Chapter 4 – The Sorting and Potions

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"Wooh! How much of your life does the lemon drop fart know?" The hat asked.

"None and I hope it stays that way if you catch my drift."

"Not from me he doesn't but he definitely has his eyes on you. He's probably going to pop a fuse trying to find out how you were doing the party circuit and how much you know. You can count on him having you in his office very soon. So let see what house. Mhmm…Slytherin looks good and you are Lord Slytherin."

"Not even, I met Draco and he is typical Slytherin and we could not be in the same House one of us would not survive."

Well that leaves you parents old House…GRYFFINDOR!

I notice out of the corner of my eye, as I walked to the Gryffindor table, that I had the attention of at least three set of eyes at the head table. Oh well one step at a time. I sat next to Hermione and Neville and pretended to be watching the rest of the sorting but surveyed the head table. This was interrupted by Ron Weasley who hopped off the stool and sat across from me and started his mouth. "Hay Mate, great us being in the same house."

When the food appeared Ron proceeded to stuff his face at an abnormal rate. That was not the best sight but then he tried to talk and food started to fly from his mouth.

"Mr. Weasley I won't sit around you while you spit food at me. Either keep you mouth closed while you eat or find somewhere else to sit." I had to brush a bit of chicken off my robes.

While he mumbled an apology I had to remind him again later about talking with his mouth full.

After the feast we headed to the common room and finally to our dorm. I may have too much of an analytical mind but the first thing I noticed was the bed assignments. While random seating is normal in the Great hall or in class seating but beds are usually assigned alphabetically or numbered. The bed assignment was Potter, Weasley, Longbottom, Finigan, Thomas. No name plates or signs you just recognized your trunk and that was at the foot of your bed. In an emergency how would a teacher find a particular student in a room full or curtain drawn bed?

The next morning everyone was excited and rushed to the Great Hall for breakfast and their schedules. Things got rolling first thing as Ron decided to sit with Hermione, Neville and myself. "I can't wait to see when we get to fly brooms." He then proceeded to cram his mouth full and tried to speak which launched food particles at the surrounding students. I just reached for my juice and with a flick of my hand his mouth disappeared. Well of course he panicked and was trying to scream and started to jump up and down waving his arms and pointing to his face.

"Mr. Weasley what is your problem." Professor McGonagall sternly glared at him.

I thought I could add some light, "Professor I believed someone had enough of his spitting food around and did us all a favor and sealed his mouth closed."

Mr. Weasley if that is true I suggest you improve your manners while eating or it will be detention with Mr. Filch and should I find out who did this they will suffer the same fate." She marched off after removing the spell from Ron's mouth.

"It looks like a long battle with him." Hermione said as Ron moved to the other end of the Gryffindor table.

"Well we have potions first thing so we best retrieve out books from our dorm. Does anyone know where the potion class is held?" You would think they would provide a map of this place for the new students.

When we entered the Potion class room it was obvious were the Gryffindor's were to sit. Hermione and Neville were going to partner up so that left me with Weasley so I hot-footed it over to Daphne on the Slytherin side. Tracy had already teamed up with Zabini.

"Care for a partner Daphne?"

"Are you nuts Gryffindor and Slytherin's never socialize."

"Ah but we are not socializing we are doing school work."

"It's your funeral Potter."

"POTTER what are you doing over there?" Snape sneered.

"Sitting I believe it's called Professor."

"That's going to cost you ten points Potter."

"Thank you Professor."

"That will be another ten points for cheek Potter."

"As I said before, thank you Professor."

"Twenty points and detention Potter."

"Oh! Why thank you Professor Snape."

Daphne was hissing at me to stop while the rest of Slytherin were laughing, Gryffindor were mixed in their emotions and mostly death stares.

Snape forgot to move me and started his class by asking me about ten questions five of which were six and seven-year information. The last couple were out of a book for Master Potion brewers. Snape was turning colors in his rage as I answered them all correctly. He finally pointed his wand at the chalk board where the potion for the day appeared and yelled "BEGIN!"

Cheesed off Potter? Slow down I can hardly keep up cutting the ingredients, where did you learn to brew?"

"I'm on mission and my tutor taught me."

I had finished and filled three vials of the potion that we made, I was glad that I did." No sooner than we leaned back to relax then Snape slithered over.

"Totally unacceptable" and he vanished the contents of our cauldron.

"Thank you Professor Snape" I said and got another ten point deduction.

Daphne was letting me know, "You have a death wish Potter? Have you lost your mind?" She hissed as quietly as possible so as not to incur any point deductions for Slytherin.

"Daphne hush and listen! I figured Draco told Snape some type store and if Snape was going to get me I had best be ready. Watch what happens at the end of class."

"Alright clean up and turn in a vial of your potion and get out." Snape scowled.

"Here you are professor one viol of our potion for your grading."

