Thank you to all who have already appreciated and/or commented on this fic.
Small note, as I've had a few mentions about Harry having 'chosen' the name 'Hadrian' for himself. Like any fanfic reader/writer, everyone has their pet-peeves; sorry if Harry being called 'Hadrian' is yours and me using the name has put you off my story (though if that is the only thing wrong with my work, I would be rather happy/relieved tbh); I do actually think that if 'Harry' is a nickname/shortened name for something, it would be 'Henry'; ie - 'Henry James Potter' (most likely named after his great-grandfather). However in this story I intentionally have it not be Henry and something more 'pretentious'/dated as it's actually a (small) plot devise for later...
Also, Harry is a eleven year old boy (younger than Riddle was when he chose 'Voldemort') who for basically the first time was given a choice/sense of control, especially on who he is - it wouldn't be a stretch that he would look to people that give him positive values/inspirations: in this fic, his 'heroes' from the stories he was able/allowed to read, actual History books.
But yeah - if 'Hadrian' really gets on your nerves, pretend it's 'Harry' or 'Henry' or ...?
As always, constructive criticism is welcome, silly bashing comments aren't. Thank you
Chapter 10 - Snakes and Lions Part 2
The Lineages of the Magical Houses of Britannia, by Maelon Blishwick made for heavy reading. Literally.
The tome was as wide as it was tall (and nearly as thick), which was about as the size of Harry's head. Not that it differed much from the size and state of the few other genealogy books sitting on the same shelf. - Nature's Nobility: A Wizarding Genealogy looked ready to crumble in his fingers if Harry dared pick it up.
He had wanted to wait till the weekend and know the Potters firsthand, true.
He hadn't waved Remus and Kevan goodbye, slinking back to the Slytherin Common, to then head to the library with the intention of looking up the Potter family, but rather in search of the books he was 'missing'.
He supposed he should be thankful that witches and wizards didn't appear prone to change; or at least most of the reading list hadn't changed all that much in twenty years. After checking his other course books, Harry had been relieved to find that only three were... 'incorrect'. The first being Trimbles' The Dark Forces, as previously realised. As for both Arsenius Jigger's Magical Drafts and Potions and Newt Scamander's Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Harry had later editions of the works rather than all together the wrong books.
Yet, once he had retrieved the correct copies (especially for tomorrow's Potions class), along with Jigger's The Beginning Defence Against the Dark Arts, Harry had been inevitably drawn to also searching the genealogy books. Especially given that he was alone with the library near empty, most at dinner. (Harry, from years living with the Dursleys, already had an assortment of snacks in his bag for dinner anyway.)
To which, Harry found himself placing the large book carefully on the nearest table and opened the large leather cover... and ruling it just as heavy and tedious within.
The small quill writing didn't help. Nor the fact that it wasn't alphabetical; for some reason Rolls - or 'House of Rolls' as written in the book - was before the Hooch family but after the Whytes.
Turning the pages slowly, he did come across a few names he recognised. Gryffindor, Hufflepuff, Ravenclaw and Slytherin were all near the very front, along with Black and Ollivander as well as Fawley. He passed names like Emrys, Pettigrew, and Clagg to find Longbottom, Gaunt, and Carew, to finally land on 'House of Potter' around the middle.
Heart lurching, Harry absorbed the words, the section seeming to give not enough information all while giving too much. Under the bold heading, an all too brief History of the start of the House was given. A line of Germanic origin apparently, it came from an earlier line: 'Stinchcombe'. 'Linfred Stinchcombe', a third son, had altered his name to 'Potter' during the 12th Century, mainly due to his epithet of the 'Potterer' in the region in which the family had lived.
While Linfred's seven children were mentioned - Hardwin, Lambert, Gerhild, Conrad, Hrodebert, Eberhard, Berhta[1] (with the note that only half reached adulthood) - the section concentrated on the main line. It solely followed Hardwin Potter's family, who'd had eleven children himself. Sadly, much like Linfred, not all reached adulthood or even married. It was his third child, 'Leonard Potter', who continued the line. Following down the page and the many names - Reinald - Wulfnod - Hereweald - Ralston -... Harry slowed his perusal nearing the end of the section. At the start of the 19th Century - in 1809 - a 'Hubert Potter' was born, to later have two children: Richard and Sylvia.
