The next few weeks passed as a blur. I spent all my time with the Slytherin gang, and they seemed to tolerate and like me. The Gryffindors, however, certainly didn't. James wasn't furious with me anymore, but now acted coldly towards me because of my new friends. The other Gryffindors did exactly what James did, and resorted to pretending that I didn't exist. Only Lily and occasionally Andromeda spoke to me, and Shannon's burning glare followed me everywhere. The first-years were all either terrified of me or in awe of the "Slytherin girl". The second, third, and fourth years all ignored me, and the older kids would occasionally send disapproving looks my way. Frank Longbottom, the Gryffindor prefect, hated Lucius Malfoy and was dating Shannon, so he seemed to have a personal agenda against me. I spent all my time in Slytherin Tower, but had to come back in time for curfew, because he would hover by the portrait, waiting for me to be just a second late.

It sounded as though I should be miserable, but in actuality, I was having a great time. Bella and I became best friends, and she was probably the most respected Slytherin around, as she embodied every trait Salazar Slytherin looked for in his students. She had a young owl named Basilisk, and my kitten, BB, hated the owl. We liked to pit them against each other in the Common Room, and make people pay for admission. The bets on who would win were even made by some Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs! Of course, if it got too dangerous, I scooted BB out. BB may have been cunning, but Basilisk was more powerful. My favorite class was Potions, where Professor Dreldi favored me more than other Gryffindors. I also loved History of Magic, where Bella, Rabastan Lestrange, Selena, and I would sit in a corner, shooting Bewilderment Charms at random Gryffindors and laughing as they sat up suddenly, looking very confused.

When I wrote to my mother about what I was doing at school, she sounded very worried. "Just be careful, sweetie," one letter read. "Slytherins are a tricky lot. They may have their own agenda, and are using you for reasons you may not like." I shook my head as I read that. Yes, Slytherins did have their own agendas, but I was aware of most of them. Anyway, Bella and I were friends, and friends don't manipulate each other so subtly. It may sound naïve, but I was acutely aware of what the Slytherins were like, and I was just one of them. Hagrid, too, disapproved of my new friendships. He also warned me that I was being manipulated. I ignored their advice. What did they know of Slytherins? I spent all my time with them, and I was one of them.

It came to the point where I went to Professor Dumbledore's office one afternoon. I knocked for a while, and he finally opened the door. "Come in, Miss Mardec," he said, eyes twinkling. I followed him up a winding staircase. He led me into his office, which was full of strange magical items, and pictures of old headmasters and headmistresses. The one of my grandfather, Armando Dippet, waved at me, and I grinned back. His picture was in our living room at home, too. Dumbledore gestured for me to sit down, and I did so nervously. "I assume that you are here about your confusion with your House. Am I correct?"

I nodded. "Is it really so odd for a Gryffindor to be friends with Slytherins? It seems to have really gone around school quickly, and everyone seems to find it ridiculous and unbelievable."

"The last time I recall a Slytherin befriending a Gryffindor was back when I was in school, many years ago," Dumbledore said, stroking a long, white beard. "The animosity between the two Houses is infamous throughout the magical world. And here you have done the impossible. Which makes you wonder if you really belong in Gryffindor." He gestured towards the Sorting Hat, on a pedestal in the corner of the office. "Go ahead. Try it on again."

Hardly believing it, I strode quickly across the office and pulled on the Hat. Nothing. Suddenly… "Ah, Magda Mardec, back once more. Just like her mother. My, you Dippets are all alike, somehow. Whether or not your last name is still Dippet. Only, your mother wanted to be in Gryffindor. Slytherin? Very curious… " I let him ramble on for a few more minutes, but soon got impatient. Was I going to be put in Slytherin or not? "Slytherin? Definitely not. I put you in Gryffindor the first time because you made up your mind on which house to be in based on the personalities of the people in the House, not their blood. That's the Gryffindor attitude." I shook my head disbelievingly. I was going to be sorted into Gryffindor again? "Your mother hated it, too," the Hat told me, "but sometimes you've just got to deal with it. I see your recent memories, and the way you were treated in each House. But it should be the opposite. The Gryffindors are more your type. Stick with them." And then it was silent once more.

