"So, Harry" Jesse said, sitting in one of the armchairs next to the fire. "What of the hearing?" Harry sighed, sitting down on the couch next to the armchair.
"There's this law, you're not supposed to use magic out of school." Harry started, "There are these things called Dementors, they suck the happiness out of you, but anyway they attacked Dudley (Our cousin) and I over the summer. I had to use magic to get them away from Dudley; I almost got expelled from Hogwarts. But Dumbledore helped me out."
"Harry?" Jesse asked, not really listening to anything her older brother had just told her. "Would you hate me if I told you I liked Ron?" Harry Potter looked at his sister, a twinge of guilt had struck him; He couldn't say 'yes I'll hate you' because he wouldn't but he also couldn't say 'I give you permission to date my best mate' now that sounded weird. "Harry? I asked you something…. Can you answer my question?" Harry looked sidelong at his newly found sister;
"I'd be dishonest if I said that I would hate you…" Harry began; tension was very prominent in his voice. "But, I would also be dishonest if I said I didn't mind if you dated him." Jesse stared at her big brother, wondering why he minded, but then it struck her like a lightening bolt.
"You either like its your fault I grew up a sheltered life," Jesse said matter-a-factly, Harry stared at her because she sounded more like Hermione then even Hermione did. "Or you just don't want Ron breaking the guy code and dating me. Your younger sister."
"Jesse that's not it…" Jesse got up; neither of the Potters noticing Ron entering the Common Room by the portrait hole.
"Forget it, Harry!" Jesse shot at him, "I'm fifteen years old, and even by my own brother, and I'm treated like I can't make any decisions what so ever! You might feel all protective because I'm your little sister, but believe me I've gone through more dangerous things then even dragons! So do me a favor and stay out of my life!" Jesse turned, going right past Ginny and Ron, went up to the Girls dorm.
"Harry!" Ginny Weasley shot at him, "What the bloody hell did you do?!" The fourteen-year-old girl didn't wait for a response; she turned on her heel and followed Jesse up the stairs.
"Harry, what was that all about?" Ron asked sitting in the armchair that Jesse had just left vacant. "What was that about 'stay out of my life'?" Harry sighed, turning towards the fireplace. The fire was burning bright, there was a clap of thunder and a bright bolt of lightening flashed seconds after. There were a bunch of first year girls who shrieked, as there was another clap of thunder sounded.
"Jesse asked me something," Harry began, speaking to the fire and not looking up at Ron. "And I told her that I would mind if she did it, and she went all 'stay outta my life' on me." Both boys shook their heads, and then noticing the time went up and changed for bed.
The next morning was very interesting for Ron and Hermione, Jesse and Harry weren't talking to one another and Jesse wasn't talking to Ron. Harry then turned to his sister, who was across the table sitting in between Fred and George Weasley.
"Jesse you're going to have to talk to me sooner or later!" Harry remarked, Ron and Hermione looked up from their scrambled eggs to see what Jesse was going to say.
"No I don't," Jesse cursed, having fallen for Harry's bait. "Just leave me alone Harry!"
The two had started bickering so loud that they didn't hear the bell; Ron elbowed Harry in the gut saying very dryly;
"That's the bell,"
The four fifth years made their way down to the dungeons, for their first lesson of the year in Potions. Harry and Jesse still weren't talking to each other; the dungeon door opened, and the class filed in. Harry and Jesse chose the two tables on each side of the room, Jesse on the right side and Harry on the left. Ron sat down with Jesse and Hermione with Harry.
"Settle down," said Snape coldly, shutting the door behind him. There was no real need for the call to order; the moment the class had heard the door close, quiet had fallen and all fidgeting stopped. Snape's mere presence was usually enough to ensure a class's silence.
"Before we begin today's lesson," said Snape, sweeping over to his desk and staring around the at them all, "I think it appropriate to remind you that next June you all will be sitting an important examination, during which you will prove how much you have learned about the composition and use of magical potions. Moronic though some of this class undoubtedly are, I expect you to scrap an 'acceptable' in your O.W.L., or suffer my … displeasure."
His gaze lingered this time upon Neville Longbottom who visibly gulped, Neville Longbottom was a fifth year boy who was dismal at Potions.
