Chapter 4 – The Four Houses
Walking down the carriage, dragging my trunk behind me, I passed some already full cabins, and looking at them, they were also first-year students. I vaguely recognized some of their features, be it by their hair colors or eyes, telling signs of pure-blood families or, at least, half-bloods. As I was walking along, looking into one compartment, my eyes met with someone who I totally forgot would also be present. Watching those light-grey eyes, filled with pride and a false sense of authority, made me audibly sigh as I went forward, ignoring him completely. I was not in the mood for it. Sadly, the owner of those eyes thought differently, opening the compartment door and looking out after me.
"Not even saying hi, Anguine? Or is your family suddenly outranking mine?"
"I was not about to interrupt the important discussion that the son of the Minister of Improper Use of Magic," I replied plainly, not even looking back and continuing my way. "My apologies, Mr. Malfoy," I added just before he could say something back.
I was not about to indulge in his fantasies. True, his father, on paper, outranked mine in power and authority. But that did not mean we would take everything like a punching bag. Although Father usually avoided arguments with the slimy head of the Malfoy's, when they became too pushy, he wasn't afraid to bring the matters before HIS attention. That usually shuts them up pretty quickly. HE had no mood or time to deal with squabbles between his subordinates, Father always told me. There were... bigger issues at hand. Whatever that meant. So... following Father's advice, I adopted the same method, dealing with Draco Malfoy whenever we met. Ignore him politely, and satisfy his ego. Then he will fall silent like a well-fed baby. I was glad that he was behind me and couldn't see the small smirk forming on my face, imagining him wearing a diaper and waving a rattle to amuse himself.
"Oh..." I stopped, finally finding an empty cabin. I leisurely opened, pulled my trunk in, placed it down, and with a loud moan, I sat down, looking out the window, watching the changing scenery. It very quickly let me forget my brief run-in with Draco. Although, I was afraid I would have to meet him more regularly than I wanted. "Maybe we will be sorted into different Houses?" Surprisingly, a voice answered my question that wasn't supposed to be answered.
"You already have an idea where you will end up?"
Looking towards its source, a girl was standing at the door. She was around my height, with long, braided brown hair, brown eyes, and wearing elegant black and gold clothing. It wasn't hard to guess by her features which family she belonged to.
"A rough one," I said, smiling a little, looking behind her, seeing her fair hand hold onto her trunk. "You can come in if you want."
"Thanks." She nodded in response, finally sitting down opposite of me, looking at my hair, clearly deducing my own background as I did with hers."
"Conrad Anguine." I nodded, and she quickly answered with her own name.
"Quincy Black."