{Disclaimer: I get no money for this.}
Chapter 5
Methods and Weasels
**If it's just that you're weak/ can we talk about it/ it's getting' so damn creepy/ just nursing a ghost of a chance/ the fiction, the romance/ and the Technicolor dreams/ of black and white people." Black and White People- matchbox20**
Snape packed lightly. He wouldn't need much more than his wand and a spare set of robes. He could survive. He had done so many times before. It was the only reason Snape was still breathing today. There was only a few hours left until his departure…
He had told Peri, he supposed that she should be called by her proper name, but she would stay Pit bull in his mind, that he was going to let her teach the first day of classes. Snape planned to stay in his office to see if she was an utter failure or if she measured up to his high standards. He could hear the students entering his classroom. Noisy, moronic lot, all of them, he thought to himself, especially that wretched Potter boy.
Peri sat at a small teacher's desk in the corner of the room. The students entered in clumps or pairs, only a few late loners. They sat at their desks quietly waiting for Professor Snape. She let them wait.
Snape wondered what the girl was doing. She was letting them stay there doing nothing. He could hear their chattering from inside his office. Troublesome loudmouth gits.
Peri stood up from where she had been seated. No one noticed her. Perfect, she thought. Have it their way. "Alright! LISTEN UP, YOU WEASELS!" Her voice echoed off the walls of the dungeon without any magical assistance. On the far left of the classroom, a student's face turned a shade of brilliant red.
From inside his office, Snape grinned maliciously. She would do just fine.
The class quieted down instantly. Her voice dropped down to its normal, quiet level. "Thank you." She paused to survey the students. "I afraid Professor Snape will not be able to teach you all for the next couple of weeks. I will be teaching in his place until he returns. My name is Professor Lynx."
Smiles broke out on mostly every face. They were not at all upset about Snape not being there. Peri started with attendance to make sure everyone was accounted for. She did not pause over the name that made most people stop and stare. She had been locked away before his birth and was not more than vaguely familiar with who Harry Potter was. "We will be starting today with a simple review." She gave a half-smile. "We are going to brew happiness."
A few of the slower member of the group looked confused.
"Can anyone tell me what we will need in order to create this potion?"
To no one's surprise, Hermione's hand shot straight up into the air.
"Can anyone, except for Ms. Granger who seems to be the only one of you dunderheads who seems to admit to knowing anything, tell me what is needed to brew happiness?" Hermione looked crestfallen at not being chosen to tell what she knew, but there was a slight smirk on her face from being complimented. No one raised their hands.
"Fine, have it your way. Since no one answered my question, save for the person that I have been warned to know everything, all of you will be writing an essay on the ingredients found in a Hatred Potion and why they are used to brew such a potion."
The class stared in shock. The new professor had not even been there ten minutes and they already were being forced to write a long and tenuous essay. From his office, Snape decided once again that he liked his assistant's methods.
"Now, back to the brew of happiness. I want you all to open you text to page 312. The ingredient list is there along with the equipment that you will be needing. Partner up and get to work. We will be testing these at the end of the class."
There was a pause before the students started to get to work. Peri leaned against the edge of her desk, arms crossed in front of her. She watched her students with the eyes of an attack dog, waiting for someone to mess up. The students quickly began the work on the potion. Ingredients were chopped, ground, sliced, and crushed. Liquids were carefully measured and added. Peri kept close watch over everyone. To her right, a cauldron seemed on the verge of boiling over.
Peri pulled out her wand, pointed it at the cauldron, and muttered a spell that she did not even know she knew. The cauldron stopped its rapid bubbling, slowing to a placid surface. "Mr. Longbottom, I suggest that you be extremely careful when combining the Vervain with the rest of the mixture. If combined too quickly, it tends to froth." She approached the boy, eyes narrowed. "You will not explode any cauldrons while I am present in this classroom."
