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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;"strongemA/N: OC are mine. The rest belongs to J.K. Rowling. /em/strong/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Eirene Selwyn," calls a severe looking woman. I learn later that evening that she was Professor McGonagall. I dutifully trot up and sat on the stool, and allow a floppy black hat, the Sorting Hat, to be placed upon my head. It's silent at first, which is intimidating as for my older brother, Albiorix, a third year said the hat had a brief conversation with him and quickly announced him a Slytherin. I was expecting the same. However, that isn't the case. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"After a few moments of silence, I hear "Hmm you are indeed an interesting one. A Slytherin legacy, in every sense of the word, but I'm not sure if that's where you belong". /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Please Mr. Hat sir, I have to be a Slytherin! My family expects it! I am a Slytherin! I have pure blood and am quite ambitious", I think in response. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Yes, this is true. You would do well in Slytherin. You would also do well in Ravenclaw," replies the hat; "you are ambitious…. But for what exactly"?/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"My response- "Well I am smart and driven and I understand that all knowledge has a purpose, not just the accepted kinds. This truly marks me as a Slytherin"! /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The hat did not agree, and its next words changed everything for me "Your passion for Slytherin is strong, but it stems from a desire to please your family. We both must keep that in mind. What you described though? My dear, what you described is a true mark of…" and no longer in my head came from the hat "RAVENCLAW!" with the shout echoing across the Great Hall. I feel like I was going to get vomit or cry or maybe a combination of the two. I get up and slammed the hat back on the stool. I couldn't speak with it anymore, but I made sure the hat knows how upset I am. As I quickly walk to the table with the wrong colors, colors of blue and bronze I barely hear the polite applause from the table. I'm only able to look at the floor in my shame. It is too terrifying to look over at the Slytherin table and see my brother looking on in disgust, and a bit of concern. Albiorix knows my placement into Ravenclaw is by no means acceptable in our family. What I missed were two pairs of grey eyes watching me with piqued interest as I walked to the table. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"I sit at the table and pretend to watch the rest of the Sorting Ceremony, but all what I could focus on was the Howler I could expect to receive the next day. My father would not be impressed. They had sent one to Albiorix last year after Christmas when they learned he had flooded one of our bathrooms in a poor attempt at trying to create a new potion. For some reason he thought a porcelain toilet would be superior to his own cauldron. He had neglected to tell anyone of the problem before he went back to school leaving my parents with a cantankerous toilet. I know I do not want a Howler. Ever. It's unbecoming. Selwyns are part of the Sacred 28. We have expectations to continue the pureblood ways. After the placement of Sirius Black, the heir to the House of Black into Gryffindor last year I know my placement into Ravenclaw would be taken very poorly. Somehow, we, the purest of the pure, were being told we didn't belong in the house of our ancestors. I was confused, as my blood is pure, and there should have been no reason why I'm not in Slytherin, hat be damned. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The man in the center of the professors' table stands up and catches my attention. I know him from eating many chocolate frogs as Professor Dumbledore. I would be joining Dumbledore in my father's list of people he does not like. The thought makes me sigh heavily, but before I have a chance to dwell on it longer Dumbledore announces, "Before we partake in our feast, a reminder that students are not to enter the Forbidden Forest for their own safety, and for the of the occupants of the forest". He makes a point to look at all of the tables quite seriously before continuing and says "That's it! Enjoy the year and the food at your tables"! Suddenly, all sorts of food pop up in the platters. There are a variety of options, almost all of which would have looked good on any other day, but today I am now far too nervous to eat much of anything. I take mashed potatoes from a platter near me and eat some, but mostly I just go through the motions and try not to stand out too much from my peers. Now, is not the time to make a scene. The girl to my left starts introducing herself "Hi! My name is Julie Cravens! I'm so excited to meet everyone! What's your name again? Starts with a vowel, right"? /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Yes, Eirene Selwyn of the House Selwyn", I reply, while straightening my posture and looking her in the eye. