Harry Potter

I'm in the Room of Requirement; they're celebrating Harry Potter's birthday before the holidays. We snuck into the party; my friends Pansy, Daphne, and Astoria were dancing and drinking, trying to blend in since, being from Slytherin, we weren't welcome here—prejudice divides us.

I was sitting on the sofa after a while, watching the Gryffindor crowd enjoying the party, when someone sat down next to me and let out a sigh.

"Merlin! How I hate this," I hear Harry blurt out, who isn't paying attention to me but is taking off his glasses and closing his eyes.

"Oh, Potter, happy birthday," I say, and his attention falls on me, but he doesn't know exactly who I am.

"Thank you," he says with a tired smile.

"Don't you like parties?" I venture to ask to start a conversation.

"Yes, but honestly I'd prefer a Quidditch match to a party," he said, running a hand through his jet-black hair, trying to comb it back.

It's impossible to watch it without swallowing hard.

"Which house are you from?" he asks while adjusting his glasses that are slipping down his nose.

"From...from Slytherin"

He is surprised and pale, even he knows that he shouldn't be here.

"What's a Slytherin doing here? And being nice?" She makes a slightly amused face.

"Oh, you know... hanging out?"

"Did the twins invite you?" he asks curiously.

"Uh, no, no, I...I invited myself"

"Without an invitation? Wouldn't that be very Gryffindor of you, snake?" A mocking smile spreads across his face.