Four To The End (prev Shifting Lines) - Book One (Marauder Era)

Chapter Thirty-Two - Death Is Cooler Than Love

During study group on Thursday night, Raven Craft bluntly asked if anyone had been invited to Slughorn's party. Apparently the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs were talked to earlier in the day; Craft was one of them which he boasted out, Buckling had also been invited which she didn't seem to care about, and Bones who flat out said he was pretty sure it was because of his bloodline.

"Remus and I are going," Lily said. Remus considered bringing up the fact he wasn't going, but figured he'd keep quiet for now and tell her later. He didn't want to get into a big discussion about his reasons in front of everyone, especially since Craft was so proud of being invited.

"Are you not going?" Craft looked at Silverlocke who shook his head. "I would have assumed he asked all the Slytherins to go."

"He only asked for four of them," Silverlocke mumbled. "Avery, Nott, and Urswick because of their blood. Snape, I am assuming, because he's absolutely remarkable with potions."

"The Silverlocke name is even more ancient than the Urswick name though," Craft said, tilting his head.

Silverlocke's cheeks went very faintly pink. "I'd rather we do what we came here to do. I wasn't invited, neither were some others here. It's rude to be flaunting."

Now Craft blushed as well. "I wasn't flaunting! I was only asking!" But Silverlocke's words did shut him up, and the group began working on their assignments like usual.

Twycross was very quiet during all of this but when they left the library she began complaining about the whole Slug Club thing, stating that it wasn't fair or right that Slughorn was picking out only a few 'special' students while leaving the others to feel average, and how could someone like Bones be invited while she hadn't been?

"I'm a pureblood too! And my grades are more than exceptional!" With that she looked at Lily, with a rather nasty glint in her eyes. Lily decidedly ignored her which seemed to irritate the other girl. "Apparently it isn't just blood or grades. Or potions. Lupin's the worst in potions yet he was invited."

"Remus's grades are better than both of ours combined when it comes to other classes," Lily said. She wouldn't speak up for herself however she wasn't about to let Twycross insult Remus.

Twycross frowned then bit her lip. "No, you're right about that. Just... it seems very mean. For Slughorn to just... single some kids out. You're special, and you're special, and the rest of us aren't."

Remus wondered if she'd feel that way if she had been chosen. He suspected not. He figured she'd be flaunting it, like Craft had been.

*

On Saturday afternoon, Remus had planned on spending his time watching the rain patter against the windows while he disappeared into a book, however almost as soon as he got settled on one of the common room window seats after lunch with his book, the entrance opened and in tumbled James and Sirius, looking for trouble. Or rather, looking for a lookout to help them with their trouble.

Remus closed his book, tracing his finger along the inlaid pattern on the cover. "Thanks b--but I'm not--not--I mean, you really shouldn't be purposely c-causing trouble."

"But it's fun!" James complained as he climbed onto the window seat, kneeling next to Remus.

Sirius opted to lean casually against the wall, arms folded, looking very cool indeed. "I know you agree. If you didn't, you never would have helped us with the dungbombs in Filch's office."

Remus pressed his lips thin, feeling like he was never going to live that down. "M--maybe..."

"You wouldn't be helping us with the bat-bogey hex," James added in a quiet whisper.