CHAPTER SIX:

SLYTHERIN PRIDE

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      When Hogsmeade weekend finally came around, Nova found herself anxious about the meeting with Potter. She remembered Granger and Weasley mentioning that there would be no other Slytherins there, and Nova firmly believed that even if there had been, the rest of the students there would be more wary of the Nott with the Death Eater father than just a blood purist Slytherin.

      She made sure Parkinson and Bulstrode had exited the dorm before she sat up, throwing the covers off her legs. Once her feet were planted on the ground, she stood and walked over to her dresser. October meant cooler weather, so she made sure to throw on thick stockings underneath a plain black skirt, so her legs wouldn't be cold. After wrapping a warm coat around her shoulders, she made her way to the bathroom.

      The girl in the mirror looked nervous and timid. Konstantinova Nott didn't do nervous and timid. Quickly glaring at her reflection, she made sure she looked the part of the deadly Slytherin princess everyone knew her as while she brushed through her hair. "Don't be stupid, Nova," she whispered to herself in a hard tone. "They're Gryffindors. You're better than them."

      Her reflection didn't look convinced, but Nova thinned her lips and narrowed her eyes. Once her hair was brushed through, she made her way down the stairs, where Theo and his group of friends was waiting. Malfoy had already been towed away by Parkinson, so it left the twins with Greengrass and Zabini. Nova wasn't sure where Crabbe and Goyle had run off to, but she didn't care.

      "You ready for Honeydukes?" Theo questioned with a smile on his face. Nova's eyes zeroed in on his arm, linked to Greengrass. When he caught her line of sight, he sent her an eye-roll.

     "I actually have to make a stop first, but I'll meet you afterwards." Her twin gave her a confused glance, so she sent him a look. "I need to pick up your Christmas gift."

      "It's the beginning of October," he laughed out. "Christmas isn't for another two months."

      "Well, I want to make sure it doesn't sell out. I'll meet you guys in the Three Broomsticks afterwards. Merlin knows I'm going to need a butterbeer."

      "Alright. Just meet us there, then," Theo replied, giving her a quick tap on the head before he exited the common room, Greengrass and Zabini trailing behind. Once Nova was sure they'd left, she pulled out the letter she had gotten from Weasley the night before.

      Nott, meet us at Hog's Head tomorrow. And remember to not tell anyone where you're going.

      Nova rolled her eyes. As if she would be stupid enough to let anyone know she was going against her father, and with the likes of Harry Potter, no less. Quickly lighting the note on fire, she tossed it into the fireplace and rubbed the soot off her hands.

      The air was slightly chilly when Nova stepped out of the castle, but no unbearable. She could see the leaves on the tress start to flutter down slightly, giving the impression that autumn was well underway. She stopped and handed her permission slip to Filch when he held out his hand for it.

      "Looks forged," Filch said unhappily.

      "You let my twin brother through, and he's got the same signature," Nova replied in an agitated tone. Filch seemed to find her logic plausible, for he let her through with a glare on his face. She simply rolled her eyes, trekking through the outskirts of the entrance of Hogwarts and in the direction of Hogsmeade.

     When Nova arrived at the Hog's Head, her nose crinkled in distaste. Depicted on the sign above the door was a severed boar's head dripping blood onto a white cloth. Nova was unimpressed. As she opened the door and stepped inside, the first thought on her mind was of how much her father would hate the Hog's Head. It was covered from ceiling to floor in what looked like dried dirt, little crumbles of dust giving way underneath her feet as she walked. The place was dark, no light coming through the grimy windows.

      "Great place to have this meeting, Granger," Nova whispered to herself. She spotted the group towards the back of the dingy pub, just in time for Fred Weasley to speak.

      "Hi. Could we have... twenty-five butterbeers, please?"

      When the barman gave him an annoyed look, Nova sighed. "Make that twenty-six."

      She was sure she had never seen that many eyes on her. Everyone in the group turned to spot the Slytherin, several mouths gaping at the sight of the girl in front of them. The only two who seemed to be happy she had showed were Potter and Granger. Even Weasley looked apprehensive, like he was regretting his decision to invite her to the secret meeting.

      "What the bloody hell is she doing here?" Terry Boot, a Ravenclaw in the year below her, asked. There was an iciness in his voice that Nova was sure reserved for Slytherins only.

      "Who invited the Slytherin?" Ernie Macmillan added. Nova sent him a glare so cold that he leaned back in his seat to put some distance between the two of them.

