The Slug Club
The weekend finally rolled around and Harry sat on the edge of his bed. He wasn't sure what to tell hiss friends about the gathering Professor Slughorn had invited him to. He got the distinct feeling none of them had been invited and he didn't want to see like a jerk about it. Still, he didn't want to just ditch them either. He'd been sitting there thinking for a good twenty minutes because he jumped when the floorboards cringed with weight and Ron appeared.
"Oi, mate you alright?" Harry looked up.
"Huh? Oh yeah I'm fine."
"You've been up here a while."
"Sorry…just thinking." He pushed himself from the bed and followed his friend down to the Common Room. They joined Hermione at one of the tables. She sat with her nose in her Potions book, apparently ignoring their arrival. Harry flipped through his Transfiguration book with mild interest. The mental battle was still raging in his mind; tell them about the party or just ditch them.
"Uh…guys I have to tell you something." Both Ron and Hermione looked up as he spoke.
"What is it?" Hermione asked.
"Professor Slughorn invited me to this get together in his office tonight…should I go?"
"What's it for?" Ron mumbled.
"Dunno. He didn't really say. Just said it's for the gifted students. Don't know why he asked me. I'm rubbish at Potions." Hermione's jaw dropped as he dug the invite out of his bag. It was crumpled and the ink was slightly smudged but she snatched it from him nonetheless. Her eyes took in the smeared text with a hunger and then she threw it back to him.
"I didn't get an invite." She looked hurt.
"I'm sure he meant to…maybe he got confused? He doesn't seem altogether there you know." She let out a frustrated noise.
"Go…I'm sure you'll have fun." Harry picked up the parchment and eyed it guiltily. He didn't really want to go but he got the impression Slughorn expected him to be there. They sat there in the Common Room for a while longer in an awkward silence until Harry wordlessly excused himself. He wandered the corridors, trying to see who else was heading in the direction of the Potions Master's office. He was about to turn a corner when he heard his name being called.
"Harry!" He stopped and turned around. Irlynn was running towards him, her bag swinging behind her.
"Hi, Irlynn."
"What are you doing?"
"Oh uh…going to see Professor Slughorn."
"Oh…we have a lesson with Dad you know." Harry let out a groan.
"Tonight? But we had one last night. And Professor Slughorn said it's really important that I see him."
"Well come on. We can talk to him." Instead of turning the corner, they continued straight and down to Snape's office. Irlynn knocked and the door was pulled open immediately.
"Come in."
"Sir, I can't stay." Snape's usual dislike of Harry turned into a full-on scowl.
"Excuse me?"
"Professor Slughorn told me to go to his office tonight. It seemed important." Snape's scowl turned to a sneer.
"His little gathering. I'm surprised you were invited, Potter. Given your lack of skills in the subject area." Harry said nothing. Irlynn looked confused and glanced from her father to her brother and back again.
"What gathering?"
"It's nothing," Harry muttered before turning and running off. Snape looked annoyed at the boy's swift departure but his features softened slightly as he looked to Irlynn.
"What is going on?" He ushered her inside and they sat down.
"It would appear Professor Slughorn has taken it upon himself to invite the more…gifted students to his office this evening. I believe it is a pointless exercise. Mr. Potter has not warranted such an invitation."
"I'm not bad at Potions…I didn't get an invite."
"I believe it may have something to do with his favored students from his previous tenure with the school."
"We weren't here then."
"No, but your parents were."
"Oh…" She trailed off, something dawning behind her eyes.
"Of course I didn't get an invite. He doesn't know my Mum…or at least he doesn't know he knows her." Her tone had assumed that very annoyed quality it had had earlier in the week when she's gone on her rant about no one knowing who she was.
"I assure you that you are not missing anything of consequence."
"I…I should go do some homework." It was mumbled into her shirtsleeve. Snape watched her go and let out a small sigh. She was going to keep complaining and he wasn't sure he wanted to listen.
Harry finally arrived at Slughorn's office to hear loud voices coming from within. He pushed the door open and slipped inside. He surveyed the group of students and realized he didn't know many of them. He did however recognize one person; Draco Malfoy. The two caught the other's gaze and electricity shot between them. Draco made his way through the crowd to stand next to Harry.
"Surprised to see you here, Potter."
"You too, Malfoy." Draco just glared at the Gryffindor. Normally, he wouldn't be caught dead socializing with Harry but he wanted information. If he went to his father with relevant information about Harry's sister, then maybe the Dark Lord would reward their family. Harry looked around the room, trying to find someone else he could talk to. He had the distinct feeling that Draco had a purpose in talking to him.
"Sod off, Malfoy."
"Watch your tongue, Potter. You don't know who you're talking to." Harry just shook his head and walked away. He was halfway to the table with food when he was bombarded by Professor Slughorn.
"So glad you come make it Harry."
"Uh, thank you, Sir. I was just um…getting something to eat."
"Oh, yes of course you were." Harry stepped around the pudgy man to pick up a plate and put some food on it. He could still feel Draco's eyes boring into him.
"You know, I had your mother as a student."
"You did?" Harry replied between bites.
"She was a very gifted witch. Wonderful at potions. I'm sure you must have inherited her talents." Harry nearly choked on the piece of pastie he'd been eating.
"Not if you ask Professor Snape."
"He's a bit hard on his students." Harry just nodded. Slughorn moved on, greeting another student clad in Slytherin colors, leaving Harry to heave a sigh. He spent the next hour wandering around, avoiding Slughorn and Malfoy. Finally growing restless and bored, he slipped out and ended up by the edge of the Lake. The air was still slightly moist with humidity but not enough to make it uncomfortable and oppressive.
Not far away, Irlynn leaned against a tree, her eyes closed. She'd left Snape's office and gone back to her dormitory. She couldn't focus on schoolwork. She couldn't keep thoughts of Harry at Slughorn's party out of her head. Part of her knew it was stupid to be jealous of him and angry with him. It wasn't his fault their mother had decided to keep her a secret. Still, it felt unfair, a burden she had to bear simply because Lily had been scared to tell people what she'd done.
The pair stayed in their respective positions for a while longer, neither aware of the other's presence. As the temperature lowered, and the air began to tug at their cloaks in the early September evening, they both got up and headed for the castle. They reached the doors at the same time and stopped.
"How was your lesson?"
"Didn't have one. I had homework."
"Oh."
"How was the party?" The conversation felt strained and they both knew it. They could barely meet each other's gaze.
"It was ok." He shrugged.
"Sort of boring."
"So it wasn't all high praises?"
"No. He said Mum was a good student…really good." Irlynn nodded and reached for the door handle.
"You should have gone instead. You're loads better at potions than I am," Harry blurted.
"I'm not Lily Potter's kid." Harry rolled his eyes. He could hear the accusatory nature of her tone of voice.
"It's not my fault you know."
"I know…it's still not fair. It's like I have to be the secret because she couldn't fess up to what she did."
"Yeah but you were safer that way."
"Just shut up. I don't want to hear that bullocks from you too. I already got that lecture from Dad. How I have to stay hidden so You-Know-Who doesn't find me. Well I say let him."
"He already knows you exist…"
"Exactly, let him find me." Harry just shook his head and pushed her aside to open the door. They walked in and parted ways. Irlynn tried to regain her composure as she walked to the Ravenclaw Common Room. She didn't need anyone asking her if she was alright. She wasn't in the mood. Harry brooded as well as he wound his way back to Gryffindor Tower. Ron and Hermione still sat the table, noses in books as if they hadn't moved. He walked past them and headed up to the boy's dorm.