Odd

[Arden Patricks]

"Mm...." I nod slightly. I suppose he would have to be... though I wasn't necessarily expecting it. Then I laugh slightly, a little bit insulted but determined not to show it. "No, surprisingly. Hufflepuff." I grimace slightly. "I can tolerate just about anyone and stay loyal when I really, really shouldn't. But I could've been a Slytherin, I guess. Maybe should've."

I don't think this is actually true, of course... not really. If I'm going to be honest with myself I'd be an awful Slytherin. But I may as well be self-deprecating.

[Finley Andrews]

"Hufflepuff?" He raised both his eyebrows, more from the surprise than anything, then tilted his head supiciously, "Really?"
He still didn't trust her, but again he didn't really see any reason why she would lie to him, especially about something as trivial as a former house.

[Arden Patricks]

"Yes, really," I say, raising my eyebrows at him. It's not as though the kid knows me well enough to judge. "All my childhood friends became Slytherins, but I was a Hufflepuff. Why?"

[Finley Andrews]

He shrugged.
He'd never really interacted with any Hufflepuff's before anyway, but he knew the whole house stereotype thing inside out and badgers and snakes didn't mesh from what he could tell.
He also couldn't see how his father of little or no patience and even less compassion, could have the tolerance to befriend someone outside of his clear definition of worth of a human being.
"Just wondering."

[Arden Patricks]

"All right then." I shrug slightly. "How did you wind up a snake, if you don't mind me asking? You seem like a decent human being."

[Finley Andrews]

"It's in the blood," He muttered with a slight scowl, then cleared his expression as best he could and shrugged, "I don't know. Just worked out that way."

[Arden Patricks]

"Hm." I twitch my mouth slightly in what might be sympathy or I don't know what else. "Well, if things worked out based on blood then I'd definitely have been a slythy. I've known other decent snakes though, so no offense intended."

[Finley Andrews]

He nodded at that, as it seemed to make more sense that she was pure with slytherin roots.
"I guess there must be decent snakes," He shrugged, "There's unpleasant lions...so I suppose it must work both ways."

[Arden Patricks]

"Clearly," I agree, tilting my head. "I mean, it's not as if the Slytherin traits actually are for evil, whorish murderers like most people assume. Just... cunning, determination, probably something or other else that I've forgotten. But none of those things are really bad on their own."

I've given up trying to decide if what I say is age-appropriate or tactful. Maddie can yell at me later.
I shake my head at that, unable to actually think of him as Maddie's kid.