𝑩𝒍𝒂𝒄𝒌 || h.potter

forty-one || Year 6 ✔️

Slughorn stands at the head of a table, goblet raised to the students seated before him, which in addition to Harry, Amelia, Hermione include Marcus Belby, Blaise Zabini, Neville and two little girls that are twins.

"So tell me, Cormac." began Slughorn. " See much of your Uncle Tiberius these days?"

"Yes, sir." nodded Cromarty. "In fact, I'm meant to go hunting with him and the Minister for Magic over holiday."

"Well, be sure to give them both my best. What about your uncle, Belby?Working on anything new?" Slughorn turns to the others.
"For those of you who don't know, Marcus' uncle invented the Wolfsbane Potion."

As he speaks, Belby never once looks up from his ice-cream, and still, he's stuffing all of them in his mouth. "Dunno. He and me dad don't get on. Probably because Dad thinks potions are rubbish. Says the only potion worth having is a stiff one at the end of the day."

"And you, Miss Granger? What is it your family does in the Muggle world?" Slughorn truns to Hermione.

"My parents are dentists." replied Hermione, every one stares at her confused, except for Amelia and Harry. " They tend to people's teeth."

"Fascinating. And is that considered a dangerous profession?"

"No. Though," Hermione lets out a breathless chuckle, "a boy named Robbie Fenwick did bite my father once. Needed ten stitches."

Everyone looks at Hermione confused, and awkward silence fills the air. Amelia lets out a breath.  As Slughorn nods, the door groans. Everyone looks at the door and sees Ginny walking in.

"Miss Weasley! Come in, come in." said Slughorn.

"Sorry, I'm not ordinarily late --" apologised Ginny.  She falters, eyes red, uncharacteristically flustered.

Hermione whispers to Amelia. "Look at her eyes. They've been fighting again. Her and Dean." Amelia nods, grimly and turned back to her ice cream.

Later, Slughorn says his goodbyes, and Amelia sees Harry still there, looking at this sort of hourglass. She walks away, knowing he probably wanted to speak with Slughorn about what Dumbledore has told him to do.

Amelia walks beside the curly haired girl. "That was the most awkward moment I have ever experienced in my life."

"I know," Hermione sighs. "What's that on your neck, by the way?"

"Why?"

"A reddish mark..."

Amelia stiffens, "Mosquito bite."

"Mmm...didn't know Harry was a mosquito. " smirked Hermione, before she let's outs giggle. "Did he learn how to become a Animagus now?"

"Shut up, Mione."

9¾ ♔ ⚯͛

Ron enters the Hall, eyes lowered, knuckles taped for Quidditch, flexing his fingers anxiously as he makes for the Gryffindor table. Neville passes going the other way.

" Good luck, eh, Ron?" smiles Neville.

Ron nods shortly, then Seamus comes up on his side. "Counting on you, Ron. I've two
Galleons on Gryffindor."

As Seamus peels off, Ron cuts his eyes toward the Slytherin table, where the Quidditch team sits together. One Slytherin juts his chin toward Ron, mutters something. A few turn, snigger. Ron averts his eyes and... almost runs into Cormac, who eyes him with disdain as he passes. Frowning, Ron drops down opposite Harry, Amelia and Hermione. Harry and Amelia wore their red and yellow Quidditch shirts, Amelia's short hair down, while the top is braided at the side.