Head Boys, Muggleborns and Slytherins.
‘Come on Eddie lets gooo!’
Edith looked at her younger brother in amusement. Marty was pulling her arm so hard it was a surprise he hadn’t managed to topple over.
‘Martin I know you're excited, but I thought I’d at least get a goodbye.’ Her aunt Chrissy smirked watching the boy. This seemed to snap him out of his desperation and the young eleven year old at least had the nerve to look mildly ashamed.
‘Sorry Chrissy!’ he yelled, now throwing his arms around their aunt.
Edith smirked. Normally she would have told him to pull his head in, but she let her brother’s boisterous behavior go. He was excited after all, it was his first day at Hogwarts.
The two Cahill siblings had grown up in the country of Galway with their aunt Chrissy. Their aunt who was their father’s younger sister had taken the two children in after a boating accident had killed both their parents. Her aunt had only just turned 18 and had somehow landed herself with two young children while being unmarried. It hadn’t gone down well in their small village and led her to move to London where she got a job at a café. Edith loved her aunt, she had given everything to raise her and supported her along every step in her life. Even when she was eleven and Professor McGonagall had come to their house to inform her of her abilities. It had been even more of a shock when a letter had arrived a few months ago for Martin. Edith knew the odds of having two muggleborn siblings in the same family were not impossible, but also highly unlikely. But given Martin had always been obsessed with her stories of the magical world Edith tried desperately to think of it as nothing more than a good thing, even with the current political climate.
‘Have fun ye two,’ Chrissy smiled, now pulling Edith in for a hug as well. Make sure ye write to me as much as ye can. And Martin remember to stay in the castle don’t go wandering about the place and listen to yer sister and-’
‘All right, all right, I get.’ The small sandy haired boy groaned. ‘Can we go already?’
Chrissy sighed and ruffled his hair. ‘Go on then. I’ll see ya both during the holidays.’
Edith gave her aunt one last hug before heading towards the train. After the siblings managed to lift their trunks aboard she turned to her brother who was staring around in wide eyed wonder.
‘Now do you want to sit with me? I can drop you off to the carriage with Rhea and then come back after my prefect meeting?’
Martin made a face at her suggestion, ‘Er- no thanks. I’ll go explore.’ And with that he ran off before Edith could say another word.
Rolling her eyes she went in the opposite direction in search of her friend. She only had to walk for a bit until she found the right compartment.
‘Well, well, well if it isn’t my favorite prefect!’ Rhea grinned. Edith rolled her eyes but gave her friend a hug anyway. Rhea Ahuja was a fellow sixth year Hufflepuff and Edith's best friend. The two had ended up on the Hogwarts express together in their first year and had stayed together since. Both Rhea’s parents were muggleborns which had made her the perfect person to introduce her into the wizarding world. ‘Where’s little Cahill?’
‘Ditched me as soon as he could.’ Edith laughed, dragging her trunk into the compartment.
‘Well that's hardly a shock,’ Rhea grinned. ‘He is the more social of the two of you.’
‘Yeah, yeah whatever. Knock me while I'm down.’ Edith grinned, sitting down. ‘How was your summer?’
‘Brilliant.’ Rhea grinned. ‘Now that Ash has finally moved out my grandparents spoiled me rotten. Yours?’
‘Spent most of it explaining things about Hogwarts to Marty. You should have seen him when he got his letter, I think I was the only one more shocked than him.’ Edith smiled fondly.
‘About that.’ Rhea paused, staring at her friend. ‘I spoke to my dad and he said he’s never heard of two muggle born in the same family being magic. I mean, I did some research and it has happened once in the 1740s but, well, you don’t think-’
‘No.’ Edith cut her off, shaking her head. ‘There's no way. I mean my aunt would have said something if there was any history on my dad’s side. And my mum, well, she was from a posh muggle family back in Ireland. Her and dad met while he was at uni in Dublin and she was booted out of the family before either even said “I do”. Her maiden name was Ryan, no magic connection.’
Rhea nodded, though Edith could sense her hesitance. ‘Well alright then. I mean it’s a great thing! Mum’s sisters don’t speak to her at all because she’s a witch. And dad finds it hard to stay in touch with his. And this way you can keep an eye on him.’
Edith smiled lightly, ‘He’s so excited. Poor Hagrid's going to have a horror getting him across the lake, as soon as I told him about the squid you’d have thought Christmas came early.’
Rhea laughed lightly, ‘What house do you think he’ll end up in?’
Edith paused, it had crossed her mind a few times since he had received his letter. ‘I’m hoping for Hufflepuff, I worry it will probably be Gryffindor.’
