Before I Knew
4. Potions
"Finnigan, switch with Dunbar," Snape commanded coldly. "Perhaps if he can understand his partner, Longbottom might prove to be slightly more competent. But I'm not holding my breath."
Seamus stood up, his lips pursed angrily, and grabbed his books, shuffling over to the empty chair next to Dean where Fay Dunbar had just been sitting.
"He's a git," Seamus whispered, glaring at the back of Snape's head. Then he turned to Dean, his blue eyes sad. "Is me accent that hard to understand?"
Dean shook his head insistently. "No. I can understand it, at least. He shouldn't've said that about you."
"Thanks." Seamus smiled. "Mind you, 'm right glad to be rid of Longbottom, I am. He's a bit of a duffer. Melted me cauldron to bits last time."
Dean chuckled at the memory of their first Potions lesson. Neville had ended up destroying Seamus' cauldron, spilling the potion all over himself and the floor.
"Hey, did ye draw that?"
Dean looked down and saw Seamus pointing to the doodle he'd done on a page of his Potions book. It depicted a demonic Snape emerging from a cauldron with evil flames surging around him.
"Um, no," Dean mumbled, hurriedly closing his book.
Seamus raised an eyebrow. "Well, whoever did, they should know 's really good," he said, his tone implying that he knew Dean really did do the drawing.
Dean ducked his head to hide his smile as Snape began talking again.