1
there was far too much going on to concentrate on potions. Even Snape was having a hard time, in reigning in his students, as he himself was distracted by the events that had taken place earlier that day. This particular class was always difficult to handle because of its unusual size, but today it was near impossible to keep their attentions focused on the task at hand. It looked as though none of the students' Displacement Potions would hold up to even their normal dismal standards.
Hermione Granger and Ginny Weasley had partnered together since the beginning of term. They had always made a good team, what with their harmonious combination of intelligence and common sense, but today these two friends were finding it difficult to even read the ingredient labels correctly, let alone prepare and blend them into anything that remotely resembled a potion.
"Ooooh!" Hermione said in an attempt to convey her exasperation. "I cannot believe that he could be that stupid!"
"Ha! I can believe it! Andeven I didn't see this coming, so what does that tell you?" Ginny replied as she randomly tossed into their cauldron a handful of whatever it was stored in the turquoise jar nearest her. "That he deserves whatever punishment he's got coming to him, thats what it says."
Both girls were so absorbed in their discussion that neither took much notice of what they were adding to the mixture. It wasn't until Hermione and Ginny bumped hands over the cauldron that they paused to consider the situation they had absentmindedly put themselves into. With their ingredient filled hands still poised over the potion, they paused to mumble a quick "oops sorry" at having collided together, and glanced downward at the dangerous combination of materials they had been about to carelessly drop into their concoction. Both giggled in relief at the disaster they had narrowly avoided and were lowering their arms when they heard something completely and utterly unexpected.
"Hermione! Ginny! Wait! Stop!" Professor Snape shouted across the room. The two teens were so surprised (and slightly disturbed) by their cold and seemingly unfeeling teacher addressing them in such a familiar and friendly manner that they let go of what they had been holding and spun around to stare at him in shock. Snape instantly regretted his uncharacteristic display of concern when bits of the falling ingredients made contact with the girls hazardous potion. Instantly, Hermione and Ginny were swallowed up in a flash of brilliant blue light.