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Julie giggles, "Oh cool". /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"My answer had caught the attention of some older Ravenclaws./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Is your brother the Slytherin, Albiorix Selwyn"? one of them asked with a slight sneer. I wasn't surprised. Albiorix isn't known for being particularly bright. How could someone who shares his genes possibly be a Ravenclaw? My brother is more than happy to be average at best. From what I saw on the train ride to Hogwarts, he's well enough liked within Slytherin. Although we aren't the ancient and noble House of Black, our name does carry respect. Albiorix rides the legacy of the name, sometimes to a fault. When Mum yells at him about his marks, he isn't very bothered and says not to worry because he's a Selwyn and we always succeed. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"I turn to look at the two Ravenclaws and wonder if they're being snooty because Albiorix isn't smart (and doesn't apply himself in school) or if their blood isn't pure and their jealous of our status. I answer rather haughtily, "He is, yes. We get on quite well, thank you," and turn away. Suddenly the overly chipper Julie Cravens doesn't seem too bad I ask her, "What class are you looking forward to the most"? /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Oh, definitely Potions and Herbology! I think being able to combine things from the earth and make something new is very cool. My mum is a healer at St. Mungo's and has always told me about all sorts of potions and what they can do". I smile at her and relax a little. Julie Cravens is at least a half-blood. I know I won't be in Ravenclaw long, but at least I'm not making more mistakes for the time being. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Another girl who I saw get sorted before me jumps into the conversation, "Charms I think will be my favorite…. I'm Pandora Miracle by the way". It took me a moment to place her lilting accent as Welsh. She seems a bit odd, with white-blonde hair that falls past her waist and a constant faraway look in her eyes. Pandora Miracle is a weird name, I think to myself, but then again, I guess it is rather common to be named after myths in addition to things found in the universe. Albiorix and I are named after moons, which is just as normal as a girl named after the woman who unleashed all sorts of evil. On second thought, my dad might think the name is brilliant. I continue chatting with Julie and Pandora while keeping a wary eye on the two older Ravenclaws, whose names I learn are Smith and Menard. Dinner finishes and older students call, "First years gather round we'll show you how to get into the common room". /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Go ahead, my brother will show me how to get to the Ravenclaw common room. I need to speak with him," I tell Julie and Pandora. They nod and head toward the growing group of Ravenclaw first years. I scurry quickly to the Slytherin table where Albiorix has yet to get up. "Let me be the one to tell Mum and Dad". He glances at me and back at his mates then back to me again. He gets up and pulls me outside the hall by my elbow. "Please. It'll be better coming from me. I'm going to talk to Professor Slughorn and Ravenclaw's head of house. They'll understand there's been a mistake," I beg. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Albiorix puts his hand up to stop me "Eirene, do you understand how unacceptable this is! It is an embarrassment to the Selwyn name. Not only did you embarrass me tonight, you embarrassed everything we stand for". I hang my head in shame. He's repeating things I already know. "… You won't be able to fix it. What the hat says is final. Not even the Black family could switch Sirius out of Gryffindor. I suggest you write to our family tonight, and that you make a convincing argument for why they shouldn't be completely disappointed because I will write to them tomorrow and tell them of our Sorting". I nod and bite my tongue hard, willing myself not to cry. "Good". Albiorix stalked back to the Great Hall leaving me by myself. I droop realizing I didn't have a chance to ask him to tell me where I could find the Ravenclaw common room. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I see pure blood doesn't make pure thoughts these days", I look up to a deep voice and see a tall thin boy, sneering down at me. I droop even lower. It's Lucius Malfoy, a seventh year Slytherin. I recognize him immediately; the Malfoy name is well known and respected. He even has a shiny badge which marks him as a prefect. "It's a shame that more and more purebloods are losing sight of their ways. A true member of a noble house knows the importance of being sorted into the correct house at Hogwarts. I wonder how our parents will take the news". I look up sharply at that. "It's always been said in our circles that Albiorix is the inferior sibling, but perhaps we are wrong". /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"I've never talked back to anyone before. No one outside of my family has ever had the audacity to say such mean things to me, and I know better than to ever talk back to my family even when they've said much meaner things. However, I would not be put down by Malfoy. I am still a Selwyn and will do my family proud, "I plan on owling my parents tonight about my placement. I think they will be proud of me- creating a new legacy with our name" I narrow my eyes and lie. My parents won't be happy, but now is not the time to think about that. Malfoy is inserting himself in a situation that does and should not involve him. "As prefect, please show me where I can find the Ravenclaw common room". I made a point to tell him to show me rather than ask. I've learned not to show weakness or others will exploit it. