The Slytherin Transfer

34: "I never said I was a good role model."

Slughorn's party dawns much quicker than I anticipated, and Dorcas's constant reminders do nothing to help.

"I thought you hated these parties," I say accusingly on the morning of the dreaded event after Dorcas gives Slughorn her fifth death glare from across the room.

"I do," she snaps, and a few flecks of spit land in our potion, turning it a darker brown than it should be, "but I would rather be uninvited for being incompetent and unpromising, not because I did something necessary and badass."

"Fair enough," I say, watching her glower and moving our cauldron closer to me so no more saliva flies into it, "he's a prat, anyway."

"Trouble in paradise, Cassidy?" Asks Slughorn, who had overheard my last sentence and is shaking a finger, "You know, I knew that Sirius Black was a bad idea, you'd be much better off with his brother—"

"I wasn't talking about Sirius, sir," I cut him off through grit teeth, plastering on the usual smile I do when Slughorn is around.

"Yeah, thanks for your input, though," says Dorcas shrewdly, and we both turn to her in shock, "although, I'm not sure your opinion is something we asked for. Nor is it very trustworthy."

There's silence, and I want to grin at her words, which are words I know so many people have yearned to say to Slughorn. The man means well, but he's flaky, assuming, and inserts his take on things when it's most unwelcome.

"Well, I hardly think—"

"And you know, while we're on the topic," continues Dorcas loudly, and a few surrounding people turn to look her way, listening to her outburst, "your parties aren't all the rage you think they are; they're quite boring, really. You're insensitive, big-headed, and all around irritating. Thank god I left my family if it means I get to free myself of you as well."

The whole class is silent as Dorcas raises a challenging eyebrow at the large, walrus-moustached man, who looks taken aback and utterly shocked. Behind his back, James is grinning, and Sirius is looking triumphant. Next to them, Lily, who now sits beside Alice instead of Snape, looks rather upset.

Marlene whoops, and laughter breaks out among the Gryffindors and even a few Slytherins, who wouldn't want to be seen disrespecting their Head of House. Slughorn's face turns a blotchy red, and he looks shaken.

"Well, detention I think for you, Miss Meadowes," he says angrily, glaring around at the sniggering students, "You know, I knew you were trouble when I found out you left your dear parents, how worried they must be, and I was right! Wasn't I?" He looks around at the class as if to get their support. No one says anything, "I—well . . . yes, detention."

"And when will that be?" Asks Dorcas savagely, "Surely you won't have time while you're busy entertaining your beloved guests?"

"First day back from the break, then!" Slughorn booms, eyebrows furrowed as he angrily stares into our potion, "and you've ruined this, I see! It should be a nice chestnut, not spruce!"

And with that, he vanishes our potion with his wand and stomps out of the room, leaving the class silent. Lily stands up and follows him out with one disapproving stare at Dorcas. With her gone, Marlene begins applauding, and soon all of the Gryffindors join in, Sirius coming over to clap the girl on the back.

"About damn time someone put that old prat in his place," he says with a grin, grabbing my bag off the ground.

"What are you doing?" I ask suspiciously, and he shrugs.

"Your potion is gone, the professor is gone," he winks, "how about we get out of here, too."

Before I can protest, he's grabbed my hand, caught his own bag from James, and tugged me from the classroom. We hear the voices of Lily and Slughorn down one hall, so we go down the other, Sirius checking both corridors before dragging me up the stairs and to the common room, where a few sixth and seventh years who have spare blocks scatter around doing work. I make way for the fireside, but he pulls on my arm once more, redirecting me up the boys' staircase and into his empty dormitory. I flop onto his bed, yawning and getting happily underneath the covers as he snickers.