      "I did," Potter replied, giving Ernie and Terry a look. "I invited Nott, and if you don't like it, you don't have to stay here." His emerald eyes flickered back up to meet Nova's, who gave him a curt nod and sat down next to Neville Longbottom. She was pretty sure he scooted closer to Dean and shivered as she gingerly crossed her legs.

      The barman returned with several drinks, and Nova slid over a few coins to the man before taking a sip. Once the liquid hit her throat, the irritable look on her face smoothed out. While most of the kids at Hogwarts loved the treats from the Hogwarts Express trolley or Honeydukes, Nova didn't think there was anything better than a butterbeer.

      Once the entire group was sitting, Nova leaned back in her chair and waited for Granger to speak.

      "Er," Hermione said, her voice shooting up an octave. Nova wanted to snort. In her world, getting nervous wasn't an option. It always amused her when other people did. "Well... er, hi."

      Eloquent.

      "Well... erm... well, you know why you're here. Erm...well, Harry here had the idea - I mean i had the idea - that it might be good if people who wanted to study Defense Against the Dark Arts, and I mean really study it, you know, not the rubbish that Umbridge is doing with us. Because nobody could call that Defense Against the Dark Arts-" someone interrupted with a "hear, hear" and Granger looked nothing short of pleased "-well, I thought it would be good if we, well, took matters into our own hands."

      "We're learning Defense Against the Dark Arts with a Slytherin here?" she heard a redheaded Ravenclaw girl sitting next to Cho Chang ask. When her eyes locked on Nova, the Nott woman gave her a sinister smirk that made the Ravenclaw shudder.

      Nova happily took a sip of her butterbeer.

      "And by that, I mean learning how to defend ourselves properly, not just theory, but the real spells," Granger continued as if she hadn't heard the Ravenclaw girl. However, Potter had, and he sent the girl a look that made it clear she didn't have to stay.

      "You want to pass your Defense Against the Dark Arts O.W.L., too though, I bet?" Michael Corner mentioned, looking at Granger.

      "Of course I do," Granger replied. Nova wanted to roll her eyes. Of course Hermione Granger wanted to pass an O.W.L. Did this Michael person know her at all? "But I want more than that. I want to be properly trained in Defense because...because..."

      By the look on Granger's face, Nova knew what was coming.

      "Because Lord Voldemort is back," Nova commented, finishing the statement as well as her butterbeer. The redheaded Ravenclaw squealed like a pig being slaughtered, Terry Boot's eye twitches, Padma Patil shuddered in her seat, and poor Longbottom looked like he was going to faint.

      "Know a lot about that, don't you, Nott?" A Hufflepuff kid she didn't know the name of asked. She could see there were at least five people glaring at her, so she shrugged.

      "It's basic knowledge. How about instead of making snide comments about the house I happen to be in, you pay attention to what Potter has to say so we don't get killed." The Hufflepuff shrunk back into his seat and Nova turned to face the barman. "Could I get another butterbeer?"

      "Where's the proof You-Know-Who's back?" The same kid asked. Nova wanted to grab him by the neck and wring him out like a rag.

      "Well, Dumbledore believes it-"

      "You mean Dumbledore believes him," the Hufflepuff interrupted, gesturing towards Harry. "And the only reason Nott's saying it is because her family basically worships You-Know-Who."

      "Who are you?" Weasley bit back, giving the Hufflepuff a glare. The barman handed Nova another drink and she coughed up three more coins before taking a big gulp of her drink.

      "Zacharias Smith, and I think we've got the right to know exactly what makes them say that You-Know-Who's back."

      "Look, that's really not what this meeting was supposed to be about-"

      "It's okay, Hermione," Potter interrupted. His voice was cold and stony, sounding much like Nova's had. "What makes us say You-Know-Who's back?" He glared at Zacharias so hard, Nova was surprised the blonde boy decked in a yellow and black sweater didn't spontaneously combust. "I saw him. But Dumbledore told the whole school what happened last year, and if you didn't believe him, you don't believe me, and I'm not wasting an afternoon trying to convince anyone."

      "All Dumbledore told us last year was that Cedric Diggory got killed by You-Know-Who and that you brought Diggory's body back to Hogwarts. He didn't give us any details, he didn't tell us exactly how Diggory got murdered-"

      "You'd like to know how exactly Voldemort Avada Kedavra's someone, is that it, Smith?" Nova asked, and the boy turned to her with anger on his face.

      "The rest of us aren't as well-versed in dark magic as you are, Nott."

