THE BOOK OF LOVE
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Slytherin, Part IV.
From that point on, it was only a matter of time till old friends became new enemies.
Their Gryffindor and Slytherin alliances widened the pre-existing gap between the two. Ethel's faith in her family's convictions only strengthened in Slytherin, just as Sirius's own did in Gryffindor. Their interactions, from then on, were few and far between and none of it was friendly.
It could have gone a thousand different ways. But just like in every life, there are decisive moments in one's fate that predetermines a great chunk of their life to follow, if not its entirety. As always, we are never ready for the test when we get it.
Their relationship could have gone a thousand ways. But Ethel's actions on the first day of school, during the first Slytherin-Gryffindor Potions class, set the tone of their relationship for their school years.
Initially, she had tried to keep her cool and think rationally. But little Ethel Greengrass was about to find out that negative emotions banished to the darkest recesses of one's mind have a tendency to gain strength in the unexplored, shadowy corners of one's soul, and resurface tenfold stronger.
At the beginning of class as the nervous, excited first years gathered, chattered and bustled about outside of Slughorn's Potions class, she wondered if Sirius still cared. Despite herself, she found herself missing the boy more than she had ever imagined. She tried to catch his eye without staring too obviously, but she found that a difficult task to manage. After a few failed attempts to remain both unconscious and obvious to the ever-oblivious boy, she decided he wasn't going to look her way no matter what, and proceeded to stare at him shamelessly. Finally, Sirius turned in her direction when she expected it the least, and her heartbeat accelerated furiously and her face went redder than the Gryffindor house logo. Sirius glanced at her briefly, then turned back to her friends, as though she was some sort of stranger creeping up on him. Their brief encounter, if we could even call it that, left him completely unperturbed. Her heart sank.
There was no love left, it seemed, where once was the greatest of friendships. They had been closer than they were to their own siblings, and neither of them knew anyone who got on as well with their siblings as they did with each other. But a new person seemed to have replaced the gaping hole her absence – she barely dared hope – had cut in Sirius's heart.
Her mother once said that it is always easier for those who leave than those who stay. Those who leave can start their lives afresh, while those who stay have to pick up the pieces. Her heart rose with anger. So that was what she was left to do? She would not pick up the pieces.
Ethel's heart sank. She couldn't imagine how he couldn't feel the things she felt. Was she really so easy to replace?
Feeling wronged and betrayed, Ethel wanted nothing less than to make amends. Led by blind rage and a wounded heart, it was only a matter of time before she gave her worst instincts free reign.
After they entered the classroom, she tried her hardest to tear her eyes away from Sirius and his new best pal James Potter, who – in her opinion – were shamelessly parading how good they felt in each other's company, how close they seemed to have gotten since the train ride. He barely knew him! And he already replaced her with him? Had he no shame? First he demanded that she give up her ambitions, plans and life to join him on a rebellious crusade against his parents, who – while they were certainly not the best – only wanted what they thought was best for him? Would he have also forgotten about her so quickly if she had complied with his wishes? Did he really mean nothing to her?
She decided to stop mourning her old life. Fortified by a desire for revenge, she found in herself a new strength to move on. She wasn't going to care. That, she thought, was going to be the best revenge of all.
Meanwhile, unbeknownst to Ethel, Sirius was struggling with his mixed emotions towards her. On the one hand, he didn't want to terminate his friendship with the only person who had made living his life seem worthwhile in the hellhole that had been his parents' home. On the other hand, however, they had clearly picked their alliances and they lay on opposing sides. The only sensible decision seemed to not do anything. That way, he thought, nothing could do wrong.
Minutes later, Horace Slughorn entered the classroom.
Professor Slughorn wasn't quite as old as the title would usually denote at Hogwarts. His hair was just beginning to thin and grey and his stomach to get rounder and rounder, but on that September morning, his hair and eyes were still brown, his body slim and athletic, and his smile and demeanor so friendly it immediately assuaged the nervous first-years' worst fears.
Some, however, thought that because he was so kind, he would be too weak to discipline them. Barely had the class begun, and two students were already disrupting it, much to the annoyance of others. "Give it back!" James Potter demanded amidst guffaws. Sirius seemed to be dragging thin air from his friend, laughing uproariously, his head thrown back. "I'm telling you, it was my father's! Don't tear it! You can see it after class!"
The entire class turned to the professor to see what his reaction would be. Slughorn's eyes gleamed menacingly and his nostrils flared with fury. He took a few, calming breath before reacting. His voice was now harsh and low, baring no resemblance to the previous, almost musical tenor he had used.
"Excuse me, first years," Slughorn barked suddenly, throwing a heavy book on the table to accentuate his point. Sirius and James's hearts skipped a beat, and the color drained from their face as they turned to their professor and saw his furious expression. "What exactly do you think you're doing?"
"I'm sorry, sir," James immediately said. "I'm so sorry, sir."
"It won't happen again," Sirius said, looking confused but quickly catching on. Whatever it was they were fighting over, they clearly didn't want it to be confiscated.
Ethel rolled her eyes. Of course, now he was sorry. Thoroughly unimpressed, she turned back to Slughorn to observe his reaction, much like the rest of the class. Taking advantage of this momentary lack of scrutiny, James quickly and expertly slid back the Invisibility Cloak into his bag.
"Let me tell you what," Slughorn said, and the amiable tingle and kind smile were back in their place. "I would normally take off ten points for your insolence." Sirius and James gulped hard. From his tone, everyone could tell he wasn't making empty threats. "However," Horace continued. "As this is the first day of classes, I decided to be generous. Let's play a game," he said, now speaking to the entire class. "I'll ask ten questions. For all the questions you get right, I'll take off one point less. However, if you don't know the answer and someone else is able to answer, their House gets the point. As punishment for your actions, the rest of the Gryffindors may answer my questions, but they won't get points."
