Brothers Under the Sun
Written by Chibikan
Chapter 6
Potions Class and High Power Levels
The first week went by in a flash. It was now Friday and today was Harry's first potions class. He was secretly dreading this class, he didn't like how the professor had glared at him the night of the feast. Obviously, Professor Snape wasn't too fond of him. But why? Harry wondered. What had he done?
He sat with Ron, in front of the class, waiting. He jumped slightly when the door slammed open to admit the billowing professor.
"There will no silly wand nonsense in this class." Professor Snape began snidely. Harry didn't like the self-important way he'd said that. He would make sure to pay close attention. "Potions is a very subtle, very precise art. For the few of you dunderheads capable of mastering it, I can teach you to brew glory, bottle fame and even put a stopper in death." Snape's eyes fell on Harry, who's own eyes were fixed on him. "Mr. Potter, tell me, where would I look to find a bezoar?"
Harry thanked whatever gods that were watching over him that he'd had the sense to read through his potions text that morning. "I think that would be in the belly of a goat, sir." Best to be respectful so as to NOT provide the professor with ammunition.
Snape frowned, "What would I get, Mr. Potter, if I mixed an infusion of wormwood with a powdered root of asphodel?"
"Draught of Living Death, sir," Harry felt a sort of pride. He felt as though he were in a battle, and he was winning.
Snape's lips pursed in frustration. Clearly, he had underestimated the boy's intelligence. One last question, he thought, and said, "And, Mr. Potter, what is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?"
Harry drew himself up straight to deliver the victorious blow, "There is no difference, sir. They are the same plant, Aconite." he waited a moment for Snape to process what he'd said before asking, "Did I get it right sir?"
Snape was silence, conceding his defeat with as much grace as he could muster. He turned abruptly from the boy and proceeded to give them their day's assignment.
Halfway through the brewing, Harry's nose picked up a subtle yet quite offensive odor. He looked around. No one else seemed to have smelled it yet. He turned around to see Neville and Seamus' cauldron bubbling. That couldn't be good. Moments later an explosion rang out, the ruined potion splashing on Neville and burning him pretty badly.
"You idiot boy!" Snape scolded, ignoring Neville's pained whimpering. Snape turned on Harry, "And you! Why did you not warn him he was doing it wrong? Thought you'd get yourself a bit of glory, did you! Ten points from Gryffindor.
Alright, enough was enough. He'd put up with the man's unwarranted dirty looks at meals. He'd answered every single one of the professor's questions, knowing full well that they were meant to make him out to be a fool when he couldn't. But he did NOT have to take this. He stood up, a power surging through him.
"Now see here! First off, you should be focusing on Neville's injury, not finding someone to blame! And you know good and well that I had no idea what they were doing with their potion. I do NOT have eyes in the back of my head!" Harry shouted irately, "I would appreciate it if you would NOT assign blame where it does NOT belong! I don't know what I did to make you hate me, but you are a teacher, a professional! ACT like it!" he shook, unaware of the unnatural breeze blowing his already naturally messy hair about in a frenzy. His eyes stared down the Head of Slytherin House, although he knew he would be in trouble for this. Oh well, at least it would be an earned punishment.
Snape glared back, the boy's words had struck several nerves. No one had ever stood up to him before, not a student. "Detention, Potter, tonight at seven, for your disrespect."
"I'll be here!" was his only response. Harry sat down, the breeze settling down. The rest of the class, including Ron and Hermione, looked at him oddly.
Draco Malfoy was intrigued by this interesting power that Potter's anger had brought about. Was Potter even aware of it?
No one noticed the tiny little metal insect on one of the sconces. It's single red eye blinked several times, focused completely on Harry Potter.
On the ship hovering just above the Earth…
"HIGH POWER LEVEL DETECTED!" the computerized voice woke Raditz from a sound sleep.
Raditz sat up instantly, "How high?"
"READING POWER LEVEL! POWER LEVEL ANALYZED! FIVE THOUSAND FOUR HUNDRED AND THIRTY-SIX!"
"WHOA!" Raditz shouted, pressing the intercom button, "NAPPA! Get up here you great lummox! I think we found him!" he smiled to himself. He couldn't wait to tell the prince.
AN: So, they have at least pinpointed his energy level. What will happen next?
