Chapter 11
Their first detention was to be served directly after dinner with Professor McGonagall. At least that's what the note they received during Care of Magical Creatures read. They had scheduled an eating contest during that time with Remus, Peter, Frank Longbottom, and Gabe Pevensie. The betting pool was up to 100 galleons. Yet, much to the disappointment of their peers, they decided to go to detention instead, and their contest was rescheduled for the weekend. This is exactly the reason why they were so upset to be sitting outside of a locked classroom with no sign of their professor. They had just resolved to return to their common room and let the eating contest commence when Professor McGonagall came striding up with Professor Slughorn in her wake.
"I am terribly sorry to have kept you waiting, Potter, Black, but something of an emergency came up." She explained, unlocking her classroom door, her panic barely hinted in her voice. The three of them followed her in trying to keep up with her pace. "I have a meeting with the headmaster. Normally, I would reschedule but Professor Slughorn has volunteered to take over your detention for tonight." She said as she ran about the classroom stacking papers onto her desk. Sirius rolled his eyes at James who grimaced in return but neither said anything.
"Professor, if you don't mind my asking, what was the emergency?" James spoke sounding only mildly curious.
"I do mind, Potter. It is not a matter for students to be concerned about." McGonagall said sharply, gathering the large stack of paper into her arms. "Now I have explained to Professor Slughorn what you have done today in Herbology, so don't expect him to go easy on you. We are both very disappointed in you two."
"Oh yes, very disappointed." Professor Slughorn rocked on his feet with his hand clasped behind his back, not looking at all disappointed but actually amused. Sirius rolled his eyes again and James disguised his laugh with a cough. McGonagall shot Slughorn a look that seemed to remind him of his position of authority at the school. His mood quickly sombered, he arched his brow attempting to mirror her expression of disappointment.
"Please excuse me. I hope you gentlemen have a pleasant evening as you reflect on your wrong doings. And thank you again, Horace," McGonagall said as she led them out into the corridor.
"Not at all Minerva," Slughorn responded once again bouncing on his feet. With a swift nod of her head, she turned away from them and hurried down the corridor toward Dumbledore's office.
"Merlin, you should have seen her today boys! She came right in and smoothed everything over. If I was in her position I'd have lost my head." Slughorn laughed leading the boys toward the dungeons where his classroom was kept. "Of course that's why they made her Deputy Headmistress. No one could have been better for the job. I was here when she first started teaching, you know. She was young, fresh-faced, and so nervous. The students played one prank on her and they never dared cross her again. And I'm sure you know why."
"Professor?" James interrupted. Sirius was staying determinedly silent.
"Yes, m'boy."
"Can you tell us what happened?" James asked sounding unsure of himself. "What was the emergency?"
"Oh, just a student ended up in the hospital wing. The house rivalries get a little out of hand sometimes. But this time, the use of dark magic was suspected." Slughorn explained his voice sounding light but his face betrayed the stress he was under. Sirius's head shot up at this, suddenly interested in what Slughorn had to say.
"A student was attacked!"
"By who?
"Who was it?"
"When?"
"What happened?"
"Which houses?"
The boys shot out questions faster than Slughorn could answer. He chuckled slinging an arm over each of them.
"Now boys, there's no need to get riled up over this. You just let us take care of it," he comforted, thought they were beyond comforting.
"Who was it that was attacked, Professor?" Sirius asked keeping his voice calm.
"Oh, what was her name. It started with an M."
"Was she in Gryffindor, sir?" James asked.
"Oh, yes of course. I'm sorry, you probably know her. She's in your year." Slughorn said looking truly apologetic. "Mckinley, or something."
"McKinnon?" James and Sirius shouted.
"Yes, that's it. You know her?" Slughorn nodded.
"A little."
"We have classes together. And she's on the quidditch team."
"What spells did they use? Was it an Unforgivable?"
"Do you know who did it?"
"Bet it was Rosier, after what we saw in January."
"Now, boys. I know you're upset but you can't go around pointing your fingers at everyone. It is important, now more than ever, for us to stick together," Slughorn frowned. "That's why I started my club, you know. Every house is welcome in it to remind everyone that no house is better than the other." He raised his head proudly, sticking his belly out.
