Chapter Forty-Five

The next couple of weeks really were dull. As nearly all students began buckling down for the upcoming exams. The library, common rooms and great hall were filled with studying students. The sun shining outside was very inviting but there was too little time, too much studying. Archibald being one of the few to be pulled away from the hold of the books. He invited Argus to join him as he left his unopened books on the table in the Ravenclaw common room. His friends following the brothers as one of them said...

"Archie. Don't be a fool, we have a few weeks left to study and you want to waste it flying around on the broomstick outside. Why?"

"Bugger studying. I don't want it...It really says something when my squib brother is more fun than my so-called friends" Archibald replied.

"If you don't get into the 'Tutshill Tornados'. What have you got left?" one of his friends further questioned.

Making him pause as he turned back around to face them. He just shrugged as he declared..."I don't know. Which is why I have to get in, isn't it? Now get lost, you want to study. Don't let me stop you"

His friends left feeling exasperated as they began walking away. Only stopping when they heard Horace Slughorn calling out Archibald's name. As he stood with some potions homework that he forgot to take from the remedial class. Archibald quickly snatching it as he tried to hide the contents from his brother and friends. Slughorn thus walked away. Much to his dismay however, his friends did notice...

"Cure for boils? Didn't we learn that in year one?" one of his friends asked with a sarcastic laugh.

"I don't know. Why?" Archibald questioned back; playing dumb.

"Your homework. It's about 'Cure for Boils'...We are learning Skele-Gro. Wait a moment, you don't fly on Saturdays at all, do you? Are you in one of Slughorn's special classes?" the same friend further enquired.

"Don't be stupid. I'm a Ravenclaw. I'm just passing this over to somebody else. Lucy's in the special classes" Archibald suddenly announced.

Throwing her under the bus slightly. Argus giving his brother a glare but yet he said nothing once again. His friends only half-believed him. Though they supposed it made sense. Archibald lives for quidditch, it makes sense he would fly every Saturday morning rather than spend his time in some remedial class. Why would he do that?

"Is she, Argus?" one of the friends asked; looking over at the squib now.

"Y-Yes" Argus meekly answered.

Bursts of laughter came over as another house found out about Lucy's inept potions making skills. Archibald laughing along with them nervously before telling them to go away. Which they did gladly as they told him they would see him in the dormitory later. Though Archibald felt a sudden punch on his arm when they were out of sight before Argus attempted to shove him over. Only stopping as his already bruised hand began to hurt.

"What was that for? You stupid bugger!" Archibald yelled as he watched his brother nurse his bad hand.

"I wasn't suppose to tell anyone!"

"Yes? Well like most things, Argus. You couldn't do it"

"I don't want to go on your broomstick. You go on your own instead!" Argus suddenly hissed before storming away to the caretaker's office.

Slamming it shut and thus leaving Archibald on his own. He just took one look at the homework before ripping it apart and leaving the remains on the castle floor. Making his way out on his own instead as he gave one thud on the ground and flew up and away. The teenage lad was soon out of sight as he flew over the gates and over Hogsmeade. Hogwarts still very dull as students just sat reading and writing, asking each other questions for help. The Slytherin common room being no different as it was busy to the brim. Walburga concentrating on her 'Défense Against the Dark Arts' homework. Eileen (now back with her normal long black hair that covered her eyes) doing her potions homework not far away on the other side.

"Eileen. About the other day-" Walburga went to say but she just heard a tut from Eileen.

"I don't want to hear about it. I'm not telling anybody important and that's that. I have nothing to say to you" Eileen told her firmly.

"Why are you being like this?"

"Like what? Like somebody who is not licking Tom Riddle's boots? Because that's all this house cares about these days. Even the Malfoy family are suddenly not so important anymore. He isn't even a pure-blood, he has a muggle parent" Eileen hissed quietly as she leaned in towards her.

