1

I am ungently torn from my dreams when I feel someone shake my shoulder. Blinking, I open my eyes and see Pansy, who is standing next to my bed with a mischievous smile, staring at me.

»Good morning, sleepyhead,« she says, pulling the curtains of my bed aside so that the morning light shines in. »Time for breakfast and I won't let you starve.«

Still half asleep, I rub my eyes and slowly sit up. »Pansy, you're really something else," I mutter as I try to wake up.

»That's rich coming from you,« she says laughing and throws my Slytherin uniform at me. »Come on, Sarah, breakfast won't wait forever.«

I sigh and swing my legs out of bed. Pansy pulls me out of my bed almost every day, her energy is contagious. It is weird, cause she was actually the one that parties every Friday, where the hell did she had all that energy from?

Pansy and I have been friends since our first year in Hogwarts. It's hard for me to say that she's the only one in my house that Harry can just barely stand and get along with.

»Well, what are you waiting for?« Pansy looks at me expectantly while resting her hands on her hips.

I groan in annoyance, how can a human being have this much energy so early?

I pull my pajamas over my head and toss them onto the bed. My pants following.

»God, so hot-« she teases me as she looks at me from top to bottom, with that grin on her lips.

I love Pansy, she is the biggest supporter you can actually imagine. Many people think she's arrogant or a bitch or better said both, but I, who has been spending five school years with her every day, can definitely confirm that this is not the case. Not even close.

People just get mad as soon as they see a confident girl or better said, female. That's just how the world works.

»You are saying that? girl, I understand why Nott has an eye on you if you ask me,« I say as I button my uniform and pull up that —clearly too short—skirt.

I only see Pansy's eye roll and how she rushes out of the door, she didn't think anything of Theodore Nott, he's in our friend group though.

Rather, she just doesn't want to admit it to herself.

I quickly put on my shoes and sped after her, towards the Great Hall. I try to comb my hair a little with my fingers, to at least look as little as possible as if I had just gotten up. But well, I in fact had just gotten up.

»Pans, I'm going to Harry for a moment,« I say briefly as she nods and sits down at the table. Not many Slytherins are there, probably because of the party yesterday.

I make my way to the Gryffindor table where my brother Harry is sitting.

I feel the skewed gazes of some Slytherins resting on me, not all of them were there yet as I cross the room. At least we aren't the last.

»Hey,« I say quietly as I take a seat next to him and give him a small smile. Harry turns to me, Hermione and Ron smile at me too.

They are Harry's best friends, which is why they treat me as well as they treat him. And also because I've never gave them a reason to treat me badly.

I like them both, but each time I look at them, they remind me of the fact that they are the only Gryffindors who don't condemn me for being a Slytherin as a Potter. Despite all of Ron's siblings.

»Good morning, did you sleep well?« He says calmly while he is already eating his food.

»Yes, it was okay,« I say quietly. I look around briefly, of course I get those suspicious looks again.

That kind of looks that say 'fuck off our table, filthy little Slytherin'

Which is weird, because Gryffindors weren't exactly known for being bitchy. We are actually.

And yet they are when it comes to me.

»Never mind, I just wanted to check on you, I'll see you later?« I add with a smile and stand up.

Harry nods and smiles. »See you later.«

Before I return to my table with the Slytherins, Harry puts a hand on my arm and looks at me with a relatively serious expression. »Take care of yourself, okay? I've told you many times that I don't trust these Slytherins.«

My eyes briefly fall on Ron and Hermione, but they probably share the same opinion as Harry.

It is the same every time.

Harry is one year older than me and in the sixth year. I still remember his look when he found out that I am a Slytherin.

He hated it.

However, I got used to it, just like he has. However again, he can hardly sleep peacefully if he hasn't reminded me at least once a day how much he hates my house.

I hesitate for a moment before answering. »I know, Harry, but not all Slytherins are bad. They're not like... everyone thinks. I'm trying to tell you that every day...«

Harry frowns and looks at me skeptically.

»Sarah, don't be naive. Stop defending them, will you?« he hisses

Harry was never an aggressive person or someone who gets angry easily. But when it comes to me and the Slytherins, it's suddenly a different thing.

I sigh and look down, I respect Harry very much. He's my only family and I always try to remember it every time he and I are on the verge of arguing »Yes, I know.« I say quietly.

