Ravon : Alright here we go, and yay for USB Port =D
Disclaimer - I do not own the Harry Potter characters! They all belong to JK Rowling!
This story is taking place in late April, 1976.
James – 16 (March 27th, 1960) 5th Year, Gryffindor
Sirius – 16 (September 15th, 1959) 5th Year, Gryffindor
Remus – 16 (March 10th, 1960) 5th Year, Gryffindor
Peter – 15 (August 23rd, 1960) 5th Year, Gryffindor
Severus – 16 (January 9th, 1960) 5th Year, Slytherin
Lily – 16 (January 30th, 1960) 5th Year, Gryffindor
Kristin – 33 (October 2nd, 1961) Younger Self currently in 3rd year - Time Traveled from July, 1995
Sophie – 33 (April 25th, 1962) Younger Self currently in 3rd year – Time Traveled from July, 1995
~~~~~~~~~James~~~Sirius~~~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~Remus~~~~~~~~Peter~~~~~~
~~~~~~Sophie~~~~~~~~~Lily~~~~~~~~
~~~~~~~~~Kristin~~Severus~~~~~~~
Latest Voting Results
Who should Remus be with?
A.) Sophie - 6
B.) Tonks - 13
C.) Sirius – 6
Nothing has changed much, probably because I'm updating too fast lol don't forget on Chapter 12 of the book, (not the fic) the next lowest will be dropped. You guys better say your preferences or some of you may be disappointed. =D
Disclaimer – I do not own Harry Potter characters! They all belong to JK Rowling!
Chapter 10: Kristin's Punishment and Secrets Revealed
Kristin looked at the page, resisting the urge to groan.
"Chapter Eight: The Potions Master,"
"He gets a whole chapter to himself?" Sirius asked in disbelief.
James's fists clenched and Lily looked slightly worried.
"There, look."
"Where?"
"Next to the tall kid with the red hair."
"Well, that won't help his insecurities."
"What was your first clue, Paddy?"
"Wearing the glasses?"
"Did you see his face?"
"Did you see his scar?"
"Wow, that would get annoying after just a few minutes," Lily said.
"People do that to me all the time," Sirius commented, grinning.
James and Remus stared at him.
"What planet do you live on?" Sophie asked incredulous as Kristin snorted, and Severus ignored them.
Whispers followed Harry from the moment he left his dormitory the next day. People lining up outside classrooms stood on tiptoe to get a look at him, or doubled back to pass him in the corridors again, staring.
"Ugh, what is he, a zoo animal?" Lily groaned.
Kristin rolled her eyes, as she remembered what a pain it was getting students to focus that year.
Harry wished they wouldn't, because he was trying to concentrate on finding his way to classes.
"Ignore them then, it's not that hard," Severus said.
Lily raised her eyebrows at him.
"It is when the entire school is doing it, Severus," Sophie cut-in.
Severus rolled his eyes, while Kristin sunk back behind the book.
There were a hundred and forty-two staircases at Hogwarts: wide, sweeping ones; narrow, rickety ones; some that led somewhere different on a Friday; some with a vanishing step halfway up that you had to remember to jump. Then there were doors that wouldn't open unless you asked politely, or tickled them in exactly the right place, and doors that weren't really doors at all, but solid walls just pretending. It was also very hard to remember where anything was, because it all seemed to move around a lot.
"Yeah, and some people didn't make it easier," Lily said, glaring at the marauders who were all trying to look innocent.
"Did you hear that, Paddy?"
"She seems to think we cause trouble, Prongs."
"Dunno where she ever got that idea, Paddy."
"Absolutely Barmy," Remus added, and the marauders burst out laughing.
Kristin glared at them, while Sophie shook her head in amusement.
The people in the portraits kept going to visit each other, and Harry was sure the coats of armor could walk.
"They can," Severus said, then looking as though he regretted interrupting as they all stared at him.
The ghosts didn't help, either. It was always a nasty shock when one of them glided suddenly through a door you were trying to open.
James and Sirius laughed.
Lily winced. "I hate it when that happens"
Kristin was shooting glares over the book at Sophie, who was trying to keep herself from laughing.
Nearly Headless Nick was always happy to point new Gryffindors in the right direction, but Peeves the Poltergeist was worth two locked doors and a trick staircase if you met him when you were late for class.
"I seem to remember someone who was late for class, because a pair of Gryffindors made sure Peeves blocked his every way," Lily growled, while Severus glared at the marauders.
Kristin sighed, knowing this chapter was not going to be a happy one.
He would drop wastepaper baskets on your head, pull rugs from under your feet, pelt you with bits of chalk, or sneak up behind you, invisible, grab your nose, and screech, "GOT YOUR CONK!"
The marauders burst out laughing.
"He is quite amusing when said jokes are not played on your own person," Remus was smiling as he said this.
Even worse than Peeves, if that was possible, was the caretaker, Argus Filch.
"He is still there?" James asked in disbelief.
Harry and Ron managed to get on the wrong side of him on their very first morning.
"First morning?"
"Took us at least three days didn't it, Paddy?"
"Sure did, Prongs."
"And I assume you two are quite proud of that," Sophie added, a smile twitching on her lips.
