Slugclub
Within the elaborate stone-carved hallways of Hogwarts stood the lonesome body of Edith Sinclair, drenched in sweat and the stench of vomit emitting off of her robes. Edith could not tell a soul about the events of the morning, she just had to forget about it and carry on her day. What if the nurse regained her memory, or Riddle changes his mind and decides to snitch?
Although she did not express it, Edith was deeply grateful Tom Riddle helped her out, she knew truly that nobody would believe her otherwise, she had a knack for causing trouble and would not be spared from expulsion.
~
Having already missed breakfast, Edith headed down to her first lesson of the day which she was comfortably early for, potions with Professor Slughorn. Bonnie Baker and Tobias Selwyn were waiting patiently outside the classroom. Bonnie's stout and masculine figure worriedly clutching her books in hand, her frizzy chestnut hair tied back into a messy bun, whereas Tobias had already altered his Hogwarts garments overnight. His grey tailored trousered had been shortned into a pair of pantaloon shorts, he sported long white-woollen socks which reached his knees, and were tucked neatly beneath his shorts. His shirt was buttoned to the top with short puffed sleeves, and instead of the typical tie which was standard in the Hogwarts uniform, Tobias had altered his into more of a bow, all topped off with a fitted grey waistcoat, embroidered with the Slytherin house emblem.
"Edie, what happened to you last night! You just ran out...you didn't even come to bed, Wal and Druella thought you were going on a bender." Bonnie sighed. "Tobias told me Darius Lestrange was giving you trouble."
"I'm fine, my stomach just didn't agree with dinner that's all." Edith lied.
"Babes, you're not fine, you stink like puke!" Tobias waved his hands. "I won't let that nasty boy hurt my bestie anymore!" He wailed.
"Calm down Toby, you just make it worse sometimes...." Edith patted her friend.
The class of Slytherins and Gryffindors entered the warm-lit potions classroom, greeted by the eccentric Professor Slughorn.
"Good morning students, ah thank you Mr Black my summer was excellent! Ooh yes your potions textbook Mr Abbott, let me get that for you."
"Sinclair! We saved you a seat." Abraxas Malfoy's cold grey eyes pierced her from across the classroom, his long silver hair tied back unveiling his sharp pointed features. Abraxas ushered Edith over to a four seater table with Walburga and Druella. "For a moment I was worried you were going to sit with those losers." He glared smugly at Bonnie and Tobias.
Tobias made a hissing motion toward Malfoy.
Perching herself onto the seat, Edith heard a grunt beside her, coming from oversized bum almost breaking the fragile wooden stools and the winking face of Tobias, pulling up a chair beside her.
"Didn't think you'd sneak away did you babes?" Tobias nicked a pen off Edith.
Lines of wisdom crowded Professor Slughorn's face. With a smooth wave of his wand, white scatty letters squeaked onto the chalkboard behind him.
"BLOOD REPLENISHING POTION"
"Today, you will be learning about and making the handy blood replenishing potion. Now you should all listen very carefully, as last year there was a question on this on the now sixth year's theory and it was clear sufficient revision was not completed!" A collective moan emerged. "Now, this potion is useful for... you guessed it! Injuries, spells gone wrong and who knows what else! Right, so If you turn to page 39.. highlight lines 3-6. And..."
The rest of the lesson went by in a blur. Soon Edith found herself standing at her cauldron pulverising valerian roots. Sounds began to drift and her hands worked like clockwork. Purple and blue fumes inhabited the classroom and an intoxication of smells took up residence. Abraxas' pin straight hair had taken to standing up on itself. Bonnie's face was hidden by a mask of soot and Tobias was battling with his fairy wings.
"This class is ridiculous" Abraxas scoffed.
"Only because you're rubbish at it." Edith squeezed a few drops of Barrelstalk root into Malfoy's cauldron affectionately.
Edith's potion was a bubbling deep red. A smile of satisfaction entwined into her face. "Oh my! Merlin's broom." Bonnie exclaimed.
"Wow, not bad Sinclair, maybe you'll have to teach me sometime."Abraxas smiled.
"Oh Braxy-Boo! After Edie's done with you, maybe you could help me out..." Tobias winked, causing Malfoy and the girls to grimace in disgust.
