Avery

Avery is actually a Slytherin to the core, but her loyalty to her mother's wishes is much stronger, so she sorted herself into Hufflepuff. Avery's mother was a Hufflepuff, and they made a promise that her brother would follow their father's footsteps and Avery's would follow her mother's.

When she put this promise she had with her mother in her mind, that’s how she was able to change the Sorting Hat's mind and turn her into a Hufflepuff. People were wondering how she did that. The truth is, Avery has a huge library in her manor that dates back thousands of centuries ago, so they have the advantage of knowing tips and tricks in the wizarding world—that’s why.

Nott walked over to Shafiq, a Gryffindor pureblood, and started his Slytherin small talk, "Do you know why we Slytherins are always around other Slytherins? We hardly blend in with the other three houses." Nott paused, "It's not because of what you think it is; we don't put boundaries on others because of their status and bloodlines, no. It's because we don't talk about small things like your private life that should be "private" in the first place." He wickedly smiled as Nott continued.

"We don't want to hear your whining about it—oh, Salazar knows we already have our own baggage—or you talking about silly things like how to follow the rules. We don't care; we do it however we like." Nott smirked at Shafiq, who was not very interested in the conversation.

Nott continued, "That's why when you talk, it sounds fucking weird to us. And thank Merlin you're not a Slytherin; otherwise, you'd likely have walked out of this pureblood society a long time ago and let your family name out of these sacred 28, making it sacred 27....aren't you, Shafiq?" He chuckled.

Nott and Shafiq chatted while standing in Avery Manor with the others— all 28 sacred members that are gathered tonight. It's the annual month of the year when the 28 sacred gather around or send their representatives. Usually, Tom Avery is the leader and host of the evening, but this year is different; his sister Hermione Avery will take the role.

Avery wanted a fresh start. Usually, dinner takes place in the grand dining hall of Avery Manor indoors, but this special evening, she purposely changed the dinner outside her manor in Avery Garden with a long table fit for 28 sacred pureblood representatives. She sits in the host seat and welcomes her guests. The guests are students at Hogwarts; most of them are Slytherins.

Clapping her hands together, she says, "Welcome, my 28 sacred in Avery Garden on this lovely evening. From today forward, I'll be the one to take the role of my brother, since he is busy with our family business. He put his trust in me, and I gladly accept it."

"But you're a Hufflepuff. Do you expect me to just stand around while a Hufflepuff takes leadership in our 28 sacred?" Gaunt taunted.

"Like it or not, Gaunt, but the leadership of this 28 sacred has always been named Avery. I'm sure you've read the book? I believe we have one called The History of 28 Sacred. Have you not?" She taunted back at him. Ignoring him, she continued.

"I may be a Hufflepuff, but no one knows Slytherin more than I do. Maybe I know more than you. Do you know that there are five secret doors in your common room? I do."

"There are five? I thought it was two!" people whispered to each other. Everyone knew all Averys were Slytherins, and she was surrounded by them.

Suddenly, Crouch questioned her, "Why do you want to be a Hufflepuff, Avery? When the Sorting Hat clearly spoke our house and you told it to check again so that you could change it to Hufflepuff, everybody knew when they looked at you, you were screaming Slytherin, not Hufflepuff."

"I made my choice; it's personal to me. But I'll tell you this, Crouch, there's nothing that compares to our problem right now," she continued.

"We all knew since we were born into this world of privilege, a rich comfortable life beyond, our status in society and our old ancient family names. We have our duty and debts we must pay." She looked into each one of them because what she just told them was their deepest secrets, their burdens, their duty. She looked at Shafiq intentionally so that Shafiq knew exactly what he owed. He cannot just run away with it and marry a muggleborn, ending his family name, and they all are well aware of his plan.

She continued, "I also know some of you might say... but we didn't ask for this; it's not fair what they did to us."

"Well... that's our damn fate, so suck it up!" Avery looked at Shafiq again and then continued to talk.

"Do you know what I heard these days...what these people are saying about us? I know they talk shit behind us. This one particular student said our 28 sacred will sooner or later become 25, 20, 15, 10?" She gave each one of them a stern look, and they were all looking at her.

