Chapter Five
The flying lesson gave the students a much-needed burst of excitement. As they walked to their next lessons; 'Potions'. Lucy found herself back in the company of Myrtle Warren. Lucy felt nervous going down into the dungeons for she knew this was Slytherin territory. She and Myrtle walked into the 'Potions' classroom. It was dark and cold (though not nearly as dark and cold as it would be when Snape would take over in decades to come). Horace Slughorn had tried to make it a bit more welcoming for his students. The girls sat together at the front as they took out their book about potions. Tom Riddle and Eileen Prince were sat nearby together. Lucy couldn't help but stare at Tom. He looked like butter wouldn't melt but if you looked closer, you would see the emptiness in his eyes. The students settled down and a cheerful wizard, Horace Slughorn entered; smiling.
"Welcome, welcome...Your first potions lesson. What a novelty. My name is Professor Horace Slughorn. As most of you know because I may know all or half of your magical parents" Slughorn began with a glint in his eyes.
"As for the muggle-borns...Let's just say if I did meet your parents. They would have forgotten about it" Slughorn joked.
The pure-bloods began to laugh in response. The muggle-borns were as confused as anything. Abraxas Malfoy pointing to his brain as he caught eye of one Ravenclaw muggle-born. Slughorn pointed his wand towards the class and said a spell which made all of their books turn to one of the pages.
"Now...Let's see, let's see...Who knows about potions? Who has been reading their books at home?" Slughorn asked.
Most students raised their hands. Lucy was not one of these people however and she felt guilty over it. She did only really read the history books she was given. Not the textbooks. Though Slughorn didn't seem to mind. He called up Lucy Norris and two other students who hadn't raised their hand to the front. Lucy noticed the other two students (a boy and a girl) were from Gryffindor.
"Now you see these three students, everyone? An example of what not to do. I may be slightly more fun than your average professor I admit but I'm also fair. Now you three, what do you think potions involves?" Slughorn questioned.
"Cauldrons, Sir" the Gryffindor girl responded; she had long blonde hair.
"Right you are, cauldrons. Now what do we do with cauldrons. What do we put in it?"
"Potions, sir" the Gryffindor boy answered; he had short brown hair.
This made Slughorn laugh in response. He did mean to humiliate these students on their first day in lesson so they wouldn't neglect homework and such. The other students laughed too, (well everyone apart from Eileen Prince).
"The answer of a true potions master" Slughorn managed to joke; making his pupils laugh even harder.
Everyone except Eileen Prince and the three students called up were laughing. Lucy Norris had never felt more red in the face. This felt worse then when she was pulled up in her muggle primary school to say her multiplication times tables.
"Last question and this is directed at you, Norris. What is a type of potion?"
"A...Merlin...I'm not sure, Sir" Lucy answered; cracking under pressure. She didn't know any potions she realized.
Laughter came from the class again. Slughorn giving a sigh before telling the three students to sit back down. Lucy had never felt so humiliated and truth be told, Slughorn did feel a tad guilty now in hindsight. Perhaps he shouldn't have just made three eleven year olds feel like the odd ones out.
"All in good fun, all in good fun...Quiet now class. That was me setting an example. You do your homework and you read your books. Otherwise you will face greater humiliation in the long run" Slughorn announced quickly; he began to write on the blackboard.
Cure for Boils
...
On her way to her third lesson, History of Magic. She overheard a heated argument down one of the corridors. Three male voices, all belonging to eleven year old boys. Lucy paused and stood behind the wall, not wanting to walk over there and reveal herself just yet. These voices belonged to Argus Filch, Abraxas Malfoy and Geoffrey Nott. He had maintained that he would punish them however he didn't vouch for this due to Headmaster Armando Dippet declaring that all students will respect Argus Filch as if he was a member of staff.
"You can't punish us...You're nothing more than a glorified muggle" Nott hissed.
"Yes I can punish you. Now place your hand out and feel my cane!" Argus shouted.
He tried to assert authority but he wasn't taken serious due to his age and squib status. Eileen Prince had already felt the wrath by the caretaker, Oakleigh Burton; she now had a bruised hand. Burton had let Filch deal with the wizards.
