Hello, again! I am so sorry for how long it took me to get this chapter up, but I have two reasons for that. First, is writer's block and second is the frighting amount of school work I received. I know, I know, they're pathetic excuses, but oh well. Hopefully the next chapter won't take as long and I promise I'll try to get it out sooner! Also, thank you all so much for the reviews, favs, and follows! It truly made my day! :)
As always, read, review, and enjoy! :)
Chapter Two: Bad News
The past few weeks had been difficult, to say the least.
Whatever Scarlett said or did, she felt as if her housemates were internally judging her. Whenever she attempted to interact with others, she would only receive an indignant glare and be told to shut up. It had grown quite tiring after a few days, yet it seemed as if her housemates weren't exactly planning on stopping. It was the sole reason why she had simply given up on trying to get along with her housemates.
Daphne had been trying to assure it was only a phase they would get over soon, but seeing how she was stillthe only Slytherin who could stand her, Scarlett found that hard to believe. The rest of her housemates treated her as if she was no lower than a cockroach.
Marcus Flint and Graham Montague referred to her as a "filthy half-blood" on many occasions. Adrian Pucey was cold and distant towards her as if she wasn't worth his time. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle jeered at her every time they saw her in the hallways. Professor Snape turned a blind eye whenever he saw her being mistreated by her own housemates. However, the one Slytherin that took the cake was none other than Pansy Parkinson.
Scarlett had gotten off on the wrong foot with the girl on her very first day at Hogwarts. Parkinson had made it painfully clear that she despised her guts and put it upon herself to make her life in Slytherin worse than it already was. The fact that they were forced to share dormitories did not help in the slightest. Parkinson resided to petty actions, such as breaking her quills, hiding her shoes, and jinxing her stuff. However, at times, she would go even further, such as that one time she went as far as setting one of her school books on fire.
That book had been her Potions book and Snape had not been pleased in the slightest.
Nevertheless, there were still a few oddballs in Slytherin House that didn't mind her. Millicent Bulstrode was a bit cold and disdainful towards her, but that was possibly because she was one of Parkinson's close friends. Davis, who had also befriended the duo, had never mistreated her and simply kept out of her way. Scarlett would sometimes catch Zabini staring at her curiously when he thought she wasn't looking. Nott didn't even bother sparing her a glance.
So far, her time in Slytherin was definitely not enjoyable. At first, she had been afraid that her housemates would reside to hexing her in the common room, but thankfully they seemed too mature to do that. That didn't excuse their foul treatment, however. Her attitude these past few weeks had changed drastically and she had become hollower and more downcast. She honestly felt no longer like herself and it genuinely concerned Daphne.
"Scarlett, will you give it a rest already?" her friend had sighed that Saturday morning.
Scarlett disregarded her and continued poking boredly at her untouched plate of scrambled eggs.
Daphne pursed her lips. "Do you want to do something today?" she asked. "Maybe go out and sit by the Great Lake? You said it was your favourite spot at Hogwarts, didn't you?"
Scarlett simply shrugged.
"Do you want to do that?"
Another shrug.
Daphne let out an annoyed hiss and set down her mug of pumpkin juice with more force than necessary. "All right, for real, would you honestly just snap out of it?" Daphne demanded irritably, her eyes flickering in indigence. "I've been trying to get you to cheer up for almost a whole month now and you're still throwing yourself a pity party."
Scarlett raised her head to fix her friend with a hard look. "I'm not throwing myself a pity party," she responded coolly.
"No, of course, not," Daphne agreed sarcastically. "You're only enjoying your time in Slytherin, aren't you?"
Scarlett glared at her. "It's easy for you to say," she muttered. "Everyone loves you."
"That hardly matters!" Daphne exclaimed. "The way people treat me doesn't affect you at all. If you want to have a better time in Hogwarts, then you'll have to like being in Slytherin. And in order for you to do that, the first thing would be to stop wallowing in misery." She crossed her arms, a stern look crossing her pretty features. "If they find out you're like this, they'll take the opportunity to pounce and make your life even worse."
Scarlett snorted. "Really?" she asked dryly. "I never knew that."
