The Mental Mentorship

Professor Vector's day of observation is not nearly over, but she is convinced that she has already seen enough for one day.

Chapter 11: No Dumb Questions, Only Dumb Potions Masters

Snape was stopping every few feet to lurk near students' desks. He would then lean over the desktop of some unsuspecting student in a very intimidating fashion and ask them questions regarding potions ingredients.

Ah, how easy it is to call on random individuals and humiliate them publicly when one has already looked up the answers…and to do it to first years no less. Muggle psychologists may call it compensation. I would say that Snape was just a complete moron.

I rolled my eyes and shifted in the hard, cold, uncomfortable chair in the dungeons for what had to be the hundredth time that day. I implored for Merlin to kill me right there and then. I could endure this suffering no longer.

Snape finally paired the students up and instructed the partners to concoct what was in his opinion, "a fairly simple potion to cure boils that any dunderhead could successfully brew." According to Snape, he had done it on his first try as an eleven-year-old. According to the faces in the room, nobody gave a…

I turned away and stood near one pair who followed Snape's instructions almost to a "t.' I knew it was very good work for a first attempt as a first year student. Snape, however, didn't seem that enthusiastic.

I once again raised my hand high into the air. I have no idea why. I was an adult and could just call out if I wished to do so. Snape acknowledged my hand.

"Professor Snape, they have stirred counterclockwise---twice. I see no difference. When did you claim the potion would turn a slightly greenish hut?" I smiled genially at him.

Snape slowly descended upon me and leaned over to whisper into my ear. I did not want the nasty git that close to me but he didn't seem to pay attention to my gagging noises.

"Do not be a dolt. You, as I recall, are not enrolled in my class. If you are forgetting what you learned in beginner's potions classes, I can offer you some remedial potions textbooks. Those girls just made an elementary mistake. What is your excuse, Vector?" Snape sneered and then continued.

"I will have Charon, my owl, deliver the textbooks to your quarters this evening. For light reading---or when you lock yourself in your rooms at the appointed hours of lunch and dinnertime."

I blushed to the roots of my hair in anger and embarrassment. As if the bloody monster had nothing to do with that after the vampire rumors had reached the school my very first week at Hogwarts. I was sure it was him. I was still trying to get over it.

I returned to my seat, but not before picking up two stuffed badgers from a shelf to examine,anything to pass the bloody monotony. I decided to act like a dolt then and there, moving the badgers around as if they were dolls. I could have been doing arithmancy research. Actually, I wished he'd get stuffed and bother me no more.

30 minutes later…

I raised my hand. "Professor Snape, your talent for potions is undeniable. Clearly you are overlooked and underappreciated. Would you ever consider teaching Defense Against the Dark Arts?" I offered a sickly sweet grin. "Headmastership?Shoot for the stars, Professor."

Snape looked taken aback but quickly regained his composure. The groups stopped talking over their work and turned in utter silence to stare at the both of us. Surely, they had heard the rumor….

Snape walked very slowly over to where I sat with the stuffed animals, put an arm on both wooden armrests on my seat and gave me the look that Neville had described between hyperventilating when he passed me in the hallway the other day after Potions.

Snape said in a low, silky voice that was for my ears only. "I know a spell for dissolving appendages that I can assure you not even Madame Pomfrey or a rather large bottle of Skele-Gro can counteract, Vector. You have been taxing me since you entered my classroom. I suggest you contain yourself and not raise that hand again…if you wish to keep it…that is."

Snape turned in a swirl of cloak and walked briskly back to the front of the classroom to address his students. He took his wand out deftly from an inside pocket of his cloak, pointed, and writing appeared on the board.