Chapter 5 (Ava)

The corridor was very busy as I made my way to Professor Slughorn’s office. I felt a bit nervous about having a private study lesson with him seeing as I’d never even met him before.

When I knocked on his door, he called from inside and invited me in.

He looked up at me from his desk and smiled,

“Ah! Miss. Potter!”

He looked genuinely pleased to see me as I sat down on the chair opposite his desk. He looked at me carefully,

“You do look just like your mother, do you know that?”

I laughed quietly,

“Yes thank you. Did you teach her when she was at Hogwarts?”

I hadn’t heard someone say that to me in a while, and it made me smile.

“Oh yes, she was one of my favourite students. She was extremely clever; I bet you’re the same.”

I shrugged,

“I joined the school very late, only last year. I think I was pretty hard to find.”

Somehow, I felt comfortable talking to Slughorn. He seemed to have something about him that made me want to carry on talking to him.

He smiled,

“Yes, I’m sure it was nice to be re-united with Harry.”

I nodded and thought of my first meeting with Harry. The way he’d hugged me and held on to me so tightly and whispered that I looked like our mother.

Our mother.

Professor Slughorn nodded,

“Anyway! I believe we have some studying to do!”

He stood up and looked along his bookshelves until he found a thick and heavy textbook. He placed it on his desk and opened it to the first page. He turned it to me,

“If you just read this, we can discuss it afterwards and then I’ll get you to answer a few questions. I know it’s not the most exciting way to learn about potions, but I’m afraid we have a lot of work for you to catch up on.”

I pulled the book towards me and started to read the page.

I actually found the study lesson with him interesting, more interesting than my extra learning I’d had with Professor Snape last year.

When the bell sounded, I stood up and thanked Professor Slughorn for the lesson. He shook his head,

“No, Miss. Potter, it was my pleasure. I was delighted to find out I was teaching both of the Potters this year!”

I grinned,

“Bye, Professor!”

I made my way down the corridor. It was fairly empty because everyone had gone straight to the Great Hall. I stopped walking when I heard voice just around the corner.

“Harry said she was sitting in the compartment with Malfoy and the others.”

I recognised Ron’s voice, and took a step forwards, trying to hear more.

Hermione sighed,

“Ron! She doesn’t necessarily have to like them just because she sits with them. Did you not hear anything that Pansy said to her in Defence Against the Dark Arts?”

Ron grumbled,

“No.”

“Pansy was talking about how Ava had less experience with casting spells-”

Harry interrupted,

“She was a member of the DA! She’s probably had more experience than Parkinson.”

Hermione shot him a look before continuing,

“Then Pansy mentioned Fred. She said she could see why he left her. That’s when Ava stunned her. I don’t reckon they’re friends, do you?”

Harry nodded in agreement,

“She certainly didn’t look like she wanted to be in the train compartment with Malfoy and the others. She even walked out at one point.”

His voice started to fade away towards the end of his sentence, and I realised they were walking away.

I waited for a couple of minutes until I was completely sure they were gone, and then I made my way towards the Great Hall for dinner.

The space next to Draco had already been taken by Pansy, so I sat opposite them. Draco looked at me,

“What took you so long?”

I shrugged,

“I was just talking to Professor Slughorn after my lesson, that’s all.”

I breathed a sigh of relief when I saw Slughorn walk into the Great Hall just after I said that. He must have been sorting something out in his office.

Draco saw Slughorn too and believed my lie. He sighed,

“I don’t see the point of some of these stupid lessons. I’m sure I’ve learnt enough now to go out into the world.”

I raised an eyebrow,

“I don’t think you have.”

He frowned,

“What do you mean?”

Pansy sneered,

“He’s certainly learnt more than you have.”

I turned to her,

“Give it a rest, would you? I know more spells than the stunning spell I used on you earlier, and I won’t hesitate to use them.”

“What? Trying to threaten me?”

I cracked a smile,

“Not trying to threaten you. I am threatening you.”

She laughed, but it sounded fake. She turned back to Draco and pushed a piece of hair out of his face,

“You look tired. You should probably get an early night tonight.”

I ignored Pansy and Draco for the rest of the evening, and when we got into the common room, I went straight to the dormitory. I got out the letter from Sirius and smoothed the crinkled edges down. I re-read it, even though I knew the words by heart. Even though I felt guilty every time I read the letter, I also felt like I was a bit closer to Sirius. It was the only way I could be.

I walked over to the window and looked out at the dark night sky. One star was looking particularly bright against the inky darkness. I looked at it and whispered,

“Oh Sirius, why can’t I just talk to Harry? What on earth have I done?”