The Slug Club
September, 1973
Andromeda Black made an effort to avoid Ted Tonks. Her eyes had become accustomed to not straying over to the Hufflepuff table, the only time she would have to acknowledge his existence was in potions lessons. Three weeks had passed and she hadn't said so much as a few words to him. He talked, of course. Greeted her in potions lessons with a kind of overly cheery greeting such as 'A fine morning isn't it, Miss Black'. He had become accustomed to addressing her this way, much to Andromeda's annoyance. It seemed to her that this boy's mission was to irritate her.
'Just call me Andromeda for god's sake' she snapped. It was possibly the longest sentence she had said to him in weeks.
'As you wish.' he said. 'Although I thought the prestigious house of Black called for-'
'Don't act like you know anything about my family' she said, shooting him a stern look. He had been making snarky comments about her being a Black, as if it was funny to him. As if the hierarchy of wizarding families was below him, something he felt he needn't be concerned by.
'Why so cold?' he said, plastering an expression of mock hurt on his face.
She ignored him and went back to her potion. I will not be provoked by a silly little mudblood, she thought.
'Your little stern and scary act is not fooling me' he said in an undertone, leaning his head towards her so close that she could smell the cedar scent of his shampoo. He had never been that close to her before, except from when he knocked into her, the feeling this prompted was unsettling.
'Well, maybe you should be scared of me' she said, shaking away the strange feeling and presenting her best unapproachable and scary front.
'You're less alike your sister than you think' he ploughed on. Oh you are pushing it now.
'Stop acting like you know me.' she said, plainly, with an air of finality she hoped would be as effective as that of her father.
'If you say so.' he said, then began whistling to himself, much to her annoyance.
***
'He's insufferable!' She complained to her friends at supper that evening. 'Irritable, cocky... he simply won't leave me alone!'
'Oh Andromeda I do feel awful for you' said Esmerelda. 'Having to sit next to a mudblood! Imagine.'
'Yes it is rather unfortunate.' Prudence piped up. 'Is he a looker?' she then said, eagerly.
'Prudence! He's a mudblood' said Esmerelda, scandalised.
'Yes, but- well he could still be a hotty can't he!' Prudence replied, looking a bit miffed off.
Andromeda thought on this but said nothing. She supposed one could find Ted Tonks conventionally attractive. I mean, he had that muscular quidditch body, and his hair did fall rather gracefully, his eyes, oh those eyes, were that deep shade of brown that was so plain yet so mesmerising, the kind of eyes you could stare into and forget what you were trying to say... or think...
'Andromeda! Are you listening to me?' said a voice from somewhere far away, plucking her from the deep tunnel of her thoughts.
'Wha- oh yeah' she said, feeling her cheeks growing rosy. She was oddly flustered that she'd allowed herself to think of Tonks in that way. Shame on her.
'As I was saying...' Prudence carried on the story she had been telling. Andromeda tried to appear interested and seem like she was listening, but her mind was elsewhere, she was still embarrassed and flustered for thinking about Ted's attractiveness, in an irrational surge of paranoia, she became fearful that the others could read her thoughts. Stupid notion. No, she was merely considering how others might find Ted attractive, not that she personally did. Not at all.
***
'Oh it's gorgeous! Thank you so much Andromeda' squealed Narcissa, as she opened the jewellery box to reveal a dainty hair clip embossed with sapphires. It had been a pricey gift, but Narcissa was unabashedly materialistic, the girl loved a valuable piece of jewellery to exhibit. A sign to display the wealth of the Black family. It was Narcissa's fifteenth birthday and she had been spoilt with riches from the family. A gorgeous dress from mother and father, tailored especially for Narcissa and made in Paris. From Bella a lovely pair of shiny high heels. Narcissa had never been permitted to wear heels of that height before due to her age, and was quite thrilled when she opened the box.
'Only the best for our lovely Cissy' said Bella, giving her sister an affectionate squeeze of the shoulder.
'Oh I feel so much older and mature now that I'm fifteen' said Narcissa, surveying herself in the mirror as if expecting to see a noticeable difference.
'You are growing into a fine young lady, dearest' said Bellatrix, fixing the dainty hair clip into Narcissa's blonde locks which cascaded down her back like a sheet of silk.
Narcissa beamed.
***
Dear Miss Black,
It brings me great delight to invite you to a Slug Club party in my office tomorow evening at 7pm. I would be most pleased if you could be in attendance.
Yours truly,
Professor H. Slughorn
The letter from Slughorn arrived with the morning post, Andromeda had attended a few of Slughorn's 'Slug Club' parties in the last year or so since he had taken notice of her and inevitable wanted to 'collect' her as he had done with various famous and successful wizards of the past. Andromeda was undoubtedly one of Slughorn's favourite students, and actually quite enjoyed the parties he hosted. Amaryllis had also been invited, no surprise there, she was easily one of the brightest witches in their year, having a particular knack for transfiguration.
