A Broken Inheritance

Chapter 19: A Boggart and a Banquet

Anastasia glanced at him briefly, her dark eyes narrowing. "Can't help yourself, can you?"

James held back an amused smirk. "You know me, no self discipline and all."

For a moment, it looked like she might argue, but she bit back her words, her jaw clenching. She wouldn't give him the satisfaction of gratitude, not after the mess their last conversation had left behind.

They walked in silence for a moment before James cleared his throat, his voice awkward but deliberately light. "So... did you get an invitation to the Slug Club dinner?"

She arched a brow at him, her expression unreadable. "Obviously."

James offered a faint smile, his tone almost teasing. "Then I'll see you there."

Anastasia didn't respond immediately, her steps slowing slightly as she processed his words. Finally, she gave a small, almost imperceptible nod.

"Try not to trip into anyone else before then," she said, her voice edged with dry humour.

James chuckled softly, the tension easing just slightly. "No promises."

And with that, she turned down another corridor, leaving James standing alone, the ghost of a smirk on his lips as he watched her go.

***

The Slug Club dinner was an intimate affair held in Professor Slughorn's opulently decorated office. The circular room had been transformed for the evening, the usual clutter of potion ingredients and cauldrons replaced with plush chairs and a long dining table set with gleaming silverware and crystal goblets. Floating candles cast a soft golden glow over the space, their warm light reflecting off the emerald-green tablecloth that marked Slughorn's Slytherin pride.

The Slug Club itself was a select group of students handpicked by Professor Slughorn, its members chosen for their academic prowess, promising futures, or, as was often the case, their family connections. For many, it was a coveted invitation, a stepping stone to powerful alliances and valuable mentorship.

That night, James Potter shifted uncomfortably in his seat near the far end of the table, fidgeting with the buttons on his deep crimson dress robes. He managed to look polished despite his perpetually messy hair. Sirius Black lounged to his left, in his midnight black robes with a subtle silver pattern woven into the fabric, his posture relaxed and his grey eyes glinting with barely contained mischief.

"I feel like I've walked into a dinner party for my great-aunt's friends," Sirius muttered under his breath, his sharp grey eyes scanning the room with mild disdain.

James stifled a grin, though his eyes flicked toward the door every few seconds. He wouldn't admit to himself who he was waiting for, though his stomach twisted uncomfortably every time a new student walked in.

Just as the conversation at the table began to swell—Slughorn reminiscing about his glory days teaching a now-famous Ministry official—the door opened again. This time, it wasn't just anyone.

Lucius Malfoy entered first, his platinum hair tied neatly at the nape of his neck, his silver-trimmed black robes tailored to perfection. Narcissa Black followed close behind, her pale blonde hair swept into an elegant twist, her midnight blue gown shimmering faintly in the candlelight. And then, finally, there was Anastasia Gaunt.

Anastasia entered the room, her emerald-green robes shimmering faintly with every step she took. They were intricately embroidered with silver threads in swirling, serpentine patterns that made her look as though she'd stepped out of a portrait of Salazar Slytherin's court. Her sleek black hair was tied back with a silver clasp, revealing the elegant line of her neck, and her expression was as poised as ever, her eyes flickering over the room with faint disinterest.