Daphne exhaled sharply through her nostrils. "I've been patient with you for the past couple of weeks because I knew that's why you needed," she said in a firm voice. "But, right now, my patience is growing thin. You honestly need to think of something to get our arrogant housemates to treat you like any other person."
Scarlett wanted to snap at her and tell her to bugger off. She really did. However, Scarlett was anything but an idiot. She was well-aware that if she continued to push Daphne off the edge, there was a high chance her friend would simply throw her hands in the air and declare she could no longer stand being her friend anymore. After all, who wanted a friend that simply sat and pitied themselves all day?
Scarlett visibly winced. Well, great. I just admitted it myself.
Letting out a small sigh, she pushed her plate of scrambled eggs away and stood up. "I'm not hungry," she said briskly. "I'll see you back at the common room, all right?"
Daphne blinked and opened her mouth to say something, but Scarlett was already gone before a syllable could escape her lips.
Weaving her way through the countless people that roamed through the Great Hall to get to their House tables, Scarlett slipped through the double oak doors and into the empty hallways. She had lied a little bit about going back to the common room because right now, that was the last place Scarlett wanted to go to. Dealing with her housemates longer than she needed to wasn't exactly her cup of tea.
You're stuck with them for seven years, the voice at the back of her mind said. You may as well get it over with rather than run away like a coward. No wonder you weren't in Gryffindor.
A growl fat her own thoughts and trudged through the deserted corridors. The silence of the halls helped soothe her agitation and she closed her eyes, inhaling softly to let her emotions melt away into relaxation. Her eyes fluttered open delicately and without realizing where she was heading, she abruptly rounded a corner and collided head-first with someone heading her way.
Scarlett let out a startled yelp and was knocked down from the force of the impact. A throbbing ache electrified through her mind and she blinked rapidly to see scattered books laying around. Her eyes flitted to the owner of the books and she blinked in bewilderment when she recognized Theodore Nott, who was gazing down at his scattered books with a scowl. His gaze snapped towards her.
"Do you always walk around with your eyes closed?" he demanded irritably.
Scarlett winced at the question. "Uh… no," she said rather awkwardly as she struggled to get to her feet. She gazed at him apologetically as he began picking up his belongings. "Sorry about that. I didn't see you there."
"Clearly," Nott scoffed.
Scarlett felt a stab of irritation. What was his problem? She had already apologized and if she had known he was heading her way, she would've moved. Nevertheless, Scarlett remained silent and instead bent down to help pick up his books. A wave of relief washed through her when he didn't protest.
"So, uh… why aren't you at breakfast?" she asked in an attempt to break the awkward silence.
Nott glanced at her through narrowed eyes. "I could ask you the same," he replied in a clipped voice.
Scarlett bit her bottom lip. "I lost my appetite," she said simply, gathering the last of his books. She glanced down at the title out of curiosity and blinked when she read, Rules of Arithmancy. He was already doing arithmancy? Weren't they only allowed to do that in third year? She looked back up at Nott. "You're into Arithmancy? Isn't that… a bit challenging for first-years?"
"It depends on the person," he said flatly, reaching out a hand for his books. Scarlett handed them to him. "And for the future, watch where you're going," he added in sharply as he rose to his feet, dusting his robes with one hand. Scarlett frowned.
"It was an honest accident," she said. "And I already apologized."
"Just keep your eyes open next time," Nott said icily.
Scarlett pursed her lips in frustration as she watched him continue his way through the hall. She let out a huff of indignance at the wizard. What was his problem? It wasn't her intention to bump into him and send his books flying, surely, he knew that? What was so difficult about accepting her apology without being a straight-up jerk?
Glaring at the retreating boy in great dislike, Scarlett picked herself up and made her way towards the Great Lake.
Oh, yes. She definitely did not want to spend her time in the common room right now.
The Path to Greatness
The Great Lake was Scarlett's absolute favourite spot in all of Hogwarts for several reasons. The lake's deep blue water rippling gently and glistening softly underneath the sunlight never failed to mesmerize her. The sound of the water lapping against the lake's shore soothed her worries and the fact that absolutely no one bothered hanging around there made it even better. She was an extrovert through and through, but even she liked to spend some time alone every now and then.
