The Slug Club

Alice awoke and sat up quickly, realizing the ceiling was now light blue and filled with puffy white clouds. She rubbed her eyes and looked around the room; she was the only one awake. She hopped out of her warm bed, which promptly made itself, and collected her robes out of the trunk at the foot of her bed. After changing, she decided to make her hair bronze with blue streaks to support her house, and she grew it to her stomach. Just as her hair was finished, Rose opened her eyes.

"Good morning, Rose. Did you sleep well?" Alice peaked outside the window. The sun was barely out. Must be around six A.M., she thought.

"Very well. How long have you been awake?" Rose questioned while gathering her robes.

"Oh, only a little while. Once you change, shall we go to the Great Hall for breakfast?"

"Sure. I'm ready now. Let's go."

They grabbed their schoolbags and set off. While climbing down the Ravenclaw Tower, they ran into a beautiful, transparent woman.. "Good morning," she welcomed.

"H-hello," Rose answered timidly.

Alice grinned. "Are you the ghost of Helena Ravenclaw?"

"Indeed. I am. I don't mean to be rude, but I do not have time to chat right now. Perhaps another time," she muttered as she began to drift off.

After she turned the corner, Alice and Rose opened the door of the Great Hall.

"That was abrupt," Alice mumbled.

"I completely agree," Rose said sternly as they sat down, and helped themselves to bacon and kippers.

"Which class is first?" Alice snatched her schedule out of her bag. "Oh, good! It's Charms. I heard it's a fun class."

"So did I. I think the Slytherins will be joining us is Charms today," Rose agreed, shuffling through her bag for her schedule. She smoothed it out and searched it's contents. "After that we have Herbology with the Gryffindors! I'm so excited!"

"So am I! I love plants!"

"That's not the only reason. The teacher is a old friend of my dad's. Well, actually he's more of a friend of my Uncle Harry. His name is Neville Longbottom. He was a Gryffindor, though." Both the girls looked around. The Great Hall was getting packed with students.

"I still can't get over the fact that your dad is Ron Weasley, you mum is Hermione Granger, and Harry Potter is your uncle! Both of your parents, and your uncle have faced Voldemort at least once! You're related to one of, if not the most famous wizard of all time!" Alice laughed. "My mum's an alchemist. How exciting," she mentioned sarcastically.

"I don't really know if I'd say my family's that important-"

"Of course it is! Your aunt has faced Voldemort too, hasn't she? I've real all about Harry Potter, and it mentioned his wife is Ginevra Weasley. Your aunt!"

Rose laughed. "Well, when you say it like that it sounds great. I haven't done anything spectacular though."

"I suppose. That's a lot to live up to…"

"Yeah….Which class after Herbology?"

"History of Magic, then a break and lunch."

Rose smoothed out her schedule again. "It looks like a good day so far. Come on, let's get to Charms. We don't want to be late for our first ever class."

The pair collected their things and set off for Charms. Once they reached the corridor containing the classroom, they realized they were too early. Looking around, Alice noticed a pale, blonde boy with a pointed face sitting down on the floor. She sat down beside him, about to introduce herself.

"Hello," she greeted brightly. "I'm Alistasia Laceland, Ravenclaw. You can call me Alice though." She stuck out her hand.

"Hello," the pale boy muttered back. "Scorpius Malfoy, Slytherin." He took her hand and shook it. "Hello," he mumbled once again, directing his greeting to Rose.

"Hi," Rose replied. "I think class is about to start," she said, drawing everyone's attention to the group of students arriving at the corridor. "I'm sure the door's unlocked now. Let's go inside."

"All right," Alice replied, collecting her bag.

They entered the quaint little classroom, eager to begin their very first class of their very first day. A tiny man was standing of a stack of books at the front of the classroom.

"Hello, class," Flitwick squeaked. "I'm Professor Flitwick. You may sit down and take out your wands. The first charm you will be learning is a Hover Charm. Everyone take out their wands and flick your wand like so." He stuck out his wand and performed a certain physical gesture. He repeated it while saying "swish and flick." "Follow along class. Swish and flick!" The entire class followed suit. "Now I want you all to say Wingardium Leviosa while doing the Swish and Flick. You will each find a feather on your desk to practice with. You may begin."