Neville Longbottom, who was known to be an utter failure at potions, didn't know whether to be grateful or terrified of the new Potions Master. "Y-y-yes, professor."
"Then we are in agreement. Get back to work." Peri turned toward some of the other groups to check their progress. Most of the potions were turning out nearly correct. A few groups had to have minor adjustments on their mixtures, but other than that everything was fine.
"Everyone should be finished by now. I would like a volunteer group."
No one raised their hands.
"Chickens, all of you. Not a brave in one in the lot. Pathetic, really. You are a class of twenty some odd, and not one of you is willing to volunteer even when you know that your potions will be tested anyway before you leave the classroom."
A hand slowly crept into the air.
"Mr. Weasley, I presume. Thank you." She gestured for Ron and Harry to come to the front of the group. Peri took their cauldron and poured a little bit into a test tube for each of them. She handed them back. "Bottoms up."
Ron and Harry looked at each, shrugged, and gulped down the potion. In a few seconds, both wore wide grins that lit up their entire faces.
"No, tell me how you feel?"
"I feel wonderful, professor," Harry answered, smiling wider.
"Terrific. Just fantastic," Ron replied brightly.
"Full marks, both of you. Who's next?"
The rest of the class tested their potions. All the students ended up extremely contented and filled with joy.
"Class dismissed. Remember to write the essay that has been assigned to you. I want it by the next time this class meets."
The students filed out of the dungeons, remarkably happier than they had been coming in.
Ron, Harry, and Hermione joined together in their own little group. "So what do you think of the new professor?" Hermione asked.
"Any professor is an improvement on Snape," Ron voiced.
"Other than that."
"Oh, sorry. She's alright, I guess," Ron grinned. The effects of the potion had no worn off yet.
"Harry?"
"I don't know. She seems strange."
"What do you mean?"
"She didn't have any reaction to my name. Usually professors at least pause or give some reaction."
Hermione looked at him. "You're right; they usually do. She didn't have any reaction towards who you are." She paused, thinking. "Unless, Snape warned her that you are here."
"That might have been it. Snape probably gave her the entire speech that I was just a spoiled, big-headed teacher's pet and that I should be ignored." Harry snorted, remembering the many taunts that he had received from Professor Snape.
"Did you see what she did to Neville's potion?"
"You mean the spell that she cast at it before it was about to bubble over?"
"Exactly. I wonder what spell she used. I suppose I could find it in the library."
"Hermione, it's the first day back to Hogwarts and you already want to go to the library to do research?" Ron gave her an expression of disbelief.
Hermione looked hurt. "Well…"
Snape walked out of his office to find Peri seated at her desk scribbling rapidly across a piece of parchment. "Weasels, Pit bull?"
Peri looked up and smirked. "Yes, weasels."
"Is there any specific reason that you called my students 'weasels'?"
"No, it just seemed appropriate."
"I do believe that you also called them 'dunderheads,' 'chickens,' and 'pathetic,' am I correct?"
"Yes," Peri found no reason not to admit to doing this.
"I congratulate you in doing so. They are all morons that do not appreciate the subtle science of potion making."
"Thank you." Peri stood up. "Is there anything else that I did that you wish to comment upon?"
"No. I only wish you luck. You are going to need it." Snape stalked out of the Potions dungeon in his usual swirl of black, carrying only his wand and a small parcel. Peri watched him depart, giving him only a sad shake of her head. That man was too difficult for his own good.
Peri went back to writing her notes down on the parchment. There were so many things that she wished she could remember. She knew that she didn't mind being in front of people talking or teaching. There was no recollection of teaching, but maybe she had done some at one point.
A knock at the door interrupted her thinking. "Come in!" she spoke to whoever was there. The door opened to reveal the professor she had been seated next to at dinner, Professor Lupin, if she remembered correctly. He looked around to find her in the dark gloom.
Peri stood up to greet him. She was surprised that he had come to see her. "Hello. Can I help you with anything, Professor?"
"Call me Remus, please."
