Surprisingly, extra classes with Slughorn helped me to get acquainted with Lily Evans without any hardwork on my part and that too without any plotting..erm, I mean planning. In future, she might turn out to be a formidable witch after continuous fights with death eaters but that was a story of a different day. Today she was a muggle born witch, sharp but limited in her knowledge of the wizarding ways. Most importantly, she didn't have the protectors around her, James Potter and Sirius Black as they would have outright rejected her meeting with a Slytherin pureblood.
I met Lily Evans when she was asking Slughorn some questions related to advanced potions. So, I requested Slughorn for her information despite knowing it and he was very happy to comply. We shook hands as Slughorn introduced us.
After she left, Slughorn said to me,
"Ah, you are too anti-social, Wyllt, you should go out and make some friends . How long are you going to be packed in a room, boy?"
"I have spent too much time on my own Professor. If I really went and accompanied someone they will doubt my intentions. After all, the wars have divided us too deeply. Noone trusts anyone these days, professor."
"This war, what a tragedy! That's a very sad thing to happen, really sad. Let me help you out. Why don't you come to my Slug club meeting this weekend now that Hogsmeade visits are banned, I was planning a last party before the exams begin. Come over this weekend, you will come to know the outstanding witches and wizards of your generation in my club. Maybe they will give you a hand in your career in future. After all, it is always nice to have some connections, my boy."
"Thank you sir. I will definitely be there."
That week turned out to be quite a lucky one for me. As I went back and entered the Slytherin dungeons, Bloody Baron told me that Snape was looking for me. I was exhilarated as this talk to Severus will decide the results of my first plan after using the skills of the dead politician.
I knew Snape would have tried to collect information about my family business and it would never yield any result. What a joke as a hidden superpower would we be if some seventeen years old boy could dug out our true capabilities.
I expected him to meet me along with his coterie, maybe try to threaten me but it seems like he was a true loner and wanted to discuss private matters alone. After dinner that day Snape met me in hallways and said,
"I wanted to ask your opinion on a few matters before deciding."
"If it's about specifics of the job offer, I can arrange a meeting with my family or if it's something else I will try to answer."
" I have asked around about your family business. It's reputed and have a long history. I also came to know that your family is pureblood, have a seat in nearly all wizarding council and governing bodies but it doesn't associate with other families of our group. My question is simple."
He fixed his hawk like visage on me and asked with clenched teeth,
"Are you planning to join Dumbledore or will you remain on our side? If you want to join Dumbledore, I would rather have my mother away from this job."
"These type of decisions are not taken by me. My elders decide what to do in or who to support in the wizarding councils or Wizengamot. I can neither inform nor interfere in that decision making. As far as war is concerned, we won't be joining either side but if you are specific about Dumbledore, that much I know about. We won't be giving help to him in any capacity."
"If your family changes position, I.."
"This decision has been finalized long ago. Regardless of circumstances, we won't be supporting of Order Of Phoenix or Dumbledore. If that is your worry you can be rest assured."
"Alright then, if what you say is correct then she will go to the hills. I have thought about your offer and talked to my mother. She has agreed and I do too. "
"Fine, I will send an owl to the family."
We parted ways after entering the dungeon and entered our dorms seperately.
A few days later, I made myself presentable, checked out my handsome face in the transfigured mirror and went to attend my first Slug club gathering.