"After this year, of course, many of you will cease studying with me," Snape went on. "I take only the very best into my N.E.W.T. Potions class, which means that some of us will certainly be saying good-bye." Snape's gaze finally sought out Jesse. "Merlin's beard!" Snape said, walking around his desk then walking over to Jesse and Ron's table. "We have another Potter… I wonder if you'll be as bad your brother at Potions." Jesse smirked, not at all scared that the meanest teacher in the world was standing right in front of her desk, Jesse stood up;
"Professor Snape…" Jesse sighed, "I am nothing like my brother, I know this because I can say this." She looked into Snape's eyes. "Firstly, try shampooing your hair and conditioning it! And B. can anyone say breathe mint?" The whole class hushed, Snape was looking as though he was going to kill Jesse. Harry, Ron and Seamus couldn't hold in their laughter anymore and started cracking up.
"That's it…" Ron snatched at the back of Jesse's robes, trying to pull her down back to her seat, he had no luck. "Detention, with me on Saturday!" Jesse didn't even look freighted; on the contrary she looked rather pleased of herself as she sat down next to Ron. Snape continued, still looking loathingly down at Jesse. "Today we will be mixing a potion that often comes up at Ordinary Wizarding Level: the Draught of Peace, a potion to calm anxiety and soothe agitation. Be warned: If you are too heavy-handed with the ingredients you will put the drinker into a heavy and sometimes irreversible sleep, so you will need to pay close attention to what you are doing." On Harry's left, Hermione sat up a little straighter, her expression one of the utmost attentiveness. "the ingredients and method"—Snape flicked his wand—"are on the blackboard"—(they appeared there)—"you will find everything you need"—he flicked his wand again—"in the store cupboard"—(the door of the said cupboard sprang open)—"you have an hour and a half….Start."
Just as Ron and from the other side of the room, Harry and Hermione had predicated; Snape could hardly have set them a more difficult, fiddly potion. The ingredients had to be added to the cauldron in precisely the right order and quantities; the mixture had to be stirred exactly the right number of times, firstly in clockwise, then in counterclockwise directions; the heat of the flames on which it was simmering had to be lowered to exactly the right level for a specific number of minutes before the final ingredient was added.
"A light silver vapor should be raising from your potion," called Snape, with tem minutes left to go. Harry, who was sweating profusely, looked desperately around the dungeon. His own cauldron was issuing copious amounts of dark gray steam; Ron's, whom Harry could barely see over the steam of the four students cauldrons that seporated them, was spitting green sparks and next to him something surprised Harry; Jesse, Harry's sister who'd never done a potion in her life until now, her potion was emitting a light silver vapor exactly like Hermione's was next to him.
Snape swept by the cauldrons, he first stopped briefly at Jesse's and muttered to her; "Maybe you could give your dear brother some potions lessons." Then made his way almost gleefully towards Harry. "Potter, what is this supposed to be?" The Slytherins at the front of the class all looked up eagerly; they loved hearing Snape taunt Harry.
"The Draught of the Peace." Said Harry tensely.
"Tell me, Potter," Said Snape softly, from the other side of the room Ron could tell that Jesse was getting more and more angry at Snape for taunting her brother but Ron put a caring but firm hand on hers and she settled down instantly. "can you read?"
Draco Melfoy laughed.
"Yes, I can," Said Harry, his fingers clenched tightly around his wand.
"Read the third line of the instructions for me, Potter."
Harry squinted at the blackboard; it was not easy to make out the instructions but then he heard a voice that sounded like Jesse's in his head.
"Harry" it said, Harry looked over at his sister and she was staring intently at him, he locked eyes with her nodding so only she could see. "It says 'add powdered moonstone, stir three times counterclockwise, allow to simmer for seven minutes, then add two drops of syrup of hellebore…whatever that is." His twin finished; Harry repeated his sister and sent a word of mind thanks back to her and she turned back to her whispers of conversation with Ron. Though, as he had told Snape what the line said; his heart had sunk. Harry had not added syrup of hellebore, but had proceeded straight to the fourth line of the instructions after allowing his potion to simmer for seven minutes.
"Did you do everything on the third line, Potter?"
"No," said Harry very quietly.
"I beg your pardon?"
"No," said Harry, more loudly. "I forgot the hellebore…"
"I know you did, Potter, which means that this mess is utterly worthless. Evanesco."
The contents of Harry's potion vanished; he was left standing foolishly beside an empty cauldron.
