A/N: Here's another chapter. Enjoy:))

Chapter 120: Getting used

The first thing we saw after pushing the heavy mahogany door open were three covered cauldrons, all the size of big watermelons, and an obviously cheerful Slughorn, nearly bouncing on the balls of his feet. The twelve of us took seats around three of the four tables that were placed as close to the back of the class as possible: the four Ravenclaws together, the Slytherins at another table, and I, my brother, Ron and Hermione next to the door.

"Professor, Ron and I don't have the books and-"

"Oh, yes, I've been informed. You can take what you need from the cabinet." When they came back, Ron was snickering and, seeing Harry's pout, I wondered what could have happened in such a short time.

"Now, I've prepared a few potions here and I would like you to tell me what they are." As soon as he took the lid off the first cauldron, our noses were attacked by the terrible combination of sewer water, rotten eggs and decomposing bodies, the latter bringing back memories from the graveyard during the Triwizard Tournament; I shook that thought from my head, just as Hermione's hand shot up so fast, I was almost surprised it was still attached to her shoulder; but then again, she'd been like this since first year.

"It's Polyjuice Potion sir; it can be identified by its muddy appearance and repelling smell."

"Very well, and what about this one?" He asked, finally sparing us of the nauseating smell by covering the Polyjuice and uncovering the middle cauldron, which seemed to hold a clear liquid in it. Well that was an interesting one…

"Well, the liquid is clearly transparent, colorless and odorless. We can therefore conclude that it is Veritaserum, the so called 'truth serum'; it forces anyone who drinks it to speak the truth."

Clearly impressed and positively beaming, the teacher moved on to the last potion.

"Very well miss…"

"Granger sir."

"Granger…do you happen to be related to Hector Dagworth-Granger?"

"No sir, my parents are both muggles." Slughorn's eyes widened slightly and he cocked his eyebrows at Harry, who nodded.

"You have to be Harry and Selene's friend then, Hermione, aren't you? 'The best in our year'; they weren't wrong. Now, dear, can you tell me what potion this is?" the girl moved closely to the basin over which res fumes were floating. The look on Hermione's face was one of bliss.

"Well, that is Amortentia, the most powerful love potion in the world. It smells differently for everyone, depending on what they love most."

"Indeed. Now, as this is a classroom full of teenagers, I won't ask any of you what is it that you smell, but each of you can come here and find out for yourselves." Everyone, even the Slytherins crowded around the small cauldron.

As soon as the steam reached my nose, a lot of different scents came to me: Sev's office, ginger, chocolate, the air before rain, broom wood and a cologne, though I couldn't remember whose was it. But then we returned to our seats and, as we passed the Slytherins, it came to me: it was Draco's.

I wanted to at least know what my brother smelled, so I prodded lightly at his mind; except nothing happened. It wasn't that I couldn't concentrate, I just simply couldn't do it. Weird…I had to figure out the problem later.

"Now, I have here a small phial of Felix Felicis; do you mind telling us what that is, Miss Granger?" But Draco raised his hand before he could finish the sentence, and that's when Slughorn seemed to remember that there were other students in his class as well.

"Yes, mister…"

"Draco Malfoy professor. Felix Felicis is known as 'liquid luck', and, as that suggests, one gulp of it will make everything go your way for a few hours."

"That's right. There is enough here for twelve full hours of luck. You will now have an hour and a half to brew the Draught ofLiving Death, and whoever makes the best one will be awarded this vial. Begin."

When (mostly) everyone was done, the teacher walked around the class, checking density, colour and smell, until he finally decided that Harry's was the best, though it wasn't a hard choice; his potion looked amazing, and worked exactly like it was supposed to; so my brother received the luck potion.

"Well that was an interesting class."

"Yeah, finally a Potions teacher that doesn't sneak up behind you when you brew. I genuinely enjoyed it."

"You're only saying that because your potion was better than Mione's."

"I'm not. I was just lucky I guess. By the way, thanks Ron."

"For what?"

"Forcing me to take the worn out book. It has tips written on the edges for better potions."

"You cheated?!"

"It's not cheating if it's written in the book."

"You have to give it to me at least to check for any dangerous spells or suggestions."

"Dangerous? Really Hermione?"

"Be reasonable Harry. She just wants to keep you safe. Besides, even if you were to share the tips with her? What would be the problem? We're all friends and these grades won't matter later anyways." Harry sighted.

"You're right. Sorry Mione. I'm a complete idiot and I overreacted."

"It's okay, I get it. Now, let's go to DADA."

The light in the room was virtually non-existing, until some blessed soul pulled a curtain to the side, though a few kids were already sprawled on the floor, having tripped over chairs or others' legs. We all sat, curious as to whether Sev was going to be a more pleasant teacher to everyone now that he finally got the position he had longed for for so long.

"Good morning class." A voice was heard from the back of the class and my godfather emerged from the shadows, a neutral expression on his face. That already meant progress, as he didn't scowl as usual.

"Today we will start trying nonverbal spells." He made us pair up and try to disarm and put up shields without talking, so most of the class means kids furiously waving wands, faces either red as they tried not to say the words, or cautious, as they whispered and hoped not to be caught; after about twenty minutes of intense concentration, Mione and I managed to nonverbally disarm each other, and even cast a weak shield.

It all went smoothly until Sev made Harry try to cast 'Protego' to avoid disarmament without talking; he ended up shouting it, and throwing the teacher to the ground.

"Potter, remember how I said we were practicing non verbal spells today?"

"Yes."

"Yes sir."

"There's no need to call me sir, professor." And that earned him a week's worth of detentions.