Filch found them trying to force their way through a door that unluckily turned out to be the entrance to the out-of-bounds corridor on the third floor.
"Typical Potter," Severus muttered.
"What does that mean?" James said, narrowing his eyes.
"I'm sure they were just lost Severus…" Lily said.
Severus snorted in disbelief causing Kristin to shoot him a disapproving glance.
He wouldn't believe they were lost,
"See?"
"You just got told, Snape."
"Noone asked you Black, so keep your nose out of it."
"Enough, you two," Sophie said, before Sirius could retaliate.
was sure they were trying to break into it on purpose, and was threatening to lock them in the dungeons when they were rescued by Professor Quirrell, who was passing.
"I still say he is quite odd," Remus said, frowning.
Sophie looked at Kristin. "Did he always wear that turban?"
"I'll be damned if I know," Kristin said, looking as though she wanted this chapter over and done with.
Filch owned a cat called Mrs. Norris,
"Great, he has a cat now," Lily groaned.
a scrawny, dust-colored creature with bulging, lamp like eyes just like Filch's.
"And, here we are again with the not so flattering descriptions," Kristin muttered.
"Are you going to say something every time this happens?" Sophie asked.
"Yes."
"Lovely…"
She patrolled the corridors alone. Break a rule in front of her, put just one toe out of line, and she'd whisk off for Filch, who'd appear, wheezing, two seconds later. Filch knew the secret passageways of the school better than anyone (except perhaps the Weasley twins)
"And us of course!" James exclaimed, grinning arrogantly.
Lily sighed. And here I was just beginning to think he might have grown up a little…
James and Sirius high-fived each other while Severus muttered something incoherent.
and could pop up as suddenly as any of the ghosts. The students all hated him, and it was the dearest ambition of many to give Mrs. Norris a good kick.
Sophie frowned. "That's cruelty to animals!"
"It's Filch's cat, not exactly an innocent animal. Hell I'd love to give her a good kick."
James winced as all three women shot venomous glares in Sirius' direction. If looks could kill…
And then, once you had managed to find them, there were the classes themselves. There was a lot more to magic, as Harry quickly found out, than waving your wand and saying a few funny words.
"Really?" James said with mock-incredulity.
"Could have fooled us!" Sirius added in the same tone.
"Unless you count Potions."
"But, who likes Potions?"
"Certainly not me!"
"Not me either!"
"And I have to say I don't much care for the future professor." (Kristin growled slightly.)
"You said it mate!"
"What was his name again?"
"Professor Grease-Head?" (Severus scowled at this while Lily rolled her eyes.)
"No, Professor Slime-Ball."
"Wait, it could have been Professor Snivellus!" (Sophie was eyeing Kristin cautiously as her growling was becoming louder, and her fists were turning white.)
"But, Professor Snivelly for short."
"Maybe we should bring a mop to class!"
"Gotta clean up that grease somehow, eh?"
"Among other things as well!"
Kristin had had enough. Slamming the book shut, she got to her feet in record time, and with three long strides, reached the now laughing Sirius and James. Severus blinked and slowly sat back down, as he too had been about to teach them a lesson.
Sensing the incoming danger, Remus and Peter quickly scrambled out of the way, as Kristin passed them and pulled Sirius up by his ear. ("Oi! What the bloody hell-") She then turned him around and gave him three sharp swats on his rear. Sirius yelled in pain, as Kristin switched to James and gave him three swats as well.
"What the bloody hell was that for-" James stopped at the look on Kristin's face; she was furious.
"If you are both going to act like three-year-olds, than you will be punished like three-year-olds," she hissed, grabbing Sirius and James by their arms and dragged them to opposite corners of the room. The others were watching her with wide eyes, (Peter was hiding behind Lily) as she returned to the center of the circle of beanbags, still standing.
"Turn and face your corner – yes both of you!" she growled taking out her wand. "Do it or I will make you, and you won't like it!"
"You can't treat us-" Sirius began, but yelped as Kristin sent a stinging hex right at his rear end. James, who had also been about to protest, quickly turned to his corner, face turning red from humiliation.
"Both of you will stand there for ten minutes without talking or moving – no, James hands by your side!" James had been trying to rub his sore bottom, but quickly dropped his hand.
"Wait, ten minutes?" he yelled incredulously, just realizing what Kristin had said. Two stinging hexes hit his bum in response, and he gasped in pain.
"No talking, either of you," she growled, marching back to her beanbag and sitting back down on it, a glare still etched on her face.
There was silence in the room as Peter and Remus slowly edged back to their seats. Sophie looked as though she wasn't sure whether to burst out laughing or cop a one-eighty and scold the two troublemakers as well. Severus looked at Kristin.
"You didn't have to defend me, I am capable of looking after myself." Kristin gave him a knowing look and despite what he said, she could tell he was holding back a smirk.
Still, she sighed. "Severus, they need to understand that this type of behavior is not only immature, but it shows poor character and brings shame upon their house as well as their families. I also think that-" she stopped, looking over at the occupied corners, where one of the boys had just snorted.
Narrowing her eyes, she continued. "I also think that maybe I should report them to Dumbledore or write a letter to their parents. It's one thing to tease someone, and quite another to outright bully them with no remorse for -" she stopped again glaring at the two in the corners, before growling slightly and getting back up, making her way towards them.
