Sorry it's been like forever and a lifetime so here's a nice ,new chapter to compensate! Pleae Review and tell me what you think!
Rose had been taken aback at how the food had magically appeared on the table in front of her. She gasped and looked at an amused Percy who sat on her left. Ron had been stuffing his face with chicken legs, one in each hand. Another first year named Seamus Finnegan began talking to Neville and a boy named Dean Thomas. "Me dad's a muggle, mum's a witch. Bit of a nasty shock for him when he found out." He said. Rose enjoyed his thick, Irish accent. Hermione ate happily, albeit quietly, to Rose's right. Hermione apparently thought that letting Rose barrow her book, "Most Commonly asked Potions Questions and their Answers" by Horace Slughorn made them best mates. Rose decided to let her curiosity get the better of her.
"Say Percy, who's that teacher talking to Professor Quirrell?" she asked, nudging him gently. He was a tad startled and a bit of juice fell into his lap. However, he didn't get mad. He dapped at his trousers and answered her. "Oh! That's Professor Snape, head of Slytherin house."
"What's he teach?"
"Potions. But everyone knows it's the Dark Arts he fancies. He's been after Quirrell's job for years."
As Rose allowed this to sink in, something unexpected, and a little frightening, happened. "Hello! How are you" the head of a man, possibly from the time of Shakespeare, emerged from the plate of chicken legs as Ron reached for another one. Rose jumped back and would have fallen if not for Percy who caught her, placing his hand at the small of her back. "Welcome to Gryffindor!"
"Hello, Sir Nicholas. Have a nice summer?" Percy spoke to the ghost, Sir Nicholas, as if it were completely normal. Rose relaxed a bit and settled herself back in her chair, Percy's hand remaining in case she needed to be caught again. She'd always been a bit jumpy.
Sir Nicholas rose out of the table, facing Percy. "Dismal. Once again, my request to join the Headless Hunt has been denied." He began to leave the table, floating away quite dramatically, until Ron spoke.
"I know you. You're Nearly Headless Nick." He was so interested in Sir Nicholas in fact, that he'd forgotten his food completely. 'Just as well,' Rose thought to herself, 'He was about to give himself indigestion!' Sir Nicholas turned to Ron. He had very curly hair, a fancy moustache, and a pointed beard.
"I prefer Sir Nicholas if you don't mind." But the way he said it let Rose know that it wasn't optional. Hermione looked up, now involving herself in the conversation.
"'Nearly' headless? How can you be nearly headless?" Rose nodded in agreement to the question. However, something told her they'd regret that question. And that something was right.
"Like this." He said. He reached for his curls and pulled his head to the right, it had almost been completely cut off. Ron cried out and Rose jumped a tad. ("Thanks Percy.") Hermione closed her eyes. And her face was painted with disgust. Rose turned to Hermione.
"Please don't ask the ghosts anymore questions." And Hermione quietly agreed.
Rosalynn and Ron ran into the classroom, relieved to see that Professor McGonagall, the professor from the ceremony, was not yet present. The only living thing at her desk was a black and grey tabby cat, wide-eyed and alert. Ron spoke lowly to Rose. "Phew! Made it!" he said, clapping her lightly on the arm. She was still a bit breathless and simply nodded.
"Can you imagine the look on old McGonagall's face if we were late?" he questioned. Suddenly the cat on the desk pounced and transformed into the Professor. Rose and Ron were at a loss for words Well Rose was.
"That was bloody brilliant!"
"Thank you for that assessment, Mr. Weasley. Perhaps it would be more useful if I transfigured Miss. Potter and yourself into a pocket watch. That way one of you might be on time."
"We got lost." Rose managed. Her face still tinted pink.
"Then perhaps a map? I trust you don't need one to find your seats." She walked back to her desk and as Rose and Ron went to their seats, Draco snuck in a wink at her.
The potions classroom was not a well lit as the other classrooms were but it allowed the students enough natural light and candle light to see. Hermione sat between Rose and Ron in the second row. Unfortunately, Draco also had this class as well and would sneak in a wink or blow a mocking kiss or two. Rose didn't know how to feel about this kind of attention. It's not as if he was bad looking. In fact, he was pretty cute. It was just weird how he could treat he friend so rudely then make little passes at her like nothing had happened.
She turned her attention to Hermione, who'd been fairly quiet since they entered the class. "Oi, Hermione." Hermione turned her attention to her. "Um-how are you?"
Hermione smiled a little, seeing that Rose was putting in the effort to be friendly meant a lot to her. "I'm alright. And yourself?"
"I'm good. Though things could've started better this morning." She blushed. Hermione perked up a bit. She looked Rose in the eyes.
"I've been meaning to ask about that! What happened?"
"Well, Ron got us lost-"
"Hey!"
"Hey yourself. 'Don't worry Rose I know exactly where we're going." This caused Hermione to laugh. A real, genuine laugh. It made Rose feel good. Maybe she wasn't so stuck up.
Rose didn't get time to ponder on Hermione's personality because the door to the classroom flew open quite violently. A man stormed into the classroom, a long black cloak flowing behind him. He quickly made his way to the front of the class.
"There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class." He spoke with utter indifference. He spun to face the class, his left elbow landing gently on his desk. He reminded her of the dance instructor who lived a few houses down from her. He was the same height and had dark hair like this professor.
"As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However, for those select dew who possess the predisposition I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death." Rose was utterly enthralled with his voice. He didn't seem very kind but his voice was absolutely enchanting.
"Miss. Potter," he gave Rose an icy stare that chilled her to the bone. "Our new celebrity." Her eyes narrowed slightly and Ron glanced at her.
"Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Hermione's hand shot up.
"Erm, wormwood and powdered root of asphodel create the Draught of Living Death, I think." Snape didn't seem pleased but nodded..
"Now, Miss Potter, where would you look if I asked you to find a bezoar?"
"In the stomach of a goat." She gave a half smile, remembering how silly she thought it was when she first read it. This earned her a scowl.
"Now what is the difference between Monkswood and Wolfsbane?"
"Aren't they the same plant professor?"
Professor Snape glolwered at her, obviously wanting her to get the questions wrong. However, not wanting to risk her answering another question right, he went back to his desk, sinking into his seat. He had the class write so many notes that Rose's hand nearly fell off.
As they began to leave, Hermione squealed, "You did read it!" Rose chuckled and wrapped an arm around Hermione's small shoulders.