Harry gave a soft yelp of surprise when his finger passed on top of 'Richard Potter'. At the touch, the name enlarged, with more text appearing. All the more curious, Harry softly placed his finger on the name once more, this time ready;
'Richard Hubert Potter, born to Hubert Wilham Potter and Sarah Potter, daughter of Areli Abbott, in 1840 under the eye of Mars.
Wed Solfrid Potter, daughter of Balder Fleamont, in 1864.
Father to three sons, Henry, Edric, Jamian.'
- Just as by 'Henry Potter', it read that he was born in 1869, 'under the eye of Mercury', married 'Elouise Potter, daughter of Oscar Macmillan' in 1890, and had one son - 'Fleamont Henry Potter'. Fleamont Potter himself was born in 1899 ('under the eye of Jupiter'), married Euphemia, 'daughter of Philophronos Fawcett'.
It stood clear that while the book stated it was a 'self-updating edition', the magic allowing revisions to happen no longer worked: there was no mention of 'James Potter'. Still, at the end of the House of Potter section, it did mention that there was another Potter line still 'active': Edric Potter's. Along with a brief family tree of the 'still active' lines:
Hubert Wilham Potter + Sarah Potter (nee Abbott)
[ Richard Hubert Potter + Solfrid Potter (nee Fleamont) ] I [ Sylvia Sarah MacDougal (nee Potter) + Duncan MacDougal ]
[ Henry Richard Potter + Elouise Potter (nee Macmillan)] I [ Edric Balder Potter + Selene Potter (nee Yaxley) ] I [ Jamian Sylvanus Potter ]] -I-I- [[ MacDougal Family ]]
[ Fleamont Henry Potter + Euphemia Potter (nee Fawcett) ]] -I-I- [[ Charlus Edric Potter +Dorea Potter (nee Black) ]]
[[ - ]] -I-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-_-I- [[ Aelius Charlus Potter ]]
Harry pushed his glasses back up his nose.
His eyes - and finger - went between the different names, willing them to tell him more about each of them. Small blurbs appeared with each hover of his finger. While the book stated that Hubert Potter had passed in 1938, neither Sarah Potter nee Abbott, nor Richard or Solfrid Potter, were registered as deceased. The same was the case for Sylvia MacDougal nee Potter and her husband Duncan MacDougal. However, as Professor Slughorn had hinted, Henry Potter's youngest brother Jamian Sylvanus Potter, born in 1889, had died in 1917.
As for the other 'active' line; Edric Aelianus Potter was born in 1876, to marry Selene Potter, daughter of Georgius Yaxley. They had had Charlus Potter in 1904. Charlus himself married Dorea Potter, daughter of Cygnus Black, in 1939, for them to also have a son, Aelius, in 1941.
The names holding no further information, Harry looked back through the whole section, his eyes skimming over everything, in case he had missed something crucial.
It was only twenty minutes later, fully satisfied - or really, unsatisfied - that the section didn't hold anymore information that he was tempted to go back through the earlier sections of the large tome, in look for 'House of Stinchcombes'... and perhaps have a close look at those for Fawcett, Black, Macmillan, Yaxley, Fleamont, Abbott and MacDougal.
Head full of names, family trees and various notes on witches and wizards he was possibly related to, Harry made his way down towards the Slytherin Dungeons. This was, of course, when his thoughts were interrupted by voices coming towards him.
Harry breathed, reminding himself he still had half-an-hour before curfew. (In no way did he want to be found wandering in the halls after curfew, for the Potters to be informed that he was a troublemaker, wondering through the castle after hours causing mischief.)
Only, he stopped short when noticing who was coming up the staircase leading to the landing he was about to reach.
Well-dressed, though clearly not giving a care for his appearance like Andromeda and Narcissa Black did, Sirius Black moaned to his companion, "Merlin - I thought we would never get rid of him. Such stick in the mud-" only to nearly trip on his own feet when he noticed Harry.
This was when James Potter in turn looked up, amber eyes meeting green.
There was a pause.
Harry stopped himself from fidgeting.
Or pushing his (second-hand, Oxfam cell-o-tapped) glasses back up his nose.
Or thinking on the fact that, while on a step above the landing James Potter and Sirius Black were now both on, he was still the shortest.
"So, you're my cousin?" The tone was close to that of a command - close to sounding like Dudley.