"I thought you formed your club for connections," said Sirius smugly.
"For friendships, Black, friendships," Slughorn corrected airily. Sirius shot James a look that seemed to say 'I told you so' but otherwise said nothing. They walked the rest of the way in reflective silence.
Sirius hated the dungeons. They were always a good five degrees colder than the rest of the castle. Unless they were in between classes, it was always dead silent except for their footsteps echoing off the stone walls. He found himself thanking Merlin for not being sorted into Slytherin. It was an odd feeling. He had accepted the fact that he was a Gryffindor long ago, back in first year. And he was grateful for the friends he had made, especially James. He felt sure that James would not have been his friend had the sorting hat chose otherwise, but not being in Slytherin was the start of all his problems. His mother, before that point, was attentive and hopeful, but the minute the sorting hat shouted out "GRYFFINDOR!" for all of the Great Hall to hear he felt the weight of his parent's disappointment drag him down. It only got worse from there. Yet there he was, walking into what should have been his head of house's classroom perfectly content to be wearing his red and gold Gryffindor robe with the messy-haired blood traitor standing next to him.
James rested his arm on his shoulder, smirking at the group of students huddled in the corner. He raked his fingers through his hair, twirling it around a bit, giving it a windblown look and thrust out his chest. There she was sitting in front of the only open window. The setting sun making her auburn hair shine, darkening her skin, and lightening her eyes, almost to a lime green. She looked otherworldly. James's heart rose to his throat. He gulped it down and cleared his throat hoping to gain her attention.
"I wonder what they're doing," James said a little too loudly, yet Lily was too immersed in her conversation to notice.
"It would appear that they are making a potion," Sirius said irritably. Sirius recognised everyone in their group to be members of the 'Slug club.' A group Slughorn had been trying to get him to join since his first year. He blatantly refused on multiple occasions for multiple reasons those being; Snape, Malfoy, Narcissa, Mulciber, Rosier, Avery, the list goes on.
"Right you are, Black! I thought that this would be a good opportunity for you to make some friends in other houses, and earn some extra credit in potions." Slughorn said pushing him forward. He put him right between Mulciber and Snape. James snuck up behind and placed himself casually next to Lily Evans. "I assume you all know each other?" No one spoke. His brother, sat opposite of him, had not met his eye, and the others all glared at him, except Lily, who glared at James for draping his arm across her shoulders. "Well, some of you must know each other. There's your cousin and her husband. I am so happy for you two. And to think, if it weren't for this club, it might not have happened. That would have been a crime against nature if you ask me. And you must know your brother."
"Yes, sir," Sirius said through gritted teeth. He glared at Regulus, knowing now that he would rather leave him in the company of people who would rather see his guts on the pavement than have him in their presence than talk to him. He made his choice. Perhaps he should be happy for him, it was an easier path after all.
"Of course," Slughorn continued as though the rising tension was just nerves for meeting new people. "And there's Evan Rosier, you two are cousins of some sort I believe?"
"By marriage," Sirius stated dryly, glaring just as harshly back at him.
"And Cygnus Mulciber, who prefers to go by his surname, Cyrillus Avery, Severus Snape, and Lily Evans. Merlin, what a small turn out, I do hope there's not an illness going round." Slughorn finished.
"It's the end of the year, sir, everyone's studying for exams." It was Malfoy who broke the silence, lightening the room by the slightest degree.
"Oh of course. Well, I'm glad you all could make it, and for those of you who don't know, this is Sirius Black and his friend… erm…."
"Potter, James Potter." He said smugly, fixing his imaginary tie. Sirius and Lily seemed to be the only ones to get his reference but that was enough for him. He grinned and sat back down, moving his chair closer to Lily's.
"Right! And which potion have you decided to brew?" Slughorn asked, rubbing his hands together excitedly.
"Draught of Peace. We figured it was appropriate, given the time of year." Malfoy answered, seeming to be the leader of the group.
"Very considerate, Luscious. I hope this won't be too difficult for you, Regulus?" Slughorn asked the first year, peering over his students to look into the boiling cauldron.
