What happened last time on The Snitch of Secrets:
"What do you mean, Evans?" Potter looked genuinely confused.
"You know what I mean! You've gone and gotten Sev in trouble!" Lily responded stomping over to where he stood.
"He got himself in trouble." Potter responded angrily.
"You provoked him. Whatever he did, you deserved it!" Her eyes were fiery.
"If you say so. But since you weren't there would you mind kindly keeping your nose out of other peoples' business. I do not have to explain myself to you and your voice is getting rather high pitched and incredibly annoying." James was angry himself now.
"You arrogant… You.. You," she began.
"Yeah, I know. I'm an arrogant toe rag. One day you'll come up with a better insult than that. Until then, could you please shut up."
Harry waited for Professor Slughorn to arrive. His parents wouldn't look at each other; both incredibly angry. Harry couldn't possibly see how in such a small amount of time, merely seven years, they would fall in love. It seemed impossible. Some moments later Slughorn arrived with the Slytherin boys following behind him. "In you go!" Slughorn bellowed.
When everyone had sat down, Slughorn got the attention of the class, "many of you will be wondering why I was late this morning. I am very sorry for keeping you waiting. I am sorry to say that the behaviour of some of my house demanded my attention. The Headmaster will undoubtedly explain what has happened to you later. Let me just say, I am very disappointed and very sorry to those who were hurt." Slughorn's eyes fell briefly on James. He smiled sadly before clapping his hands together, "As for today's lesson, let's have some fun… how about you all brew me a boil-cure potion? Chop chop!"
The students quickly got to work. James sat at the back between Remus and Sirius. "I can't believe that jerk. I'm going to get him back for what he did."
"James focus on your potion," Remus said, as he read through the instructions in his text book, before muttering under his breath, "add six snake fangs to the mortar."
James set to work on his potion but paid very little attention to it. Instead he whispered to Sirius, "I want to get him back. I need ideas."
"I don't know… we could just jinx him?" Sirius replied.
"They'd expect that…" James frowned.
"I know… watch this." Sirius pulled out his wand and hid it under the table, pointing it at Snape. Snape's arm began to lift up into the air.
"Do you have a question, Snape?" Slughorn asked.
"Er… no sir." Snape replied.
"Then don't waste my time." Slughorn shook his head.
James and Sirius began sniggering under their breath. "Let me try…" James pulled out his wand and muttered an incantation under his breath. This time Snape began to pick his nose.
Lily's potion was nearly finished, and she wasn't paying much attention to what was happening in the room until Pettigrew's cauldron melted and an awful stench met her nose, "ewww that smells disgusting." She complained. Lily had nearly finished her potion; she stirred it five times before waving her wand over it. Soon it was a beautiful blue colour.
Slughorn was walking around admiring the different potions. "Malfoy, your potion should not be yellow. Wash out that cauldron… Snape, not bad. Not finished but very good regardless… Miss Stine, adequate… Mr Pettigrew, clear up this mess at once and be careful, if you get it on your skin it will erupt in boils. Stupid boy, five points from Gryffindor… Lupin, not bad. Not quite the right shade of blue though. Black, you clearly weren't paying attention, nor you Potter… Miss Evans… well, well, what's this? A perfect potion? I am very impressed. Twenty points to Gryffindor. Well done, Miss Evans. Well done, indeed. You know, Miss Evans, I am having a small party tomorrow night. A chance to get to know some of you new first years. Please, make sure you pop along, won't you?"
Slughorn walked back to his desk, observing some of the different potions on his way. "I think we'll have a break from all the homework. I'm sure my colleges are piling it up on you. Off you go and enjoy your weekend." Slughorn chuckled.
Dumbledore looked at the students left in his office. His face was gentle but his eyes were stern. They no longer sparkled with excitement. "I never thought I would see prefects in my office for discipline. Both myself and your teachers, entrust you with the wellbeing of the students of this school. Sadly you have broken that trust. I must insist that you all step down from your role as prefects." He looked at them, he was tired, "I made it perfectly clear at the sorting feast that I would not allow this sort of behaviour. We have the standards of Hogwarts to uphold. Malfoy, you will have detention with Professor McGonagall three nights a week until Christmas. You will also lose all privileges; that means no Hogsmeade, you will resign from the Slytherin Quidditch team, you will go to meals, lessons, and the Slytherin quarters. You will not dawdle or loiter, you will not go out into the grounds except where your lesson demands it. This is until further notice. Do you understand?"
"Yes sir." Lucius Malfoy replied.
"You also lose fifty points. Now get out of my sight, Mr Malfoy before I think up a worse punishment."
Malfoy rushed out of the room. Dumbledore didn't speak again until he couldn't hear Malfoy on the stairs. "Narcissa," his voice was softer now.
"Yes sir?" she looked terrified.
"You foolish girl. I thought you were wiser than your elder sister." Bellatrix laughed shortly, "Silence Bellatrix!" He waited until he could only hear the sound of breathing. "Narcissa, you will have detention three times a week until Christmas likewise. However, you will complete it with Hagrid in the forbidden forest. You will assist him with the maintenance of the grounds and you will help look after the different creatures we have living in them. You will not leave the castle, except where your lessons demand it and to complete your detentions. Your privileges are hence forth withheld; no Hogsmeade. Yet again, I must say I thought you would make a fantastic prefect. I was sadly mistaken. Fifty points from Slytherin. Off you go."
Narcissa left, briefly looking back at her sister. "Bellatrix, I wish I could say that I am surprised by your behaviour. But, alas, I know where your allegiances lie and they are not to this school." He shook his head, "You should be expelled and handed over to Mr Potter to be taken to Azkaban. Your crime warrants it."
He looked at the black haired girl before him. She showed no remorse. "For the first time in my life I don't know what to do with a student. Miss Black, I will give you a second chance. Not because you deserve it. No you certainly do not. Not because you show remorse because I haven't seen any. But because I believe that grace and love can change even the bitterest and coldest of hearts. You will have detention four nights a week with me. You will eat your meals in the Slytherin common room. You will not leave the castle except where your lessons demand it. You will sit alone in class and will not speak to anyone. You will be swift getting to and from class and you will not dawdle in the corridors. You lose all privileges and one hundred points from your house. We will re-evaluate the situation in time. I have never been so disgusted by a pupil at this school. Actually that is not true, there is one who has repulsed me more than you. I believe you call him your lord. You are excused, get out."
Bellatrix left the office leaving Dumbledore alone with Mr Potter. "Was I too soft, Charlus?"
"No, not at all. And not too hard either." Charlus encouraged.
"Ah. What a disappointment." Albus Dumbledore looked incredibly sad.
So what do you think? Please review...
Next chapter...
The Potters leave,
James' last day before the weekend...
Slughorn's party...