When
Harry Potter and Ron Weasley arrived at potions the next morning, they were
surprised to see very few people there. No one but a Slytherin could be late to
potions without getting a detention. As the bell rang, only three others had
arrived for class, Draco Malfoy and his sidekicks, Vincent Crabbe and Gregory
Goyle. When professor Snape walked in, he had a look of shock on his face.
"Five
people? Only five damn people showed up for class today! This is an outrage!
You stay here; I'm going to see Dumbledore. While I'm gone, make a calming
potion. I'll need it. Whoever makes the best will NOT receive a detention. You
may work in pairs" And he stormed off in a huff.
"So
Weasley," snickered Malfoy, "where will you be taking your detention?
The trophy room again?"
"Don't
remind me. Do you know how long the name Riddle haunted me after that? And
besides, how can you be so sure that you will make the best potion? Maybe Harry
can make a better one, wait, Harry can make a better potion. Right?" asked
Ron.
"Uh,
yeah, Ron's right. I can make a better potion than you," stated
Harry.
"Okay
then," sneered Draco, "let's make a little bet. If you win, I'll have
to take the detention and I'll give you my Nimbus Two Thousand and One. If I
win, you take the detention and give me your Firebolt. How's that for a
bet?"
Harry
waffled. He thought it was too rich for his blood.
"Black
gave me that Firebolt and I'm not about to lose it in a stupid bet to
you. We both know I can make a better potion, but you also know Snape will like
yours the best just because you're in his house."
"Touchy,
touchy," replied Draco. "All right then, we'll lower the stakes a
little. If you win, you will surrender the house match and let us win the cup
too. If I win, I'll do the same. How's that for a deal?"
"No
way!" shouted Harry. "I try will all of my seeker blood in me to win
the match and I'm not going to surrender it to you! I am not going to make any
bets with you for anything. Come on Ron, we have potions to make," and
Harry dragged Ron off to a cauldron in the corner of the room.
"I
just can't believe Draco would stoop so low on a bet. If he thought I would
take him up on that offer, I'd say he was crazy." Harry mumbled.
"Ya'
know Harry," said Ron "that might not be such a bad idea. I'll get
Fred and George to help me switch your broom so that Draco gets an old Comet
Two Sixty. We'll put a charm on it to make it look like a Firebolt, but it
really is an old, slow broom that won't fly at all. When we see the look on his
face when he kicks off, it will be great! How about it?"
"No,"
said Harry. " I've already lost enough points for Gryffindor already this
year, with the secret trips to see Hagrid and all. I don't want to risk it.
Besides, he doesn't deserve it."
"You're
right," said Ron. "Hey, have you seen Hermione today? I can't believe
she'd miss a class, especially potions."
"This
is really strange, well I guess we'll just have to start making a calming
potion. Let's get to work."
Sure
enough, when Snape came back, he needed the potion.
"All
of you, give me your potions. Now!" yelled Snape.
He drank
Harry's potion first. Amazingly he seemed to calm down instantly.
"Good
job Harry and Ron, for once you two made something worthwhile. Draco, Crabbe,
and Goyle, you may see me after class for you detention time. Do you know what?
That wasn't very fair of me to do. None of you will have a detention and
Slytherin and Gryffindor will receive 50 points. Move along to your next class.
Have a good day," concluded Snape.