Part 1 of Slytherin Pure Bloods - Shadowed Past
Chapter 13
Two Surprises Too Many
Come Friday morning, she had forgotten what day it was. Sarah had been wondering what Jenny and Erina had been doing since she had last seen them. They hadn't yet found their way to the common room by themselves, or to classes, though she tried not to be late. Her first few days hadn't been all that bad. She had only seen Zachary and his brothers on the night of her arrival, and they hadn't approached her in the Great Hall, yet.
Sarah still hadn't found a name for her owl, which flew into the Great Hall with all the others, she was bearing a letter and a small parcel. Dropping it in front of her, the owl landed on her shoulder. Sarah stroked her on her chest, before picking up the letter. Opening the letter, she knew it was from Erina, she begun to read it quietly to herself, so that no one would hear her.
'Hi Sarah, please excuse the lateness of my reply.
Congratulations on Slytherin (my whole family's been in it for generations).
Sorry about getting angry at you about not coming to see me that day. Seems your first two days have been a little exciting. I've heard of the Malfoy's, there said to be the richest pureblood wizarding family, though that is unproven. It's cool that you're pureblood (so am I). Don't forget to have fun, but make sure you do your best.
Not much happening here (wizarding families get home schooled)
I'll see you next year; hope you like the gift I sent you.
From your friend
Erina FrangipaniP.S. Your apology about your abrupt leaving on the 1st of Augustis accepted.
Smiling, she put the letter away, so anyone else wouldn't read it. She wasn't sure whether she should open the gift here or later in the common room. She didn't know Erina very well yet, and was worried about what she might have sent her. Deciding it didn't matter, she carefully ripped off the rapping to reveal, to be honest, she didn't know what it was. It looked like some sort of spinning top. Quickly, before anyone noticed it, she put it away with the letter. She'd ask Erina, yes, that's what she'd do.
After Charms, she went up to the Owlery, to she her owl.
'I'm sorry I haven't found a name for you, but give it time and I will. Don't worry, I keep my promises.' She stoked her for several minutes, until someone came into the Owlery.
'Shouldn't you be going to class?' It was the boy that looked like Snape. He tied a letter to a barn owl, and let it go. 'Come on, we don't want to be late, especially since we've got Professor Snape.' Hearing the Professor's name reminded her that it was Friday.
Letting her owl go back to sleep, she left with the boy. It was her fifth day at Hogwarts, and she still didn't know his name, but she didn't dare ask, nor was she going to. Walking with him, down into the dungeons, they reached Snape's classroom, just in time. Snape appeared a moment later, and they walked in.
Kerrie was sitting near the front, parallel with Snape's desk. Sitting next to her, the boy that looked like the Professor, sat next to Malfoy. Between her and the boy, was only a walkway, Kerrie on her right. Sitting behind Malfoy, was his cronies Crabbe and Goyle.
Like before, Sarah got the impression that Snape could read minds. Snape called the register, pausing at a few of the names (like Malfoy) and smiling, but when he got to Harry Potter he said softly, 'Ah, yes, Harry Potter our new – celebrity'. When he reached her name, he seemed to pause the most, though he said nothing and finished calling the names. He explained about potions, his words were very inspiring for her, and she felt eager to begin.
'Potter!' Snape said suddenly, causing her to jump in surprise, 'what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?' Although the question wasn't meant for her, she wrote down the question and her own answer in a quiet subtle way.
'I don't know, sir,' came Potter's reply. Sarah watched Snape carefully, and saw his lip's curl into a sneer.
'Tut, tut – fame clearly isn't everything. Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a Bezoar?'
Again, she wrote it down.
'I don't know, sir,' came his reply, again.
'Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, potter?' Harry Potter must either be stupid or snobby not to have read his books, though, Sarah knew that not all people could remember as well as she did. Besides, that stuff was in the back of the book, she knew that because she'd read through all her books.
'What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?' As Sarah wrote it down, she began to wonder if Professor Snape disliked Harry Potter.
'I don't know,' he said softly, 'I think Hermione does, though, why don't you ask her?' During Snape's questioning of Harry, Sarah hadn't noticed Hermione, now standing, her hand stretched as far as it would go. Although some laughed at Potter's words, Snape did not.
To Hermione, he snapped, 'Sit down,' then back to Potter, '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 will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite.' As Snape spoke, she had read over her answers, surprisingly she was right. Well, she'd already knew about monkshood, wolfsbane and aconite, before she had found out she was a witch, as for the rest, she had read though her books very thoroughly.
'Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?'
Everyone rushed to copy it down, as she carefully watched Snape. 'And a point will be taken for your cheek, Potter,' Snape said over the noise. Sarah was more certain then ever, that Snape didn't like Harry Potter.
As the lesson continued, Sarah fought hard not to fall asleep. For the last few night's she had not been having a good night's sleep. Although she was tired, she was sure she had been here before, yet this was her first potions lesson. She watched Kerrie as she readied the porcupine quills she was about to add them to the bubbling cauldron before her. Turning towards the blackboard, she read the line Kerrie was up to; make sure to take the cauldron off the fire, before you add the porcupine quills. She read it three times (because she was tired) before it made sense, turning to look at Kerrie (she saw the quills in her hands) she quickly reached out and stopped her.
'Don't do that!' she told her, firmly.
Kerrie, looking at her as if she were an annoying fly, retorted, 'don't think you're better then me!'
Sarah was in shock and disbelief, 'look at the blackboard,' she whispered furiously. Kerrie looked up at the black board. Reading the same line several times, she looked back at Sarah in astonishment.
'Well done, Miss Prince,' came Snape's voice from behind them, which caused both of them to jump. Because of their argument, they had not noticed his presence, 'ten points for awareness,' Snape walked past like a malevolent bat.