Meanwhile Lily was looking at James and Sirius in utter disbelief. They were actually whispering to each other, despite what Kristin had just said to them. Remus was trying to signal them to warn them, but at a look from Sophie, he stopped, sighing.
Kristin reached Sirius, and quickly pushed him by the back of his neck so he was bent slightly, before delivering four strikes to his sit spot this time. He howled in pain, as the blows hit him, but refrained from any comments, as Kristin made her way to James.
James was about to protest, but as Kristin reached him, he saw Sirius rapidly shaking his head. He was taking the time to rub his stinging backside, while Kristin was focused on James. Sighing in resignation, James tensed as she bent him forward…
Ten minutes later, he and Sirius were told to come back to the circle, both red in the face, and looking completely humiliated. Remus was surprised they didn't jump down Kristin's throat for what she just put them through, but realized they probably thought it best not to anger her further. They may have been idiots, but they were not suicidal.
Sophie sighed. "Ok, now let's see if we can't get behave for the rest of the chapter," she said, looking at Kristin who was picking up the book.
Lily was gazing at her with slight respect. "Do you have any children?"
Kristin eyed her suspiciously. "Why?"
"Because do you know who you just reminded me of?"
"Who?" Kristin asked wearily.
"My mother." Kristin froze. "She would always smack me or Petunia and send us to separate corners if we misbehaved."
Kristin looked at her carefully. "Are you saying I looked like I was treating James and Sirius as my own?"
Lily and Remus both nodded.
"My dad used to do the same thing as well." Remus added.
Suddenly Sophie started laughing while Sirius and James both sulked. "Keep this up Kristin, and you get to explain to Harry why Sirius and James look to you as a second mother!"
Kristin was looking completely bewildered at this point. "My husband would kill me, not to mention the age difference! And let's not forget how awkward that would be considering he sure as hell doesn't feel "fatherly" to Lily, Sirius or James!"
Sophie snorted with laughter as she realized what Kristin meant. Awkward wouldn't even begin to describe it
"Shall we continue?"
"Please."
They had to study the night skies through their telescopes every Wednesday at midnight and learn the names of different stars and the movements of the planets. Three times a week they went out to the greenhouses behind the castle to study Herbology, with a dumpy little witch called Professor Sprout,
"She is not dumpy," Remus said, frowning.
Severus raised an eyebrow at him.
"Well she certainly isn't a pixie either," James countered with a weak grin.
Sophie smiled at them.
where they learned how to take care of all the strange plants and fungi, and found out what they were used for. Easily the most boring class was History of Magic,
"Why we even have that class is a mystery to me." Severus muttered.
which was the only one taught by a ghost. Professor Binns had been very old indeed when he had fallen asleep in front of the staff room fire and got up next morning to teach, leaving his body behind him. Binns droned on and on while they scribbled down names and dates, and got Emetic the Evil and Uric the Oddball mixed up.
Lily groaned and muttered about idiots who didn't study.
Sophie laughed at her expression.
Professor Flitwick, the Charms teacher, was a tiny little wizard who had to stand on a pile of books to see over his desk.
James and Sirius started chuckling, but it was clear they were still wary about setting Kristin off again.
"He is too funny."
At the start of their first class he took the roll call, and when he reached Harry's name he gave an excited squeak and toppled out of sight.
Kristin snorted from behind the book, while Severus and Lily both rolled their eyes.
Professor McGonagall was again different. Harry had been quite right to think she wasn't a teacher to cross. Strict and clever,
"You're not joking," James said laughing, while eyeing Kristin still.
"But it is oh so fun to get her riled up," Sirius added. He too was looking at Kristin, who sighed softly.
"I don't care if you two have fun here, but I will not tolerate name-calling or insults directed towards someone's house from either of you."
"Fair enough," Remus said, seeing both boys scowl at the conditions.
"Why did you have to ruin the peace?" Lily asked grumpily, causing Severus to start a fit of coughs, in order to hide his laughter.
Kristin smirked.
she gave them a talking-to the moment they sat down in her first class.
"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts," she said. "Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned."
"And yet she still let's these two idiots back in," Lily said in disbelief.
James and Sirius grinned broadly.
Then she changed her desk into a pig and back again. They were all very impressed and couldn't wait to get started, but soon realized they weren't going to be changing the furniture into animals for a long time.
After taking a lot of complicated notes, they were each given a match and started trying to turn it into a needle. By the end of the lesson, only Hermione Granger had made any difference to her match;
"Awww, he didn't get my Transfiguration skills," James pouted.
"Maybe he got Potions of Defense."
Sophie snorted at that.
Professor McGonagall showed the class how it had gone all silver and pointy and gave Hermione a rare smile.
"Only a rare one?"
"Why a rare one?"
"Hey maybe we can get one from her, Paddy!"
"But I don't want a rare smile, Prongs!"
"What, you want a medium on instead?" (Sarcasm from Remus)
"Nah, how about a medium-rare smile, that's more up my alley."
"I thought that was medium-well, Paddy."
"No, medium-well is your type Wormtail."
"And I'm the rare type!" ("Please tell me we have more Advil," Severus pleaded.)
