Unexpected | Bill Weasley

~33~ Slughorn

After a while, Hermione and Ron came back from Prefect duty.

"I wish the lunch trolley would show up. I'm starving." said Ron. "Hi Neville, hi Luna.."

He turned to Harry and I. "Guess what? Malfoy's not doing prefect duty, he's just sitting in his compartment with the other Slytherin's, we saw him when we passed."

Harry sat up straight, and I thought this was interesting too.

"What did he do when he saw you?" asked Harry.

"The usual." said Ron, pointing the middle finger.

"Ron." I said warningly.

"What? You do it all the time!" 

I flushed as Harry snickered. "I'm an adult, besides, at Hogwarts I'm your Professor. Don't do it in front of me."

"I wonder what he's doing." Harry said, ignoring me and Ron bickering.

"I could go check if you'd like. I want to know why he's not doing his job anyway." I said.

Harry nodded. I left the compartment and managed to find them quickly. Draco was laying down with his head on Pansy Parkinson's lap. Crabbe was reading a comic book and Goyle and Blaise Zabini were talking with Draco and Parkinson. I opened the sliding door. "Hello Draco."

Draco sat up smiling. "Hi Aunt Fawn, come join us."

Parkinson didn't look pleased as Draco forced her to move to make some space for me.

I sat down and said hello to everyone.

"Hello Professor." Crabbe, Parkinson and Goyle muttered.

Blaise looked much happier to see me than the other three. "Hi Professor Black. Had a good summer?"

I nodded. "Very nice, and yourself?"

"It was alright."

"Why aren't you doing prefect duty Draco?" I asked, turning to Draco. "I saw the others doing their job."

Draco shrugged. "I forgot."

I knew he was lying but I didn't have the chance to say anything. The sliding door opened and a small third year Ravenclaw came in.

"Hi, I'm to give these to Professor Black and Blaise Zabini?" she said, holding out two scrolls of parchment.

I smiled and took mine. "Thank you Miss. Rose."

Blaise took his. "Thanks."

"What is it?" asked Draco.

I opened mine and read.

Fawn,
I would be delighted if you would join me for a bite of lunch in compartment C.

Sincerely,

Professor H. E. F. Slughorn.

"Invitation to have lunch with a new Professor." I said.

"You too?" Crabbe asked Blaise.

Blaise nodded. "Yeah, what's he going to teach?"

I shrugged. "I suppose Defence, that's the only spot open isn't it?"

Blaise and I walked out of the compartment and made our way to Slughorn. 

I opened the sliding door. "Hello Professor." I said smiling.

Slughorn was a large man and took up most of the space.

"Fawn Black! It's a pleasure to meet you!" he said, shaking my hand.