The Sprucewood Club meeting, unlike the time-consuming practical sessions of the Potions Club, was a brisk and intense affair. After about an hour and a half of high-level theoretical discussion, Professor McGonagall dismissed them.
As Sean stepped back through the portrait-door into the corridor, he was preparing to head back to the dungeons when a voice stopped him.
"Sean. A word?"
He turned. It was the other Slytherin from the club, a fifth-year he didn't recognize. The boy was short and slender, but there was a sharp, capable intensity about him. His eyes were narrow and long, his face angular, giving him an alert, almost predatory look.
"You know my name," Sean stated more than asked.
"Not many in Slytherin don't," the boy replied with a thin smile. "Putting everything else aside, the... incident... with Malfoy during last year's Sorting Ceremony was enough to make you a legend." He extended a hand. "Let's get acquainted. I'm Aidan Fawkes."
"Sean Bulstrode," he replied, shaking the offered hand. "A pleasure."
They fell into step together, heading down the moving staircases toward the common room.
"When did you join the Sprucewood Club, Aidan?"
"Last year, in my fourth. This is my second year."
"Then you'll be preparing for your O.W.L.s this term," Sean observed.
Aidan let out a wry, helpless sigh. "That I am. I'm only really interested in Transfiguration—it's the only subject my grades are any good in. For the rest... I'm just hoping I can scrape an 'E'."
Sean nodded in understanding. Hogwarts was full of students like Aidan, specialists with a deep talent in one or two areas but average grades in everything else. True polymaths like himself and Hermione, who excelled across the board, were a rarity.
Speaking of Hermione, he had half-expected to see her at the meeting. She was an excellent student, but it seemed Professor McGonagall's standards for the club were exceptionally high. Perhaps she would receive an invitation next year. He could sense Hermione's innate talent in Charms and Potions; he suspected she was already a member of Professor Flitwick's club, and if not for Snape's ingrained prejudice against Gryffindors, she would surely be in the Potions Club as well. But Transfiguration, for all her skill, was a different beast. It required a certain... spark. A spark Sean himself lacked in Charms.
They reached the entrance to the Slytherin common room, murmured the password, and parted ways inside. After a brief chat with Blaise, Sean returned to his own room to rest.
The first week of classes passed in a blur not dissimilar to the last. By Saturday, he had attended his second meetings for both the Potions Club and the Sprucewood Club. Both of his professors had, in their own unique ways, loaded him with more work. Snape had assigned six dense, advanced Potions books, the reading of which was mandatory. Professor McGonagall had "suggested" several more books on advanced Transfiguration theory. The suggestions were, of course, voluntary, but not reading them meant falling behind, and falling behind meant being removed from the club. They were, in effect, also mandatory.
He was sitting in the common room, nursing a cup of coffee and preparing for his scheduled meeting with Andy, when he saw several members of the Slytherin Quidditch team, already in their practice robes, heading out. He nodded to himself, realizing the Quidditch season had already begun.
A few moments later, Andy hurried over and sat opposite him, not bothering with pleasantries. He pushed a list across the table. "Sean. Take a look. Can you have these ready by next weekend?"
Sean scanned the list of potions, his brow furrowing slightly. "This is too much, Andy. And the brewing processes for these two," he said, pointing, "are extremely complicated. I don't have that much time."
Andy studied the list, a look of calculation on his face. He crossed one of the potions off. "This one is high-volume but low-difficulty. I can transfer it to some of the other brewers. With that one gone, can you manage the rest?"
Sean considered his schedule. It was Saturday. The third-years and above would be heading to Hogsmeade in the evening, which meant he could sneak out to attend to some... personal matters. The potions on the list would take most of the morning, leaving the afternoon free for reading. It was tight, but manageable.
"Alright," he said with a nod. "These will do."
A look of profound relief washed over Andy's face. "Thanks, Sean. You've helped me out a great deal."
"You seem very eager this year," Sean observed. "Is everything alright?"
Andy was taken aback for a moment, then he shook his head, his expression shuttered. "It's nothing. Just some family matters. Your help with these potions is more than enough. I can handle the rest myself."
"If it's truly important, you can come find me," Sean offered. "I can postpone some other things."
"No need," Andy said firmly. "You take care of your own business. I can manage."
Sean didn't press the issue. He gave Andy a final nod, and the two parted ways. Sean gathered the ingredients Andy had provided, collected some books from his room, and made his way to the seventh floor, heading for the familiar, hidden comfort of the Room of Requirement.
Blaise didn't join him this semester. His weekends were now dedicated to "studying" in the library with his new Ravenclaw girlfriend. Sean privately approved. Whatever Blaise's true motivations, at least he was actually studying. It might save him from the usual end-of-term desperation.
At twenty minutes to one in the afternoon, Sean emerged from the Room of Requirement, the scent of complex potions clinging to his robes. He felt a wave of mental exhaustion and leaned against the wall, downing a small vial of a Revitalization Draught. Re-energized, he turned and headed for the Great Hall.
The moment he stepped inside, he saw Blaise walking quickly toward him, a look of pure, unadulterated schadenfreude on his face.
[Chapter Complete]
***
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