It wasn't so bad in Slytherin at all, Rhodri told himself, while he
exchanged mindless pleasantries with the painting across the hall from him.
The lady in green with the white cat depicted in the portrait always had
good advice for caring for his kitten Clara, but paintings, Rhod had
learned early on in his mansion back home, needed to know that they were
remembered. Otherwise, when you got around to seeing them again, it was
hard to get a word in around indignant comments that you might've had a
little more consideration for those who weren't mobile, who were stuck
shifting behind a wall. Not even a dratted letter. Too good for us, huh?
Even if Rhod didn't need help with Clara, he felt obliged to keep the woman
company.
No, it wasn't so bad in Slytherin. Though Ben never talked to him anymore, even though they had the Charms together. The first week of classes, Rhod had tried sitting next to Ben, with his new blue and bronze necktie, but Ben hadn't talked to him. He'd just looked uncomfortable, and glanced at some of his Housemates at the adjacent table. Though Rhod had kept a seat open for his friend the third day, when Ben was late to classes, instead of taking the open seat, he'd asked a couple of Ravenclaws to scooch aside so that he could sit down. When Rhod was quite plainly gesturing to the empty seat at his desk. The Czar boy, Svetlie, slid into the seat next to him instead, whispering through Professor Flitwick's lecture, "Don't be too offended. He's only a Ravenclaw, after all."
Rhod had wanted to say that Ben was more than just a member of another House, that he was his best friend ever since he knew what a friend was. He didn't understand this new behavior. But Ben looked as if he'd abandoned him, and he didn't want to lose a new ally. So he made a friend in Svetlie, who joined him in standing up to the more officious of the senior students who thought that first years were mere go-fers.
No, it wasn't so bad in Slytherin. There was always Quidditch, after all. First years weren't allowed on the House Quidditch team, of course, and Rhod was far from the best flier compared to some of the others who could think of nothing but the sport. But he'd learnt how to compliment, and the Captain, under concentrated flattery from Rhod, had all but assured him a position on the team when he was older. "Possibly Chaser, if you work hard," the burly Slytherin had said, "That's the position that gets some good attention. Glory, that's what you want. It's what I wanted too. Chaser's good for that. I'd say Seeker, but we've already got Malfoy there for good." Rhod had hardly been able to believe his ears, "Well, I wouldn't mind any position - it's glory enough to serve on such an illustrious team, under such a, hmm, excellent leader as yourself." He'd received a pat on the back, and the injunction to eat up so he wouldn't be underweight next year. It was nice to know that some things were under control.
No, it wasn't so bad in Slytherin. Professor Snape did favor Slytherins immensely, and if other Houses sneered at Slytherins like Rhod in the library, he could brush it off. He wasn't about to let his perfect marks in Potions fall to the mediocrity of his other classes. Especially Charms, for try as he might, Rhod was abysmal at the stuff; he wished that he could sit next to Ben, who didn't seem half bad at it, from the sidelong glances Rhod stole every so often at his estranged friend.
No, it wasn't so bad in Slytherin, if you could ignore the fireside chats and bury yourself in your homework rather than listen to the senior students slander the other houses, the Ministry, Muggles, other wizarding families and the like. It was always especially hard to concentrate when they spoke of Mudbloods. Ben was, Rhod knew, half Muggle on his mother's side, and it had always been something about Ben that had fascinated Rhodri, though Ben had been raised always knowing of his magical heritage, and hadn't given his mother's Muggle world much thought. That wouldn't matter to this bunch, though. A Mudblood was a Mudblood was a Mudblood, as Malfoy so eloquently put it one night.
Rhod closed his eyes, not bothering to make any pretense of paying attention to the Lady in Green on the canvas now. "Yes, of course," he murmured to himself, "Why would I ever regret something like Slytherin? It's not bad at all."
No, it wasn't so bad in Slytherin. Though Ben never talked to him anymore, even though they had the Charms together. The first week of classes, Rhod had tried sitting next to Ben, with his new blue and bronze necktie, but Ben hadn't talked to him. He'd just looked uncomfortable, and glanced at some of his Housemates at the adjacent table. Though Rhod had kept a seat open for his friend the third day, when Ben was late to classes, instead of taking the open seat, he'd asked a couple of Ravenclaws to scooch aside so that he could sit down. When Rhod was quite plainly gesturing to the empty seat at his desk. The Czar boy, Svetlie, slid into the seat next to him instead, whispering through Professor Flitwick's lecture, "Don't be too offended. He's only a Ravenclaw, after all."
Rhod had wanted to say that Ben was more than just a member of another House, that he was his best friend ever since he knew what a friend was. He didn't understand this new behavior. But Ben looked as if he'd abandoned him, and he didn't want to lose a new ally. So he made a friend in Svetlie, who joined him in standing up to the more officious of the senior students who thought that first years were mere go-fers.
No, it wasn't so bad in Slytherin. There was always Quidditch, after all. First years weren't allowed on the House Quidditch team, of course, and Rhod was far from the best flier compared to some of the others who could think of nothing but the sport. But he'd learnt how to compliment, and the Captain, under concentrated flattery from Rhod, had all but assured him a position on the team when he was older. "Possibly Chaser, if you work hard," the burly Slytherin had said, "That's the position that gets some good attention. Glory, that's what you want. It's what I wanted too. Chaser's good for that. I'd say Seeker, but we've already got Malfoy there for good." Rhod had hardly been able to believe his ears, "Well, I wouldn't mind any position - it's glory enough to serve on such an illustrious team, under such a, hmm, excellent leader as yourself." He'd received a pat on the back, and the injunction to eat up so he wouldn't be underweight next year. It was nice to know that some things were under control.
No, it wasn't so bad in Slytherin. Professor Snape did favor Slytherins immensely, and if other Houses sneered at Slytherins like Rhod in the library, he could brush it off. He wasn't about to let his perfect marks in Potions fall to the mediocrity of his other classes. Especially Charms, for try as he might, Rhod was abysmal at the stuff; he wished that he could sit next to Ben, who didn't seem half bad at it, from the sidelong glances Rhod stole every so often at his estranged friend.
No, it wasn't so bad in Slytherin, if you could ignore the fireside chats and bury yourself in your homework rather than listen to the senior students slander the other houses, the Ministry, Muggles, other wizarding families and the like. It was always especially hard to concentrate when they spoke of Mudbloods. Ben was, Rhod knew, half Muggle on his mother's side, and it had always been something about Ben that had fascinated Rhodri, though Ben had been raised always knowing of his magical heritage, and hadn't given his mother's Muggle world much thought. That wouldn't matter to this bunch, though. A Mudblood was a Mudblood was a Mudblood, as Malfoy so eloquently put it one night.
Rhod closed his eyes, not bothering to make any pretense of paying attention to the Lady in Green on the canvas now. "Yes, of course," he murmured to himself, "Why would I ever regret something like Slytherin? It's not bad at all."