The Gryffindors emitted a collective groan. "Thanks, Potter!" one boy piped up. "Shut up, McLaggen!" Potter snapped irritably in response, but his eyes betrayed how embarrassed he truly felt because of his own actions.
"Now, now," Slughorn said, clapping his hands together. "Quiet down. Gryffindors, it is not just that unfair yet: think of it this way. You may not get points, but by answering, you will be able to stop the other Houses from getting points. Isn't that the whole point of the House Cup?"
According to Dumbledore, the House Point was system was implemented to motivate students to study harder and to ensure some friendly competition between the Houses. However, Slughorn was right: whatever the original Founders' intentions had been, students remained, despite all efforts, tragically and irredeemably disinterested and unmotivated and lazy, and the so-called friendly competition had long ago deteriorated into rivalry of the worst kind. Most notably between Slytherin and Gryffindor.
"So," Slughorn said, licking his lips, his eyes glimmering with excitement. "Let's start the game!"
Much to the awe of his students, he conjured a dark green chart into thin air to keep score. "Wow," the first years collectively echoed. "Oh, this is nothing," Slughorn said with badly concealed flattery. He turned to James and Sirius. "Ready, boys?"
"Yes," Sirius and James echoed nervously.
"Yes, sir," Slughorn corrected. The two boys nodded awkwardly, not understanding what was expected of them. After an uncomfortable pause, the professor impatiently added, "Now, let's hear it again, correctly this time. Are you ready for the game, boys?"
"Yes, sir!" the two boys said.
"I didn't hear that," Slughorn said, clearly enjoying himself, cupping his left ear to accentuate his point.
Sirius and James grinned, seemingly having taken a liking to this playful old man.
"Yes, sir!" the two boys yelled loudly.
"Are you?" Slughorn said, turning to the rest of the class. A few first years answered meekly. "Wow, seems like you aren't excited for this game at all. Seems like you don't want your house to gain points already on the first day…"
"No, no," the first years insisted, panicked, immediately.
"So let me hear it! Are you ready for the game?"
The first years erupted in an explosive yes.
Slughorn finally began the game.
"What does the Alihotsy Draught do?" he asked. James and Sirius exchanged glances.
"Uh, sleep?" James said at last.
Slughorn's expression darkened. "Nope. Anyone else?" he said, turning to the rest of the classroom.
The hand of a boy sitting behind Ethel shot up. He greasy, matted hair and sallow skin. He was completely unfamiliar to her.
"Yes, young boy in the back?" Slughorn asked, eyes glimmering.
"The draught causes hysteria," the boy replied.
"Very good, very good," Slughorn said. "Not even many of my OWL-level students know that! How did you know, young man?"
"I read a lot of books. I love Potions," he said, his eyes lighting up with passion for the subject.
James and Sirius began tittering between themselves, but Slughorn ignored them, so enthralled he was by this young boy.
"Great," he said. "And what's your name, just so I know who I'm rewarding the points to Slytherin thanks to?"
The hooked-nosed boy smiled smugly at the accomplishment. He both had the air of someone not used to being complemented or smiling.
"Great," Slughorn repeated, like a broken record. "One point to Slytherin!" The Slytherins cheered and clapped their newest hero on the back. Snape tried to pretend the approval didn't appeal to him as much as it clearly did, possibly to hide that he rarely was on the receiving end of accolades.
The competition continued in much the same vein, with Sirius and James and the rest of the Gryffindors completely unfamiliar with the questions asked. However, just to hurt his ex-best friend, whenever Slughorn directed a question at Sirius in particular, her hand shot up in the air quicker than Snape's. Snape seemed thoroughly irritated by this behavior, but it didn't concern Ethel the least bit that he was hurt because she was stealing his time to shine.
Sirius initially didn't understand and just looked betrayed. By the second question, he was starting to catch on, and by the fourth, he seemed furious. After the fifth, Ethel delivered the final blow:
"My, my, Sirius," she said, her voice low and venomous, her eyes glinting. "You have as much familiarity with the world of magic as Muggles." Some Slytherins giggled. "Truly, you are a disgrace." She said pitilessly, grimacing at him with faux-disgust, then turning away like she had just done her job well. By the end, the Slytherins were having a field day, all of them all too familiar with Sirius's sordid history with his parents.
The look on Sirius's face was indescribable.
Slughorn's eyes widened in complete and utter shock. "Now, silence!"
But Sirius wasn't having it. Completely overtaken by fury, Sirius's eyes widened and nostrils flared, making him look insane. "And you know what you are, Ethel?"
"If I cared about a blood traitor's opinion, I'd ask one," she snapped, her hand on her wand inside her robe. "But blood traitors don't matter and neither do their opinions."
"SILENCE!" Slughorn yelled at the top of his lungs. His face contorted with fury at the lack of discipline in his class. "Both of you, detention."
"Why am I, Professor –" Sirius began.
"Yes, why is he, Professor?" James chimed in.
"Do you want detention too, Mr. Potter?" Slughorn snapped. "You too," he said. "Wait for me, after class. I'll think of what you'll need to do for me until then. But I promise you, it will be a fun night." The malicious tingle in his eyes confirmed that he was making no empty promises.
A/N: Kind of a short chapter. I thought it was better since it's so hard on the eyes to read long texts on a screen. Hope you like it! Let me know in a review below.