Chapter Thirteen: In Which Araminta is Unlucky

When the trio crossed the threshold into the Great Hall, Araminta hung back. Blake and Selene stopped, too, to see what was wrong.

"What's up, Araminta? Aren't you hungry?" asked Blake, who was eying the dishes.

"Sure," said Araminta, "but I think I'd better spend some time with my other House."

Selene sneered. "You mean the Gryffinwhores? You really think they will accept you and like you? After all, you are a Slytherin."

Araminta drew herself up straight. "I may be a Slytherin, but I'm a Gryffindor too. I won't let you talk that way about either of my Houses."

Selene shut her mouth, embarrassed. Then, she grabbed Blake's hand and stormed off in a huff.

Araminta ambled over to the Gryffindor table and plopped herself down right in the middle. Might as well do it the hard way. If they were going to hate on her, she might as well find out first thing. She turned to the girl next to her and stuck out her hand. "Hi, I'm Araminta, or Minta. Last name Potter-Malfoy or Malfoy-Potter, doesn't matter which one."

The girl, who had alarmingly bright red hair, grabbed her hand and pumped it up and down. "Are you really? My name's Denise Creevey, and both my mum and dad were in Gryffindor. It's nice to meet you. Is it true that your dads are...you know...together?"

"Yes," said Araminta, without shame. Sure, they weren't often affectionate in her presence, but that didn't mean they didn't love each other like any other men. "My dads are famous, and rich, too. We live together at Malfoy Manor, which is in Wiltshire. We inherited it when my grandparents passed away."

"I'm sorry to hear that," said Denise, finally letting go of her hand.

"Don't be. They were mean people. I guess when Daddy Harry moved in, they had a fit and they both had heart attacks on the same day. All they ever do is kiss sometimes; I don't see what the big deal is." Araminta chose a hamburger and french fries from the table and added a side of macaroni and cheese.

Denise looked at her salad and then at Araminta's plate. "Are you going to eat all that?"

"Yeah," said Araminta, as she ladled herself some clam chowder into a bread bowl and poured a pumpkin milkshake to drink. "I can eat all I want and never get fat."

"Wow," sighed Denise enviously.

Just then, a rowdy pair of twin boys, with hair the same color as Denise's, bumped her from behind. Araminta's entire plate, and her milkshake, spilled on her lap and splattered her in the face. All of the Gryffindors started laughing.

"Oh, that's some rotten luck," said Denise, mopping at Araminta's robes with a paper towel. "Don't mind them."

"I don't," said Araminta, but secretly, she was worried. Would everyone remember her as the clumsy one?

Araminta closed her eyes tightly and concentrated. She reached out with her mind to touch the minds of the other Gryffindors at the table. There were too many at once for her to be able to tell exactly what they were thinking, but it wasn't so bad after all. "They're laughing with me, not at me." It was a pleasant feeling.

Araminta finished her dinner. "I've got to go. Big day tomorrow. Bye, Denise!"

"Bye, Minta!" she answered.