"No, Prongs you're medium remember?"
"But I don't want to be medium, Wormy!"
"Well, Pad is medium-rare and I know Moony isn't medium."
"What am I then?" (Sarcasm still evident)
"Well-Done is your type!" James, Sirius and Peter all said in unison.
Remus buried his face in his hands, groaning as the other three burst out laughing.
Kristin was staring at them as though they had all lost their heads. Lily was gaping at them and Sophie was trying to fight back her laughter.
"Idiots," Severus muttered, swallowing the pill Kristin gave him.
The class everyone had really been looking forward to was Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Quirrell's lessons turned out to be a bit of a joke. His classroom smelled strongly of garlic,
"What in the world?"
"Garlic?"
"What does he have-"
"Vampirephobia?"
"Is that even a word?" Sophie whispered to Severus who rolled his eyes.
"No, but since when did that ever stop them?"
Lily chucked her empty cup at James and Sirius.
"Ok you two, enough." Kristin said.
"Yes ma'am."
which everyone said was to ward off a vampire he'd met in Romania and was afraid would be coming back to get him one of these days. His turban, he told them, had been given to him by an African prince as a thank-you for getting rid of a troublesome zombie, but they weren't sure they believed this story.
Someone snorted.
For one thing, when Seamus Finnigan asked eagerly to hear how Quirrell had fought off the zombie, Quirrell went pink and started talking about the weather; for another, they had noticed that a funny smell hung around the turban, and the Weasley twins insisted that it was stuffed full of garlic as well, so that Quirrell was protected wherever he went.
"Riiiiight…"
"This bloke sounds like a nutter."
"You're one to talk Paddy."
Harry was very relieved to find out that he wasn't miles behind everyone else. Lots of people had come from Muggle families and, like him, hadn't had any idea that they were witches and wizards. There was so much to learn that even people like Ron didn't have much of a head start.
"Well it wouldn't be very fair if they did!"
Friday was an important day for Harry and Ron. They finally managed to find their way down to the Great Hall for breakfast without getting lost once.
"What have we got today?" Harry asked Ron as he poured sugar on his porridge.
"Double Potions with the Slytherins," said Ron. "Snape's Head of Slytherin House. They say he always favors them — we'll be able to see if it's true."
"Well, great," James groaned.
"Wouldn't be surprised if he does," Sirius muttered.
"Wish McGonagall favored us," said Harry.
Sophie laughed outright at that. "As if! She only favors you by giving you loads of homework."
Professor McGonagall was head of Gryffindor House, but it hadn't stopped her from giving them a huge pile of homework the day before.
Just then, the mail arrived. Harry had gotten used to this by now, but it had given him a bit of a shock on the first morning, when about a hundred owls had suddenly streamed into the Great Hall during breakfast, circling the tables until they saw their owners, and dropping letters and packages onto their laps.
"Mmmm food!"
Sophie looked around suddenly. "Did you guys eat breakfast?"" They all nodded.
"Ok, well this room should provide you with any food you guys need from now on. Just wish for it and it will appear from the kitchens."
"But won't that confuse the elves?" Lily asked.
Kristin winced. "Oh yeah we didn't think about that one."
Sophie smiled. "I can take care of that."
She got up, walked away from the group and fiddled with her necklace. One second later the familiar portal opened once more, but it wasn't to Spinners End or to Grimmauld Place this time. The portal said Hogwarts School Great Hall. She stuck her head through, pulled it back with a curse and beckoned Kristin quickly over to her.
As Kristin and Sophie conversed, the former snorted and approached the portal, leaning slightly so that the white light coming from it was caressing her face.
"Severus!" she whispered, hoping he would be the only one to hear her, as the portal had appeared silently behind the staff table.
"Severus! Severus!"
"Why in Merlin's beard is she calling Snape?" James asked bewildered, but Lily shushed him, staring at the portal.
A man had just come through the portal, swiping his dark hair out of his face. In accordance to slightly greasy look it had, he also had a slightly hooked nose and shockingly pale skin in direct contrast to his hair, giving him a very sharp appearance.
His eyes narrowed on Sophie who was still holding her necklace in front of her.
"Miss Orion, would you mind using your head before activating that damn necklace next time? Anyone could have seen you!"
"Ah, but they didn't," Sophie retorted cheekily.
"Oh, you!" Kristin laughed. "Go sit down, Purity."
Sophie saluted, causing the man to roll his eyes as she flounced back to her seat.
The man turned to Kristin. "Make this quick Nightingale, there are Ministry members prowling around the castle right now."
Kristin cursed. "Well that explains why you got upset with Purity. Anyways, do you think Albus will let us borrow Dobby in here? We can't afford to let them leave the room anymore, with all the information they know now."
The man's gaze shot and hovered over to the group, resting briefly on Lily, whose eyes widened as she recognized the penetrating look.
"Sev?" she gasped, staring at the older man.
The past Severus looked shocked at his older appearance but Sirius and James simply burst out laughing.
Kristin and Snape both glared at them and Remus was shocked at how alike they looked as they did so and – wait, was that growling he heard?
"Bloody hell what happened to you?" James gasped out. "Someone douse you with aging potion?"
