Chapter Text
September 1st, 1991
"Put me in Hufflepuff."
"My dear," the hat sighed, "I don't think there's a house you fit in less than Hufflepuff."
"I'm hard-working!"
She could feel its disbelief.
"I'm kind?"
A scoff.
"...uh, I'm loyal!"
The hat paused, "well," he drawled, "you are that...but only to a select few. That's more Slytherin."
The girl scrunched her shoulders.
"Yes, cunning, ambition, self-preservation, you're practically the paragon of Slytherin virtue. It's a great house, you know, it could help you on your way to greatness."
"...I don't want to be great."
"Liar."
"...I want to be liked?"
A sigh, and, "HUFFLEPUFF!"
September 3rd, 1991
"Professor Snape, can potions be diluted?"
Her class froze, she persevered.
"If you add water to this sleeping potion would the ingredients react? Or dilute?"
"...I am not here to answer inane questions," he drawled, "next time do some research before bothering me with your flights of fancy."
"Right," a breath, "and, what would you suggest I look into?"
One hour later saw her flipping through a copy of Puer Potio Ingredientia, trying to commit various reactions to memory. She was rather confident she could come up with one decent question by tonight's detention.
...did potions have an expiration date?
September 13th, 1991
"Why are you bullying them?"
"Wha-" called Thing One.
"-us?" chimed Thing Two.
"Yes, you. Why are you bullying my classmates?"
The twins blinked in confusion. "It's a prank!?"
"She's crying."
"They're snakes!"
"She's crying!"
"...it's a laugh?"
"She. Is. Crying." The girl seethed.
They gulped and undid the spell sticking Daphne and Theodore to the outer staircase railings.
The girl turned to her classmates, ignoring the red-heads scurrying off. "If they try something again, tell me. I have some potions that need testing."
The next day she had two new seatmates in Charms.
October 4th, 1991
"What makes a spell dark?"
"W-what?!" Her professor yelped.
"What makes something dark? Is it intent? If I use lumos to blind you am I casting a 'dark' spell?"
"I-I d-don't," he stammered at a loss.
"What about the Unforgivables? If someone asks you to kill them, is it really unforgivable? If they're in pain? Wouldn't you be helping them?"
"W-we're t-t-talking about v-v-vampires," he muttered.
"Alright," she continued, "what makes a creature dark?"
Quirrell whimpered as 20 pairs of eyes focused on him.
The girl just smiled.
October 17th, 1991
"You shouldn't spend so much time with those snakes, you know."
"Shut up, Zacharias."
"I'm serious," the boy continued, voice carrying across the common room. "They're evil."
A snort, "you're not so great yourself."
He blushed, "S-shut up! My mom told me all about that House! They're just using you cause you're good at theory!"
"Who's 'they'?"
"Huh?"
"You keep saying 'they' who's that?"
"T-those snakes!"
"What are their names?"
"..."
The girl closed her book. "That's not very Hufflepuff, judging people you don't know."
She glared at her house before leaving; the room sank into a thoughtful silence.
October 31st, 1991
"It's the Halloween feast!"
"No."
"They've been decorating all week!"
"No."
"It's the one day we can all sit together!"
The girl narrowed her eyes at her companions. Daphne was pleading while Theo was feigning indifference, she sighed, "...no."
"See," Theo shot out, "I told you she's embarrassed of us!"
"Nice manipulation attempt...still 'no.' I'll take us to the kitchens if you want food that badly."
They continued to badger her, but she stayed firm. The next day, when news of the Troll spread, her friends caught her eye.
"You're welcome," she mouthed.
November 8th, 1991
"Are you really a Hufflepuff?"
She looked up from her notes, and blinked. "Pardon?"
"A Hufflepuff!" Theo muttered, joining her. "You're always here," he waved his hand, "reading."
"...it's a library?"
A nod, "and you're a first year, sure you aren't a 'claw?"
"I'm failing all my classes," she denied.
Theo blinked, looked at her pile of books, and snorted.
"It's true!"
Disbelief.
"I mean...I haven't turned in one assignment this semester?"
Silence.
"It's work?"
"I repeat; Hufflepuff!?!"
"Shut up!"
"I could help?" Theo mumbled.
"...please?"
He just nodded, cheeks' red.
