Chapter 4: The Encounter
"Tell me…"
A greasy-haired man questioned, eyes filled with darkness as his lone voice echoed through the damp walls of the dungeons, "what potion requires ingredients such as ginger, armadillo bile, and mixed round scarab beetles, Labyrinth?"
As long as she could, Venus breathe in, clenching her fists as hard as she could muster, and exhaled a rather heavy sigh. Her aquamarine eyes stared deep into Professor Severus Snape's dark orbs and slowly, her face formed into a gentle, soft smile.
"Sir, it is called the Wit-Sharpening Potion. It is a certain potion which allows its drinker to think more clearly. Due to this, it acts as an antidote to the charm called Confundus, which confuses and misdirects its targets."
Both eyebrows raised, the professor swiftly turned his back to the rest of the class, his black, lengthy cloak flying behind him. But not only his eyebrows were raised, but also the rest of the students present in the room had their eyes widened in bewilderment. They were quite surprised of the new student's knowledge, and not even them might have knew the answer to Snape's question.
"It appears you are diligent enough, you have indeed studied your lessons in advance in Potions, or…" again, Snape looked directly into Venus' eyes which made her shiver from her head to toe, "you managed to have luck in the draw."
She couldn't discern if she said something wrong or it was Snape who's got something wrong going on his head, but all Venus wanted at that moment was to be seated back on her stool beside Draco Malfoy – her childhood best friend. Or beside Pansy Parkinson – her newly-found friend at Hogwarts.
"Nevertheless… you may sit down, Miss Labyrinth, and ten points for Slytherin." Said Snape, his miserable face clearly twitching.
A few Slytherins turned and grinned at each other for hearing their first ten points being awarded to the Slytherin house, some grunted and exhaled loudly. Obviously, those who looked exasperated were the Gryffindors.
Parkinson beamed at Venus, her eyes glinting after hearing an instant ten points. She whispered at her, "Nice one, Venus. How did you even knew the answer?"
Venus just smiled back at her and muttered, "Honestly, I did a bit of advanced reading this morning, but it is literally the only thing I know."
Maybe it really was her lucky day today. Ever since the morning she woke up and have gotten out of her brand four-poster bed, draped with velvet curtains - all she felt was bliss and enthusiasm. Like it was going to be the best day of her life. Like nothing will ever go wrong. The moment she stood up, Venus roamed her eyes throughout her room. Even her own room seemed flawless: the shamrock-green carpet effortlessly warmed up her curled toes, the stone walls were decorated with elegant green photo frames of random moving people, and the tall window with flourished lining casted a soft light to the whole chamber. Everything felt magical - not that her past school wasn't amazing – but Venus was sure that Hogwarts really was better in every single way.
And now, she were to spend her morning in Potions class at the dungeons with, based on what she heard from other Houses, Professor Severus Snape, the most horrible teacher ever. However, Draco and the other Slytherins reckon he's the best head of House, not because he purposely gives them points for free, of course.
The two girls chuckled, completely oblivious of the fact that Draco was sending them a death glare all along. After a moment or so, the two females turned their attention to the professor talking in front of the whole class.
"As Miss Labyrinth have already told you about the potion you are about to make because she's another know-it-all like Granger," suddenly, everyone's eyes gazed at Hermione Granger, a brown-haired Gryffindor, and even Venus noticed how her face and her ears turned scarlet red, "proceed to get your ingredients on the counter and begin making your potion."
The pack of students stood up one by one, and Venus followed Parkinson as they both headed towards the counter of ingredients, and immediately picking up their own. She watched in amusement while everyone was busy picking up their ingredients and placing them on their tables. But just as she was about to walk away, a small piece of ginger rolled onto her feet, and immediately, a round-faced boy with a Gryffindor patch on his robes picked it up nervously.
"Sorry." He muttered as he made his way back to his table, completely looking like a fool as he swayed all the way, trying his very best not to drop his elements. Venus smirked at the sight.
"Let's work together," Parkinson chimed in a singing voice to her blonde-haired friend, who had her brows knitted together.
"Is that even allowed? I mean-"
"Yes, absolutely! Snape won't even notice it anyway, nor will he care when he did notice." Shrugged Parkinson.
All of a sudden, Venus had jumped out of her skin when she heard the voice of the Potions professor, scolding two outraged heads whose stares could have killed them off.
"What are you two absolute, egregious trouble-makers up to?!" Snape turned his dark, squinting eyes to Granger, then Draco, and back to Granger again. "Ten points from Gryffindor!" And with that, he disappeared from the scene, leaving a smug-looking Slytherin.
"Don't worry, you'll get used to this. Draco and that Granger never had truce, not even once." Whispered Parkinson to Venus while neatly chopping her fresh ginger.
"Ugh, this is all your fault, Malfoy!" hissed Granger, though quietly enough to not be heard by Snape.
