Part II- Sixth Year
Students of note who graduated from Hogwarts School of Wizardcraft and Wizardry the following summer: Cassiopeia 'Cassie' Black, Raimond Lestrange, Callidora Black, Lucretia Black, Charlus Potter, Robert 'Bobby' Davies
Head boy and girl: Abraxas Malfoy and Dorea Black.
The platform was busy, as it was every year. Everyone had come to say goodbye, even Grandpa, Mrs Longbottom and Mrs Prewett.
Callidora and Lucretia had aged in the two months they had been married. Callidora beamed constantly, made all the more gracious and elegant by her marriage. She'd cut off her hair in to a modern bob that sat at her chin and wore crisp linen dresses and laughed at all of Harfang's jokes.
Lucretia was usually quiet and contemplative now, her smiles were through pursed lips. She and Ignatius seemed to have an understanding in their eyes and respect for one another, but she had lost her spark. She came to say farewell to him at the train station, for he was entering his last year at Hogwarts.
I said goodbye to them all, Cassie looked upon the train with acute sorrow in her eyes and Callidora took her hand and led her off.
I was one of the last to board, so I had to dodge my way through students in the corridor.
"You know how she got that badge don't you," I overheard one Hufflepuff say. "She fucked Robert Davies, did you see them snogging in public after the last game of the year?"
My fingers itched to draw my wand, but I was above acknowledging such idle gossipers, instead I used them to fiddle with offending badge. I slipped into the compartment filled with Ravenclaws and dropped down next to Lizzie, both of us were sporting light tans, thanks to the weeks we spent in Rome with Elena and Cedrella.
Casper moved his feet to make room for me next to him and I took the seat gratefully.
"How's the wedding planning going?" I asked dryly, he gave me a pointed look and rolled his eyes. He and Charis had been betrothed during the summer, thanks to his father and my grandfather.
I listened vaguely to the talk about OWLs, they were Ravenclaws of course they all did well, so the conversation was frightfully boring. But my attention was captured when Casper was asking how I did.
"Os," I said with a shrug. "I guess that means you can all bow down to me now," I added sarcastically. Hazel snorted and threw a caldron cake at my head.
"Or giving me free food will be fine too," I responded with a sarcastic grin.
"You do know what all Os means, don't you?" Casper said tentatively. "You will have to be Dippet's example of excellence to any visitor who comes to the castle."
"Must you always piss on my fire Mr Crouch?" I questioned. "Not only does that sound hideous, but also pointless."
"Everything is going to be different now, isn't it?" Lizzie said tentatively. "With Cassiopeia gone."
There was silence for a moment.
"I remember what it was like before Cassie was queen," Casper said darkly, looked from me to Lizzie. "You two have to promise not to go to any Slytherin parties until someone new takes power officially."
"I'm a Black," I said with a shrug.
"I'm courting a Lestrange," Lizzie added. "And you have a marriage contract with the House of Black now," she pointed out. "I don't think you can get out of going either."
Casper chewed his lip thoughtfully.
"It's too dangerous," he said. "It's only a matter of time before someone gets poisoned. The snake pit's not safe."
"Well you two go together," I said with a shrug. "Ignatius has married Lucretia now, so he'll be obligated to go. I'll explain the situation to him and ask him to accompany me."
Casper seemed placated and nodded once.
Luckily I had time to speak with Ignatius as we arrived in Hogsmeade, he was relieved to find someone else who had to go to the Slytherin party this evening so was more than happy to go with me.
A second year was sent to me with a note during the feast.
Abraxas was enquiring if I would go with him to the party this evening.
I sent him an apologetic letter saying I had already to go with my cousin's husband, to show him the ropes.
I dodged that bullet.
It wasn't that I was actually scared, but I didn't want Casper to think I didn't value his advice and concerns.
The four of us went down to the Slytherin common in silence, each in our own thoughts. The situation with the Slytherins probably wasn't that bad. But in our minds the worst thing had happened.
If only Dorea was strong enough to take her sister's place.
Our apprehension for this evening was not soothed by the atmosphere in the dungeons. Music played and students chatted, but it didn't seem the same. Everyone looked like they were waiting for something.
The younger years were quickly sent to bed, Walburga was thrilled to be at her first party. Dorea and Abraxas started off the dancing, carrying on the tradition of head girl and Quidditch captain.
I danced twice with Ignatius, but to dance any more would be considered disrespectful, especially in a room full of Lucretia's friends. Without Charlus, none of the Gryffindors were present and no Hufflepuffs had ever seen the inside of the common room.
Abraxas mingled throughout the evening. Talking and joking with everyone.
He was trying too hard to be liked, I could see it. He was the most popular young man in Slytherin, but that didn't make him the leader.
Tom sat with friends, looking brooding and mysterious in the corner. But when he told someone to do something they hurried. When he spoke to someone, they felt uneasy under his gaze, but like they were privileged.
He would win. How could he not? Everyone loved Abraxas, but no one feared him.
I danced once with Abraxas, but he was distracted and hardly said two words when his eyes were on my face. He was permanently looking over my shoulder, checking what was going on. He was like an over attentive mother hen, Cassie had never been like that. No one would have listened to her had she been.
Abraxas left me quickly after one dance, I rolled my eyes and told myself not to be offended. He was stressed.
