Draco's Wife

The Importance

After my... interesting... conversation with the Malfoy boy, the old lady with the hat told us we could all go into the Great hall. Those stories about the hall being amazing weren't lies. The ceiling, well there actually wasn't a ceiling, but the space above our heads was sprinkled with floating candles and the beautiful night sky was glimmering behind them. The hall itself had 4 very long tables that lead to a stage with a bunch of chairs where the teachers were sitting. I followed the first-year pack to the fronts of the tables. The first order of business was to sort everyone with a magical sorting hat. I, like everyone around me, looked nervous and didn't know exactly what was going to happen. We had been told many stories; from our parents, from our siblings, but they never told us the real feelings that you get when you stand in line... waiting for your future to unfold. I was eleven years old and in just moments I was to be told where I would put my allegiance... for 7 years... and probably more.

The grey-haired lady began to call the names. The first girl to go seemed excited. She was sorted into Hufflepuff and the table cheered. I clapped along with everyone, but shortly after the third name had been called, I slowly drifted into not paying attention. My last name was Greengrass, so I wasn't at the end, but I wasn't at the beginning either.

"Gryffindor... Gryffindor... Ravenclaw... Hufflepuff... Ravenclaw... Hufflepuff... Slytherin," the last one got my attention. I looked up to see a potential classmate of the coming year. Unfortunately, it was a very pretty, tall girl who seemed way too confident as she strolled her way to the table. I wasn't quick to judge, but I didn't think I would like this girl. I always had a hard time making friends with people who didn't understand me...

Loads of other names were called and the students were sorted. I saw more of my potential classmates. Regular looking people mind you. Some cute boys and some nice-looking girls that I could see myself potentially becoming friends with. None of my friends from the train were put into Slytherin. I instantly realized that I would have to make friends fast; this was going to be a problem as I wasn't very good at that, but I had no more time to worry about it. Suddenly, my name was called.

"Greengrass, Astoria," the lady called. It only surprised me because I wasn't paying attention and the only reason I knew that my name was called was because the person behind me nudged me. I stood up from my chair hesitantly and walked up to the sorting hat. The old lady was smiling at me. She told me to sit down on the stool. As I begin to sit I start to think about how I was going to be sorted. I wouldn't have been disappointed if I was sorted into another house, but I really wanted to be in Slytherin.

"Ohh what do we have here?" The hat posed, "another wanting more... the feeling of... needing achievement," it sang. At first, I was unsure what the hat meant, but the realization quickly hit me. I smirked a little bit, "Ahh, but I see a good future for this one, but is she sure that she can succeed in this house?" It inquired. In the moment I knew I couldn't changing my mind about Slytherin. I wanted to be there. I needed to succeed there.

"Slytherin!" It proclaimed.

I have always wished that it said it sooner.

I stood up smiling and walked to the table with my cheering housemates. I was happy with the hats decision. I was happy with my decision. From that day on I would favour the color green, have a healthy relationship with snakes, and get the occasional side eye from people in other houses. Hey, the cunning folk have to be cunning sometimes to live up to their name. I walked to the table I would be eating at all year long. They cheered louder when I came to sit down. I smiled and picked the next available seat, next to another female first year. She looked, well, bored with the whole process if I'm going to be honest.