"Are you sure that we have to do this?" Rose asked hesitantly, as they neared Slughorn's office.

"Are you the one asking me?" Ellie responded. "Yes, of course we do. You told me so yourself," Ellie sighed.

"I just feel bad. This is the third time we've taken something right out from under his nose," Rose explained.

"He'd probably give it to us, if we asked," Ellie reasoned.

"That may be true, but then he'd know what we were doing. I guess we're okay."

They reached the large dungeon door that led directly to the classroom and office.

"Go ahead," Ellie prompted.

Rose knocked on Slughorn's door and it opened to reveal the head of Slytherin house, and the resident Potions Master, Professor Slughorn. He was a little older than middle aged, perhaps, his brown hair beginning to fade and bald, his love for sweets and mead showing. However, his robes and possessions were all brand new and of the highest quality. He had connections, you see, friends in high places, as he liked to say. Anyone who knew Horace Slughorn knew about the Slug Club, how he had an uncanny knack for choosing students who were bound to end up famous, or inventive, or in any other way successful. Or even if their parents had been in the club. He then took these students and gave them privileges, invitations to special luncheons, dinners and even his annual Christmas party and end of term celebrations.

Ellie was a third generation club member, (her grandfather had been one of the founding members and one of Slughorn's all-time favorite students). She probably would've been invited anyway. All of her teachers loved her. The same went for Rose. Both of her parents had been in the club, (that was how her and Ellie had known each other for so long. All of their parents had been in together), but she would have been invited in anyways, her brilliance in potions making her one of Slughorn's star students. His protégée, if you will. He preferred her enormously over the Snape boy, even if he might have been a mite better in class. Just had no personality, that one.

Ellie threw on the invisiblity cloak just as the door was opening, leaving Rose seemingly alone in the hall.

"Yes? how may I help you my dear?" He asked pleasantly.

"Sir, I have a question about the potions essay. Professor McGonagall said you might have time to see me?" She questioned, holding out the essay in question.

"Yes, do come in. I'm supervising a detention right now, terribly dull work. I'm sure you know Sirius Black?"

As they entered into the office, Sirius was sitting in the corner of the room, wearing thick dragon hide gloves and pickling what looked like some kind of ears; they were a bright magenta and sent red pus everywhere. Serving another detention.

"Of course," Rose said smoothly, nodding in greeting to Sirius as she followed Slughorn to his desk at the far end of the room. Sirius grinned and pushed his hair out of his eyes with his elbow.

"Nice and small slices, Mr. Black," Slughorn prompted.

"Yes sir," Sirius replied.

He sat down behind his desk and pulled a box of candy out of one of the drawers.

"Care for a piece of crystalized pineapple? It is absolutely my favorite. The owner of Honeyduke's is a dear friend,"

"No, sir, I'm allergic to pineapple, actually," she replied honestly. There was something like a snort from Sirius in the corner. Slughorn didn't hear it.

"Tragic! Simply tragic! What was it that you wanted to speak to me about?" Slughorn asked, licking his fingers and putting the box away.

"Well," Rose launched into an incredibly long and complicated discussion about something similar to the essay topic, but not actually her thesis. She'd had the paper written for days really, but by asking about several more advanced topics that the textbook had touched upon, and asking complicated questions she already the answers to, she effectively kept Slughorn busy for more than half an hour, giving Ellie more than enough time to break into the store and get back to the locked and out of order girls bathroom on the first floor where they were hiding their potion.

"Thank you so much Professor. I like to have a more thorough understanding of the topics before I write," she thanked when he had finished.

"A good habit to get into, if I do say so myself," he chuckled. "Mr. Black, you're free to go. In the meantime, should you feel it is necessary to use your potions text as kindling once again, please be sure that it is not the school's copy," Slughorn said, dismissing Sirius.

"I'll try to be more careful, Professor," Sirius said, clearly not minding the detention much. He must have had so many that they didn't bother him anymore.

"Thank you again, Professor," Rose replied, exiting with Sirius on her heels.

Once they were out in the hallway, they began to talk.

"Did he really give you a week's detention for accidentally setting that old book on fire?" Rose asked, curious.

"Yeah. He really doesn't like me much. Wanted me in Slytherin, I suspect. Have the whole family set," Sirius replied easily.

"I'm from a double Ravenclaw family myself," Rose responded, thinking of her parents.

There was a pause. Everyone knew that Sirius didn't get along with his family.

"And you're still in? For tonight?" he asked.

"Don't think I could get out of it if I wanted to," she finished as they made their way to the great hall, where the usual feast awaited them.

"See you then, I suppose," Sirius said in farewell.

"Yeah," she replied, her words already being drowned out by the hum of voices in the hall.

She went to sit at the far end of the Gryffindor table with her friends, across from Ellie today, and gave her friend a questioning look. Ellie nodded. Their plan had worked.

Xxx

Meanwhile, Sirius had joined the rest of the marauders to stew and some kind of rice.

James gave him a sly look as he sat down.

"Anything you'd like to tell us?"

"No," Sirius replied, sitting down and serving himself dinner.

"What about you James? Anything you'd like to let the group know?" Sirius asked, raising his eyebrows comically.

"Yeah, actually. Tonight, when we meet the girls, don't say anything about Moony. Or the map. We don't want them to know everything," James prompted.

"No kidding," Sirius rolled his eyes.

"What are we supposed to say about not having a cauldron for Moony?" Peter asked. He had, by fifth year, begun to try and think ahead, to prevent his blunders before he screwed up too badly. It worked. Sometimes, at least.

"Well, you can just tell the truth, and say I don't fancy the idea of burning my guts out for some stupid prank," Lupin replied.

"Come now, Remus. We won't be half as likely to burn our guts out now. We've got the smartest girls in our house on the team," James replied.

"And besides, we're not intending to be pranking anyone with this," Sirius said, seriously.

"Well, I just hope we're making the right decision," Lupin told them all.

"Don't get your knickers in a twist," James replied. "We'll be fine."

But all of them would have been lying if they had said that they weren't just the teeniest bit worried.
XXXXXX

Feel free to review with any thoughts! Thanks for reading, and don't let the muggles get you down!

xxxx

post edit: yeah so i fixed this chapter too. I think i also fixed the spacing issue, so that's a major plus. Thanks for sticking with me!