Scarlett Potter

The sorting hat's choice

Scarlett Potter stood in the Great Hall, feeling the weight of hundreds of curious eyes on her. The golden light of the floating candles flickered above, casting a warm glow over the long tables where the older students sat, watching her and the rest of the first years in eager anticipation.

"Potter, Scarlett," Professor McGonagall called, her voice steady and calm.

Scarlett took a deep breath and stepped forward, trying to ignore the whispers that broke out around her. She could feel a mixture of excitement and nerves swirling in her stomach as she approached the stool. Her brother Harry had told her about his own sorting, and though he'd ended up in Gryffindor, part of her couldn't help but wonder—would she follow in his footsteps, or would the Sorting Hat have something else in mind for her?

Sitting down, Scarlett felt the weight of the hat as it slipped over her eyes. Everything around her disappeared as the hat began to murmur in her ear.

"Hmmm... very interesting," it mused. "Quite the sharp mind you've got there, and a touch of ambition too... oh, and bravery, I see. Fiercely loyal as well."

Scarlett waited, her hands clenched into fists under her robes.

"You could do well in several houses," the hat continued, pausing thoughtfully. "Yes, you'd thrive in Gryffindor with the rest of your family. But then again..." It chuckled softly, as though amused. "There's something about you that's suited for Slytherin."

Scarlett's heart skipped. Slytherin? She'd heard her brother's stories, some filled with tension and rivalry between Gryffindor and Slytherin, and of course, she thought of Draco Malfoy. Just the thought of being in the same house as him set her on edge, though there was an odd curiosity mixed in.

Would it be so bad to stand out? she wondered. To make my own mark?

The hat seemed to sense her thoughts. "Ah, there's ambition, yes... and a desire to be more than just 'Potter's sister.' Very well, I know just where to place you."

It raised its voice for all to hear.

"SLYTHERIN!"

Scarlett felt her heart pound as she removed the hat and slid off the stool, catching a mix of reactions from the crowd. Her brother, sitting at the Gryffindor table, looked stunned for a moment, but then gave her an encouraging nod, his green eyes gleaming with pride.

At the Slytherin table, however, Draco Malfoy looked entirely too smug, a smirk spreading across his face as he watched her approach. She could see the glint in his eyes, a challenge and a curiosity that made her feel both wary and... intrigued.

"Welcome to Slytherin, Potter," he said as she took a seat across from him. "I told you we'd make a fine addition to our house."

Scarlett rolled her eyes, her lips twitching up in a half-smile. "You think I'll fit in, do you?"

Draco leaned in just slightly, his voice dropping to a low whisper. "Oh, I know you will. I can see it in you already."

Scarlett arched a brow, fighting the strange thrill of excitement his words brought. She looked around at her new housemates, some friendly, some curious, and others appraising her with that distinct Slytherin gaze. She'd just started her Hogwarts journey, but she could already tell it would be anything but predictable.

With Draco watching her every move, and her own curiosity pulling her deeper into the mystery that was Slytherin House, Scarlett felt a thrill. This was her chance to carve her own path in the shadow of the Potter legacy—and she was ready to see just how far it would take her.

And so Scarlett's story in Slytherin begins, as she navigates her new house and unexpected connections with Draco and her fellow Slytherins.