AN: Enjoy!

After leaving Vision for the day, Wanda made up her mind to send a letter to the Bartons right away, preparing her guardians in advance for the fact that they may have an extra animal to care for that coming Summer. With Gamora already on her arm, Wanda made a quick stop by the Slytherin Common room to fetch some parchment, ink, and a quill.

The Common room was mostly empty but for a few older students doing homework, including the female Slytherin Fifth-Year Prefect, Natasha Romanoff.

"Hey" said Natasha, startling Wanda, who wasn't expecting any sort of acknowledgement from the older girl, "You're the girl everyone gossips about. The one who's besties with the little Hufflepuff.

"What's it to you?" Wanda bristled. She knew the gossip occurred, and she now mostly ignored it, but she couldn't pretend it didn't bother her, a little.

"Hey, no judgement here" Natasha raised her hands. "In fact, I say good on you. You know, my best friend is Bruce Banner, the Ravenclaw Prefect.."

"Yeah.." Well, Wanda didn't actually know, but she'd seen the pair chatting in the Library once or twice, so it wasn't too difficult to work out. However, she didn't understand why Natasha was telling her this. While inter-house best-friendships were relatively rare (though less so now than before the war), they were not unheard of, and a Slytherin/Ravenclaw pair was nowhere near as odd as a Slytherin and a Hufflepuff.. Not that Wanda cared what anyone else thought.

"Well, let me tell you a little secret, kid. Something I'm pretty sure no-one else knows."

"What?" Wanda gulped, slightly nervous and not entirely sure what to expect when Nat tugged her into the small corridor leading to the dorms, out of earshot of the few other students. Gamora fluttered, still perched on her arm.

"Bruce was almost a Hufflepuff" said Natasha.

"Huh?" Wanda blinked. She didn't know what she'd been expecting Nat to say, but it definitely wasn't that.

"He was a hat-stall" The older girl continued, tucking a lock of red hair behind her ear. "Just a minor one, only a few minutes, but he took longer than anyone else in our year. The Sorting Hat was stuck between Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, until Bruce spouted something about making the most logical decision, and so the hat picked Ravenclaw. I understand why he was nearly Hufflepuff though, all the traits are in him.."

"Right.." Wanda was still confused. "Um, why are you telling me this?"

"Bruce only told me the Hat story last summer, after we got our Prefect badges" Nat continued. "Like he was worried I'd look at him differently once he told me. It sucks that he thought that, and it hurts, a little.. But the worst bit is that I get why he was worried. Slythers and Puffs.. you don't usually see them hanging out that often."

"I know that" Wanda huffed. "But.."

"Let me finish, kid. I'm on your side. What Bruce told me.. it made me think. The Houses.. they shouldn't matter as much as they do. My point is, if anyone bothers you and your little Hufflepuff.."

"Vision."

"Right. Well, if anyone ever does bother you and Vision, just know that you've got a Prefect to back you up.. and between you and me" Natasha winked, "Us Slytherins know all the best hexes."

Wanda relaxed then, laughing.

"Thanks, I'll keep that in mind."

Departing the Slytherin Common Room in a rather good mood after her unexpected but welcome conversation with Natasha, Wanda headed up to the Owlery, giving Gamora a treat before sending her off with her letter Home.

Wanda had written quite a lot about Vision in the letter. She had mentioned him before, but she figured that if Clint and Laura knew his whole story, it would be more difficult for them to say no to her request that they look after his much-loved pet over Summer.

Gamora returned at Breakfast the following Morning, and Wanda rewarded her with a scrap of bacon from her plate before sending her back to the Owlery. However, instead of leaving the Great Hall, Wanda watched her pet flutter over and land at the Hufflepuff table, where Vision smiled, scratched the owl's head, and offered her another handful of breakfast scraps. When Gamora flew off, Vision turned towards Wanda and waved, grinning.

Wanda waved back, chuckling, then opened her letter, immediately recognising Laura's handwriting. She had replied that they would be happy to care for Nebula over Summer. However, that was a while off. Christmas was relatively soon, and if her new little friend wanted, he was very welcome to come spend the holiday with them.

Wanda looked over at Vision, who seemed as lonely at his House Table as she usually was at hers, and smiled.

Wanda sat through her first class of the day a little distracted, until she was able to catch up with Vision at morning break.

"Hey, Vizh" she grinned, tapping his shoulder.

"Hello, Wanda" He turned to face her, smiling. "Good class?"

"I don't know, I was a little distracted.. But I have good news! Laura says I can keep Nebula over Summer."

"You can? That's brilliant!" Vision's eyes lit up. Knowing that Nebula had somewhere safe to go when he returned to the Orphanage at the end of the School year.

"She also asked if you wanted to spend Christmas with us?"

"Christmas?" Vision's heart leapt.

"It's okay if you'd rather not" Wanda blushed. "I know Christmas at Hogwarts is supposed to be pretty cool.."

"I know it is, but.." Vision blushed himself, "I think it would be much more fun to spend it with you."

"Great!" Wanda's own eyes lit up. "I'll write back to Laura and tell her you're coming. If I go now, I can make it to the Owlery before break ends.. See you in Potions, Vizh!"

"Yeah.. See you" Vision watched Wanda hurry off, then headed back down towards the Hufflepuff Common Room with a spring in his step, a bright smile spreading over his face.

For the first time ever, he had somewhere to go for Christmas.