      "Shut your mouth, Smith," Nova snapped back, slamming her butterbeer down on the table next to her. Several people in the group flinched. "So my family's been in Slytherin for generations. So some Slytherins become Death Eaters. So what? At least I've come to the damn meeting prepared to learn defensive spells to protect myself, unlike you, who only seems to want to demand Potter share details on how Diggory died. Which, I'll remind you as it seems you've forgotten basic human etiquette, is rude. If you've come here to learn about murder and not about how to protect yourself so you don't meet the same fate, or if you have a problem with my being here, you can get your arse up out of the seat and leave."

      The entire room was quiet after her burst of annoyance. Even Weasley was staring at her with surprise on his face as they all digested her words. Nova picked up her butterbeer and took another swig, cursing when she realized it was gone. "Anyone got another knut?"

      Wordlessly, Dean Thomas reached over Neville Longbottom and handed her one.

      The barman handed her another butterbeer without her asking for it. She flung the old mug in his direction before angrily gulping down more.

      "So," Hermione said after a few more moments of everyone blankly staring at the Slytheirn girl. "So... like I was saying... if you want to learn some defense, then we need to work out how we're going to do it, how often we're going to meet, and where we're going to-"

       "Is it true that you can produce a Patronus?" a small Ravenlaw with a dark black plait asked, interrupting Hermione to look at Potter.

      "Yeah."

      "A corporeal Patronus?"

       Potter's face shifted to something akin to remembrance. "Er - you don't know Madam Bones, do you?"

       "She's my auntie. I'm Susan Bones. She told me about your hearing. So, is it really true?" Susan asked, giving Harry a smile filled with wonder. "You make a stag Patronus?"

      "Yes."

      "Blimey, Harry!" Lee Jordan shouted, his face looking nothing short of impressed. Even Nova couldn't help but raise an eyebrow in surprise. Producing a Patronus was one of the most difficult things for a young wizard to do. Even older wizards struggled with it. Her father hadn't been able to produce a Patronus in years. "I never knew that!"

      "Mum told Ron not to spread it around," Fred Weasley said, giving Harry a grin. "She said you got enough attention as it was."

      "She's not wrong," Potter mumbled underneath his breath. Next to her, Nova heard Neville Longbottom snort.

       "And did you kill a basilisk with that sword in Dumbledore's office?" Terry Boot asked, his voice aggressive. "That's what one of the portraits on the wall told me when I was in there last year..."

      "Er - yeah, I did that, yeah."

      "And in our first year," Neville Longbottom chimed in as several people in the group made sounds of amazement. Lavender Brown's eyes were as wide as saucers, and the Creevey brothers looked like the sun shone from Potter's every pore, "he saved that Sorcerous Stone-"

      "Sorcerer's," Hermione corrected.

      "Yes, that, from You-Know-Who," Neville finished.

      "And that's not to mention all the tasks he had to get through in the Triwizard Tournament last year - getting past dragons and merpeople and acromantulas and things..." Cho Chang trailed off, kids nodding their head in agreement.

      As she sipped her butterbeer while Potter deemed he had help doing those things, she found herself looking at Granger and Weasley. And then at everyone else in the circle. They all loved Potter. Even Smith, who tried to seem as if he wasn't interested, looked impressed. Nova swallowed another gulp of the drink while a sadness drifted through her heart.

      She would never have this. She would never have people who stood up for her, who defended her against the biting words of other people. She had Theo, but soon enough he would follow in their Father's footsteps and leave her. Harry Potter had friends, true friends, and it the melancholy that came with this realization was enough to make Nova lean back quietly in her chair, not even responding when many eyes looked upon her after Zacharias Smith said something idiotic once more.

      "Nova?" Granger asked after a few moments of the Slytherin girl staring into the bottom of her butterbeer mug. When Nova looked up, all eyes were on her. "What do you think? Meetings once a week, and I'll message you when we select a time and place?"

      "Yes, yes," Nova said quickly, trying to make sure she didn't look at all the way she was feeling. "Yes, that's fine." Rethinking her words, she held up a finger. "On one condition."

      Someone groaned.

      "What condition?" Hermione asked.

      "Everyone shut their mouths about me being a Slytherin. I didn't pick my bloody house."

      Fred, George, and Lee let out almost identical chuckles. Dean Thomas tried to hide his smile. Potter and Granger were looking at her with grins on their faces. Even Weasley had to cover his smile with his hand.

      "Right, I'm sure we can all agree to that. Now, I think everyone should write their names down..."

      Nova didn't listen to the rest of the statement. She stood patiently and waited until mostly everyone was done scribbling their names down before she walked over to where Granger was sitting, holding out the piece of parchment and a quill.

