Elisabeth slid into a seat next to Moira, Daniel and Will followed
her.
"Students!" Neville smiled at them and waited until they were seated before beginning his speech. "Herbology does not require much potion making nor does it include any incantations in forgotten languages. You do not need wands, thus you will not need to sheild your eyes to protect them from the exagerated flailing of your neighbor." Neville paused momentarily and waited for the titters to die down. "No, Herbology requires nothing but herbs." He paused and laughed at his own joke. Moira and Daniel massaged their temples and Will rolled his eyes.
"Over the next year you will learn which plants can heal and which plants will, ultimately, kill you."
A stocky boy with thick, black hair stuck his hand up. "Do we get to test the deadly ones on people?"
Neville glanced down at the register. "That explains it." He muttered when he found the boys name. "Mr MacMillan, obviously if we did that we would have a shortage of graduates by the time seventh year rolls around."
"Well if you're such a great Herbologist why couldn't you just save them right before they died?"
"What if I didn't get there in time? What if there was not yet a remedy for the plant? No spell can bring people back from the dead." Neville closed his eyes for a minute, Elisabeth had the feeling he was remembering some of his friends killed in the war. "No, Jarod, I don't think that's a good idea. I sincerely hope you think of better suggestions for your next classes." He looked at the boy over the tops of his spectacles. "I know that Professor Granger, for one, will not tolerate such nonsense."
Then he clapped his hands together and smiled. "Alright! Today we are going to dice Munfungus roots. These roots-" he held several blackish roots up, "These roots help conteract the influenza virus. Each root has seven chambers, inside each chamber is a teaspoon of dark blue powder. You need to slice the root so you do not cut into the chambers. In the end we'll give them to Madame Abbot and she'll mix the powder in water and keep it in a cool dry place until one of you gets influenza."
"Why are we using a plant that destroys influenza? No one gets influenza any more, not even Muggles."
Neville smiled. "You'd be surprised how many people are struck down with the flu when they find out they have Defence Against The Dark Arts with Professor Snape.
"Now! Get slicing."
"So what do you guys have after this?"
"Defence Against The Dark Arts."
"Is it a double?"
"Nope," William paused to shove a piece of toast into his mouth. "Our next doubles class is after lunch."
"Mr Weasley!"
Will dropped the piece of toast that was on it's way to his mouth. "What?"
"Breakfast was over fifteen minutes ago."
"Well, yes. It was but-"
"I have no problem with you eating in my class but try to make it less noticible." He smiled slightly. "The Blykoods are touchy about people eating in front of them."
The rest of the class was uneventful and the Ravenclaws filed out of greenhouse number 2 and headed for the dungeons where DADA was held.
"If I catch anyone fooling around in this class they will find themselves out of Hogwarts with all magical privliges revoked." Professor Snape stared at them.
"I wish he wouldn't waste so much time with introductions." Will said to Daniel.
"I know, jeez, we're going to waste all our time." They laughed.
"Gentlemen!" Snape yelled. "And Miss Potter. Come here for a moment."
"Now you've done it." Elisabeth said sharply.
"Sorry, we didn't know he had a thing against happiness and good cheer."
"Perhaps he'd like us more if we were bats."
"Yeah, I read somewhere that animals are drawn to their own kind."
"We should make sure that we're female bats though, he might get territorial if we're male bats."
"You're right, of course that would take complicated Transfiguration though. I wonder if we could just get Mum to do it for us."
"If you don't shut up I'll just cat them off." Elisabeth said through clenched teeth.
"Mr Jordan! Perhaps you should just sit this class out." He lowered his voice. "We wouldn't want you to get hurt." Elisabeth looked at Everett who was shaking violently.
Snape turned back to them. "You boys may think you have special privliges because your parents work here-"
"That's BS! We don't think we have special privliges any more than the next kid!"
"HOWEVER! In my class, you will be treated like any other student."
"So are you going to single every other student out now too? Is that your plan? Because if you don't single everyone else out hey might get jealous." Will's voice was trembling with rage. "And what of Elisabeth? Her parents don't work here."
"I will be speaking seperately to Miss Potter. Ten points from Gryffindor for yor cheek. And detention."
"That's crap and you know it." He said.