"Yeah what are you, sixty-somethin?" Sirius joked and they both started laughing again.
Kristin was about to give them a repeat performance of earlier when (much to the amusement of Lily, Remus, Kristin and both Snapes), Sophie appeared behind them, grabbed their heads and slammed them together.
"Ouch!"
"What in Merlin's saggy left -"
"I wouldn't finish that statement if I were you, Black." Severus said.
"Perhaps you would have preferred Kristin to smack you again?" Sophie asked, eyebrows raised. James and Sirius both went red and grumbled under their breaths.
Snape looked faintly amused before turning back to Kristin. "I don't believe Albus will have an issue with you using Dobby, but allow me to tell, him. You need to stay here and finish this."
Kristin nodded but before she could respond a voice made its way through the portal.
"Severus, I thought you were going to listen to my story! Severus?"
Sophie burst out laughing at the identical looks of shock (and in Snape's case, disgust) on both of their faces.
"Is that Trewlany?" she gasped as Kristin's face turned into a smirk.
"Woman won't leave me the hell alone," Snape muttered sourly. "By the way," he added to Kristin, "Eileen has been asking about you all day."
Kristin sighed. "It will be a while before I can return, we are only at Harry's first day."
He nodded and placed a hand on her shoulder before quickly retracting it and striding back through the portal. A few minutes later a house elf came through, wearing the most atrocious outfit they had ever seen.
He had a maroon shirt on with a blue, yellow and purple striped hat. He also had a green sock on his left foot and an orange sock on his right. Ignoring the peanut gallery behind her, Kristin addressed the elf.
"Did Severus explain everything to you, Dobby?"
Dobby nodded excitedly. "Yes, Dobby is proud to serve Parents of Harry Potter, as well as Mistress -"
"Dobby, just my maiden name please."
Dobby smiled widely. "Can Dobby do anything else for Mistress?"
"Will you explain to the other elves the situation when you go down there?"
"Dobby will! Dobby lives to serve, Mistress Ravon."
Kristin nodded approvingly. "You may go, Dobby and thank you."
With a toothy smile, Dobby vanished.
Kristin sighed and closed the portal, then made her way back to her seat.
"Shall we continue?"
There were nods from around the group.
Hedwig hadn't brought Harry anything so far. She sometimes flew in to nibble his ear and have a bit of toast before going off to sleep in the owlery with the other school owls.
A loud "pop" sounded and two bowls of popcorn appeared, much to Sirius's delight.
This morning, however, she fluttered down between the marmalade and the sugar bowl and dropped a note onto Harry's plate.
Harry tore it open at once. It said, in a very untidy scrawl:
"Hagrid's writing," James said happily.
"Don't bother," Sophie said to Severus who was about to comment, "let him think the obvious comments are useful or intelligent."
"Oi!"
Dear Harry,
I know you get Friday afternoons off, so would you like to come and have a cup of tea with me around three?
I want to hear all about your first week. Send us an answer back with Hedwig.
Hagrid
"That's nice of him," Remus observed, smiling.
"It will be good for Harry to have an adult friend," Lily agreed.
Harry borrowed Ron's quill, scribbled Yes, please, see you later on the back of the note, and sent Hedwig off again. It was lucky that Harry had tea with Hagrid to look forward to, because the Potions lesson turned out to be the worst thing that had happened to him so far.
The atmosphere in the room suddenly got gloomy.
At the start-of-term banquet, Harry had gotten the idea that Professor Snape disliked him. By the end of the first Potions lesson, he knew he'd been wrong. Snape didn't dislike Harry
Kristin raised both eyebrows at this.
Lily and James were shocked, as was Severus.
Remus and Sophie on the other hand were frowning at the book.
— he hated him.
Kristin snorted, "That sounds about right."
Lily groaned looking at Severus, who looked relieved, he didn't want to find out he actually liked a Potter.
James and Sirius were both growling, but at the look from Kristin, they both settled with clenching their fists.
Potions lessons took place down in one of the dungeons. It was colder here than up in the main castle, and would have been quite creepy enough without the pickled animals in glass jars all around the walls.
James and Sirius burst out laughing, causing the others to jump.
"What in the world is with you two?" Sophie asked, bewildered, while Kristin muttered darkly under her breath.
"We were talking about putting permanent sticking charms to all the jars in slughorns office and placing them around the classroom, as a prank." James said in laughter.
Lily gave a moan of despair as Kristin stopped her muttering, looking horrified.
"You two are aware, that that means Severus will treat Harry worse, because he can't even be in his own classroom without being reminded of you two yes?" Remus asked, looking at his friends in slight disappointment.
That shut Sirius and James right up, and they settled for sulking slightly.
Snape, like Flitwick, started the class by taking the roll call, and like Flitwick, he paused at Harry's name.
"Ah, Yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new — celebrity."
"Here we go," Kristin muttered, as Lily glared at the book.
Draco Malfoy and his friends Crabbe and Goyle sniggered behind their hands. Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class. His eyes were black like Hagrid's, but they had none of Hagrid's warmth. They were cold and empty and made you think of dark tunnels.
Kristin was staring at the page, unsure of wether she should comment on that or not.
