Chapter 3: Diagon Alley and The Potions Prodigy
"Now, Mercy, why don't you go out and get your robes fitted, while I stay here in line and purchase these books," Molly said as she took the pile of books away from me.
"Okay," I replied not knowing what to say. Because of my small frame I managed to squeeze out of Flourish and Blotts rather quickly, leaving everyone's shouting my name trying to get through the crowd. I laughed and looked behind me not noticing where I was going. I then slammed into someone's chest, knocking myself, them, and their things to the ground. I looked around and apologized and started to help them collect their things.
"Sorry, about that. I just wanted to get away from a few friends. " I said as I began to help pick up some quills and parchment.
"Next time…" they started off in a rather cocky voice but hen slowly trailed off as our eyes connected. We stared into each other's eyes; his pale blue eyes were absolutely stunning. The black fitted suit he wore fit him well while his pale blond hair fell just right. He was absolutely stunning.
"It's alright actually. I… uhhhh…" He stammered. I just smiled and handed him his things as we both stood up.
"I've never seen you around here. Are you a new student to Hogwarts this year?" He asked. I nodded and blushed a little as I tucked a strand of my hair behind my ear.
"You look older than a first year though," he stated.
"Oh yeah, Well you seen here I was at an orphanage with muggles and well I never got my letter until this year. I'm having some tutors over the summer help me catch up though, so I can be with others of my year," I explained.
"Well, I hope you're sorted into Slytherin," he smiled. I blushed and let out a small giggle.
"So is there anywhere in particular that you need to go and collect your supplies still? I could join… well… I ummm," he stammered. I gave a small chuckle and looked at my feet while I blushed again feeling his cool eyes on me.
"I still need my robes and wand," I stated.
"Well right this way my lady," he stated while showing the way to Madam Malkin's. We just reached outside the doors when I heard Harry's voice. I turned to look at the boy who guided me here to thank him, but he was gone.
I simply shrugged and turned back to my brother and his friends.
"Yes, Harry," I chuckled as he checked me for scars.
"Why do you keep running off into danger, do you want me to die of anxiety?" He hugged me after he realized I was perfectly fine. "God, I'm starting to wonder if this is going to become a habit. You're going to be worse than me." Harry started to chuckle.
"I'm fine, Harry. Don't worry. Besides it's not like I was alone. Someone helped me reach here," I laughed.
"Wait, who helped you?"
"Don't know, he was really cute though," I smiled.
"Oh, no you are not talking to any boys until you are thirty, and you're not marrying any until your fifty, event then you'll be too young," he stated. I just gave Harry a look of annoyance.
"Listen, just because you are older than me by ten minutes does not mean that you are my father," I stated.
"Yes, it does," Harry smiled as he ruffled my hair leading me inside the shop.
…
"Hear you are dear, just owl me your house and I'll send the rest of your things to Hogwarts," said Madam Malkin as she handed the large package over to me. I quickly peeked inside and touched the soft material and a warm smile fell upon my face. I was so ecstatic about going to Hogwarts.
"Thank you," I replied right before leaving the shop.
"So now that you have your robes, let's go and get your wand from Olivander's," said Harry leading me the way.
We entered the shop and were greeted by and old man who seemed to recognize Harry straight away.
"Hello Harry. Your wand still in good shape? Phoenix feather with Yew, thirteen and a half inches," he asked with a gin in his face.
"Yes sir. We're actually-"
"Here for Mercy's wand? Correct?" Mr. Olivander said finishing Harry's sentence.
"Ummm yeah. How did you know?" I asked.
"Oh I remember everyone's wand I sell. It just seems like yesterday when you parents were in here buying their wands," Mr. Olivander said.
"Alright," he said sizing me up. He then went into the back room and carefully studied the plethora of boxes. Mr. Olivander then chose a dusty old box and came back to the counter. He lifted it out of the box and handed it to me.
"Unicorn hair with Oak, eleven and two and a third inches," He said. I took it and my hand and just stared at it. "Well, give it a whirl," He said pulling me from my trance. I didn't know exactly what he meant, so I just flicked my wrist and suddenly the desk was set on fire. Harry quickly pulled out his wand and said some weird Latin words and a jet of water shot out from his wand. I then quickly set the wand on the desk after Harry extinguished the flames.
"Not that one," Mr. Olivander said. He then went back into the room and came out with another box.
"Hippogriff feather with Pine, twelve and a half inches long." Once again I flicked my wrist and the next thing I knew the windows at the front of the shop broke. I quickly sat the wand down on the counter and blushed. "Sorry," I whispered.
"No no my dear, it's quite alright. However I think I know the wand for you, he said and quickly went into the back. He came back out with yet another box and presented me with the wand. It was very beautiful. As soon as it graced my hand felt this warm sensation tingle in my arm and smiled.