"Alright. Then may I help you with anything, Remus?"
"Yes, actually, you might be of some assistance. I was wondering if Severus had left any notes of a potion that he had brewed for me."
"Let me check." Peri rustled through the papers on her desk top. She had only been there a few days and the desk was a complete disaster area. Oh, well. She pulled out a potion with Lupin's name written at the top. "This one?" She handed it to him.
"Yes, this would be it. Do you know if he brewed any of it?"
Peri scanned the shelf. Nothing was there that was labeled Wolfsbane Potion. Snape had locked his office before leaving. "No, I don't believe so. I can brew you some if you need it."
"If you could, please. I happen to be a terrible potions brewer," Lupin grimaced at his memories of potions.
Peri smiled. "That's why I'm here. So when would you like it?"
"Preferably as soon as possible."
"Okay. I'll get right to. I don't think I have another class until after lunch," she looked at her schedule. "Okay, I don't have another class until after lunch. When would you like me to drop it off?"
"After dinner would be fine."
"Alright, I can do that."
"Thank you, Peri. I appreciate this."
"You're welcome. If you ever need any other potions, I'll be willing to help."
"I shall see you later, then." Professor Lupin exited the dungeons.
Peri looked over the Wolfsbane potion. It was rather complex, though she couldn't see why Remus needed it. In fact, she didn't remember ever hearing of a Wolfsbane potion before. The only thing she knew that Wolfsbane was used for was to guard against werewolves. Peri wondered what he was doing with werewolves. Remus was the Defense professor after all.
The Wolfsbane potion was a good challenge that kept her busy until lunch. In fact, she was so absorbed in the concocting of the potion that she would have forgotten to go to lunch save for that one of the numerous house elves residing at Hogwarts reminded her it was time to eat. Obviously, Dumbledore had sent them to remind her. He must have figured that she would forget about simple things like eating.
Her classes after lunch were not the most interesting thing to instruct. Both were first year classes who knew almost nothing about potions. Peri gave them a lecture on the science of potion making complete with a demonstration of how to prepare the ingredients. She promised them a quiz on what she had gone over for the next class.
When the last student had exited the dungeon, she collapsed into her desk chair. Maybe Snape had been right. Maybe they didn't understand the subtle science of potion making. Peri would fix that. They would learn to understand. She would make certain of it.
The Wolfsbane potion was almost complete. It had brewed for the required amount of time and she had done everything accurately to her knowledge. Peri took it off the heat and poured some into a goblet. It steamed, giving off a horrible odor. She hoped she had brewed it correctly.
After an uneventful dinner, the potion, still hot and steaming, was to be delivered. Peri had no recollection to where the Defense rooms were located. Oh, well, she decided. She could wing it. Fortunately, Hogwarts seemed to be one of the few things that she could remember. Peri knocked on the door that happened to be labeled Defense Against the Dark Arts Office.
"Coming!" a voice from within called out. Remus opened up the door. "Ah, yes, Peri. I was waiting for you. Do come in."
Peri entered cautiously. The room was cluttered with everything imaginable. Creatures in tanks and cages were situated around the room. A few dangerous looking plants stood alone in a corner. "Wow." Peri decided after looking around. She handed Lupin his potion. "Here's the Wolfsbane potion just as you asked for it."
Remus took the goblet and frowned at it. "It is a rather vile mixture. Too bad sugar makes it worthless." He swallowed it down. The goblet was still steaming. "Ah, well it does help."
"Can I ask what exactly a Wolfsbane potion does?"
Lupin looked at her and laughed. "I apologize. Its just you seemed so confident in making it, yet you have no clue as to why I need the potion."
"Right. So why do you need it?"
"Have a seat. I'll explain it to you. Would you like some tea?"
Peri's eyes widened. She still felt tea deprived. "Yes, please."
Two mugs appeared on the table, steaming with a savory scent. Peri took the mug and inhaled deeply. "Mint," she decided. "With green tea. Its one of my favorites."
