CHAPTER 5

The next morning was hustle bustle as everybody got up for classes. The 6th year dormitories were no exception. Harry and Ron quickly finished their morning 'ablutions' as Louis called it and went down to meet Ginny and Hermione who were waiting.

Ginny kissed Harry on the cheek and again stuck to his side. This is perfect she thought as they headed for breakfast. They were the almost the first to reach there so, they dug in and began to talk.

'So, how is Louis?' said Ginny amused at the twist in Ron's face as she mentioned it.

'Hopefully, he'll be less formal from now on' said Harry

'Yeah, his style gives me the creeps' said Ron

'Ron, you could learn a thing or two about manners from him' said Hermione

'Sure' said Ron 'Madmorsel'. Unable to pronounce Mademoiselle. Harry sniggered, while Ginny and Hermione giggled.

'Ron, you will never be able to pronounce French' said Hermione.

'Humph' said Ron, clearly put down by this turn of events.

'Oh! Don't be mad Ron' said Ginny trying to feed Harry a piece of toast, while he buttered one for her.

Just then Louis arrived at the table. Parvati Patel was about to sit. He quickly rushed to her side.

'Allow me' he said as he pulled out a chair and pushed it back in as she sat. Parvati blushed scarlet; Louis went and sat next to Harry.

'Good Morning Ladies' he said simply picking up some toast.

'Good Morning Louis' Ginny and Hermione chimed.

Just then the schedules arrived. Every one charged to get one, Louis waited until the rush was over before casually picking up the last one. The schedules magically adjusted to the person who was holding it. A groan went out.

'Double potions with the Slytherins again!' said a trembling Neville. Potions was his worst subject and Professor Snape almost took a sadistic pleasure in torturing Neville.

The entire Gryffindor table agreed.

'Pardon me, why is everyone in distress over double potions?' asked Louis.

'Snape' answered Ron and Hermione together.

'He takes sadistic pleasure in putting us Gryffindor's down, while giving points to his own house Slytherin. Potions is probably the most hated subject on the Gryffindor list and to have it with Slytherin is unbearable' said Harry

'They don't appear to be a bad lot' said Louis, looking over Ron's head to see the Slytherin table.

'Slytherin is probably the most cursed house, it has produced more dark wizards than all the other houses combined, in-fact even today it contains a large number of dark wizard wannabes' said Hermione.

'I am reluctant to submit to prejudice, but since everyone is unanimous regarding it, then it must contain more than an ounce of truth' said Louis quite shocked at this revelation.

'Don't worry; you'll so experience the full Slytherin treatment. Our houses have had an enmity for years' said Ron

'You have enmity between school houses?' asked Louis incredulously.

'Yes' replied almost everyone.

'There are far more honorable things to fight for' he sighed.

'Oy!' said Seamus 'Move on we'll be late for DADA with Ravenclaw'

Everyone quickly finished their breakfast and headed towards the DADA classroom. Harry and Ginny said goodbye as she headed off for herbiology.

Professor Lupin was waiting for them.

"Good Morning Class' said Lupin gesturing them to take a seat. "Welcome back to another year'

'Are you here permanently?' said Seamus hopefully.

'At least until the headmaster can find a suitable replacement' he replied. A murmur of distress went out through the class. They liked Lupin and wanted him to stay on as long as possible, even though he was a werewolf.

'Anyway, I have prepared an extensive syllabus for you this year and we will be continuing with last years dueling club' he said. There was cheer; they had a great time in dueling in the fifth year.

Louis raised his hand.

'Yes, Fransoue' said Lupin.

'Sir, how does one join this dueling club' he asked quite interested.

'I'll put your name in' said Lupin 'how good are you?'

'Sir, I have not received an opportunity to test my skills against my new peers, so I am unable to answer your question effectively' replied Louis.

'Well, you will have plenty of opportunities' said Lupin smiling.

'Now take out some parchment I will give you the syllabus for your sixth year' Lupin said taking out his notes.

The rest of the class was spent, in noting the new syllabus, the bell soon rang and the class walked out heading for the dungeons.

Louis had taken to walking around with the trio, they didn't mind him. But, that meant they could not talk about the problem of Voldemort's ally at Hogwarts.

In the corridor leading to the dungeons they ran into a group of Slytherins.

