Disclaimer: All characters (except Varina) belong to J.K Rowling. Damnation.
This is my first ever fanfic so please can you review it! I'd really appreciate constructive criticism so I can improve on future stories! Just don't be too brutal ;)
Standing amidst the animated first-years and feeling greatly self- conscious, Varina tried desperately to ignore the many curious stares she was all too aware of receiving. She could feel herself going red already. If she was like this now, what would she be like when she was stood at the front of the stage in full view of everyone? She waited impatiently as the Sorting Hat, which Professor McGonagall had placed on a small wooden stool, began singing its ridiculous song, glad, however, that it had distracted everyone's attention from her for a few minutes. She couldn't really blame the others for staring, though. She knew she'd have been doing the same thing as the others, had their roles been reversed. An attractive sixteen year-old with dark brown hair, intense blue eyes and a heart-shaped face with rosy-cheeks, Varina knew she must stick out like a sore thumb from the tiny first-years that were milling about her, standing on tiptoes so they might get a better view of the Hat, which was now singing about clever Ravenclaw.
Varina glanced up at Dumbledore and couldn't help feeling a pang of anger. When he told her the arrangements for the Feast and Sorting, she had begged him to let her be sorted beforehand, then merely announce her enrolment and house after the first-years had been sorted, thus saving her the embarrassment she was now enduring. But Dumbledore had been adamant that the Sorting was an important ceremony and that all new students, regardless of their age (although Varina was sure she was the first new student to join in sixth year), were to be sorted at the Feast.
Varina looked away from Dumbledore, who was presently nodding his head jovially along to the Sorting Hat's song, and risked a glance around at the vast group of students who were already seated. Her attention was immediately drawn to a boy sitting on the far side of the Hall, who, unlike the rest of the school was not watching the Hat, but rather watching her. He noticed that she had caught him looking at her, but didn't seem the slightest bit perturbed, quite the opposite in fact. He merely acknowledged her surprised look with a cheeky, playfully arrogant smile.
Varina couldn't help noticing how handsome he was. She guessed he too was in sixth year, he had fairly long, white-blonde hair, that fell lazily over his face and into his steely eyes that stood out against his pale skin and chiselled, pointed face. Varina looked hastily away, her heart giving a little flutter and her face going red again. She risked a fleeting glance back in his direction, to find he was still looking at her, smiling his cocky smile. Again she looked away, though this time she was wearing a similar smile to the blonde boy. It was only through the sudden increase in movement and muttering amongst the first-years that pulled Varina back to reality and alerted her to the fact that the Hat was done singing, and the Sorting about to begin.
The pounding in Varina's heart returned as she was swept along in the tide of first-years all eager to be sorted. She heard snatches of their conversations as she joined the line at the front of the Hall. Things like, "I hope I'm in Gryffindor" or "My mum's betting my dad five Galleons that I'm put in Hufflepuff". Honestly, Varina couldn't care less which house she was put in, despite McGonagall's "During your time here, your house will be like your family" speech. She was only intending to stick around for one year after all.
Varina soon grew impatient with the inconsequential babblings of the eleven year old witch or wizard, and was glad that she wouldn't have to wait long to be sorted. Finally, she heard McGonagall call out, "Black, Varina". She made her way through the first-years, all her concentration going into not tripping over her robes or a stray first year. She glanced nervously at he stool. It was clearly old and only small. A horrible image of herself sitting on the stool and it breaking flashed across her mind, but she forced it out; she was nervous enough already without that thought in her head. She turned to sit down to be faced by what seemed like thousands of inquisitive faces. Her gaze was drawn to the blonde boy once more as McGonagall lowered the over-sized Hat onto her head. She could hear it musing over where to put her, like a tiny bee buzzing by her ears. After about a minute she heard it call out, "SLYTHERIN!". The Hat was lifted from her head and she could see again, and this time it was applause that greeted her. Seeing her falter, McGonagall indicated the table to her left. The table where the blonde boy sat. He was smiling more than ever, and as she made her way past the students, nervously searching for a place to sit, she saw him indicate a space next to him. Her heart gave a jolt and she casually made her way over to the blonde boy, aware of how much more good- looking he was than she had first thought. His eyes were much more intense this close up and she was drawn almost hypnotically to the seat next to him.
"Hi," he said in his smooth, deep voice, "I'm Draco. Draco Malfoy"
Draco held out his hand, and Varina took it, noticing his handshake was strong but gentle. You could tell a lot from someone's handshake. Realising she hadn't yet spoken, she replied in her colourful accent,
"Nice to meet you. I'm Varina Black," feeling this was an incredibly formal introduction she added, "But people call me Reeny."
She felt her heartbeat get faster as he surveyed her from head to toe, still wearing that smile that had gained her attention in the first place.
"Reeny," he repeated, his eyes finally resting on hers, "Welcome to Slytherin. You'll soon realise that you've been sorted into the best possible house here at Hogwarts."
"Oh really, is that so?" she asked playfully.
"Yes it is. We only take the best here. Purest house in the school. Plus, we aren't a bunch of simpering do-gooders unlike the Gryffindors, or a load of smiling fools waiting to welcome any old filth with open arms like the Hufflepuffs. The Ravenclaws aren't too bad, but still, Slytherin is definitely the house you want to be in."
"Well, you certainly think a lot of yourselves, that's for sure. But, hey, I like a bit of arrogance."
"Actually, I like to think it's ambition."
"Tom-a-to, tom-ah-to," she said shrugging, but making sure she smiled so he'd know she was only joking. She didn't want to offend him. She instinctively knew, this was not a guy whose pride you go wounding. He smiled back at her. He opened his mouth to say something, but then stopped, realising the sorting was over and Dumbledore was about to make a speech. Draco wore an expression of contempt when looking at Dumbledore, that reflected the anger Varina had earlier felt when regarding the headmaster. Curiosity as to why he had such an expression on his face, must have shown on hers, as he whispered to her,
"Father reckons Dumbledore's the worst thing that happened to this school. Muggle-loving fool. I'd say Dumbledore was tying for that title with Potter though."
"Potter?" she asked. "Yeah. Harry Potter. Over there on the Gryffindor table. Next to the goofy- looking redhead and the girl with the ridiculous hair." Varina located Harry easily. She had of course heard all about Harry Potter, but didn't realise she'd be in school with him.
"Well, I don't know him, I've never met him, so I can't pass comment there. But right now I'll agree with you on the Dumbledore front." He turned his attention away from Dumbledore to give her an enquiring look. She explained about the Sorting quietly. He looked surprised at the unfair way Dumbledore had treated her. As she finished, the plates and goblets on the table before her filled up and the Feast began.
"If you don't mind me asking," said Draco, "How come you're only just coming to Hogwarts?"
"Ah," said Varina, "I wondered when someone would ask that. But I should probably warn you, it's a long story."
"I'm all ears."