Strange Beginnings

Chapter III

The scrambled eggs were tossed around the plate with the fork in Y/N's hand. It wasn't that they weren't hungry and wouldn't regret not eating later but first day anxiety made the food look unappealing and promised to make them throw up if they tried to eat it. They managed to chew on a piece of lightly buttered toast and sip on some juice. Alex on their right had already downed two helpings of eggs, a portion and a half of potatoes, and was now enjoying a pumpkin pasty with his tea.

Y/N shook their head, "How?" they stated more than asked.

"I don't have first day jitters." he smirked.

Halfway through the slice of bread Cedric joined them at the Slytherin table. His smile beamed like the morning light mimicked on the ceiling and filtering through the windows. Y/N never understood how he could be so chipper in the morning. He wrapped his arms around their head and gave them a hug, earning a few judging glances from the other green tied students but he didn't care. Plopping down with his back to the table on Y/N's left he bid the two good morning.

"What's your first class Y/N?" Cedric asked, taking a strawberry jam lathered piece of bread for himself.

"Potions with professor Snape." They mumbled.

Cedric and Alexander shared a knowing look from across the first year.

"Sit in the second or first row and make sure to take lots of notes." Alex recommended. 

A couple minutes later the first warning bell rang through the school. Y/N tossed the remaining crust onto their plate and took one last sip of their drink. Wanting to get to class a little early to get a good seat, they left Cedric and Alex to chat amongst themselves and took off towards the classroom. They made one wrong turn but easily retraced their steps, coming up to the potions room where lots of students were already entering. As they surveyed the desk's layout they spotted the familiar brown haired girl. Weaving past students already sitting down and pulling out parchment and inkwells Y/N made their way to the girl.

"Hey, Hermione." Y/N greeted with a shy smile. 

"Oh, h-hey Y/N." She hesitated. 

They held the top of the chair next to her, "Is it alright if-" but was cut short by a hand grabbing their shoulder.

"You don't want to sit by her Y/L/N. Stick with your own kind." 

Draco Malfoy, the annoying prat from yesterday, pulled Y/N away from the frizzy haired Gryffindor. They were too shocked at the abruptness of his actions to resist but when they had freed themselves from his grip the seat next to Hermione was taken, and by Harry Potter nonetheless. They couldn't possibly ask to switch seats with the Boy Who Lived. Slightly dismayed, they sat in the last open seat next to their least favorite house mate and began to pull supplies from their sack. 

Hermione looked at the back of Y/N's head with pursed lips and a hurt expression. She had liked her fellow first year from the moment they met in the bookshop and was confident they could make great friends. Even after Y/N had been sorted into the stereotypically purist house Hermione hoped they would continue to be cordial and friendly. However, she was well aware of what Draco meant by "their kind", and it seemed to her that Y/N didn't disagree with that viewpoint. 

~~~

The first week felt ten times longer than it should have. The second was the same, and the third was no different. However, the first year's flying lessons started today and Y/N was anxious for the class. Playing two-man quittage back at home with Cedric, Y/N had gotten a head start on the basics like others they assumed. The class was the first one on the schedule and Y/N ate a healthy appetite's worth.