Her brows met together as she pondered over her current state at Hogwarts. It seemed like Slytherin's foul treatment towards her would never change… unless she did something. However, the only problem was she had no idea what to do. For some odd reason, Karina seemed to be avoiding her all the time and she was always surrounded by a large group of Gryffindor friends and Scarlett felt too intimidated to approach her with so many people around. It also turned out that Gryffindor House despised her guts, too. Apparently a Beckett being in Slytherin didn't exactly sit with them well.
Not that I care, Scarlett thought sourly as she plopped down onto the grass. She gazed up at the milky blue sky in indignance. They're an obnoxious lot, that's what they are. I could careless about them.
Although she hated to admit it, Scarlett couldn't help but feel a burst of envy every time she saw her twin enjoy her time in Gryffindor. It was only the first month of school, yet Karina had grown quite popular amongst all the other first-years. She'd been receiving Outstandings on the majority of her essays- excluding Defence and Potions- and was practically loved by all. Scarlett wasn't exactly surprised, however. Karina was very pretty, smart, social, and out-going. She supposed it drew people towards her.
Nevertheless, it never stopped her jealousy from fuelling. Gryffindor didn't treat Karina like rubbish just like how Slytherin did to her. She didn't receive many odd looks whenever she walked in the halls. She didn't have to endure people whispering behind her back and having to pretend like she didn't notice, or that it didn't bother her. She didn't have to do anything. For Merlin's sake, she didn't even bother talking to her own twin sister who was obviously having a hard time in Slytherin!
Scarlett sighed and rubbed the spot between her eyebrows. She had thought of going to Professor Snape for help, but then realized that the Potions master had specifically told them on their first day to not bother him with petty problems and to deal with them herself. A dark scowl traced her lips. She didn't want to spend her next six years at Hogwarts like this. She really didn't. But what was there to do?
A gentle breeze caressed her auburn locks and Scarlett stared at the white clouds that travelled lazily across the sky. Her hands tightened into fists by her sides and her eyes hardened. This was rubbish. This whole thing was just absolute rubbish.
Getting up into a sitting position, Scarlett glared fiercely at the lake's shimmering surface. She had literally said it herself. She didn't want to spend the next six years moping around about how Karina had it so much better, while she struggled. She wasn't like that. Pushing her loose strands of auburn hair away from her face, Scarlett gathered herself to her feet and inhaled deeply. If she wanted to have a good time, then she would have to stop feeling sorry for herself and get things going.
And by that, she meant making Slytherin House acknowledge her.
The Path to Greatness
"You're asking me to what?" Professor Snape glared at her.
Scarlett gave him a pleading look. "Sir, I'm asking if you could give me extra homework," she insisted, ignoring the way he glared at her suspiciously. "You already know I'm doing very poorly in Potions, so I was wondering if you'd be willing to assign me another essay, or any type of work." She said.
Snape stared at her as if she was mentally ill. "You're asking for extra work on a Saturday morning?" he asked sarcastically.
Scarlett surprised him by nodding earnestly.
Snape narrowed his eyes. "I would be giving myself more things to mark," he replied drily. "And I highly doubt an incompetent student like you could possibly grow to become better at Potions with just extra homework." He said flatly.
Scarlett winced at his blunt nature. "Er… this could be a one-time thing," she said. "You don't have to mark the essay if you don't want, but I'd really appreciate it if you would at least assign me some homework to do. You may not think I'll become better that way, but I still want some sort of Potions work to do."
"And the homework from Friday?" he inquired suddenly. "Have you completed that?"
Scarlett nodded. "Yes, sir."
Snape stared at her contemplatively, his black eyes unreadable. A moment of silence passed between them with Snape regarding her in forethought, while Scarlett resisted the urge to shuffle uncomfortably. At last, he let out a scoff and turned his back on her, shuffling through a pile of parchment on his desk.
"You will never understand just how much of a nuisance you are," he growled, turning around and shoving a scroll of parchment at her. "Bring me an essay on Polyjuice Potion. We will be reviewing that on Monday." He informed her with a flicker of annoyance in his eyes. Scarlett blinked at him.
"How long do you want the essay to be, sir?"
Snape grunted. "Make it one roll of parchment," he said.
