Where Your Loyalties Lie

Chapter Five: I Know Your Secret

Even though it was only the first week back, the teachers had loaded us with homework and had stressed the importance of final exams. Hermione had organized a study session for Ron, Harry, Fred, George, Dean Thomas, Seamus Finnigan, and I to get our homework done while being in the presence of people who can help you if you need it.

When I arrived at the library on the first Saturday back, it was only me and Hermione who showed up. "Nice shirt," was the first thing that she said to me. I was wearing the Gryffindor tee that Harry gave me for Christmas.

"Thanks. Harry gave it to me for Christmas as a joke, but I thought I should actually wear it." She laughed as we began our work.

By lunch, we had made great progress and had half of our homework done. As we were walking to the Great Hall, I pulled out my white hooded sweatshirt to put on in order to hide my Gryffindor tee from my fellow Slytherins. Hermione snatched it from me before I got it over my head.

"Hey, give it back!" I whined as I tried to grab it.

"No. I think that the Slytherins would love to see you in that shirt."

"Hermione!"

"I'll give it back after lunch."

"But-"

"After lunch."

"Fine," I sighed as I prepared myself for the embarrassing task ahead.

There was only one way to get through this quickly. I had to eat fast. I took my regular seat next to Draco and across from Maddie and began eating right away.

"Someone's hungry. Have fun doing homework? Or was it so boring that-" Draco noticed the shirt. "WHY ARE YOU WEARING A GRYFFINDOR SHIRT?" He yelled way too loudly.

I heard everyone become silent and felt eyes staring at me from every direction. Instead of using my long hair as a curtain to hide my red face, I tried to answer him. "Well... Um... You see..." I couldn't find words to explain why. Turning to look over at the Gryffindor table I saw Harry, Ron, Fred, George, and Hermione laughing as Hermione held up my sweatshirt. "Harry gave it to me for Christmas so I thought I'd wear it," I finally said. "You know, as a joke." Draco's face relaxed.

"Oh alright. As long as it's not because you like Gryffindor," He laughed. As if it was funny. When, to me, it clearly wasn't.

"I do like Gryffindor," I began, not sure what I was doing. "It isn't a bad house. None of the houses are bad, and I am SICK of this house RIVALRY!" I was yelling now. Everyone was listening. It was like I had no control over my mouth, or the rest of my body for that matter as I felt myself stand up from the table. "I hate Gryffindors! They think they're so cool because they're in Harry Potter's house! I hate Slytherins! They think they're the best because they're all pure-bloods!" I mocked. "Well guess what? I'M IN SLYTHERIN, AND I'M A MUGGLE-BORN! There are probably some half-blood Slytherins too. And Gryffindors do not think that they're cool because Harry Potter's in their house. Harry is a normal student like the rest of us. SO STOP BASHING OTHER HOUSES!"

By the time I was done, there was an eerie silence over the Great Hall. I walked over to Hermione, who looked terrified, and asked for my sweatshirt back. She handed it over with no objection. I gave Draco one last glare before I ran out of the Great Hall.

I stopped in the corridor to think of where to go. Not to the common room or my dorm. The Astronomy Tower would have to do. Hearing people getting up to leave the Great Hall, I hurried.

When I got to the tower, I sat down and cried for hours. I embarrassed myself way farther than it would've been if I had just kept my mouth shut after explaining the whole shirt thing. After it became impossible to produce more tears, I just sat there. I heard footsteps. I don't care. Let a professor find me and take me to Dumbledore's office, I thought.