Given that the 'Magik Test' was on Saturday, Harry couldn't really well confirm or deny the statement yet.
Still...
"Umm, it would seem so."
"Well, I'm James - James Potter." - The statement completed with the boy puffing his chest up.
Yes, I know.
He forced his voice even, "Hadrian - Potter," his eyes going from James to the other Gryffindor and back.
"Oh, this is Sirius." - As if no one in the year hadn't yet heard of Sirius Black.
As for the boy in question, he was holding back a scowl his eyes briefly going from Harry's face to the green of his robes. The action reminded Harry once more that while the Potters tended to go into Gryffindor (according to Professor Slughorn), the Blacks were known for going into Slytherin.
Harry still cleared his throat for the second time, "H-hello."
"Hello."
"People have been saying that you are being raised by squibs," James blurted, clearly unable to contain himself any longer. "How did that happen?"
Harry nodded, "Umm, well my aunt is a squib. My uncle and cousin are muggles though. I went to live with them after my parents died."
"Died?"
"They were killed by a wizard when I was a baby," Harry frowned, getting rather sick of people asking him.
"Oh right, yeah sorry about that," James shifted, actually looking abashed. "But they were like us, right? They weren't also squibs, were they?"
"They were a witch and wizard." Harry replied evenly, not really liking the question, not to mention finding himself in the unprecedented situation of wanting to defend Aunt Petunia.
James gave a nod before he stared, "So, how did you get into Slytherin?"
Harry frowned, the remark reminding of when Lily and Severus had first come to Remus and his compartment on the train. "There's nothing wrong with Slytherin," he straightened defensively.
Yet, James Potter looked far from convinced. His own brow scrunched in the middle, his chest puffing out once more. "I don't know. I think I'd have left if I had been placed there. Or, demanded the Hat to put me elsewhere at the very least; heck better Hufflepuff than Slytherin."
"Both Slytherin and Hufflepuff helped build this school. There's nothing wrong with being in either House," Harry repeated stubbornly.
"Yeah, but Slytherin was a Dark wizard; everyone knows he was a blood purist who only wanted purebloods to come to Hogwarts. Not to mention he was a bloody parselmouth. As for Hufflepuff, everyone knows it's for all the duffers. Helga Hufflepuff was just too kind-hearted, she let anyone in; Even dark, parselmouth, purist wizards like Slytherin."
Harry frowned, not only at the remark but not recognising the term 'parselmouth'. (Something else he would have to ask Severus.) Nor had he heard anything about Slytherin being a 'blood purist' who 'only wanted purebloods at Hogwarts'. (Though it might explain why many Slytherin who seemed to be from important wizarding families).
-Still
"That doesn't mean all Slytherin are dark wizards or blood purists or parselmouths..."
Sirius Black scoffed next to James, "Don't be stupid; there hasn't been any parselmouths in Britain for a hundred years."
"Yeah," James added with a nod. "As for being a dark wizard or purist; Getting sorted into Slytherin doesn't bode well that they're not."
"All the Slytherin I've met so far have been completely fine and not 'dark' or 'purist'. Are you trying to tell me-" his eyes going to Sirius, thinking of Andromeda and Narcissa Black... only to think better of it, "-Professor Slughorn is a dark wizard? And - Merlin? Are you saying that Merlin was 'dark', a 'blood purist' - or a 'parselmouth'? - He was from several hundred years ago; maybe he was a parselmouth."
James didn't seem to like the idea at all.
But before he could say anything else, it was then that they all heard footsteps coming up towards them. James Potter and Sirius Black turned round, Harry looking past them to find Lily Evans coming up one of the staircases.
"What's going on here?" she said, looking between the three, before she focused more on the two Gryffindor. Her voice turned sniffy, "You haven't been fighting, have you? You two have already been in trouble, you better not cost us any more points!"
Both boys scowled at the witch, for Sirius Black to snap back, "Why don't you go see your Snively boyfriend and mind your own business."
A pink tinge appeared on her pale cheeks, as she replied hotly, "Severus is my friend, not my boyfriend. Besides, it's nearly curfew. We all need to head back to our Common Rooms."
Harry scowled on realising that Black had been talking about Severus; Just another reminder of Dudley and Piers.
Still, in no way was he interested in getting in trouble; not on his first week, not with his meeting with the Potters tomorrow.