Scarlett felt a tad of disappointment at how short the essay was going to be. Nonetheless, she smiled gratefully at her professor and excused herself politely- to which Snape merely sneered at her to get out of his sight at once- and hurried out of his classroom. A brilliant smile grazed her lips as she gazed down at the offered parchment roll, he'd handed her. Snape had been the last teacher she had asked today for homework. She had already visited McGonagall, Flitwick, Quirrell, and Sprout for extra work- all of them having the same surprised and startled reaction at the request.
The plan was simple, in her humble opinion. Scarlett was a rather mediocre student, falling between Acceptables, a few Exceeds Expectations when she studies really hard, but mostly receiving Poor and Dreadful when it came to Potions. History of Magic was also one of her worst subjects, but seeing how Professor Binns was a ghost, Scarlett gave up her search of looking for him. So far, her best subjects were Charms and Defence and she wasn't satisfied with only an Exceeds Expectations in those subjects. She strived to receive as many Outstandings as she could get and be known as one of the smartest witches in her year. In order to accomplish that, she would need practice.
And a lot of it, too.
The Path to Greatness
Scarlett ended up spending the rest of her day in the library, completing all of her assigned work. Daphne had stared at her in an expression that almost resembled fear before shrugging and saying, 'You do you,' and left to where ever. The hours slowly went by and Scarlett didn't stop for a break from her work. All of the essays were assigned on Monday and she was determined to hand it in along with the original work she received on Friday. Her eyes flared in determination. The first thing to show to Slytherin was just how much of a great student she could really be.
She managed to complete Charms, Defence, and Herbology with ease, but Potions and Transfiguration proved to be the most challenging. Scarlett ended up having a messy pile of books laid out on her table and she tried to ignore the dirty look Madam Pince shot her. The bright blue sky outside slowly bled into a more murky, darkish colour and when Scarlett glanced at the clock, her jaw fell agape when she realized it was already four o'clock.
I started at twelve, she realized in astonishment. Meaning I studied for four hours?
A rather proud smile pulled at her lips as she glanced down at her now completed work. She wasn't really satisfied with her Potions and Transfiguration and she believed she could've done better on Herbology, but it was a good start. Hopefully they would somehow raise her grades, even just by a little.
Leaning back against her chair and stretching her arms above her head, Scarlett released a pleased sigh. Somehow the amount of studying calmed her down and for once, she was able to rid Slytherin from her thoughts. She supposed this was how the majority of Ravenclaws feel whenever they do anything educational.
Rising from her seat, Scarlett grabbed her wand and flicked it, watching the books fly to their original places in the shelves. Her rolls of parchment settled neatly into her school bag and Scarlett slung it over her shoulder, ready to head down for a quick snack in the Great Hall.
Not many people were around by the time she arrived and she quickly helped herself to a piece of pumpkin pie and a goblet of orange juice. It was still faraway from curfew time and having nothing better to do, Scarlett decided to stop by at the library once again. All of her assigned work may have been completed, but picking up a few books to read to pass by time didn't sound so bad.
Madam Pince frowned in indigence at the sight of her arrival and Scarlett suspected she would be type of visitor the woman would grow to dislike. Ignoring the hawk-like gaze of the librarian, Scarlett wandered over to one of the farther shelves and allowed her eyes to roam over the countless books. She bit her bottom lip as she read all the titles of the books, feeling they would be rather boring and dull. After about a minute of searching, her gaze landed on an ancient-looking book titled, The Hogwarts Four.
Curiosity lit up her gaze and Scarlett reached for the book, grimacing at the cloud of dust it produced. Coughing lightly, she wiped off the dusty surface of the book, studying its cover closely. Hesitantly, she pried the book open and skimmed through the pages, her interest growing with every page she flipped. It seemed to talk about the accomplishments of the founders of Hogwarts and her heart skipped a beat when she landed on the page dedicated to Salazar Slytherin.
Scarlett stared at the printed name for a moment before flipping through the pages after it. The next six pages spoke about Slytherin and its founder and with a jolt, she realized this would be the perfect thing for her. Scarlett was rather ignorant on the history of her House, seeing how her parents only filled her in about Gryffindor. If she wanted to fit in with her housemates, she would have to gain knowledge about her House. A grin creeped its way onto her lips. For reasons unknown, she seemed to be having the best luck ever.
