CHAPTER 9:The Slug Club

Harry looked down at the note in his hand with a sinking feeling. He read it three more times before groaning in pain. Then he tossed Hedwig a reproachful look. She met him with her own. As if to say: hey I didn't want to deliver it either! He tossed the note away with a scowl.

"Who's it from?" Ron suddenly piped up.

"Slughorn,'' Harry muttered bitterly. The various people around him snickered, much to his disgust. Harry had become Slughorn's star pupil. As Harry had predicted all those weeks ago, being a potions prodigy had brought him closer to Slughorn. Perhaps a little too close. The man had taken to walking up to Harry in the hallway, discussing potions theory. Thanks to The Prince, as Harry had taken to calling him in his head, Harry was able to follow along. Not that it would have mattered. Harry had to admit that Slughorn was turning out to be a much better potions professor then Snape had ever been. The man was exceptionally knowledgeable in a wide range of subjects and was quite skilled at finding understandable parallels from almost any subject to potions. Harry had even heard him use quidditch for a potions analogy. But that didn't change the man's rather annoying habit of trailing off into long droning tangents about all of the famous people he knew and taught.

"Oh no." Hermione suddenly cried in horror. Harry looked up just in time to see an owl flying away as Hermione held an identical note in her own hands. Ron snorted.

"Have fun with that," he said as he joined in the snickering. He immediately shut up and began scowling as Anthony walked up with a similar note.

"You too?" he asked bitterly.

"Yes," she said pitifully. Then she scowled. "You know Harry, this is all your fault!"

"My fault!?" Harry cried in panic "how is it my fault?!"

"If you hadn't told Slughorn about me when you two met he would have even known who I was!"

"Don't you think he would have noticed once you started acing tests?" Harry demanded frantically.

"No." she admitted bitterly "because you're such the perfect little potions maker!"

"Wot?!" Harry cried with a squeaky voice. Then Hermione sniffed and stood, stomping away from the table. Anthony watched her go then exchanged a look with both Harry and Ron.

"I'm… gonna just... go." Anthony finally stuttered out before racing after his girlfriend looking slightly panicked. Harry watched him run away with a snort. Then another owl landed in front of him.

"Bloody hell," he muttered. All year he'd receive piles of letters. Some were people giving him condolences for his uncle. Others were love letters from sometimes wildly inappropriate sources. One woman, who was at least his aunt's age, had sent some very saucy moving photos. The worst were the people who wanted to adopt him. Some had even sent the packet of forms already filled out, just waiting for his and his aunt's signature. Harry had barely restrained from sending angry letters calling all of them presumptuous assholes. Instead, he'd asked Dobby to start vetting his mail. The house-elf had been more than happy to do so. But every so often a letter slipped through the elf's net. As Harry pulled off the letter he realized his fear had been unfounded. It was sealed with the school's stamp and had the now distinctly familiar scrawl of Albus Dumbledore on the front. Harry tore it open and read the note inside rapidly.

H

Lessons will be cancelled this weekend.

Enjoy your party.

-A.D

Harry groaned. He had been counting on Dumbledore's lessons to get out of the party. Now it seemed that Dumbledore expected him to attend. Never mind that he still hadn't told Harry exactly what it was that he was supposed to be obtaining from Slughorn. Harry crumpled up the missive and threw it on the table in disgust. This party was going to be awful.

Harry trudged up to Slughorn's office like he was marching to his own funeral. Tonight was sure to be just awful.

"Hi, Harry." Susan suddenly appeared beside him, dressed surprisingly professionally.

"Susan!" Harry cried with a smile "Where are you going?"

"Slughorn's party," Susan said plainly.

"You got an invitation too?" Harry asked in shock. Then he remembered the ride on the train "Oh right! Slughorn picked you out as well… why is that?"

"My family is- was very powerful within the ministry," Susan said with a slight stumble when she corrected myself. "Auntie was a member of the witenagemot, head of the department of magical defence, and is your lawyer. He probably was hoping to use me to get to know her better."

"Well, I guess tonight won't be a total loss." Harry reasoned with a weak smile.

"Isn't Hermione part of the slug club as well?" Susan asked in confusion. Harry winced.

"She's… not very happy with me right now."

"Why?" Susan asked in confusion.

"Because of my potions scores." Harry admitted, "Plus she and Ron are fighting about Anthony."