Sophie was shaking with silent laughter, as she glanced at Kristin's face, which resembled a look of constipation.
"Why is Harry comparing Snape to Hagrid?" Sirius groaned.
"There is no comparison," James muttered sourly.
Lily was not as shocked at Snape's behavior as she would have thought, considering whom Harry probably reminded him of.
"You are 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 — like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort.
"Why do you keep comparing him to people we like?" James asked and Sirius groaned again, while Remus shook his head, mouth twitching.
Lily rolled her eyes and threw popcorn at them. ("Oi!")
"As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses… I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even stopper death
James and Sirius looked at each other, bewildered.
"Bottle fame?"
"Brew glory?"
"Stopper death?" they finished in unison.
Lily laughed weakly. "You still seem to have a passion for potions at least," she said to Severus who looked impressed with his speech.
- if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."
"Well, it was impressive until he added that last part," Remus said, sighing.
More silence followed this little speech. Harry and Ron exchanged looks with raised eyebrows. Hermione Granger was on the edge of her seat and looked desperate to start proving that she wasn't a dunderhead.
James snorted, "Snape if you're going to pick on someone pick on her, not Harry."
"James!" Lily cried, incredulous.
"Better her than Harry," Sirius agreed.
"Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
"How the bloody hell is he suppose to know that?" James roared furiously looking at Severus
"Severus, that isn't taught till much later, why are you asking him this?" Lily asked, scandalized.
"Lily, do I look like I'm in my thirties to you?"
Her eyes narrowed. "No you look like someone who is proud of what they have become."
"I'm not unhappy with it; he will probably turn out just like his father otherwise."
Remus' eyes narrowed. Something about what Snape just said was bugging him, but...what was it?
Lily turned away from him, hands shaking in fury.
Powdered root of what to an infusion of what? Harry glanced at Ron, who looked as stumped as he was; Hermione's hand had shot into the air.
"Why am I not surprised," Sirius muttered darkly.
"I don't know, sir," said Harry.
Snape's lips curled into a sneer.
"Tut, tut — fame clearly isn't everything."
Sirius and James were both muttering obscenities, and Lily was biting her lip. Kristin hoped against hope she could end this chapter quickly.
He ignored Hermione's hand.
Lily frowned, "That's poor teaching; why not call on her when she knows the answer?"
"Because he didn't ask her," Remus said calmly. "As unfair as the nature of the question itself was, he was only directing it to Harry, not the whole class. Hermione is going to probably strike a nerve with him as well, because her ability to know these kinds of answers will make her seem like a know-it-all."
James looked thoughtful but Sirius was still muttering. Lily nodded to Remus in understanding, as Kristin and Sophie traded looks.
"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
"Ok that one isn't as bad," Sophie said remembering that question in first year.
"But it's still the first class, how was he to know?" Sirius growled.
"Slimy git," James spat.
Kristin's eyes narrowed again. "I don't tolerate name calling from Severus what the hell makes you think I will tolerate it from you two?"
James scowled.
Sirius looked furious. "You're taking his side?"
"No, I'm not taking sides; can you tell me how many names he has called you since we have been here?"
No one answered that, and Kristin, glad her point had been made, continued.
Hermione stretched her hand as high into the air as it would go without her leaving her seat,
"When do you think she will realize, he isn't talking to her?"
but Harry didn't have the faintest idea what a bezoar was. He tried not to look at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who were shaking with laughter.
"I doubt they know the answers either," Severus cut-in, surprising them. "Lucius will probably spoil his son, and not bother to encourage him to study at any time before he comes to Hogwarts. As for Crabbe and Goyle..."
Sophie shook her head. "Say no more, Severus, we know that those two are like."
"A Malfoy spoiled, who would have thought?" Peter said sarcastically, and they all started laughing.
Kristin and Sophie glanced at each other.
"Think they realized they laughed at a joke, Severus started?"
"No, but don't tell them that."
"I don't know, sir."
"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?"
Kristin hurried on before anyone could comment.
Harry forced himself to keep looking straight into those cold eyes. He had looked through his books at the Dursleys', but did Snape expect him to remember everything in One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi?
"No, but I doubt I would have expected him to be polite either."
Lily looked confused so Kristin explained.
"He expected Harry to be a carbon copy of James, who may I add would have not hesitated to back talk to him regardless of authority." she said, looking pointedly at James, who scowled, but didn't deny it either.
Snape was still ignoring Hermione's quivering hand.
Sirius snorted
"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
"Hey, that was a trick question." Sirius growled glaring at Severus
"You guys please leave the present Severus alone; he hasn't done any of this yet." Sophie said, losing patience.
Lily sighed, rubbing her head. What happened to my best friend? Who is this...man, whom I don't even recognize now?
Severus was watching her, and he wondered if his hatred of Potter was worth losing Lily's friendship. I mean, could still have both...right?
At this, Hermione stood up, her hand stretching toward the dungeon ceiling.
"He is not going to like that," Peter whispered.
"I don't know," said Harry quietly. "I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?"
Severus rolled his eyes. "Typical," he muttered.
"Well, that won't improve his mood," Remus said dryly, as James and Sirius grinned at Harry's cheek.
A few people laughed; Harry caught Seamus's eye, and Seamus winked. Snape, however, was not pleased.
