The Secrets of The Sighted (Golden Trio Era) {3}

Slughorn

When they reached compartment C, they saw that they weren't Slughorn's only invitees, although judging by his enthusiasm when he welcomed Harry, it was clear to see Harry is Slughorn's favourite already. "Good to see you, good to see you! And you must be Mr Longbottom." Neville looked terrified, as he nodded. Horace looked at Mikayla and she saw a hint of sadness in his eyes, "my my Miss Black, you look exactly like your mother. She was a great woman, very kind indeed." Mikayla smiled politely, "thank you, Professor Slughorn and you can call me Mikayla." Slughorn beamed at Mikayla's politeness, "I'm sorry for you losses, Mikayla. Your mother was one of my top students, I never thought your father of course, but I thought his brother Regulus when he arrived, and he was very gifted indeed, but I would've loved the set." Mikayla smile nodded as she took a seat next to Harry for some support.

"Now, do you know everyone?" Horace questions the trio, "Blaise Zabini is in your year, of course-" Blaise didn't acknowledge the newcomers, mainly because he's a Slytherin and their houses hate one another on principle. "This is Cormac McLaggen, perhaps you've come across each other-" "unfortunately." Mikayla mumbles and Harry looks at her with a glimpse of amusement at her comment. McLaggen waved at the group, Harry and Neville nodded back at him whilst Mikayla rolled her eyes in response. "-and this is Marcus Belby, I don't know whether-?" Mikayla smiled at the Ravenclaw, who looked extremely nervous and blushed red as he made eye contact with the blonde.

"-And this charming young lady tells me she knows you!" Ginny appeared on the other side of Slughorn with a grimace on her face, hinting to Mikayla it's because how close she is to McLaggen. Marcus was sitting beside Mikayla and she dropped him a whisper, asking him politely if he could swap with Ginny because McLaggen was making her uncomfortable. "Of course." He smiles at the blonde, standing up and offering Ginny his spot, Mikayla slipped into his spot and let Ginny sit in-between her and Harry. "Thank you." Ginny smiles desperately at Marcus before taking her seat, "he was wayyy too close for comfort," Ginny whispers making Mikayla and Harry chuckle light. "Ah, you do know her!" Slughorn was obviously skeptical that Ginny was truly friends with Mikayla and Harry. "Yes, we know each other very well." Mikayla spoke politely, making Horace smile.

Slughorn informs the room that this meeting was for him to get to know them better, making a comment about Liquorice Wands unsetting his stomach and that he's brought lunch for all of them. Slughorn decides to catch Mikayla, Harry and Neville up on what they missed, starting with the fact he taught Marcus' uncle, and listing off the man's achievements. Slughorn asked Belby if he saw much of his uncle but he had his mouth full, he swallowed the food too fast and started to choke, Mikayla raised her wand thinking the incantation 'Anapneo' and Belby's airway cleared instantly. Marcus informed Slughorn that he doesn't see much of his uncle and that his dad had a row with his, so they don't talk. Mikayla could see that Slughorn was unimpressed by this news, and he moved onto McLaggen's uncle Tiberus. McLaggen ensured to mention that he went Nogtail hunting with the new Minister, Rufus Scrimgeour, talk about ass kissing.

Mikayla knew what Slughorn was up to, he wanted to mentor those destined for greatness so that he can take the credit for it and get some freebies. Blaise was here because his mother, who was famously beautiful, and for what Mikayla grasped might be a gold digger and a murderer, since her husbands die mysteriously and she inherits their fortunes. Mikayla knew Neville felt very uncomfortable about his interview, considering it was centred around his parents who were driven to insanity by Bellatrix Lestrange. Slughorn moved massively in his seat as he decided whether he was going to interview Mikayla or Harry next. "And now... Harry Potter! Where to begin? I feel I barely scratched the surface when we met over the summer!" Slughorn pauses as Mikayla tries to hide her relief that he had chosen Harry.

