Harry nervously tapped his fingers on the desk as he waited for class to start. If he had any question about whether Snape was secretly a vampire or not, the potions classroom certainly wasn't helping with that. The room was dark and damp with barely any light peeking through the stain glass windows. Each sub seat was separated by two wooden bars with very little legroom, something that Millicent was hindered by the most as said bars practically pressed against her larger than average frame.

"You'd think with this school being magic and all they could make custom sized seats." She grumbled

Harry looked over to see Ron and Hermione over in the Gryffindor section of the class. "Hey guys."

Hermione looked over and waved. "Harry, look Ron it's Harry." Ron seemed to look at Harry only to give him a dirty look and turn away. Harry grimaced.

"What's wrong Harry?" Daphne asked.

"it's Ron. He's giving me the cold shoulder for some reason.

Mili let out a frustrated grunt. "Hey, Weasley, just because Harry was sorted into Slythern doesn't mean he's like Malfoy."

Ron gave a rude gesture, and Mili mumbled a swear in kind.

"psst, Potter. Hey potter."

Harry looked over and saw Malfoy Crabbe and Goyal sitting a few rows to the right of him.

"Is it true you boarded with your two girlfriends in the common room last night? did they teach you how to put on lipstick and do your hair too?"

"ooooh." Crabbe and Goyal whispered as if Malfoy actually gave a halfway decent diss.

Millicent gave a face as if she were ready to lunge at the gang, but harry motioned a hand to call her off.

"Was it true that you wet your robes during detention last night? Is big bad scary professor Snape too much for a prima donna?"

"Oooh!" Millicent and Greengrass called out. Malfoy blushed a bit as his lips curled in anger slightly.

"Enough." Everyone snapped into attention and silence as Snape walked into the room like a shadow across a wall.

"There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class. As such I don't expect everyone to appreciate the exact science and art of potion making, but to those of you who do show talent...I can teach you how to vex one's mind and senses. I can teach you how to bottle wealth, glory, prestige and even hold death itself hostage."

The professor went on to give a lecture in the basics of potion making, to the effects of certain ingredients, to the potential disastrous effects of getting certain potions wrong. Harry couldn't help but notice as Snape's eyes were constantly darting towards him.

"Eyes on me Mr. Potter! Do you feel your abilities are so formidable you feel confident enough to not pay attention?"

"I am paying attention sir." Harry replied. "I'm writing everything down."

Snape walked over to Harry's desk to find that he was indeed writing the entire lecture down.

"So you are. Very good. Alright class let's review. What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Both Harry and Hermione Granger raised a hand. Harry had been just a little bit faster.

"Mr potter?"

"When these two ingredients are combined they create a sleeping known as the Draught of living Death once drunk the victim is put in a death like slumber that last for an indefinite amount of time. Hang on, did that potion inspire the fairy tale of sleeping beauty?"

"humph, Astute observation Potter. 10 points for Slytherin house. To answer your question, yes the drought was the primary inspiration for the tale. The woman in question was a hag named Leticia Somnolens. A spiteful and vicious creature, Somnolens was jealous of the daughter of the local King and tainted a spindle with the Draught of Living Death. She then tricked the young princess into pricking her finger on it, sending her into a deep sleep. Her plan was foiled, however, by a young wizard who smeared his lips with Wiggenweld Potion, and then kissed the princess, curing her and bringing her out of the sleep.

Alright, now for my second question. Where do you find me a bezoar?"

Now it was just Hermione whom raised her hand.

"Alright Miss Granger you may speak.

"A bezoar is a gallstone typically found in the stomach of a goat it was discovered during the ancient times by the Chinese as a quick and effective antidote against most poisons. It should be noted that a bezoar of an ox is an acceptable substitute. it should be noted while the bezoar of a cat or owl is not as effective against poisons, they can reverse the effects of sleeping potions such as the Draught of living Death."

Snape couldn't help but smirk. "not bad miss granger. Ten points to Gryffindor."

Snape paused for a bit. "Hmm, the two of you have a keenness in the art of potion making. I purpose a little competition. each of you will represent your respective houses. the first to receive 50 points will receive an extra 25 points. As for the rest of you, I better be seeing you writing this down."

