And Then I Met You

Golden... Losers?

It's seven in the morning and I'm sitting at the Slytherin table with Jenna, having a quick breakfast before heading off to my very first transfigurations lesson. 

A trio of Gryffindor students enter the room, chatting loudly. 

I turn to Jenna, who is busy eating a bowl of cornflakes. "Hey, I'm gonna go say hi to them." 

Her eyes shoot up to meet mine within a second. "Why? They're Gryffindors...". 

I shrug. "Why not? They seem fun and I'm sure I'll have some classes with them in the future. Besides, I was almost sorted into their house". 

Jenna turns back to her cornflakes, giving me a nonchalant nod. 

I get up and walk towards the table. A girl with bushy brown hair and chestnut eyes makes eye contact with me. 

Her smile falters. 

I smile at the trio. "I'm Madison. I think we might have some classes together this year." 

They look puzzled. 

A boy with dark brown hair and round glasses breaks the silence. "Interesting, a Slytherin who isn't teasing or threatening us... An unexpected surprise, though a pleasant one", he jokes as he gets up to offer me his hand. "I'm Harry. Harry Potter." 

So that's the boy who also had difficulties with the sorting ceremony... 

Harry points at the girl. "This is Hermione". 

Hermione flashes a half smile, before returning to her book. 

Then Harry points at the boy with ginger hair, who is eating a banana. "And this is Ron". 

He too finally breaks a smile, then gestures towards a seat at the table. 

"I have never seen anything like that before!", Hermione exclaims as I sit down next to her. She gently closes her book, before turning to face me. "The sorting hat... couldn't place you!" She looks mystified, but curious, and her eyebrows furrow as she tries to come up with a solution to what happened. 

Harry laughs. "Hermione loves a good mystery. It's probably killing her, not knowing the details of your sorting adventure", he winks at Hermione who shoots him a weak glare, before furrowing her brows once again. 

Ron peels another banana. I glance over and notice that he has a whole pile of peels on the plate beside him; along with three slices of toast. 

Hermione notices my bewildered expression and chuckles. "Ron is always hungry, so if you ever need a snack, you can be almost certain that he's carrying some chocolates or pretzels in his robe". She leans in and whispers, "Just don't accept any candies, because they could be puking pastilles". 

I smile, grateful for Hermione's advice, though mildly confused about what the hell a puking pastille is. 

"So what did the sorting hat say?", Hermione bursts out. "When it lowered its voice! Surely something important." 

I chuckle. "Well, that's most likely confidential, but I CAN tell you that it-" 

"Good morning, fellow Slytherins!" 

Our friendly conversation is interrupted by an all too familiar student entering the room. 

Draco's voice is dripping with sarcasm as he announces his presence to the entirety of the great hall. 

His eyes meet mine, and after a few moments of hesitation, he decides to stroll over, a sneer plastered on his face.  

"What's this?", he asks, leaning against the table. "Our newest Slytherin spending some quality time with these... disgraceful, dirty Gryffindors?". 

"Sod off Malfoy", Hermione mutters. 

"Oh shut up, mud-blood", Draco sneers at her, spitting the word as if it's bad taste he wants to get rid of. 

In response, Hermione shrugs together, lips tightly pursed. 

Draco turns his head to look at me again. "I wouldn't waste your time on these imbeciles. None of them are worth it." His gaze wanders over to Hermione. "Especially the mud-blood." 

I smile sweetly. "Thank you Malfoy, but I think I know which people to stay away from, and quite frankly, I don't give a damn about someone's blood type."  

He raises his eyebrows, a smirk forming on his face. "Someone is feisty...", he leans in and lowers his voice, "Go and spend time with the losers Monroe, but you'll be a disgrace to all Slytherins..." 

"Well you're not all too different from Pansy, are you?", I mumble. "I'm starting to wonder if there's an unwritten law about being an arse when it comes to being sorted into the Slytherin house..." 

Next to me, Hermione swallows a giggle. 

Dracos face turns bright red with embarrassment, then a smile spreads across his face. "You're a Slytherin too darling." He pats me on the shoulder, before turning. "We like to call this shooting yourself in the foot." 

And with that he turns and leaves the room.