"Goldstein? Why? He's a really nice bloke. Hermione couldn't have picked a better-oooh." Susan suddenly cut herself in understanding. Harry nodded through his wince. "Well… that's… stressful."

"Tell me about it.'' Harry drawled tiredly as they arrived at the potions master's door. Harry knocked and the door was thrown open.

"Harry my boy!'' Slughorn cried with a grin. It widened when he saw Susan "And Miss. Bones! Wonderful to finally meet you, my dear.'' Then he clasped the girl's offered hand in both his own. "I simply must give my condolences. Truly a tragic tragic thing.'' Susan pursed her lips then forced a weak smile over it and nodded. Harry had never wanted to punch Slughorn more than he did now. How thick could he be? "Anyway! Harry! Come in! I have a surprise for you!"

"A surprise?" Harry asked in confusion. "What kind of a sur- Dudley?!" Harry cried and skidded to a halt mid-step. His cousin looked up from where he was talking to Hermione and Melinda.

"Hello Harry!" he cried with a grin. He immediately stood and gave Harry a tight hug. "How's my little cousin been?"

"Little!" Harry snarled, "I'm a month older than you!" Dudley then raised a hand and marked his noted height advantage over Harry. Harry smacked the hand with a disgusted scoff. The teens then got into a minor scuffle.

"Now gentlemen!" Slughorn cried with a chuckle. "Hardly the time for that I should think."

"Sorry, sir.'' Dudley remarked with a beaming smile towards the man. "I missed you. How've things been?"

"Great,'' Harry said automatically. "But why didn't you tell me you'd be coming?"

"Slughorn said something about a surprise. You know I love surprises." Dudley said with a grin. Harry snorted. Dudley didn't like surprises. He liked pulling the wool over people's eyes.

"Why don't we all sit down." Slughorn cried. "I've had the elves prepare us a wonderful meal. Then we can get to know each other better. I hope you don't mind if we start with you, Mr. Dursley." Slughorn said with what Harry was sure he thought was a sly grin "I'm anxious to learn about all your mysterious homeschooling."

"Certainly." Dudley offered before he sat next to Harry. As soon as they had all sat down a salad appeared on each plate.

"So how many tutors do you have?" Slughorn began.

"Just the one," Dudley said plainly.

"Only one?" Slughorn cried incredulously "They must be quite the knowledgeable individual. Do they tutor you in all subjects?"

"We're focusing on charms and defence right now. We'll be moving on to potions in the new year." Dudley explained flatly.

"I see." Slughorn said curiously "And this format of education works?"

"So far," Dudley said plainly.

"Interesting," Slughorn remarked. Then he turned to Belby and began to grill him. Evidently, Dudley had passed Slughorn's little test. The man continued around the table, grilling everyone. Some fared worse than others. Belby had been forced to admit that he hadn't actually seen his famous uncle in several years, due to a feud between the man and his father. Melinda too fell into a long and theoretically complex spiel about arithmancy, accidentally revealing that her passion lay more with spell creation than running apothecaries. Harry had a feeling neither would be returning to any more of Slughorn's parties.

"And what about you Miss. Granger?" Slughorn suddenly jumped across the table from Blaise to Hermione "What do your parents do?" Hermione paled and looked around the table.

"Er…" she began nervously "My parents are dentists."

"Dentists?" Slughorn questioned in confusion. "What is a Dentist?"

"They're… sort of like healers." Hermione reasoned, "But for teeth."

"Teeth?" Slughorn clarified, looking flabbergasted.

"They help keep teeth clean, sometimes they have to remove teeth or drill into them to remove damage. They all affix crowns if people break a tooth."

"Well," Slughorn began, looking mildly intrigued, "it sounds very exciting."

"Not really," Hermione admitted. Then she laughed "Though little Robbie Fenwick did bite my father once! He ended up needing ten stitches" Slughorn looked slightly taken aback from that declaration.

"Stitches?" Susan asked in confusion.

"Um…" Hermione began with a wince. Slughorn however cut her off.

"What about you Mr. Goldstein? Have you heard from your great uncle at all lately?"

"Er…" Anthony began awkwardly "No. He and my aunt are currently on a sabbatical in Peru. Studying Peruvian Vipertooth."

"Why am I not surprised?" Slughorn remarked with a chuckle. "Anthony's great uncle is the famous Newt Scamander. The founder of Magizoology? He was always messing with creatures while he was here at Hogwarts."

"Through marriage." Anthony quickly remarked with a wince.