More than happy to follow her advice, while making sure not to turn his back on either boy, Harry moved round the three, giving stiff nods to the lot and a 'good night', mostly to Lily. Not that Black seemed to be paying him much attention - Lily and him were still glaring at each other. James Potter was the only one who watched him, his face narrowed; only giving Harry a mirrored sniff nod.
'The Wand-Lighting Charm is simple, but requires concentration. Take care not to accidentally set your wand alight as damage of this kind can be permanent. If in any doubt about your abilities you would do better to buy yourself a magic lantern.
To illuminate the end of a wand, the caster must call out the incantation "Lumos". If correctly incanted, the end of the wand will then illuminate and cast light in the immediate vicinity of the caster. It can also be used to illuminate unseen entrances.
}-{
The Spell's Creation
Despite its apparent simplicity, the Wand-Lighting Charm was not invented until the 18th century. It was first used publicly by its inventor, Levina Monkstanley. However Bezaubert Meister[2] Garvin Lügner contested many times through his career that he'—[3]
Harry skipped the last couple lines of the brief bit of history that already previously read to look and study once more the small (moving) diagram drawn on the page, showing the hand-wand movement.
Only after another read-through of his own notes from class did Harry finally pick up his wand. He straightened his shoulder against the bed's headboard, thought of a bright shining sphere and –
- His hand guided the wand in a loop, down-up-down (just like the illustrated diagram), accompanied by a whispered but firm 'lumos'.
A bright light (definitely brighter than yesterday's mildly successful attempts) shone from the wand's tip, reflecting in his wireframe glasses. All while Harry's concentration (and small smile) grew, the light brightened until no part inside the four-poster bed was left untouched.
It was only when he then let out a small cry of joy, all while being blinded by said light, did his attention break and the glowing orb quickly dimmed, to fully vanish a moment later.
No matter; He had done it! Truly done it! And it was definitely much better than the small glow during Charms class. (His nerves mixed with anticipation, not to mention everyone surrounding him and Professor Flitwick watching on had not helped.) Harry had to suppress the giggles of joy threatening to burst out of him.
But everything was still quiet and still in the dorm, when he looked out through the drapes. (Well, except for the soft hiss sounds from the bed curtains and wall tapestry.) Even Severus' green curtains were still closed.
Harry's elation dimmed ever so slightly.
No matter, Harry would let him sleep on; he would show the other Slytherin when he woke up. It was probably best if he readied for the rest of the day.
–And the weekend.
His excitement grew once more; he would not only be able to show his housemate but the Potters. They were coming later today, after his Herbology class (with Ravenclaw). With that, Harry headed for the dorm bathroom, all the more pleased that he would be able to show something the Potters rather than just recite all the theory he had been given (not to mention, making him forget, if for a moment, his nervousness with regards to the Magiks Test).
Similar to the previous days there was hardly anyone in the Hall this early. A few sleep-tousled sat at the Gryffindor Table (dubbed 'the few serious ones' by Severus). A small group of upper-year Ravenclaws were clearly in the middle of a debate, while further down a few more had their noses pressed in large tomes hiding most of their faces. Several Hufflepuff were chatting happily amongst each other, large mugs or delicate cups in their hand, wispy smoke rising from each.
As for the Slytherin table, Harry recognised a few of the upper years, but apart from Severus and himself it was devoid of any other first year. Severus himself had the same slightly disgruntled look of each morning. Harry wasn't sure if it's his usual mood in the morning or that he had once more not managed to wake up as early as Harry being the cause. Instead, just as the rest of the week (Wednesday excluded), he had found Harry practicing his penmanship, going over key parts of whatever book he had chosen that that morning to read (The Standard Book of Spells – Grade 1 by Miranda Goshawk), all while waiting for the other Slytherin in the Common Room.
Once settled at the table, appreciatively, instead of quizzing Harry one last time on Potions, Severus tucked into his breakfast all while silently focusing once more on his second-hand brewing book.
As for Harry, he paid little mind to his own breakfast. His eyes stared out into nothing, becoming lost in the grooves and shapes carved in the oak table; engraved snakes glided underneath the large oak leaves, acorns and shamrocks and other flora that he didn't recognise.[4]
His thoughts undoubtedly went between the latest strange dream he couldn't remember, to the Potions class in less than an hour, to meet the Potters later...