Rhea snorted. ‘Just what you needed with NEWTS around the coming up aye?’
Edith groaned before slowly standing up. ‘Ugh don’t remind me. I’ll see you after the Prefect meeting?’
‘Yes ma'am.’ Rhea grinned. ‘Gotta listen to my prefects, don’t want to lose any house points before we arrive.’
Edith rolled her eyes at her friend and made her way down the corridor towards the head compartment where most of the other perfect students had gathered around. She smiled at Danny Adams, her fellow Hufflepuff prefect, as she made her way in. ‘Hey Danny, good summer?’
‘Yeah.’ Grinned the boy. ‘You?’
‘Good enough. Heard who the head boy is? I’m assuming Evans got head girl.’
‘You assumed correctly.’ Danny nodded. ‘Potter got head boy.’
‘Potter!?’ Edith repeated in shock. ‘Has Dumbledore finally lost it?’
Danny shrugged, looking up towards the two Gryffindors in question. Potter looked very bashful as Evans seemed to be giving him a very long speech with a rather unamused expression. ‘I suppose he’s calmed down over the last few years.’
Edith nodded slowly. ‘Yeah, suppose you're right. Still I would have assumed Lupin or maybe Towler.’
Danny opened his mouth to respond but was cut off by Lily Evans who stood up and addressed the room. ‘Hello I hope you all had a pleasant summer. I have been given head girl this year as well as er- Potter who has received head boy.’ She gritted the last bit out as though it was very hard for her to say. ‘A big congratulations to our new prefects this year, I’m sure you will all do a brilliant job. We just have a few things to go over with you all so, is everyone here?’
The question was quickly answered as the compartment door swung open and a very annoyed looking Regulus Black entered followed by a very giggly Alecto Carrow.
‘Brilliant.’ Evans said after a small pause. ‘Right so this is the patrol roster for the first term, please hand them around.’
There was a small shuffle around the room as the students handed around the bits of parchment. Edith quickly skimmed through her patrol shifts noticing this year they were pairing people up. Her stomach dropped, she had a few with Danny and Lupin but most of them were with Regulus Black. She also noticed that none of the Gryffindors or Slytherins had been paired up. Typical, but not shocking, Hufflepuffs were often buffered in to keep the peace while the Ravenclaws seemed rather indifferent on the whole house rivalry thing.
‘What the hell.’ She muttered taking a glance at Danny’s timetable to see he had been paired with Rosie Lewis, a rather snobby Ravenclaw fifth year, for a large chunk of his.
‘What the hell are these?’ Cried out Mathew Partridge from Ravenclaw.
‘As you can see Dumbledore believed it was best to operate on a buddy system this year.’ Explained Evans, who didn’t look too thrilled at the prospect either. Edith quickly noticed that she had a good chunk of her shifts with Potter, who seemed delighted.
‘This is ridiculous, it adds an extra shift in a week.’ Rosie pointed out with a huff.
‘Oi enough of that.’ Potter snapped. ‘It was Dumbledore who decided it was for the best, not Evans so lay off, yeah.’
‘What about quidditch practice?’ Danny piped up.
‘The rosters have been cleared with all quidditch captains.’ Replied Potter in a rather chipped tone.
Evans, who looked rather flustered, regained composure quickly. ‘That will be all for now. Meetings will be every Thursday at 8 in the prefect's common room. Any swaps made need to be approved by me, Potter or teacher. You are all free to go now.’
Edith slowly stood and followed Danny out of the compartment, almost bumping into Black who had slunk off ahead, not even giving her a second look as he marched down the train.
‘This is bloody ridiculous.’ Danny sulked as he and Edith walked towards their compartments. ‘I mean how can they pair you with Black? Dumbledore knows you’re a muggleborn right? Do you want me to say something?’
Edith gave him a small smile. ‘It’s fine really. I’m assuming they want us paired because of everything in the prophet recently. And Black won’t do anything, it would be too obvious.’
‘Still.’ Danny said gravely, glaring in the direction Black had sulked off too. ‘If he makes you uncomfortable you will say something, right?’
‘Of course.’ Edith nodded, trying desperately to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach.
~
The rest of the train ride went rather quickly. And by the time Edith had made her way into the great hall, she was famished. Rhea and herself quickly found a seat at the Hufflepuff table, greeting their fellow housemates. Richie Hemmings was just in the middle of telling them a great story about how his uncle had accidentally donated his old broom to a muggle charity shop when the doors to the great hall burst open. Edith quickly went quite along with the rest of the school as the small group of first years all followed McGonagall. She quickly spotted Martin who was grinning widely around the room and waved over to her, she waved back grinning.
