Out of Sorts

Out of Sorts

Morgan Potter untied the letter from Magenta, her owl, and fed the bird a slice of bacon. The owl nicked her finger in affection and then flew out the window towards the Hogwarts Owlery.

"Dear Morgan, your father and I were just as shocked as you to hear that you had been sorted into Slytherin. We will write to the headmistress to protest your sorting immediately; most of the family has been in Gryffindor, although Charlotte seems to be doing well in Ravenclaw. Still, we will do what we can to protest the Sorting and get you changed

"Your father wishes to inform you that although no one in either of our families has ever been in Slytherin there are two precedents. His godfather, Sirius Black, came from a family that was all Slytherin, while Sirius was sorted into Gryffindor. Unusual, but, of course, Sirius Black was an unusual man. I'm sure you remember the bedtime stories about the Marauders! Also, the Sorting Hat almost put your father in Slytherin, but changed at the last minute.

Your head of house, Horace Slughorn, is actually fairly charming. As you may remember, during the Second War, he was hit with a Youth Spell that reduced him to a teenager; now, of course, he's in his 40's, and is again working at Hogwarts. He is a family friend; so if things become too intolerable, or you need a friendly ear, don't hesitate to speak to him. He also has excellent contacts, and can help you in your chosen career, whatever that might be.

"As always, we love you very much, and hope to hear from you soon."

Mum & Dad

P.S., Kay doesn't seem to be progressing in spellwork. Do pay her a visit when you can.

Morgan folded the letter and put it in her pocket, intending to read it again later that night. She sat on a chair in the Slytherin Common Room, looking at the green serpent banner on the wall, but not seeing it. The world seemed enclosed on her, and the friendliness of Hogwarts was gone. How has this happened? What am I going to do now?

The sound of a knock snapped her out of her gloom, and she looked up to see the smiling face of Professor Horace Slughorn standing in the doorway; trim and friendly with straw-colored hair that was just beginning to thin, he could have been anyone's uncle. "I thought you might be a bit depressed by the Sorting Hat's decision. I see I was right. Care to talk about it?"

Morgan shrugged, and Slughorn walked in and dropped into a leather armchair beside her. "Tell me what you know about Slytherin House, besides what your father's told you."

That last proviso brought Morgan up short. She blinked and thought for a moment, and then, when she felt sure of her answer, said, "Nothing. Nothing at all."

Professor Slughorn smiled. "I thought as much." He reached into a pocket and brought out a tin case about the size of a snuffbox; inside were small gold candies. He popped one into his mouth and offered her one. Her face bloomed in pleasure and he laughed. "Crystallized pineapple. One of my favorites." He laughed and gestured almost negligently, and created a velvet-covered ottoman for his feet. "Slytherin House is actually a lot like Ravenclaw: we're hard workers with brilliant minds, but we have one crucial difference--Ravenclaw encourages mastery of the form, and the art of magic. In Slytherin we know that it's not what you know, but who you know." He saw her confusion and went on. "Do you know how Percy Weasley, one of the last Ministers of Magic before your Dad, got the job? Five ministers in succession before him were killed by You-Know-Who, along with various other heads of the department. Someone was needed to fill the gap, someone who was known to all the various departments, who was trusted to run the bureaucracy, but not step on any toes. A purely political appointment, and it went to a man everyone knew and felt comfortable talking to, even though he was younger than anyone else by 20 years!" He turned to look at Morgan. "You see the rub? Not someone who was good at magic, or had top marks in something like transfiguration, but one of personal affiliation! That's the number one lesson of Salazar Slytherin--not the facts, but the people!"

"But wasn't Salazar Slytherin the one who built the Chamber of Secrets; the one who wanted to get rid of Muggleborns; the one who--" but Slughorn waved her to silence. "Leave his own personal tastes out of this for now.

"If people were naturally virtuous, You-Know-Who would never have come to power. But the sad truth is that people aren't naturally virtuous! Everyone wants something for himself or herself, or just does something to someone else when the whim is on them. Your own father used tips from an annotated Potions book to lift up his own grades during his sixth year. Your grandfather James used to hex people just for fun. One student of my acquaintance even confounded a student during Quidditch tryouts just so her boyfriend could get the position of Keeper! People naturally want things to go their own way, and this kind of thinking is suppressed nearly everyplace--but in Slytherin House we admit that, rather than going through the motions of pretending not to, just for politeness' sake. And more importantly, since people are naturally going to try to turn things to their own favor, why not get to know those around us, so we can better equip ourselves for the future?" He reached into a pocket and pulled out a notebook, which he opened for her to see. "Lumos!" he said, and his wand lit up, illuminating the room. "See here? 'Pineapple: Fresh. Aberforth Quimby, 2 Brook Street, SW. Wife: Carolyn. Sons: Miles, Harlan. Daughter: Melinda. NOTE: Aberforth is fond of Turkish pipe tobacco, Carolyn - Herb-scented soap.' All the information I need should I get a hankering for the fruit. I can ask after his children, and present him or his wife with a present, and know that they'll like it! No floundering around in markets for me--I get what I want straight from the best source." He snapped the notebook shut. "A good Slytherin has connections everywhere--and why not? Connections are better than gold Galleons, because the right connection will make your Galleons for you!"

"So it's all about personal advancement?"

"Only on the surface. Slytherin House is about making the world work for you, and for the grand plan you have in your own mind. A company, a business, your own personal empire; once you know what you want to do, then the rest is just getting the right connections and the quickest path to your goal. That's why I have all those parties--my students make the right contacts and their own way in life is that much easier." He smiled and offered Morgan another candy.

"So, the looks of aggression, the competitiveness...?"