"No, sir, I've made it before at home. We're just combining the Valerian root and the hellebore syrup, now," answered Regulus, still not looking at his brother.
"Oh, good! You've only just begun," Slughorn grinned. "Sirius, do you have any experience with this potion?"
"Oh, yes. You see, Mother is a terribly nervous creature, and this potion is the only thing that will calm her down when she gets into one of her fits." Sirius stared directly at his brother who finally glared back at him. Narcissa rolled her eyes disdainfully, as her husband put a comforting arm around her shoulder. The rest of them look wildly interested in what Sirius had to say, all except, Snape, Lily, and James. James was too busy talking Lily's ear off about one of the muggle films he had seen. Lily had turned her back on James and was listening intently to Severus. Snape was glaring at James while trying to retain Lily's attention, which was very difficult because James naturally had a louder voice than he.
"Our mother has been very worried about her father. He's sick, you see. So with any delayed news, she gets a bit nervous. I wouldn't call them fits, my brother likes to be dramatic sometimes," Regulus corrected. Sirius chuckled but let the topic drop.
"I'm very sorry to hear that. Give my best to your mother when you write home next, will you?" Slughorn said sincerely. Regulus nodded, Sirius crossed his arms and leant back in his chair separating himself from the group as much as he could. "Should we get back to potions? I would very much like to see you in action, Sirius. Would you mind terribly if I put brother against brother?"
"A little healthy competition never hurt anyone," Sirius smirked, getting to his feet. James saw his movements and followed immediately, though he had no idea what was going on. Snape and Lily looked just as confused.
"Right you are," Slughorn grinned. "Now let's see… We'll have Snape, Mulciber, and Mrs Malfoy, join Sirius."
"Excuse me, sir, but I work better with James." Sirius hoped to rescue both himself and his friend from an awkward situation.
"As do Lily and me," Severus spoke.
"Yes I know," Slughorn chuckled. "I was hoping to see how you would work on your own. It would hardly be fair if I let Regulus have both of you."
"We don't mind," Sirius rushed.
"Yes, we do! He's right it wouldn't be fair," James argued. "I'd say, I trade places with Cygnus. That way we can still break up two dynamic duos." Narcissa and Malfoy, Lily and Snape glared at James as Slughorn mulled over his argument.
"Yes, I suppose you're right. Cygnus - I mean Mulciber - you'll stay. The rest of you find a comfortable spot to brew your potion." Slughorn finished and walked off to his desk at the front of the classroom. James looked as victorious as the day he joined the quidditch team. Lily gave Severus a small apologetic smile before she followed the boys across the room.
Sirius's relief flowed through him and seemed to give James even more confidence. He took Lily's books out of her hands and placed them next to his chosen seat. Lily clenched her jaw but still sat next to him. Narcissa was the only one who seemed to be truly upset about the arrangement. She kept glancing back at her old group and glaring at the surrounding Gryffindors, she simply refused to help them. Being the best at potions, Lily took charge of the group. Sirius had, by far, the steadiest hands, so he measured. James stirred. Lily watched her eyes never moving from the cauldron. By the time they got their Valerian root combined with the hellebore syrup, Regulus's group was adding their unicorn horn powder. Having noticed this Sirius flared. He turned up the heat under the cauldron dangerously high, much to Lily's disapproval.
"Relax, Evans! If we want to beat the other team, we gotta catch up first," Sirius said, waving her off.
"You are going to burn it! It's not about how fast you brew it, it's how well it turns out!" Lily said, nostrils flaring. She moved to turn the heat down but Sirius pushed her hand out of the way.
"I know what I'm doing, Evans!" He argued.
"Sirius, maybe she's right. She is better than us at potions." James smirked at Lily but she was too busy glaring at Sirius to acknowledge his compliment.
"Black, move out of the way! That is way. Too. High!" Lily said, her eyebrows meeting her hairline. Sirius had turned the heat up so high that the flames now licked the cauldron's rim.
"Merlin's pants, Sirius! Turn it down." James said sternly. Sirius growled but did as James asked. Narcissa chuckled and started muttering insults under her breath. Lily sighed heavily and pushed her hair out of her face.
