Chapter 2- The Half Blood Prince
No one's POV
The celling of the great hall was serenely blue and streaked with frail, wispy clouds, just like squares of sky visible through the high mullioned windows. the Trio took their usual seats and tucked into porridge and eggs and bacon, discussing the embarrassing conversation with Hagrid the previous evening Taylor took a seat next to Ron, effectively causing them to stop talking.
"Hello again boys, pass the bacon will ya."
"Um sure" replied Ron, passing over the bacon.
"Thanks... you don't have to stop talking in front of me you know." she retorted looking at them one by one with a smirk on her face. "Oooh I get it, talking about someone and you don't want them to find out, let me guess a friend... no ok then how about an enemy... no then a teacher, well then ill leave you too it. Later" she grabbed the odd looking breakfast and put it into a container and walked out of the great hall.
"Well that was odd, what do you think she is up to?" questioned after watching her walk out.
"I'm not sure, I didn't even see her come in or leave the common room" replied Harry.
"That's because she didn't, she doesn't even have a bed in the dormitories" stated Hermione.
"Then where is she sleeping?" puzzled Ron.
"I don't know, lets ask her later, here come the timetables" quickly Hermione said as Professor McGonagall came towards them.
The DADA classroom door opened and Professor Snape stepped into the corridor, his sallow face framed as ever by two curtains of greasy black hair. silence fell over the queue immediately.
"Inside" he said.
Nobody spoke as they settled down, looking around at the shadowy, gruesome pictures covering the classroom walls.
"I haven't asked you to take out your books," said Snape closing the door and moving to face the class from behind his desk. "I wish to speak to you and I want your fullest attention."
His eyes roved over their upturned faces, lingering a fraction of a second longer on Harry's than anyone else's.
"You have had 5 teachers in this subject so far, I believe. Naturally, these teachers will all have had their own methods and priorities. Given this confusion I am surprised so many of you scraped an O.W.L in this subject. I shall be even more surprised if all of you manage to keep up with the N.E.W.T. work, which will be much more advanced..." Snape continued while he walked around the room while the class craned their necks to keep him in view, all except Taylor whom was drawing on her parchment.
"Miss Di Angelo" Snape barked down at her while she kept on drawing.
"Yes sir" she replied in monotone finally looking up at him.
"Are you in an art class?"
"No I don't believe I signed up for one sir, however I may as well have if you just are going to keep talking about the general concept to us like we are 5 year olds instead of moving on with the course work"
Shocked the class watched.
"Well then lets test your knowledge, after all you seem to believe you know all about the course work shall we. What is the advantage of a non-verbal spell?"
"Well your opponent has no warning about the spell or magic you are about to cast allowing you an advantage, however it is difficult and can only be done by wizards and witches that have great concentration and mind power."
"Very well then, where is the Kappa more commonly found?"
"Mongolia"
"What is a boggart and what does it look like?"
"Is a shape shifter whom takes the shape of whatever scares us the most. No one has seen a boggart alone so no one knows what is looks like alone." Smirking she watched in become more and more infuriated.
"You will now divide into pairs. One partner will attempt to jinx the other without speaking. The other will attempt to repel the jinx in equal silence. Carry on." he moved to the font of the class watching them, glaring at Taylor.
Hermione managed to repel Taylor's jinx with uttering a word by 10 minutes into the lesson, while Taylor did it effortlessly. Snape moved around the room as they practised, looking just as much as an overgrown bat as ever, lingering to watch Harry and Ron struggling with the task.
"Pathetic, Weasely, here-let me show you-"
"Protego!" shouted Harry, Snape was knocked off balance and hit a desk. the whole class had looked around and now watched as Snape righted himself, scowling.
"Do you remember me telling you we are practising non-verbal spells, Potter?"
"Yes" replied Harry stiffly.
"Yes sir"
"There is no need to call me 'sir', professor"
Several people gasped, including Hermione. behind Snape, however, Ron, Dean, Seamus grinned appreciatively. Taylor watched the exchange closely, smirking.
"Detention, Saturday night, my office. I don't take cheek from anyone Potter... not even from the chosen one."
"Well, well, well if it isn't the newbie" said Malfoy as Taylor walked over to the group waiting for the professor. "Feeling good about yourself showing off at the great hall then in DADA aren't you"
"Feeling good about putting a bully in his place yeah I think I am. Watch it your you will be next, I mean the stench of stuck up, arrogant, rich boy bully is overwhelming, or is it just me" she said moving closer to him, trying to make him feel uncomfortable.
Before anyone could say anything else the dungeon door opened and Slughorn's belly proceeded him out of the door. as they filed into the room, his great walrus moustache curved above his beaming mouth and he greeted Harry and Zabini with particular enthusiasm.
"Now then, now then, now then scales out, everyone, and potion kits, and don't forget your copies of Advanced Potion-Making..."
"Sir?" said Harry, raising his hand.
"Harry, m'boy?"
"I haven't got a book or scales or anything- nor's Ron- we didn't realise we'd be able to do the NEWT, you see..."
"ah, yes, Professor McGonagall did mention... not to worry my dear boy, not to worry at all. you can use the ingredients from the store cupboard today, and I'm sure we can lend you some scales, and we've got a small stock of books here, they'll do until you can write to Flourish and Blotts..." he concluded getting the items needed for the boys. "Now then can anyone tell me what the potions are out here, the are the kind of thing you ought to be able to make after completing your NEWT's."
Hermione raised her hand and walked over to the potions, indicating to each one as she named them. " Veritaserum, polyjuice potion and Amortentia..." she continued describing and explaining each potion as she went, by the end she had turned slightly pink.
"May I ask your name my dear?
"Hermione Granger sir"
Malfoy looked rather as he had done the time Hermione had punched him in the face. Slughorn continued explaining the love potion Amortentia, then moving on to the smaller vile of Felix Felicis (liquid luck).
"So how are you to win my fabulous prize? Well, by turning to page 10. we have little over an hour left to us, which should be time for you to make a decent attempt at the Drought of Living Death... off you go!"
They all begun, everyone looking around at what the other doing as they went along. "and time's...up. stop stirring, please!"
The professor moved around the tables examining each potion. smiling at Taylor when he looked at her potion then made his way over to Harry, Ron, Hermione and Ernie.
"The clear winner!" he cried to the dungen. "excellent, excellent Harry! Good Lord, it's clear you've inherited your mother's talent, she was a dab hand at potions, Lily was! Here you are, then, here you are - one bottle of Felix Felicis, as promised, and use it well! My dear Taylor you did exceptionally well as well, congratulations"
"I could never thankyou enough for doing this Winky" greeted Taylor taking the bundle out of the house elf's hands.
"It's no problem miss, Winky is happy to help and have a mistress again." she replied happily.
"That's nonsense Winky you are my friend not my servant, and please call me Taylor"
" Was there anything else you need miss.. sorry, Taylor"
"Yes please, could you please bring some dinner to my room and get Dumbledore, I need to speak to him."
"Of course Taylor, I'll get him right away. What food would you like?"
"Anything will do thankyou."
Winky disappeared as Taylor turned back to the bundle in her arms.