"Aha! Now, Miss Sinclair this is truly a perfect potion." Gawped Slughorn. "Incredible! Hmm.. I wonder.. Why don't you stay behind after class, I have something I think you'll be interested in.."
The stone walls of the classroom soon emptied leaving Edith stood at the desk with her potions professor.
"Miss Sinclair, I have to say I was very impressed with your beautiful concoction of the blood replenishing potion today. And I wonder.. have you heard of my Slug club? A sort of private members club for my top boys, invitation only!"
Had she? The question should have been when. Darius Lestrange had frequently made it his mission to anyone in a 3 mile radius to alert them that he was chosen for it. She could imagine his voice in her head.
'Yeah, yeah, the old Slugman had heard about my father and even that slimy old toad couldn't resist the Lestrange charm.'
Edith did not want to linger any longer on Darius, had it been he who laced her drink at dinner?
"Yes sir, I believe I have."
"Haha, great! It's a few of my students that have shown promising abilities or potential, We have Avery, Lestrange" Edith rolled her eyes. "Mulciber, Rosier, Dolohov, Nott and last but certainly not least! No no! Mr Riddle, our head boy!"
Her heart skipped a beat. Through the calming sunshine of the stain-glass window lit potions class, the events preceding today had been brushed off. But now the paint had been ripped. Did Slughorn know? Why was he smiling at her? She didn't do anything wrong. It was him!
"I think you mean connections, sir" Edith rolled her eyes.
"Well my dear, you will be joining us then?" Slughorn decanted a drink.
"Ah, I'm not so su-"
"Fantastic! Well that makes you not only our first female in the club, but also the youngest I believe. Ahah! Well we meet every Wednesday night here in my office. So see you tonight." Chuckled the old man.
This couldn't be real. She imagined it in her head. Squished uncomfortably between those greasy seventh years. Her throat dry. Professor Slughorn interrogating her with questions about her father. Darius Lestrange making leaps for her thigh every other second and the tantalising stare of Tom Riddle. There was only one word for it. Hell.
"Right, good stuff, good stuff. Off you go then Miss Sinclair, I've got my N.E.W.T class next!" Slughorn ushered her out the door.
"Do you drink before all of your lessons, sir?" Edith raised an eyebrow.
"Hahah, Miss Sinclair, don't go getting me in trouble now, it's only a sip of port. Off you go!"
~
With a quick consult of her timetable, Edith headed off to her transfiguration class, if she ran maybe she would make it before the class all sat down.
"Professor Dumbledore! Sorry I'm late sir, Professor Slughorn kept me behind." Edith bowed apologetically to her teacher, slotting herself at the back of the classroom with her fellow Slytherins.
"Ooooh! Daddy Slug kept you after class!" Tobias theatrically whispered with a wink, which earned him a shove in the ribs from Edith.
" Oh, Mr Selwyn, your remark did not go unheard, the lesson has scarcely begun and your inappropriate behaviour proceeds you. Ten points will be deduced from Slytherin." Dumbledore scowled. "Sometimes I feel as if my remarkably sharp hearing is a curse rather than a blessing."
The Slytherins groaned in unison.
"Ugh, nice one you little fudge packer!" Walburga Black snarled under her breath.
Edith spent the lesson taking occasional glances at the enchanted clockface upon the wall. Whatever Dumbledore was saying would go in one ear and escape out the other.
Her hands went clammy and a pit formed in her stomach as she mulled over what happened this morning. Was it all a big joke the Slytherin boys were in on? One that she would be mocked for at 'Slugclub' tonight? After all, if Darius drugged her he was sure to gloat about it to all the boys.
She had to go, she couldn't not go and disappoint Professor Slughorn.
Her eyes darted to the clock once more, could this lesson go any slower?
"Miss Sinclair?"
"Ah- sorry sir, I'm just... sleepy."
"On with your work everybody... Yes you quite nearly dozed off, I recommend you see to it that you ensure you are getting a full nights sleep. I'm rather surprised you are so tired, considering last night you made an escape from the Great Hall for an early rest." Dumbledore leaned in closer to his pupil.
"Huh..oh, I'm not sure about that sir." Edith panicked, of course, if anybody knew about her unfortunate night, it just had to be nosy old Dumbledore.
