One of the perks of being in the Slug Club were the dinners at least twice a month. Or so called perks at least.
What the dinners really entailed was sitting and listening to Slughorn dote on each of the students in turn. Rose didn't so much mind, but she knew that Ellie could hardly sit still for that long.
Remember, she would tell herself, this opens up opportunities. She would much rather be back up in Gryffindor tower, lounging with a good book and talking to Ellie. Or Sirius. Or all of her friends.
Instead, she was graced by the company of none other than Oliver Tray.
Dear old Oliver.
She bit back a snarl. Short black hair, raven, an artist would call it. Sparky green eyes. A Ravenclaw through and through. Their year, even. And for some reason always trying to out-do her. He was, in fact, what one might call an arch rival. Forget Severus Snape who was only extraordinary in potions, and had a little too much knowledge of the dark arts. Oliver Tray was miraculous in every class and was popular as well. He was in the corner now, talking to his friends and throwing charmed glances in her direction.
She stiffened. Ellie, sitting beside her and talking to another Gryffindor noticed. She looked behind her at Oliver, and gave a pitying glance.
Professor Slughorn called for attention and announced dinner. They all moved to sit down at the large table to eat. Rose sat down, on her left, Ellie, and next to Ellie, James. Sirius was too criminal to be invited to such events. Rose cringed as Oliver sat down on her right.
"Evening," he said cooly, his bright smile too false for her liking.
"Evening," was her icy reply.
"Lovely dinner," he commented.
"If you like that sort of thing," she responded dully, trying to stop him bothering her.
"Oh, I do." He replied, serving himself with a grin.
"I can see that," she said, watching the look in his eye that said that he thought he knew everything about her.
"...also wanted to announce this year's official Halloween Party. Invitations will be distributed over the course of this week," Slughorn announced, taking a break from eating his steak to break the news.
Ellie glanced at James, wondering if he would ask her to go.
"What will the theme be this year, Sir?" Asked Oliver, just as Rose was opening her mouth to ask the same question. She closed it abruptly and tried not to glare.
"Good question Oliver! Professor Dumbledore has actually given me the idea for the theme himself, I was just speaking to him over dinner yesterday," Slughorn emphasized even this connection. "The theme of this year's Halloween Party will be 'Masquerade'. Isn't that absolutely classic?" There were several enthusiastic responses from everyone around the table. Ellie and Rose were grinning, already planning their outfits. Rose decided that she would have to bring Sirius as her date, or there wasn't much chance that he would be allowed to go.
She then realized that her little brother, Nolan, didn't have any dress robes. She turned to where he usually sat, but was surprised to find the tall chair empty.
"Hey, Ellie, did you see where Nate went off to?" She asked, not quite worried but still just a bit concerned. He had been coming to these meetings since first year, because of the family, but was receiving extra attention lately because of his star performance as the seeker of the Gryffindor quiddich team. People said that even though he was only a third year, he was the best seeker since Kendrick Creevy, who had gone on to play for the Chudley Cannons after graduation.
Ellie looked around for Nate.
"Nope. But Loo's gone too," Ellie said, calling her sister by her pet name. She too was a quiddich player for the house team, although she was a chaser, like James.
"I wonder where they went," Rose questioned, rising to leave. Anyway, she'd finished eating and they had to get back at a decent time to try and practice charms for homework.
"Oh, you don't know?" Oliver quipped in mock surprise, interrupting their conversation.
"Know what?" Ellie asked, confused.
"Oh, just your siblings," he shrugged, turning away, as if to talk to his friends.
"Tell me what you know about my brother," Rose said, tone frighteningly quiet and even, trying her hardest to try not to take out her wand and hex him on the spot.
"Easy, dear," he cooed, smiling.
"No, she's right. You might want to start telling us already. She's liable to start hexing people when they delay giving her information," Ellie supported.
He didn't skip a stride.
"Well, I just assumed that you already knew," he smirked. "I mean, I only walk into them snogging five times a day."
"What do you mean, snogging?" Ellie asked, surprised.
"And a bit more than that, if you know what I mean," he raised an eyebrow and did his best to look mischievous.
Now it was Ellie who looked like she was going to start cursing things. Rose noticed her cue.
"Well, thank you for enlightening us, Oliver," she spat, speaking his name like she was spitting out bubotuber pus. She turned to their host.
