A/N: (7/9/12) I've snagged myself a beta by the name of Lottie! She's brilliant and has graciously looked through Birds of a Feather and edited a few mistakes I've made, as well has let me know to improve my writing. So thank her for her lovely beta skills!

Outburst

"Oh, would you stop this talk of the purity of bloodlines! You ramble on about it every day as if by repetition we will agree to the idea!"

The table went deathly quiet as the stared at the sudden outburst from one Helga Hufflepuff. Out of the four of them, she was the less aggressive, and more agreeable one, so this sudden outburst was a shock to say the very least. Salazar looked at her with hidden shock; not only had he been interrupted, he had been interrupted by Helga the last person in the world he assumed would dare to silence him.

The booming laughter of Godric Gryffindor, and his hand pounding against the table, "By the gods Helga!" broke the silence. The woman next to Godric stifled out a small laugh, before covering it up with a cough. Helga looked down towards her plate. She was pleased with herself, but was trying desperately to hide it. Godric continued to laugh when finally Salazar spoke up again, "I can say with honesty that I did not expect you to interrupt me Lady Hufflepuff."

He had taken to only addressing her by her surname, which wouldn't have bothered her so much if he didn't say her name as if he was teasing her. She knew that he didn't quite understand her place among the four of them. Godric was brave and had many an idea of how to build up the school, and Rowena was very interested in learning all that she could; she was very dedicated to study and research. Whereas Helga knew how to cook, how to distinguish plants from one another and had an understanding of those around her, the others came to believe she couldn't dislike anyone.

She glanced towards Salazar, whose face held an amused smirk, then quickly looked back to her dinner before picking up her fork to put food in her mouth before she said something else. Finally Godric's laughter died down and he returned his attention to his food. Though the moment had passed, Helga could still feel Salazar's gaze on her.

"I must tend to my room. I have yet to decorate it," she said with a more casual tone, before pushing back her chair and leaving her group. Her excuse was not a lie, although it was a very convenient excuse to escape the gaze of Salazar. She did not know if he had a temper. One could only assume he did with his moral standing. Still, it was easier to avoid him than risk him teasing her or confronting her.

Helga walked briskly to her basement common area, knocking on a barrel to reveal its entrance. She was proud of her way of entrance; Godric had a painting placed at his doorway, Rowena had a talking knocker, and Salazar had enchanted a wall. They all required spoken passwords, whereas Helga's entryway simply required a knock or two on a barrel. She found the simplicity would befuddle the others, which made her enjoy her work even more.

She was good friends with them all, but she knew that they though she was beneath them in academics. They all had bright ideas and were very dedicated to deep thought, but she was focused on nature and being kind. In fact, most of the research she had done with her garden helped Salazar with his potion making, not that he would admit it.