The Art of Deception

Chapter 7

"Aurelia Potter!" McGonagall called, her voice cutting through the silence of the hall.

Aurelia sat on the stool, feeling the weight of the Sorting Hat settle on her head. It adjusted itself, then fell silent, as if trying to figure out just where to place her.

"Well, well," the Sorting Hat muttered, its voice soft but thoughtful. "What do we have here? Ambition, no doubt. And cleverness, with a touch of mischief. You're not one for rules, are you?"

Aurelia smirked, whispering back, "Nah, rules are for people who like to play by the book."

The Sorting Hat chuckled, "Ah, but what about bravery? Your courage is hidden under that confident, sarcastic shell. You could have a great deal of it, if you chose to show it. And your cunning... that's a Slytherin trait if I ever saw one."

"Well, I'm definitely not a Hufflepuff," she muttered, almost to herself.

"True, true," the Sorting Hat replied. "You're sharp, and people are already drawn to you, but you'll need to use that talent wisely. Hmm... you'd do well in many houses. But where to put you?"

Aurelia raised her eyebrows, her usual playful confidence shining through. "Slytherin sounds good. I'm all for getting what I want."

"Ah, I see... Yes, Slytherin it is, then!"

The Slytherin table gave a polite but subdued round of applause, and Aurelia stood, grinning confidently as she made her way toward the table. Her footsteps were light, and she gave a cheeky wave to her twin, who was sitting at the Gryffindor table.

As she approached the Slytherin table, a blonde girl with a cool, calculating gaze looked up at her. Daphne Greengrass, a fellow first-year, smiled faintly and gave a small nod of acknowledgment.

"Hey," Daphne said, her voice calm and poised. "I'm Daphne."

Aurelia raised an eyebrow, her usual playful grin creeping onto her face. "Aurelia Potter. Looks like we're housemates, huh?"

Daphne smiled, but it was brief and thoughtful. "Yeah. Guess we're in it together now," she said, her tone not unfriendly but carrying a quiet certainty. "Slytherin's all about... well, making sure you're seen in the right way. You'll figure it out."

Aurelia shrugged, sitting down at the table. "I'm good at figuring things out," she said breezily. "So, what's this house like? Any rules I should know about?"

Daphne smirked lightly, leaning back in her seat. "We don't talk about rules. Just play the game, and you'll do fine."

Before Aurelia could reply, a dark-haired boy at the table, Theo Nott, glanced up from his plate with a subtle, calculating look in his eyes.

"Slytherin's full of people who know how to get what they want," Theo said, his voice low but steady. "You'll want to stay sharp."

Aurelia gave him a sly grin. "Oh, I'm always sharp."

Daphne raised an eyebrow at the exchange, looking amused. "You'll do fine, Aurelia. Just remember, it's all about making connections here."

Aurelia leaned back, her eyes scanning the table, a sense of satisfaction settling in her chest. She was in Slytherin now—no turning back.

The feast continued, the chatter around them rising as the first-years found their places and began settling in. Aurelia glanced around, already sizing up her new housemates. She had a feeling that, with the right strategy, she could make this work to her advantage. And if anyone thought she was just another first-year, they'd be in for a surprise.

The feast was in full swing, and Aurelia sat between Daphne and Theodore, feeling the hum of excitement in the air as the first-years settled in. For her, this was all still magical—literally and figuratively—but she could tell that her new friends weren't quite as awestruck as she was.