Some of the first-years looked terrified as they feared him, even to the point of hearing bad things about him when he's not in the room. He was known to punish any naysayers. Graham Goyle suddenly shouted...

"Tom!"

"Goyle! How dare you!" Eileen yelled at him; shutting her mouth when the familiar footsteps were heard.

"Eileen's been talking rubbish again" Graham informed him.

They all tried to get into his good books. Snitching on people who were once friends was not beneath some of them. Tom wasn't impressed as that was so trival to him, so worth nothing; that he was angry at Graham more than he was at Eileen. As he grabbed onto the boy by his collar...

"What did I say? Did I say I wanted to be called down for gossip?" Tom asked through gritted teeth.

"No but if anyone says anything bad. You wish to know" Graham replied nervously.

"It's not just anyone though, is it? Everybody knows exactly what Prince is. Now if you ever call me away for nothing again, you will get something a bit worse than your collar being grabbed. Do you understand?"

"Yes" Graham answered quickly; only to feel his collar and in turn his neck, being squeezed tighter, making him wheeze out..."Yes, Lord"

Tom thus let him go. Barely giving a glance at Eileen as he retreated back upstairs. Telling his so-called friends it was some dunderhead downstairs. Goyle felt himself being comforted by Betty Fisk and Victor Crabbe. He declared himself fine but his pride hurt as well as his neck.

"He won't ever like you. Any of you" Eileen declared.

Though she could sense Walburga's frosty gaze again. The girl suddenly packing up her things as she left. Eileen shaking her head as she looked back down upon her potions homework.

...

June was finally here and so was the first day of exams on this sunny morning. As students ate breakfast and did last minute revision. Lucy wishing her friends good luck as they went in opposite directions. She gave a nervous smile to Myrtle as the girls began the slow walk to potions. The subject Lucy had least hope in as she just always seemed to miss something. The girls briefly passed Archibald on their way there however he wasn't in a hurry. He was sat on the stairs as if he didn't have an exam to go to. Lucy paused as she looked towards him and asked...

"What exam have you got?"

"I don't know, Lucy. Nor do I care" Archibald insisted.

Myrtle pulled Lucy slightly as if to tell her to just go. He was in a really foul mood lately. His friends mocking him about being in "special classes" didn't help. He seemed to have nothing but bad luck since Nott broke his broomstick. Lucy told Myrtle to just go without her as she wouldn't be far behind. The Ravenclaw girl just giving a huff before hurrying away towards the dungeons. The lad just looked back up, wondering why she was still here.

"You really should go. At least try" Lucy spoke up as she sat besides him.

"What's the point?"

"It's important, isn't it? Besides, you would only get in trouble if you don't go. By your 'Head of House' and your parents"

"You're not wrong there"

"Argus wishes he was in your shoes, you know? He admires you secretly. So at least don't let him down" Lucy spoke with a smile.

This did make him think as he looked back towards her. Forcing himself back up as he knew she was right. He was just stalling really. Besides, he would feel awful if she was late on his behalf.

"You're right. I promise I'll go. It's only charms anyroad" Archibald admitted.

Though Lucy stayed put as she wanted to watch him go. He just rolled his eyes as he put his hand up. Making his way back up the stairs as he really did intend to go to his charms exams. Lucy smiling to herself as she did her job and thus she rushed down to the dungeons. Slughorn clicking his fingers when she arrived, letting them all in as now everyone was here.

"He went. Thank goodness" Lucy whispered to Myrtle.

Sitting at the front as she pushed Archibald to the back of her mind. So she could focus on potions. Eileen and Tom looking the most prepared as always and before they all knew it. The oral and practical exams had began.

...

"I have failed potions. I just know it" Lucy later said with a sigh.

As the students were all hanging around outside again. So the sixth and seventh year students can carry on with their exams in peace. She was sitting across from Myrtle under one of the trees near the great lake. Some students paddling in there as as the sun burst bright in the sky.

"You passed last year" Myrtle replied with a shrug.