"Those of you who have managed to read the instructions, fill one flagon with a sample of your potion, label it clearly with your name, and bring it up to my desk for testing." Said Snape. "Homework: twelve inches of parchment on the properties of moonstone and its uses in potion-making, to be handed in on Thursday." While everyone around him filled their flagons, Harry cleared away his things, seething. To his surprise however, Jesse came up to him;
"I'm really sorry, Harry." She spoke calmly as if they hadn't just been fighting before class.
"Don't worry about it, Snape has done this since my first year—" but his sister cut him off.
"Harry, I'm not talking about Snape…"She told him, "I'm talking about how I did a perfect Draught of the Peace potion and then Snape told me to give you lessons." Harry stared at his sister; she was apologizing for being good at potions!
"Jess," Harry said, putting his elder brother arm around Jesse's shoulder. "Don't be sorry, please don't! God, Jess, you don't have to be sorry for being good!" Jesse nodded and then Harry said, not knowing that Ron was behind him; "If you still want to date my best mate, you've got my permission. Even though, of course you don't need it." Jesse squealed, hugging her three minute elder brother. Then, pushing past him and hugging Ron until;
"Ms Potter, up here! Now!" Snape snapped at her, she wriggled out of Ron's arms and up to Snape's desk. Ron, Hermione and Harry stayed outside of the door all three could hear the conversation between Snape and Jesse.
"Ms Potter, if I may say…" Snape said, it was actually the nicest tone that the three had ever heard. "This is the best Draught of the Peace I've seen that a first time potion student. If I also may say, you are showing the talents of your mother; if Harry hasn't said but your parent's names were James and Lily Potter, and Lily was a very good potion maker. If you ever want any help in Potions then I will be very happy help." Snape gave, what Harry thought was not even a forced, smile.
Jesse, after scooping up her things, made her way towards the door and nearly was scared by Ron who had grabbed her shoulder as she made her way down the hallway not even seeing them.
"What did Snape want?" Ron asked her, not even a bit embarrassed, kissing her on the cheek. Jesse shook her head, looking over her shoulder to see that Snape was right behind them.
"Come on," Jesse muttered taking Ron's hand and guiding Ron, Harry and Hermione. "We've got to get to Defense Against the Dark Arts. Harry, anything I should know before we get to Umbridge's?" Harry chuckled, not even knowing why.
"Yes, actually" Harry said, coming to a stop with the others outside Umbridge's class. "She works for the Ministry, and she doesn't believe that Voldemort is back. The man who killed our parents, yes." He added, catching Jesse's confused features. She nodded, then as the door opened and the squatting women told them to come in.
The class was quiet as it entered the room; Professor Umbridge was, as yet, an unknown quantity and nobody knew yet how strict a disciplinarian she was likely to be.
"Well, good afternoon!" She said when the whole class had sat down. Jesse, in between Harry and Ron, thought that Umbridge looked like a toad.
A few people mumbled "Good afternoon," in reply.
"Tut, tut," said Professor Umbridge. "That won't do, now will it? I should like you, please, to reply 'Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge.' One more time, please. Good afternoon, class!" the four friends, and the one couple, looked at each other. This was going to be a long year, they all thought.
"Good Afternoon, Professor Umbridge," they chanted back at her.
"There, now," said Professor Umbridge sweetly. "That wasn't too difficult, was it? Wands away and quills out, please." Ron and Jesse looked sadly at each other, they knew that the term 'wands away' had to mean a very boring lesson. Professor Umbridge opened her handbag, extracted her own wands, which was an unusually short one, and tapped that blackboard sharply with it; words appeared on the board at once:
Defense Against the Dark Arts A Return to Basic Principles"Well now, your teaching in this subject has been rather disrupted and fragmented, hasn't it?" stated Professor Umbridge, turning to face the class with her hands clasped neatly in front of her. "The consent changing of teachers, many of whom do not seem to have followed any ministry-approved curriculum, has unfortunately resulted in your being far below the standard we would expect to see in your O.W.L. year.
"You will be pleased to know, however, that these problems are now to be rectified. We will be following a carefully structured, theory-centered, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic this year. Copy down the following, please."
Course aims:Understanding the principles underlying defensive magic.
Learning to recognize situations in which defensive magic can legally be used.
Placing the use of defensive magic in a context far practical use.
For a couple of minutes the room was full of the sound of scratching quills on parchment. When everyone had copied down Professor Umbridge's three course aims she said, "Has everyone got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?"
There was a dull murmur of assent throughout the class.
