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After about a week or so, Tania decided to grit her teeth and write her parents the letter that she'd been dreading.

Dear Mum and Dad, I know you've probably been expecting to hear from either Allyson or myself concerning the sorting process here at Hogwarts. You'll both have to forgive me for waiting this long to write to you-if you'll continue reading, I think you'll be able to guess why. In fact, the truth is that I've been avoiding writing you this letter for quite some time. To get straight to the point, parents, I have to just come out and say what I've been getting around to. Based on the long line of Ravenclaws in our family, it was obvious that I was going to be sorted there as well. Apparently, Mum and Dad, the word 'obvious' holds exceptions. No one is sorrier than I to say that I have been sorted into Gryffindor. I know it is not what any of us wanted, but I am convinced that if I put effort forth, I can do great things in this house. Besides, I think it's about time Gryffindor gets a taste of what we Blooms have to offer.

Love, Tania

Tania heaved a sigh as she folded up the letter and gave it to Serge, who was sitting on a perch in the owlery. As she watched him fly off, she smiled weakly. Her parents would understand; she knew they would. They loved her regardless of what house she was in. After all, it's not exactly as though Tania could have chosen where the Sorting Hat had placed her.

She smiled to herself and walked back to the Gryffindor common room.

The rest of the month passed with nothing eventful in the least. Although Tania's parents didn't give her a response through a letter, it let her relax a little, knowing that she didn't have to deal with their criticism. Classes progressed in the usual fashion and students complained about them in the same fashion as well.

The easiest class for Tania was, by far, Transfiguration. The only person that seemed to be up to Tania's transfiguring ability was Hermione.

One day, Tania saw the strangest thing in between Transfiguration and Potions. She was walking out of the classroom when a red fox ran by her. She screamed instinctively and wheeled around to Professor McGonagall, who was looking at the fox pointedly.

"P-P-Professor! There's a-a-fox! IN YOUR CLASSROOM!!!"

She nodded and smiled a little at the fox who was sitting silently at her feet, looking at Tania, almost seeming to smirk at her. "I'm well aware of that, Miss Bloom. Please go to your next class."

Tania stared at the fox for a moment, then at Professor McGonagall. She laughed in a weird, squeaky sort of way and said, "Right then... Have a good day, Professor."

"I assure you I will. Now go along to your next class." She nodded and smiled a bit.

"Oh... Okay." Tania turned and ran into the door. "Ouch... I'm okay, really..."

With that, she made her way to Potions. Potions and the Defense Against the Dark Arts were altogether quite uneventful, although Tania did develop a strong disliking for the Potions teacher, Professor Snape, along with a strong suspicion for the less-than-knowledgeable Professor Quirrel, teacher of Defense Against the Dark Arts.

Lunch came and Tania sat with Hermione, once again. However, Hermione seemed to be quite bitter towards Tania ever since she found out how wonderful the young, pure-blooded witch was at Transfiguration.

"Well, you know, there's always Charms..." said Hermione gloomily to herself.

"Hermione, what is the matter with you?" asked Tania.

"Oh, nothing..." said Hermione, glaring at Tania a bit. "Except, of course, for the undeniable fact that you're tremendously wonderful in Transfiguration and I'm clearly less than mediocre..."

"You're being ridiculous, Hermione, you are so not less than mediocre at anything and you know it!"

"But you're still better than me, Tania!" she yelled. "Of course... I guess you're supposed to be, huh?" She glared at Tania.

"What do you mean?"

"I mean you, and your pure-blood family, are perfect at everything, you have all these glorious witches and wizards at your house to show you how to do all this magic, and all I've got is two muggles."

"All you've got is two muggles?" asked Tania. "How do you think they would feel if they could hear you saying that?"

"How do you think your parents will feel when they read that letter you wrote them?"

"Hey, now don't get into that, it's totally beside the point and you know it!" Tania stuck a finger in Hermione's face.

Hermione stood up. "No, it isn't! Your family has always been in Ravenclaw and that's the only reason you're better than me! So if you want to be in Ravenclaw so bad, then go back to it! I should be the best Gryffindor student and that's that!"

And, with that, she huffed off to another table to sit by herself, leaving Tania to gape back at her, positively stunned.

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