The girl stared defiantly out at the tables of students. She was a transfer student at Hogwart's, the first in years. They couldn't know how terrified she actually was. The sorting of the first years was almost over, and she would be next. Her turn came all too soon. "Shannon, Legacy," McGonagall called.
Legacy lowered herself onto the stool and dropped the hat onto her head. It immediately began talking to her. "Hmmm. . . You're an interesting one, aren't you? It seems you're best suited for . . . SLYTHERIN!" Without any reaction, Legacy walked down to join the cheering Slytherin table.
*+^+*
Legacy kept basically to herself. She never really joined the Slytherins, but she didn't bother with any other house either. She never joined in with the teasing of the other students, but she didn't try to stop it. Eventually, somehow, Draco Malfoy found out she lived with muggles. Suddenly, she was an outcast in her own house.
"Look at her hair. Do you think she ever takes it down?" Pansy Parkinson teased, referring to Legacy's ever-present bun at the nape of her neck. The other girls giggled as Pansy continued, "Filthy mudblood has filthy hair." They were trying to get a reaction out of her, and Legacy knew it.
Not willing to give them that satisfaction, Legacy sat silently at the table and took all of the verbal abuse. After finishing her lunch, however, she stood and headed for the library. "Aww, look, I think we hurt her feelings," Pansy shot sarcastically at Legacy's retreating form.
Legacy clinched her eyes shut, fighting to control the urge to beat Pansy senseless. Mama, Daddy, help me be strong, Legacy thought to herself as she continued walking. Why'd you have to go and die on me? I wouldn't be in this horrible school if you were still alive. Her already stretched patience wore even thinner when she reached the library.
"There's a Slytherin in the library," Legacy recognized Ron Weasley's voice. "The world must be coming to an end!" Harry and Hermione grinned right along with him, but Legacy was too tired to care. She just rolled her eyes and continued rifling through the books. "Looking for a new curse to try out?"
Tears sprang to Legacy's eyes. Why was she being tested like this? She fought back the tears threatening to spill over and turned to the trio. "What have I ever done to you?" she asked the stunned group. "I don't like this situation any more than you people. I'm sorry that I'm so terrible for ya'll to deal with," she exploded in her American accent.
With those words, Legacy grabbed her book and ran out of the library with the tears finally wetting her cheeks. Before she got too far, she ran into none other than Draco Malfoy. He opened his mouth to say something, but she beat him to it. "I know; I should watch where I'm going. Sorry," she snapped then continued down the hall. Four pairs of eyes followed her.
*+^+*
"Why didn't you say something about not being muggle-born?" Legacy looked up at Malfoy, surprise tinting her midnight blue eyes. "I talked to Professor Snape. He didn't say much, but he did say you were pureblood. So why didn't you tell us?"
She shrugged and settled back into her chair in the Slytherin common room. "I dunno. I didn't care, maybe. I just didn't want to deal with it. Would it have mattered?" It was his turn to look surprised. "Listen, I know how these things work. School cliques have already been formed and fixed for five years; newcomers are not welcome. I don't care."
That was all that was said on that subject. No real apology or vocal forgiveness, but the idea was understood. A bond was formed, and the two talked for hours about whatever came to mind. Laughs were shared, ideas traded, and accents teased. A new friendship was sealed.