"Why am I not surprised?" Sophie muttered.
"Sit down," he snapped at Hermione. "For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite. Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?"
"Maybe because you didn't ask them to?" Sirius and Severus said in unison. Severus blinked, realizing he had just answered himself and Sirius looked horrified.
James and Remus started laughing, and Lily looked at Severus with thanks in her eyes, knowing how hard it was to admit he was wrong in front of the marauders. Kristin smiled, and Sophie looked impressed.
There was a sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. Over the noise, Snape said, "And a point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter."
"Well, he deserved that one, I guess," James sighed.
Things didn't improve for the Gryffindors as the Potions lesson continued. Snape put them all into pairs and set them to mixing up a simple potion to cure boils. He swept around in his long black cloak, watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticizing almost everyone except Malfoy, whom he seemed to like.
Severus looked slightly sick at sucking up to Malfoy.
He was just telling everyone to look at the perfect way Malfoy had stewed his horned slugs when clouds of acid green smoke and a loud hissing filled the dungeon. Neville had somehow managed to melt Seamus's cauldron into a twisted blob,
James and Sirius burst out laughing.
"Must have gotten that from Frank," Remus muttered, with a slight grin.
"Damn straight, he's horrible at Potions."
and their potion was seeping across the stone floor, burning holes in people's shoes. Within seconds, the whole class was standing on their stools while Neville, who had been drenched in the potion when the cauldron collapsed, moaned in pain as angry red boils sprang up all over his arms and legs.
"Ouch!"
"Idiot boy!"
Kristin snorted from behind the book. "I swear, Severus has no patience when it comes to people who can't follow simple instructions, no matter how much I tried to change that."
"Must be torture for you," Sirius said, glaring at the book.
"Not really," Kristin said, not really paying attention to the conversation. Lily, Remus and Severus all looked at her in confusion.
snarled Snape, clearing the spilled potion away with one wave of his wand. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?"
Lily shook her head, smiling. "It's amazing how you could always tell what someone did wrong just by looking at their cauldron."
James and Sirius grudgingly agreed.
Neville whimpered as boils started to pop up all over his nose.
"Take him up to the hospital wing," Snape spat at Seamus. Then he rounded on Harry and Ron, who had been working next to Neville.
Sophie groaned.
"You — Potter — 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."
Sirius and James were clenching their fists, and Kristin destroyed the parchment that Sirius was using to write down pranks to use on Snape.
Ignoring his protests, she continued.
This was so unfair that Harry opened his mouth to argue, but Ron kicked him behind their cauldron.
"Don't push it," he muttered, "I've heard Snape can turn very nasty."
"He can," Sophie said grimly.
As they climbed the steps out of the dungeon an hour later, Harry's mind was racing and his spirits were low. He'd lost two points for Gryffindor in his very first week —why did Snape hate him so much?
"That is easy enough to answer," Lily spat.
James winced, but other than from Lily's look he didn't look at all ashamed.
"Cheer up," said Ron, "Snape's always taking points off Fred and George. Can I come and meet Hagrid with you?"
At five to three they left the castle and made their way across the grounds. Hagrid lived in a small wooden house on the edge of the forbidden forest. A crossbow and a pair of galoshes were outside the front door.
"Good ole' Hagrid," Sirius said, grinning.
When Harry knocked they heard a frantic scrabbling from inside and several booming barks. Then Hagrid's voice rang out, saying, "Back, Fang —back."
Hagrid's big, hairy face appeared in the crack as he pulled the door open.
"Hang on," he said. "Back, Fang."
"Fang?" Remus asked curious.
"Must be a new pet," Peter said, fidgeting in his seat.
He let them in, struggling to keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boarhound.
"Whoa," James said in awe.
"Did Hagrid actually get a pet that lives up to its name?"
Sophie laughed while Lily smiled slightly.
There was only one room inside. Hams and pheasants were hanging from the ceiling, a copper kettle was boiling on the open fire, and in the corner stood a massive bed with a patchwork quilt over it.
"Make yerselves at home," said Hagrid, letting go of Fang, who bounded straight at Ron and started licking his ears. Like Hagrid, Fang was clearly not as fierce as he looked.
"Ok, maybe not," Remus corrected himself, as everyone save Severus, laughed.
"This is Ron," Harry told Hagrid, who was pouring boiling water into a large teapot and putting rock cakes onto a plate.
"Another Weasley, eh?" said Hagrid, glancing at Ron's freckles.
"That won't help either," Remus sighed.
"Ron seems like the jealous type to me." Lily said frowning.
Kristin and Sophie shared a look.
"I spent half me life chasin' yer twin brothers away from the forest."
"And the other half, chasing Potter and Black."
Lily laughed, as Kristin snorted from behind the book.
The rock cakes were shapeless lumps with raisins that almost broke their teeth, but Harry and Ron pretended to be enjoying them as they told Hagrid all about their first lessons.
"Aww."
Fang rested his head on Harry's knee and drooled all over his robes.
Harry and Ron were delighted to hear Hagrid call Filch "that old git."