Harry's expression relaxes a little as he feels my sincerity. However, he still looks pretty tense. »Take care of yourself anyway, okay?«

I smile weakly. »Yeah, I will, I promise.«

After I assure Harry to take care of me, I slowly get up and make my way back to my seat at the Slytherin table.

Pansy is sitting there already, as well as Draco Malfoy, Lorenzo Berkshire, Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott and of course Mattheo Riddle. All Slytherins.

As soon as I sit down, I feel a stinging gaze resting on me. It was Draco who says with a smile, »Well, Potter reassuring her big brother, how cute.« I can already feel the annoyance bubbling in me.

Actually, I would like to ram my fist in his face, but that would be a shame for my rings.

However, there is something else, a shiver running over me when I feel the ice-cold gaze of Riddle on me - the son of Voldemort who had killed my parents.

Never having a real conversation with him, unless  it is a heated argument, discussion or a partnership full of contempt for each other.

I hate this boy.

Everything he does.

Everything he says.

His usual grin, his dark curls, his dark eyes.

Everything about him.

But I don't really care about him right now and focuse on Draco again with a cold smile: »And if that's not the spoiled offspring who has never seen anything other than his daddy's wallet.«

Draco's smile disappears and he stares at me with an angry look. »Watch what you say, Potter,« he hisses.

I probably shouldn't provoke him, but I just can't keep my mouth shut. I just can't back off. My pride and my ego do not allow it.

A dangerous sparkle appears in my eyes and I reply with cold determination, »Oh, I know exactly what I'm saying, Malfoy. Did your father never teach you any decency?«

I must admit a little mischievous smile plays something on the corners of my mouth. I am eating when I see Draco's fists clench.

After my sentence, I feel the atmosphere at the table change. Lorenzo let out a proud grin, his eyes sparkling with amusement. Blaise and Pansy have to hold back their laughter, but the corners of their mouths twitching betrays their amused reaction.

Theodore, however, doesn't care about mine and Draco's quarrels. His eyes are on his food whilst he looks up a few times. His gaze reveals how attentive he actually was. He looks at each and every one of us. Analyzes everyone. Observe us whilst a simple little smirk plays on his lips.

Mattheo on the other hand, remains impenetrable, his gaze unreadable and mysterious as always.

Nevertheless, I can literally hear the soft growling of his voice in my head, while he stares at me with a cold look.

I hate him. I hate this boy so much. Not only because his father showed us the living hell on earth, but also because of his extremely arrogant nature.

Everything about this boy only makes me hate him more every minute. My eyes stay on his for a moment. I'm also pretty sure that this scumbag knows how much I hate him.

Unfortunately, this boy is also an incredibly good Legilimens, which allows him to penetrate into other heads.

Malfoy, however, narrows his eyes and stares at me with a cold look. He slowly leans forward to me over the table before he spoke. »I'm just telling you once, watch what you say, Potter,« he hisses threateningly. »You'll regret it if you don't get your tongue under control,« he adds.

His voice is soft but threatening and strange goosebumps forms on my skin as I withstand his gaze and does not let myself be intimidated.

At Draco's menacing tone I feel an unpleasant shiver down my spine. His gaze literally pierces me and for a moment I feel a little bit intimidated.

But still, I just can't keep my mouth shut. I don't want to back off yet. No, I actually can't.

With a defiant sparkle in my eyes and a smug smile, I reply, »Come on Malfoy, still so sensitive? Is it your ego that is just so damn sweet and fragile?«

I feel the tension rising at the table as I return his sinister gaze, waiting for him to respond to my provocative statement.

I only see how Blaise takes a breath and rubs the bridge of his nose as if he has no patience left for us.

Pansy pinches me under the table as a warning signal that it is probably enough.

After my sentence, I only see Draco get up, his eyes full of anger. Without even being able to react, I feel him grab my arm.

Draco's grip on my arm is firm and relentless and I can feel his ice-cold sparkle in my eyes as he looks at me threateningly. A sting of discomfort twitches through me and I can't help but get up in pain. »Malfoy, at Salazar if you don't let go-«

»What then, Potter? What would a dirty Potter like you do?« Draco hisses back, his grip narrows even more and I suppress another sound of pain.

But before I can react, Mattheo suddenly stands up and held Draco back. His voice calm, but with a clear commanding tone.

»Draco. We're getting fucking points deducted because of you.« says Mattheo, his presence filling the room with an inexplicable calm.