The next evening as 7pm was nearing, Andromeda and Amaryllis were heading to Slughorn's office. Andromeda was dressed in a sensible but glamorous emerald green dress, her long deep brown curls pinned up in an elegant style. She was wearing a silver necklace, a Black family heirloom which had been passed down through many generations and was worth an obscene amount of money. Amaryllis looked perfectly gorgeous in a ruffled lilac dress and her hair curled, courtesy of Andromeda's talent for cosmetic beauty charms, and some diamond earrings which glistened in the torchlight as they walked.
Slughorn had evidently placed an extension charm on his office for the festivities, as it was twice its usual size. There were tables full of buffet food and servers offering drinks around. 'Ladies! Welcome, welcome' beamed Slughorn, 'I'd like you to meet some of our newest members to the Slug Club, here- Mr Snape' he gestured over to a greasy haired third year Slytherin with a hooked nose, 'Mr Clearwater and Miss Bones' he added, as two Ravenclaws smiled politely, 'Oh and, not to forget Mr Tonks here...' Andromeda's ears pricked up by the mention of his name as Ted Tonks jerked his head round and caught her gaze. What was he doing here? Was this boy intent on appearing everywhere she went? Ted smiled pleasantly at the two of them. Amaryllis appeared slightly disconcerted but offered him a small polite smile back.
Andromeda had managed to spend most of the evening on the opposite side of the room to Ted, sipping her drink and engaging in small talk with the other guests. He had been throwing her glances all evening, as if deciding whether to muster up the nerve to go over and talk to her. He had better not, she thought. As the party neared to a close, Andromeda took to the balcony for some air. Amaryllis was preoccupied in conversation with Amelia Bones of Ravenclaw so she wouldn't be missed. She leaned on the balcony edge taking in the view of the castle and the scenic landscape of the Scottish Highlands. The tentacles of the giant squid surfaced the Great Lake, a cloud of smoke could be seen seeping from the chimney of Hagrid's hut.
'Enjoying the party' came a voice from behind her, followed by the soft click of the door closing. Andromeda turned sharply to face him. Him. Ted Tonks, again. She rolled her eyes.
'Are you stalking me now?' she said, hands on her hips.
'Don't flatter yourself Black' he said, casually leaning against the wall. 'I was merely seeking some fresh air'
'Well, seek it somewhere else, this balcony is occupied.' she snarled, turning around so her back was to him.
She heard his movement, and hoped he was leaving, although she was caught off-guard as he started towards her, she shivered as she felt his warm breath against the back of her neck. 'Fine' he said softly, 'I'll leave, if you wish'
And he did, leaving her in a state of confusion.
She waited at least ten minutes after Ted had re-entered the party to go back insider herself, she needn't any speculation on that front. The shame of her even being alone talking to a mudblood like that would be unbearable.
'Andromeda where have you been?' hissed Amaryllis, as she subtly appeared behind her friend.
'Went outside- fresh air' stammered Andromeda.
She scanned the party for Ted, although surprisingly noticed that he was no longer there. Perhaps that was what he meant when he said he would leave, well- good riddance.
***
'Another muggle attack, whole family dead- somewhere near Newcastle...' said Amaryllis, reading the front page of the Daily Prophet at breakfast. This was no surprise, attacks on muggles had become frequent recently, the work of the Dark Lord's supporters, Death Eaters, inevitably.
'Well, at least they're not killing magical folk. It's just muggles' sniffed Esmerelda.
A loud laugh could be heard from slightly down the table. A laugh Andromeda knew well. Bellatrix. She smirked mercilessly as she read the prophet's front page. Andromeda averted her attention to the boy sat next to her sister- Rodolphus Lestrange. He had a cold and dark look upon his face, as he read the news with a twisted look of satisfaction on his face. Andromeda's stomach lurched as she considered the possibility of Lestrange himself being part of the attacks, the possibility was not unlikely.
Bellatrix had seemed different lately. Spending an unhealthy amount of time with Rodolphus Lestrange, which made Andromeda uneasy.
'Bella!' she called down the hallway after her sister.
Bellatrix turned sharply. 'Oh, hello dear sister' she said, falling into step with Andromeda. Bellatrix's eyes looked hollow, with dark rings underneath them, she had not been sleeping well. Her face looked paler and thinner.
'So, you and Lestrange, eh? An engagement looking likely sometime soon?' asked Andromeda.
'Yes- well, we are technically engaged, there will be an engagement party soon, father and mother wanted me to tell you and Cissy about it actually...' she trailed off, her eyes looking sunken.
Andromeda was shocked by this information, she thought the engagement would wait at least until after Christmas.
'Wow Bella- congrats'
Bellatrix nodded curtly, but said nothing. Andromeda began to worry about her sister. It was clear that something was causing her distress. Perhaps Lestrange was involving her with the Dark Lord, persuading her to become one of his supporters. This notion made her feel sick to the stomach. Whatever Bellatrix was hiding, she certainly wouldn't reveal the truth easily at all.