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Chapter One
The Meeting of the Slug Club
The train whistled, signaling its leave to everyone still standing on the platform. Parents waved goodbye, and shouted last minute reminders to the students hanging out of the Express's windows. The last warm breezes of summer blew through the open train's windows, providing it's occupants with one last whiff of home before the scarlet steam engine pulled away and the cool winds of fall were ushered in.
Isabella Carmichael moved to the back of the train, dragging her trunk behind her. This was finally it; she was in her seventh year. After all this time, she would finally be an NEWT student. It's what she had dreamed about form the moment she had set foot in that school.
It wasn't that she didn't like Hogwarts, quite the contrary in fact, she loved it. The succulent feasts, the rolling grounds, the fascinating classes, and, of course, her friends. But Isabella was an adult at heart, she always had been, and nothing excited her more then the prospect of getting her own place, with her own job and living her own life. It was exhilarating to imagine herself free from the endless parties and balls and society teas her parents loved to force on her so much. The idea of being free to curl up by her own window with a book was insanely enticing to her.
"Oh there you are Bella!" a voice cried, and Isabella looked up just in time to see a mane strawberry blonde curls pounce on her and wrap her in a bone crushing hug.
"Lisa, please, you're…crushing…me."
"Oh! I'm so sorry!" Lisa cried, breaking her embrace so quickly that Isabella stumbled against the wall.
"I'm happy to see you too Lisa." Isabella chuckled, straightening herself.
Lisa Caraher was Isabella's best friend in the whole world and had been since they were eleven. She was short and elf-like, but curvy with a round, open face and toothy grin. She was loud, obnoxious and dangerous in charms (which she could just never get the hang of), and sometimes, Isabella just wanted to strangle her with her shoelaces, but she was honestly one of the most caring and brutally honest people Isabella had ever met.
"Come on, me and Jack have a compartment!" she beckoned to Isabella before darting off towards the back of the train.
Isabella sighed and rolled her eyes to the heavens. Jack Ryan was a cousin of sorts, his mother was her grandmother's younger sister; Grandmother had had her kids early, Aunt Christina had had Jack late. He was the most serious kid Isabella had ever met, and that was saying something, for she came from a long line of serious people. But Jack took the cake, which was funny, being as his parents were the most un-serious people Isabella had ever met. Where as they were goofy and adventurous, Jack was sulky and consistent. He had the exact same thing for every meal. Every meal for God's sake! But he was smart and sarcastic, which were two qualities Isabella approved of, so, in their third year, Jack had been inducted into their little group were he had sourly sulked in the corner ever since.
He wouldn't have even accepted their invitation if it hadn't been for Sophia. Sophia Bennett was the final musketeer in their little foursome of awesome, even if she was only a part timer. Sophia was actually Isabella's cousin; her mother had been Isabella's father's younger sister. She was the opposite of Bella in every way. Where Bella's features were decidedly Carmichael, Sophia was decidedly a Bennett. Blonde, and petite with delicate features and great blue eyes, Sophie was easily one of the prettiest girls in school, even if she didn't know it. And Isabella knew for a fact that Jack Ryan had a long standing crush on her.
Giving up, Isabella whipped out her wand and levitated her trunk into the compartment where Lisa and Jack were already seated.
"Took you long enough." Jack grumbled, folding up the Daily Prophet he had been reading when Isabella slid open the compartment door.
"Stuff it Jackie boy." Isabella retorted, throwing a glare at him, "My mum went a little overboard this year, cried every time I started to pack, went on and on about how 'her baby was all grown up now'. I had to put three extension charms on this case to get all the photographs she wanted me to bring in this thing."
"My folks weren't none too fussed." Lisa said, leaning back in her seat and watching Isabella struggle to lift her trunk onto the overhead rack with a vague amusement on her face, "I'm the oldest, they still have three after me."
"Lucky." Isabella spat, finally succeeding in maneuvering her trunk into the tiny provided space, "You'd think from the way she carried on, that Pricilla and Georgina never visited."
"Pricilla still dating that wanker Bobbin?" Lisa asked, digging through her satchel for a few sickles as the candy trolley passed.
"Yeah." Isabella answered rather glumly, "I think their getting serious too, Cilla's been hinting about a wedding-well-you know how subtle she is."
"God, what does she see in him?" Lisa mused, stuffing half a chocolate frog into her mouth.