The Path to Greatness
To her utter annoyance, she ended up jinxing herself.
Sunday had gone by way too quickly and Scarlett barely got the chance to read her new book. Monday arrived and when she had handed in her extra essays, she received them back the very next day. She did considerably well on Charms and Defence, receiving an Exceeds Expectations, but unfortunately, no Outstanding. On Herbology, she received an Acceptable and sweet Merlin, she received Dreadful on both her Potions and Transfiguration.
Scarlett couldn't bring herself to meet McGonagall's disappointed look and Snape's haughty, 'I told you so' look.
Daphne, too, had been rather amused, though she tried her best to hide it.
"You know, I think you try too hard," she said that Tuesday afternoon. "You told me you finished all that work on Saturday for four hours. You should've given yourself a break and split the work between Saturday and Sunday." She advised, tossing a piece of toast in her mouth. "Also, I think you need a tutor."
Scarlett's head jerked up from her bowl of salad. "A what?" she choked.
"A tutor," Daphne beamed. "Studying a lot is nice, but having someone else teach you a subject you struggle in really helps. I know that because I'm absolutely dreadful at Potions, just like you, but my Ravenclaw friend, Lillian Moon, helped me and I got considerably better." She smiled rather sheepishly. "And by considerably better, I mean I got an Acceptable on our last essay."
Scarlett blinked slowly. "Oh, I know Moon," she said. "That pretty brunette, right? I never talked to her, though, so I don't think that would work." A disappointed frown creased her face as she fiddled with her fork absentmindedly.
Daphne stared at her thoughtfully for a moment before her eyes widened. "Oh!" she said loudly, prompting Scarlett to jump. "I know someone who could help you!"
Scarlett immediately perked. "Really?"
Her friend nodded enthusiastically. "Of course, he's the smartest wizard in our year!"
"Who is it?"
"Why, Theodore Nott, obviously!"
A moment of absolute silence fell between the two friends.
Scarlett scowled. "No," she said firmly. "Absolutely not."
Daphne blinked, startled. "What do you mean, 'no'? Don't you want to get better?"
"Not if I'm going to have to be taught by such a jerk!" she retorted, already feeling angry just at the thought of Nott. "I bumped into him on Saturday when I left breakfast and Merlin, he was so rude! I accidently made him drop his books, but I apologized and helped him pick them up." She crossed her arms with a huff. "He didn't even thank me and just scorned me and left. Imagine someone like him trying to teach me."
Daphne looked like she was trying to fight back an amused smile. "Yeah… he's not a people's person at all," she chuckled. "Only Zabini talks to him. Everyone else is too afraid. He always has this look on his face like someone killed his cat." A more serious expression settled into her features. "But, rude or not, he's the only one who can help you. He received Outstandings in every essay we got since the first day of school and if you try to put up with him, he'll help you."
"He'll obviously refuse," Scarlett said bluntly.
Daphne shrugged. "Give it a try," she advised. "Once our last class ends, he'll be at the library. He always is. Just be patient when you deal with him. Right now, he's your only hope." She said as she got up from her seat. "But, enough of that. We gotta head to Transfiguration or McGonagall will have our necks."
Scarlett nodded distractedly as she moved to follow her friend. Her stomach churned uncomfortably at the thought of interacting with Nott. She truly didn't want anything to do with him, but if what Daphne was saying was true, then she supposed the least she could do was give it a try.
A groan threatened to escape her lips. This week was not looking well at all.
The Path to Greatness
Scarlett reluctantly made her way to the library after class, her heart thumping in her chest. Dealing with rude people was not something she liked to do. As she hastily entered the library, she glanced around to see if Nott had actually arrived. She spotted Granger sitting alone with a pile of books and when the bushy-haired girl met her gaze, Scarlett smiled timidly at her. Granger returned it warmly, though looking a bit surprised at the friendly gesture.
Not all Slytherins are prejudiced jerks, you know, she thought in slight exasperation before she stiffened at the sight of Nott sitting alone in a corner. He was writing away on a spare bit of parchment, his gaze flitting between an open book and his parchment. Scarlett swallowed thickly and approached the wizard; resisting the urge to turn and flee with every step she took.
"Um…" she started lamely once she reached him. "Hi, Nott."
