To Be a Slytherin Hufflepuff

Amanda shifted nervously in her the large armchair she was sat on. At her side Gemma sat so perfectly, back straight, head high, it was almost impossible to tell that she was scared rigid. The poor girl had never been in so much trouble with the head master or even been in his office before. In fact it was the first time he had taken any interest in either Amanda or Gemma. It was more than a little unnerving.

"I find it hard to understand why four sixth year students feel it necessary to duel within the Great Hall. In fact, it is beyond me why people should ever wish to fight within their houses," Dumbledore mused, pacing in front of them. Amanda opened her mouth to apologise but Malfoy beat her to it.

"Well, sir, it's easy to answer. The minute you let riff raff into as fine a house as Slytherin, of course there will be problems. Why, it's almost like letting a mongrel dog sleep with a pedigree," he explained an angry sneer turning his handsome face into a mask of distaste. Gemma muttered something about inbreeds and people with only one eye but no one paid her any attention.

"Ah, I see your point. But did it ever occur to you that both these young women are pure blood? And that the two woman sneering at muggle blood are, in fact, themselves open for criticism?" Dumbledore asked not even glancing at Millicent or Pansy. They had both turned a rather violent shade of purple. Eventually the colour faded and Amanda heard a furious whisper.

"It's not our fault Uncle Alfonzo ran off with that filthy little opera singer," Pansy seethed, and Millicent nodded.

"And it's not my fault that mother had the affair. Poor Damien will probably end up a postman like his filthy muggle of a father," Millicent admitted. Malfoy turned to stare at them disgust playing over his face; he edged closer to Gemma as if the problem were catching.

"So you see, it should be those girls that you distance yourself from, if anyone, though I don't suggest it. In fact, half of your so-called pureblooded friends are in similar situations. Why, I am sure that even the great Salazar Slytherin himself had a drop of muggle blood in him somewhere," Dumbledore told them softly. Amanda found her voice.

"It shouldn't matter, sir. I wasn't fighting them over that, it was only a small factor in the argument," she explained, hoping he would not be as harsh to her.

"Oh, is it? That means the argument was even less heated than I first imagined. What is it that made you think it was acceptable to use such a curse on a fellow pupil, then?" he asked, his eyes were like tiny balls of ice, chipping away at her feeling of security. Maybe he was angry with her.

"I didn't mean to. It was the first thing that came to my head. You don't know how much I regret it," she told him, her voice was pleading and her eyes were wet with tears waiting to be shed. She was so ashamed, even more so for getting Gemma involved. Dumbledore shook his head.

"Times ahead are dangerous enough without children thinking only of curses. That is all. I hope you all appreciate the full extent of what happened today." He paused then, looking them each in the eye. "Your detentions will be determined by Professor Snape. You may all leave except Miss Edgecombe. I have something I must discuss with you." Gemma looked up, her face no longer haughty and regal but that of a confused fifth year wondering what she had done wrong. Amanda nodded and stood up; he knees nearly collapsing beneath her. Malfoy, Millicent and Pansy did the same, though he was careful to keep his distance from them. Without a word they each left the office, leaving Gemma alone with a very fierce-looking headmaster.

Amanda did not return to the common room. Instead, she followed the others down into the dungeons towards Snape's potions room. When they entered they noticed that, for a change, they were not sharing the class with the Gryffindor's as usual. The room was filled with Ravenclaw's, who looked at the latecomers with irritating indifference. Snape smiled at them all mockingly.

"Oh, thank you so much for joining us," he said before scowling. "Now sit down each of you before I take away anymore house points this morning." There was a sharp intake of breath from the rest of the Slytherins in the classroom. Snape hardly ever took house points away from his own house and he was obviously furious with them.

Millicent and Pansy slipped behind a desk together while Malfoy joined Blaise Zabini. There was only one desk left, and it was occupied by a stern-looking Ravenclaw boy. Amanda turned scarlet and slipped in beside him, and then, as he edged away slightly, blushed an ever-deeper shade. Snape surveyed the class.

"Today we will be working on a very complex potion. It involves a lot of care, attention and skill, three things a majority of the class lacks. I will not give any information about the potion; the instructions and ingredients are on the black board." He waved his wand at the black board and they appeared in a neatly written hand. "You may begin."

Amanda groaned. Potions was one of her better subjects, and it would have helped if she had known what they were making; she may have done it at home already. She took out her ingredients and mentally check listed the ones she would need from the store cupboard. Once she had done this she slipped between the desks and into the store cupboard. Her speed meant she was the first there and had first chance to get all the best ingredients before only the scraps were left.

Once she had left the cupboard, clutching an assortment of dried animal organs and a small phial of liquid bee's wax she avoided Malfoy's table on the way back. If she tripped and fell now the disgusting array of animal waste would leave her smelling worse than Hagrid's compost bin. Her partner raised an eyebrow at her as she picked her way towards him. Amanda noticed the shining prefects badge on his chest and realised she would have to watch her step. Slytherins hadn't had many lessons with Ravenclaw's before and being in such close proximity to the Ravenclaw prefect was slightly annoying. Why couldn't she have had a nice, timid little Hufflepuff on whom to take her anger out on?

"Don't waste much time, do you?" he asked, eyeing her armful of choice ingredients.

"Well, someone has to get there first," she replied defensively. He stood to help relieve her of the ingredients, but she shrank away slightly, suspicious of his motives. He held up his hands defensively and stepped back.

"I take it you only got enough ingredients for one potion?" he asked.

Amanda nodded, wondering whether or not it was a trick question. "Why?" she asked as she sorted them into neater piles.

Anthony shook his head. "No reason, guess I'm just used to having Hufflepuff's to work with. They, at least, are considerate." With a haughty sniff he walked away to retrieve his own supplies. Amanda watched him for a second, then sat down, her cheeks flushed.

Inconsiderate?

She'd show him how inconsiderate Slytherins could be.