"An' as fer that cat, Mrs. Norris, I'd like ter introduce her to Fang sometime. D'yeh know, every time I go up ter the school, she follows me everywhere? Can't get rid of her — Filch puts her up to it."
"Ugh, Filch gets on my nerves whenever I visit Hogwarts in the summer." Sophie grumbled, glaring at the book.
"He gets on everyone's nerves," Sirius said, while James imitated Filch's scowl, causing Kristin to throw popcorn at his face.
Sophie shot her a disapproving look. "Well that was mature."
Kristin stuck her tongue out at her, much to the surprise of the marauders and Lily.
Lily looked at Sophie. "Does she have MPD or something?"
"HA!" Sophie laughed. "Trust me you don't want to know what she would be like if she had MPD."
"What's MPD?" James asked curiously.
"Multiple Personality Disorder. Putting it simply, People are diagnosed with it when the different personalities cause memory loss in the person's host." Kristin said calmly.
"Erm, you lost us there." Sirius said, rubbing his head.
Severus sighed, and decided to continue where Kristin left off. "If the person with the disorder is say, a Healer, the other personalities can be created due to trauma, or a huge mental shock. The mind splits itself into separate personalities to cope with the situation, and it can happen more than once.
For example, if Kristin has MPD and suddenly her accent changes to Irish and she starts cursing and throwing things, and being aggressive, that indicates a personality change. (he got nods from the group, and Sirius and James looked very interested at this.) However when Kristin reverts back to her normal self, she won't remember anything her other personality said or did. Now imagine what that would be like if she had more than two personalities."
"I'd go insane, but why are we talking about this?"
"Lily asked."
"Typical." Kristin dodged the popcorn Sophie threw at her.
"Now who is being mature?"
"Nightingale..." ("Nightingale?" James whispered to Sirius, who shrugged.)
"Yes?"
"Read."
"Yes, ma'am."
Harry told Hagrid about Snape's lesson. Hagrid, like Ron, told Harry not to worry about it, that Snape liked hardly any of the students.
"But he seemed to really hate me."
"Yeah, no kidding, and I wonder whose fault that is."
"Rubbish!" said Hagrid. "Why should he?"
Yet Harry couldn't help thinking that Hagrid didn't quite meet his eyes when he said that.
"How's yer brother Charlie?" Hagrid asked Ron. "I liked him a lot — great with animals."
"Nice subject change."
Harry wondered if Hagrid had changed the subject on purpose. While Ron told Hagrid all about Charlie's work with dragons,
Harry picked up a piece of paper that was lying on the table under the tea cozy. It was a cutting from the Daily Prophet:
GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST
"I still can't believe someone broke in," Lily muttered, shocked.
"We can't believe they are still alive," James and Sirius said in unison.
Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31 July,
"Hey wait, isn't that Harry's Birthday?"
"Shush, Padfoot."
widely believed to be the work of Dark wizards or witches unknown. Gringotts goblins today insisted that nothing had been taken. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied the same day.
"But we're not telling you what was in there, so keep your noses out if you know what's good for you," said a Gringotts spokesgoblin this afternoon.
Harry remembered Ron telling him on the train that someone had tried to rob Gringotts, but Ron hadn't mentioned the date.
"Hagrid!" said Harry, "that Gringotts break-in happened on my birthday! It might've been happening while we were there!"
"Or, afterwards," Remus said, grimly.
"You think that little grubby package, is what the thief was after?" Lily asked, eyes wide.
"More than likely," Severus agreed.
There was no doubt about it; Hagrid definitely didn't meet Harry's eyes this time.
He grunted and offered him another rock cake. Harry read the story again. The vault that was searched had in fact been emptied earlier that same day. Hagrid had emptied vault seven hundred and thirteen, if you could call it emptying, taking out that grubby little package. Had that been what the thieves were looking for?
"Oh, no, no, no, noooo!" Lily groaned.
Everyone stared at her, as she muttered about idiotic genes.
"Erm, Lily are you ok?" Sophie asked, concerned.
Lily glared at James, who looked bewildered. "If Harry gets into trouble or is put in danger, because he feels he needs to solve this mystery on his own, I'm blaming you, because he sure as hell doesn't get that from me!"
James gulped, as Sirius and Remus burst out laughing.
As Harry and Ron walked back to the castle for dinner, their pockets weighed down with rock cakes they'd been too polite to refuse, Harry thought that none of the lessons he'd had so far had given him as much to think about as tea with Hagrid. Had Hagrid collected that package just in time? Where was it now? And did Hagrid know something about Snape that he didn't want to tell Harry?
"He'd know all about that," Remus said, grimly.
"He broke it up a few times."
"Ok Remus, you're reading next." Sophie said taking the book from Kristin and passing it to Remus.
"Ok, but I have one question first."
"Shoot."
"Who is Eileen?"
There was silence as Remus opened the book to the next chapter and looked at Kristin.
"You mentioned her to Snape earlier when you two were talking, but I didn't have a chance to ask then."
James and Sirius were looking curiously at her.
Lily looked like she knew but still watched Kristin for a response.
Severus wondered if it was who he thought it was, and Sophie just waited, looking at Kristin with a knowing smile...
Kristin sighed, resigned. "Eileen is...my daughter."
Ravon : Yay! Cliffy! =3
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