Nott didn't even bother looking up. "What do you want?"
Scarlett shifted awkwardly. "Er… well…" she cleared her throat uncomfortably. "I know we haven't had the best start, but I was hoping you'd be willing to explain our Potions homework for me?" she asked in what she hoped was a polite tone. Nott looked up to fix her with an indignant glare.
"I'm busy," he said curtly.
Scarlett swallowed uncomfortably, already feeling her plan go downhill. "I promise it won't take long at all," she assured him quickly. "I just need you to explain the homework because, well… Professor Snape wasn't very clear with it and everyone else is struggling, too." That hadn't been an entire lie because the only one who actually understood the work was Malfoy and Scarlett would sooner jump off a cliff than ask him for help.
Nott narrowed his eyes. "Malfoy understood it," he said flatly.
Scarlett gave an awkward shrug. "We… don't exactly get along," she offered lamely.
Nott raised his eyebrows. "And you're saying we do?"
"No," Scarlett answered carefully. "But, so far, you're the only one who understands it and… I'm doing very badly in Potions right now, so your help would be greatly appreciated." She stared at him pleadingly. "If you help me with this, I promise I'll never bother you again. Even if I end up having trouble with another homework."
Nott stared at her for a moment, looking as if he was deciding between telling her to sod off, or to just simply help her this once. Sighing in exasperation, he pushed his pile of books and parchment away and turned to fix her with a very annoyed look. "You owe me for this," he growled.
Scarlett beamed at him, feeling a huge wave of relief. "Don't worry, I'll pay you back in any way I can!" she said brightly.
Nott merely glared at her. "Let's just get this over with," he grumbled, nodding to the seat across from him. Scarlett gladly complied and seated herself down. "Teaching you can't be that hard."
Once Scarlett pulled out her homework, the two began studying at once. Nott definitely proved to be bitingly sarcastic, harshly blunt, and flat-out rude, but Scarlett grudgingly admitted that he knew how to teach. Sort of, anyway. He may have called her a 'simple-minded twat' whenever she got something wrong, but then proceeded to thoroughly explain where she went wrong. It was almost astonishing how one could be so rude, yet so good at teaching.
He was almost like a younger version of Snape.
Almost.
It took Nott a full hour to explain the Potions homework that was assigned and he even went as far as lending her a book that had helped him with the essay. Although it was a relatively small act, Scarlett knew it was a big deal if it had been from someone like Nott. A satisfied smile traced her lips as she looked over her now completed work and a surge of hope flushed through her. This time she was definitely going to get a good grade. Not only had she put in her absolute effort, she had Nott helping her out with it.
Her smile widened. Snape was in for a big surprise.
The Path to Greatness
As Scarlett headed down to the Great Hall for supper, she couldn't wipe the smile off of her face. Parkinson shot her a filthy look as she passed by her, but Scarlett for once, wasn't bothered by her arch-nemesis. She felt genuine confidence that she would finally do well in Potions and slowly but surely, she would do well on the majority of the subjects. She would make sure people knew she was a witch that achieved high scores.
She would make sure Slytherin knew.
And after that was accomplished, she would find other ways to make her housemates treat her like an equal.
Daphne shot her a weird look once Scarlett arrived and seated herself across from her at their usual spot. Her friend took a swig from her pumpkin juice (she appeared to love those) and arched an eyebrow questioningly. "Did you become best friends with Nott, or something?"
"I'd rather die a slow and painful death than let that happen," Nott said scathingly as he walked by them.
Scarlett smiled sheepishly at her bewildered-looking friend. "He definitely did help me, but no. He still appears to hate me. I lost count of how many times he called me an idiot, but oh well. I've had worse from Parkinson."
Daphne raised her eyebrows, seemingly impressed. "So, you understand Potions better now?"
"Mhmm," Scarlett said happily.
Daphne smiled in faint amusement. "I suppose that's good," she answered. "That way you can teach me. Lillian's a good teacher and all, but she's been busy these past few days."
Scarlett let out a laugh and helped herself to a small piece of cake. "Don't push your luck," she teased. "I may understand it better now, but that doesn't mean I'll be capable of teaching it. I suck at explaining things, you know. See, there was this one time where I—"
"Scarlett," a cool voice said from behind her, cutting her off.
