𝐀 𝐦𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐫𝐞𝐚𝐬𝐨𝐧𝐬 [Draco×OC]

30: SlugClub Dinner

Ángeles' POV

The invited students to Professor Slughorn's dinner were more than I expected. There were students from all houses and all ages. I wondered if we were the only new ones there; I mean, with older students present, maybe they always came? How often did Professor Slughorn hold these types of events? Voldemort had been among them before... What happened?

The atmosphere in the room was warm, comfortable, almost homely, I would say. Floating candles adorned the professor's office, which had a large table in the middle, set with fine china and steaming food. I must admit I felt watched, but not in the way I would have liked: all the students noticed I had a different accent, so they would soon realize I wasn't from Europe like them, which made me feel somewhat uncomfortable; not because of my origins, but because Professor Slughorn could be a bit... annoying on the subject.

On my left was Professor Horace Slughorn himself, and on my right, Blaise, thank goodness. Blaise and I weren't great friends as we were with Theo; rather, Blaise and I weren't even friends, but knowing I had someone from Slytherin next to me calmed me down considerably, especially considering who I had in front of me: Harry Potter, Hermione Granger, and a Gryffindor boy who kept grinning at me like an idiot. I think those three were the only ones from Gryffindor there, if I wasn't mistaken. Still, I wasn't surprised; after all, the smart ones here were from Ravenclaw.

"Miss Rasmüssen," Slughorn said, holding a glass in his hand, "I can't believe you didn't bring any herbs from the Amazon with you. Do you know how useful that would be?"

"I'm sorry, Professor," I replied with a false modesty, but modesty nonetheless, "but the Amazon rainforest can be very dangerous... Besides, the areas around the school are well protected by the caipora, and I wouldn't risk wandering around there without their permission, let alone take their plants."

"Caipora?" he said with surprise and interest. "What is that?"

"They are the magical creatures that guard the school, Professor. Still, the problem in the jungle isn't them... The real problem is the mosquitoes."

Everyone laughed at my comment, except for Harry and Hermione, of course. In any case, the only one who caught my attention was the Gryffindor boy, who wouldn't stop laughing at a comment that hadn't even been that funny. What was he doing?

"Cormac, stop," Hermione said. "It wasn't even that funny."

Cormac, huh?

"Of course it was, Hermione," he said, still looking at me. "Ángeles is very funny."

"No, she's right, Cormac," I said, looking at Hermione. "If anyone knows about humor at this table, it's her, don't you think, Granger?"

Hermione didn't bother me enough for me to insult her in front of everyone, but she bothered me just enough for me to be clear that she shouldn't mess with me because I wouldn't mess with her. Our first interaction hadn't been bad, but I understood there were things about me that she might not like, for example, being from Slytherin, or being with Draco, perhaps. I knew Draco wasn't very friendly with people like her, and while I didn't share that at all, it was logical for her to think that I thought the same way. Although I admit that being logical didn't make it less annoying. She was judging me without even knowing me, and that was something I wouldn't tolerate.

Dinner went on without major incidents. Professor Slughorn continued talking with the students and making a joke here and there to lighten the tension, which, along with his cheerful and friendly personality, was quite pleasant. I had stopped paying attention to the trivial conversation when the professor made a suggestion about dark magic.