Bayou smiled warmly at the professor as he returned her question, giving a small nod. "I'm doing very good, Professor!" she replied brightly, her unique blend of Newcastle and North Carolina accent carrying her excitement for the house meeting. She lifted her butterbeer and took another small sip, considering his words carefully.

As she lifted her butterbeer for another sip, she heard her name and glanced over. Spotting the older student, JT, she gave him an easy wave. "Hey! How are you?" her voice was steady, friendly, and confident before she turned her attention back to the discussion at hand.

What did house pride mean to her? As a Slytherin, it should mean everything and to her, it truly did.

She paused, thoughtful. This could easily be a trick question. Slytherin had a reputation now; whether people saw that reputation as good or bad depended entirely on their own personal or familial views. After all, it didn’t matter what house you were in anyone could choose to be good or bad. Being Slytherin wasn’t about being the villain.

Bayou raised her hand high, confidence flashing in her eyes. She had her answer.

"For me, Slytherin pride means owning my ambition, moving with strategy, and never apologizing for wanting to succeed."

Her voice was steady but excited, her accent more pronounced as her confidence grew.

"I would also like to add that we're very selectively loyal or at least I am. I think that’s something to be proud of, because we value the people we can truly trust." Maybe that last part wasn’t the most polished answer, but it was honest. And to Bayou, that mattered most.