Scarlett blinked and glanced over her shoulder, her eyes widening slightly when she spotted Karina standing before her. Her sister wore a very cold and rather disdainful expression as she gazed at the other Slytherins and in a mere second, Scarlett's good mood evaporated, leaving her with a great sense of foreboding. Daphne scowled with undisguised dislike at her twin.
"Can I talk to you?" Karina asked icily. "Alone?" she added with a pointed look at Daphne.
Daphne glared at her fiercely. "Whatever you have to say, you can say in front of—"
"It's all right, Daphne," Scarlett quickly assured her, flashing her a smile. "It'll take two seconds."
Karina merely scoffed under her breath and Scarlett realized that her twin was carrying a letter in her hands. Despite her unease, she felt a flicker of curiosity. Could the letter possibly be to her? After all, she had written to her parents each week, but she didn't get a single response. She suspected it had something due to her being a Slytherin, but Scarlett always banished the thought whenever it came to her mind.
As she let Karina lead her outside of the Great Hall and into a dark, deserted hallway, Scarlett swallowed. Karina seemed… different. Very different. Her sister was usually the louder, more confident and happy-go-luck one. Now, however… she seemed to be a complete stranger; all cold, distant, and stoic.
Scarlett inwardly shuddered. Whatever her sister had to say, it definitely wasn't good.
Karina suddenly stopped at the end of the hallway and immediately whirled around. Her light brown hair whisked over her shoulders and her brilliant hazel eyes flared with rage. "What's your problem?" she suddenly exploded, prompting Scarlett to start and take a step back. She stared at her sister as if she was someone who had escaped Azkaban.
"W-what do you mean?" she stammered.
"What do I mean?" Karina echoed scornfully. "I mean what the hell were you thinking, letting yourself be put in bloody Slytherin?" she spoke the name as if it was a foul disease.
Scarlett could only stare at her sister, flabbergasted.
"Did you honestly think there would be no consequences?" Karina fumed, taking her silence as permission to continue. "Scarlett, I don't know if you realized it, but we're Becketts. Our family have all been in Gryffindor for four generations- to the point where it became a tradition. You being put in the very House all of our family members despise is just… insane!"
Scarlett narrowed her eyes, regaining her composure. "I never wanted to be in Slytherin," she snapped. "Like you, I always dreamed of being in Gryffindor, just like how our parents wanted us to. I practically begged the Sorting Hat to put me there, but it refused and decided on Slytherin." She explained, growing both defensive and hurt. Did her sister honestly think she wanted to be in Slytherin?
"You could have tried harder," Karina accused without a shred of pity. "I'm all alone in Gryffindor because of you!"
"Alone?" Scarlett echoed incredulously.. "That's the last word you should use to describe yourself! I've seen the way everyone treats you. All the girls want to be your friends because you're so smart and funny. All the boys saunter after you because you're so pretty and likeable. Gryffindor loves you. All the Houses, with the exception of mine, adore you! You're every Professor's favourite student, all except for Snape!"
Karina glared at her. "You could have received the same treatment if you ended up in Gryffindor!" she retorted.
"I wanted to be there!" Scarlett snarled, losing her final straw. "But the Sorting Hat refused!"
"What does it matter that I'm popular?" Karina demanded, ignoring her statement. "It would've been better if I had my twin sister with me. Do you know how many times Fred and George tease me about having a sister in Slytherin? I'm best friends with Parvati and although her twin is in Ravenclaw, they're still close."
"Yeah," Scarlett agreed dryly. "Because they always reach each other out after class. You never did that to me and whenever I tried to talk to you, you'd always quickly leave with your pack of Gryffindor fans."
Karina crossed her arms over her chest, looking beyond furious. "Of course, I didn't talk to you!" she exclaimed as if it was the most obvious thing. "You're in Slytherin, Scarlett! Imagine how embarrassing it would be to approach my twin who's in bloody Slytherin." Scarlett flinched slightly at her words. "All the darkest witches and wizards come from there! You-Know-Who was a Slytherin, too! Now you're a part of them!"
Scarlett stared at her in disbelief. "You think I'll grow to be a dark witch?" she asked quietly.