November 14th, 1991
"Hey, you're the girl who's friends with some Slytherins, right?"
She nodded.
"Awesome! I'm Cedric, a 4th year. Think you could do me a favor?"
A raised brow.
"I'd pay you back! Just, my DADA partner's sick. I went to check on him, but his housemates barred the Hospital door and I need to give him his notes."
"Why?"
"We have an upcoming test? Anyway, he's in Slytherin so they might let you in."
The girl stared at him, thoughts racing, "...tutor my friends and I in defense," she bargained.
A smile, and, "sure!"
November 18th, 1991
"What are you doing here?!" Zacharias sneered, "this is the Hufflepuff common room!"
Daphne and Theo fidgeted, uncomfortable.
"I invited them," a voice called, "this was easier than meeting in the dungeons."
Zacharias turned, scowl on his face, only to freeze at the sight of a fourth year walking towards him. "Problem?" Cedric smiled, eyes hard.
"Th-they're snakes! They're evil!"
A snort. "In Japan," some 6th year interjected, "white snakes are known as the messengers of God. They bring good fortune."
"Right," Cedric nodded.
The entrance door swung open.
Silence.
The girl blinked.
"...what did I miss?"
December 2nd, 1991
"Can I borrow that book?"
An incredulous look, "...I'm reading it?!"
"I know," the girl nodded towards Modern Marvels, "but that's the only copy and I have something to check. Please, Granger?"
Hermione stared at the Hufflepuff before her, shocked at her gall. "I suppose," she rallied, "you can have it, if you know something about Nicolas Flamel."
The girl tilted her head, "the famous 14th century alchemist? I prefer Paracelsus, but, what do you want to know?"
Shock.
"W-wha, h-h-how, why do you know him?"
"I want to be an alchemist," the girl muttered.
December 25th, 1991
"Happy Christmas!"
The girl blinked at the colorful package being shoved in her face.
"It's not much, but I asked Cedric for advice, and Theo helped chip in," Daphne demurred, "I hope you like it!"
"Thanks, Daph," she smiled at her new wand holster. "I got you something, too." A minute later Daphne was squealing at a Frizz Control Potion. "I've improved the formula, this one should work for a full week."
Another squeal.
Neither girl noticed the interest they garnered from the Christmas table. Both content to bask in their friendship.
"How nice," murmured one Albus Dumbledore.
January 18th, 1992
"The philosopher's stone!" Hermione scolded, settling into an open library seat, "Nicholas Flamel is the only known creator of the philosopher's stone!?"
"Hello, Granger," she drawled, "how are you? How was your New Year's?"
Hermione just glared, unimpressed. "You said he was a 14th century alchemist! You said he researched base-metal transmutations!"
"He was," she confirmed, "he did."
"You forgot to mention he discovered the secrets of immortality!"
A shrug. "You hadn't specified what you'd wanted to know."
"Wha-the philosopher's stone!" Hermione shrieked, incredulous.
"Paracelsus invented toxicology?" She tried.
"...stop. Just, stop."
January 29th, 1992
"Are we going to cheer on Cedric?" Theo questioned while checking over her finished homework. "The game starts soon, right?"
"...we're facing Gryfindor, why do you know when it starts?"
Theo shot her an incredulous look, "you didn't hear?! Snape's refereeing!"
"Oh." A pause, "well, in that case, don't bother. It'll be over in fifteen minutes."
"...how could you know that?"
She looked him dead-in-the-eye and whispered, "magic."
The next second saw her dodging a paper ball trying desperately not to laugh. Theo grumbled but stayed; she hadn't been wrong yet.
February 20th, 1992
"You're over-watering it," Granger whispered, "Moly is a fire-based plant, excessive watering will cause it to wilt."
"...thanks," the girl muttered, turning back to her Herbology assignment while disregarding the advice.
"You're still watering it!" Granger shrieked, catching the attention of her two friends.
"Lay off, 'mione. If she wants to fail let her."
The girl tensed, ticked off. "I'm doing it on purpose," she stiffly explained, "I want to test how an ingredient's enviornment affects potion brewing." The red-head stared at her slack-jawed.
"Merlin," he lamented, "there's two of 'em."
March 1st, 1992
"You're failing Charms?!"
"...is a D failing?"