I joined Dorea in getting another drink.
"Hello sweetie," she said pleasantly, her dark eyes were warm and her face was kind. Immediately she poured me a drink and we turned to survey the area.
"So who's going to be head of Slytherin then?" I asked her in a low voice. She tilted her head so we more in each other's confidence.
"As head girl I am loathed to admit there is one, other than Professor Slughorn," she said pointedly, before sighing. "I don't know, though you and Abraxas are close are you not?" I remained silent. She leaned in further and smiled indulgently.
"If he is to join the family, how can I not be rooting for him," she murmured.
I made a strange sound with my throat, as I almost choked on my drink.
She smiled broadly this time, curling an arm around my shoulder.
"Don't fight it Poppy," she said in a low voice. "If you find someone bearable that Lord Sirius wants you to marry, you best not let him go. And it seems you have found someone you already, actually have affection for, we are the lucky ones in that respect, are we not?"
We shared a look and I nodded at her advice. She was referring to Lucretia I knew, who had not spoken two words to Ignatius before they were wed. Then after a month of marriage he had returned to Hogwarts, how was she meant to know him now?
"Forgive me for intruding," I was thankful for the long sleeves on my dress to hide the gooseflesh his voice brought on me.
"Not at all, Tom," Dorea said with a smile.
"I was just going to enquire whether your dear cousin would join me in a dance," he said, turning to address me, holding out a hand expectantly.
"Of course," I replied, my voice sounder smaller than I had hoped, more fragile. I took his hand in mine and he led me to the middle of the dancing.
I caught Casper's eye as I went. He widened them slightly, telling me to watch my back. I nodded.
Tom took me in his arms and I ignored the fluttering in my stomach.
"To what do I owe the pleasure?" I asked conversationally. "I haven't seen you dance with anyone else this evening."
"That is because I desired my first dance to be you," he said, locking gaze with me. To make every other girl know they did not have my standing.
I broke his gaze and licked my lips nervously.
"I am very flattered Tom," I said with an easy smile, forcing myself to seem at ease.
When the dance finished he did not release me, but kept for a second, and then a third.
"You are very keen on dancing with me this evening," I commented. He smirked.
"Almost as keen as someone else we know," he said, darting his eyes to the left to show me where to look. Abraxas was watching over the rim of his glass, looking very pensive.
"It seems you have Abraxas' attention for the first time this evening." I lowered my head to laugh, leaning in closer to his chest, just to see the blonde become agitated.
The song ended and Tom led me over to a group of friends. As soon as we got there, Abraxas stood.
"Would you like to dance, Poppy?" he proposed stiffly. Something about him only deigning to pay attention to me because of his jealousy of Tom made me indignant.
"I'm sorry Brax," I said with a forced, apologetic smile. "Tom and I were just talking about a new development in potions. He was telling me all about the recent research into Lycanthropy cures. I am just dying to hear the rest." I squeezed Tom's arm and smiled up at him. He couldn't suppress his smirk.
"That does sound jolly interesting," Rosier commented.
"Please, do go on and tell us all Tom," Elena said, her eyes flickering to mine. She smirked in recognition.
"If you insist," he said.
It was almost three in the morning when the common room door opened, no one even looked in that direction to start with. Most people had gone to bed, but for a few small groups of sixth and seventh years. But Tom was observant, more than most.
"Code red," he declared in a low voice, interrupted the chatter. Immediately his wand was out, transfiguring the wine in our glasses to grape juice. I smiled a little when I noticed he changed Dorea's first, before even his own. She had most to lose.
I looked to the portrait hole, brow furrowed. It was Slughorn. I cursed under my breath, he could expel me for being out of bed at this time, and in the Slytherin common room no less.
He stood baffled for a moment at the door, but soon his gaze found the group of us- the people with the highest station in his house.
He bustled over to us, his nightcap bouncing with his swaying gait.
"What are you doing?" he questioned, eyes wide, face red.
"Good evening Professor Slughorn," Tom said smoothly, an obedient smile on his face. "Would you care for a drink, we're discussing current potion theories, a good way to start off the new term don't you think?"
He snatched Elena's glass abruptly, bringing it to his nose to smell. His face visibly relaxed when the waft of alcohol did not surface. He visibly deflated in relief.
"Indeed," he said, smiling indulgently again like normal. "Though perhaps it is a little late for it," he commented, tone lightly reprimanding. "No matter, no matter."
"Is there a reason you are here Professor?" Abraxas asked, visibly irritated that Tom had taken control of the situation, rather than him.
"Actually yes Mr Malfoy, a meeting has been called," he explained.
"Now?" Dorea demanded. "But it's late, all the young ones are in bed."
"The headmaster would not call a meeting now if he did not feel it important, it is urgent, he had not time even to tell me," he said.
Each of us rose uneasily from the sofa, smoothing our gowns and dress robes uncomfortably.
"We shall go and wake the rest of the house," Dorea said, taking Abraxas' arm in hers.
"Ah Miss Black," Slughorn said pointedly, looking at me over the rim of the spectacles perched on the end of his bulbous nose. My heart sank, here came detention. "I'd like to congratulate you on your OWL grades, so many outstandings quite unheard of."
"Thank you professor," I replied absently.
Tom and I shared a weighted look.