Karina looked slightly hesitant. "You might," she muttered. "But, that's not the point. The point is that you just dug a hole for yourself that you can't come out of." Her voice hardened and her expression once again grew cold. "I won't humiliate myself by interacting with you again. Mum and dad aren't too proud, either." She shoved the letter into her hands, her glare intensifying. "See you later."
With those words, Karina walked past her, her hair bouncing behind her as she was swallowed by the darkness of the corridors.
Scarlett, feeling a mixture of hurt and confusion warily glanced down at the crumpled letter held in her trembling hands. She swallowed the lump in her throat and glancing on either side to make sure no one was coming, she quickly scurried over to a corner, her eyes impossibly wide. The letter seemed like a ticking-time bomb and feeling her heart hammer furiously in her chest, she ripped the letter open, pulling out the parchment within it. She honestly did not understand why her parents didn't send the letter to her, but to Karina instead. Biting her lower lip, she unfolded the parchment and began to read.
Dear Scarlett,
If you are reading this letter, then that must mean your sister gave it to you and delivered the news about our utter disappointment with you. When you informed us about being sorted into Slytherin, your father and I were simply traumatized. We couldn't bring ourselves to believe that our own daughter was stuck in such an awful house. I do not think you understand just how much shame you brought to our family's name. Your grandparents and extended kin contacted us, wanting to know how your time in Gryffindor was. Telling them that you were in Slytherin was not an easy task and they had the same reaction as us. You are simply a disappointment.
I will not make any promises, but this is the last letter your father and I are writing to you. We will not waste more parchment on a disgrace to our family. You will have to find your own way of earning galleons because we are no longer sending you daily allowances. You may think this is cruel of us, but you would be foolish to think a Slytherin would receive the same treatment as a Gryffindor. You better learn from your sister. We are awfully proud of her and she had the dignity to uphold our family tradition, unlike you. Consider this the consequence of breaking our family tradition that had been carried for generations. From now on, you are on your own.
Sincerely,
Your parents.
The letter slipped through Scarlett's fingers and fluttered silently onto the concrete floor.
She stared in quiet shock at the crumpled parchment, hardly able to believe what she had just read. Was this what her parents truly viewed her as? A disappointment? A large lump settled into her throat and Scarlett stubbornly blinked furiously as she felt her eyes grow misty. She grinded her teeth together to keep the fall of tears from coming and staggered back, leaning heavily against the cold wall.
She couldn't believe it. She wouldn't believe. Her parents had basically… disowned her.
For being in Slytherin.
A strangled sob escaped her lips against her will and without even knowing it, she was crying. Hard. She buried her face in her hands to muffle the sound of her sobs, not wanting anyone to walk in on her current state.
Why did they refuse to understand? She didn't want to be in Slytherin. Not one bit. She hated the House. She only had Daphne as an ally, but other than that, Slytherin was just the worst. All of her housemates treated her like rubbish, or disregarded her because they deemed her a waste of their time. She didn't ask for that type of treatment! She didn't ask to be in Slytherin. She didn't ask to come from a family of Gryffindors that fought for the rights of all non-purebloods.
She did not ask for any of that.
Scarlett squeezed her eyes shut and wiped the tears off of her face. She sniffed quietly and shoved the letter into the pocket of her robes. She was not willing to re-read that and nor did she want anyone else reading it. Her life was honestly crumbling around her and she had no control over it. One moment, she would feel as if the future was bright and in the next, she felt as if it was only filled with never-ending darkness.
Forcing herself to her feet, Scarlett wiped her eyes on her sleeve and reluctantly continued down the hall. She was not heading back to the Great Hall in her condition and it was highly likely that the common room was empty. Retreating to bed early seemed to be the only option left.
Nevertheless, even as she walked down the hallways alone, she could not rid herself of the feeling of dread clawing through her.
It seemed that being in Slytherin was not only tough, but it had cost her, her family as well.
Well, I can't say I'm entirely happy with this chapter, but if I proof read one more time, I'll go insane. Anyhow, I still hope you enjoyed reading this chapter and on a brighter note, stuff picks up very soon! Scarlett won't just spend her time wallowing in misery for the whole story, you know. :)
As always, please review! I love hearing your thoughts and constructive criticism is greatly appreciated! :)
