Chapter One: Back to Hogwarts

A.K.A. Why Isn't She In Slytherin?

Margaret Hillsworth often wonders how her best friend, Alison Thornewell, didn't end up in Slytherin. She likes Potions, thinks Professor Snape is "bloody brilliant for an old git," is very cunning and mischievous, and has a huge crush on the Slytherin Quidditch captain, Marcus Flint.

Speaking of which, Alison is currently trying to find a compartment near where Marcus is sitting. "Maybe we can even sit with him!" she squeals excitedly, throwing open another compartment door. "Full again!"

"Don't you think this is a bit much?" asks Margaret, even though she already knows the answer.

"No. Besides, all those compartments were full," Alison replies, then stops. "I bet you he's in this one."

She knocks on the door and it opens to reveal a tall sixth year boy with short black hair, grey eyes and a slight frown on his face. He is already wearing his robes, which show by the colors that he is in Slytherin.

"Hi, Marcus. Can we sit with you?" Alison inquires.

"…'we'?" he asks, smirking.

"Yes, we," she begins, "me and Marg- wait, where'd she go? Margaret! Margaret Hillsworth!"

"Fuck. Stop yelling. Get in and sit down if you're staying; if not, leave," Marcus says, walking back into the compartment. Alison follows and sits down next to the Slytherin boy, who squirms uneasily. "You can sit over there, you know. There's no one there."

"I know," she yawns, "but you're much more comfortable than the window. Besides, Margaret will be in here in a second, I know it. So calm down. Just because I like you doesn't mean I'm gonna molest you or something…" Her voice trailed off as she fell asleep on Marcus's unwilling shoulder.

"Damn it!" he roared, oblivious to the fact that Margaret had just sat down opposite them both, now dressed in Hogwarts robes.

"If you don't want her there, just move her," Margaret says, knowing he won't. The sixth year glares at the Hufflepuff girl, showing her 'the finger,' but doesn't move Alison. "That's what I thought."

"Shut the fuck up, Hillsworth," is all he says. 'How does she always know-?'

Alison snuggles closer to Marcus, hugging him like a stuffed bear. Margaret laughs. Marcus's wide-eyed expression soon changes to a glare. Alison suddenly jumps up and throws open the door. "Robes," she says simply, walking off to change.

Marcus turns away as Margaret speaks. "You and I both know you like her. And everyone knows she likes you." She sighs, frustrated. "Why won't either of you act on it and ask the other out?"

He ignores her, knowing she didn't expect an answer, anyway. After all, this had been happening since his fourth year at Hogwarts. (It took him two whole years to warm up to Alison, who he had originally found very annoying.)

Alison rushes back in the compartment, sitting next to Margaret this time, very surprisingly. "I hate Gryffindorks," she sneers.

"Why? What happened?" asks Margaret.

"Bloody Percival Weasley. Walked in on me while I was changing in the girls' changing rooms! The little pervert!"

Marcus suddenly seems very angry and marches confidently out of the compartment, only to burst out laughing. Margaret runs out after him, only to see Percy Weasley stuck to the ceiling by his hair wearing nothing but his boxers. She begins to giggle, then fully roars with laughter.

Alison came up behind them, grinning. "Did I forget to tell you? I jinxed him," she smirks. "How many house points do you think he'll try to take, hmm?"

"I don't know," came a new voice, "but I imagine the professors will be upset. By the way, have any of you seen a toad? Neville Longbottom's lost one." Receiving a 'no,' she continues on, "I'm Hermione Granger. Who are you three?" she asks, looking expectantly, for some reason, at Marcus.

Alison snarls, snaking her arms around Marcus's waist, and scowls menacingly at Hermione. "Nasty little first year," she spits out cruelly, "I'm Alison Thornewell. She's Margaret Hillsworth and this is my boyfriend, Marcus Flint, who you better not look at or talk to again. Otherwise, your teeth won't be the only thing on you that looks like a beaver."

Hermione obviously believes Alison, as she scurries off down the train, her face pale. Alison cackles evilly, then coughs, letting go of Marcus. "Sorry, didn't mean to call you my boyfriend… impulsive jealousy, I guess." The Slytherin merely shrugged, walking back into the compartment.

"I don't know why you bothered to go back in there, Flint," Margaret calls. "We're here."

He scoffs and walks back out, only to have Alison jump on his back. For some reason, she calls this "glomping."