Slughorn smiled. "Slytherins are ambitious, and we admit it! Some of us feel that those who don't--the Hufflepuffs, Gryffindors--are being less than honest. That doesn't mean we have to be vicious, no, no! Decorum and civility are the bywords of proper association; we can be ambitious and still be civilized with each other; that's what I've always thought. Ask your father about a Diagon Alley meeting between Lucius Malfoy and...what was his name?" Slughorn thought for a moment. "Arthur Weasley, that's right; your grandfather. I believe it was during your Mother's first year. Malfoy and Weasley faced off in Flourish and Blotts. Their tone was icy, but they still didn't reach for their wands. That's a perfect example of a true Slytherin. He expressed his open dislike, but never initiated combat, because the setting wasn't right. Proper Slytherin attitude! Of course, some Slytherins get carried away, but then so do other people in the other houses." He smiled and gave her a look of encouragement. "I'm sure there's something you want to do in your heart of hearts: here, we'll help you accomplish that goal, if you have the will to do it."

Morgan nodded slowly, smiling slightly. There is something that I've always wanted to do. Even Mum and Dad don't know about it. "Thank you, Professor. Things are a bit clearer now."

Slughorn smiled and nodded. "If you wish to talk more, you know where to find me. And I do hope you'll be joining the 'Slug Club'. First meeting will be Friday night at 7:30. I'll see you there? Excellent!" At her nod, he smiled and clapped her on the shoulder and rose to walk toward the door. On an afterthought, he turned back to face her. "And one more thing, Miss Potter?" His face earnest. "Regarding your objections about Slytherin, in regards to Voldemort? A man of my acquaintance once said something like this, '...he did great things...terrible things...but great things.' As bad as Voldemort was, he did push the boundaries of magic further than anyone else. Though we may object to his actions, and despise him for causing so much hurt, we cannot deny his accomplishments."

Morgan thought about that for a moment, and then slowly nodded. But she added, "Daddy told me once that you gave him much-needed advice when he asked for it."

Slughorn nodded, his true age reflected in his eyes. "Advice which he used to achieve near-immortality, and later to kill your grandparents, James & Lily. I'm not proud of that, Miss Potter. But yes, Voldemort knew where to go for what he needed." He covered his face, and then walked back to the armchair and sat down heavily, now in need of his own heartfelt talk. "I think the hardest part of that was seeing your brother and sister come through here, bearing the names of those who died in part because of me."

Morgan wasn't sure how to answer that at first, but at last murmured, "I'm sure my Dad and Mum didn't name them that just to cause you pain."

Professor Slughorn shook his head, and called up a glass of mead for himself, and a flagon of butterbeer for Morgan. "That's not what I mean, my dear. It's as though I've been granted a chance to see them again, alive, just as I remember them. Your brother James is a close model for his namesake, but I don't think your father realizes that his own daughter Lily is virtually identical to his own mother! The same hair, the same eyes, the same talent! It's uncanny! I sometimes had to look at the calendar to remind myself that 20 years had passed, and that this wasn't the same girl!" He took a sip of mead and shook his head. "Do you know what? All the time that your sister, Lily, was here at Hogwarts, I watched over her. I intervened when I could, gave her extra help when she needed it, and penalized boys who troubled her, even when they were from my own house! I gave her a recommendation for her first job, too." He smiled, and Morgan nodded, silently. "I failed Lily Evans, but her granddaughter, Lily Potter, received my utmost attention! I bet she marries a fellow who looks just like James. The first James, I mean."

"Well," said Morgan slowly, "I don't know about that, but she's dating a guy named David Cresswell, who works for Gringotts."

"The son of Dirk Cresswell?" Slughorn laughed and clapped his hands. "Excellent! Excellent choice! She has fine taste! He's just like his father. Keep her warm and safe he will." He raised his glass and touched her flagon, and then drank a hearty portion of his mead. "And what about your brother, James? Playing professional Quidditch, I imagine? One of the best beaters Gryffindor ever had!"

Morgan smiled. "No, he and his twin brother Sirius are working for my Uncles, Fred & George--running a branch of their joke shop, down in Hogsmeade."

"Potent little troublemakers they were! Just like their namesakes. Well, if they're happy, I suppose that's all that matters." He finished off his mead and looked at Morgan. "I think I've taken enough of your time, and we've both got classes tomorrow." He dissolved the ottoman and politely shook her hand. "Thank you for a very good night, Miss Potter. I'll see you tomorrow, and remember, if you need to talk, my door is always open to you."

She smiled. "Thank you, Professor Slughorn."

He nodded to her, and walked out.

Morgan thought for a while about what he'd said, and about her own ambitions, and then sat down to write out a brief note:

Dear Mum & Dad,

I've thought about all you've said, and I've had a talk with Professor Slughorn. He's explained what it means to be in Slytherin House--and it doesn't sound too bad, really.

I appreciate the offer, but I think I want to try being in Slytherin before giving it up as a bad idea. Now, before you object, just hear me out: Professor Slughorn said that being in Slytherin is about people and ambition, and you've both said that being a Potter carries with it a certain expectation. That's always made me very nervous, until now. I think Slytherin will help me to greatness--isn't that what the Sorting Hat once said to you, Dad?

Let me give it a try, okay? I promise you, if it doesn't work, then I'm sure I can join Charlotte in Ravenclaw, which is supposed to be pretty cool. She'd probably like having some family nearby.

Love always,

Morgan

It was too late to go up to the owlery, and it was her first night at Hogwarts, but she would send it at first light tomorrow. Rereading it, Morgan Potter felt sure about Slytherin for the first time in her life. This was her destiny, and she'd make it work!