To Be a Slytherin Hufflepuff

When Amanda had entered the great hall that morning she had not expected post, nor had she expected the students to be in uproar. When she had asked first year why everyone was so nervous the blonde haired girl had given her a funny look.

"They just revealed the new Defence Against The Dark Arts teacher," the girl told her and stalked off to join her own friends.

Amanda glanced up at the table and sure enough there was a new teacher sat amidst the usual faces.

"Her names Professor Scrimgoer. She's related to Rufus Scrimgoer. You know, the head auror." A short disgruntled looking fifth year told her. Amanda raised an eyebrow.

"I guess you would know first, being a prize gossip and all," Amanda replied still gazing at the woman. Her head was turned and she was wearing a very wide brimmed hat. It was almost impossible to see her. The girl at Amanda's side scowled at her.

"I am not a gossip. I just have a knack for finding things out," she insisted huffily. Amanda grinned at her.

They had been friends for four years and had met in the Slytherin common room. Amanda a reserved second year, Gemma a haughty first year demanding help with her potions essay. Since that first evening they had done all their homework together and spent most of their time in each other's company. Of course it made lessons hard, not having anyone to joke around with or copy notes from, but it was a firm friendship and had meant a lot in the last few years. Gemma coughed pointedly and indicated to the owl.

"Are you going to open that or shall I send it away. It has been cluttering up the table for at least ten minutes," Gemma told her sounding incredibly regal and disapproving.

Amanda replied with an obscene hand gesture put removed the not on the owls leg all the same. With a doleful hoot the little bird swooped out of as window into the rain. Amanda unrolled the tiny scrap of parchment. As she read it the colour drained from her face and a gasp escaped her lips as she read the neatly written words before her.

Dulce et decorum est pro patria mori.

At her shoulder Gemma pulled a face and raised her own eyebrows.

"And what is that supposed to mean?" she asked.

"It's the family motto. It translates into 'It is sweet and right to die for ones country', it's the family motto," Amanda explained. At her side Gemma muttered something about Hufflepuff nonsense and continued to eat her toast. Amanda continued to stare at the scrap of parchment, as if it would pipe up and answer. Frowning she folded it up and placed it in her pocket. Only one person would have sent it to her, and she hadn't seen him in over a year.

As she helped herself to a slice of toast pansy Parkinson sat down opposite her smiling cruelly.

"I have never had a worse nights sleep. What exactly was it that sacred you so much?" she demanded, Millicent Bulstrode appeared at her side and sneered.

"What is it? Missing your filthy Hufflepuff family are you?" Amanda stared completely nonplussed.

"What are you talking about, I slept perfectly well," all memory of the dream gone from her mind.

"Now now, it doesn't do to the to people. Had a little nightmare didn't you? Yelled something about lies and 'he would never do it?' I think someone should take a trip to St Mungos," Pansy told her. Millicent laughed loudly making several others turn their heads in their direction.

"Don't worry, well find you a ward full of nutters like you. What about the one Longbottom's parents are in? Maybe your whole family should go. Get the stink out of Hogwarts finally," Millicent said coolly the sneer turning to a smile at the thought of it.

Amanda pulled out her wand and pointed it at Millicent's chest.

"The only person who belongs in St Mungos is you." She yelled.

Both Pansy and Millicent had pulled out their wands and were now facing Amanda across the table. The seats around them emptied with dazzling speed as people rushed to get out of firing range. The only seat still occupied was Gamma's and though her face made her look blithely unaware of what was going on Amanda knew she was keeping an eye on the fight. Behind her Amanda could hear the other houses conversations trickle into silence until she was sure the only people not looking at the Slytherin table were the teachers.

"It seems we hit a sore point. What is it? Someone in family actually in St Mungo's as we speak. All that muggle blood running through your family, its no surprise a Redrow ended up there. Who is it? Your precious father? Run off with a muggle did he?" Pansy hissed at her.

Amanda snarled and raised her wand.

"Hallucinerus!" she shouted and waved her wand in a strange snapping motion.

Both Pansy and Millicent dropped their wands and fell to the floor, screaming hideously, clawing at their faces as if invisible creatures were attacking them. At this the teachers all fixed their attentions as the horrendous noise. The pupils not involved backed away from the sigh, eyeing Amanda with sick fascination and some with fear. Gemma merely sighed and pulled out her own wand.

"Expilliarmus," Malfoy shouted and Gemma's wand flew across the hall, landing in a large bowl of cornflakes over on the Ravenclaw table. Gemma rubbed her hand and winced.

"I was only going to perform the counter curse. So Amanda, if you would be so kind as to lend me your wand?" Gemma asked holding out her hand. Amanda handed it over wordlessly and held up her hands as Malfoy pointed his wand at her.

At that precise moment the teachers descended on the scene. Dumbledore at the front of the group was frowning behind his half moon spectacles. No one paid any attention as Gemma retuned the still screaming girls to reality; everyone's attention was fixed on the silent Headmaster.

"As you should all know, usually in these situations I would allow the heads of house to deal with a situation such as this," he began, his voice sounding sad, Snape looked at him suspiciously as if her was aware that control of the situation was being taken from him. Dumbledore continued

"However in a matter as delicate as this I feel I should deal with it," he paused and looked at the pupils around him, "personally." He waved his wand and Gemma's wand; Amanda's wand, Malfoy's wand and both Pansy and Millicent's wands flew into his hand.

"Could the owners of these wands please follow me," he finished softly and and turned to leave the room.

As Amanda followed in silence, all eyes fixed on her, she could recall only one other moment when she had felt so ashamed.

Bloody sorting hat.