"Slytherin."

The Sorting Hat's voice rang out in the Great Hall, announcing Cassius Warrington's House to everyone. Mixed reactions greeted the eleven-year-old as he looked anxiously at the crowd of students. The ones gathered at a table near the wall, all wearing green, cheered loudly. They were seemingly oblivious to the booing coming from the table across the Great Hall.

Shock coursed it's way through his veins. His parents had always told him that Slytherins were the most elite wizards and witches, and that they were the House that achieved the greatest levels of magic.

He shuffled away from the stool, walking towards the other First Years. As his name was one of the last to be called, there weren't many available seats.

Cassius cautiously approached a severe looking girl who was silently scowling at the table. No one had yet dared to sit near her.

He swallowed hard. Ever since he was young, he was terrified of speaking to strangers. His parents tried to force Cassius to get over the fear, but nothing ever worked. And this glaring girl did not appear to be an easy stranger to talk to.

"Can...can I sit here?" he asked, his voice coming out much quieter than intended.

The girl turned to him, cocked her head, and, to Cassius's surprise, grinned. "You're the first one to ask that, you know," she said.

Cassius smiled back, but his was much more weak and strained. But he doubted that he could ever achieve the look of ferocity and wildness that shone from her face.

The girl patted the empty seat next to her encouragingly. Confused, Cassius sat down beside her.

"I'm Persephone," she said, "Persephone Avery."

"Cassius Warrington," he responded.

Persephone gave a half-nod, indicating that she heard his introduction. "My mum told me that everyone in Slytherin was a stuck-up, self-absorbed arsehole. And she was right. No one asked to sit next to me because they knew who I am."

"It could've been because you were glaring," Cassius muttered, "that can scare people off."

Persephone flashed a bright smile. "That was just for fun, to see how much it would scare them. It's fun scaring people, you know."

He stared at the strangely cheerful girl sitting beside him. Though Cassius was no longer nervous, he was still very confused.

"Why does your mum think everyone in Slytherin is an...an arsehole?" Cassius finally asked her, stumbling to get the word out of his mouth. Persephone grinned at him.

"You don't curse? You're going to have to get used to it, you know. I curse a shit ton. But my mum was a Slytherin when she went to Hogwarts, and she had the worst time. Every Slytherin was a prick, except for a few."

"I'm not one," Cassius blurted. "A prick, I mean."

"Good," Persephone responded simply. "I'm not either. Want to be not-pricks together?"He nodded, and she beamed. "Not-pricks it is, then."

"Slytherin."

Persephone Avery wasn't the least bit surprised when Cassius Warrington was sorted into the same house she was. Her mother had warned her about all of the traditionally Slytherin families to look out for. And the Warringtons were one of them.

But she was surprised when he approached her cautiously. She watched him out of the corner of her eyes, but didn't give any indication that she saw him.

"Can...can I sit here?"

It was the fear that shook his voice like an earthquake that made Persephone turn and smile at him. And all the fear vanished from his gaze.

"You're the first one to ask me that, you know," she responded.

Every Slytherin is a stuck-up arsehole. You just have to find the ones that are not-pricks, her mother had told her before giving her a last hug, and sending Persephone onto the Hogwarts Express.

Persephone had found a not-prick. And, even better, he didn't seem to recognize her.

She knew the real reason why no one would sit next to her, and it had nothing to do with her glaring. Everyone knew who her mother, Artemis Avery. Everyone knew what she did in the war. What she did to defeat Voldemort, and how she sent him back to whatever hellhole he had crawled from.

Everyone here hated Persephone for what her mother had done. But, for all she cared, they could stick their wands up their arse. Let them judge, let them hate.

Cassius and her fell into a conversation after they declared themselves to be not-pricks. Persephone didn't miss the apprehensive looks Cassius kept giving the other First Years sitting at the other side of the table. They were glaring at Cassius and Persephone, and she saw as shadows gathered in Cassius' eyes.

Persephone nudged him in the ribs. "Watch this," she whispered.

She caught the eye of one of the Slytherin students, and gave them a bright smile. The First Year boy glared at her. Persephone didn't let her cheerful smile falter as she gave him the finger.

A surprised laugh burst out of Cassius as the boy sitting across the table had his mouth gaping open.

"You look like a fish," Persephone said to him sweetly.

The Slytherin snapped his mouth shut. "You look like a bitch," he hissed back.

Cassius inhaled sharply, but Persephone merely shrugged casually. "I'd rather be a bitch than a fish."

When she turned back to Cassius, admiration shone in his eyes. Persephone grinned at him.

"That's what a prick looks like," she explained. "Like a gaping fish."

Cassius laughed, and Persephone beamed. Her mum had given her another piece of advice before sending her off to Hogwarts.

Don't isolate yourself. Find someone like you, and protect them with your life.

Persephone had found her someone. And she planned on protecting him.

•••

- BUT WITH WHAT WE HAVE I PROMISE YOU THAT WE'RE MARCHING ON -
[ marchin' on / one republic ]