... to his less than ideal first encounter of James Potter, the previous evening. - A glance to the other side of the Hall, found the tables fuller, yet no sign of the tell-tale taller, better dressed Potter -or Sirius Black.
He was rather grateful that Severus hadn't been with Lily the previous evening. It was clear that he was far from impressed with Harry's 'cousin', his opinion of them having not improved since the train ride. If anything, it had most likely worsened from the few things Lily had more than likely told him from the week given her attitude to the pair last night.
This was part of the reason why, when Harry had reached the common room, he had made no mention of the incident when joining the other Slytherin on one of the sofas. Instead he had given Severus a brief account of what the other Slytherin had deemed a 'wasteful afternoon' (though Severus had shown some interest to what might be in the forest). To which Harry had listened to the other boy go on about what work Lily and he had done, along with a concluding lecture on which potions were definitely important to commit to memory, Severus certain that they would be studied, if not brew at some point during the first year. Giving the mentioned brews a quick last read, Harry had exchanged a few words with the other Slytherin first years, before retiring to their dorms (making sure to give passing greetings to both Black witches on the way).
Once in the confines of his bed he had quickly fallen asleep... to once more wake in the early hours of the morning his scar pricking slightly from yet another dream he could only remember odd bright flashes from.
"Hadrian."
So lost in his thoughts, it took Harry several moments to realise someone was calling his name – had been calling his name several times.
"- Hadrian."
Blinking, he turned his head towards the source: Severus.
"We need to head to Potions to make sure we get good seats."
The tone was between accusatory and impatience, the other boy's expression closed off, his dark eyes looking ever more like to black voids. And yet Harry didn't fail to also hear a certain note of concern, not to mention the palpable curiosity seeping through, along with the accusation.
Still...
Potions.
Now, while Harry had still been at the Dursleys, Defence Against the Dark Arts and Magical History had been the two subjects he had been the most looking forward to. As the first week progressed, Defence was living up to his expectations (for the moment at least), History not so much.
On the other hand, his interest for in magical brewing had only increased. (Master Fleamont Potter possibly coming to mind.)
There had been some existing curiosity of course. Particularly once he had started reading through Magical Drafts and Potions and One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi.
But then there was Severus. Severus breathed potions. At odd times of the day or evening, the other Slytherin could start going on about a certain plant or brew that they should be learning at some point in the next seven years (– or really, he hoped they would). Then there was when Severus urged (mildly forced) Harry to join him several times during the week in impromptu revision sessions. There had been a few for the other subjects, but the bulk reverted back to looking over the different plants, animal parts and 'fluids', and other possible potion ingredient; their properties, the different manners to prepare them... And then there were the various potions that included these components in their brew.
Truthfully, while not as much as Herbology, some of his gardening experience helped with understanding the different plant-based ingredients mentioned in his books. Just as Harry hoped his previous cooking for the Dursleys would help with the preparation work needed, whether it be for the plant based ingredients or the animal-creature ones. (Keeping in mind Severus' rant of cooking and brewing being very different of course; clearly, Harry's previous –muggle- plant familiarity and plant-care knowledge and cooking experience could only get him so far.)
Needless to say, there was no pointing out to the Future-Potions-Extraordinaire that not even all the other Slytherin first years had yet to come to breakfast, let alone head to their first class. (Nor mention the fact that none of the Gryffindor first years currently occupied their table – not even Lily.)
Instead, Harry only gave a small sigh nod as he made to follow.
To be perfectly honest, if he hadn't been as interested in the subject or want to do well (especially once learning that Fleamont Potter had not only been one of Professor Slughorn's star pupils but was a Potion's Master), Harry would have probably snapped (more than once) at the other boy by now.[5]
It wasn't like they would even be sitting next to each other anyway. Severus had already informed him that he and Lily would be sitting together for Potions. In turn, Harry and Remus had already agreed to partner up for the one class they had together.
As expected, they got to the Potions classroom with more than enough time to spare. They set up their workbenches (near the front on Severus' insistence), for Harry to mindlessly looked through Jigger's Magical Drafts and Potions he had found in the library until the rest of the class finally joined. Remus indeed took the seat next to him, while Lily joined Severus' workbench, Seren Jones taking a seat with one of the other Gryffindor witches and Kevan Flynn was joined soon after by Pettigrew.
As for James Potter and Black...
