad, since I was born without it I can't miss it." She shrugs and her eyes light up, "What kind of wand do you have?"

I look at her quizzically, "What do you mean?"

"Mine's slightly springy oak with a dragon heartstring core. What about you?" I frown again, "I'm not sure, I must have zoned out when I was told."

She looks shocked, "How could you have zoned out? Isn't this whole witch thing fascinating? I mean, I feel like I was accepted into an exclusive club of some sort."

Everything clicks in that moment, "So you're a muggleborn too?" Amethyst nods, "I'm sorry I thought you knew."

"How could I have known?"

"Well, muggleborns are sort of looked down at Hogwarts. That's why they were laughing." She jerks her thumb over her shoulder, "It was just so obvious that you are dying of nerves. Muggleborns have got to stick together."

I tilt my head slightly and chew on my lip, "I guess so." I'm knocked out of my seat as the boat hits the ground, but Amethyst seems unaffected, "Oh my gosh! We're here." She grabs me and hauls me out of the boat, before bounding after the rest of the students. A wide smile splits my face as I race to keep up with her. Maybe Hogwarts wouldn't be so bad with people like Amethyst surrounding me.

The teacher the leads us into the Great Hall is an impressive lady, her nose is slightly hooked and her robes are a rich green color. But behind her stern façade I can see a sense of humor.

When we walk through the doors everyone turns to stare at the first years, but we are all staring at the floating candles and magic ceiling to care. I had read about in my book, but this was incredible.

Hogwarts was beautiful.

It was a fairy castle come to life.

A bubble of euphoria bursts in my chest and I feel like twirling around with my head thrown back. Being a witch was cool, not weird. Everyone here was magic (even the school was magic!), sure the dyslexia would be a problem, but I've dealt with it in the past.

The hawk nose lady says a few words and introduces herself as Headmistress McGonagall before placing a ratty hat on a stool. For a second I am confused, but then I recall Hogwarts: A History, "The sorting hat." I whisper this to Amethyst, "I know, the second year I shared my car with told me everything." She tells me with a smile.

Suddenly McGonagall calls out, "Amethyst Greengrove." She gives my hand a quick squeeze and confidently climbs onto the stool. Right before she sits down Amethyst rips off her glove and sits in a twirl of her robes.

Whispering breaks out across the hall.

But Amethyst doesn't look bothered in the slightest; in fact, she's smiling. The hat frowns for a moment, but rather quickly it calls out, "RAVENCLAW!" The blue and bronze table erupts in cheers as Amethyst runs towards them.

The next name called is my own.

My heart beats impossibly slowly as I force myself to shuffle towards the wrinkly old hat. McGonagall places it on my head and my heart stops.

What have we here?

I knew it was coming but I still jumped. Maybe it had something to do with the hundreds of eyes trained on me.

Maybe.

You are nervous, but excited. You want to do well but feel you can't.

I can do well. I know I can.

Determined aren't you?

I just want to prove that a muggleborn can be great. That I can be great.

I see, well that makes it obvious where you belong.

It does?

Indeed, you are determined and ambitious. The house for you is, "SLYTHERIN!"

I hope I got my point across. Not all Slytherins are evil guys. They aren't always the bad guy or always controlled and collected. Sometimes the Slytherin is the girl vomiting over the side of the boat. And sometimes the Ravenclaw is the hopelessly enthusiastic girl with only one arm.

If anyone has a headcanon to suggest let me know, I love to hear from people.

Also, what house did you think I was going to put Briar in?

-Orangeowl13