I really didn't take Snape's warning into proper consideration. He was just out to scare me, I was sure of it, but I wasn't a Slytherin. I wasn't what everybody wanted; I was a Gryffindor. An unlikely, strange Gryffindor, yes, but a Gryffindor through and through. That's what Alfred always told me and it's what I had started to tell myself too. After a while, I became grateful and humble. I was so glad - happy and fortunate for my status. Despite this, I had a lot to worry about. My family weren't the only people disgraced and disgusted by my house.
Alfred had been ecstatic and bubbly all day. Harry had agreed to help him practise for Quidditch, so he could maximise his chances of being chosen for the team next year. He had invited me along, but I, as foolish as I was, declined. I was never bullied with Alfred beside me and I knew that I was safe with him around. I became somewhat arrogant and determined - I wanted to prove to everybody that I deserved to be a Gryffindor - I wanted to show them that I most certainly did not belong in Slytherin, starting with small acts of bravery. I would walk the corridors of the castle alone, even with so many people waiting to make a laughing stock out of me, even with so many people just dying to hex me a few times; once, twice and three times for good measure.
With lessons over for the day and nightfall quickly approaching, Quidditch players like Alfred and Harry flocked to the playing grounds in an attempt to squeeze in some last minute practise. A few dedicated students took refuge in the library, away from the slackers and their vulgar language. I had decided to return to the Gryffindor Common Room. I just wasn't expecting what I found.
I climbed the Grand Staircase and tried to recall the Fat Lady's current password: Fairy Lights. I was particularly fond of the name. I didn't reach the Gryffindor Tower. I was stopped at the top of the Grand Staircase, just as I was about to scamper off to the Common Room.
A boy with odd silver hair and devious blood-red eyes tapped my shoulder before encasing it in an iron hold. With a devilish smirk and all, he laughed obnoxiously. He seemed vaguely familiar. Alarm bells rang loud and clear in my head and my eyes scanned over his uniform, accented with green here and there. A Slytherin. I couldn't be too careful.
"You're Kirkland, right? The Gryffindor Nobody. The Crimson Snake and all that?" He cackled. I flinched.
"Yeah." I muttered. The nicknames were strange and foreign - I was a bit of a loner without Harry and Alfred and all, but I wasn't insulted too often.
"Word in the Dungeons is that you bribed Dumbledore and the rest of the teachers somehow." He grinned. "That true?"
I cringed.
"Bloody hell, no. The Sorting Hat placed me in Gryffindor, that's all." I protested but the albino shook his head. His free hand reached for my other shoulder.
"Get off." I spat. The warning lacked venom, sounding more afraid than anything else and I cursed my hesitance.
"I don't think so. Some of the boys down in the Dungeons are looking for you. Don't ya' wanna' have a lovely family chat with your bruders?" His German accent became more prominent and he began to pull me down the steps of the Grand Staircase.
"Sorry, but I don't think now would be a good time, I'm behind in Potions and studying is kind of essential at the minute..." I tried to worm myself out of the situation.
"Oh, great. Snape's in the Dungeons right now," he smirked toothily. "No time like the present, ay?"
"Ah, quite." I bit my lip and silently cursed my little mistake. "Really, though, now isn't the time... I don't fancy an audience of Slytherins, thank you very much."
"Coward." The boy challenged. "How the hell did you get into Gryffindor? If not Slytherin, you should be in Hufflepuff. I'm sure that even Ravenclaw would rather refrain from housing a rat like you."
After struggling and bouncing back insults and rude comments, the albino grew tired. A few of his cronies had shown up and I was dragged to the Dungeons with a hand clasped over my mouth and a green and silver tie secured over my eyes. Fingers curled around my wrists and I'm sure I was hit with some sort of immobilising hex. They were older than me, that was for sure.
I'm not sure what happened after that. I was beaten whilst still blindfolded, probably in the Dungeons by older students dressed in green.
"Gryffindor tosser," somebody spat. A fist collided with my cheek for the fifth time - blood dribbled out of the corners of my mouth and I cursed back.
"Damn straight." I had managed to cough out. I spluttered and took the punches and kicks, even a few spells. I don't know what they did to me but, bloody hell, they hurt. A lot.
Somewhere along the line, I blacked out with the tie still around my head and my hazel wand still untouched in my pocket. I fell unconscious but still remained defiant and loyal to my house. I didn't want to give the Slytherins what they wanted; they were only beating me because of my name, Kirkland. If I were a Slytherin myself, they'd worship me and that was a fact. My brothers would still tease me, but they wouldn't encourage others to abuse me and my parents would adore me. Unfortunately for them, I was housed into Gryffindor and from that day on, the house became a part of me and a part of who I was: Arthur Kirkland, Hogwarts first year, student extraordinaire, short, British Gryffindor.
I woke up in the hospital wing with Hermione, Ron and Harry crowded around my bed.
"He's awake!" Hermione gave a sigh of relief.
"He's awake? Thank Merlin! Lemme' see!" My head was pounding. A head of blond hair pushed itself inbetween Harry and Ron. Blue eyes lacked their usual shine and his glasses sat unbalanced on his nose, just like they did when we first met.
"Hey Al." I choked out. He suddenly threw himself at me. The wind was knocked out of my lungs and I spluttered, but truly, I didn't mind too much.
"Arthur, please tell me you're ok! Who did this to you? What happened? They'll freaking get what's coming to them! Everyone in Gryffindor is furious!" Alfred babbled on and on. "It was a Slytherin! You had a tie blindfolding you when Hermione and me found you in the library! Tell me what happened! All the Gryffindors are super mad and McGonagall is off her head! They're gonna' pay for what they did to you!"
Harry pulled Alfred back by his shoulder and memories flooded back.
"Careful," he warned.
"You'll end up strangling him or somethin'." Ron added.
"...They've already paid, anyway..." I murmured. "They're not getting what they want. I'll prove to them and to everyone else," I closed my tired eyes with a sigh. "I'm a Gryffindor, through and through, and nobody will change that."