Harry suppressed a frown when James Potter and Sirius Black arrived out of breath with just seconds to spare. (On the other hand, he was certain he heard a small huff from Lily, while Severus scoffed.)
(Nor did he miss the few looks - from both the Slytherin and Gryffindor - aimed to both Severus' and his own mixed table-pairs... Or the feel of James Potter's gaze on the back of his neck, once the Gryffindor finally settled down.)
Similar to Flitwick, the first thing Professor Slughorn did was roll call.
Not that he got very far. The third name – 'Black, Sirius' – was quickly followed by an exclamation, "Ah Mr Black, there you are! I have to say I was very surprised at your sorting my boy, very surprised! Why, I've had every one of the Blacks in my house since I started teaching over forty years ago! But I won't take it personally, young Sirius. I am sure we can expect great things from you. – Why both your cousins Andromeda and Narcissa have quite the hand in Potions, as did your father when I taught him.[6]"
This continued on for several other students; mainly those who had a parent or relative who had done well in Slughorn's class (though there were a few for whom they just seemed to have well known relatives). There was even a brief pause at Remus' name, the Potion Master giving his table partner a curious glance, to which the Gryffindor had shifted awkwardly, before the following name was called out.
This time, unlike the sorting, Harry's name was called before James Potter's. Upon calling out 'Potter, Hadrian', Professor Slughorn gave him an encouraging smile (the anticipated Potter visit likely in the back of his mind as well), but thankfully didn't say more.
That was, until he gave a full-bodied chuckle when then reading 'Potter, James'. His beady eyes going between the two, he gave a humoured warning that any possible cousin rivalry between should be 'an amicable one, now; I don't want anything blowing up in my class, whether it be potions or heads'. There was also the added mention of James Potter's father being not only one of Slughorn's more talented students through the years but that 'Master Fleamont Potter' was a 'Potioneer and brewer-inventor of several beauty potions'. This caused several of the witches to turn and gaze at the Gryffindor with a certain gleam Harry was rather happy wasn't directed at him.
Once calling out the final name ('Urquhart, Thomas'), the professor proceeded to vanish the class list with a flick of his wand, and called out, "Now, I thought we'd start our first day with a little quiz. —Now, now, there is no need to panic. I've devised this little test to see how far along you already are; how much you already know. Do not to worry if you don't know something and aren't able to answer all the questions. This will not be graded. It's only to help give me an idea of where everyone is and what we possibly need to spend more time on."
Professor Slughorn's 'reassuring' words didn't stop a few alarmed faces. - Remus' already pale face became even more so, while Severus straightened nearby, turning to give Harry an 'I-told-you-so' look.
There was another flick of his wand and a flock of papers flew across the room, one to land in front of each of the students.
"You have forty-nine minutes; Time starts — now!"
Now very much grateful for Severus incessant revision sessions, Harry looked down at his paper and read.
Thankfully he recognised most:
1. Who wrote Magical Drafts and Potions?
Arsenius Jigger
2. What colour should a Cure for Boils potion have when completed?
An opaque royal-blue.
3. Where would one look to find a bezoar?
In the stomach of a goat.
[...]
11. What is the difference between aconite, monkshood and wolfsbane?
There is none; they are all different names for the same plant. Other names include mousebane, devil's helmet, queen of poisons.
[...]
Though, a few he was less confident for:
15. What would one get when adding powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?[7]
Harry frowned, unsure about the asphodel. He couldn't remember what it was associated with. He did however remember Severus' lecture on potion bases and that wormwood helped with ingestion and sleep. Harry guessed - 'either a digestive or sleeping potion'.
Yet, what caught him off guard was the second half of the questions, which verged from Potions to other topics...
... There was a riddle;
21. This thing all things devours:
Birds, beasts, trees, flowers;
Gnaws iron, bites steel;
Grinds hard stones to meal;
Slays king, ruins town,
And beats high mountain down.[8]
Time.
... Along with a math problem; it was rather on the difficult side but Harry was more than pleased once he finished it, pretty sure his solution was correct.[9]
Still, most of these were better described as questions focused on 'General Wixen Knowledge'. The few he was able to answer were mainly due to the reading he had done so far in the course books (and his three additional books – mainly Bathilda Bagshot's A History of Magic);
24. When was the International Statute of Secrecy signed?
1689
... Or from the other first year students;
27. What is an animagus?
A person with the ability to transform into an animal.
