Hierarchy of Need [REWRITTEN]

Chapter Three

You're joking.

I never joke.

But you said I was in Ravenclaw.

You're wise beyond your years, my dear.

How is that an answer?

Believe me, you are needed in the house of Salazar Slytherin. Time will tell, it always does.

Now just hang on a bloody minute-

"SLYTHERIN!"

Delilah's mouth fell open and she ripped the hat off, shooting daggers at the old cloth and set it rather roughly on Dippets desk. "That was infuriating." She muttered but froze when she saw Dippet looking at her confused and Dumbledore wore a slight smile, though he didn't look happy.

"What was infuriating?" Dumbledore asked and she shifted a bit in her seat, her fingers playing absentmindedly with her sleeve.

"Oh nothing it was just...not what I was expecting." Based off the man's reaction she drew the quick conclusion he probably wasn't fond of Slytherin house. She herself couldn't remember much besides Draco and Blaise. Two confronting feelings of annoyance and adoration swirling in her chest.

"Well isn't this exciting, a new addition to Slytherin! Oh, Horace will be very pleased."

Delilah turned quickly to look at Dippet. The name ringed with familiarity.

"Albus, I believe he has a class at the moment, so would you get her schedule together and show her around the castle?" Dippet asked as he began to file through enrollment papers. "Of course, sir. This way." He led Delilah out into the hallway and as soon as the door shut she whirled around. She attempted not to snicker as Dumbledore leaned back in order not to get hit by her hair.

"I cannot believe it put me in Slytherin." She whispered fiercely. Something about the placement felt wrong. He sighed and gestured for her to keep walking. "What house were you in before? Gryffindor perhaps?" He mused and Delilah shook her head with a slight smile. "No, it told me Ravenclaw."

"It's not that I have anything against Slytherin," she began and kicked at a pebble. "It's just, I don't belong there. Despite what the hat said. It said I'd be useful and I was there to help. Though it wouldn't tell me why. And," she cut herself off as she stared at a fountain they were approaching. An echoing sound of her laughter and another girls swirling in her head. Remember maybe only a glimpse of fiery red hair.

Delilah wasn't a pureblood, but she wasn't a muggle born either. And something told her that fact would be dangerous. "I'm a half-blood," she started quietly. "Will that be an issue?"

"No. but," Dumbledore began. "Should the occasion arise when you're asked about your ancestry. You can say you're from a distant line in France." Delilah nodded but bit at her lip, a bad habit of hers considering how raw they felt.

"We can meet weekly, and should any problems occur please come tell me. If you ever fear for your well-being, please alert me at once. Personally I feel you'll do well, I believe you can handle yourself. However... some of the people in Slytherin have slightly questionable morals, I suppose. Just be careful, Miss Pontmercy." He patted her on the back and she smiled at him.

Confused for only a moment as she remembered that was her new name.

"Let's get your schedule together, do you know your O.W.L or N.E.W.T scores?"

  "No, though I hope I didn't flunk any of them."

He managed a light laugh, "I think you'll fair well in the N.E.W.T courses. But if the world load is too much, please inform me and we can get it sorted. Perhaps they'll even help trigger more memories."