      She stared down at the piece of parchment, taking the quill in her hands. This was it. This was the moment she was finally choosing something for herself. She was choosing to help Theo.

      Konstantinova Nott.

      "Nott," Potter said, and Nova gave him a questioning look. "Thanks. For earlier, I mean.With Zacharias."

      "He was being stupid," Nova replied, giving a shrug. "Anyone would have done the same thing."

      "But no one else did," Potter added.

      She supposed he was right. "Well, don't mention it, Potter."

      "You can call me Harry, you know."

      The tiniest of smiles curled Nova's lips upwards. "I know." Then, her face turned serious once more. "And I guess I should say thank you for inviting me to this, even though you knew you would get backlash for bringing in a Slytherin."

      "Just trying to make sure you know your options."

      Nova nodded. She appreciated that fact more than she'd ever let on. "Right. Well, see you three at the next meeting."

      She was out the door and already walking towards the Three Broomsticks when she heard the door to the Hog's Head open and heard footsteps behind her. When she turned, she saw Weasley slightly out of breath, flinging his hands on his knees as he tried to balance out his breathing.

      "Merlin, you walk fast." He took in a couple pants of air before he stood back to his full height, just a few inches taller than Nova. "Look, I just wanted to say thanks for coming. It meant a lot to Harry. And sorry for that idiot Zacharias Smith."

      "Yeah, he was a real prick, wasn't he?" Nova replied.

      Weasley chuckled, then looked surprised that he had laughed at something a Slytherin had said. "An absolute prick. Nothing he said was true, you know."

      "A Weasley saying that Nova Nott isn't a dreadful, blood purist Slytherin? How unheard of."

      "Well...er... I mean, it's obvious, isn't it? That... that you aren't? I mean, you showed up to this meeting of all places, and stood up for Harry when someone called him a liar. I was..." he wasn't able to say it, his lips forming the word but nothing coming out.

      "Wrong. You were wrong," Nova finished for him. He nodded, his cheeks tinging pink.

      "Right. I mean... you are right that I was wrong."

      Nova rolled her eyes, but there was no sting in the action, as there might have been at the beginning of the school year. "Next time you talk to me, make sure it's in English, Weasley. I'm afraid I don't speak gibberish."

      She was turning away and walking in the opposite direction before he could call something out to her. He watched her walk away, the hot feeling of his blush still on his cheeks.

      "Oh, ickle Ronniekins," two voice suddenly chimed from somewhere behind him. When Ron turned around, her saw his two twin brothers and Lee, big grins on their faces.

      "What do you lot want?"

      "I'm going to tell Mum," George said, lunging forward and grabbing Ron's cheek, squishing it between his fingers. "She's going to think it's so cute! Her youngest son finally fancies someone."

      "Get off me," Ron snapped, flicking his brother's fingers away from his cheeks. As soon as Geroge's grip released, Fred's hand latched onto the other side of his face. "Fred, I swear to Godric. Ow! Fred, that's - what the bloody hell are you two going on about?"

      "You and your adorable little crush on Nova Nott," Lee replied. Ron recoiled as if someone had shocked him. "Oh, don't be so dramatic, Ron."

      "You think I fancy Nott?" Ron asked, his voice shrieking two octaves too high. The three boys seemed to find this humorous, for they started laughing. "Are you three insane? I do not fancy Nova Nott."

      "Sure, sure-" Fred chimed.

      "-Whatever you say, Ronniekins!"

      "You two would make such a cute couple. Just think, a Weasley boy with a girl whose family hates the very idea of muggles. It's a match made in heaven, of course," Lee finished as the three of them erupted into cackles once more.

      "Bloody bonkers, the three of you are."

      As if he could fancy Nova Nott. With his fists clenched, he marched back to the entrance of the Hog's Head, where Hermione and Harry were waiting. Before the door swung closed behind him, he heard Fred yell, "when you realize you fancy her, let us know! We've decided to help you out!"

      Nova Nott and him. Together. It was an idea as insane as his brothers.

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      Dear Nova,

      You probably don't know who I am. And if you don't mind, I'd quite like to keep it that way. Let's just say that we've got a mutual friend, and he suggested I maybe write you a letter to let you know about an old friend of mine.

      One of my best friends in my Hogwarts years was born into a family of pureblooded Slytherin. When we met on the train, he was sure that he was going to be sorted into Slytherin and would grow up to follow in the Dark Lord's footsteps, like so many others in his family had. He was afraid that his new friends would be sorted into other houses - the conventionally "good" houses.

      To his surprise, he was sorted into Gryffindor. Along with his three best friends, the ones he met on the train.