Snape said nothing but when I turned my back I heard him say, "Whoops" and the sound of my unbreakable vial hitting the floor.

As everyone hurried to the Great Hall and lunch, "Harry you caused so much trouble and lost Gryffindor so many points." Hermione was already starting.

"Sorry Hermione but I have a complaint to file, catch you at the Great Hall."

"So you see Professor McGonagall Professor Snape assessed excessive points in one class session. He disregarded the rules by not summoning or contacting my head of house for disciplinary actions. Hogwarts rules have been violated in multiple areas in his class today."

"Thank you Mr. Potter I will take care of this, also disregard the detention. You may go to lunch now Mr. Potter."

"Thank you Professor" and I headed off for lunch knowing that this was the first of many battles soon to come. In fact I was surprised that Dumbledore had not questioned my other name I had used at the different parties as I was sure he would have remembered me.

/Scene Break/

We had established a study group with Gryffindor, Hufflepuff and Slyterin students. Ron had problems with everyone from Slytherin but he also avoided the library like the plague. I was totally bored with classes but the study group in the library gave me access to reference books for the mandatory essays and I did enjoy helping the others. I did spend a lot of time in the common room playing chess with Ron but I figured he would never be a close friend.

The second class with Snape got our results of the last potion we brewed. The zero was accompanied with a note stating that I had been previously told that the potion brewed was worthless. We repeated the same routine as last class, Snape vanished our potion but as last time I had a vial already made for him.

After class I was again knocking on Professor McGonagall's door, "Yes professor I need your permission and attendance at a formal complaint by me to the Headmaster."

"Professor Snape grades his students potions based on his talents. You are a first year student and have no standing or credibility to challenge his grading."

"So you are saying no meeting with the headmaster?"

"That is correct Mr. Potter."

"I am sorry you feel that way and I hope the Headmaster will not look poorly on you as I shall be taking this to the Board of Governors."

"Mr. Potter I will not be threatened…"

"I made a statement of fact informing you of my actions, it was not a threat."

"Very well Mr. Potter you shall have your meeting and I hope you will be satisfied with its results."

McGonagall 'floe' called the Headmaster so Professor Snape was waiting with the Headmaster when we arrived. We were not in his office a second when Snape launched into the assassination of my parent's reputation which I thought was funny.

"Just like his arrogant father thinking this meeting is funny."

"Actually Headmaster it has been quite entertaining in a perverse way. However to the point, I wish this vial of that potion under discussion be tested by an independent potion brewer and an apology from Snape for the way he has been insulting me."

"That's Professor Snape Harry."

"That's you opinion Headmaster not mine."

"Severus please take this vial and have it analyzed for it quality and let me know as soon as possible." Snape took the vial and again accidentally dropped it on the stone floor.

"Headmaster you have just lost the trust of one Harry Potter" I turned and left his office. I found an empty classroom and slid to the Ministry of Magic and the Office of the Board of Governors. Being like every other government office no one was in except the secretary. She however made a mistake in letting me know that Amelia Bones was on the Board and also the Head of the DMLE.

I headed for the lift and headed to level two for a runaround with that secretary. I finally got in to see Madam Bones when I said to tell Madam Bones that Harry Potter wanted an appointment.

"So that is my story and my last vial of the potion I brewed. Should you have any questions on my capabilities you should contact Chika Takahashi who trained me in potions." That lit up the eyes of Madam Bones.

"The Japanese Potion Master?"

"Yes Madam Bones the same."

/Scene Break/

Gryffindor was not happy with me and the Slytherin were laughing at me but my friends stayed with me. Well Ron became scarce but he only hung around me for the fame at least I hoped that was the only reason. Snape continued to remove points any time he saw me. Then it got quiet, Snape became a clam and made himself scarce, he was hardly seen in the Great Hall.

It was breakfast a few days later and Hedwig glided in to steal some bacon and deliver the Dailey Profit, in that order. The Headlines were big and loud and Hermione gasp drew the attention of those around me to the paper. Some hack of a reporter was ripping Albus Dumbledore for hiring Snape and Snape for abusing his position as a Professor. Twenty minutes later the other student's owls arrived and a few cheers went up around the Great Hall as student found that Snape was on probation.

"Harry what did you do?" Hermione demanded.

"Yes Harrykins what did you do?" asked one of the Weasley twins who was now leaning over my shoulder. I made a mental note to check my robes for something he may have attached to cause a prank.

I didn't get to answer or check my robes as my breakfast was interrupted by Professor McGonagall, "Mr. Potter the Headmaster wishes to see you in his office."

"Lead the way Professor."

"The Headmaster wants to see you alone Mr. Potter."

"Sorry Professor school rules. If you can't handle the problem then the Headmaster does but I am requesting your presents as my Head of House."

"Oh very well I guess I should be there as I have read the Dailey Profit this morning."

Dumbledore was there but so was Snape.