"But I tell you this: as long as I live, I will not let that happen and I will make sure of it. Not under my watch; it will be 28 sacred purebloods until I die!" with serious eyes, she meant it, every word of it.

Parkinson smirked and taunted, "It's easy for you to say that since you were born into this world. People are already queuing, wanting you to be their in-law. Thanks to your blood supremacy, it's different for us, I'd say... limited."

The Greengrass sisters added, "Some of us are betrothed, but we're clearly imbalanced in terms of males and females. Some of us don't even consider the other pureblood females who are still available. Instead, they want to marry muggleborns," she said rolled her eyes, tilting her head towards Shafiq.

The Greengrasses looked at Shafiq, who famously wanted nothing to do with the 28 sacred society. It is known that he will leave the sacred society in the near future, and everyone hates him for that because we all want the same thing, but we cannot. The fact that he is just going to do it without thinking of the consequences angers them. Avery knows Shafiq, and of course, she will never let that happen under her watch.

She knew this night would never be easy on her, with the interruptions of her speech here and there. They don't see her as competent to be their leader, but she continued her speech.

"When we come of age, our parents want us to have a bunch of heirs, children running around our manors—that would be the dream of our parents, isn't it?"

"I wish magic could do that; how easy our life would be," Nott added.

"Do not fret, Nott, we will always find a way. That is why I gathered you all tonight so that I can offer you my way out of this little trouble we have."  

Greengrass interrupted her, "It's not little!"

Burke added, "We need to breed Salazar; just give me one kid, and I'm done with this!" He screamed, venting his frustration.

All the guests began chattering; the frustration was getting to them. She clapped her hands, showcasing her new skills. Avaria... the fire lit, and she threw it onto the candles on the table to grab their attention. They all fell silent at the fire show Avery put on; she takes a deep breath.

"Next month, I will be inviting all purebloods all around Europe to gather here in Avery's manor so that you'll find your match."

"It turns out it's not just our problem, but theirs too" She smirked at the Greengrasses, their eyes wide open, smiling and gasping.

"That is clever!" One of the boys shouted.

Avery continued, clapping her hands, signaling the elves to bring out the food so they could start eating. While the elves brought out the food, she continued speaking.

"Next month is your chance to open your hearts. Hide those Slytherin cunning smirks away for a while because I like them too," she winked.

"Be nice; they're not Slytherins. I'll owl you the invitation and date. Enjoy our food, ladies and gentlemen" And with that, she sat down, looking satisfied because everyone had been excited, gasping, and smiling, chattering around Rossier and the Greengrasses, looking at her with beaming eyes. She was looking into their eyes, nodding.

The evening had turned into a lively festive mood from somber. Everyone looked at Avery in a different light now; she could see it. She was slowly gaining their respect; all she had to do now was prepare for the ball next month. After they finished eating their dinner, everyone stood, spreading out, drinking and chatting. Blaise, standing while drinking his whiskey, came to Avery and said,

"Avery, wouldn't it be nice if you were a Slytherin? You would become Hogwarts champion, and then you would win the Triwizard tournament for Slytherin, You would be the greatest witch of the year. We'll all be so proud of you. I can hardly remember the last time a Slytherin became Hogwarts champion," he sighed. After looking at Blaise, Avery gazed away.

"Stop trying to make me a Slytherin, Blaise; the deed is done. It's our 8th year for Merlin's sake," she replied.

"A Slytherin will never become Hogwarts champion anyway; you're too self-aware and have no loyalty to Hogwarts—more to yourself."

"But we're ambitious enough."

"Maybe not enough, since that Goblet of Fire never spoke any Slytherin's name," she smirked.

"Do you think you'll be able to match these single purebloods with the other purebloods you'll gather?" Blaise pointed to the people as they chatted.

"It's not going to be easy. But I'm a Hufflepuff; we are dedicated and hard-working, remember?" Avery smirked at Blaise. Blaise scoffed.

"Where is Malfoy, by the way? How can you let this happen? One of the members of the 28 sacred is not attending this evening when he's supposed to?"  

Avery just silently looked away from Blaise.