      I know your situation is different. You've been in Slytherin for the past five years of your life. You've been surrounded by followers of the Dark Lord your whole life. But while it may seem impossible to overcome, I promise you that it's a feat that can be accomplished.

      Remember that you get to chose, Nova. Just because people perceive you to be something, doesn't mean you have to live to their standards. My best friend didn't. He broke away from the family he hated so much and found so much more. He found light, kindness, and most importantly, love. I believe you can do the same.

      Slytherin isn't an evil house, Nova. It will do you well to remember this. You aren't destined to become like your father. You have the choice of choosing, just like my friend.

      I hope this story inspires you some. I hope you understand that you have many who care about you. And hopefully when I meet you face to face, you'll have chosen for yourself, and not for anyone else.

      Take care,

      R.L.

      The letter had come that morning, when Nova was sitting at the Slytherin table eating her breakfast. Sundays were quiet, mostly used for studying for O.W.L.'s and doing whatever homework she hadn't finished up. However, that particular Sunday, Nova hadn't been able to stop staring at the letter a school owl had dropped off (and nearly dropped it in her oatmeal).

      R.L. Who was R.L.? She tried to think of anyone she had known with that name, but no one came to mind. Nova must have read the letter twelve times over, her eyes scanning over each word as if she were trying to commit it to memory.

      When Theo plopped down on the bench next to her, she nonchalantly folded the letter and placed it in her bag. "What was that?" he asked, stealing her cup of orange juice and taking a sip.

      She shrugged. "Just some homework for Potions I needed to finish up." As she continued to eat her breakfast, she casually cut her pancake with her fork and knife. "Theo? Do you happen to know anyone with the initials R.L.?"

      Theo looked up from the piece of toast he was slathering in butter and thought about it for a moment. "Can't say I do. Why?"

      "It was carved somewhere. I was just wondering."

      The two of them continued to eat their breakfasts, silent as they chewed. Nova felt Theo's eyes on her, and when she looked over at him, he was smirking. "Malfoy looks as annoyed with Pansy as you usually do."

      Nova's eyes flickered to the end of the table and saw Pansy nearly lying in Malfoy's lap. He looked less than pleased as he tried to eat his breakfast. "That's disgusting."

      "You sound jealous."

      "Bite your tongue," Nova replied without missing a beat. "I wish you'd stop bringing that up. Malfoy gets his hopes high every time you do."

      "Oh, c'mon, Nova. You know he'd end things with Pansy in a nanosecond if you told him you wanted to try again. The boy's been in love with you since the moment you've met."

      "We didn't work, Theo."

      "I don't think that's it, actually," Theo replied, setting his utensils down as he looked over at her. She sent him a look. "No, hear me out. I think that you broke up with him because you were afraid to get your heartbroken."

      "As if Malfoy could have broken my heart. Be reasonable, Theo."

      "You broke his before he could break yours. I think that's why you ended things with him."

      "Or I ended things because I couldn't see a future with him," Nova replied, popping a grape in her mouth.

      "Sooner or later you're going to have to give your heart away, Nova. It's actually a pretty great feeling."

      Her eyes shot to him, and this time, a genuine smile spread across her face. "Things are going well with Greengrass, then?"

     "Her name is Daphne," he corrected, ignoring the eye roll he received in response, "and yes, they're going well. I really like her, Nova."

      This was what she wanted. She wanted to see the dopey smile on his face as he talked about some girl he liked. She gave another small smile, one to let him know that as long as he was happy, she was too. "Good. I'm glad."

      "Yeah, me too."

      It was the furthest thing from Death Eater she had ever seen. It was a boy, a boy who liked a girl and was getting through school and was trying to discover who he was. It was her brother, no semblance of her father appearing in that moment.

      She couldn't help but think that if she were trying to produce a Patronus, like Potter could, this would be her happiest memory.

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yo yo yo all this dialogue that seems familiar totally belongs to rowling. ALSO LOOK AT ROVA LOOK AT HOW CUTE

(EDIT: 10/26/2020) Guys, I published this chapter with this author's note "queen rowling" in 2016, a full four years before JKR revealed what a huge piece of shit she was. Please stop attacking me in the comments for writing this BEFORE she made her disgusting ass comments. Instead, you could try messaging me and mentioning "hey did you know this chapter has an author's note praising JKR?" and I would have responded almost immediately and been so grateful to you for letting me know.

I don't support JKR and her views on the trans community. I think what she said is despicable and she'll never be able to come back from those remarks. If you need to talk, I'm always here. Thank you!