(Thank you Alice)
33. Who holds the record for the fastest caught snitch?
Roderick Plumpton. Three and a half seconds.[10]
(Thanks to Remus' five minute homage to the Tutshill Tornados 'Seeker')
... Or the Chocolate Frog cards he had already collected;
36. Who founded the village of Hogsmeade?
Hengist of Woodcroft
(The Chocolate Frog cards had also helped him for some of the Potions related question: 12. What is gillyweed? – A plant that allows you to breathe underwater.)
Time up, Slughorn waved his wand once more for the papers fly back to the front and neatly stack themselves at the edge of the professor's desk, with a promise that he would be looking through them later in the day.
"Now then," said Slughorn, inflating his already bulging chest so that the buttons on his robes threatened to burst off, "Was anyone able to make leaves or talons of question 17 - 'what type of brew are 'Camellia sinensis'?"
There was a pause before Severus raised his hand hesitantly – clear that he wasn't one to draw attention to himself; at least not by a teacher. Slughorn pointed to him.
"Tea brewing – it's a type of Simplex brew."
"Just so! Very good, very good! – Two points to Slytherin, Mr Snape." said Slughorn beamed to Severus.
Harry couldn't help but notice Black lean close to Gryffindor Potter and whisper something; both of them sniggered, just as the professor turned and flicked his wand at the blackboard behind him.
Very neat cursive writing (writing Harry could only hope to emulate) started appearing on the blackboard:
'Simplex' Potions
'Gradum' Potions
'Duogradus' Potions
'Tregradus' Potions[11]'
"Now, as Mr Snape rightly answered, Simplex brews are the most basic type of potions. So basic they are barely mentioned in most recent Potion books. The reason that they are so basic is that they only need adding a minute amount of ingredients – sometimes just one. There is also the fact that these can even be brewed and drank by muggles. The most well know variety is of course, 'Camllia Sinesis' brews - or 'tea' brews. Many basic calming draughts can also be placed in this category. Tea and herbal based brews can have marvellous healing properties. Why, just by pouring hot water on golden camomile flower-petals and drinking you get a simple but effective calming infusion.
Still, not all brews which include tea leaves within them are 'Simplex potions' – far from it. Any of the thousands of variety of tea leaves can have very varied affects, when used in a more complex brew. Adding lavender – linden flowers – and grated liquorice to your camomile flower, to cut the whole very finely, before adding them to heated morning dew, you get a gradum level calming draught. – And adding other ingredients and a lunar phase you soon go into duo and tregradus potions. Which brings us to our true interest -"
Pointing to the board, Professor Slughorn posed, "Can anyone tell me the difference between the three remaining potion types?"
This time a few other hands rose along with Severus, including Harry's, remembering the distinctions in the introduction of Jagner's Magical Drafts and Potions.
Slughorn pointed to neither Severus nor Harry, but Lily.
"Gradum potions refer to 'one step' brews, 'Duogradus' potions have two distinct parts, and 'Tregradus' potions are those with three distinct parts, for the potion to be accurately brewed."
"Very good. Miss..."
Her cheeks pinked, all while answering, "Evans, Lily Evans."
"Very good, Miss Evans. Three points to Gryffindor. – Now, during your first year, and even until your OWLs, we will only be looking at 'Gradum' Potions. If you are lucky, and the class shows interest, we might a start with a few of the simpler 'Duogradus' brews; never hurts to show a bit more knowledge to your OWL examiner," the statement accompanied by a beaming smile and wink. "For those fortunate few who will continue with us for your NEWT, we will delve further into Duogradus brews. Hopefully we will also be lucky enough to start on some simple experimental Gradum brewing – for the more adventurous. As for 'Tregradus' Potions, due to their complexity, not to mention their key temporal elements, they are only studied during a Mastery or later. Could anyone give me an example of each of the different types?"
While over half the class did not move, more hands rose than from the last two times, earning a chuckle from the professor, as he beamed over the selection. (Given that a good portion was Slytherin, Harry couldn't help but think they were also eager to impress to their Head of House.)
Bertram Aubrey earned Slytherin a point for 'Swelling Solution' as a Gradum Potion.
The 'Draught of Living Death' as a Duogradus Potion (apparently a rather difficult one to master) got a Gryffindor witch with light brown-hair, Tryphosa Ferox, a point.