"What's the status on those porcupine quills, Potter?" Lily asked, taking the ladle and stirring the cauldron's contents to make sure none of it was burnt.
"Ready and waiting, Evans," James said, holding out his mortar filled with freshly crushed quills.
"Dump it in," Lily ordered, still stirring the cauldron.
"All of it?" James asked. With a swift nod from Lily, James dumped the powder into the cauldron. Large bubbles started to form causing its contents to raise to the surface, the potion turned from a murky shade of brown to deep leafy green.
"See, Evans, the potions fine! We might even have a chance of catching up." Sirius said bitterly.
"It's going too fast! We don't even have the moonstone powder ready yet." Lily answered, turning the fire down even lower. She stirred slowly trying to calm their boiling potion.
"I have moonstone powder ready in my potions set! I'll go get it!" James said jumping to his feet.
"Get the unicorn horn powder too!" Sirius called after him. James retrieved his potion's set from the 3rd year's cabinet and hurried back over to his group.
"Brought the whole thing," he said, handing the box to Lily. Lily carefully removed the phial of moonstone powder with her free hand and held it up to the light to examine it. It was perfectly white speckled with a blue-black hue.
"It's pretty pure, but we'll have to use all of it," Lily said, looking apologetically at James.
"I-it's alright!" James said tongue tied. Sirius rolled his eyes and snatched the phial out of Lily's hand.
"I'll replace it!" He said irritably as he dumped the phial's contents into the cauldron. The potion calmed and turned sky blue.
"BluUuuue Mooon." James crooned, causing Lily to giggle. He grinned at Sirius who smiled back.
"We have to let it sit now, wait for it to turn turquoise," Sirius told them.
"I know," Lily said sharply, turning away to join Severus. Narcissa jumped up and ran across the room behind her.
"Did you see that! That was a genuine laugh!" James exclaimed after Lily was out of earshot.
"You are a horrible singer, mate," Sirius teased, watching his laughing brother across the room. James followed his gaze finally catching on.
"Alright, mate?" James asked nudging Sirius's arm.
"Yeah, I'm fine." He turned his back on them. "Might have been taking the potions thing a bit too seriously, though, sorry."
"Eh, you can't help. You are -"
"I am Sirius!" Sirius groaned. James frowned at his friend, wanting to help him but not knowing how.
"Is this about the Slug Club thing? 'Cause even I think this was a bit much." James said gesturing around the room. Sirius didn't respond. "We should use the slug-vomiting charm against them." James laughed. Sirius chuckled wryly.
"Is it Regulus?" James whispered. Sirius bit his lip, not wanting to look as foolish as he felt in front of James.
"He's just the only one that would actually talk to me after I got sorted, ya know? And now, with the whole Slytherin thing, maybe even before then. Over break, he wouldn't speak to me for two days 'cause I jinxed Kreacher. He just talks worse than my parents sometimes, and he hates me anyway, always has." Sirius took a deep breath, already having said too much. James waited patiently for him to continue. "I just, I think our parents, and him being in Slytherin, I think it's getting to him."
"Sirius, there's no way your brother's going to end up like them! He's got you, and Andy. Trust by next year, when Narcissa's gone, you two will be fine." James said for the millionth time.
"But what if he's not! I have you, and Remus, and Peter, and Andy. Reg was too young to know Andromeda before she got disowned." Sirius argued. James for once seemed to be at a loss for words. He opened and closed his mouth, sighed deeply, and stuttered off into silence. Sirius nodded his head knowing that even James couldn't come up with a solution for this.
"Well, if I thought that you were starting to become a blood-obsessed prat, I'd stage an intervention. Tie you to a chair and force you to listen." James suggested.
"It'd probably work, but I'm not your brother." Sirius chuckled.
"Not by blood maybe." James shrugged, turning back to look at Lily. She was curled up in a corner reading a book, while Snape talked avidly with Mulciber.
"You consider me to be your brother?" Sirius said sounding shocked.
"What? Yeah, of course. I mean you've always got my back, I'm never bored with you, and Mum loves you. That's what a brother is, right?" James smirked.