The two smiled at each other and readied themselves. Everyone else quickly got their quills ready The back and forth between the two sides were fierce. By the last minute of class, the score was tied 45 point to 45 points.

"Alright, final question. no need to raise hands what is difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

"Both are the same plant…" Hermione started.

"…and it also goes by the name of aconite." Harry finished

Snape stood in a stunned moment of silence. "That is...correct. 5 points to the both of you. As per the rules, both houses receive 75 points in total. Class is dismissed."

As the rest of the class left, Granger and Potter shook hands congratulating each other on their respective victories. "Nice job Harry, you kept me on my toes."

"Really it's nothing I was cramming in between breaks. Considering that Snape is the head of my house I didn't want to get on his bad side."

"Yeah, you being in his house is probably why he gave you those extra 5 points. Ron protested. Hermione was the one that answered his question; you just added that little tidbit."

"Ron stop being such a tosser." Hermione rebuked. "Harry earned every bit of those points just as much as I did."

"Weren't you two supposed to be friends?" Millicent asked. "I could have sworn I saw you two buddying up on the train."

"Yeah we were friends." Ron started. "We were friends until Harry decided to join the dark side!"

Harry started to ball up his fist. as he bit the corner of his lip. "Oh I get it. Because I'm a Slytherin I'm going to be the next Voldamort is that it?"

"Maybe, all the witches and wizards that went bad were in Slytherin, and I can't exactly think of a good Slytherin."

"Alright that's it! Millicent growled. She tried to walk forward only to be pulled back by Daphne.

Hermione too was holding back Ron.

"Enough." Snape again called out. "I gave you those points, and I'll take them away if you continue this foolishness. Miss Granger, Mr Potter can you come to my desk for a moment?"

The two students did as they were told.

"The knowledge you two have is impressive. You two clearly know potions and It's refreshing to see students with actual talent and interest. I expect great things from the both of you, especially you Mr. Potter. I stand by what I said to you in the Great Hall. After all, you are in my house.

All this being said. I will ask you from refraining from volunteering to answer questions for the tiome being. I don't want the rest of the class to become apathetic and assume that you will carry them. Do you understand?"

"Yes professor." Both students said.

"Good, in the meantime, because you two are so far ahead of the rest of the class, I will consider your and your friends homework in assignments for the next two weeks to be completed in full. Keep in mind I'm only doing this because you have a solid grasp of the material. So if you want to this class homework free, I would suggest you keep to your studies."

Harry smiled and bowed. "Thank you professor."

"Do not let this go to your head Potter. I give credit where credit is due, nothing more and nothing less."

Professor Snape found himself distracted as made direct eye contact with Harry. Those distinctive green eyes were eyes he knew all too well.. "He has your eyes." he mumbled.

Harry cocked an eyebrow. "Excuse me sir?"

Snape shook his head snapping out of the distraction. "It's nothing, you're all dismissed."

All the students left. Harry in the meantime was confused by Snape's last comment. "What was that about?" Harry asked.

"You heard it too, something about you having someone's eyes."

"What do you think he was referring to?" Daphne asked.

Harry shrugged. His mind was still partially occupied by his little spat with Ron.

"What do you think is Ron's problem?"

"It's not just him." Daphne said "Gryffindor and Slytherin have had this sort of rivalry going on since the school's founding back when it was still in Britain. It should be noted, contrary to what the Weasley boy says, not every wizard that's been put in Slytherin has become an evil wizard, Penn Jillette, David Copperfield, Horace Slughorn all of them are good people. If you want to go really far back from when Hogwarts was in Britian, there is Merlin of Camelot and he's probably the most iconic wizard among both muggle and magic folk.

"Yeah don't let Ronald Queasy get to you down Harry." Millicent said. "People can be jerks regardless of what house they are in."

Harry grinned slightly. "Says the girl who was ready to beat the living snot out of him."

"Hey I didn't say I was perfect."

Harry giggled. His new friends were right. Harry had no intention of becoming a dark wizard. If Ron wasn't willing to accept that, that was his problem.

"Well we have the full afternoon to ourselves." Daphne pointed out. "What do we do now?"

Harry remembered a letter that he received a letter from Hagrid inviting him to tea.

"Anybody object to visiting Hagrid?