Lupin smiled at how naïve the girl could seem, yet how obviously brilliant she was. "You wanted to know about the Wolfsbane potion."
"Yes. You could say I've been a bit of a hermit for a while." Peri chuckled to herself. Hermit was not the exact word that she would have used to describe it, but it would be as close as she could come to telling the truth.
Lupin nodded sympathetically. "You understand what a werewolf is, correct?"
"Yes."
"When the moon is full, the werewolf transforms into the wolf-like state, but retains no trace of the human thought process. During this time, the werewolf has no control over who he attacks or what he does. A few years ago, there was some experimenting with how to make that time more bearable. They came up with the Wolfsbane potion."
Peri looked at him closely. "So you're a werewolf?"
"Unfortunately, yes, I am."
"Oh. Okay. It is nearing the full moon, isn't it? And that's why you need the potion."
"Exactly."
"Fine, just tell me when you need me to make it and I will do so."
Lupin looked at the girl. She seemed undaunted by the fact that he was a dangerous creature. "It doesn't bother you that I am a werewolf?"
"No, should it?"
"Usually people don't, well, care to associate with my kind."
"Well, yeah," Peri shrugged. "That's some people. I see no reason to be afraid." She took a definitive sip of the tea.
Lupin laughed quietly to himself. The girl had no fear. The conversation lapsed as Peri gazed around the office. She noticed a large, black, familiar looking dog lying in front of the fire place. He seemed to be watching her. She knew that dog, not very well, but she knew what he was none the less. Lupin watched her eyebrows crinkle in confusion.
"Oh, yes. That mangy mutt over there is Snuffles. I took him in a few summers ago because no one else wanted him."
The dog stood up from his relaxed position on the floor and loped over to where Peri was seated. She scratched him behind the ears. Snuffles sat down, laying his giant head on her lap. She continued to pet him, rather absent mindedly.
"He seems to have taken a liking you."
"Animal magnetism," Peri gave her head a nod of affirmation. She looked at the watch she wore on her wrist. "It's late. I still have some things that I need to get done. Bye, Remus, Snuffles." Snuffles lifted his head off of Peri's lap so that she could leave. Dog and werewolf watched her go.
Snuffles shook his head as he transformed into his human form.
"Well?" Remus asked him. "What's your opinion on her?"
Sirius looked at him sharply. "She comes from the same background as myself."
Remus nodded. He had noticed Peri's eyes. They held secrets that few would live to know. "I thought as much."
"Other than that, only time can tell."
{Author's Note: Eight reviews! I'm thrilled with this! It's great that people review my story! It's Just Ducky!
A note on weasels. The weasel part comes from my English teacher/ drama director. She called the dancers in our musical 'weasels.' Actually, she had the student teacher at the time sign to the dancers since they did not comprehend stuff and called them 'weasels.' She also called my English class 'weasels.' In fact she reminds me of Snape, being that she is strict and most people are completely terrified of her. That is unless you get to know her and realize that she does it to make people work hard and actually accomplish things.
Anna Black: You are welcome. You have to understand that I actually do have a cat named Pixie who gets into absolutely everything and is extremely loudmouthed troublesome, so the cat is named after her. If you can find a better name, go right ahead; it would be welcome. As for the Snape in character, I try to keep him in his lovable, sarcastically evil self, which is not that hard since I tend to be sarcastic and cynical. And, yes, Snuffles is at Hogwarts as a pet for now. I don't speak French, yet. I get as far as about two or three phrases. I do speak Spanish quite well, so that is why it is in the story. Thanks.
Jackie: Don't worry, I won't forget Powder Blue.
Okie-day. That's it for now. Oh, and don't expect anything posted during the week of April 13 through April 20; we will be on vacation and not have contact with a computer that I can type chapters on. Thanks for reading and reviewing. Peace, Love, and Ice Cream, the One and Only Nataly Ravenlock}