"Expelliarmus!" Malfoy shouted; making the cane leap from Filch's hand.
The young Argus bent down to pick the cane up. Though Nott had grabbed it before he could. Malfoy put his wand back up as he spat "Get back in your little room!"
"Oi!" a slightly older boy shouted; making the two boys scarper. Nott taking the cane with him.
Argus looked over as his brother Archibald walked over. He was thirteen and was in his third year at Hogwarts. He was known for his skills in quidditch. He was getting quite good at it now and he would have been more popular if not for his squib brother.
"Archibald. Thank you...I was dealing with it though" Argus insisted. He looked he was about to bow almost.
"Yes. I'm sure you were. Now will you please refrain yourself from making a complete mockery of the Filch name; you can't defend yourself against wizards, Argus"
"I was merely giving out a punishment"
"That's Oakleigh's job"
"And mine! And mine!" Argus suddenly shouted back. Lucy watched as Archibald pushed Argus into the caretaker's office.
She came out again and walked towards the office door. Putting her ear against it. Archibald was currently shouting at his brother and Lucy could only make out the odd word as it was almost incomprehensible. A few objects were heard being thrown as Archibald shouted some more. A bang on the floor was heard and a small yell followed. Argus' voice came back as he began shouting out words. Another object was thrown and angry footsteps began to march towards the door. Lucy quickly rushing out the way as she watched an angry Argus slam open the door and storm down the hallway; towards the outside.
"Stupid squib!" Archibald screamed out in his frustration; picking up his wand.
He too stormed out of the office door. Going in the opposite direction of the one Argus went. As much as she wanted to, Lucy felt like she couldn't miss out on her first lesson of 'History of Magic' just to check on Argus. Besides, he would know she was eavesdropping if she went now. So she went to the classroom but couldn't focus hardly at all.
...
During her break, Lucy went outside to look for Filch. She searched high and low for him. Asking around if anyone had seen him though nobody had (or nobody seemed to care enough to know). She doesn't know how long it took her but she got to the 'Stone Circle' which was located near the 'Wooden Bridge' leading up to Hogwarts. Argus was sat down on one of the stones. Lucy trying to act casual as she walked slowly towards him.
"Hello Argus...I'm on my break. I was just having a nosey around" Lucy insisted, sitting on the stone next to him.
"Lucky you" Argus muttered under his breath.
She just sighed at his response. He was clearly having a difficult time and was showing it too. He felt so happy when his father told him he was going to Hogwarts despite being a squib. For a few minutes, he thought maybe he was a late bloomer but his father then instructed him that he would be simply helping out the caretaker; his happiness faded as quickly as it came.
"I hate it here" Argus then said; trying not to cry; that's all he needed wasn't it? Them to see him cry.
"Well I'm struggling to fit in too. I don't seem to know anything. I really admired you for trying to stick up for me with your cane. You really shouldn't have"
"I didn't do it for you" Argus insisted; that was a lie though.
"Well thanks all the same. What's a squib, Argus? People keep calling you it. I don't understand...I mean, I'm a muggle-born, aren't I? Why are you not in classes?"
This question made Filch look down. He put his hands over his face to hide his drained expression. He was so ashamed of his squib status, he would take great pains to cover it up in decades to come. He use to try and try to perform magic in his early childhood. His parents thought he was a late-bloomer at first (until his letter never came that was). The realization kicked in on his eleventh birthday.
"It means I'm a freak!" Argus snapped; getting up from his stone.
He looked like he was about to storm off again but he carried on (not looking at her)...
"It means I can't perform magic. I was born to magical parents but I can't do magic. I can see magic but I will never be able to do it. I'm not a wizard. I'm just there" Argus explained.
"I don't understand how"
"It's rare but it happens. It's like some sort of deformity. He will never say it but my father hates me for it, I just know he does. My mother hasn't even touched me since she found out" Argus answered, the last sentence made him cover his face with his hands again.
She knew he was crying (as much as he tried to hide it). Lucy got up again as she walked over towards him. She gently touched his shoulder so he would look at her as she asked softly...
"Do you want a hug?"
"No" Argus replied bluntly.
Though he secretly did want a hug. He just didn't want her to know that as he stormed away again.
...
TBC