I don't eat much during the feast because my nerves are playing hopscotch in my stomach and taking up all the room. A very handsome blond boy sitting across the table looks at me and smiles. I swallow hard and try to smile back.
"Why weren't you sorted with the rest of the first years?" he asks, leaning on his elbows. The tip of his tie settles itself in the little pool of gravy on his empty plate. Not very smooth, but he's probably the best I'm going to get.
"I just turned 16." I answer, taking a small bite of bread.
"So you're a fifth year?" he asks. I have no idea what I am, but I guess fifth year sounds about right.
"Sure?" I answer.
"Same here; so why I haven't I seen you before?"
Why is he so interested in me?
This is a bad situation for me. I could tell him I'm a new, which would lead me to tell him I'm American and I assume that people here aren't too fond of Americans so that would be bad. Or I could just tell him he is unobservant and I've been here forever and he just hasn't noticed. But eventually that would come back and bite me in the ass.
"I just moved here." I whisper, keeping my head down and hoping that he doesn't hear me and will just let the conversation die.
"Really?" he asks. Okay, Brits must have really good ears because I used to use that trick at LSSM all the time and no one ever heard me.
"Yeah…" I don't like where this conversation is going. He's either going to find out I'm American or that I'm a half blood. Either way, I'm not going to be on his good side.
"From where?" he smiles at me, and for the first time in my life I can't seem to think of a witty comment, or a coherent sentence for that matter.
"I … .uh … . er … Michigan." I say, trying really hard to tear my eyes away from his brilliant smile. When I finally do I feel my face heat up and keep my head down.
"I think my fathers been there. So you're an American?" He sits back and tries to surreptitiously wipe the gravy off his green and silver tie.
"Wha? Uh … yeah." I flush and wait for him to say something, but he just goes back to his food and lets the conversation die.
I don't talk for the rest of dinner. Eventually the first years and I are taken down into the dungeons, informed of the password, and sent to mingle with the rest of the house. I stand in the doorway and take the scene in. This will be my home for the rest of my school years, so I take time to examine it. The Slytherin common room is dark and green. The only light comes from the few candles floating overhead and the small fire in the fireplace. The walls are cold and dripping with condensation. I instantly feel at home. Everyone is huddled around the fire so I make my way to an empty corner of the room with a loveseat and two overstuffed chairs.
A book entitled Quidditch through the Ages sits on the love seat. I have no idea what Quidditch is, but I begin reading anyway.
It's not a very large book, and I get about half way through it before I'm noticed.
"So you're the little American everyone's talking about?" says a voice. I look up to see a girl with shoulder length brown hair smirking at me over the top of my book.
"Oh. Word travels fast around here." I say, not sure whether to be terrified of this news or entertained by the fact that it hasn't even been a full day and everyone already knows there's a foreigner here.
"My name is Erin MacDonald. I just thought you may need a friend before things get rough."
She stands up and holds out her hand to me. I take it. Erin smiles and settles back in the arm chair
"Er … thanks?" I say, not so sure what I should make of her previous statement. "I'm Bethany, by the way."
"So do you play Quidditch?" she asks, nodding toward the book in my hand.
"Oh, no. It was just something to read." I laugh half heartedly and place the book on the floor next to me.
"Oh," she says, not really listening to what I said. "So, I saw you talking to Scorpius Malfoy at dinner." A wicked grin stretches her lips.
"That blond boy?" I ask. She nods.
"That poor kid," I sigh. "What horrible parent would name their child 'Scorpius'?" I smile, but she doesn't.
"I wouldn't make fun of Scorpius. He's one of Professor Vector's chosen few." She looks behind her, then moves next to me on the love seat. "He's also got almost every girl's heart in a headlock. If you get him you'll either be the queen of Slytherin--"
"Or the ugly step mother who no one really likes?" She gives me a puzzled look. I have to remember not to do or say anything that may lead people to believe I'm a half blood.
"Don't worry about it; it's just something from a story my parents used to tell me. But, please, fill me in on the life of Scorpius Malfoy."
We were still sitting there long after everyone else had left, Erin telling me the complete life story of the boy, including his favorite food, sport, band, class, and what he likes in a girl. Eventually she went to bed, and I could finally make my plans a reality.