Nothing But You // N. Longbottom

Ten: Slughorn's Slug Club

"I forgot how much I love going to Hogsmeade." Norvina spoke softly, feeling bits of snow fall onto her nose. Her arms were intertwined with Neville's as they walked through the quaint little village.

She looked around Hogsmeade, seeing people going in and out of the pubs and shacks. It was almost that special time of year again. Norvina grinned, looking up at Neville who had been watching the girl the entire time.

"Me too. I haven't been in a while and now I have the best date." Norvina gripped her hand a bit tighter and pulled Norvina closer under his arm. She looked up to him and saw the smile spread across his face, making her nearly swoon. Even though they'd been together for a while, she still got butterflies every time she saw him smile.

"You're too sweet." Norvina said, waiting for him to smile again, and he did. Feeling like she had won the lottery, the two spotted the Three Broomsticks. At the same time, Neville and Norvina looked at each other.

"How about a butterbeer?"

X

Neville and Norvina walked together, hand in hand, as they made their way to Slughorn's dinner party. The pair had been exclusively invited after their first class, Slughorn praised their efforts and invited them for a dinner party of the century, as he'd called it.

"So tell me Cormac, do you see anything of your uncle, Tiberius, these days?" Slughorn asked, going around the table and asking about everyone's family and past. He was obviously trying to get to know everyone.

"Yes, sir," the boy smiled, "in fact I'm meant to go hunting with him and the Minister from Attica for the holidays." Cormac smiled, seeming to glance at Norvina a bit too much for her liking. She shifted uncomfortably under his gaze.

"Oh! Well, be sure to give them both my best." Slughorn spoke, blissfully unaware of the encounter. 

"What about your uncle, Belby?" Slughorn asked, pausing to explain, "For those of you who don't know, Marcos' uncle invented the Wolfsbane potion. Is he working on anything new?"

"I don't know, my dad and I don't get on," Belby pauses for a moment, shoving ice cream down his throat, "Probably because his potions are rubbish. His only potion worth of him is a stiff one at the end of the day." Everyone watched as the boy had nearly finished his ice cream.

"What about you, Miss Granger? What exactly does your family do in the muggle world?" Slughorn asked her and everyone turned to look at her. Hermione laughed awkwardly and decided to share.

"My parents are dentists," Hermione smiled, but everyone looked confused, "They attend to people's teeth."

"Fascinating. Is that considered a dangerous profession?" Slughorn asked, making Norvina chuckle a little.

"No," Hermione smiled, "although one boy, Robbie Fenwick, did bite my father once. He needed 10 stitches." The table erupted with 'ah' and 'oh's.

"And you, Miss Evergreen. Your father is a successful Auror and your mother was too, correct?"

"Yes," Norvina smiled, "my father works very hard for the security of the Ministry."

"Yes, and he does an outstanding job as I'm told. Your mother was quite gifted in the protection of others, such a kind soul she was." Slughorn was trying to be kind, but it made Norvina a bit uncomfortable. Neville took notice of this. Even though it made her happy to know her mother was a wonderful Auror, it pained her to know that she is the very reason the woman is no longer alive.

"Thank you." Norvina spoke, looking back at her half-finished ice cream. Neville looked over at her worriedly, but a thought come to mind. Maybe he could distract her?