Pied: Having patches of two or more colors, as various birds and other animals

February 5, 2019

Two scarves hung over the wardrobe door, one deep, emerald green embossed with a silvery serpent, the other rich crimson depicting a roaring golden lion. Whoever would have guessed these two garments could have taken up residence in one trunk? But here they were, and standing between them looking very conflicted, was a twelve-year-old boy with white-blonde hair and gray eyes.

Scropius Malfoy bit his lip as he looked from one scarf to the next. His father would have a fit if he could see him now. Be friends with whoever you must, but never let house loyalties fall be pushed aside. But what about friend loyalties? Al and Rose would both be playing in this match for Gryffindor, and Scorpius had somehow enlarged his definition of friend wide enough to root for Al's brother and their cousins, who would all be playing today in scarlet.

If it were Ravenclaw or Hufflepuff, there would be no question. He would don his red scarf, find a seat by Louis Weasley or Lucy and Roxy, and ignore the disgusted looks many of the other Slytherins shot him across the stands. He was friends with half the team, they couldn't honestly expect him to root against them.

But today it was different. As much as Scorpius often hated being stranded in Slythering when all of his friends were in Gryffindor, when so many of the students were related to either Death Eaters who considered his family traitors or rich, pureblood families who were ashamed and embarrassed by the Malfoys' fall from grace, he could not denounce his house completely. He had been raised in a house of green and silver. One of the few things his father was passionate about was their Slytherin lineage, being cunning and sly where it counted. A part of him was actually proud to be placed in that house, even if so many of its members considered him less than worthy of their attention or courtesy.

And Ian Nott, fifth year captain and Chaser, had really worked hard to put a good team together and keep them in line. He was one of the few people in his house that actually was friendly to Scorpius, and Scorpius thought he deserved at least a shot at the cup.

So he was torn. Who should he support? Who should he sit with? It crossed his mind to ask to borrow a Hufflepuff scarf and forgo this knotty decision all together. He smirked a bit at what his father would think of that. But then he refocused on the two pieces of material staring down at him, as though asking him to choose a side once and for all – green or red, family or friends – and his smirk turned into a scowl of frustration.

He glanced at the clock beside his bed. If he didn't pick soon, he would miss the match all together. That was an idea… but then he imagined Albus's disappointed voice and Rose's fiery expression and knew it wasn't an option. So Scorpius, moving with sudden certainty, as though he'd always known what he was going to do, tugged the emerald scarf down as he fished in the corner of his wardrobe for the red and gold hat Albus's mother had knitted for him and the rest of her children, nieces, and nephews that Christmas (a practice round, she called it), and threw them on as he sprinted out of his dormitory. He could be green and silver and red and gold.

…

Five minutes later, Scorpius sank into the seat beside Olivia Knott, Ian's little sister and the only Slytherin in his year that treated him like a decent person.

"Hey," she said, smiling in greeting, though looking surprised. "Nice accessories. I figured you'd be dressing neutral for this one, though."

Scorpius dropped his head into his hands with a groan. Why hadn't he thought of that?

A/N: Oh Scorp :) Anyway, pretty please review? A huge, HUGE thank you to everyone who has! You guys make my day! I'm really dying for feedback on this story. I've got more favorites than reviews, so a few words would be spectacular! You don't have to write a novel or anything, I just really need to know if you like/don't like where I'm going with this or if you've got some people in mind you'd like to read about or whatever. It's real easy. Just click that little button down there. :)