Chapter 8
Potions
Together, they made their way back to the dungeons for their Potions class, something Harry had been dreading the whole day.
And Snape, like everybody else, began the day by calling attendance, and he like all others, made a pause at Harry's Name.
'Here we go… again' Harry sighed, preparing himself for the worse. He had thought that because he was now in Slytherin, the man would be a little more lenient; apparently that wouldn't be the case.
"Ah, yes. Harry Potter, our new… celebrity"
On his peripheral vision, Harry could see Daphne and Malfoy sharing a look.
Snape then continued with the list, and only when he had finished, did he look up to the class "You are here to learn the subtle science and the exact art of making potions" he spoke in a barely audible whisper, and even then everyone was able to hear him clearly "There will be no foolish wand-waving in this class, which is why many of you will fail." He glared at everyone in complete silence, before stopping to look at Harry "Because you will fail."
Those words were directed at him, but Harry couldn't decide whether he was talking about his ambitions for Slytherin, or his war against Snape's true master. He still hadn't forgotten how the man had killed Dumbledore, or his look of complete triumph as the lead the assault that resulted in the complete annihilation of the Order of the Phoenix. It was with these thoughts in mind that Harry glared right back. 'Let him try to read my mind now' he suddenly felt a hand on his shoulder, as if to restrain him.
Snape looked away, half a smile dancing on his lips "Still there are those who by either sheer willpower or some form of skill have done a decent job on this subject, if any of you show this kind of dedication I might not consider this class a total waste of my time."
More silence followed those words, and every child in the dungeon exchanged looks. Harry saw this, but his senses were still focused only on the professor, and then another hand fell on his other shoulder.
"Easy boy" Daphne murmured, but it was enough and Snape turned to them.
"Ah, yes. Potter." His tone was a greasy as his hair "Tell us, where would you look if you wanted to find a bezoar?"
'This again?' Harry asked himself, barely resisting the urge to raise an eyebrow. 'Thank god for Slughorn' he remembered the long since deceased professor that not only gave him the hint he needed to uncover the secret to Voldemort's immortality, but had also given him and Hermione refuge before the end. "Inside a goat's belly."
Did Snape smile at that? It must have been his imagination.
"What is the wolfsbane potion used for?"
"To keep werewolves tame and tranquil during their transformation each new moon."
Snape nodded "You forgot to mention that while that is the main use for the potion, it has also been used as a poison in the past." The man assessed him for a moment before turning "Five points to Slytherin for a barely decent answer."
It was pure luck that Snape chose that moment to turn away, because Harry's mouth went slack and he openly gaped at the potion's professor. And like before, Daphne was kind enough to close it with a delicate finger.
Snape moved on with the class, writing the ingredients in the blackboard before turning to them and snarling "get moving!" Most Gryffindors jumped in their seats and, eventually, began moving.
"How are we supposed to know where to find what if we know nothing of potions?" Malfoy asked to nobody in particular.
"That's easy. Tell me the first ingredient" Harry knew he was probably going to get in trouble for what he was about to do, but he was rather desperate for some amount of normalcy… not that he wanted to be mistreated and specially by Snape, but how could he know how far he had landed from the tree if he didn't give it a shot?
"Mandragore extract"
"Accio Mandragore extract!" Harry nearly shouted and a small jar flew out of the cabinets and landed on his open hand.
As was expected, Snape was right on his tracks "What do you think you are doing, Potter?"
Looking back at the professor with a rather smug face "Why, retrieving the ingredients, Professor."
Malfoy provided the cherry on top of the cake "You don't actually expect us to walk among that… filth, do you professor?"
For all answer, Snape raised an eyebrow "I expect you to deliver those ingredients back in their respective places after you have finished your potion. You better remember where that jar flew off Mr. Potter, unless you want me to deduct points from my own House." His derisive look was making Harry go crazy.
Snape turned away, just as a certain redhead raised his wand to try the same trick Harry had.
"Weasley! What are you doing with your wand out?"
