First year Slytherins discussing the basilisk
“Harry Potter is totally going to kill the monster, he’s Harry Potter,” Juliet Stump said.
The Slytherin first years were huddled in a corner of the common room, where their study group had devolved into whispered gossip about the latest going-ons of Hogwarts.
“He defeated the Dark Lord, who was possessing the Defense teacher last year and he killed a troll!” Noah Harper agreed.
“No, it was Zo who killed the troll,” Harris Twycross said.
“She’s a mudblood, she can’t have killed the troll,” Daniel Vaisey said.
“That’s mean, my mommy says you shouldn’t use that word because it’s hateful and offensive,” Sara Skeeter said.
“You’re not supposed to say that at school, you’ll get points taken away,” Hailey Rowle said.
“She’s not really a mud- I mean a muggleborn. I heard from Heir Malfoy that her grandmother was a squib and that’s the only reason she’s doing so well in school, that she does have magical ancestry,” Jasper Urquhart said.
“That would make sense,” Daniel nodded.
“She’s always nice to me, the other day I got lost on my way to Transfiguration class and she walked me to the classroom even though it meant she was missing her own class and when we got there she told Professor McGonagall that I got lost and it wasn’t my fault because the castle is so complicated and Professor McGonagall didn’t even take points away,” Olivia Snyde said.
“Some older Gryffindors were bullying me and calling me evil and then Zo hexed them, told them to leave me alone and sat with me for a bit,” Noah said.
“Yeah, the other houses don’t like us, but Zo is always nice and said it’s stupid to judge people for who their parents were or what House they are in, especially children,” Juliet agreed.
“My auntie has met her and says she’s really smart even though she’s a bitch. Then my daddy got mad at Auntie Rita for saying bitch,” Sara said.
“She’s the one who got the Gaze Glasses, and she was with Potter when he fought the troll and the Dark Lord last year,” Hailey pointed out.
“Potter and his friends are totally going to defeat Slytherin’s monster, just like in the storybooks and then everyone will stop being so scared,” Harris said.
“But is that a good thing? If the monster was created by Slytherin and is doing the Dark Lord’s bidding, isn’t that a good thing?” Daniel asked.
“No it is not!” Juliet said hotly.
“My father says that the mud-muggleborns are a plague on wizardkind,” Daniel continued.
“Your father used to be a Death Eater and everyone knows it,” Sara said.
“Killing is always bad and you’re being mean,” Noah said.
“Besides, the monster isn’t just killing muggleborns. Richard Ogden and Lola Talbot were both purebloods and they would have died if they weren’t wearing the glasses,” Hailey said.
“It’s scary,” Olivia said.
“My parents are really nervous and told me to wear the glasses wherever, even in my dorm room,” Juliet said.
“My parents said that there is always something going on with Hogwarts and if there isn’t then Hogwarts creates problems. When my older cousin was going to school, there were cursed vaults that were turning people to stone and getting them trapped in portraits,” Harris said.
“But the teachers are really talented wixen and they will protect us,” Olivia said.
“Have you seen Lockhart? He once wasted an entire class period discussing how many times he was published in the newspaper,” Jasper snorted.
“Well, that is what Harry Potter is for. He has killed all sorts of monsters and even rode a dragon, he’ll surely defeat the monster petrifying everyone,” Juliet said.
“Yeah!” Harris exclaimed.
“Those books aren’t real,” Sara said in a haughty voice. “I actually asked Harry and he said he had never fought anyone before the troll broke in last year.
“But he did defeat the troll and the Dark Lord, twice,” Olivia pointed out.
“Are you discussing Potter?” Malfoy asked, coming to a stop where the first years were sitting.
“Yes, we were wondering if he will fight the monster,” Juliet said.
“Yes, perfect Potter and his pathetic friends,” Malfoy said. “He’s always walking around like he’s the best thing that ever happened to wizardkind, but he can’t even get straight Os and he has been tutored his whole life. And his hair is so messy, he looks like some hooligan, he can’t even be bothered to smooth it down. The other day, he called me a stuck-up brat, which I am not! He’s the one who is stuck up, having the whole school bowing down to him and Dumbledore catering to his every whim. It’s sickening, sickening I tell you.”
“Do you have a cruuuush on him?” Sara asked, dragging out the word in a sing-song voice.
“Pfft-what-no-I do not!” Malfoy said, face beet red before he raced up to the boys dormitory. A nearby upperclassman snorted.