I watched the other kids get sorted and then, my name was called. "Sullivan Sense." Sullivan Sense. Yep, that's me. Old-fashioned first name, weird surname. Believe me, I know. I walked up to the hat and sat down. While the hat was deciding I glanced at the tables. Hufflepuff, soft and weak, I'd been told, but seeing them there, and I didn't think so. Mother probably held a vendetta against them, since my father'd been one. My parents, their situation. I kept their divorce a secret. I barely noticed when the hat called out,

"Slytherin." I didn't mind. My family had a history of being sorted into Slytherin. On my mother's side anyway. I joined the Slytherins at their table. Some of the older ones were glaring at the Gryffindors and I rolled my eyes. I never understood the animosity the two houses had. Seemed ridiculous.

"Sense," one of them hissed like the snake in our emblem. "Pay attention."

"Pay attention to what? Your utterly ridiculous hostility?" The Slytherin glared at me and I returned a flat look. "I just think it's worthless. That's all." The Slytherins had to hold him back from strangling me. "I think Gryffindor is perfectly fine." The Slytherin's eyes glinted.

"What kind of Slytherin are you?"

"Don't know, must be a new generation or something." The Slytherin next to me turned to face me.

"I'm Oliver Fenning, and don't mind him. Juan gets a bit heated sometimes." Oliver turned to face the table again and Headmaster McGonagall looked at the gathered.

"This year, we have a new Potions teacher. Everyone meet, Ms. Isla." I looked at the teacher. She was young, probably in her twenties. Isla glanced around at the houses.

"Happy to be here." McGonagall continued on with the introductions.

——-
A while later I got to see my common room. I thought back to McGonagall. Headmistress, Head of Gryffindor and Transfiguration teacher? Girl must be busy. "My God,"
I said as I looked around.

"Watch your mouth, you're only 11," Oliver murmured. I looked at him.

"I'll try." Oliver gave me a look but ignored him. Then, I reached the dorms. "For only being able to house six people per, it's pretty massive." Oliver walked over to a bed and sat on it.

"This one's mine."

"Okay." I walked over to a bed. "Is this one?"

"Nope."

"Awesome, it's now mine." An owl flew in and barreled into me. "Twigtalon! Boy! Calm down! You're supposed to be in the owlery you big lug!" I was laughing and Oliver just stared at me. I let my owl land on my arm. "Let's get you to the owlery." I walked off.

~~||||~~~
1 year later...

I was in the Great Hall eating breakfast when I heard something. A Gryffindor was standing on his house's table and he was in my year. He was wearing a bright rainbow t-shirt and there were dyed streaks in his musky blonde hair. I stared at him awe. "I'm gay and I'm proud," his voice rang out loud and clear. I stared at him. That was so.... brave.... and his accent is kinda cute, I found myself thinking. I shook myself.

But little did I know, that Gryffindor... would change my life.