"The "Chosen One", they're calling you now!" Mikayla and Ginny share an amused glance as the rest of the compartment's heads shot to look over at Harry, who remained silent. "Of course, there have been rumours for years... I remember when -well- after that terrible night -Lily -James- and you survived- and the word was that you must have powers beyond the ordinary-" Zabini lets out a cough that was clearly used to display amused scepticism. "Yeah, Zabini, because you're so talented... at posing." Ginny spoke with evident anger in her voice, and her comment made Mikayla snort before glaring at Zabini alongside Ginny. Slughorn warns him that he doesn't want to mess with Ginny, and reveals she was invited for her use of the Bat-Bogey Hex she performed in one of the compartments.

Slughorn goes on to say people are unsure whether they can believe the prophet or not, due to pass inaccuracies, in other words, Slughorn was basically asking Harry if he's the chosen one. Harry looks at Mikayla for help, she just nods discreetly and he looks back at Slughorn and mimics her actions. "So modest, so modest, no wonder Dumbledore is so fond- you were there, then? But the rest of the stories- so sensational, of course, one doesn't know quite what to believe- the fabled prophecy, for instance-" Neville interrupts Slughorn informing him that they never heard the prophecy, Ginny seconds that saying that Harry being the Chosen One is rubbish.

"Speaking of Prophecies, Mikayla, you're an Aevus Seer correct?" Mikayla nods slowly, and Horace beams, "and you're almost as famous as Harry." Mikayla blushed, "I wouldn't say that Professor, like Harry's the Boy Who Lived," Mikayla was desperately trying to get him to stop interviewing her and go back to pestering Harry. "Yes, he is but you've been quite busy during the summer. What you did on the bridge was very honourable." Mikayla smiled politely and nodded as a blush crept on her cheeks, "yeah well, my sister was a big factor in that incident, I couldn't have done it without her." Horace smiles softly, "so humble Miss Black, you also played a big hand in the arrest and imprisonment of Fergal O'Brien." Mikayla cringed at the mention of his name, "not to mention that you've been by Harry's side in almost all of his endeavours." Mikayla looked at Harry for some help, "Mrs Ryan named her first daughter after you correct?" Mikayla blushed even more, "well yes-" "and your boyfriend is the co-owner of the new joke shop that is extremely popular, what is it called again?" "Weasleys' Wizard Wheezes, and yes Fred owns it with his twin brother George, and Ginny here is their younger sister." Slughorn smiles happily looking at Ginny, who still looked very uncomfortable.

"I read recently that you got 10 Outstandings in your O.W.Ls, is that right?" "Yes, that is correct." "And how did your parents react?" The room fell silent as Slughorn had briefly forgotten that Mikayla no longer had parents, "oh I'm sorry Miss Black, slip of the tongue," Mikayla's lips were in a tight smile, "it's quite alright Professor, mistakes happen. The Weasleys threw a celebratory dinner for us." Slughorn paused for a second, "and do you like it at the Weasleys' house?" Mikayla could feel Ginny stiffen next to her, "oh yes, I love it. I feel like I'm a part of the family." "You like being poor? You should go ginger." Zabini sniggers, "shut Zabini, you will not insult the Weasleys in my presence, understand?" Both Ginny, Neville, Harry and Mikayla had their wands pointed at Zabini, who gulped and furiously nodded his head at Mikayla's question. "Oh, you're just as fiery as you mother too." Slughorn clapped, "you four are close I suppose?" Slughorn gestures to the four Gryffindor doors that tuck away their wands, "we basically family," Harry speaks calmly in response to Slughorn's question. "Very well..." Slughorn seamed very pleased and began to speak about his past pupils.

"Excuse me Professor, but we'll be arriving at Hogwarts soon and we should all get changed into our robes." Mikayla spoke politely, Slughorn became aware that it was now dark outside and the lamps were on in the corridor, "you are quite right, Miss Black. Off you go!" Everyone rushed out of the room, Mikayla basically sprinted away, "I've been trying to leave since I got there." Ginny admits, before the group notice that Harry is no where in sight, "Slughorn must've held him back." Mikayla frowns, "poor Harry." Neville chuckles making the girls laugh, Ginny goes to rejoin Dean and Neville walks Mikayla back to the compartment. Mikayla grabbed her robes from her trunk with Neville's aid, before the pair enter their compartment.