Venus didn't notice how long she's been watching the as the two continued quarreling at the other side of the room, or how they're voices seemed to reach her ears. Woah, they do look quite adorable together. She thought while continued watching the two exchanged irritated remarks without being spotted again by Snape.
"Don't blame me for your stupidity, Granger, take that up with Potter and the weasel." Sassed Draco, crossing his arms. With that, Granger finally left, stomping her feet towards her own table of ingredients beside Potter and Weasley. Of course, Draco had already given him points to remember while in Hogwarts.
Only a few moments later and Draco joined Blaise Zabini, grounding his scarab beetles with force, yet such elegancy.
Sweat trickled on their foreheads, their faces smudged with either soil dirt or filth from the ingredients, and smoke of different scents filled the entire room. Venus could never be happier that they have already finished their Potions class – even her well-groomed head turned into a bushy, grubby fluff of blonde hair after the attempt of a wit-sharpening potion. Pansy Parkinson wiped her face with a clean napkin, as grateful as Venus for they have made a tad successful potion.
"We did it, Labyrinth…" smiled the raven-haired girl while her eyes twinkled with her chin held up high. Truly she's proud of what they have achieved.
"Yeah, thank you Pansy, for the, you know, your help." Answered Venus while beaming at her friend. They paced out of the chamber with the rest of the students.
Pansy's chocolate eyes grew wide and out of the blue, she placed her arms around Venus and squeezed her tight. She moved away, beaming far-reaching than before, and said, "you're most welcome, Venus."
"Enough of the cheesy episodes of yours, or I might desire that we may be better strangers," scoffed Draco as he appeared from behind the two girls. "We better get going for our next class, Pansy."
"Oh right, you took up Care of Magical Creatures, Venus?" questioned Pansy.
"Yes, I do. I better get going, too."
"Alright, see you at the common room!" waved Pansy and Draco as they began walking to the corridor at the right.
"Good bye, Pansy, Draco!" bid Venus as she, too, began walking on the left corridor.
Venus strolled the empty corridors alone, assured that after a few turns will she reach her destination. Yes, she was confident enough to not ask the moving portraits the way to where the Hogwarts grounds would be, or the cabin of some Rubeus Hagrid professor, where the class would take place. Stair after stair, corridor after more corridors, certainly, Venus realized she was lost – all alone inside the school of Hogwarts. And now, no one seems to be present in the area so she can ask questions.
I should have asked… I should have asked long ago! At least, Draco or Pansy! Surely they know of the passage… She pondered as her heels clicked the stone floor of a random corridor, aiming to find the location of her current class. It's only been fifteen minutes past, I'm sure they'd still let me in class. Hopefully, the professor hasn't arrived yet.
Yet, Venus seemed to gradually lose courage. Not one person came across her, no random students roamed the hallways, no moving portraits which could help her show the way. Her eyes glanced over the entire area while trotting with her hurt feet, but just as Venus was about to give up, her body collided with a strong pillar which sent her falling on her bottom, bag and books scattered on the floor.
"Oh, are you alright? I'm terribly sorry, I didn't know you were there, I…"
To her mistake, it wasn't a pillar nor a column she bumped into, but instead, it was a man - a tall, handsome-looking man with dark locks. He obviously looked older than her, but surely no further than two years. Venus's stare never left the man's face till she was standing on her toes, with the courtesy of the mysterious man in front of her. All her belongings were already in her bag, placed gently on her shoulder.
"Sorry, are you alright? Do you need help?"
"W-what?" was all she managed to stutter. The unknown, handsome, young lad chuckled. Venus noticed how perfect his teeth were though he's many inches taller than her.
"Come on, allow me to take you to the hospital wing." Gestured the man as he supported her on the arm and began walking.
Out of nowhere, the Slytherin female's eyes widened in surprise, her whole face heated up like a freshly ripe tomato, her palms became sweaty and all. She panicked as her heart pounded against her ears and exclaimed, "N-no, I'm perfectly fine! I'm sorry, it was all my fault, not yours-"
"Please, I insist. Allow me." The man genuinely smiled at her, gesturing his arm for her to take. Truly enough, his smile captivated her, which gave her no chance of declining his generous offer.
Okay, I'm quite lucky this bloke's handsome, or I would rather sprint and come up late to class- oh well, at least I can use this as an excuse for not showing up in my daycare of magical and mythical creatures class. Venus pursed her lips as she wondered, tightly gripping the man's arm with hers. She limped as the two of them strolled into an unoccupied corridor.
Woah woah woah, chapter 4 is down, y'all!
I try to do my best to upload a new chapter, and pardon me if i'm not doing my job well. Schooling is a hindrance to writing. Joke. School is important. Attend your classes lol.
Anyway, do you have any idea who that person could be? If you do, comment and let's see if you got it correct! Comment, like, vote, or add this to your library to be updated for more. Thank you for reading!
Love,
-venuslabyrinth
