Potions lessons were in the dungeons, so they weren't that far from the dormitory. Snape, like Flitwick, started the class by taking the register, and like Flitwick, he paused at Harry's name.
"Ah, yes" he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new celebrity". Harry wasn't quite sure what to make of his comment. Some of the Gryffindors snickered at Harry. Harry turned around and saw a lanky red haired boy grinning at him laughing to himself. Harry didn't mind too much cause of what happened immediately after. "Ten points from Gryffindor" Snape said in a commanding voice.
"Your here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper. But they caught every word. Harry wasn't sure if he was going to like this class yet but he knew he would either love it or hate. "As there is little foolish wand waving here, many of will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you to understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes; the delicate power of liquids the creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death, only if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach".
More silence fills the room. So what came next was even more attention obtaining. "Potter!" Snape said suddenly. "What would I get if I added powered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Now Harry understood Lucious' letter. If he hadn't read his text book, Snape would proceed to make him look like a fool. "Asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion, if I'm not mistaken, called Draught of the living death." Harry answer with confidence and didn't break eye contact with Snape.
As correct as the answer was Snape did not seem pleased with Harry's answer. He proceeded to ask another. "Where would you look if I told you to look for a bezoar?" Snape asked stalking back and forth in front of Harry and his friends. Again Harry knew this one simple because of Lucious' letter. "Inside the stomach of a goat, sir" Harry said flatly without any tone at all.
"Finally, what is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?" Harry knew this one again, but was more concerned to the point of Snape's apparent attempt to make a mockery of him. "The difference between monkshood and wolfsbane is the name, as they are the same plant; it also goes by the name of aconite, sir"
Snape was doing his best not to be read by this group of first years on their first day of Potions. Potter was not making this any easier with his infuriating knowledge, on the other hand Snape was quite pleased that one of his snakes this year was obviously so adept at Potions.
"Correct, well why are you not writing this down" Snape addressed the class as he waved his wand over a chalk bored causing it to turn it clean side and write on itself today's lesson.
Things actually improved as the class went on. Harry and Draco wrote down the instructions and started counting their ingredients and laying out their tools. Snape seem to criticize everyone but Draco and by partnership Harry. Harry was very glad to have Draco as his partner, he was quite knowledgeable in the subject and was patient enough with Harry so that he could learn and not just be an extra pair of hands.
Everything was going well until one of the Gryffindors was stupid enough to melt his partner's cauldron into a twisted blob, causing their potion to seep across the stone floor, melting holes in people's shoes. Within seconds the Gryffindor side of the class standing on the stools, while the Slytherin half following Harry's lead had simply lift their feet of the floor and some even rested them on their tables.
The same boy who melted the cauldron was now on the floor moaning in pain as he was covered in angry red boils. "Idiot boy!" snarled Snape clearing the potion away with a single wave of his wand. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire." the boy whimpered as boils started to pop up all over his nose.
"Take him up to the hospital wing," Snape spat at his partner. Then he rounded on a pair of Gryffindors, one with bright red hair, Weasley if Harry remembered right. The other was a Bushy haired girl that Harry didn't remember. They had been had been working next to Neville. Harry could tell from Snape's expression this was going to be bad for them.
"You - Weasley - why didn't you tell him not to add the quills. Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you. That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor." Weasley was obviously not agreeing with this assessment of what happened. "Sir I wasn't even paying attention to what Neville was doing how could it be my fault"? Weasley asked in a defiant tone.
Draco snickered and looked on with glee. "Here it comes, I was wonder when some one would do something stupid to make him angry" Draco said in a whisper. Harry looked on with a morbid fascination, like watching someone doing some that you know will get them hurt but not doing anything, just watching.
"That mister Weasley is a Detention and another 20 points from Gryffindor for arguing with a Professor; care to make it two Detentions"? Snape finished walking back to his desk not waiting for an answer
After the fuss of the botched potion calmed down, everything seemed to continue. Snape started testing everyone's potions, deeming only Draco and Harry's potion serviceable, while the rest were less than satisfactory. The Potions class started emptying out when Harry decided to confront Snape now about what Lucius had said.
"Professor Snape may I talk to for a moment" Harry asked, standing in front of Snape's desk as he prepared for his next group of students. "What is it Potter"? Snape asked not even looking up from the papers he was grading. "You knew my parents" Harry said not as a question. Harry knew that he was going to have to be blunt if he wanted to get any answers. Snape look shocked to say the least. This would be one of the few times in Snape's life that he was in every aspect of the word. Flabbergasted.
"Potter you should not put your nose where it does not belong" Snape said getting up trying to focus on anything but Potter. "These are my Parents, and you're not denying that you knew them" Harry said pulling from that Slytherin cunning. Snape stiffened, and then slowly turn around. "Potter I won't lie to one of my Slytherins, but I might not simply tell you the truth. Understand, Potter?" Snape said finally taking his seat behind his desk. Harry didn't like the way the Snape was avoiding the topic.
"So will you tell me anything about them or will you still try an avoid that?" Harry gaining confidence about fronting this man about his parents. "Potter, I do not have to avoid telling you anything. I simply will not tell you, now get to your next class" Snape nearly shouted at him. Harry stood there, testing his ground. Ultimately he decided not to push Snape on the matter as of yet. He knew he could get more out of him but not yet.
Harry went on his way to his next class, thinking about why Snape wouldn't tell him anything. As Harry passed a large painting of a man with a grandfather clock, which was one of the few paintings with an accurate way of telling time, he knew he was going to be late, so he started running. It did not take long before Harry was half way there, he already knew he was late at this point, but decided no point in being more late, thinking to himself that was stupid and was glad he didn't say it out loud.