Potions Class is not so charming

Of course, life at Hogwarts was not all that easy. We've had projects, essays, spells to learn and remember and tests to study for.

Of course, being hard-working and quite intelligent (if I do say so myself), I hardly had much trouble, as for Julie, but for Violet, she was struggling, so, naturally, being guilty, Julie and I decided to help her with all her essays, tests, projects, etc..

So between my own homework, Violet's tutoring and my desperate attempts to get the courage to talk to Harry Potter, I had basically no time for myself.

Plus, Mum had sent me several books from Flourish and Blotts and I had gotten my friend Ginny to get a book from Hogsmeade for me called "How to Become Less Shy and More: A Handy, Self-Help Guide for Young Witches Everywhere."

And it was that book that I was reading on my way down to the dungeons, that Halloween afternoon.

Julie and Violet had rushed ahead, because they needed to ask Professor Snape about the Potions project that Professor Snape had assigned last class.

Unfortunatley, what I didn't know, that was ten minutes ago.

"Veebak, you are 5 minutes late." Snape announced cooly and quietly as I entered the Potions Dungeon.

"Therefore,' Snape continued, his black beedy eyes staring straight at me. 'I am forced to take 5 points from Gryffindor. Now, if Miss Veebak was here on time, what would she have missed?"

Snape's beedy black eyes searched the classroom, avoiding Julie's hand raised in the air. Julie, being quite smart, was very good at Potions, but being in Gryffindor, Snape naturally hated her.

Having no other choice, Snape reluctantly called on her. "Yes, Julie?"

Snape refrained from using her surname, because practically no one at Hogwarts could pronounce "Sixths". Well, at least I couldn't.

"Well, Professor Snape, you were explaining the potion that we were to make today in class."

"And what potion would that be, Julie?"

"Well, Professor, you haven't told us yet."

Snape opened his mouth to speak, but then closed it. "Five Points from Gryffindor for speaking back, Miss Sixths." he ordered.

Well, that made me angry. I raised my hand from where I was sitting.

"Professor, you have no right to do that." I spoke up, meeting eye contact with him.

Step 1: When speaking of a serious matter, always keep eye contact with to whom you are speaking with.

The tips of Snape's ears turned a bright cherry red, yet the rest of his face was as still as stone.

"Detention, Miss Veebak. My office, tomorrow night."

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As Julie, Violet, Dennis (who now stuck to our group like glue) and I left the Potions class, Julie and Violet tried to understand why I told the teacher off.

"But why, Nellie?" Violet asked, worried that I was going to turn all rebel.

"Violet, leave her alone." Julie said, making Violet glum.

"Guys , cheer up!" Dennis said, as excitable as ever. "We only have half a class of Charms, then we get to meet the Beauxbatons and the Durmstrang people!"

"Whoah, Colin, calm down!" Julie half-joked. "How much sugar did your brother bring you from Hogsmeade?"

I giggled. Unfortunatley for me, my giggle isn't exactly…a giggle. It sounds more like a monkey wearing shoes and rubbing them on the floor. Very unpleasant.

"What a distinctive laugh." a girl commented behind me. It was Hermione Granger, who was quite nice when you needed help, even if she was going out with my crush.

"Um, thank you?" I wasn't sure whether she was insulting me or complementing me.

"Hermione, what's wrong with her laugh?" Ron asked. Behind me, I knew Violet was turning red.

"Nothing, Ron. It's just that…" Hermione stopped mid-sentence. "Oh dear, I just realized what I said. I'm sorry, Nellie!"

"That's okay, Hermione." I consoled.

"What's up with her?" I mouthed to Ron, who was standing next to…Harry? Harry was there and I hadn't even stuttered!? That book must have been working!

"So, see ya around guys!" Ron waved, speaking for himself, Hermione and Harry, as Hermione still felt ashamed for what she had said and Harry was checking his book bag to see if he had everything for Potions, his most hated subject.

Which reminds me. I'll be getting Teen Witches latest copy next week. I hope that Juno, my beautiful Snowy Owl, will be able to bring it.

