Arrangements

A few weeks later, Emma took a seat next to Regulus as he was eating breakfast.

'Crouch bores you to tears by saying uninteresting things over and over again, Emma?' He asked revealing a bit of jealousy he felt. In recent days, in fact, Emma had been busy in showing the school to Barty, totally ignoring Regulus. Not that Regulus had any feeling of love for Emma, he just did not like the feeling of being replaced in some way.

Emma didn't answer to the provocation, just raised her eyebrows and smiled, pleased to see Regulus's jealousy: it was her exact intention.

'Reg, Steve and Alecto left the school last year, as you already know ... So we have vacancies for chaser and seeker on our team. I'd like you to try-out.'

Regulus smiled:

'When will it be? I trained a bit these holidays ...'

'How did you train? I thought you live in London ...' John asked, a little annoyed at not being invited to the try-out too.

'I played Quidditch in Bramshill, my grandparents live there in a small farm ... My grandfather bought two Nimbus 1001 for Sir and me. They are spectacular, faster than a thought! You should see them! If I join the team, I'll bring my broom ...'

The comment about the broom filled John with envy even more. At this moment, a snowy owl entered the Great Hall. It was uncommon to see this type of owl at Hogwarts, and everyone stopped what they were doing to watch its flight. It flew around the room before diving towards the Slytherin table and gracefully landing in front of Regulus. It held out its leg, offering the mail. Regulus took the envelope and thanked the owl, who immediately took flight and left the Great Hall. Regulus was intrigued: whose owl could it be? He had never seen it before. After staring at the departing, he turned to his letter. He could feel all eyes on him and tried to pretend it did not bother him. He looked at the envelope with his name: there was no doubt it might be for him. As well as there was no doubt, it was not from his parents. It was a pink and fragrant envelope and the handwriting was delicate: it was definitely from a girl. Emma glared at the letter. Before he could check the sender, John took the envelope and shouted:

'Hey, guys! Black received a girl's letter!

Everyone at the table got up to see, very curious. Regulus asked:

'Give me back, John.'

John was taller than he was and could easily keep the envelope out of his reach, then Regulus had no doubts: he climbed on the table to grab it. He walked on the table with his eyes focused on the envelope that John was shaking in the air, bumping into plates with bread, while some students were trying to save their cups and were complaining about the mess he was making. At this moment, he heard:

'Sorry, Regulus, but this mess is reason enough for a detention ... Um, four days after school'. It was Slughorn who had arrived and asked John to give him the letter. Before delivering it to Regulus, he checked the sender. 'Beauxbatons? You don't surprise me, Black. Always very well connected ...' and so saying, he handed the letter to the recipient. 'Now you all must finish your coffee. I don't want anybody delayed in my class today ...'

Regulus went down the table glaring at John, who apologized:

'I was just kidding ...'

Regulus did not want to create animosity toward his friend in the first month of school term, then dropped his guard and smiled:

'Alright ... ' and turning to Emma, he asked: 'when will it be the try-outs?'

'Saturday, but you can't go as you have taken on a serious appointment with Slug ... Four days? It seems that you'll be in detention on Saturday.' She said by counting the days in her fingers, a little angry and disappointed.

'I'll figure something out.' He replied hopefully.

Emma said nothing, her eyes were fixed on the pink envelope he held in his hands. Then she turned to Barty:

'Barty, do you play Quidditch? We have a vacancy for seeker ...'

'I don't like Quidditch...' Barty lied in a bored voice, and then he turned his back on them and left the table. Emma followed him, leaving Regulus with his friends.

As they walked toward the dungeons for Potion's class, Amifidel asked:

'Hey, Reg, do you know who sent the letter?'

'Sure! It's from Sophie and Simone. They are neighbour of my Grandma Melania.' He replied smiling.

'And why they don't study here?' Jack asked.

'Ah, their mother is French, married a muggle who keeps horses ...'

'A Muggle?' Ami was amazed.

'Yeah, their father… He's a stupid man ... Simone told me that their mother keeps her husband under the effect of a potion that she invented since Sophie began to develop her skills in magic ... He doesn't notice like when we're doing magical things, it's as if he saw something else ... A kind of hallucination. We fly on broomsticks and he think we're riding, when we cast a spell it's like we're just kidding for him... His brain doesn't process the magical events that he witnesses ... It's very bizarre.'

'Wow! It's the solution to our problems! If we distribute this potion to all the Muggle population, we would be able to live without the damn International Statute of Wizarding Secrecy!' Said John, very excited.

'That's not so simple, John. Simone told me that her mom only makes the potion when the girls are at home, because it's made of very rare ingredients and it's a potion particularly complicated to do.'

'And how can she make him drink it?' Asked Severus joining the group.

'Severus! What are you doing here?' Asked Regulus.

'Professor Slughorn asked me to help him in class today. Lily and I'll show you how to use dragon blood to conserve unstable potions.' He replied proudly. 'It seems that was the Headmaster who discovered how to make it ...' he added thoughtfully. 'And then, how can she make her husband to drink the potion?'

'She says it's a hair tonic ... He is balding, you know ...'

'My dad doesn't drink anything that comes from my mother ... ' Snape muttered through gritted teeth.

'What did you say?' Regulus asked.

'Nothing, Black. I said nothing.'

'Sev, you're here! Come on, Professor Slughorn wants us to come before the students to prepare the cauldrons!' 'Lily said exasperated, taking Severus's hand and driving him among the students.

Jack, John, Regulus and Theodor continued walking unhurriedly. When they finished downstairs, Theodor Amifidel commented:

'This potion is cool ... Your mother's friends had a great idea... The problem is how to make such a potion ...'

'If I marry a Muggle, I wouldn't make this kind of potion ... I'd rather use the Imperius curse and she'd never open her mouth for nothing.' Commented John.

'It's only just under the Imperius curse that any girl would accept to marry you, John, even a Muggle ...' Jack scoffed.

Jack and Amifidel started laughing when Regulus said:

'And I'll never marry a Muggle.'

Then all of them were silent and entered the classroom.