She watched as McGonagall placed the large black hat on the old wooden stool. There was a moment of pause before the large moth seemed to appear and the hat burst into song,
‘Come one, come all, hear my call for your destiny awaits! For you may belong to Ravencalw with a mind amongst the greats, Or perhaps in Hufflepuff for the most loyal of mates. There's always a chance of Gryffindor if bravery is your trait, Or even perhaps in Slytherin if power is what you rate. So come put me on, after this song, so I can decide your fate!’
The great hall burst into a loud applause before quieting down as McGonagall pulled out a large scroll of parchment.
‘Allen, Michael.’
A small, very nervous looking boy slowly came up to the stool. The hat was placed on his head before yelling out, ‘Ravenclaw!’
‘Atkins, Lex.’
There was a moment of pause before, ‘Hufflepuff!’
Edith clapped along with everyone else, her eyes fixated on her brother. A good few more names were called out before finally, ‘Cahill, Martin.’
Rhea hit her arm grinning widely as they watched Martin glance around nervously before approaching the stool. Edith felt her breath hitch as McGonagall placed the hat onto his head. There was a silence, which slowly turned into a long silence. Rhea glanced nervously at her, but Edith’s eyes remained firm on Martin. Finally the tear in the hat opened again and the hat called out, ‘Slytherin!’
~
The rest of the feast went by in a blur. Edith could hardly hear what anyone was saying to her. How? How was this possible? It had to be a mistake. She didn’t even notice when the last of the food vanished from the table until Rhea firmly tapped her on the shoulder.
‘Go find him!’ She hissed.
‘But I- Prefect.’
‘It’s fine, Cahill.’ Danny nodded towards her, looking sympathetic. ‘I’ll handle it. Go find your brother.’
That was all she needed before she raced off towards the direction of the dungeons, squeezing her way through the mass of students trying to get out of the hall. After fighting her way through she flew down the staircase with a speed she didn’t know she had until she made it to the entrance of the Slytherin common room. Outside stood Regulus Black, next to him Evan Rosier.
‘Black!’ She yelled out, panting slightly as she walked over.
‘What is it, Cahill?’ The boy asked, paring down at her.
She twitched, slightly nervous under his blank stare. ‘I need to speak with my brother, please! I-’
Black held up his hand, cutting her off. He gave Rosier a stiff look and a small nod. The blonde boy quickly went inside the common room. ‘Evan will get him.’ Black muttered.
‘Thanks.’ Edith nodded. Trying to give him a small smile, though she knew it came out more as a grimace. ‘How-’
She was once more interrupted by the door swinging open. Martin slowly walked out the room followed by Rosier.
‘Marty!’ She yelled, flinging her arms around him. He hugged her back, almost reluctantly.
‘Are you angry at me?’ He whispered quietly, his large brown eyes gazing at her.
‘What?’ Edith pulled back, staring at him and cupping his face. ‘No of course I'm not angry at you. Don’t be silly.’
‘But you said, you said that-’
Edith shushed him, giving him a firm kiss on the forehead. ‘No it doesn't matter at all. You’re right where you’re meant to be okay? Don’t let anyone tell you different.’
‘But you said muggleborns can’t go into Slytherin!’ He said, looking at her with a very nervous expression.
‘Well- I.’ Edith paused. ‘It must mean that you’re a super Slytherin then. So much so that they couldn’t have you anywhere else. And there’s nothing wrong with that, okay? I was just being selfish and wanted you in Hufflepuff so I could make sure you made your bed every morning. Which I still expect you to do by the way even if I'm not there to cheek it. And make sure you wash your face before you go to bed and-’
‘Alright I get it, I get it.’ He mumbled, stepping out of his sister's arms with a big flush to his cheeks, glancing at the two older boys waiting in the doorway.
Edith felt her own cheeks redden as she glanced up to see a rather stiff faced Black and amused looking Rosier. ‘Now you go to bed alright? And I'll come find you in the morning.’
‘Okay.’ He said quietly. ‘Love you.’
Edith pulled him back in for another hug. ‘I love you too.’ She mumbled into his hair.
He gave her a small smile before turning back into his common room. Rosier gave her a slight nod and followed in after, Black turned to do the same. Just before he disappeared from view Edith spoke up, ‘Thanks for that.’
Black paused and turned around to look at her, almost curiously, ‘No problem.’ He muttered quietly, before quickly walking into his common room.
Edith let out a low sigh and went towards her own common room.