Chapter 12: An Eventful Christmas
Christmas time is approaching. Before Christmas break, Horace Slughorn throws a party for the members of his Slug Club. Ron Weasley is in such a good mood about being in the club he invites Hermione to be his date. Despite not approving Ron's use of Snape's potion book, she accepts the invitation. Upon advice from Hermione, who warned him to ask somebody before someone tricks him into drinking a love potion, Harry invites Luna Lovegood to Slughorn's party.
"Harry, won't you introduce me your date?" Professor Slughorn eagerly asks.
"Professor, this is Luna Lovegood." Harry replies.
"Enjoying the party, Ms. Lovegood?" Slughorn asks.
"Yes." She happily answers. "It's almost like having friends."
A noise is suddenly heard. "Professor, I've caught this student crashing the party." Argus Filch says as he shows Draco Malfoy.
"Cool! Malfoy's gonna get a detention!" Ron exclaims. His enthusiasm, however, ends when Slughorn, instead of punishing Malfoy, decides to invite him after all.
"You got lucky Professor Slughorn pities you, Malfoy." Ron teases him. "He does not favor Slytherins the same way Snape does but still favors you snakes after all."
"At least I'm not dating a mudblood." Draco replies. Two wizards reacted faster than the others. Ron Weasley, who draws his wand to hex Malfoy for insulting Hermione; and Severus Snape, who doesn't need to be a Seer to predict Ron's reaction.
"Sectum…" Ron Weasley is interrupted by Snape's silent Expelliarmus, which throws him away like it did to Gilderoy Lockhart five years ago.
"Weasley, do you know what that spell would have done to Mr. Malfoy had I not interrupted you?" Severus Snape desperately asks.
"No but I hope it's something horrible." Ron angrily replies. Snape then conjures a mannequin and uses Sectumsempra on it. The mannequin then gets lots of deep cuts. "Had I not interrupted your attempt of using this spell on Mr. Malfoy, his blood would be splattered all over the ground and only a timely intervention would keep him from dying." Snape explains. "Detention for the rest of the school year, Mr. Weasley. And less fifty points from Gryffindor."
Draco Malfoy laughs until he hears Professor Slughorn say "Less twenty-five points from Slytherin. Mr. Malfoy, you shouldn't call anyone that horrible word you used against Ms. Granger. I won't give you a detention because it's Christmas but you won't be invited to my parties any longer." He then notices the sadness from the other students. "No need for a bad mood. This is still a party."
The party goes on and, as the others leave, Slughorn stops Harry. "Harry, tell your parents I'm accepting their invitation." Harry doesn't understand but decides to nod rather than admit it.
The Burrow – Christmas Time
It's Ron's worst Christmas ever. Molly became quite angry at him after being told about his detention. He tries to plead with his Dad but it's to no use. "Ron, you should know not to use spells on people without knowing what they do. You could have killed that boy." The Weasley kids know something is serious when their Dad is also mad. Meanwhile, Lily and Professor Slughorn are talking to each other.
"So, do you think this might work?" Lily asks.
"Quite possible, Lily." Slughorn replies. "Perhaps you can even get a Famous Wizarding Card for this."
"I don't care about this as long as I can help him." Lily comments.
"Help who, Mum?" Harry asks.
"I'd rather not say until I'm sure it'll work." Lily mysteriously replies. Before he has the time to ask about it, he's told Minister Scrimegour is at the Burrow and wants to talk to him. This quickly draws the attention of James and Lily Potter. "Minister, whatever you have to tell my son, you can tell me." James says.
"In that case, Auror Potter I'd like to ask your son to show some support to the Ministry." Scrimegour says.
"Minister, is Stan Shunpike still behind bars?" Harry asks.
"Yes."
"Is Dolores Umbridge still Senior Undersecretary to the Minister?" Harry asks.
"Yes."
"I can't show support to a Ministry that acts like that." Harry replies.
"Auror Potter, if you expect to have some future at the department you'd better make your son see light." Scrimegour suggests.
"If you put my job on the line because of this, I'll show you how unsupportive a Potter can be." James replies.
Upset, Scrimegour leaves. Percy leaves as well, making it obvious he only came to please the Minister.
"Sorry, Dad." Harry says.
"What for, Prongslet?" James asks.
"For risking your job." Harry sadly replies.
"Don't worry about it, Prongslet." James replies. "No job is worth putting up with the Ministry's injustices."
"Agreed." Sirius Black adds. "If the Ministry knew anything about ethics I'd have a trial when that rat framed me."
"This is Christmas." Molly intervenes. "There's no need for sadness."
With this said, they rejoin the festivities.
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