In The Shadows² ★ Draco Malfoy

*Slug Club

The end of summer was always bittersweet when you go to Hogwarts school, but as Briar watched King's Cross station roll away into the distance for the 5th time, she had a sudden overwhelming sense of fear. 

She felt safe whenever she was with the rest of the Order, or her dad, and she knew Hogwarts was going to have aurors patrolling now, but Death Eaters had gotten in here under their noses before, and they could do it again.

Even while Henry, Dean, and Seamus asked her and Ginny millions of questions about what happened at the Ministry, Briar couldn't get this feeling off her mind. But whenever Slytherins walked past their compartment they would glare at her, and it did make Briar feel better

The compartment door slid opened and they were all confused to see a small fourth year boy standing there, glancing around nervously

"I was told to give these to Ginny Weasley and Briar Lupin," he said and handed over two rolls of parchment, one to each of them, before he scurried off

Briar,

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

Professor H.E.F.Slughorn

"What does it say?" Seamus asked

"We've been invited to have lunch with Professor Slughorn in compartment C" Ginny explained "Come on, let's get this over with"

The two girls left their compartment and pushed through the bustling corridors until they reached compartment C, where they discovered they were not the only invitees. 

"Ms Lupin! Ms Weasley!" smiled a rather large-bellied man "Come in," The girls were quickly introduced to him and everyone else in the compartment: Harry, Neville, Blaise, Cormac McLaggen, and Marcus Belby

Slughorn presented them with a basket of lunch food, and Ginny and Briar quietly munched on some of it in the corner while he interrogated each student one at a time. Quickly it became apparently obvious that each student he had invited was connected to someone well-known or influential

"Ms Lupin," Slughorn grinned and Briar realised it was her turn "I used to teach your father at Hogwarts, and Harry's. James never paid an ounce of attention in my classroom, and poor Remus ended up doing all his work. When I heard your father returned to Hogwarts to teach I was most impressed, especially given his...condition." Briar hated the way it sounded like it was some secret "He was very brave for taking on such a demanding job with it, and then Dumbledore informed me of you carrying the same condition and I can imagine it must have been frightening for you. But given your aptitude for potions I'm sure you will be able to brew a Wolfsbane potion"

"Thank you," Briar smiled nervously 

He quickly moved on to Harry.

The afternoon wore on with more anecdotes aboutillustrious wizards Slughorn had taught, all of whom hadbeen delighted to join what he called the "Slug Club" atHogwarts. Finally the train emerged from yetanother long misty stretch into a red sunset, and Slughornlooked around, blinking in the twilight. 

"Good gracious, it's getting dark already! I didn't noticethat they'd lit the lamps! You'd better go and change intoyour robes, all of you. McLaggen, you must drop by andborrow that book on nogtails. Harry, Blaise - any timeyou're passing. Same goes for you two, misses," he twinkled atGinny and Briar "Well, off you go, off you go!"

The two girls were the first to squeeze out the door and they quietly whispered about Slughorn on their way back to their compartment

"Lupin!" called a voice behind them, so Briar excused herself and turned around, being surprised to see Cormac McLaggen there