Clashing Titans

"So how did you find Diagon Alley, my dear?"

Aria's eyes shone with amusement at the portraits within her new Headmaster's office. She had feared boredom would take her while she waited out the feast, but had been vastly surprised by the amount of pleasant conversation she had found herself engaged in.

"Oh, Master Dippit!" Unbridled laughter passed her lips as she took another sandwich from the platter set before her. "It was grand. We have magical shops at home, but I never realized how poorly stocked they were! Dervish and Banges puts The Scribes Hand to shame indeed! Don't even get me started on Quidditch."

The portraits all nodded their agreement that there was no grander place for the bits and bobs of the wizarding world before stopping and beaming brightly. "Ah but what house? What house shall she be in?" cried Dippit.

"Gryffindor no doubt! She has a ready smile!" one cried.

" Books she spoke of first, not Quidditch you fool! Ravenclaw I say. She's not really Hufflepuff material though is she? Bunch of old softies they are!"

A wizard in a nightcap and pinstriped pajamas frowned though mirth showed in his eyes. "I'll have you know that--"

The rest of the portraits chimed in. "That you gave them a run for their money in your day. We know, we know."

Now Aria smiled unsurely. Houses? She hadn't realized there would be houses within the school, but then she had never gone to a school so steeped in tradition. She had flipped through Hogwarts: A History on the train of course, but she had more keen to look at the pictures offered of the Forbidden Forest, and the Great Hall. With a rueful smile she wished reading would have been more a priority at the time.

"Are there only three then?"

She looked at all the faces that had been laughing but moments ago, and feared she had spoken wrong. When a person behind her chose to speak and break the silence she found it hard not to be startled.

"There are four, Miss Therrien, and they are Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw." The old wizard's eyes stared through her from behind half moon spectacles as if he knew something she did not. "And Slytherin. All noble in there own right."

"Professor Dumbledore, sir," Aria said evenly, starting to stand, only to be waved back into her seat as Dumbledore found his own. She watched as he set a tattered hat that she could have sworn made a distinct Harumph! down upon his desk.

"Now then," he continued, rummaging through a tiny satchel and popping a candy into his mouth. "I trust the previous Headmasters did not talk your ears off now did they? Good! Madam Pomfrey might find that a bit beyond even her skills." His eyes twinkled.

Aria was finding it hard to keep up her personal code of making officials despise her. After he offered her a lemon drop the walls simply shattered and she didn't even try. She was even about to utter her thanks before a gruff voice filtered into her ears.

"Tsk, tsk Albus. Can't we just get on with this then? You are halting my creation of next year's song," said the Sorting Hat matter-of-factly.

Dumbledore smiled and stood, taking up the tattered item and moving just behind Aria. "Yes, yes of course. Now Ms. Therrien, I assure you this will be quite painless, and rather swift sorting by the looks of things."

The Sorting Hat was placed upon her head, and it didn't droop down as it did on the first years though its mutterings were constant.

"Ah well a spirited one this, and not a slow one either. Hmmm, and anger. Anger can serve you well my dear. Hmm." The hat actually smiled as if it were surprised.

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Had Aria known the weight of the Sorting Hats words, she might have argued with it. Had she known the enchanted item was going to put her in a place full of wit, ire, and your fair share of deceit, she would have been outraged. As it was she didn't, and so she walked down into the depths of the castle, rubbing her arms as the air seemed to get more and more damp and chill. She was sure she had reached the right place when she spotted two first years bumbling their way in to the common room through a stretch of bare stone wall.

With little effort she found her way through the barrier and walked down the steps. The common room was less than bustling, although the warmth of the hearth washed over her in an instance. She might have even smiled had she not heard a drawl she just knew was going to become far too familiar for her liking.

"What the hell are you doing here, Mudblood?" sneered Draco. It was just perfect timing for the Serpent King, for the common room was filling with people upon someone spying her entrance. Seems word had spread quicker than even Draco would have liked of their meeting.

Aria whirled around with a flourish of her robes worthy of any Malfoy. Her pale gray eyes turned steely cold as they rested upon that boy. That infuriating boy!

Aria spoke without skipping a beat. She ever did perform her best in sight of an audience.

"While you might be satisfied with the occasional quip, boy, I really haven't the time to be your wetnurse in the world of wit." She smiled so very sweetly before dipping into a bow, taking her eyes off her foe, showing how little a threat she found him. She continued on loudly . Let them all hear it and not forget. "I am no Mudblood. My line is as pure as any in this room, and if I hear you speak ill of it again, you'll regret the day you soiled the name of Therrien."

Draco's eyes narrowed to slits akin to her own and the energy between the two spiked . How dare she. That whore. And his immediate thoughts were to say ten points from Gryffindor! What cruel joke were the gods playing on him?

Draco however wouldn't be one upped. Not again. "Listen here, girl. You might think you're clever." He stepped up towards her his voice dropping to a deadly whisper. "Let's see how clever you are when you sleep at night."

Aria's lips curled into a smirk that was so unfitting to the threat she had just received. How she enjoyed this! "Have you a name or am I to call you boy for the rest of our natural lives?"

"Draco. Draco Malfoy." In future years he would wonder why he ever gave her it. .

"Yes, well met, Draco. And would you like to see how clever I am tonight in bed?" She moved up the stairs and towards her dormitory. "Would you, Draky? I fear you might want to read up a bit. I hear your wand skill are... lacking."

Aria settled into her bed after her victory, the sounds of laughter lulling her to sleep. If only she knew what waited for her, and that the blonde Slytherin's threats were seldom idle.