Hufflepuff Concerto
Because not all Hufflepuffs are boring. Set in the year of the Tri-Wizard Cup. Hannah Korvil, a young mage, is forced to go to a wizarding school against her will. Enter Dennis Creevy... let's sit back and see what happens, shall we?
NOTE: Everything you recognize from Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling. The Tragyl's should they appear (which they eventually will), are my sister's(Dhrelva). Everything else, like the Korvils, are mine.
A/N (December 23, 2002): I fixed up Chapter Two a little bit (I had gotten a comment that there should be more of a transition between it and Chapter One and while I was at it I couldn't help making minor changes throughout). Nothing much of significance to go back and reread except, perhaps, the very beginning. It briefly mentions Hannah's trip to Diagon Alley for supplies.
Chapter Three: Disappointments
"You're not very ambitious," the hat pointed out. Hannah wondered if this was an insult or merely an observation. She waited. "But if you wanted something enough, you do have a capacity for deception to get your way."
"True...," she thought of her exaggerated dislike of Hogwarts and all things wizarding. She didn't have much left to be ambitious about, in her opinion. Now she would never learn to fully harness her power so she could do more, in an emergency, than set the other kid's robes on fire. Even a wizard could do that. She was a mage... she had wanted to prove that energy could be just as powerful as the mind; that she was worthy of the family name even if she hadn't been graced with the family gift.
Now what? A wand. Incantations. Nonsense.
"You've been willing to work hard to prove yourself. And you've had to, you don't have the sheer brains for Ravenclaw."
"Thanks," she whispered dryly, feeling a blush crawl up her cheeks. It didn't help that most of the other students were staring at her from their tables. She avoided looking toward the Slytherins. Hopefully, she wouldn't be put there. Not after the disaster on the train.
The hat made another thoughtful sound. It seemed to be following her drifting attention, "You could be brave, once you get used to the idea that most people can't read your mind. Of course, that will also make you more inclined to deceive just because you can. You've had to be loyal, too, couldn't afford to not be, could you? They would have known. What will you become now that you have a choice?"
"Please," Hannah pleaded, consciously stopping her swinging feet. The Hat's direction of thought made her stomach feel funny. What would it be like to not live under her family's constant omnipotent eyes? She didn't want to hear any more about it. The thought terrified her. Perhaps the only thing more terrifying was the way it made her well up with long surpressed desire. She carefully didn't think about that, "Just put me somewhere. It doesn't really matter where. I don't even belong here." She belonged at Holyokes.
"With mind mages who make you feel deaf, or daft at the very least?" the Hat countered, "I think you will find that you belong here, Hannah. And, it just so happens, I know exactly where to put you."
Hannah held her breath. It was over, he'd decided. But where?
"HUFFLEPUFF!"
Hannah could have melted off the stool. Hufflepuff! It was too good to be true! Surely she had heard wrong. As far as she could tell, the Hat had been leaning toward Slytherin. But sure enough, as she placed the Hat back on the stool, Professor McGonagal pointed toward Niobe and Molly's table.
Hannah slipped into a seat next to the other Hufflepuff first years to watch the Hat do its thing. All told, when the Sorting was complete, there were eight of them. Dumbledore made a quick speech and invited them to eat. Food appeared instantly with flare and brillance. More than food, what Hannah actually wanted were dry clothes. Food, however, especially steaming hot food that smelled like this food did, was not unwelcome.
"So, ah," one of the boys, Kevin Whitby, the last student Sorted, said after they'd all greedily stuffed their mouths a few times, "What did it say to you guys?"
"I almost got Gryffindor," another of the boys, Nick someone or another, said regretfully. Hannah followed his eyes to the Gryffindor table. She could see why he might be disappointed. The first years there were already buzzing with conversation like long lost friends. Dennis had found his brother and was gesturing wildly with excitement.
"Why didn't you?" Kevin asked, gently pulling Nick's attention back to their table, "get Gryffindor, I mean?"
"I don't want to talk about it."
They all watched him push his vegetables around until, embarrassed, they turned back to their own plates. Had the others been eager to get one of the more glorious houses, also? Kevin also spared a longing glance at the Gryffindor table.
"Well," Hannah volunteered quietly, in case it would help, "the Hat was kinda rude, wasn't it? I mean, it told me right out I wasn't smart enough for Ravenclaw. What does a stupid worn down hat know anyway?"
"Obviously that you're not smart enough for Ravenclaw," Nick dropped his knife, making a loud clang, "It can read your mind. It knows more about you than you do." He stabbed his fork into a thick slab of ham.
"Mind reading is overrated."
Nick glared at her. Hannah was increasingly aware that the other Hufflepuffs were starting to notice them. His eyes narrowed under wide eyebrows. Suspicion, "And you should know, shouldn't you, Korvil?"
Hufflepuff wasn't supposed to be like this. She pursed her lips.
"We know what you are," Nick glanced around. Eleanor Branstone nodded, ever so slightly. Kevin swallowed and tried to look inconspicuous.
"You were wearing that tiara on the train. We all saw you. And your mother was at the station. She's... she can... I've seen pictures of her before," Owen's wavering voice joined the battle. That made four against, and three staying out. Hannah didn't know what to say.
"Well, I can't" she started lamely, "I not a mind mage. My parents are. So're my brothers. I'm not. When the elemental gifts were handed around, I got bloody energy," Hannah couldn't keep the bitterness out of her voice, "You can't do anything with that. Nothing a fledgling wizard can't, anyway." She stuffed a piece of potato in her mouth to keep her from saying more. Warmth, good food. Her mounting anger drifted away. Who could honestly not want to go to a school that made such good potatos?
They ate in silence for a few more awkward minutes. Nick managed to catch her eye. He held it a moment before admitting, "The Hat said I wasn't smart enough for Ravenclaw either." Was that an apology? She wasn't sure.
"Hey, me too," Kevin grinned.
"Yeah. Same story," Owen elbowed Nick, "All but said I was downright cowardly, too."
"You, too?" Nick shuddered visibly at the memory, but it didn't seem to bother him so much anymore. His smile didn't falter when it fell on Hannah, "What did else did it say to you?"
"It said...," she wondered which part she could safely mention without weirding them out again. Surely not the Slytherin part. Or even the Gryffindor. Then she remembered the most important part of all. She grinned back at him, "It said I belong here."
"Yeah, that's true," Nick licked his lips, "And aren't my parents in for a surprise!"
"Mine too," Jaci, who hadn't said anything yet, spoke up, "they thought I'd be Slytherin for sure...," the silence stretched again. Hannah wondered if she'd looked a moment ago as Jaci did now. Except that she had been trying to convince the others she was trustworthy. Jaci had other things on her mind, "Father's going to kill me."
She sniffed and Hannah could see tears welling up in her eyes. The girl next to her squeezed her around the shoulders, "It's okay. He's not..."
"I've dishonored the family name!" she squeaked. Hannah fervantly wished there was something she could do.
"I thought I had problems," she heard Nick whisper half to himself, "My family's all Gryffindors."
"Yeah. Mine're Ravenclaws," Eleanor added with a nod, "I think her family is friends with the Braddock's. Malcom might try to come after her."
"Right," Nick sent a cautious glance towards the Slytherin table and steeled himself, "I'll keep an eye out for her."
"Yeah, we all will," Owen agreed. Hannah nodded her assent with the others. Hufflepuffs stick together.
