Being a passerby in HP female protagonist fanfiction

The Slytherin quartet each reacted in their own strange way.

They were surprised, but not confused, and did not have the stereotypical reaction one would expect. It was as if they already knew who I was... Well, even villains have their rest times, and besides, this group of people couldn't be called villains, they could only be said to be not heroes.

They were polite to me, almost indifferent, but their attitude was still within the realm of friendliness. I couldn't see any obvious discrimination or belittling. What I saw in their eyes was curiosity, and... wariness.

Especially Brace and Pansy, they secretly glanced at me several times. Willotte chatted with them with a gentle expression, while I stood to the side as a backdrop, smiling, relaxed, and not showing the slightest bit of panic.

I watched as Willotte took the initiative to start the conversation. She and I exchanged a glance to make sure I wasn't opposed before she introduced me to the group of Slytherins.

“This is Claire from Hufflepuff.” Willotte’s intimate tone was clearly conveying a message, leaving the other party to judge.

"Hello, Claire," Blaise spoke first, his eyes smiling. I used my keen eyes to make a preliminary assessment of his appearance.

Well, he has the potential to be a playboy at such a young age. He's fair-skinned and has a very handsome face. Maybe I'm just stereotypical, so I tend to be biased when I look at things. Um... he's almost completely different from the original work. I clearly remember that he was dark-skinned in the original. Oh well, it's fan fiction, so good looks are the priority. All the characters have beauty filters. Blaise is at least more dashing than I imagined.

"Hello, it's a pleasure to meet you." I spoke to Blaise in a businesslike manner to show friendliness. Willotte's smile deepened, and she stood beside me. I remained expressionless, enduring the probing gazes of those around me, appearing as an honest man.

"What a coincidence! We should have met on the Hogwarts Express. You're the famous Hufflepuff student, aren't you?" Blaise was adept at building relationships; a few words were enough to make others feel that he was paying attention to them. "We've heard of you, the Charms genius. Gaunt and you two are quite close, aren't you?"

A Charms class genius?

My expression was momentarily blank.

What theory is this from? I don't know anything about it.

My grades in Spells class were good, but my skill level wasn't up to that standard.

Me: On alert.

Σ( ° △ °|||)︴

When paranoia strikes, my first reaction is that some treacherous people want to harm me, or perhaps someone is trying to flatter me to death.

“Professor Flitwick specifically praised you, Claire, in class,” Blaise noticed my confusion and immediately chimed in. His tone was always rising, and with his good looks, it’s no wonder he became so popular later on. “He told us that Claire from Hufflepuff is very talented and always comes up with interesting ideas, just like… Gaunt.”

He glanced at Willotte discreetly.

I:"……"

what?

Who?

me?

I think I should add a picture here to express my shock.

“I think Professor Flitwick is right,” Willotte said seriously. “Claire is indeed very talented.”

I simply replied, "Not at all."

"..." Draco hesitated for a moment, wanting to join the conversation, but afraid of being attacked by Willotte, so he couldn't come up with anything.

Pansy looked around and felt that it was not a good time to make a sound, so she remained silent.

Pansy in the original work and fanfiction is very arrogant. Among all these people, she is the one who doesn't care about me the most. However, she really doesn't mean to target me. She is just a little indifferent. She is arrogant but not stupid. She still has the most basic ability to read people. Draco is afraid of Willow, and she is also afraid of Willow.

Besides, Willow is a Slytherin, and a female protagonist who focuses on her career. Characters from her house wouldn't be too stupid, which is a characteristic of fan fiction.

I silently adjusted my expression, trying to make sure my smile was flawless.

Blaise is smooth, Pansy has a low profile, Draco... Draco is not a threat, he has low emotional intelligence.

Among this group, the one who needs the most attention is actually Theodore Nott.

What a strange person.

I think.

Theodore Nott is almost non-existent in the original work, but fan fiction unexpectedly gives him a very impressive backstory: he is intelligent, beautiful, from a powerful family, and has outstanding academic achievements, making him seem somewhat unrealistic.

But now... this handsome, aloof young man feels very out of place. It's not that his temperament and appearance don't match, but the first time I saw him, I felt that the way he looked at me was strange and unnatural.

A sense of vigilance was accompanied by a thoughtful expression.

I had seen Theodore a few times at the library before, and we had some interaction but not much. I hadn't paid much attention to him. I glanced at Willotte, and she raised her head slightly. She had obviously also noticed Theodore's momentary unease, and her harmless smile suddenly turned meaningful.

See you again sometime.

We exchanged a brief glance and then parted ways.

As we turned away, I noticed a secret gaze coming from behind us.

As if by telepathy, I paused for a moment, then decisively turned my head.

Theodore was turning to look at me. The sudden eye contact startled him for a moment, but his emotions quickly returned to his eyes. His deep blue eyes revealed no specific feelings, and he stopped looking at me. I even felt that he was resisting me. Every gesture and expression showed his unwillingness to get close.

Huh? What's going on here?

I'm not quite sure.

I only complained to Willotte after we were a bit further away.

"I really didn't expect that some people in Slytherin knew me." I said honestly to Willotte, my mind filled with incomprehension and a little belated embarrassment. "I used to think I wasn't very noticeable."

Willotte remained mysteriously silent, looking at me with a complicated expression.

“Claire is still so oblivious. You’re a role model for so many people,” she said. “Haven’t you noticed how many friends you have?”

Is it too much?

That seems to be true. I maintain friendly relationships with many classmates, but I don't let them get too involved in my daily activities. I prefer to do many things alone. If we happen to meet, we'll go together; if not, I'll go alone. This is both for my own comfort and to control the pace, and also so that I can make adjustments if I need to do something in the future.

Willotte tilted her head, and we made eye contact.

I've always loved Willow's purple eyes; they have a crystal-clear, almost cartoonish quality. No one else has eyes like hers. These are uniquely Willow's eyes, so I sometimes gaze at them. Appreciating beauty makes me feel beautiful too. And right now, I tilt my head in confusion, listening to what Willow is saying.

“Claire is wonderful, and many people like you,” she said, a gentle smile curving her lips. “Me too.”

Such a direct expression of affection makes me unable to resist responding.

“Yes, I like Willotte too,” I said, relaxing my eyes and squinting, cherishing this tender feeling.

I feel like I'm liking Hogwarts more and more.

I thought to myself silently.