It's Nice To Have A Friend

31 - These Days

Sirius was ignoring Mallory again.

She had noticed him start to distance himself after they had gotten detention. What had she done wrong? Was it all because she had ignored him during class so that she didn't earn more detention? 

She didn't understand how Sirius could be by her side in the infirmary and flirting with her every free moment he had, and two weeks later, pretend as if she didn't exist. It was especially hard since he stuck to James's side like Velcro. He'd interrupt their conversations to tell James about something he had seen or about the girls he had been seeing. Mallory felt like a knife was twisting in her chest. 

Mallory wished Sirius would tell her why he was acting strange. If she knew, she could move on. Without the clarity, Mallory clung to any hope. She was stuck. 

Mallory walked beside Remus on Wednesday night as they made their way to detention. Behind them, James and Sirius wrestled with each other, their laughs echoing through the corridors. 

"Are you going to be alright in detention?" Remus asked, glancing at Mallory. 

Mallory nodded. "Yeah. I'll be alright," she replied, returning his gaze. She sent him a small smile. 

"A heads up, we'll be split up into pairs. You'll be with James or Sirius." 

"Not you?"

Remus shook his head, an airy laugh escaped his throat. "Do you think it would end well if Slughorn kept James and Sirius together? Slughorn may not be the wisest, but he's not that dumb," he said. 

She laughed, glancing over her shoulder at James and Sirius. Sirius had James in a headlock, both giggling like children. 

"Not a big fan of Slughorn?" she pressed, looking back at Remus. 

Remus pursed his lips. "He cares too much about how people perceive him," he slowly remarked. He paused, gnawing on his cheek. "He doesn't have a backbone." 

"What do you mean?"

"He started a club— the Slug Club. All of the students that he believes are special are invited. James is invited because the Potters are a powerful wizarding family, they have money, and James does fairly well in his studies. Sirius is invited because he's a Black, he's rich, and even though he hardly tries, he's still at the top of our class. Snivellus is invited because he's brilliant in Potions and Dark Arts."

Mallory furrowed her brows. "So does he invite James just because of his status?" she asked. 

Remus nodded, rolling his eyes. "He invites Lily because she's Lily. She's brilliant, and she's charming. She charmed him on the first day of first year with how kind and smart she was. Even with her blood status, she's in Slug Club," he explained. "She's the only muggleborn."

"Really?" Mallory questioned. 

"Yup," Remus stated, popping the 'p' as he spoke. He kept his eyes trained ahead of him as he inhaled. "Almost every prefect has been invited to Slug Club, except for me. I'm not speculating that it's because of my condition. He's told me before that that's exactly why he's never invited me. I know the parties are lame and that I'm not missing much but I can't help but be bothered." 

"As you should be," Mallory insisted. "That's messed up." 

"Well, don't expect an invite either. You're too quiet and muggle for him." 

"Well, let's face it," Mallory started with a laugh, "I'm not very smart either."

Remus laughed as they approached Slughorn's classroom. He pushed open the door, holding it for Mallory. She smiled appreciatively at him.