"I don't know." Isabella muttered bitterly, "He's such an arse, just last week we were having dinner and he says, 'So Bella,' and you know how much I hate people calling me that when they don't know me," Lisa nodded, so she continued, "Anyway, so he says, 'So Bella, what are you thinking of doing with your life after Hogwarts? Important time you know.' And I say that I'm not sure and he starts going on and on about the importance of education and career choice-lecturing me. Him, Mr. Pencil Pusher at the Department of Magical Law Enforcement lecturing me about career choice! The nerve!" she huffed and sat down heavily in her seat just as the compartment door opened again.
"Sophia!" Jack exclaimed, jumping to his feet as though burned.
"Hello, Jack." Sophia smiled softly, "I wondered where you disappeared to Bella."
"Sorry Sophie." Isabella smiled ruefully, "I got…erm…distracted, and then I had to find my trunk-"
"Oh, no, I understand," Sophia's smile widened as she waved Isabella's explanation off, "Paul Manes can be quite the distraction."
Isabella flushed as Lisa burst into a fit of girlish giggles and Jack scowled.
"You're still on about that prat?" he asked, raising his thin eyebrows condescendingly.
"Yes." Isabella sniffed, 'And he's not a prat-you just think so because he bested you at chess, took your ego down a bit."
"That's neither here nor there," Sophia said quickly just as Jack was about to retort, "All that matters is that I'm here now."
"Yeah, why are you here?" Lisa asked suddenly, sitting up and fixing Sophie with a curious look, 'Don't you have Head Girl duties?"
Sophia flushed and looked down and Bella bit her lip nervously. Of course Lisa would be the one to ask that. Sophia had cried for two weeks when her badge hadn't come, but Isabella hadn't been surprised. It was true that Sophia was the cleverest witch in their year, top of the class in everything, but she wasn't a leader. It was stupid Professor Flitwick that had put that notion into her head. She had never stood a chance against Lily Evens.
"Uh…uh…no." Sophia stuttered, her face turning impossibly red, "Lily got it. But it's alright!" she exclaimed when she saw her friend's faces, 'Lily will be brilliant at it."
"I suppose Remus got Head Boy then?" Lisa asked, referring to the quiet, studious boy that was the Gryffindor prefect with Evens, "I'll kill myself if it's Aubrey."
"No." Sophia said, earning surprised looks from everyone in the compartment, "Its James Potter."
"What!" Lisa shrieked at the same time that Jack shouted "What's Dumbledore playing at?" Isabella remained silent.
James sodding Potter. A close fourth in the year, right behind Lupin. He probably could have been first if he wasn't always goofing off. He was clever; even she had to admit, but a perfect arse. Always chasing after Lily, plotting stupid pranks, or sitting in detention. A waste of space.
And now he's Head Boy. Her thoughts hissed. It was a travesty; there must have been some kind of mistake.
"There was no mistake." Sophia said, Isabella hadn't realized she'd said the last part a loud, "To be honest, he seemed as surprised as everyone else…Lily didn't seem too happy though."
"Of course not!" Lisa cackled, "She hates him!"
It was true, though they were not in the same house; it was common knowledge that Lily Evens couldn't stand the sight of James Potter.
"Well I hope she doesn't kill him." Lisa sat back with a sigh, "On second thought…"
"Isabella Carmichael?" an unfamiliar voice sounded from the doorway.
'Yes?" Isabella turned and saw a nervous third year Hufflepuff rocking back and forth on her heels.
"Professor Slughorn wants to see you." The girl stuttered, "I think he wants to invite you to lunch."
Isabella rolled her eyes; Horace Slughorn was the Potions master and head of Slytherin house. He had his favorites, Isabella and Sophia being among them, and always tried to hand pick students he thought were going places in the future.
"Sophia Bennett?" the girl had turned to Sophie, when she nodded, the girl continued, "You better come to."
"See you guys later." Isabella said glumly, Lisa rolled her eyes good naturedly while Jack just looked sullen.
The cousins followed the girl down to the very back of the train where Slughorn had set up a very large and luxurious dinner car. There, sitting at the head of the table was the spider himself who stood as soon as they entered.
"Isabella, Sophia, how wonderful to see you both again!" he cried jovially, extending his dinner plate sized hand for Isabella to shake.
"It's wonderful to see you again Professor," Sophia smiled politely as she too reached out to shake Slughorn's hand, "and it was so kind of you to invite us."