"Caladrius feather with Willow, twelve and three quarters inches long." Everyone's eyes nearly fell out of their sockets as he said this. I gave a curious look and flicked me wrist and the windows reverted back into place. Mr. Olivander smiled at and resumed, "interesting you poses rare beauty. You see hear my dear Caladrius feather is very hard to obtain. The Caladrius who gave this to me was very powerful and only gave one. They're-"
"They're known for their healing powers and are as powerful as a Phoenix, but much more rare," said Heromine. Her voice startled me and I turned around to notice all of them standing behind me; Hermonie, Ron, Ginny, and Fred and George. Turning back to a smiling Mr. Olivander he continued, "Correct Miss Granger. Caladriuses are very rare indeed. Miss Potter now I expect great things from you as well. Much like your brother here." I gulped and thanked him paid and left the shop.
"Mercy, do you have any idea what this means?" Hermione asked. I shook my head no. "Mercy a Caladrius is a very rare bird. Much more rare than a Phoenix and it's healing powers are fare more extensive. Their white feathers represent its purity," she continued.
"Okay, but why is it so special?" I asked.
"That wand is the only wand-"
"That has equal power to the legendary-"
"Elder Wand," the twins finished. I looked to Harry, who looked just as puzzled as I did. Hermione had the same look on her face too.
"Elder Wand?" Hermione questioned.
"It's from an old Wizard fairy tale-"
"But some say that it really exists," said George.
We continued walking down the winding streets and met up Molly, Arthur, and Lupin to return to Headquarters.
…
It was late that night and I couldn't sleep again. I was careful not to wake Hermione or Ginny and crept towards my trunk and rummaged though to find the right books. I found all of my potions books and Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them. I first opened up Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them and checked the glossary for a Caladrius. There was nothing! Absolutely nothing about them. Maybe there will be a book in the Hogwarts library about them. I'll have to check when I get back.
After accepting defeat, I quietly put the book back and took my potions books and crept down the stairs to the kitchen. Opening to the first page of Magical Drafts and Potions I began to read the instructions for the various potions. I had the sudden urge to try and make these. It can't be that different from cooking. Quickly going back up stairs, I quietly got my cauldron from my trunk and started to brew the simple potions. Time flew by and I realized that I ran out of potions to brew, so it struck me to go upstairs to Fred and George's room and borrow their copy of Advanced Potion-Making.
I don't know how long I was down in the kitchen brewing the potions, but when I looked at the clock I noticed that it was eight in the morning. Knowing that Mrs. Weasley was coming down soon to make breakfast, I quickly tried to get clean up, but I hadn't realized that nearly everyone was in the doorway looking at me. Sirius, Remus, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Ginny, Arthur, Molly, Fred and George.
"I… I couldn't sleep," I started.
"Mercy how long have you been down here?" Hermione asked while looking at the extensive vials of potions that I've produced.
"I'm not really sure," I replied.
They all filed into the kitchen and took a look at all of my potions. Hermione quickly inspecting all of my vials with an astonishing look on her face. She then whispered something between herself, Harry, and Ron and looked back at me.
"What?" I asked.
"These were all made perfectly," she said, "what book are you on?" I wasn't sure so I walked back over to the counter and flipped to the cover that read Advanced Potion-Making. However while making some of the potions I noticed some defects and decided to modify them a little. Small notes and scribbles were everywhere.
"Advanced Potion-Making," I said. All of their eyes popped out of their sockets. "Is there a problem with that? I just finished Elixir to Induce Euphoria."
"Mercy, how long did it take you to make that?" Hermione asked. I couldn't quite remember when I started it, however it didn't take too long.
"I don't know, an hour maybe an hour and a half," I said.
"I hate to say this, but maybe we should contact Severus," said Sirius. All of the children's faces morphed into a distasteful look as Remus left the room to owl this person named Severus.
"Who's Severus?" I asked.
"Hogwarts's Potion Professor. He's a right ass prick-"
"Ronald Weasley!" Molly shouted. I gave a slight giggle and realized that no one really enjoyed this man.
While waiting for Severus to come over, Hermione and I took my vials of potion and ordered then by year and order of appearance in the textbooks. About an hour after breakfast we heard a loud popping sound. A man with long dark greasy hair dressed in all black entered the kitchen. He held no emotion on his face and rather looked sad in his eyes. The type of sorrow that could never be fully filled. Like he lost the person he loved a long time ago. His scanned the room, when I felt his dark piercing eyes falls on me. When I looked into his eyes though, I could've sworn that I saw a hint of happiness and proudness? Strange I thought, but I let it go.
"I presume that you are the reason I was summoned?" he said in a monotone voice. I gulped and couldn't find my voice, so I only nodded. He quickly walked over to the numerous vials of potions and carefully examined them. He spent quite some time one each potion, just looking for the slightest problem, but he couldn't find a single one. It was about a half an hour later when he was finally finished. He turned around and looked at me.