"Professor Slughorn, Dinner was lovely. Thank you so much for inviting us, Sir. I hate to leave so early, but we've just got to get to the library before it closes," Rose said, gesturing for Ellie to gather her things faster.
"Of course ladies! Thank you for attending! Have a lovely weekend," he said, dismissing them.
"And you, Sir," Rose chorused, halfway out the door with Ellie just on her heels. Oliver raised his hand in mock salute and smirked some more. She resisted the urge to stick out her tongue, and she saw James give him a wary glance, as if wondering if he would have to deal with him for the rest of the evening.
Out in the corridor, Ellie regained her voice.
"Do you think-"
"Yes, it is, unfortunately very probable that he was telling the truth. The times that they've been sneaking out all fit. So does the fact that they always get back from quiddich practice twenty minutes later than James. Although, I must admit, I doubt that they would do anything more than kiss," she stated.
"I can't believe we didn't see this sooner," Ellie said. "I'm a bit cross that she hasn't said anything."
"Mmh hmm," Rose agreed, not really paying attention to that. She was smiling.
"What? What do you think then, Missy?"
"Me? Well, not to argue with you, but I'm just impressed that he's managed to actually get a girl to like him," Rose said, being brutally honest.
Ellie couldn't help but break her angry mood.
"Well, I'm just surprised is all, I suppose. Lynn hasn't even looked at a boy before," she laughed.
"Not what I've heard," Rose said, smiling slyly.
"What? Really?" Ellie asked.
"We happen to be good friends too you know," Rose replied indignantly.
"And?"
"She's had several dozen crushes, as far as I know," Rose dismissed.
"Really?!" Ellie asked, a little shocked.
"Yeah," Rose raised her eyebrows.
They walked a little ways farther back to Gryffindor tower in silence.
"You know what?" Ellie asked as they were climbing up the moving staircases.
"What?" Rose asked.
"I'm not even mad. I'm rather pleased for her, actually," Ellie grinned.
"Well, what do you want to do now? We're probably going to walk into Gryffindor tower to them together, you know," Rose warned.
"Well, let's just go for a stroll then," Ellie said, not wanting to make a scene.
"You go ahead. I've got other plans," Rose replied, as Ellie turned towards the library.
"Okay. I'll see you later," Ellie compromised.
Rose made her way back to Gryffindor tower alone, and opened the portrait hole to find a full common room full of students studying and playing gobstones and wizard's chess, including Peter and Remus with Sirius watching. Remus had come back the previous day looking tired and still a bit sick. He looked much better today though. She nodded in greeting and sat down next to Sirius.
"Were you going to tell me?" She asked, gesturing to her brother and best friend's sister who were siting together in the corner of the room.
"He asked me not to," Sirius admitted.
"Well, it's about time you chose a side," she said, as the couple they were watching leaned in towards each other. She took her wand out of her back pocket and gestured for him to do the same.
"Wingardium Leviosa," she whispered. Together, with the help of Sirius, the pair who were about to kiss were lifted into the air. Lynn started giggling, but Nate didn't see the humor. They dropped to the ground.
"Ha-ha William. So funn-"
He stopped dead when he saw who was behind it.
"Not William. Guess again," Rose smirked.
"I-"
"Save it for mom and dad. I don't want to hear it."
"No, Roo, listen-"
"All I want to know is why you didn't tell me sooner," she replied, as he stood up to talk to her, Lynn looking a little nervous at his side.
"Well just because I wasn't advertising-"
"I don't care. Next time, tell me. Or better yet, don't let there be a next time," she broke her tough routine and smiled.
"Congratulations on your biggest mistake so far, Lynn. Try not to break his heart before the opening match against Slytherin," she grinned and went back to try her hand at chess, leaving the pair of them.
"Well, I guess that counts as a blessing," Lynn said. Nate grinned.
"I suppose it does."
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As you might have guessed, we really do hate Oliver. (Thanks for the name, friend). I actually love the name oliver a lot. Thanks for reading/reviewing! Don't let the muggles get you down!
post edit: so this is really a great opportunity to apologize how awful this piece is and to take a moment to thank heavens that i have drastically improved my writing skills since then. Thanks for still reading and reviewing despite the fact that this is a huge mess.