"Curious, I could have sworn I saw you excuse yourself at dinner to go back to your dormitory, although perhaps I am mistaken, there was another Slytherin student who too excused himself." Dumbledore maintained his eye contact with Edith. "You may all be dismissed!.... Are you sure there is nothing you wish to tell me, Miss Sinclair?"
"No, sir."
Edith couldn't help but feel guilt lying to Professor Dumbledore, she was sure he knew what had happened, perhaps he just wanted to offer his help?
No, Edith thought, Tom had told her not to speak of this to anybody, and certainly not a teacher, she couldn't just betray him. This was one of those secrets she would have to take to the grave.
"Another word before you go Miss Sinclair." Professor Dumbledore gently restrained Edith by her shoulder. "You may think of me as just your teacher, but I too have been in relationships, and I'm not a complete fool, though sometimes... I feel as one..."
"I'm not sure what you're getting at, Professor."
"What I'm saying is, Edith, I know about you and Tom Riddle. You excused yourself from dinner last night, and he too excused himself merely moments after to follow you. I can't be certain what you were up to, but I highly doubt it was in line with Hogwarts' behavioural code of conduct...."
"Sir! We weren't doing any of the sort, I would never... with him!" Edith was embarrassed that somebody had to notice the unfortunate event, especially nobody less than the watchful Professor Dumbledore.
"I don't expect you to be so open with me Miss Sinclair, but I will warn you. Tom Riddle is nothing but trouble behind his charming demeanour and handsome face, whatever he says to you, however he may charm you, his intentions will never be true or honest. Promise me, Edith, you'll be careful?" Dumbledore raised his brow.
"Sir, really, you should mind your own businesses, I hardly even know the boy. It's nice to know you think I'm just a stupid girl who can't look out for herself!"
Edith stared blankly at her teacher before turning her back on him and striding out into the dreary Hogwarts halls.
~
As students congregated in the Great Hall to feast for the evening, two gaps in the benches of the long, oak, Slytherin table would be easily overlooked by those around them. The absence of Edith and Tom Riddle was something that went unnoticed by their peers, who instead were able to enjoy a tad more room at dinner.
The buzz of Great Hall reverberated through the halls of the castle, the bustle and jeers of dinner at Hogwarts were unmistakable, in stark contrast to the drowning silence of the abandoned Slytherin-girl dormitory.
The dungeon chamber was dimly lit, just enough light was able to seep through the overhead cupola to illuminate the lone body of a girl, sat curled up on an old Persian rug.
Edith lay crouched on the floor beside her bed, her knees tucked into her chest held by her arms, long soft hair fell over her shoulders.
There was no chance she could go to dinner, not tonight. Not when old Professor Slughorn had scheduled her to attend his weekly 'Slugclub' meeting. What this meeting would entail, Edith had a few clues, ones that made her shudder. What if she ate too much roasted mongrel at dinner and the sheer nerves made her stomach release its contents all over Slughorn or Riddle? Or if Darius made another scene at the dinner table, ensuring her pre-Slugclub embarrassment?
She had only a couple hours until she was expected to make an appearance in his office. Edith waited in her dorm room, consumed by her own worries, nervously plucking out her arm hairs to pass the time.
The sound of the clanging iron door opening perked Edith's attention and in entered three girls.
"Avoiding dinner, again?" Walburga Black entered the room. "Me and Ella have been thinking... are you bulimic?" She raised an eyebrow.
"Awh Edith, you don't need to do all that to impress a boy! A real man should love all your folds and imperfections! Trust me, Darius doesn't mind a bit of extra padding on his women." Druella wrapped her arm around Edith's shoulder.
"Yeah your stretch marks make you who you are!" Walburga rubbed Edith's arm patronisingly.
"Uh, thanks.. but I don't have an eating ailment nor am I at all interested in Darius Lestrange." Edith shoved the two girls off of her.
"I tried to tell them Edith, but they didn't listen! Just ignore them, they're jealous you have the body any girl would dream of." Bonnie cried.
"Thanks Bon..."
The four girls stretched themselves across two adjacent beds.
"Speaking of Darius..." Walburgas lips curled into a smirk. "He tells us you've been invited to Professor Slughorns private club. Good for you Edith."
