[X] Well it's nice to know someone can hear your name and not immediately think of your dad. You love the guy and everything, but Christ, gets a little old, you know?
"Always nice to meet a future underclassman," Rajnish says, smiling. "What house are you hoping for, then?"
"I think my grandfather would die of shame if I end up anywhere other than Slytherin," you say drily. "So fingers crossed for Gryffindor," you add, grinning.
He laughs. "I can think of a few people over there who'd be gratified to have you - they do so love to make pets of poor refugees from the Dark."
"I'll bet they do," you reply, torn between amusement and disgust.
Madam Malkin clears her throat, and Rajnish raises his arms obligingly. "Well, assuming your relationship with your grandfather improves, I do hope you'll give Slytherin another chance. Your sense of humour would be quite wasted on the Lions."
"I'll keep it in mind."
Jokes aside, you don't harbour many illusions about the sacred wisdom of the Sorting Hat; even if it isn't literally Godric Gryffindor's hat, it's still a hat that's presumably within Dumbledore's reach the other 364 days of the year. The wonder would be if it weren't charmed to keep Slytherin families in Slytherin to quarantine any wizard with a functioning survival instinct. It would certainly explain why everyone who stood against the Dark Lord came from the other houses.
Still, even if you end up in the traditional Malfoy house, it's good to know your tolerable housemates won't boil down to just Blaise and Nott.
You engage Rajnish in a discussion of Quidditch, and are surprised to discover he's played Seeker for the Slytherin team for the past two Cup-winning years.
"I don't believe I can manage it this year, though," he says ruefully. "I need to devote more time to my studies."
"You can put in a good word for me, then," you reply. Seeker isn't your preferred position (Chaser is more your speed), but a foot in the door is a foot in the door.
"Didn't you read your letter?" Rajnish waggles a finger at you in mock disapproval. "First years aren't allowed on the team."
[X] "Well, your Captain Flint ain't seen me play yet, has he?"
[X] "I'm sure Professor Snape and Father can come to some sort of mutually-beneficial agreement."
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Man, this is fun. I should have written grey!Slytherin fanfiction years ago. Please note that the opinions of a Slytherin-reared spoiled brat do not necessarily reflect the views of the author (a Hufflepuff-reared spoiled brat).