Being the only Slytherin in a household full of Gryffindors left Emilia Costello feeling an outcast even on her first day at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. So, odds only proved worse for her when she was forced to endure the endless tor...
Oops! This image does not follow our content guidelines. To continue publishing, please remove it or upload a different image.
I use my fork to push food around my plate as a plump woman in pink with an overly-perky voice who claims to be from the Ministry gives an agonizing speech in front of Dumbledore's podium.
Daphne and Astoria quietly giggle on either side of me as an especially grumpy Pansy Parkinson hisses at them to be quiet. Vincent Crabbe sits directly across from me with a dopey look on his face with a silent Blaise Zabini to his left and uninterested Gregory Goyle to his right, and finally, to his right, sits Malfoy.
Strangely, I hadn't heard one derogatory word from him since I got off the train. He seemed rather quiet. Well, for him, anyway.
I might get through a whole day with him only calling me a filthy blood traitor one time. I think it might be a record.
When Dumbledore dismisses us, I rise abruptly, hiking my bag up over my shoulder, and narrowly missing a nervous first year.
I choose to find my way to the library before bed, in hopes of finding Hermione, as well as avoiding Malfoy's snarky laughter and torture of the poor first-years in his new position as prefect.
"Where're you off to, Emilia?" Harry appears beside me, his voice incredibly kind. The corners of my mouth turn up only slightly at the boy, who's clearly stressed and exhausted, but is still taking the time to be nice to me.
"I was going to the library to avoid Malfoy, although now I realize that I feel rather tired." I admit truthfully, stopping in the middle of the hallway.
"Has he been bothering you already?" He questions, clenching his fist slightly, and I suddenly remember how defensive he gets when Malfoy is mentioned, especially in regards to Hermione and I, his main subjects of torment.
"Well, actually, the worst of it was on the train earlier when he called me a blood-traitor, but it's rather small compared to his teasing in the past." I explain. I make the decision to turn around and head back to the dungeons. Malfoy has likely already retreated to the boy's dormitories as it's rather late.
Harry mumbles something and follows me, probably deciding to escort me back, for which I'm thankful.
"Don't let him bother you this year, yeah? He's a nuisance, really. You don't deserve it at all." He comforts sweetly, and I awkwardly smile.
"Thanks Harry." I stop in front of the secret entrance to the Slytherin dormitory. Harry bites his lip and nods silently, before muttering a quiet goodnight and quickly disappearing down the hallway to make curfew.
I sigh, retreating into the unnaturally quiet chambers, a strong sense of exhaustion suddenly waving over me.
-
When most of the things from my trunk are placed where they belong in my section of the girl's dormitory, I settle in my bed with an old copy of The Daily Prophet that my father had originally sent to Darius.
"Have you ever seen the way he looks at me, Daphne? You've got to be blind!" Pansy scoffs irritably. Daphne makes a disapproving noise and Astoria groans.
"I guess if anyone were to notice it'd be you. You never take your eyes off him!" Daphne teases, giggling as soon as she's finished. By now, my eyes have drifted from the paper resting on my lap and to the pair of arguing girls. Pansy frowns, finally looking at me.
"Do you think Draco likes me, Costello?" She asks.
Knowing full well that he really doesn't, I grin cheekily, which she mistakes as a look of kindness and sincerity.
"Yeah, he does. A lot. I'm sure of it." I assure, ignoring Daphne's look of surprise.
"You best get your eyes checked." Pansy sends a pointed look to my friend, turning over in her bed to signal she's going to sleep with a satisfied harrumph.
"You've got to be joking!" Daphne mouths, and I grin, trying desperately not to bust out laughing right on the spot.
Then, I bid my friend a quiet goodnight and turn over in my bed as well. Lessons will start tomorrow.
-
this one was much shorter but i felt the next part would fit the next chapter much better :)
please, anyone out there let me know what you think! and if i'm getting anything wrong, feel free the let me know or correct me.
and, if you like it, make sure to let me know in the votes and comments! it means a ton.