Alice had taken a desk with Rose and Scorpius. After class was over, Rose was the only one who successfully made their feather take to the air.

Herbology went a tad differently. They learned about a plant called Devil's Snare, which was destroyed only by light and warmth.

In History of Magic, they simply listened to a ghost, Professor Binns, explain the first goblin rebellion.

After lunch, they attempted to morph matches into needles. Several of the students, including Alice succeeded in this Transfiguration lesson.

They then rushed to Double Potions for the day. An old, chubby man was waiting for them.

"Hello, class! I am Professor Slughorn. Please take out your cauldrons. Today you will be attempting to make your first potion! It is a cure for boils. I believe it is on page twelve of your textbooks," the large man squeaked.

Alistasia had chose a seat in between Rose, and another Ravenclaw she didn't recognize.

"You may begin the potion without assistance, but if you need help, feel free to ask me for it. Begin!" Professor Slughorn sat down at his desk, looking around as the first years scurried around for ingredients.

Sticking her nose in Magical Draughts and Potions, Alice headed to the cabinet to find ingredients. She was the first one back at her desk, bearing a mysterious liquid, Flobberworm Mucus, dried nettles, snake fangs, porcupine quills, and horned slugs.

She set to work. After brewing the mysterious liquid over a fire for a few minutes, it turned red. Rose and the Ravenclaw boy had returned then.

"Odd ingredients, eh?" Alice asked, stirring up conversation.

She stopped stirring, and began again until it turned green. She poured Flobberworm Mucus in until the potion turned pink. She continue brewing until it turned orange. All went smoothly. At last, she poured the horned slugs inside, and the mixture turned turquoise. Alice continued brewing. Her potion turned pink, the book said to continue brewing until red. Waiting until it was a fierce scarlet, Alice took her cauldron off the flame and raised her hand.

"Professor?" She inquired.

"Yes, dear. What is it?" Professor Slughorn shuffled to her table. "Ah! Is this your potion?" he asked, examining the red potion.

"Yes, sir. I believe it's finished."

Professor Slughorn examined the amalgam. "Yes, yes. Finished indeed. Merlin's beard! This is a picture perfect potion!" he proclaimed, spitting slightly. "Marvelous, marvelous. Yes, indeed. My dear, I usually don't invite students this young, but I have a society here called the Slug Club. We're having a dinner party tonight in my office. Please come, my dear, and feel free to bring someone." Professor Slughorn looked exuberant.

"All right," Alice answered, a tad confused at what just happened.

Professor Slughorn checked his watch. "Oh!" he exclaimed. "Class dismissed."

Alice and Rose collected their things and walked out of class.

"Only one class left," Rose commented. "Flying with the Gryffindors."

The pair walked outside into a courtyard. A lady with spiky grey hair was standing in the middle.

"Ah good," the lady said. "Everyone is here," her voice boomed as Alice and Rose stood beside Albus Potter. "I am Madam Hooch. There should be enough school brooms on the ground for each of you. I want you each to hold your hand above your broom and say 'Up.' Go on!"

All the young students began summoning their brooms.

"Up!" Albus's broom immediately flew into his hand.

"Up. Up!" Alice had successfully summoned hers on the second try.

"Up. Up. Up!" Rose was having trouble with hers. "Up! Up! Up!" She wasn't the only one having trouble. Most of the class still hadn't gotten theirs. Rose was getting very irritated now. "UP! UP! UP! UP-UP-UP-!" The old Nimbus 2001 flew up and nearly hit Rose in the face, but she jumped sideways and dodged it.

Alice couldn't help laughing.

"Oh shut up, Alice," Rose said with a friendly smile.

Alice kept laughing. "Oh, that reminds me. Do you want to come to the Slug Club thing with me tonight?"

