Sluggish Celebrities {Slug Club}

[The Professor]

Horace Slughorn held regular Slug Club gatherings for those who he considered to be the 'elite' of society, or at least of the school. What could he say? He liked having contacts in all the right places, and the students he selected to be part of his club were certainly worthwhile contacts to have. Not only were they destined to do great things and go far, but most of them had rather influential parents, and you really couldn't go wrong being on friendly terms with the children of important people, because those children tended to put in a good word for you and help you out of some rather sticky situations... Yes, contacts were of the utmost importance in this day and age.

The year was drawing to a close and this would probably be the last gathering that he could hold, so it was only fitting that he made a little part of it. He decided that the Party Hall would be the perfect place for such an event to take place, so with his invitations sent out, all he needed to do was wait for the fun and festivities to begin.

There was a selection of finger foods on show, and some music played through speakers around the room, but this event was a social one, more than anything. He didn't want this getting out of hand, by any standard. Not at all - not when he knew that there were already some members of staff who were less than happy with his club. But that was only because they were jealous that they weren't a part of it, of course.

A great many people would be at this particular party, students and adults alike, so it was only fair that alcohol be on offer for the older patrons to taste, though if a student would like to drink, well, who was he to refuse them? It was only right to allow them to fit in and be treated like adults, after all. This was going to be a splendid party, if ever he'd had one.

(OOC: Horace Slughorn is hosting one of his notorious Slug Club meetings with both students invited, and some of his wizarding world contacts. And a few ghosts who decided to show up without an invite, but he's not to worried about that. Before joining this thread, please think carefully about who your character is, and what background they come from. Slughorn is very selective in what students he allows into his Club, so if you know your character would be of little interest to him in terms of making contacts in the wizarding world, maybe give this thread a miss. There's loads of stuff going on right now, so there's no need to feel left out!)

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Regulus always enjoyed these special evenings, the break from the drudgery of homework or the normal common room babble. It was an escape an evening of donning nice robes, not his best robes of course but nice robes. The ones he had chosen were lined and trimmed in indulgent emerald satin and fitted him to perfection. There was also the finger food, the sort of food that tastes of very little but looks superb laid out on platters. The taste didn’t bother Regulus that much, he wasn’t a big eater both by nature and of course the need to remain light to keep his place as seeker on the team.

Drifting through the room, he sipped a glass of mead, the honeyed liquid a delicacy not normally offered during term time was another of those little treats offered out for sluggies favourites. Favouritism, Regulus could hardly resent the professor for it, everyone had favourites it was just that Slughorn was more honest than most about the situation. So yes Regulus basked in that glory and yet even as he basked in it there was still something that rankled perhaps the ever present feeling that one could fall out of favour as easily as in to it. That was why year after year he had flittered and chattered around each little gathering, enquiring about someone’s new book or complimenting another for their excellent article in the prophet.

In previous years he would have spent the whole night courting Slughorn’s flock but for this last summer gathering he was more cursory. Rather than the usual anxiety to desperately make connections before leaving the relative sanctity of the school, he now merely felt the need to keep up appearances. Yes finally he had found a role, a square hole in fact, although it wasn’t confirmed he still needed to prove himself but still it was more surety than he had felt in previous years. Thus after the most basic of mingles a few words of appreciation to his professor, he retreated fading into the corner of a room to enjoy a moment in his own head and a moment to survey the room, it was always interesting to see who was at Sluggies latest party a good indicator of which way the wind was blowing.

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It wasn't that Severus didn't like Slughorn per say, it was just that the guy had absolutely no shame in the things he did or said, and he grew annoying quite quickly if he started on the wrong topics. That is, when he started going on and on about his next club meeting in front of everyone while drawing attention to a specific person, or persons, that he was inviting. Why Severus was ever on his list, he really didn't know. As far as contacts in the wizarding world went, Severus was hardly from the sort of family Slughorn was interested in. His father was a muggle for christ's sake! From what he could tell, the only reason Severus was invited was because of his performance in Potions. For a long time Slughorn had snubbed him off like many other students who weren't important enough to him, but once he'd noticed how skilled he was at Potions, that attitude changed. Slughorn was, basically, a two-faced prick.

The social side to his gatherings held little importance to Severus but he'd found a use in staying on the good side of the man and attending these pointless things. Slughorn had been happy to write him a note to get him into the restricted section of the library a great many times, and would do so willingly so long as Severus stayed on his good side. Severus had missed one meeting and Slughorn had made some excuse for why he shouldn't keep signing the notes, but as soon as Severus attended the next meeting, the notes were quickly signed again. It was a stupid system, but it worked, and if an evening of 'socializing' was all it took to get access, then he could deal with that.

A number of students made a show of talking to everyone and building up their own list of contacts from those who attended, but Severus wasn't interested in any of that. The less people who paid attention to him, the better, he decided. Rather than talk, he picked up a drink and stayed close to the wall, but not standing still for long because he knew that Slughorn had a way of noticing a straggler and intercepting them. Not far away, he noticed a fellow Slytherin, despite a younger one, and made his way over to him. "Pretend you're talking to me so Slughorn won't start trying introduce me to pointless twerps." 

((Sorry Tish, I completely forgot about this!))