His eyes never left me as he said in a harsh tone, "Leave us." Everyone left the room, however Ron, Hermione, and Harry gave me a lingering glance before proceeding to leave. He watched as everyone left and pulled his wand out and muttered a spell to slam the door shut once the Harry had left. I heard the door look and then turned back to the dark man.
"They will not be able to hear us nor open up the door," he explained. "I'm Professor Snape. The potions professor at Hogwarts. You seem to posses a rare talent to brew potions perfectly. It is to my knowledge that you have only known about magic for the past few days, is that correct Miss Potter?"
"Yes"
"Very well then. It seems that you have already mastered potions beyond your year and successfully brewed Elixir to Induce Euphoria no less than one and a half hour correct?"
"Yes," I answered. I was wondering where this was headed. Snape's voice still monotone, however I noticed a hint of something else. Proud?
"Very well. I have one potion for you while I am here. If you brew this potion correctly, you will be given private lessons while attending Hogwarts. It is called Draught of Living Death. You will find it in your textbook on page ten. You have one hour. Begin"
I quickly began to start carefully reading the instructions. However I noticed a couple of problems along the way; cutting the Sopophorous bean was much harder than expected, twelve beans weren't giving it the right color, and turning it clockwise ten times wasn't right. I remember trying this potion about a dozen times this morning before I gave up and moved on to the next potion. So I decided to change a few things. Instead of cutting the Sopophorous bean I crushed it with the blade of my knife, much like trying to shell and crush garlic. I knew that the juice of twelve wasn't enough so I added an extra bean making it thirteen. The last part was tricky though. I tired many combinations this morning; I stirred it ten times clockwise, but that didn't work before. So I started to slowly stir it clockwise, counting each time. Finally after the seventh turn I noticed that the color was almost there, but I thought maybe if I went the other direction it would turn the right color, it did. I was so happy and continued to brew the rest of the potion the way the book had said.
"Times up," Snape said. He quickly came over to see the potion I made. Snape dropped a single leaf into it. We watched as the leaf slowly disintegrates.
"It seems that you have brewed a perfect potion Miss Potter," he said, "but you did not follow the directions accordingly. You crushed the Sopophorous beans rather than cut them, you added thirteen beans rather than twelve, and you also stirred the potion seven times clockwise and one time counterclockwise. Explain," he demanded.
I gulped before I took a deep breath and explained, "Well you see here Professor I tried this potion this morning, but it wasn't coming out right. I found that crushed the Sopophorous bean created more juice rather than cutting it and it was also much easier. I noticed the color when I added the twelve bean and noticed that the color was there but only slightly, so I thought to add another bean. The same stirring the potion. The color was nearly there by the seventh turn and I knew that the eighth time the color turn into a dark shade of lilac rather than a light shade. So I turned it once counter clockwise instead."
He smiled for a small second then his face turned back straight. "I will request private lessons for you Miss Potter. You will also attend potion lessons within your year. You seem to possess a rare talent to brew potions. You are far above your peers in this field. I hope it well for you someday. Here," he said while handing me a list, "these are books you'll need for the year. Some are rather expensive. If you need any help acquiring these books, owl me and I will supply them for you."
To say that I was in sock was an understatement. Snape seemed so nice, to me at least. "Thank you Professor."
"I do require one thing of you though. You may not tell anyone about what you are doing. These potions you will be creating are very powerful and would be very useful especially in the wrong hands." I nodded.
Snape then muttered a counter spell of the room and he opened the door only to have Harry, Ron, and Hermione fall into the kitchen at his feet. He gave them a harsh look and stepped over them.
"I shall see you later Miss Potter," he said right before he disappeared.
They all got up from the floor and looked at me.
"Well what happened?" Ron asked.
"I've advanced in potion making. I will take fifth year potions this year," I simply stated. I wish that I could tell them about my private lessons but I promised Snape.
"That's it?" Hermione said in shock. I nodded. Thankfully they left it at that. I don't think I could lie much more.
The rest of the day seemed quite normal. Lessons with Hermione went by fast and she seemed quite frustrated at the fact that I caught on very quickly to everything. I knew that she was top of the class, however she soon realized that I could be competition. The rest of the days went by rather fast and soon it was time to go back to Hogwarts.
AN: That's was probably my longest chapter yet. I'm still on my fourth chapter. I kind of have an idea of where I'm going with this. Some suggestions could be taken into consideration, but I got it mostly mapped out. Oh and in case anyone is wondering where I got Mercy's wand core from, well you see here I had no idea so I just searched online about mythical creatures and that popped up and well I just went with it. I'm doing more research on them as well and will incorporate my findings in my story. Review! Review! Review!