"Of course of course," Slughorn remarked flippantly. The conversation went on, circling the table, each student being grilled by Slughorn, each pleasing or displeasing him. Neville's grilling had almost been a complete disaster. Slughorn had brought up his parents and Neville had gone a pale green colour. But then Dudley had immediately shut him down.

"Not really the sort of thing one should talk about at a dinner table," Dudley remarked plainly.

"No." Slughorn began, looking a bit stunned "No I suppose not. My apologies dear boy.'' Neville just nodded before giving Dudley a grateful look. The rest of the dinner then finished without incident, until at last Slughorn sent them all on their way. But once Harry and Dudley said their goodbye, with Slughorn insisting that Dudley come visit again, Harry's own interrogation began.

"How did you even get here?!" he demanded.

"Remus dropped me off," Dudley said with a flippant shrug.

"Does Aunt Petunia know you're here?"

"No," Dudley said matter of factly. "And what does it matter anyway?"

"You don't think she'll be a bit miffed when she hears you just up and decided to come to Hogwarts?"

"It's a Friday," Dudley argued. "It's not like I have classes tomorrow. Besides, it was only for a couple of hours. I wanted to see how you and Snuffles were. Where is Snuffles anyway?"

"Slughorn is still terrified of him, so I left him upstairs. He's keeping Ron company. They play chess.'' Dudley snorted.

"I'm sure that's hilarious to watch."

"It'd be funnier if Snuffles actually won." Harry admitted, "But Ron's a whippet when it comes to chess."

"Too bad," Dudley remarked before he shook his head. "What else has been happening?"

"Well…" Harry began before frowning in consternation. "Dumbledore has been giving me private lessons."

"Really?!" Dudley cried "How on earth did mum agree to that?" Harry gave the teen a look. Dudley scoffed, "Well you're gonna be grounded for eternity."

"Not if she never finds out, right?" Harry said pointedly. Dudley just shrugged

"What's he been teaching you anyway?"

"No idea," Harry admitted. Dudley blinked.

"What do you mean?"

"Well, all we do is watch old memories," Harry said

"Memories?" Dudley demanded, "Like… actual memories?"

"Yeah," Harry said with a nod

"You can pull memories out of someone's head?" Dudley demanded.

"Yeah," Harry confirmed.

"And you can watch them?" Dudley questioned

"With a special device called a Pensieve."

"Barmy." Dudley muttered in awe "What are the memories about?"

"Voldemort." Harry said plainly "Like him as a little kid, and his family. Who, by the way, makes Vernon look like a saint. No wonder he turned out so rotten."

"Why are you watching them though?" Dudley questioned.

"No idea." Harry admitted tiredly "Know thy enemy I guess… though all it's really done is really drive home how similar the two of us are." Harry admitted with nervous eyes "The only difference really is that I have you, Aunt Petunia, and Sirius. And he didn't have anyone."

"And maybe that you're not a homicidal fucking lunatic!" Dudley argued in horror "You're nothing like Voldemort!"

"We're both orphans, who come from broken families, living in really shitty places, wishing we could stay at Hogwarts forever, knowing that it's our real home," Harry said slowly.

"But…'' Dudley began "you don't think that anymore… right?"

"Well no." Harry admitted, "but once upon a time I did."

"Well, then there you go!" Dudley declared "I rest my case!" Harry watched his cousin march ahead with the confidence of having won an argument and smiled. It was true that he really didn't feel that way anymore. But he had a nagging feeling that if it hadn't been for Sirius, that most definitely wouldn't be the case. "And you know!" Dudley suddenly cried, turning back to face his cousin "even if you did still feel that way you still wouldn't be anything like that bastard."

"Why that?" Harry asked.

"Well first off, hair," Dudley said, lifting a finger. Harry snorted "second, nose." he added. Harry sputtered and began to laugh. "But mostly because you're a good person, who cares more about other people than himself, to an honestly troubling degree."

"Careful, you're starting to sound like Hermione." Harry argued, "she says I have a saving people thing."

"You do!" Dudley argued "You definitely definitely do!" the teen groaned in annoyance as Dudley went into a long rant listing all the times he'd recklessly endangered himself on behalf of others.

A/N: Hi all!

Here is another chapter for you!

Anthro79: Dudley's story is far from over, don't you worry.

ILoveGeorgeEads: Thanks a bunch!

See you all next week!

Don't forget to keep on reading!

-TTC