"Yes Wal, good for her, jealous are you?" Bonnie stood up.
"I'm not at all jealous, I don't expect to be invited, it is a boys club after all, just makes me wonder why Edie was invited... you must think you're one of the boys or something." She chortled maliciously.
"I just got lucky and made a good potion is all... I don't even want to go." Edith humbly downplayed her talent.
"Well of course you are going! Doesn't it begin shortly? Get ready Edith or you'll be late!" Bonnie worriedly stalled around the chamber.
"Even better if you're late, that's exactly how you make an entrance." Druella clapped. "Darius is sure to notice you then!" She squealed which caused Edith to scoff.
"I get more than enough attention from him, I really don't want anymore. And I am ready, I'll go soon I guess." Edith mumbled.
"Ready?! You are not ready! Don't tell me you're going like that!" Walburga gasped, it was clear that this time, she was genuinely shocked.
Edith had been so consumed by dread the entire afternoon that she completely overlooked a crucial complexity.
She had nothing to wear.
If Edith was troubled about tonight, this was promptly intensified by her lack of sensible attire. Though she was pretty, Edith was never the type of girl to feel comfortable in fancy formal wear and elaborate dresses, an attribute which her mother loathed.
"Oh dear, it didn't even occur to me... I was just going to go like this."
Edith stood there lousily draped in yesterday's dirty garments, her tie loose, her skirt creased, and a few yellow splotches on her shirt from last nights incident. Perhaps Walburga was right. Edith certainly didn't want to make a poor impression on her teacher... or any other assuming character..and tarnish her reputation, that's what her mother would say.
"Agh, you are a lost case... just wear one of my dresses." Walburga sighed and pulled out a long rack hung with various dresses from her wardrobe.
"Oh don't worry, Edith can just wear something of mine!" Bonnie beamed, scavenging through her briefcase for something clean and sensible.
"Uh, no cookie, we won't be needing that..." Walburga condescendingly smiled as she continued to scan through her rack of dresses, extracting the most perfect one for this formal dinner occasion. "Ta-daaa! Look it's perfect. DON'T stretch it out though, it might be a little small on you." Walburga smiled, handing Edith the dress, ushering her behind the bed to try it on.
The black satin fabric hugged Edith's figure almost perfectly, other than it fit a little loose around Edith's waist, the sleeves were long and wrapped tightly around her arms, with the exception of her shoulder, in which the sleeves formed a small puff, at her collarbone, the black satin fabric ran off into a dark lace pattern, revealing her sharp pale clavicles, the lace hem skirt of her dress reached just above her ankles in a rather scandalous fashion.
Edith corrected the looseness of the dress at her waist with a black under bust corset, which Bonnie assisted in tying up the dark ribbon.
"It's beautiful, thank you Wal, but isn't it rather... inappropriate for the occasion?" Edith shuffled around uncomfortably, twirling in the dark dress.
"That's exactly what you need.. To look stunning for once and really leave an impression!" Walburga twirled her around. "Maybe it isn't Darius you're after... but there's sure to be another suitor who will notice your beauty....." she smiled, the girls all in awe of Edith and her beauty. "Now go! You're already late!" The girls shoved Edith out the door.
"One more thing Edith..." Walburga wrapped her hand around Edith's thin wrist. "Would you give your greetings to Tom from me?" Walburga and Druella started to giggle and jump around giddily.
"Of course Wal, it's the least I can do for you.." Edith smiled, somewhat ingenuinely, she couldn't help but feel an ounce of possessiveness over Tom Riddle after he helped her this morning, as if she had a certain claim over Tom that Walburga did not.
Edith quickly shook off these feelings, she would be betraying her friend, who so kindly helped her, it was like she told Professor Dumbledore, she had no interest in Riddle and Edith was certain Riddle had no feelings for her, he only helped her because it was in his interest... because otherwise the dorms would be searched. Edith wondered what the charming head boy had to hide.
"Oooh Wal is in loveee!" Druella giggled.
"I best be going, I am uncomfortably late." Edith hugged her friends and shut the iron-clad door behind her, the scent of mildew enveloped her as she once again found herself alone in the dungeons of Hogwarts.
~~~~~~~~~chapter end~~~~~~~~~