"Nonsense my dear, utter nonsense!" Slughorn exclaimed, waving her off, 'Why don't you young ladies take a seat, we're still waiting on a few more…"
The large dining table was populated with the usual suspects. Bertram Aubrey sat directly to Slughorn's right, and arrogant smile on his thin lips. Bertram came from a long like of successful Firewhisky brewers (His great, great, great, grandfather had invented the stuff), and he was a right little priss about it. He had been named one of the Ravenclaw prefects in their fifth year and had spent half of it strutting around the castle like he owned the place. Half only because in March James Potter had hexed his head to make it swell to twice it's size while Sirius Black had held him down. It was the only time Isabella could ever say she had liked James Potter.
On Slughorn's left sat Bertram's fellow prefect, Emmaline Vance. Isabella didn't know much about her, except that her father was pretty high up in the Department of Mysteries. She was the stern, severe type, and, though they were friendly, they weren't friends.
Tiberius McLaggen sat to Aubrey's right. Chunky and arrogant, McLaggen also suffered much hurt pride under the reign of Potter, but Isabella couldn't say she felt sorry for him either. His family was one of the oldest and most distinguished in Ireland, her father had told her many times, but that didn't make him any less of a git. A Captain's badge was pinned to the front of his robes already-they were going to lose for sure.
Next to him lounged Demona De Winter, Slytherin, pureblood, bitch extraordinaire. She came from a long line of aristocrats; her father was something of a hero in the anti-muggle sects. She was quite the little slut though, and no where near as clever as anyone else in the room, she was a surprise.
Madeline Kentwood and Celia Murphy sat together next to Emmaline, though neither was speaking to her. The Kentwood's were one of the oldest wizard bloodlines to still exist, nearly rivaling the Carmichael's in longevity. Celia Murphy was half-blood, her mother; Agnes Lancaster was a brilliant witch from the ancient Lancaster family. Add that to the fact that Celia was the best looking girl in school, and it was no surprise that she was here.
The last seat on the left was inhabited by Marlene McKinnon. A Gryffindor, Marlene came from another pureblood family, almost all of whom had been extraordinary aurors. Her cousin, Alice McKinnon had graduated the year before and was now close to completing the first steps in becoming an auror. Marlene herself was an extraordinary Quidditch player and right clever to boot. She smiled at Sophia and nodded to the seat across from her, next to Celia, leaving the seat next to Demona for Isabella.
As she sat down, she glanced about the room, trying to figure out who they were missing. Lily Evens, of course, but she was off doing Head Girl things, Regulas Black, Sirius Black's brother, must be fifteen now, and Slughorn had probably invited James and Sirius again, but they never came to the meetings.
Soon enough Lily entered the room, a bright smile on her face and a Head Girl badge gleaming on her chest. She was soon followed by Regulas and a couple of underclassmen Isabella did not know.
"Well," Slughorn clapped his hands together, "It appears we will require a few more chairs!" and with a wave of his wand, five more chairs appeared from thin air and Slughorn took his seat at the head of the table.
"Where oh where has the summer gone my friends?" Slughorn boomed as they all sat down, "another wonderful year is ahead of us! But I must introduce our new friends!" he gestured to the rather frightened looking youngsters perched at the end of three of the new wooden chairs.
"This wonderful young lady is Jessica Borboleta," he pointed to a peaky looking first year sitting next to Lily, "you may be familiar with her grandmother's candies?" Slughorn glanced merrily around at them all, "I myself have become too familiar with them lately." He good-naturedly patted his stomach.
"And you all must have heard of this young man's father," he pointed to a third year Slytherin boy who appeared more at ease then either of his companions, "Bartimus Crouch, he's making big waves in the Department of Magical Law enforcement he is," he winked at the boy, "And this is Bartimus Crouch Jr." the boy nodded curtly, his watery blue eyes darting around the room.
"And last, but certainly not least," Slughorn gestured grandly to the final first year boy, 'This is Duncan Wright. His mother currently heads up the Department of International Magical Cooperation."
"Now shall we eat?" Slughorn boomed, to sounds of general agreement. The rest of the ride, for everyone else was spent in pleasant conversation and good food. For Isabella, it was spent in uncomfortable silence as she tried to simultaneously fend off McLaggen's suggestive advances and ignore Demona's dark looks, all while forcing down dried quail.
It's certainly shaping up to be a wonderful year. Isabella thought sarcastically as she downed her glass of luke-warm pumpkin juice.