Cedric just blinked at the first year in front of him, "but I've seen you cast?" He questioned. "Your wand movements are perfect!"
"Theo makes sure she completes all her homework!" Daphne piped in, beginning to stretch for their training session.
"It's the demonstrations," Theo muttered, annoyed, "she refuses to perform during class."
The girl just shrugged, "who needs Charms when you have Alchemy?" At her friends incredulous looks she quickly back-tracked, "I'm just lazy?"
A snort.
"But really, guys," she implored, "is a D failing?"
"...no."
March 5th, 1992
Severus scowled at the essays in front of him; insipid drivel set to inspire despair in humanity. Truly, each student seemed more vacuous than the last!
Even Ms. Granger, for all that she was technically correct, failed to demonstrate even the slightest sign of original thought.
"Moly, an ingredient in the Wiggenweld Potion, possess the singular ability to nuetralize Valarian root."
Severus paused in his monologing.
"By saturating the Moly seedling in water, however, this may be suppressed."
A quirked brow.
"Thereby preventing adverse reactions to the Draught of Peace."
He smirked while glancing at the name.
That Hufflepuff, again.
April 27th, 1992
"Draco's saying Hagrid has a dragon." Daphne whispered, while Professor Flitwick demonstrated a Cheering Charm. "Something about finally catching Potter?"
"Malfoy's going to lose you a lot of House points," the Hufflepuff drawled, not even pretending to take notes.
Theo's gaze sharpened, "...you didn't say he was wrong."
"About the dragon, or about catching Potter?" She paused, "actually, nevermind. Depending on your time frame it doesn't matter."
Daphne and Theo shared a bemused look. "What's your time-frame?"
The girl pretended to ponder the question, a mysterious smile on her face.
"About seven years?"
May 8th, 1992
"Why didn't you use the Wiggenweld Potion?"
"Wha?" groaned one Ronald Weasley from his sickbed.
"The Wiggenweld," the girl repeated, motioning towards his over-inflated hand, "the potion we just brewed? Made for healing injuries? It would have prevented the bite from getting infected."
"Why are you here?!" He moaned in pain.
"I wanted to ask Madam Pomfrey if she'd let me volunteer, it'd be a great way to practice healing spells."
"...you're barmy!"
The girl just looked at his infected appendage before raising her brow. "I'm not the one lying about a dragon bite."
May 14th, 1992
Ron wasn't sure how he felt about Hermione's new friend. Until a few months ago he'd thought Hermione the only person crazy enough to ask for extra work.
Yet, every day, the Hufflepuff rushed in to study medicine, or pull out a book on Runes, (or Arithmancy! Who reads that?!) It was enough to turn his stomach.
She never even seemed to do any of her homework! She was failing Herbology (who failed Herbology?) and had detention with Snape twice that week!
...she was the most over-achieveing slacker Ron had ever met.
He was kinda impressed.
June 1st, 1992
"Fumos!" Daphne screamed, black smoke pouring from her wand.
"Oh, very good Ms. Greengrass! Next?" Professor Flitwick chimed, looking expectantly at Theo.
"Verdimillious!" Gray sparks shot off in every direction.
"Hmm, nice try Mr. Nott, however, you've blended your spells again. Remember; Vermilious for Red and Verdilious for Green!"
Theo nodded stiffly, blush painting his cheeks.
"Moving on," Flitwick turned expectant eyes on the lone Hufflepuff of the group willing her to participate.
"Alolamora," she muttered, twiriling her wand half-heartedly.
"No, dear!" A squak, "it's Alo-HA-mora!"
"...it's a new spell...it unlocks virtual worlds."
June 28th, 1992
...I can't believe he did that!"
"Mhm."
"Bravery?! They're Gryffindors! You can't give them points for bravery!" Theo ranted stalking up-and-down the train compartment. "You don't see us getting points for cunning!"
"Mhm."
"We were winning, no, we'd already won!" He continued.
"It was rather poor form to wait until the celebration feast," Daphne chimed in, frown marring her brow. "He could have awarded points during Potter's hospital stay, at least."
"If Potter even deserved those points!"
"...Harry did stop Voldemort from gaining immortality?" The Hufflepuff interjected.
"..."
"..."
"HE DID WHAT?!"
"Oh...oops?