"Merlin's Pants!" I exclaimed as we reached the Charms class.

"What?" Violet, Julie and Dennis all cried in unison. They must have thought I forgot something major, like my Potions textbook or clean underpants. Well, after my unexpected exclimation, poor Dennis looked as if he needed clean underpants.

"Aren't we supposed to be making our pets fur change today?" I asked in alarm.

"No, you dilly-weed." Julie whacked me on the head. Ouch.

Dennis, still thinking that Julie was serious about Colin giving him candy, took out his book bag when he reached the desk designated for him, Julie and Violet, and showed the interior to us.

There was not a single Acid Pop, Canary Cream, Chocoball, Chocolate Frog, Cockroach Cluster, Fizzing Whizbee, Ice Mouse, Fudge Fly, Licorice Wand, Pepper Imp, Peppermint Toad, Sugar Quill, Ton-Tougne Toffee, Cauldron Cake or any type of other candy in the bag.

Well, except for the two large boxes of Bertie Bott's Every Flavor Beans, which Violet, Julie and I all helped ourselves to.

"Now pay attention, class!" Flitwick squeaked from his place on the large pile of books in the front of the class.

"Today, we have a difficult task that will take all of today's class and tomorrow's class." he continued, looking very excited.

Julie raised her hand, only to be called on by Professor Flitwick immediately. Charms is Julie's favorite class, as Transfiguration is mine and Defence against The Dark Arts is Harry's.

"What will we be doing today, Professor?" Julie asked, quite excitedly.

"Oh!' Flitwick squealed. 'We will be charming various inanimate objects to sing melodies from Broadway!"

The class stared at one-another, dumbfounded. Broadway? How could we do that? We had only just started Charms two months ago!

"Yes!' Flitwick continued. 'So, everyone, take out your wands and an inaminate ob- No, Mr Creevy, your Viktor Krum action figure will not do; that's for the advanced-'

Dennis sadly returned his action figure into his book bag.

"Now does everyone have their objects?' Flitwick chirped, and the whole class held up their items, including many quills, several pencils, a vial of crushed snake fangs and Lydia, who sat next to me, held up a note. A love letter from Draco, perhaps? Ugh, just the thought of Lydia and Draco made me want to barf.

"Excellent!' Flitwick was almost hopping with glee. 'Now, position your object on your desk. Think of a marvellous tune from a Broadway show…All have one? Excellent! Now take your wand and give it a nice swish…Excellent swish, Miss Sixths!' Julie turned pink with pleasure. 'Now say 'Singus Broadwaynus'!"

"Singus Broadwaynus." I repeated, swishing my wand. Argh, the quill just wouldn't sing!

"Keep trying, students!" Professor Flitwick encouraged.

"Singus Broadwaynus Singus Broadwaynus Singus Broadwaynus Singus Broadwaynus!" I repeated. Oh, it was worthless!

"Some things in life are bad

They can really make you madOther things just make you swear and curse.When you're chewing on life's gristleDon't grumble, give a whistleAnd this'll help things turn out for the best..

.And...always look on the bright side of life... Always look on the light side of life…"

"Um, Professor?" Julie raised her hand, speaking over her own quill, signing quite loudly. "My quill is singing a song from the film Monty Python's Life of Brian; the problem is, sir, the movie is not a musical."

"Well,' Flitwick suggested, "perhaps you were just in a good mood then, Miss Sixths."

Julie turned pink. Getting a compliment from her favorite teacher always made her day.

"Oh, will you look at the time!" Flitwick yelped. "Now, students, for homework, I want you to attempt this spell, then write an essay on why this charm may be useful today. One foot, please!"

"One foot?" Violet grumbled as we exited the Charms class. "No one has time for that!"

"Cheer up, Vi!" Julie encouraged her. "Oh, look, the Beauxbatons students are arriving!"

A\N: The song that Julie's quill sang was "Always Look On The Bright Side Of Life" from Monty Python's Life of Brian, and later, Spamalot, which is my favorite Broadway musical, so I had to put it in. J

The next chapter will probabley be when the Beauxbatons and Durmstrang students arrive.