The Slug Club

“Someone who is really smart and clever.”

“That either sounds like a confession or you knowing who did it.”  

“Wasn’t me, Professor, I promise.”

“No you’ve just been dancing as if you drank it before it got whisked away.” 

“So, theoretically, I could study for two subjects at once?”

“Potion ingredients overlap with quite a few classes but as far as what you’ll be tested on, it pays to go over both.” 

“Erm.. Band practice, Professor. Gotta be bloody brilliant for that Spring ball, right?”

“Yes I heard you were playing.  I assume this isn’t going to interfere with your class work.” 

Immy stopped in her track and sighed. She didn’t mind getting in trouble, honestly. But she hated when her tendencies costed her House points. Regardless, she was much too irritated at this point to care about any other retribution. Without thinking much about it, the girl turned around, lifting her middle finger up at the professor. She figured she was already in trouble, so why not?

“Yes you will.  Tonight promptly after dinner.”  He said quickly.  He didn’t think she’d decide to talk back more than she already had.  “This behavior is unacceptable and I will keep adding days to your detention if you continue with your little rebellion.” 

“You weren’t sick in there were you?”

Well, that’s what I’m struggling with majorly, Professor.”

“I have a few books you could flip through.  Potions texts are very explicit as to what a plant will do and how it will react to other elements.  It’s a slightly different point of view.” 

“Thanks very much, Professor. I’m already scrambling in Herbology as it is.” 

“I’ve heard of a couple other students struggling as well. If you ever need a different viewpoint on the plants look at how they apply to potions.  Always helped me remember.” 

Minerva was at war with herself. A large part of her wanted to ignore the outer world, and pretend that Hogwarts was the safest of havens. But she knew too well the things that went on in this castle. Here, a boy had tortured one of her students. Here, there were students with He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named’s mark upon their arm, just out of sight. Here, was the place that Horace had given Tom Riddle the knowledge that had elevated him from a disturbed student to a nearly unstoppable wizard. 

“I think everyone hopes that.”  Horice said with a small shrug to his shoulders.  Everyone hoped that the fight didn’t come to their backyard but Voldemort always seemed to make fears come to life.  

Immy took a deep breath before looking up at Slughorn once again. Her lips curved up into a fake smile, “Oh, I’m oh so sorry, Professor. I’ll definitely be on my way back to class now,” Her tone was sarcastic and she turned on her heel, walking down the corridor that obviously wasn’t where Herbology class was being held. She was in no mood to even be thinking about class.

Slughorn paused as she took a few steps  away from him.  “Five points from Gryffindor Miss Perkins.  Don’t make me add detention onto that.”  Something was obviously troubling the girl but he couldn’t just allow her to disrespect her professors.  

I uh, had to use the loo…

“Did you bother getting a pass?”

“You know anything about Herbology?”

“I don’t have a green thumb but I do know the theory behind most plants.  I like to know what I’m putting into my cauldron.”  

“Herbology isn’t really something I’m interested in this morning, Professor,” Immy said, brown eyes peering up at Slughorn as she gave her shoulders a soft shrug.”

“You can’t just skip herbology because you aren’t interested in it.”  His tone was no nonsense as if waiting for another answer from her.  

She knew she shouldn’t have bought the carton. But here they were, both smoking in their cocoon of silence. She decided not to answer his question at all, as she knew it was just a reciprocation of her earlier words. She wanted to explain that this was different, that she kept her vices private and that there was no way any of her students would ever see her like she was now, cigarette in hand. 

Horice sighed at the question and took a long drag on his cigarette.  He breathed the smoke into his lungs and held it there for a couple seconds before breathing it out in a slow steady stream.  This was a question that everyone seemed to focus on.  It guided lesson plans and forced professors to look at students differently.  

“If you wouldn’t mind, that would make things significantly easier.”

“Come on then, I keep my passes in my office.”