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Malfoy starts "You insolent girl-/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You have to help her! You're a prefect it's your job" interrupts a boy with dark hair. Malfoy and I both turn and find two boys who would be spitting images of each other if not for one being a few centimeters taller than the other. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Ah, the Black brothers. Regulus, you know better than to follow in your brother's footsteps I see" Malfoy smirks towards the shorter boy./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The other again says, "You have to help her! You're a prefect it's your job". /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Malfoy frowns, "Regulus make sure you don't spend time with Sirius, he's a bad influence. You don't need that sort of reputation here at Hogwarts or at home". Regulus turned red and then his complexion paled before glancing at Sirius and us before scampering down some nearby stairs. Towards the dungeons I imagine. Malfoy looks at me and beckons with his hand for me to follow him before striding off in the other direction. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Before I start following him Sirius says to me, "If you ever need anything let me know. We Slytherin rejects need to look out for each other"./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"I give him a nasty look, "I don't need your help. I don't know why the hat thought I would be better in Ravenclaw, but I am not a traitor. I am nothing like Sirius Black. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""My offer will always stand" he replies. I look at him for a moment and turn, walking quickly to catch up with Malfoy. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"After following Malfoy for what felt like ages we stop at a staircase. He points up it and tells me "You just take a left at the knight in armor, a right at the portrait of a cow in a field, another left after going up a second staircase and you should be there just fine". /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Wait, please repeat that" I ask of him. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""No. For a Ravenclaw as smart as yourself I'm sure you can figure it out" is his response and he walks away. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"I go up the steps chanting the directions he gave me under my breath, desperate not to get lost. I turn left at a knight in armor as he told me to do, but after more than 30 minutes of wandering trying to find a portrait of a cow in a field I sit down and lean against the wall and begin to cry. My night at Hogwarts was nothing like I imagined. Everything is wrong and I'm lost. All the emotions I'd been feeling since the hat first shouted Ravenclaw came to the surface. Eventually, I notice feet in front of me, and look up. I begin to cry more; I don't want to get into trouble. It's not my fault! None of this is! I find a shorter man looking at me with sympathy. He's Professor Flitwick! The older Ravenclaws had pointed him out at dinner. He reaches out a hand to me and helps me to stand. "Ah, a first year I see. One of my own I believe! Lost I gather? Remind me of your name". /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"I nod, "Selwyn, Sir. Eirene Selwyn. I want to talk to you. My parents expected me to be a Slytherin. They won't be happy with me being sorted into Ravenclaw". /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He nods understandingly. "Send them a letter tonight and go to bed. If needed I can speak with them. Ravenclaw is an admirable house. You should be proud of your Sorting, not ashamed". He started walking "Here, I'll show you how to get to the common room". /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"I followed him to the Ravenclaw common room and up the stairs marked for girls. I found my dormitory with my things placed near the bed closest to the window. The rest of the girls were already asleep. I grabbed Boris, my milky eagle owl and begin to write a letter to my parents, pushing aside my guilt that the first letter Boris, a gift my parents got me for Hogwarts, would deliver would be the bad news that their daughter isn't a Slytherin./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"emDear Mum and Dad, /em/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"emI hope this letter finds you well. I write with news you may not like… /em/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongemPlease read and review! I hope you liked it! I'm not sure if I'm going to continue you this or not. This has just been an idea floating in my head for the past few weeks. /em/strong/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: 12pt; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; border: none; padding: 0in;"strongemA/N: OC are mine. The rest belongs to J.K. Rowling. /em/strong/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Eirene Selwyn," calls a severe looking woman. I learn later that evening that she was Professor McGonagall. I dutifully trot up and sat on the stool, and allow a floppy black hat, the Sorting Hat, to be placed upon my head. It's silent at first, which is intimidating as for my older brother, Albiorix, a third year said the hat had a brief conversation with him and quickly announced him a Slytherin. I was expecting the same. However, that isn't the case. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"After a few moments of silence, I hear "Hmm you are indeed an interesting one. A Slytherin legacy, in every sense of the word, but I'm not sure if that's where you belong". /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Please Mr. Hat sir, I have to be a Slytherin! My family expects it! I am a Slytherin! I have pure blood and am quite ambitious", I think in response. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Yes, this is true. You would do well in Slytherin. You would also do well in Ravenclaw," replies the hat; "you are ambitious…. But for what exactly"?/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"My response- "Well I am smart and driven and I understand that all knowledge has a purpose, not just the accepted kinds. This truly marks me as a Slytherin"! /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The hat did not agree, and its next words changed everything for me "Your passion for Slytherin is strong, but it stems from a desire to please your family. We both must keep that in mind. What you described though? My dear, what you described is a true mark of…" and no longer in my head came from the hat "RAVENCLAW!" with the shout echoing across the Great Hall. I feel like I was going to get vomit or cry or maybe a combination of the two. I get up and slammed the hat back on the stool. I couldn't speak with it anymore, but I made sure the hat knows how upset I am. As I quickly walk to the table with the wrong colors, colors of blue and bronze I barely hear the polite applause from the table. I'm only able to look at the floor in my shame. It is too terrifying to look over at the Slytherin table and see my brother looking on in disgust, and a bit of concern. Albiorix knows my placement into Ravenclaw is by no means acceptable in our family. What I missed were two pairs of grey eyes watching me with piqued interest as I walked to the table. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"I sit at the table and pretend to watch the rest of the Sorting Ceremony, but all what I could focus on was the Howler I could expect to receive the next day. My father would not be impressed. They had sent one to Albiorix last year after Christmas when they learned he had flooded one of our bathrooms in a poor attempt at trying to create a new potion. For some reason he thought a porcelain toilet would be superior to his own cauldron. He had neglected to tell anyone of the problem before he went back to school leaving my parents with a cantankerous toilet. I know I do not want a Howler. Ever. It's unbecoming. Selwyns are part of the Sacred 28. We have expectations to continue the pureblood ways. After the placement of Sirius Black, the heir to the House of Black into Gryffindor last year I know my placement into Ravenclaw would be taken very poorly. Somehow, we, the purest of the pure, were being told we didn't belong in the house of our ancestors. I was confused, as my blood is pure, and there should have been no reason why I'm not in Slytherin, hat be damned. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The man in the center of the professors' table stands up and catches my attention. I know him from eating many chocolate frogs as Professor Dumbledore. I would be joining Dumbledore in my father's list of people he does not like. The thought makes me sigh heavily, but before I have a chance to dwell on it longer Dumbledore announces, "Before we partake in our feast, a reminder that students are not to enter the Forbidden Forest for their own safety, and for the of the occupants of the forest". He makes a point to look at all of the tables quite seriously before continuing and says "That's it! Enjoy the year and the food at your tables"! Suddenly, all sorts of food pop up in the platters. There are a variety of options, almost all of which would have looked good on any other day, but today I am now far too nervous to eat much of anything. I take mashed potatoes from a platter near me and eat some, but mostly I just go through the motions and try not to stand out too much from my peers. Now, is not the time to make a scene. The girl to my left starts introducing herself "Hi! My name is Julie Cravens! I'm so excited to meet everyone! What's your name again? Starts with a vowel, right"? /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Yes, Eirene Selwyn of the House Selwyn", I reply, while straightening my posture and looking her in the eye. