You have no idea how psyched I am to hear you liked my story--my first shot at a Harry Potter fanfic and someone read it! Thanks so much!--
I placed the sorting hat upon very nervous head and awaited a slow and painful death. I'd decided that if the crazed eyes of the Slytherins did not do me in, then the dust on the hat might have some sort of disease or other.
"Nervous, ay? Different sort of heritage you've got?" A voice was in my head, and it appeared to me as though I was the only one who heard it. Insanity. The hat cursed me with insanity. Crafty bugger.
"If this frightens you, then you're not going to do well at Hogwarts…Let's see here, you've got a certain amount of smarts in the brain of yours, of course, Dumbledore would not have considered you so late in your year's magical education if you weren't. Loyalty beyond belief, I see. Ah, and what is this, a desire for superiority? A thirst for validation? Yet I sense, somehow, a ruthless valour within you. You've suffered, yet triumphed because of your courage. But where would you live best? Hufflepuff would immerse you in decent people, yes, but Slytherin would feed your hunger for aristocratic placement in society. Griffindor, though, would take you through the years surrounded by outrageous and courageous people."
Make a decision, I could care less. I thought, trying to usher the voice in my head to a decision. I looked toward the Slytherin table, and saw those baby blues drawing me towards them. I looked at Gryffindor, and saw the love of my life, with jet black hair just so, watching me ruthlessly. I was ready for what was coming.
"Well, well…A certain desire for immediate satisfaction, no doubt! Best put you in…Slytherin!"
The final word resounded through the Great Hall, announcing my placement. I gratefully grabbed the hat and placed it not-so-carefully on its stool, and went back to sit beside my baby-blued-buddy. I couldn't help but feel a certain sadness at having no relation to the love of my life…Harry, was it? And those two silly redheads with their sweets…In fact the more I sat thought, the sadder I was at sitting beside the self-righteous fools around me. I looked around, masked in pride, and stole a glance at the red and gold clad table, only to find them enjoying their time without me. Silly of me to think, really, that they would care if I'd not been placed with them, I suppose. At the time, though, I was already noticing how drawn I was to their character.
"For a second there, I thought you'd been stuck with those mudblood lovers over in Gryffindor." Draco was hissing in my ear, in what he thought was endearing tones.
I forged a shy smile and began filling my plate with foods I'd never seen, which amused me for the rest of the meal. The pudgy brunette who Draco had told of on the train was glaring at me. I was rather amused at her lack of common sense. Of course Draco would prefer her when the time came. I was content slipping into oblivion as the rest of the world enjoyed their year. I was already longing for my comfortable mattress and simple life back at home.
Before I knew it, and after a couple squeals of alarm as the plates around me transformed, Dumbledore rose to speak.
"Welcome to our first years, I hope you are looking forward as you march forward into your new and exiting life alongside your classmates. Mr. Filch has posted a few new rules on the door to his office, and if you have any questions regarding their changes, please ask. I'm sure he'd be more than happy to give you the details behind his reasoning. The Dark Forest is strictly out of bounds, and I emplore you all to follow the rules of the castle to your utmost this year. Dark times lay ahead, as Lord Voldemort has returned to power…"
Draco leaned over to me, putting his hand on my thigh. I hid my disgust.
"You don't know about the Dark Lord, do you?" He whispered into my ear. "He's the most powerful wizard on the face of the Earth. He'd like you…" His ice blue eyes were full of passion.
"You know him personally?" I sarcastically posed, trying to bring some light into our conversation.
"No, but I am in very close contact with him…You would do best to stick with me this year."
"Probably would." I answered, thinking that I might be quite right.
Everyone rose around me, and I did the same. As I began to walk behind the rest of my house, I slowed, hoping to get a short hello from some of my Gryffindor acquaintances. It appeared, however, that they'd already left. Upon sighing and stumbling, zombylike, towards the exit, I felt a tug on my robes, and was yanked across into a sea of red. The red sea, I thought.
"Bad luck," Said one of the twins.
"Rotten, indeed." Said the other.
"Try not to get too close to them-"
"-you might turn into a snake, and-"
"-that just wouldn't be fun now, would it?"
"Glad you guys stuck with me," I answered. "To be truthful, I really wanted to be sorted into your house, you seem to have a lot better time.
"We'll see what we can do." Said the first twin.
Before I knew it, they'd disappeared, and I was left alone in the giant hall.