"But-"
"Five points from Gryffindor, for your complete disregard of rules. Now put that wand out."
Harry actually felt bad for Ron who glared at him from the other side of the room.
"Gryffindors, will they ever learn?" Draco said with amusement "we get away for who we are. Most of them are mu-" the boy was able to stop himself from saying something stupid in front of Harry "mu-muggleborns. How do they expect to compete with the prominence of us Purebloods?"
Harry raised an eyebrow "You do know that my mother was a muggleborn, right? And the best witch of her year."
"There is always an exception to the rule."
"Do you mind?" Daphne looked at them both with her arms crossed and a raised eyebrow "Bring the other ingredients so that we can begin our potion."
Both boys shared a look and then smiled "Yes mistress."
Their sniggers only ceased until Snape himself passed their table, a good ten minutes later.
"I still find it hard to believe" Harry mumbled
"What is he on about this time?"
Daphne sighed and shook her head "I believe he thought Snape was going to hound him or something. It probably has to do with his father."
"You mean James Potter, right. I remember my father saying that he and Snape were rivals of a sort."
The blonde girl pulled Harry by the arm before they entered the great Hall for supper. "I don't suppose you'll care to explain why you are so biased against professor Snape."
Harry looked at her, then at Malfoy and back again to her "Snape and my father were rivals, competing over my mother. And I-" 'I was hounded by him in my past lifetime' yeah, like he could say that "I thought he was going to use that against me." He shook his head, unbelievingly "I was so sure he was going to hound me for it…"
"Bollocks Potter" Malfoy cursed "nobody could be that petty."
Harry's smile was pure sarcasm.
"Anyway." Daphne pulled Harry again, this time towards the Hall "we are free after lunch, what are we going to do today?"
Harry frowned, they had 3 hours until they had to go to bed and he still had to talk to Dumbledore. "I have to go to talk to Dumbledore"
Both his friends looked at him with arched eyebrows, at which he shrugged finally entering the Hall. As he looked at the tables, he was suddenly hit with a wave of inspiration; he grinned maniacally towards his friends "be there in a tic." He then sneaked towards Ravenclaw table, but seeing as the Hall was full of students already, everyone noticed him… except for his target.
Liz screamed and fell into a fit of giggles when her brother tickled her ribs and ran off towards his own table before she was able to do anything "Come back here you bugger!" the girl screamed and ran in pursuit.
Harry stepped on the bench between his two friends and jumped over the table doing a somersault over the heads of the students who ducked.
"Hey! No free-running!" Liz protested going around the table while Harry ran to the other side of the table.
"What's up, Elizabeth" he teased "afraid you'll fall?"
Her eyes narrowed "You're a dead man, Potter."
He blinked, only realizing what he had said to her when he saw her pull her sleeves up. "Ups?" He bolted to the door, but stopped when a spell crashed on the floor in front of him leaving a neon-blue smear on the cobblestones.
"Hey! No spells!" he shouted, moving backwards again
The girl smiled innocently "ups?" her wand disappeared into her robes (Harry knew she kept a wand-holster somewhere in her person, but Liz changed its placement every day). She ran for him and he bolted towards the heads' table where Dumbledore, Flitwick and McGonagall were watching in amusement.
They ran around the tables, laughing and calling the other silly names and laughing all over again as they moved through the tables. After a few minutes of this they were finally interrupted by Dumbledore's light cough.
"Mr. Potter, Mrs. Firefang, perhaps it would be a good idea to take your meal now, before you are again called to your classes."
They stopped with silly grins "yes Headmaster". Liz put out her tongue and went back to her table whereas Harry took the opportunity to approach the head's table
"Professor Dumbledore?"
Smiling genially, Dumbledore answered "Yes, Mr. Potter?"
"Um. I seem to have hit a spot of trouble that I hoped you could help me with. It's, well…" he looked around "kinda private."
"My door is always open to those in need. I will ask professor McGonagall to lead you there after classes."
Relieved, Harry smiled "Thank you, professor"
The Headmaster smiled and once again invited him to enjoy his meal.
