Do It Like A Slytherin

3

I wake up the next morning with a cold chill. I shiver and curl up into my blankets some more. I squint at my alarm clock and see its 4 in the morning. I groan and quietly get out of bed. I braid my hair fast and begin to make my way silently to the living room of the dorm and see Lily laying on the couch drifting in and out of consciousness. She opens her eyes and smiles weakly at me and whispers, "What are you doing up this early?" I grab my blanket and plop it on her when I see her shiver slightly.

"I got it. You go get some sleep. I'll watch the door for you." She snorts and says as she gets up, "What door? It's a doorway in a dungeon that smells of mold and sounds like something dripping from the bathrooms upstairs."

I nod in agreement as she trudges off to bed. I stare at the doorway as if waiting for something to happen. I sigh and turn to the merpeople looking at me through the glass and I sign to them, "What are you looking at?" They sign back, "Why are you watching the doorway?" I shake my head and sign, "Some Griffindors messed up our door so now we have to wait to get a new one. I have to watch for Griffindors or something in the dungeons getting out."

They chatter to each other then look at me and sign a quick goodbye before they swim off. I sigh again and walk back. Finally at 5, Jason a first year like me takes his shift. He says as we switch spots, "You know its not fair. I saw who did that to our door. He's in my potions."

I shake my head and sigh, "Please don't do anything rash. Be smart and clever with it. Think about the consequences. If you don't like the effect don't do it."

He nods thoughtfully. "Goodnight." I hum in response and trudge back to bed.

My alarm goes off and I walk to the bathroom to get ready. I get dressed into my normal uniform and walk to breakfast. I am about to turn the corner when a Griffindor runs straight into me, knocking us both to the ground. He is practically on top of me and we both groan.

He shakes his head and says, "Sorry, wasn't looking Slytherin." I don't happen to be in a great mood so I just push him off and stand up and respond, "My name isn't Slytherin, so don't call me that. It's Gaia, get it right Griffindor."

He gets up clumsy and snaps back at me, "How come you can call me Griffindor and I can't call you by your house name?" I roll my eyes and bite back a, 'you made Slytherins seem like villains so its an insult in a way now.' I respond with a "Half so you know how it feels, and because I have no idea what your name is."

He makes this dumb expression like he was about to sneeze. "It's Daniel." I shake my head and respond, "Great. Daniel, please try not to run me over and remember to use your eyes sometimes."

I turn around and walk to my next class as Lily starts talking Daniel forgetting completely about breakfast. I reach my transfiguration class at the same time as Jack. He beams at me and I send him a tired smile. He plops down next to me and asks, "what is it? You seem exhausted. Bad night?"

I scoff and respond with a shrug. "Something like that." He raises an eyebrow and look at me. "Meaning?" I sigh and turn to him. "The Griffindors screwed up our door so they took it away to get a new one so in the meantime some students take shifts watching the door to make sure no one tries sneaking in. Or sneaking in. But it is extremely cold..."

He pats my hand as silent support. "I'm here. What can the Hufflepuffs do?" I open my mouth to respond but the class begins.

Finally the class ends and we head off in separate directions until the end of the day rolls around. I start to head to the dorms and grab my athletic bag and broom. I use some shortcuts within the dorm and make it to the field in half the time. I head to the locker room and change into my Slytherin uniform. I walk to the field and do a quick lap with my broom while I wait for Jack.