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Slug Club Slug


Sunday was the day of the Slug Club Christmas brunch. Because both Sirius and Remus had been invited, this meant that Peter could come along as a “date”, which Sirius decided to do because he felt very bad for Peter Pettigrew still since their conversation the day before in Hogsmeade. Peter, who had never even been noticed by Horace Slughorn when in connection to the Slug Club events was quite excited and changed his tie no less than three times before Sirius’s patience started to wear thin (I mean, there’s only so much a bloke can take). James was bringing Carly Shaw.

The boys arrived to the Potions corridor in their nice brunch clothes, Carly Shaw on James’s arm, listening as he talked about how the new broom he’d gotten after the fire at his house over the summer had spectacular specs and how he was fairly certain it was this that should be credited for his brilliant beater skills. “Oh no James, you’re so good at everything to do with Quidditch,” Carly breathed, her hands about his biceps.

Sirius rolled his eyes discreetly at Remus and pointed a finger down his throat to mime gagging.

Lily arrived carrying a box with plaid wrapping and a shiny gold ribbon.

“What’s that?” Sirius asked, pointing at it.

“A gift for Professor Slughorn,” Lily answered. She looked at Carly and James, who were now leaned against the wall, Carly clinging onto James, her arms about his neck as he grinned down at her, and made a face. James saw her and winked at her over Carly’s shoulder as she kissed his jaw bone. “Oh gods, Potter, you should really get a room.”

Sirius’s eyes lit up. “Oh gods, Potter!” he said.

James glared at Sirius over Carly’s shoulder as Carly looked over at Lily. “Mind your own business, Lily,” she said snappily.

Lily said, “Sorry. Carry on, then!” and she turned away.

Sirius was grinning.

Remus kept a wary eye on Sirius.

Peter said, “I think the present is wrapped very nice, Lily.”

She looked at him - confused for a moment because of the delay - then said, “Thanks Peter. I made the ribbon with magic.”

“You do such lovely magic,” Peter admired it.

Lily smiled.

Several others were arriving at this point, and James spotted Maryrose Jenkins coming up from behind the cluster of people in the hallway and he waved to her. Carly looked over her shoulder at her and then back at James with a bit of suspicion on her face. Maryrose waved back, but only briefly before she spotted Regulus coming down the corridor on the other side of the crowd and she ducked ‘round the people shuffling about in the hall ‘til she’d made it to Regulus’s side and she smiled at him. “Regulus!” she said, smiling, and she laced her arms about him.

“Maryrose, hi,” he hugged her back, then held her out at arm’s length to take a look at her. She was dressed in a pretty soft pink dress and had changed her hair to match and she looked like some sort of candy floss dream and he smiled and kissed her cheek. “You’re brilliant,” he said.

Maryrose flushed and smiled.

The door to Slughorn’s office opened and the Professor stood in the frame, smiling jovially and welcoming them all inside. They followed him along to find he’d set the room up with lovely twinkle lights and paper snowflakes on the ceilings. There was a lovely buffet of finger foods with a breakfasty twist. Tiny bitesized waffles with fresh cuts of fruits and jams situated on top and little sausages with bits of egg on tiny toothpicks. Sparkling orange juice in champagne glasses… Trays were being carried about by house elves - great big silver trays with sprigs of holly and evergreen for decoration.

Regulus watched one of the elves go by and turned to Maryrose, “Poor things.”

“They seem to be enjoying themselves,” she said, watching an elf go past carrying a tray and humming along with the Christmas music playing over the great monophone.

“Yeah,” Regulus admitted hesitantly. “Still.”

Maryrose kissed him, “When they have good masters, they enjoy working, love.”

Regulus nodded. This was certainly true of Kreacher. Kreacher enjoyed doing things for Regulus. He just hated the idea of the poor house elves not being free to enjoy the party themselves. He wondered what Kreacher would think if he’d invited him to a party like this. The thought of Kreacher sitting on a big overstuffed chair with a pipe - which was what Slughorn himself was doing - made Regulus smirk.

In the corner by the window, Carly stood with James, giggling over the house elves. “They look so funny,” she said, “With their big hairy ears.”

“If I grow hair in my ears, will you still love me?” James questioned, smirking.

“I’d make you tweezer the hairs out,” Carly replied.

“Ah,” James nodded and he bit a sausage off a toothpick as he looked around.

His eyes caught the knot of Sirius, Lily, Remus, and Peter across the room, talking to Slughorn. Lily had just handed Horace Slughorn the wrapped box and he had set it on a little table and was pulling at the ribbon to undo it, the paper falling away and revealing a lovely painted box with a good amount of candied pineapple inside. He smiled and thanks Lily for the thoughtful gift and James realized he’d missed a good deal of something Carly had said because he’d been distracted watching Slughorn open the present and the look of anticipation on Lily’s face as she’d waited to see his reaction.

“What?” James said, realizing Carly was asking him a question.

She looked exasperated with him.

As Carly repeated herself and James struggled to concentrate upon her, Sirius watched, holding onto Remus’s hand. “What’s he see in her?” he murmured, shaking his head and sipping the glass of sparkling orange juice.

“Lips and breasts,” Remus replied.

“And long legs,” added Peter with a dreamy sigh.

Sirius looked at Peter, then back at Carly, then back to Peter, “Her legs are nearly as long as you are tall, Pete.”

“I know,” Peter said.

Lily turned back to them, Slughorn having gone to put his gift away in his desk drawer, and she said, “What are we talking about?”

“Carly’s legs,” Peter said.

Lily rolled her eyes, “Yes, her legs that she’s got all on display with that tiny little dress she’s wearing. Barely covers her buttox.” She shook her head, “It’s rather inappropriate.”

Carly, overhearing, replied, “You’re just jealous you don’t have the shape to pull it off.”

Sirius looked at Carly with narrowed eyes.

“I’d rather be paid attention to because I’ve got a brain than a butt,” Lily said.

James was staring at his shoes.

Carly snorted. “That’s what all the homely girls say.”

Lily’s jaw dropped.

“EXCUSE ME?” Sirius shouted. “Excuse me. What did your idiot mouth just say to her?” He glowered at Carly, practically seething, his eyes glowering heatedly. “You take it back, you great cow!”

James looked up, “Hey. No need to be slinging names.”

“Say that to your little wench!” Sirius declared. “She’s started it, hasn’t she?”

“And you’re continuing it!” James snapped.

“Defending Evans!” Sirius declared.

“Who isn’t even your bleeding girlfriend! Why the hell are you being so damned protective over her for? She isn’t your girlfriend! She isn’t your Christmas kitten or your darling! I’m your bloody darling you idiot! And Remus is your boyfriend and you’re acting like Evans is your girlfriend and it’s not alright you -- big -- stupid -- doofus!” James shoved Sirius in the chest.

“You’re the stupid doofus!” Sirius shouted, shoving James right back, “Blind as a fucking bat and mental to boot! Wake up Potter!”

“I’m awake! I’m awake!” James yelled back.

“Then you’re just bloody stupid not to see what’s going on!” Sirius snapped. “I didn’t think anything could be as stupid as Carly is but bloody hell James you’re giving her a run for it!”

And James slugged Sirius right in the mouth.