𝕿𝖗𝖊𝖒𝖔𝖗 - ʳᵉᵍᵘˡᵘˢ ᵇˡᵃᶜᵏ

Chapter 9: Slug (Swot) Club

[ October 20th, 1977 ]

"YOU REALLY are terrible at this," Sybill groaned, laying her chin flat against the table.

     "I'm a slow learner, alright?" Theona pouted, as she continued to knock on the crystal ball, waiting for an image to appear. "Besides, it's not my fault you can't read my future."

     Sybill glared through her cat-eye glasses, "you aren't opening your mind. I know occlumency when I see it, Bell."

     "What does it matter if I block off some memories? You're supposed to tell me something that hasn't happened yet, not something that has," Theona grumbled, matching her friend's distress.

     Sybill had been attempting—key word—to give Theona a crystal ball reading for four hours by that point. Theona had even ditched Potions just to meet up in the library directly after lunch. All attempts at prophesying had been fruitless, however, and dinner was starting in less than thirty minutes, after which Theona would be busy commentating her first ever quidditch match.

     "If you did your proper research, you'd know I have to have full access to my subject's mind in order to get a true picture of their future. My subconscious needs to be aware of their decision making habits and such," Sybill rambled, "it's not like I actually get—or want—to see your memories, Theo."

     "I'm tired, we should just call it a day," Theona muttered, covering her eyes with her hands exasperatedly.

     "Don't be like tha-" Sybill let out a small squeak, "Professor Slughorn's going to invite you to the Slug Club."

     Theona gasped, removing her hands from her face, "did you just read my future?"

     "No, he's coming this way," Sybill gestured over Theona's shoulder. "He's been handing out invitations to his Halloween party all day."

    Theona turned in her seat just as Slughorn arrived behind her, a jolly smile on his face.

     "Miss Bell, m'dear, how've you been?" he asked kindly, "I didn't see you in my class this afternoon?"

     "I was feeling under the weather," she lied, "girl things."

     His eyes widened a tad, "ah, yes, that'll do it. I was worried the, eh... situation with Mr. Black had worsened?"

     "No, no," she waved him off, "Regulus has been perfectly tolerable."

     "Glad to hear it. Glad to hear it, indeed," Slughorn chuckled. "Where was I? Oh," he held up a single finger, while his other hand dug around in his pocket. After a few seconds of awkward silence, he pulled out a small gold envelope. "Aha! Here it is, m'dear. For you, of course, an invitation to a dinner party I'm hosting Halloween night."

     She gently took it from his hands, inquiring, "I was under the impression the Halloween feast was a school wide event?"

    "Well, yes, yes it is. But I host a more... exclusive party, myself. Only for the most promising students, and my favourites," he winked, "you, of course, have managed your way into both categories."

    Against her will, she flushed and looked down at the letter, brushing her thumb over the green wax seal.

     "Thank you, Professor," she murmured.