Lydia listened to Quinn with a growing sense of relief. That was true. And she knew Beth, and Beth was a good sort. It also made her feel better to know that other houses had also turned out a few rotten apples as well.

"Hey, I know Beth," said Lydia, smiling. "She's my dorm mate. Have you two been friends for a long time?"

Lydia grabbed another cupcake but a smaller one this time. She washed it down with another large sip of tea. Her cup was almost finished. Now she could see the leaves in the bottom of the cup. She assumed they would need to read the shapes the leaves made, but could that really tell them anything about their future?

"So you come from a family of Slytherins?" said Lydia. "That must be really nice, actually, to feel like you belong to a long, proud lineage. When I first heard of the houses, I thought I might end up in Ravenclaw. I'm still slightly peeved the hat didn't think I was clever enough apparently."