Hmmm….not quite 125 yet…so this I'll take one from my dedication list. This one goes to Tantz, who has awesome pics on Elfwood.
Little Suzi: Really? I do try to keep everyone in character, and I always have to think "Ok, how would they act in this situation" then I write it. I hope you're feeling better.
Lee Lee Potter: But of course, madame…he's a true Slytherin!
Iniysa: Read your bio…your name is cool. I love melted cheese on broccoli!
Takari4ever7: Don't know where the stones came from, but it seemed like a good idea.
Alecatq: I'll post this now and another on the weekend…how does that sound? Good luck on mid-terms!
Queen Hotaru: I love Severitus challenges…I think I've read almost all of them!
Enfleurage: Thanks for all the feedback! Glad you've joined us!
Phoenix Flight: In every fic I've read, he tells Hermione and Ron. I don't think it's such a good idea if they know. Not until Voldemort is gone.
Xikum: He'll get better at it as it goes on. Can't you just see Potions classes with these stones? HA! And no, Snape's not that dense…just cautious and understanding.
Shona 3000: Neither can I!
Lady Lightning: hehe…glad you like it!
Deinamari-chan: You were 124!! So close!! And post-it notes? That would have been difficult. And remember, Leprechauns can be bribed with sticky-notes (quote from my friend Lord Zug). Better luck next time!!
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As promised, Harry led all the first years to their class, then trekked downstairs for potions. This was going to be interesting, to say the least. He sat in the back so he could slip out easily, and Hermione sat next to him when she and Ron entered minutes later. Ron took the table next to him, and was forced to sit next to Blaise Zabini. Ron had the distinct view that all Slytherins were evil, but Harry hadn't ever had much of a problem with the Slytherin boy. Word on the grapevine was Blaise was actually going to challenge Draco for Seeker this year.
Snape strode through seconds later in his usual fashion, sneering at Gryffindors and nodding at Draco. Harry readied his quill, not wanting to anger the man on his first day back. Snape hated this class above all others, but for the exact opposite reason everyone believed. He could not stand the spoiled brat that sat in the front row, smirking arrogantly at everyone else.
"Potter, if you would be so kind as to come up here and write the ingredients for the Coagulant Oil." Harry gulped. He knew the answer, but he also knew he was going to have to mess up on purpose to keep up appearances. He stood, his chair scraping against the stone floor, and edged up to the board. Draco snickered at him, but Harry pointedly ignored him.
He began to scrawl out the ingredients in the correct order on the board. Purposefully skipping over a minor ingredient, he shifted his eyes over the man on his left momentarily.
~Powdered muskhorn~ That was all he projected, but it was enough for Snape to get the point.
~I know you know it, why are you messing up on purpose?~
~Appearances Professor~ He stepped back, finished, and Snape sneered.
"My, my, Potter, who knew you would actually have time to study in all that fame you swim in. Though you forgot the powdered muskhorn. 5 points from Gryffindor." Harry hung his head and shuffled back to his seat, casting a glower at the potions master for Ron's benefit.
Harry and Hermione managed to brew a perfect potion, though Snape refused to acknowledge it verbally, passing it off as mediocre. Harry glanced at the time, and noticed there were only 5 minutes left in class. He stood, collecting his things, and nodded to Snape.
"Get out, Potter. I'm sure you're enjoying the special treatment the Headmaster is giving you." Harry scowled and exited, but not before catching the shocked expression on Malfoy's face. Harry smiled to himself; the look was worth the comment.
When McGonagall dismissed the first years, Harry escorted them outside to Herbology The Headmaster himself was standing outside the greenhouse, Fawkes perched on his shoulder. The phoenix trilled and floated over to Harry as they approached. The first years (who were still in awe of the Harry Potter) could only stare, mouths open.
"Hello Harry, how are you this morning?"
"Fine Headmaster, where is Professor Sprout?"
"She is teaching Care of Magical Creatures. She is far more qualified than I, and I offered to take over her classes. This is more along my field."
"Right, well here are the first years, as promised." He winked, and Fawkes trilled happily, returning to the Headmaster's shoulder. The first year Ravenclaws shuffled up seconds later, having followed the mass of Gryffindors, and Harry waved at their awed stares/
"Where are you off to?"
"Defense Against the Dark Arts. Can't wait," he said, unenthusiastically.
"Give Professor Covial a chance," the Headmaster shot back, "He is a little, er, overzealous at times, but then again, aren't we all?" The twinkle was present, and the spirits of the first years had just increased ten-fold. The fright that had been present in their midst all but vanished in the presence of the jubilant Headmaster. Just wait until potions, Harry scoffed.
"Bye Headmaster. I'll see you soon!" He waved and trotted off to the Defense classroom. The only empty seat was in the very back, and Harry didn't mind at all. Everyone was about to be in for the shocker of their lives. The next class, the empty seat would be front row center.
Covial came in seconds later in a flash of light and puff of smoke. Though there weren't portraits of him up everywhere, Harry had the distinct feeling he was modeling his behavior after Lockhart.
"Good morning class! I am Professor Jaren Covial, but I'm sure most of you knew that anyway. Now, I am pleased to inform you that the Headmaster has allowed me to pick up where my cousin left off! I'm restarting the Dueling Club, but only for fifth years and up! So feel free to come to the new Dueling Room next door and try out your skills every Friday night." Had Harry just heard right? Cousin? Oh, that was just taking it too far. Groans were heard around the room as everyone made the dreaded connection and realized what they were in for.
Defense went by smoothly, with very few comments made by the students, but points distributed all the same. Harry himself had gotten 10 points by doing nothing. Great, Harry thought, because everyone needs a new reason to turn against me.
~I heard that~
~How?~ Silence filled his mind and he made a note to ask Snape about that later. This thing was going to get bloody annoying fast. Harry slipped out of the classroom without much difficulty and made his way outside. Luckily, he had Herbology next, so he left his book bag next to the Headmaster and escorted the first years to History of Magic, then lunch. After lunch was potions, and Harry smirked, telling them all about the dreaded potions teacher, in order to scare them as much as possible before they even got there.
After potions, he collected a somber and frightened group and took them to Defense Against the Dark Arts.
~My, they were a weak lot. Gryffindor bravery indeed.~
~So you lived up to your reputation then?~
~What did you tell them?~ Snape's "voice" sounded very amused.
~I just scared them a little. They overheard some second years bad-mouthing you, and asked me who you were. So I told them.~
~You are your father's son~
~I don't know whether to thank you or ram my head into a wall~ Harry thought, mockingly.
~Watch it, Potter, I can take points now.~ Harry swallowed, knowing he'd gone a little too far.
~Sorry, Professor~ He dropped the first years off with Covial, who winked at him, then went to Divination. Once that class was over, he took the first years to their Flying Lesson, their last class of the day. He trekked up to Gryffindor Tower after Transfiguration to find a letter sitting on his bed. He reached down and picked it up. It was from Sirius.
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How's that for a cliffhanger? I told you they were infamous. I am so gonna take heat for that one.
NOTICE: In your review, name one object (anything you like) and the 125th reviewer will have the next chapter (after the review) dedicated to them personally, and I will include the item somehow (promise it won't be hokey…unless it's something totally off the wall). If it ever gets that high, I will also do that with 150th reviewer, 175th, etc…so review away people!