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Watching the room, it was interesting the range of guests in attendance from students so tiny and lost looking they must have only joined Hogwarts in the last year or so to gnarly old wizards with beards that aped Dumbledore's. Slughorn was clearly a treasure hunter and he collection was diverse, Reg recognised some of the students as belonging to famous houses but some were a mystery to him, these in many ways were the interesting ones; they had won the invite by merit of some kind. Perhaps a rising star on the quidditch pitch, or distinguish in transfiguration, maybe it was simple a girl of remarkable wit or a young lad of great beauty. Some of the students were even mudbloods that had defied they’re undeniable disadvantage of their weak blood, Slughorn in his apparent kindness appear to accept them all.

Sipping his mead he was well aware his invite was as much for his blood as for any of his own abilities and tried firmly to considered it no fault, everyone knew, blood tells. Ah but approaching him was one of the ‘here by merit’ Snape, a final year of his own house who to Regulus always considered rather dour. He wasn’t a student whose company Reg relished and he wondered about slipping away but dithered to long until he was close enough that a dodge would be blatant.

Regulus admired beauty, charm and witticism and idle wondered whether the boiy approaching would show any of those traits - clearly he was no beauty. When he spoke Reg’s nose wrinkled slightly in distaste. "Pretend you're talking to me so Slughorn would start trying introduce me to pointless twerps." No sign of charm either, a pity an arrogant plain faced and to parrot his own words a twerp. ”Evening Snape, glad to see you’re making full use of this evening - there’s a possibility that if you popped off your pedestal for a moment you might find old sluggies introduction some use.”

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”Evening Snape, glad to see you’re making full use of this evening - there’s a possibility that if you popped off your pedestal for a moment you might find old sluggies introduction some use.”

Severus sneered. "About as much use as you, hovering in this corner, I see." Why did he bother? He should have just left as gone back to his dorm or something. Slughorn had seen him so it wasn't like he hadn't shown up at all, so the guy could hardly complain. Talking to another Slytherin was hardly the help he'd been hoping since the guy decided to be a typical prick. Well, would he expect anything else from someone relation to Sirius Black, of all people? "I hardly see how being introduced to someone like," He glanced around the room, his gaze settling on a guy who was known for writing reviews on drinks, "a mead and whiskey taster is going to be of any use. What can I do with that? Ask him to forge a review?" Pathetic. No doubt he was only here because Slughorn wanted access to free alcohol.

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Mister misery had a point, it was perfectly true that Regulus was also failing to make use of the opportunity provided, a waste a shameful waste... Was it a waste? Perhaps not perhaps it was merely an indulgence enjoying an opportunity but not making full use of it, watching others flutter and preen. Confident, well not confident, he was rarely confident but at least as close to confident as made little difference that he now had his connection. It was in this unaccustomed acceptance that he answered Snape honestly and with the touch of a smile  

"Ah but having been so indulged in these little parties over the years I have now made my connection and can attend solely to please our head of house and of course enjoy the delicacies he provides and of course the Sluggy microcosm gives a good view of the tides outside."

Maybe as a Black, of the Noble House of Black, he needed have ever sought connection, maybe a name was enough but as 'The Spare' a name had never felt enough. Still his accuser had not even a name to act as shield in the wide world. A little voice whispered that this Snape needed no name he had ability, he was a 'There by Merit'.  Swirling his glass he stared into that honeyed liquid considering all these little niggles then felt a modicum of comfort as Snape betrayed his ignorance to how this social scene functioned a mead and whisky taster was not merely that, viewing someone whose sole value was his position was a gross misjudgement in Regulus eyes.

"I think... I think perhaps you miss the point, nobody is just an occupation, he may just be here to allow Slughorn access the finest booze but who knows what he did before or does in his spare time, he may even have owned a chain of apothecaries or his brother still might."
 

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These 'parties' grew tiresome. The first couple had, perhaps, been interesting, simply because they were so different to the usual things you would expect to experience as a Hogwarts student, and there was something to be said for that initial feeling/realization that there was so much more going on at Hogwarts than what first met the eyes - he'd been at the school for several years and never realized that in all that time, there had been people - outsiders - entering the school at Slughorn's invite for get-togethers. Hogwarts always seemed so secure that to see how easy it was to get someone in... well, it had him questioning whether the school was really as safe and secure as it was made out to be.

"I have now made my connection and can attend solely to please our head of house [...] and of course the Sluggy microcosm gives a good view of the tides outside."

Severus cast a dubious look around the room. What did this tell anyone? "All this tells you is people will stoop to any level to make connections they think they need. In the scheme of things, a dungeon party at a school is worth...what, exactly? Where is the status or prestige to gain for these people?" Frankly, it seemed pathetic to him. Inviting students was one thing, and he could understand the reason they might want to attend - it was a private thing few got to experience. But these...adults? What did they gain from this? Really? What were they getting here that they couldn't get out there?

"I think... I think perhaps you miss the point, nobody is just an occupation, he may just be here to allow Slughorn access the finest booze but who knows what he did before or does in his spare time, he may even have owned a chain of apothecaries or his brother still might."

"It's pathetic." She curled up his nose and looked away from the crowd. Nothing but pathetic. "Maybe if they all put in the effort they wouldn't feel the need to talk their way to the top." He downed the rest of his drink and shoved the glass to one side, looking at the younger student with a small sneer, "Perhaps present company included." He had, after all, made the comment about making connections and all that. With a final eye roll, Severus turned, intending to walk away and out of this pathetic 'party'. He'd much rather be in his dorm right now.