****
Serious decisions, Zacharias Smith found, required a great deal of effort on his part: effort that he was not willing to give. First there came the point at which he must weigh up his options, laboriously comparing their merits. This had always presented a discouragement.
"There is great cunning in your mind, and the willingness to place yourself above others; you would find success in Slytherin house." The voice of the sorting hat echoed in his mind. When he didn't respond, it continued. "Not so fond of that idea, eh? Well how about Gryffindor if you're not so keen on Slytherin?"
Were he in Gryffindor there would be expectations of bravery or loyalty, neither of which Zacharias felt any real inclination towards. If he had to be in Slytherin then there would be a similar stress placed on the value of ambition. It all seemed so much effort, perhaps too much effort. As though sensing his thoughts, the hat made its decision.
"HUFFLEPUFF!" When its voice had resounded throughout the hall, Zacharias had been relieved. In the house he had been sorted into there was no need to embody either extreme and neither were there the same politics to be dealt with. It would be much easier in Hufflepuff. He smiled lazily as he sank onto the bench, leaning against the table and allowing it to support his weight.
After a choice had been reached there came a point at which one had to defend one's beliefs. This, if possible, was more taxing to Zacharias than the first part of the decision making process. He didn't understand why it was necessary to do anything other than sit back and watch events play out before his eyes. Situations had a habit of escalating quickly when he was at his most apathetic.
The most recent choice of any magnitude that Zacharias had been forced to make was to opt out of the Battle of Hogwarts. With a clarity he had never experienced before, Zacharias knew that preserving his own life was going to be a lot less effort if he followed the evacuees instead of risking perilous encounters with the Death Eaters. When he had finally reached home and fallen into bed exhausted, Zacharias had slept soundly as the battle raged elsewhere.
****
Thanks for reading. Please review.