"Well I got lucky I think. I doubt I will pass this year. My mother was so proud of me passing all my subjects too. How were your parents with your exams?"

"Oh. I don't know...I don't think they understand. My mother keeps asking why we aren't taught mathematics. She doesn't understand a witch's education but that's alright. She doesn't understand muggle education either" Myrtle answered with a small wink.

Lucy giving a small giggle in response. Poor Mrs Warren she thought. The girls thus began to read out questions to another on the history of magic. Over near the lake however were a gaggle of Slytherin girls. Walburga was excitedly talking about how her cousin Orion Black (father of the future Sirius Black) was coming in September. Another gifted boy apparently.

"And your brother" Druella reminded her.

"Alphard isn't as gifted as Orion" Walburga insisted while rolling her eyes.

Another Black coming to Hogwarts. There were a quite a few of them already and no doubt, Slughorn would be glad of having another two in his house. Walburga couldn't say she was excited about her brother's arrival as he would no doubt mock her for her crush on Tom Riddle if he ever found out about it.

"My brother isn't anything to rave about either" Lucretia insisted as she looked at Walburga.

"He is compared to my brother!" Walburga snapped suddenly.

"Oh no. Is Orion another one of your possible future marriages?" Eileen suddenly asked from behind.

Making Walburga suddenly turn around in shock as she got out her wand. The girl just shaking her head as she sat herself down besides her former early childhood friends. They all looked at her as if she was something they trod on, Druella gritting her teeth at her.

"Go away! Nobody wants you here anymore!" Walburga yelled in frustration.

"Erase me from your stupid family tree then. I'm sure I'm on there somewhere" Eileen spoke back with a sarcastic grin.

"You wish! We dared not mix with your family ever since your uncle married that mudblood"

"You dare not mix with any family outside your own more like" Eileen dared to reply.

Getting two thumps on the head by Lucretia Black. Making her feel her head as she moved away slightly from her. Druella chucking a few twigs in her direction and soon Eileen felt mud, discarded parchments and broken quills all chucked in her direction by the girls. Making her move further away until she was sitting on her lonesome again.

...

"Archibald Filch" a familiar voice called over during the evening meal.

His recent lack of effort in any of his subjects was finally enough for him to be in trouble. He looked towards the voice and gave a loud sigh as his 'Head of House', Ivory Gutter was downstairs for once. He being the astronomy professor and thus rarely seen before dark. Archibald made his way over as he knew it was serious if his head of house wished to speak to him.

"Professor Gutter?" Archibald questioned as he stood besides him.

"Filch. I hope you don't mind me dragging you away from your friends but I have some questions for you. It's been brought to my attention that you feel like studying is fruitless? That you don't need education?" Professor Gutter asked in a disappointed tone of voice.

"I never said that, Professor. I just know I'm going to be a professional quidditch player and thus I don't need every subject" Archibald insisted.

"Well when I was your age, I thought I was going to space. Didn't happen though I'm afraid. Now I can't force you to take your education seriously but as your head of house, I can advice you. Don't be a fool, Filch"

"I'm not being a fool, Professor"

"No? Well I'm glad to hear that. Please buckle down and pass some subjects. I hope you do become a professional quidditch player but on the small chance, you don't. You have other things to fall back on, yes?"

"Yes. Well it's only potions"

"Just please take my words seriously. I expect better from a student from my house. You are in Ravenclaw for a reason, don't mess up because of a dream that may never be"

"Very philosophical, Professor" Archibald replied with a small wink.

Professor Gutter just paused before giving his finger a small wiggle. As if he was telling him to cut it out now. He gave the lad a small pat on his shoulder before telling him he may return to his chair. Archibald walking back towards his friends with a grin as he insisted it was just about his lack of interest in education again. As even that small talk did nothing to change his mind.

"If I was that bad. Father would have gave me a howler by now" Archibald insisted.

Barely thinking about the final days of exams which will come tomorrow.

...

TBC