It is the first time he interfered today. My eyes shoot directly at him before they quickly flicker to Draco.

Draco stares at Mattheo in anger, a wrinkle forming on his forehead. I have to admit, I literally feel the tension between the two. I swallow hard as I try to tear my arm out of his grip. Lorenzo also gets up and finally jumps in. »Dray, calm down man.« Lorenzo sighs. For someone who watched so amused at the beginning, he is surprisingly serious right now.

The Great Hall suddenly becomes silent and everyone's eyes were on us. Pansy and Blaise, shock by the sudden escalation, they dare to say something, but their words get lost in the tense silence. Theodore, meanwhile, too, gets up and approaches to pull Draco's grip away from my arm, while the situation is completely tense.

After Theodore loosens Draco's grip on my arm, I tear my arm away from him. I stand up and smooth my skirt.

»Fuck you, Malfoy,« I hiss.

»Do you want me to break your little arm Potter-« before Draco can pronounce his sentence, Pansy also gets up.

»By Salazar, it's enough,« she rolls her eyes in annoyance. Mattheo still holds back Draco, as did Theodore.

Everyone from our group stands now in the meantime. Blaise also wants to say something, his lips split, but nothing comes out when he just looks behind me and Pansy in horror. Theodore's gaze slowly glides behind us too.

Just like Mattheos and Lorenzo's.

I am almost 100% sure that there was an extremely passive aggressive Snape behind me.

»Merlin..« I pinch my nose bridge for a moment as I slowly turn around.

I see the black hair, the icid look. I know this didn't look good for us.

Before we are sentenced to detention, everyone decided to be quiet.

The boys all sit down and don't say a word. My eyes slide over Mattheo briefly.

My hatred is not even one sided.

I know he hates me at least as much as I hate him. I know it. When I think about how often I got into trouble because of him.

Thousands of times of detention.

Thousands of times where I was sabotaged by him.

Thousands of times where him and I have fought.

Thousands of times where I was innocently lured into the trap of him, but then got the trouble.

However, I do not want to lie, I have taken revenge a thousand times.

When I finish eating, I turn to Pansy, without even giving the boys a look. In the meantime, they also talk again, but the tension is still present.

»Pans, I'll go to Harry for a moment. Otherwise he will kill me, he must have noticed the situation,« I sigh as I stand up and briefly run a hand through my long black hair. She raises an eyebrow and gives me a gentle, understanding look.

»Is the drama still about you being a Slytherin?« She asks as she tilts her head slightly to the side, she looks at me with warm eyes. She understands how I feel.

I think for a moment and I nod hesitantly.

I get up, smooth my skirt, adjust my glasses and walk to the Gryffindor table.

»What the hell was going on with you and Malfoy? Didn't I tell you to watch out? You just assured me you're watching, but no. You didn't do it, again!« Harry growls loudly, and looks at me with narrowed eyes through his glasses, a sinister look.

He doesn't even wait until I was properly at the table. I sit down next to him.

»I'm sorry. I just couldn't take it, I had to do something,« I sigh and put my head on my arms, on the table.

»I don't care! Merlin! Couldn't you even try to stay out of the problems that this Slytherin causes?« Harry doesn't let it go. I feel his gaze literally pierce me. I don't bother to answer or look up.

»Harry calm down, it's over.« Hermione tries to reassure him. »Yes, she's not hurt, is she?« Ron adds with his mouth full.

Suddenly my head shoots up from the table when I feel Harry grab me.

His eyes almost blackens with anger when he hears Ron's words. Without another word, he aggressively grabs my sleeve and rolls it up.

Underneath, clear imprints of Draco's hand appearing, which seem dark and menacingly on my skin. I groan. My skin was pale, so every time someone grabs me, there forms a evidence almost instantly.

I pull my arm away from him, and stand up. I only see Hermione's and Ron's wide eyes.

»Stop with this shit already, Harry! It could have been a Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw or even a damn Gryffindor!" I say angrily, covering my arm with my hand as I storm out of the hall.

I just feel how everyone else's eyes are on me but I am way too angry to care.

I don't think, it just annoys me so much that I am a Slytherin.

Why the hell me?

My father was a Gryffindor, as was my mother. Why can't I be one? Why did I have to feel my brother's despise for my house, day after day, again and again?

I walk towards my room, ignoring the looks of the students on the way. Without even thinking, I step in, and slamming the door closed afterwards.