And, his own hand still raised, Harry was picked for the final type; 'Veritaserum' as a Tregradus Potion – also earning him a point. (It had been one of Severus' revision sessions; even if the other Slytherin had tried to reassure him that not many were able to brew it given its difficulty, not to mention the potion being regulated by the Ministry, Harry was still concerned by its affects on the -most likely unknowing or unwilling- drinker, and his free-will or lack thereof.)
From there, much like the other classes, they continued to delve into the theory behind the three different gradiums - and how simple things such as quantity, quality, time as well as accuracy could drastically change the outcome of a potion. The class ended on a high note: Slughorn promised them that they would be brewing in the following class.[12]
However, before Harry could follow the rest of the first years out of the classroom, Professor Slughorn called him. He gave a goodbye to Remus, who was off to Defence for the next hour, and nodded to Severus and Lily as well as Kevan a little further along.
Once at his desk, the Potion Master inquired on Harry's week, before he proceeded to reiterate what Fleamont Potter had stated their correspondence: the Potters would arrive after Harry's Herbology class (Harry would be having lunch with them rather than in the Great Hall).
The brief talk ended with Professor Slughorn - with a chortle about young boys and their packing abilities - recommending Harry make use of his hour before Herbology to ensure he had everything he needed for his weekend outing.
With a small smile, and a promise to do so, Harry finally left the potions classroom, to meet Severus waiting outside the room, while barely paying any mind to the older students - Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw going by their robes - waiting for their own class.
As they headed towards the Slytherin Common Room and Severus started going over the questions from Slughorn's impromptu test, Harry couldn't help but let out a small sigh; One step closer to the awaiting weekend and Magik Test.
[1] behindthenames/names/gender/masculine/usage/ancient-germanic
[2] 'Bezaubert Meister': 'Charms Master' in German - please let me know if the translation is incorrect, as I don't speak German and used Google Translate.
[3] Info about Lumos Charm from: harrypotter/wiki/Wand-Lighting_Charm
[4] - seeing as in Canon Gryffindor is from England, Hufflepuff from Whales and Ravenclaw from Scotland, I'm going with Slytherin being from Ireland (the idea actually fits somewhat with the legend that St Patrick having banished all the snakes and Slytherin not liking muggles: – possibly blaming the muggle-missionary for being kicked out of his homeland / Thus the Slytherin decor shows symbols/traces of Ireland. wiki/National_symbols_of_Ireland,_the_Republic_of_Ireland_and_Northern_Ireland#Flora_and_fauna
[5] - For me Harry sees Severus (and Remus) as a kindred-spirit of sorts. Doesn't actually know much or anything about his home life but does recognises consciously or not someone else 'damaged'/'abused' craving friendship/any positive relationship. So with that is more lenient on Severus' bossing around than he was with Hermione at the start of Harry Potter&PS (not to mention there was Ron, who has a very different personality and thus eggs on a different perception of a 'know-it-all-bossy person'). (Though Harry definitely prefers Remus to bossy Severus – it's just that Sev is in Slytherin with him, thus closer/easier to get to know/spend time with on a daily basis.)
[6] - I can see both Walburga and Bellatrix not being as good in Potions as in other branches of Magic (thus not mentioned by HS); their personalities too impatient and fiery. / Potions is a more subtle - very accurate - patient art
[7] Questions 7, 11 and 19 are Snape's from HP&PS, I couldn't not put them; given that Draught of the Living Death is a NEWTs level potion, feel that Harry and Severus wouldn't have revised it when looking over their books.
[8] The Hobbit, or There and Back Again, JRR Tolkein
[9] While being somewhat different from 'muggle math', I do see child-wizards doing basic math. / One of the main aspects of math being logic (Hermione's quote about wizards and logic) it would be 'logical' that it is treated very differently in the wizard – basic math as children / to only properly continue if they wish through Arithmancy – which is why Hermione loves it so much: the most 'logical' branch of magic – and why the most difficult to most wizards / wiki/Mathematics
[10] harrypotter/wiki/Roderick_Plumpton
[11] Simplex celia: simple brew in Latin / gradum celia : one step brew / Duo gradus celia: two step brew / Tres gradus celia: three step brew / nec gradus celia: no step brew
[12] Ideally this fic doesn't go too in depth on the different classes/magics - but still felt like they should be developed some.