"So, Alison, you're just going to leave Weasley there?" asks Margaret, grinning widely.

"Don't see why not. He deserves it," Marcus replies before the Ravenclaw girl can even open her mouth.

"Well said!" Alison exclaims from her place on his back. "Good-bye, Percival! Have fun, you pervert!"

They find the only empty carriage and settle into it, as Alison finally gets off of Marcus's back. Soon, a guy with short brown hair and olive green eyes steps in, introducing himself as Oliver Wood, and asks if he can sit there.

Margaret says a quiet 'yes' as Marcus scowls and grabs Alison's hand. Alison blinks, and realizes that Marcus is holding her hand for no reason. She smiles widely with only a small hint of a blush on her cheeks.

Alison looks over at Margaret and Oliver and notices that they are both blushing furiously, looking away from the other. She giggles and Marcus, realizing what he is doing, quickly drops her hand from his grasp and turns away, stuttering an apology.

An awkward silence follows, which Alison cannot stand. Frustrated, she says the first thing that comes to her mind. "So… what'd you think of what I did to Percival the Pervert?"

This was addressed to Oliver, who quickly answered with a shocked expression on his face. "That was you?" he says incredulously. "Awful. But incredibly brilliant, I must say. Hey, who do you guys think will win the house cup this year?"

"I'm not sure… I hope it's Hufflepuff or Gryffindor, though," Margaret says, blushing.

"Slytherin," Marcus states plainly.

"Obviously it's not gonna be Ravenclaw. Did you know I've been the first person to lose house points for three years in a row? I'll probably have to go to Dumbledore's after sorting… sorry. Slytherin will win, of course, Oliver. We're here, by the way."

'She's on a first-name basis with Wood?' Marcus thinks, following Alison out of the carriage, along with Oliver and Margaret. (He doesn't seem to notice that she calls everyone by their first name… except under certain circumstances.)

Everyone is seated and waiting for the sorting to begin (with the exception of the first years), when Percy comes in with Professor McGonagall, who casts a look of disapproval in Alison's direction. Alison, who is seated at the Ravenclaw table, ignores her and turns to stare at Marcus for a bit.

A few minutes later, she suddenly jumps up. "Margaret!" she calls, running toward the Hufflepuff table. "Come sit with me!"

"Okay," Margaret sighs, "but only because you're my best friend and nobody cares anymore." Alison grins widely, practically dragging her over to the Ravenclaw table.

They sit down and, as expected, Alison turns toward the Slytherin table and continues to stare at Marcus. "Marcus is so cool," she says dreamily.

"If you like him so much, why don't you ask him out or something? He doesn't seem to mind that you like him," Margaret mentions. "I think he might like you."

"Margaret… not many people have admirers who will stand around waving little fans and screaming at the top of their lungs, cheering them on at everything, and not just at Quidditch, mind you. I imagine that would give someone a load of confidence, not that Marcus needs it. But, I mean, why would he mind? He wouldn't."

"But-"

"And, anyway, where are we supposed to go on a date, hmm? Hogsmeade? I always go to Hogsmeade with you. So who would you go with then?"

"Well," Margaret starts, blushing, "I could ask… maybe I could ask…"

"Not him! How could… oh, never mind, you're right. You probably could ask the Gryffindor. After all, I think he likes you."

Blushing furiously, Margaret says, "You really think-? Never mind that. Anyway, there's no denying that Flint likes you. There are several facts. For instance, do you remember last year when you had to go to hospital and missed the match? Flint seemed really worried and they lost. I really think-"

"Abbott, Susan!" calls Professor McGonagall.

"Guess sorting's started," Margaret says, ignoring a very happy and sparkly-eyed Alison, who is now whispering excitedly to herself while, once again, staring at the Slytherin table.

Many more first years are called up, until "Potter, Harry" is finally called. Most of the students gasp excitedly, while Alison (who has finally started paying attention) scoffs, along with a few Slytherins.

This was one of those times that made Margaret wonder how Alison didn't end up in Slytherin.

Go to hospital: This is not a typo. They actually say this in the movie, the book, and, I imagine, in England as well.

A/N: Black Kitty wants you to know that as long as she's writing this the Ravenclaw colors will be black and blue, Marcus Flint and Oliver Wood will look as described above, and Hermione will have beaver teeth, just like she's supposed to. Reviews anyone? I do believe Iwant some…