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Julie giggles, "Oh cool". /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"My answer had caught the attention of some older Ravenclaws./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Is your brother the Slytherin, Albiorix Selwyn"? one of them asked with a slight sneer. I wasn't surprised. Albiorix isn't known for being particularly bright. How could someone who shares his genes possibly be a Ravenclaw? My brother is more than happy to be average at best. From what I saw on the train ride to Hogwarts, he's well enough liked within Slytherin. Although we aren't the ancient and noble House of Black, our name does carry respect. Albiorix rides the legacy of the name, sometimes to a fault. When Mum yells at him about his marks, he isn't very bothered and says not to worry because he's a Selwyn and we always succeed. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"I turn to look at the two Ravenclaws and wonder if they're being snooty because Albiorix isn't smart (and doesn't apply himself in school) or if their blood isn't pure and their jealous of our status. I answer rather haughtily, "He is, yes. We get on quite well, thank you," and turn away. Suddenly the overly chipper Julie Cravens doesn't seem too bad I ask her, "What class are you looking forward to the most"? /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Oh, definitely Potions and Herbology! I think being able to combine things from the earth and make something new is very cool. My mum is a healer at St. Mungo's and has always told me about all sorts of potions and what they can do". I smile at her and relax a little. Julie Cravens is at least a half-blood. I know I won't be in Ravenclaw long, but at least I'm not making more mistakes for the time being. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Another girl who I saw get sorted before me jumps into the conversation, "Charms I think will be my favorite…. I'm Pandora Miracle by the way". It took me a moment to place her lilting accent as Welsh. She seems a bit odd, with white-blonde hair that falls past her waist and a constant faraway look in her eyes. Pandora Miracle is a weird name, I think to myself, but then again, I guess it is rather common to be named after myths in addition to things found in the universe. Albiorix and I are named after moons, which is just as normal as a girl named after the woman who unleashed all sorts of evil. On second thought, my dad might think the name is brilliant. I continue chatting with Julie and Pandora while keeping a wary eye on the two older Ravenclaws, whose names I learn are Smith and Menard. Dinner finishes and older students call, "First years gather round we'll show you how to get into the common room". /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Go ahead, my brother will show me how to get to the Ravenclaw common room. I need to speak with him," I tell Julie and Pandora. They nod and head toward the growing group of Ravenclaw first years. I scurry quickly to the Slytherin table where Albiorix has yet to get up. "Let me be the one to tell Mum and Dad". He glances at me and back at his mates then back to me again. He gets up and pulls me outside the hall by my elbow. "Please. It'll be better coming from me. I'm going to talk to Professor Slughorn and Ravenclaw's head of house. They'll understand there's been a mistake," I beg. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Albiorix puts his hand up to stop me "Eirene, do you understand how unacceptable this is! It is an embarrassment to the Selwyn name. Not only did you embarrass me tonight, you embarrassed everything we stand for". I hang my head in shame. He's repeating things I already know. "… You won't be able to fix it. What the hat says is final. Not even the Black family could switch Sirius out of Gryffindor. I suggest you write to our family tonight, and that you make a convincing argument for why they shouldn't be completely disappointed because I will write to them tomorrow and tell them of our Sorting". I nod and bite my tongue hard, willing myself not to cry. "Good". Albiorix stalked back to the Great Hall leaving me by myself. I droop realizing I didn't have a chance to ask him to tell me where I could find the Ravenclaw common room. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""I see pure blood doesn't make pure thoughts these days", I look up to a deep voice and see a tall thin boy, sneering down at me. I droop even lower. It's Lucius Malfoy, a seventh year Slytherin. I recognize him immediately; the Malfoy name is well known and respected. He even has a shiny badge which marks him as a prefect. "It's a shame that more and more purebloods are losing sight of their ways. A true member of a noble house knows the importance of being sorted into the correct house at Hogwarts. I wonder how our parents will take the news". I look up sharply at that. "It's always been said in our circles that Albiorix is the inferior sibling, but perhaps we are wrong". /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"I've never talked back to anyone before. No one outside of my family has ever had the audacity to say such mean things to me, and I know better than to ever talk back to my family even when they've said much meaner things. However, I would not be put down by Malfoy. I am still a Selwyn and will do my family proud, "I plan on owling my parents tonight about my placement. I think they will be proud of me- creating a new legacy with our name" I narrow my eyes and lie. My parents won't be happy, but now is not the time to think about that. Malfoy is inserting himself in a situation that does and should not involve him. "As prefect, please show me where I can find the Ravenclaw common room". I made a point to tell him to show me rather than ask. I've learned not to show weakness or others will exploit it. /p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Malfoy starts "You insolent girl-/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""You have to help her! You're a prefect it's your job" interrupts a boy with dark hair. Malfoy and I both turn and find two boys who would be spitting images of each other if not for one being a few centimeters taller than the other. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Ah, the Black brothers. Regulus, you know better than to follow in your brother's footsteps I see" Malfoy smirks towards the shorter boy./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"The other again says, "You have to help her! You're a prefect it's your job". /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Malfoy frowns, "Regulus make sure you don't spend time with Sirius, he's a bad influence. You don't need that sort of reputation here at Hogwarts or at home". Regulus turned red and then his complexion paled before glancing at Sirius and us before scampering down some nearby stairs. Towards the dungeons I imagine. Malfoy looks at me and beckons with his hand for me to follow him before striding off in the other direction. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"Before I start following him Sirius says to me, "If you ever need anything let me know. We Slytherin rejects need to look out for each other"./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"I give him a nasty look, "I don't need your help. I don't know why the hat thought I would be better in Ravenclaw, but I am not a traitor. I am nothing like Sirius Black. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""My offer will always stand" he replies. I look at him for a moment and turn, walking quickly to catch up with Malfoy. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"After following Malfoy for what felt like ages we stop at a staircase. He points up it and tells me "You just take a left at the knight in armor, a right at the portrait of a cow in a field, another left after going up a second staircase and you should be there just fine". /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""Wait, please repeat that" I ask of him. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;""No. For a Ravenclaw as smart as yourself I'm sure you can figure it out" is his response and he walks away. /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"I go up the steps chanting the directions he gave me under my breath, desperate not to get lost. I turn left at a knight in armor as he told me to do, but after more than 30 minutes of wandering trying to find a portrait of a cow in a field I sit down and lean against the wall and begin to cry. My night at Hogwarts was nothing like I imagined. Everything is wrong and I'm lost. All the emotions I'd been feeling since the hat first shouted Ravenclaw came to the surface. Eventually, I notice feet in front of me, and look up. I begin to cry more; I don't want to get into trouble. It's not my fault! None of this is! I find a shorter man looking at me with sympathy. He's Professor Flitwick! The older Ravenclaws had pointed him out at dinner. He reaches out a hand to me and helps me to stand. "Ah, a first year I see. One of my own I believe! Lost I gather? Remind me of your name". /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"I nod, "Selwyn, Sir. Eirene Selwyn. I want to talk to you. My parents expected me to be a Slytherin. They won't be happy with me being sorted into Ravenclaw". /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"He nods understandingly. "Send them a letter tonight and go to bed. If needed I can speak with them. Ravenclaw is an admirable house. You should be proud of your Sorting, not ashamed". He started walking "Here, I'll show you how to get to the common room". /p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"I followed him to the Ravenclaw common room and up the stairs marked for girls. I found my dormitory with my things placed near the bed closest to the window. The rest of the girls were already asleep. I grabbed Boris, my milky eagle owl and begin to write a letter to my parents, pushing aside my guilt that the first letter Boris, a gift my parents got me for Hogwarts, would deliver would be the bad news that their daughter isn't a Slytherin./p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"emDear Mum and Dad, /em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"em /em/p
p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"emI hope this letter finds you well. I write with news you may not like… /em/p
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p class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt; font-size: medium; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif;"strongemPlease read and review! I hope you liked it! I'm not sure if I'm going to continue you this or not. This has just been an idea floating in my head for the past few weeks. /em/strong/p
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