'Well, well what do we have here, Potter, weasel and the mud blood' Malfoy smirked, the entire Slytherin group burst into laughter.

'May I be acquainted with your name?' said Louis calmly, while the other two were trying to hold Ron back.

'Malfoy, Draco' said Malfoy, with a tone of regality and pride.

'Malfoy. Your conduct Sir does not become your family name or history' he simply replied.

This left Malfoy standing speechless, which in itself was a great achievement. The four walked into the classroom, followed grudgingly by the subdued Slytherins. Ron was much warmer to Louis after that.

Snape walked in 'Good Morning' he sneered. 'Another year I will have to teach this dimwitted batch of fools. Even after five years you all have not understood the basics of potion making, except a few who have a natural aptitude' said Snape, giving a glance to Malfoy, who smiled.

'Most of you' he said looking at the Gryffindor's 'have somehow managed to scrape together a few owls and reach this point. I however assure you with your attitude and intellect you are getting a failing mark this year'. The Slytherins sniggered.

'We also must welcome a new student' he said 'Louis Fransoue', he said the name as if it was something vile and dirty. 'You may strut around the school as if you own it, but rest assured if you don't work in my class you shall be severely punished'

Everyone turned to watch Louis's reaction. Very calmly he replied 'Thank you, Sir for that kind piece of advice, I shall take to heart'. The Gryffindor's internally smiled.

This however made Snape more angry '10 points from Gryffindor for your insolence Fransoue' he snapped. The injustice of it all was felt by also the Gryffindors, who looked at Snape with pure hatred, while the Slytherins smiled and sniggered

'We will brew a very difficult potion today, known as Rendact's Test, it is used to test the purity of a metal, take down the ingredients' he barked. There was a scramble for parchments and quills, as the class began to note down the ingredients and instructions.

'Fransoue since you do not have a partner you are on your own' said Snape.

'But' said Hermione

'Five points from Gryffindor' snarled Snape. Hermione kept quite. She knew that the potion was very complex and to finish it within the time period at least two persons had to work on it, she gave Louis a sympathetic smile. This was of course misinterpreted by Ron.

While the others were busy chopping and preparing ingredients, Louis was calmly writing down something. Half an hour later Snape made his first round.

'Longbottom, why is your potion yellow' he barked at a cowering Neville.

'I, I don't know, Professor' he said voice filled with dread. The Gryffindor looked upon this scene with sympathy, it was pathetic the way Snape used to make Neville cower with fright.

'You must have put an extra red beetle!' shouted Snape 'why can't you even obey a simple list! Start over. 5 points from Gryffindor' he walked off towards Harry's and Ron's potions, but wavered off when he saw Louis simply reading the potions book and headed for him instead.

'Fransoue, what are you doing?' said Snape 'Why aren't you brewing your potion!'

'Sir, I have finished' he said. Snape and the entire class turned to stare. It was impossible they would still take another half an hour with two persons working on it.

Snape peered into his cauldron, he had indeed finished it correctly.

'How?' he said simply, in a way that suggested Louis had cheated somehow.

Louis took out the parchment he was writing on and started showing Snape the complex formulas he had used to simplify the potion.

'Sir, Instead of using the carrot root, the acidic properties of lemon are much greater. Thus combing with the Lacewings to make a catalyst which would heighten the speed of the reaction. Further, Sir the chopping of the Notik horn which takes a large amount of time is not a necessity instead we can dissolve it in an organic solvent. The red-beetles are to increase the concentration of ions in the solution, but a safer and more accurate way would be to disassociate salt directly' he finished.

The entire class listened in shock. Even Draco Malfoy and Hermione Granger the best potion makers in the class could not believe their ears, the potion making skills Louis had were phenomenal, only a good potions master or teacher would know how to change the ingredient of such a complex potion. The implication of what Louis had said was not lost on Snape.

'10 points' he barked, then with a little strain 'for Gryffindor, It appears that one among you may be worthy of teaching'. He turned and walked back to desk. The Gryffindors and the Slytherins stared at Snape. Snape giving points to Gryffindor was as unusual as seeing a white unicorns dancing in the hallways.

The rest of the class went uneventfully; as usual Snape piled them with homework and assignments. When they left the classroom the Gryffindor's gave Louis a standing ovation. (Well they were already standing, so an ovation).

 Author: Another chapter done. Please people review, please, please …