The Hated Hero

Return of the Pythoness

"I like blue a lot," Delphi admitted. "It's my favorite color."

"Oh good, blue is all the rage this year," the salesgirl said, clearly in her element. "I'll come back with some your size-alright?"

"Okay," Delphi said. She jumped as Astoria began to cough, shuddering violently as the fit took her.

"I'm fine!" Astoria gasped between coughs. "This is normal!"

"Oh," Delphi said uneasily. She'd heard a few rumors from Ondine about Astoria's failing health, but it was all the more disturbing to see it in front of her. Finally, the fit came to an end as the salesgirl returned with a wide array of dresses that could vaguely be considered blue.

"Give these a try, see what style and shade you like," the salesgirl said. Delphi felt almost overwhelmed with all the shades of blue she'd never known existed. After what felt like hours of zipping up and pulling on dresses, she'd narrowed it down to a few.

A periwinkle lacy dream that was simple, long-sleeved, and elegant, like something Hermione Granger would wear. A sky-blue gown with a frilly collar. A short-skirted, thick-strapped, greenish blue dress. A midnight blue backless number.

"I like the dark blue one," Astoria advised. "It suited your figure really well."

Delphi agreed, and they bought the midnight blue dress.

....

Draco dropped Delphi off personally on the campus, with her trunk and backpack stuffed. Zookie hovered on her shoulder.

"Are you sure you're going to be alright?" Draco asked as a pukwudgie took away Delphi's luggage.

"I'll be fine," Delphi assured her cousin. "I always am."

"Well," Draco replied, pausing for a long period of time. "Make sure to write. Please. Astoria and I would feel much better if you did."

"I will," Delphi promised. "Thank you. I hope to see you Christmas break?"

"We'll see," Draco said, and he Disapparated. As soon as he was gone, Delphi gave Zookie a letter.

"Send this to Esther Goldstein," she ordered. "This is gonna be important."

Just as she sent that, she went looking for her friends. She found Guinevere, Gwillan, and Rowan out in the gardens, and she couldn't help but run to them. She slid next to them like a baseball player, and grinned.

"How was your summer?" she asked.

"Good," everyone chimed.

"I found a unicorn," Gwillan admitted after a moment. "They usually don't like boys much, but Mom says I attract them like crazy."

"Awesome," Delphi said with a grin. "What are they like?"

"Really shiny and I saw a baby-those are gold," he said eagerly. He then went on to explain the whole process of finding unicorns. On the campus, Delphi still noticed the looks and whispers. She took them with pride, enjoying the attention, to a degree.

...

Delphi was startled at the different voice in the intercom. She was so used to Goldstein saying everything. . .

"Everyone get to your seats immediately," a cool voice said. Delphi obeyed the voice of whoever had taken over as the Dean of First Years and scurried to her table with Rowan and the others. To her surprise, Tahlia was sitting with them.

"Gotta sit with my brother," Tahlia said when asked why. "Besides, I usually sit with a mix of houses. Dean Delancey is being a prude about it. 'Must sit with your house mates.' Bleh, I already see you guys enough."

"If I may have your attention please," said the woman who was assumedly Dean Delancey, "be quiet. We are about to select your champions!"

The hissing of whispers filled the cafeteria.

"There will be a ballot in front of you," Dean Delancey continued. "Write in the name of your candidate for your house. Then submit it into the chalice at the end of your tables."

As the intercom crackled, signaling Delancey signing off, chalices and ballots appeared with pens. Delphi was unsure of who she would vote in. She didn't particularly want to vote for herself, although she suspected that she would be the one voted in.

Tahlia Kostidanova-Raeh, she wrote. She hurled it into the chalice before she could change her mind. Soon enough, everyone had put theirs in, and they all raced to the balcony edge.

Dean Delancey, a cold-looking colorless woman, paced around a large chalice that resembled the Goblet of Fire greatly.

"The votes are in!" she finally declared, and Headmistress Clary appeared. Delphi's eyes widened. She'd never seen the headmistress except for very briefly during her time at Ilvermorny. She could see plenty of Guinevere in the headmistress, with her flowing red hair, angular features, and lithe figure underneath pale gold robes.

"For the House of the Horned Serpent," Headmistress Clary began, her voice projecting majestically, "the champion is Peter Quakenbush!"

A tall golden boy Quodpot type stood down in the Horned Serpent section, a golden light surrounding him.

"For the House of the Wampus," Headmistress Clary continued as the applause died and Quakenbush sat down, "the champion is Benson Hopewell!"

A green-haired boy who also seemed to be the Quodpot type stood up, basking in the applause.

"For the House of the Thunderbird," Clary began. Delphi's breathing grew shallow as her heart hammered against her rib cage in anticipation. "The champion is Delphini Lestrange!"

Riddle, Delphi instantly corrected in her head as she stood up, surrounded by her own golden light. It was no surprise that she'd be picked-after all, she had taken on a dragon twice in the past two years, had she not?

She sat down, eager to see who the champion for Pukwudgie would be.

"Mafalda Freeman!" Headmistress Clary declared.

A black girl of seventeen with bright red hair rose with a triumphant smile. Delphi recognized her as the sister of Tahlia's friend.

"At the end of the month," Headmistress Clary said, "We will be hosting two other schools. The Salem Institute for Witches will have one champion, as they have no houses. The Nation Astro-Sorcery Academy, however, has nine houses and will have nine champions!"

"That's a bit unfair," Tahlia muttered. "NASA has an advantage over us."

Delphi shrugged. "I'm scared of who the Salem Champion will be, to be honest. They're gonna pick their best."

"That is all!" Dean Delancey finished. "Eat up, you have thirty minutes!"