I yanked off the hat, feeling suddenly helpless. As long as the Hat said I was in Gryffindor, I would stay. It was annoying, but I'd always believed in making the best of a situation. I told Professor Dumbledore the Hat's decision and left. But I didn't go straight to Slytherin or Gryffindor Tower. Instead, feeling restless, I wandered through the castle. I paused for a moment in front of the Room of Requirement. I needed a room to contemplate, and the Room obliged. I entered an empty, white room with a squishy armchair and nothing else. I sank into the armchair, but couldn't relax. The words of the Sorting Hat came back- The Gryffindors are more your type. Stick with them. If I must…

Sighing, I got up and went to Gryffindor Tower. As I stepped through the portrait hole, an icy silence came over the Common Room. I rolled my eyes at the glaring classmates in front of me. "You may as well deal with me, since it looks like I'm staying," I told them. I sat down next to Lily, who was doing her Potions essay. "Want to copy mine?" I asked. "Just not word for word. I have the feeling I won't be Dreldi's favorite Gryffindor anymore." I told her about the Sorting Hat. Andromeda had joined us, and also listened to the story.

"The Sorting Hat was right," Meda told me. "It always is. It sorted the right Blacks into the right Houses, and trust me, it isn't always easy to tell the inner difference between Bella and me." She grinned suddenly. "My father almost gave me the Cruciatus Curse when he found out I was in Gryffindor. Luckily, Mum stopped him. She doesn't love Gryffindors, but she wouldn't hurt me over it. Poor Sirius! He probably got Crucio too many times to count. His parents are even worse than mine."

I was surprised to hear the shy girl say so much, but didn't let it show. "What about Cissa? I know that you guys aren't identical, but Cissa always struck me as more like Bella than you."

"Oh, Cissa is more vain than really evil. Bella and I have more similar personalities, but I prefer to utilize my talents toward constructive things, whereas Bella-" She stopped short, realizing that I was Bella's best friend.

"-Is more of a Slytherin?" I put in. She gave me a wan smile and nodded, but was silent once more. I looked around, and noticed that almost everyone in the room was sneaking looks at me every once in a while. I grinned back sardonically at them, and soon, Harry Whitby wandered over to us. I hadn't forgotten what he had done to me that night in September, but I didn't want to make him into an enemy again, so I smiled at him. He nodded, acknowledging my presence, but otherwise ignored me. I sighed and walked away, feeling like a pariah. Finally, I sat on one chair and reviewed my Defense Against the Dark Arts notes. I saw Remus Lupin walk into the Common Room with Emmeline, and I was suddenly afraid. There were two people I wanted to be friends with, and I had ruined it all. I finally realized the folly of my actions. There may not have been something wrong with the Slytherins, but I was a Gryffindor and didn't belong with them. It would hurt her, but Bellatrix had to stop hanging with me and vice versa- Slytherins and Gryffindors didn't become friends.

I gave Remus a half-hearted smile, and watched his eyes widen. He and Emmeline exchanged glances, and then walked over to me, ready to forgive and forget. I finally felt the same way; after almost three months, it was over.

I walked into the Great Hall the next morning with Emmeline and Molly. Bella hurried over to me. "Where were you all yesterday? I searched in all the usual places. Were you stuck in your Common Room, doing homework?" I shrugged, slowly leading her to the Gryffindor table. She saw where I was going, and put the pieces together. Flouncing over to her table, she began to speak rapidly to the other Slytherins. From the grim look on Severus's face, I saw that he was going to be coming over to my table.

"What's going on, Magda?" he began, but was interrupted by a wand stuck in his chest. It was Sirius's. Severus yanked out his, and I spotted James muttering something under his breath. Severus started shivering uncontrollably. I realized that James was using the freezing charm he had done on me.

I stood up. "Get off him, Potter!" I snapped.

James looked startled. "I thought you were over the Slytherins, especially Snivelly here."

My face burning, I replied, "just because I'm not hanging out with them doesn't mean you can pick on them, and anyway, Severus and I've been friends for longer than that. Now stop the spell!" He finally did, and Severus hurried away, looking humiliated. I made to follow him, but Sirius laid a hand on my shoulder.

"Let him go," he said softly. "If you're going to break away, you've got to do it properly." James sniggered a bit, and I pulled away from Sirius, my face hot. I sat beside Emmeline, who gave me a sympathetic glance, but the whole Gryffindor table was now convinced that Sirius and I had something going on. I could only hope that Sirius himself didn't think so…