Rose looked rather awkward. "I'd rather not. They had the Slug Club back when my parents went to school here, and neither of them thought any good came of it. I'm sure you'll be fine though."

"Oh," Alice said, feeling a little disappointed. "That's okay. I'll ask Albus."

"You'll ask me what?" Albus asked, not taking his eyes off one First Year who had somehow caused his broom to chase him around the courtyard.

"I got invited to go to some Slug Club dinner thing. Do you want to come with me?"

"Actually-Professor Slughorn already invited me probably because of my father. At least someone I know is going."

"All right, class! Most of you have already summoned your broom. Now I want you all to mount the broomsticks, hover in the air for a moment, then come back down" Madam Hooch had finally stopped the broomstick that was chasing the student.

Albus hopped on the broom and went around four feet in the air. Alice and Rose followed suit. They all landed simultaneously. Madam Hooch smiled at them.

"Albus, your father was in the Slug Club, wasn't he?"

"Yes."

"Well what do we wear? School robes?" Alice was puzzled.

"I think it's more of a formal occasion. I'll meet you outside the boy's bathroom on the sixth floor before the dinner party. Slughorn's office is nearby."

As soon as Flying was over, Alice dashed to the girl's dormitory with Rose following closely behind. Alice flung open her trunk and started searching for a dress. At last, she found a sky blue dress lined with white. She threw it on and thought about what to do with her hair. She decided to fix it light blonde and slightly wavy. She slipped her wand in a pocket hidden on the dress and ran down to the common room. She dashed out the door and ran to the sixth floor. She noticed Albus standing outside a door.

"I'm guessing that's the boy's bathroom," she greeted with a smile.

"Oh! Yeah. Your hair's different," he said, puzzled.

"I'm a Metamorphmagus."

"Amazing! Well, let's go, " he suggested, gesturing toward a room down the hall.

The pair walked down the corridor into Horace Slughorn's office. There was a table in the center that looked big enough to seat around ten people. Slughorn was at the head of the table, engaged in conversation with an older boy. He looked rather like Albus.

Albus walked over to him, and Alice followed closely behind.

"James, you're in the Slug Club?" Albus inquired with great interest.

"Well-yeah. From what Slughorn says, it sounds like he just invited us because of our mum and dad." The boy looked at Alice then turned back to Albus. "Got yourself a girlfriend, eh?"

Albus' face turned bright red. "She's just a friend. Alice, this is my brother James. James, this is Alistasia Laceland."

James winked. "Pleasure to meet you."

Alice smiled. "Is everyone in this school but me related to fame?" She chuckled. "I suppose I could make myself look like your sister." Her hair turned raven black, and slightly bushy. Her eyes turned to emerald green and took an almond shape. Her smile thinned slightly.

James looked fascinated. "Are you a Metamorphagus?"

"Indeed," she answered.

"Teddy Lupin is a Metamorphmagus too," Albus chimed in.

"I haven't met him. Is he in Gryffindor?"

"Hufflepuff," James answered, noticing Professor Slughorn walking toward them. "I'd better go. I've talked to Slughorn too many times today," he excused himself while waving and walking away.

Slughorn looked positively gleeful. "Hello, children! Merlin's beard, Albus. I didn't know you had a sister!"

Alice changed her face and hair back to how it was during Potions class that afternoon. "It's me, Professor. I'm a Metamorphmagus."

"Splendid," he beamed. "So tell me, children. What are your ambitions? What do you plan on doing after Hogwarts?"

Alice and Albus stared at each other. "I've considered being an Auror," Albus said quietly.

"As have I. If I'm good enough, I might go into Magizoology," Alice admitted

The rest of the night seemed to drone on with Professor Slughorn continuously talking about the guests' relatives and asking questions about future careers. After the party ended, Albus and Alice headed their separate ways, Albus heading to the Gryffindor common room, and Alice shuffling to Ravenclaw Tower.

In the First Year Girls' dormitory, most of the girls were asleep. Alice was getting drowsy so she quickly changed into pajamas and collapsed on the bed.

***