"Well, yeah." Sirius agreed. The words sounded right, but thinking back he couldn't remember a time when he and Regulus ever had that. "I suppose you're like my brother too, mate. Except my mother hates you and you're not in danger of becoming a blood crazed prat." James and Sirius laughed at this. Seeing that his friend was in a better mood he took the opportunity to change the topic back to Lily. He told him about how she was actually laughing at his jokes and didn't seem at all upset with him, even though a few hours prior he got her in detention. He ruffled up his hair and puffed up his chest and put on his best grin. Sirius was both amused and irritated by this. It had become a habit for James the second he won his first quidditch match. Valencia Taylor, a well known sixth year, told him that his hair looks nice when it was windblown. Ever since then he swore off Sleekezy's Hair Potion and was constantly running his hands through his hair especially when there were girls around (particularly Evans.)
"Evans!" he called, beckoning her over. "I think our potion's finished. The porcupine quills and the unicorn horn seemed to have reacted perfectly," he said smartly. Indeed their potion was a perfect shade of turquoise, and thanks to Sirius they finished theirs only a few minutes later than the other teams, though Lily would never give him credit for it.
"It looks good. We'll have to try it, though? Is anyone feeling anxious?" Lily asked eyeing the pair. James and Sirius looked at each other quickly then shook their heads indicating that they were perfectly at ease. "Well, neither am I. Is there anything that makes you guys nervous? Potter, there's a quidditch match coming up."
"Nah, I got kicked off the team."
"That's gotta upset you a little bit." Lily implored.
"Not really. I'll just try out next year." James shrugged. "And before you ask, no I'm not worried about tryouts. Cresswell says I've for sure got a spot on the team."
"Why don't we got rile Snevillus up?" Sirius suggested, only half joking.
"No, you guys, leave him alone!" Lily said sternly, with a threatening look.
"Relax, Evans. It was a joke. Why would we do anything with Slughorn right there?" Sirius answered. "Maybe we should give the potion to you."
"Brilliant, Sirius! Lily, 'member when I pulled your hair in Herbology?" James said.
"Yes." She said shortly. "Guys, this isn't funny. We'll just give it to Slughorn. He'll know if it's good or not."
"'Member when I charmed your bag to chase you around in first year?" Sirius said.
"'Memer when I transfigured Snivelly's desk into a pig?" James added before Lily had a chance to answer.
"And his parchment into rabbits?"
"And when we blew up his head?"
"And when we made him vomit slugs!"
"Oh! When his broomstick tried to buck him off! That wasn't even us!" James and Sirius laughed until they were red in the face. Lily was fuming. She glared at them, with her arms crossed, her chest rapidly rising and falling.
"Evans?" James grinned, placing a hand on her shoulder. She shook him off and turned her back on them.
"She's ready," Sirius laughed. He scooped up the potion with the ladle and filled an empty phial so she could drink it. He tried to hand it the Evans but she tossed her head and turned away from it.
"Come on Evans, it's for the sake of education," James begged, Lily's shoulders slumped but she still didn't take it.
"The faster we brew this potion, the faster we can get out of here, and you won't have to be around us," Sirius said. Lily turned around, eyes blazing, grabbed the phial out of his hand, and drank the contents in one swift gulp. Lily licked her lips, stared at the empty bottle, and glanced back at the pair of them.
"Better?" James asked. She nodded handing the phial back to them.
"That was still mean." She said softly.
"You were doing the same to us." Sirius waved her off. He took out his wand and cleaned up their mess before raising his hand, signalling Slughorn over. Slughorn excitedly waddled over to them. Lily was so relaxed she was starting to doze off, leaning into James's side.
"Oh ho ho! I take it she, tried the potion?" Slughorn grinned, examining Lily.
"Yes, sir. Only a phial's worth." James answered.
"Well, I think it suffices to say that your potion was the more potent, I'll give you some extra credit points. Do you think you can take her to the hospital wing?" Slughorn said after trying and failing to wake Lily up.
"Yes sir, she's not that heavy," James said, pulling one of her arms around his shoulders. Sirius did the same with the opposite side and together they carried her out of the dungeons, James grinning from ear to ear. Instead of taking her to the hospital wing they took her back to Gryffindor tower. They let her sleep on the couch, not leaving her side until she was in the safety of her friend's care.