In The Life of Skye Black
Chapter Ten
Author's Note: After much delay, I assure you that I am indeed alive. I considered cutting this story since my outline and the original chapter ten were both lost on my old flashdrive, but I had a brilliant idea last night that takes place at least five chapters after this. So I couldn't cut it.
I put the website up: xslytherclawx.webs. com/ itloSB. Htm
(take out the spaces)
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Katie and George abandoned us on the train almost immediately. Lee looked at Fred and I, one eyebrow arched.
"Have they been like this all summer?"
"Unfortunately," Fred groaned.
After a few games of Exploding Snap, there was a knock on the compartment door.
"Enter if you dare," Lee yelled.
A first-year, obviously frightened, looked in the compartment. "Er… I was supposed to give this to Skylar Black?" He was holding a scroll of parchment tied with violet ribbon.
Fred and Lee snickered. I'd have to hurt them later.
I took the scroll. "Thanks."
The boy left as quickly as he could.
"Ooh, open it! Maybe it's from your boyfriend!"
That reminded me, I'd have to talk with Josh later.
"Grow up," I muttered, rolling my eyes and unrolling it. I read aloud: "Skylar, I would be delighted if you'd join me for a bite of lunch in compartment C. Sincerely, Professor H. E. F. Slughorn."
Fred and Lee burst out laughing.
"Like you'd go!" Lee gasped.
Fred grinned and added, "He called you Skylar?"
"I'm going."
Their laughter stopped.
"What? But you can't leave me with him! And George and Katie are off doing Merlin knows what, and I'll get bored and lonesome!" Fred put on a puppy-dog face.
I stifled laughter. "Let me try some of your logic, hmm? Free. Food."
"Well… you do have a point. Bring us back some?"
Lee nodded in agreement.
"…If I can, why the bloody hell not."
Fred and Lee grinned and I left.
Slughorn… hadn't Dad mentioned he was the Potions teacher back in his years at Hogwarts? I wondered if Snape had finally gotten the Defense Against the Dark Arts job.
I sure as hell hoped not. But then again, I might actually have a fair Potions teacher.
When I reached the compartment, I found an extremely fat man chatting with several frightened looking students.
"Ah! Miss Black! I'm glad you could make it!"
I scanned the compartment. A boy I knew from Quidditch tryouts, McLaggen; Zabini, a filthy rich Slytherin; Regina; Ginny; and Martin.
Regina and Zabini rolled their eyes.
"Skye!" Ginny grinned. The poor girl was smushed next to Slughorn, who was incredibly fat.
"Ginny!"
"Hey, Skye," Martin said. He looked extremely uncomfortable.
"Hi."
McLaggen's face lit up in recognition. "You're dating Josh!"
Regina flinched.
"Uh, yes?"
There was a knock at the compartment door, and two others came in. One was a boy who looked very nervous, and a girl who had curly brown hair and bright, somewhat obnoxious, makeup.
"Helene!" McLaggen grinned.
Thus far, as far as I could figure, everyone was related to someone famous or influential… except Ginny.
"Pheasant?"
Ginny laughed, probably at the face I knew I automatically pulled. "Uhm, no thanks, I don't eat meat."
"No matter. I taught your parents, how are they?"
Regina sighed, annoyed.
"Dad's, uhm, as insane as ever, and Mum's still trying to stay sane. As far as work goes, fairly busy, obviously with what's been going on." Both of my parents were Aurors.
"And Miss Montague? How is your mother? Excellent at Potions, she was."
"Actually, I haven't seen much of her as of late," Regina muttered. "But fairly well, I suppose."
"Miss Aubrey, what of your parents?"
"Well, Dad's been busy, what with all of the attacks, thus injuries. Mum's just booked Alan Rickman, a Muggle actor, for a musical."
Martin laughed. "Sorry, but Alan Rickman? He's kind of creepy looking, don't you agree?"
Helene grinned. "Oh, yeah, but he's well known and an amazing actor."
"Uhm, hi?"
Matt was in the doorway.
"Mr. Rush!"
Now, seriously, the only two missing were Harry and Neville.
"I taught both of your parents. Your father was a right ace at Potions… unfortunately I can't say the same for your mother. I think there were few that blew up more potions than she did."
Matt laughed and sat down next to me. "She's not too much better now."
Of course, Harry and Neville came in not long after, both of them very uncomfortable.
As I knew before, Slughorn was really interested in status and connections. As if that wasn't obvious.
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"Food?"
Seriously?
"No. And, actually…"
Matt entered the compartment.
"I invited Matt to sit with us."
Of course, Lee simply raised an eyebrow.
XxX
Author's Note: This may very well be the shortest chapter I've written. But, it's just under 800 words, so not terribly short. Anyway, I apologize again for the extreme delay. The next chapter will be during the feast (I think). And, I was planning out this lovely one shot, and realized that I couldn't post it until after this. Meh.
As always, review. This makes me happy, and if I'm happy, I might spare a few characters.