Only the Good Die Young

Part 3: Sixth Year: August Slipped Away

"Get up you bitch," Marlene said as she rolled Iris out of bed, causing the still asleep girl to fall to the ground.

Iris stirred awake as her face met the hard wood flooring of her dorm. "What time is it?" Iris slurred as she woke up from her deep and much needed sleep.

"It's five minutes until classes start." Marlene rolled her eyes as she picked up her books from her desk.

"What? Why didn't you wake me up Marls?" Iris asked annoyed, rubbing the sleep from her eyes, before running around the dorm looking for her robes, "It's the first day of classes for Godric's sake!"

"That's what you get for being drunk without me!" Marlene said shortly before turning and walking out of the dorm briskly. 

"Shit." Iris muttered under her breath, buttoning her shirt halfway before pulling her skirt on, and tying her hair up with her wand. 

Walking to grab her books and leave, Iris suddenly remembered her tie. "Fuck, fuck, fuck."

Of course, her first classes that morning were with Slughorn, and he had taken a prominent disliking to her since the first day of first year. 

Iris grabbed her tie, holding it between her teeth, before taking her books and stumbling out the door.  

Iris ran down the halls, making sure to walk past the open classroom doors and speed up as soon as she was sure no one would see her. Iris wasn't careful enough though, as she turned to look behind her, she could see Filch scurrying towards her and calling out her name.

"Potter! You get back here right now!" Filch screeched as he kept following Iris down the corridor.

Fuck Fuck Fuck, Iris thought as she sped up and flat out sprinted towards Slughorn's classroom. 

Just as Filch was gaining on Iris, she burst through Slughorn's doors, not really thinking about what would happen but just wanting to get away from greasy, grimy Filch.

Just about everyone she knew, and everyone she wished she didn't know, was gaping, eyes wide, staring at her in curiosity. 

She soon realized the situation she was in, tie in her mouth, shirt halfway done, and her smokers lungs taking over as she wheezed, trying yet again to simply breathe.

The two marauders in that class were, of course, James and Sirius. They were both crying in laughter. 

Iris forced herself to look away, bending over, hands on her knees, trying to get air into her lungs. It wasn't working. She wheezed like a grandpa. 

Slughorn turned to her, "Miss Pott-"

"Give me a second old man," Iris said, holding a finger up and slowly regaining her breath. 

She heard a burst of laughter which she recognized without having to look up as Sirius's and he laughed through tears saying, "Who's the old man in this situation?" 

"Shut up." Iris said, still breathing heavily, but it wasn't as bad as before. She turned to Filch who had slammed into her back harshly, and Iris groaned, "I can't do this right now."

Filch started to speak back but Slughorn said, "Leave it Argus, I've got it from here."

"But-" Filch started. Slughorn only looked at him sternly. Filch turned and left hesitantly, mumbling something about "immature children" under his breath.

"Find your seat please Miss Potter. We will talk about your punishment later." Slughorn said disappointedly as he runs a hand over his face. 

Iris walked slowly to her seat, breathing heavily.