this is the storm

Although I consider losing to Gryffindor a much more tolerable shame than losing to Hufflepuff (which, thankfully, we didn't), I'd much rather come out of this match without having to listen to a bunch of obnoxious Gryffindors prove themselves even more obnoxious just because of a little victory. I'm confident in our team's ability, but then again I've always been a bit too negative for my own good.

My parents sent me sweets today as well. If anyone wishes to have some, I've left them in the common room.

I've started rooting through the new first years to find the Slytherins who almost weren't. It's almost pathetic how willing an almost Ravenclaw, Gryffindor, or, especially, Hufflepuff are to prove themselves through various levels of manual labor and humiliation. The sooner I break one, the sooner I can stop summoning the House elves to get me things. They take much longer than they should considering I'm a Pureblood.

I'm hoping to find one for every store in Hogsmeade so I can just find myself a seat and relax while they run all of my errands.

Of course, that may be too lofty a goal. I should hope there's no such thing as an incompetent Slytherin, but if you were nearly sorted into Hufflepuff and somehow, by some miracle, ended up here, well... you've got to be a bit slow, haven't you? After all, the only people who like Hufflepuff House are Hufflepuff House and the Gryffindors/Ravenclaws who feel sorry for them.

( So, let's get it straight, without a thought I will take it all away. That's the price you pay for having luck in the first place. Call it what you want. I've spent too long under your thumb and now the clouds have had their say. I'll make a bet that says we don't leave this place as friends. )