Sirius's son

Hogshead

"Black, stay behind, please. The rest of you go to your next class." Rigel packed up slowly waving his friends goodbye.

When Rigel reached Professor McGonagall's desk the woman was looking up at him with a curious expression on her face. Rigel spoke first.

"I'm sorry I haven't finished my homework yet, Professor," he said, tugging on his sleeves nervously.

"Why didn't you tell me about your anxiety potions?" Rigel looked at McGonagall, his insides still contracting with shame at his marks.

"I didn't want to worry you" Rigel mumbled. 

Professor McGonagall sighed. "You're just like your father. Though he would be too proud to admit it." Rigel looked up at her. "I think you have forgotten something, Mr Black." 

"What?" Rigel asked, thinking it was some homework.

"I have been taking a look at your other subjects. What have you been getting in Potions?" Eliza thought for a moment before replying.

"E's."

"Herbology?"

"A and an E, I think."

"Charms?"

"E's and Os."

"Arithmancy and Runes?"

"E's." Rigel wondered what the point of this exercise was but McGonagall didn't continue.

"And what do all of these subjects have in common?" Eliza thought for a moment but didn't know the answer.

"I don't know, Professor."

"Think Black, think! What do all of your other subjects have in common?"

"Umm...They're all OWL's?"

"Exactly! You are taking Transfiguration at the NEWT level. What does NEWT stand for?"

"Nastily Exhausting Wizarding Test," Rigel replied promptly.

"Exactly! You are already exhausted, so stop being so hard on yourself." McGonagall finished softly and Eliza nodded.

"I'll try, thanks, Professor McGonagall." 

The teacher nodded. "And I suggest you open up with Miss Potter. She can and will help you."

Rigel nodded leaving the room feeling slightly better.

Two weeks later the four of us were heading to Hogsmeade. The morning of the Hogsmeade visit dawned bright but windy. After breakfast, they queued up in front of Filch, who matched their names to the long list of students who had permission from their parents or guardian to visit the village.

While Rige still thought it was a terrible idea. If they were caught, they'd be expelled. But he also couldn't help but admire Hermione's spunk.

Harry and Eliza had also managed to convince (By convincing Eliza pulled the puppy eyes and a pout that Rigel couldn't help but say yes) to help them teach the other members. He was proficient in DADA and he's already doing NEWT level transfiguration.

"Where are we going anyway?" Harry asked. "The Three Broomsticks?"

"Oh yes, I would love to have a butterbeer." Eliza moaned. 

"Hog's Head," Hermione said proudly. "Students donat normally go in there, so I don't think we'll be overheard.

Rigel groaned. "No offense, Hermione, but that means everyone who is there will hear everything we say. We would have been better off at the three broomsticks or the chamber -"