Not Just Our Story

Chapter 2: Not What I Expected...

Draco Malfoy

I confidently stepped forward and sat on the stool. No sooner had the hat touched my hair, it cried, "SLYTHERIN!" I went over to the Slytherin table where they politely applauded me. The Slytherin prefect shook my hand as I sat next to Crabbe and Goyle. Then, an unsettling ghost appeared beside me. And believe me, I was not happy with his presence.

"Nott, Theodore!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

Nott came over and we silently nodded to each other as he received the same welcome from the older students and sat across the table.

"Parkinson, Pansy!"

"SLYTHERIN!"

A hard-faced girl strode over to the table and took the seat in front of me. She cast a wary eye at the ghost beside me. I couldn't help but watch him too. He had a skeletal face with eyes that spoke of emptiness and death. His robes were stained with silver blood. I wanted to ask how he got covered in it, but his countenance threatened to harm anyone who'd dare.

After Perks, Sally-Ann, it was only a matter of time before Professor McGonagall shouts...

"Potter, Harriet!"

All heads turned at the sound of her name.

"Potter, did she say?"

"The Harriet Potter?"

I had to resist, but curiosity got the better of me. I allowed the corner of my eye to peer at the small girl who sat on the stool. The hat fell over her eyes and we all waited. It took a while for the hat to decide which House she should join. This only added to the suspense, and I saw a few people sit on the edge of their seats or stand with one knee resting on the bench. I didn't know whether to laugh, roll my eyes, or both. A part of me wished she'd join Slytherin, but... that's not going to happen. Several minutes passed... she officially became a Hatstall... then...

"GRYFFINDOR!"

The hall exploded in a boisterous applause. She staggered to the Gryffindor table, absolutely petrified as they all greeted her. One of the Weasleys who wore a prefect badge got up and vigorously shook her hand, while the other Weasleys (twins, to be precise) yelled, "We got Potter! We got Potter!"

The Gryffindor ghost, who, might I add, didn't look as frightful as the ghost I'm stuck with, patted her arm as she sat opposite to him. She bashfully smiled before hiding her face, and hunched so low she could almost disappear beneath the table. 

Now, I couldn't help but ask. Why Gryffindor?

"Why the long face?"

I looked up and saw the girl named Parkinson staring hard at me. Goyle spoke up. "He's just mad that Potter's not in Slytherin." 

"No I'm not," I replied. "Besides, it doesn't matter."

"Have you met her?" Parkinson asked.

"Of course I did. She's nice enough, though not very talkative."

"I see," she said as she glanced at her. "She doesn't look like she's used to attention, though."

"Isn't she used to it?" Nott asked. "I thought she's spoiled and everything because she's Harriet Potter."

I raised my eyebrows, remembering her pitiful figure at Madam Malkin's. "Spoiled?"

"Zabini, Blaise!"

"Is he the last one?"

"I think so."

"SLYTHERIN!"