"We'll talk to your mother about it." Snape said, amusement rolling in his voice. "Now boys, you may go back to your seats."
"Miss Potter. Perhaps you think that having a famous father entitles you to favouritsm among students and teachers. I, however, do not favour students."
"Perhaps, Professor, we need to discuss this with my father. I'm sure he has many ideas on this subject."
"Well Miss Potter, what a moronic idea, I expected better from you."
"Well if William is to be treated like other students and his mother is brought in why should my father not be brought in?"
The sardonic smile on his face twisted off. "Very well Miss Potter. We will speak with your father. Now return to your seat!" He barked.
Elisabeth sat down next to Daniel. "He's going to call dad in, I know it." Daniel said through the side of his mouth, not taking his eyes off Snape.
"If he's calling Hermione in he definitely will."
"Christ, where did they find him? St. Mungo's?"
"In the brain dead department."
The rest of the day passed in a haze, Elisabeth went to all her classes, none of the other teachers singled her out nor did they single out William and Daniel.
The last class of the day was Transfiguration.
Hermione said her speel about the dangers of Transfiguration, gave them some complicated notes and motioned Elisabeth and the boys forward.
"I just talked to Professor Snape, what is going on?"
"Me and Dan laughed in his class and he gave us a lecture on how he wouldn't single us out for special treatment because you work here."
"I told you not to mess with Snape William Alexander, I told you. I can't get you out of this one lest I be accused of favouring my son." She looked at Daniel. "Is he calling your dad in too?"
"I imagine so, he didn't say. He's calling Harry in too."
"What did you do?" Hermione asked, looking at Elisabeth.
"I stood next to William and Daniel when they laughed or I'm the daughter of Harry Potter. Take your pick."
Hermione sighed. "Go back to your seats and copy down the notes on the board, I'll figure something out his evening. And William?"
William swiveled his head around. "Yeah?"
"Don't be late or it's your own neck."
"Yes Professor."
Dinner that evening was a sombre affair. The moment they had told Derrick and Vivyann what happened Derrick pulled out a wooden stake and told them to plunge it into his heart. Vivyann told Elisabeth to stuff her bra with garlic and Caroline suggested they just leave the school.
To make matters worse towards the end of the meal Harry walked in. He strode over to the head table (actually he tried to stride but he kept getting mobbed by girls who wanted him to autograph their satchels and boys who wanted to chat with him about Quidditch. Derrick got up to get his autograph but Elisabeth told him she'd get him three dozen autographs if he would just sit down. McGonagall finally stood up and told everyone to sit back down and Harry went and talked to Hermione. They conferred for a moment, glancing occasionally at the Ravenclaw table. Actually Hermione glanced occasionally a the Ravenclaw table, Harry was too busy shooting death glares at Snape who was eating his soup and pretending not to notice. "Did you se the looks Harry is giving Snape?"
"I know! He should patent that."
"Oh shut up you two! Honestly, I do not want to hear what my dad is doing. Please."
"Sorry. It's just amazing. Do you think he could give me Quidditch lessons?"
"NO! Look, Derrick, I'm sorry but it's just like, my dad went from being the guy next door, book salesman and now he's some sort of icon. It's tough."
Derrick patted her on the back. "It's alright, at least your dad came. I broke my collar bone in second year and Madame Abott didn't know if she could fix it and my dad didn't even come see me."
"I think my dad just wanted to face off with Snape."
Everyone laughed. "Uh-oh." Daniel said.
"What?"
"It appears the parentals are done conferring. They are ready to take drastic action."
Elisabeth looked up at the head table and sure enough her dad, Hermione and Neville were preparing to go to the dungeons. Snape stood up as well and Elisabeth glanced at her watch. 7.00. Detention time.
"Well, we better get going."
"Good luck." Caroline said.
"What kind of flowers do you like? I'll bring some to but on your grave."
"Shut up Derrick." Vivyann said, hitting him on the back of the head.
They got up and headed down to the dungeons. Elisabeth opened the door to the DADA room and took a deep breath.
"Students!" Neville smiled at them and waited until they were seated before beginning his speech. "Herbology does not require much potion making nor does it include any incantations in forgotten languages. You do not need wands, thus you will not need to sheild your eyes to protect them from the exagerated flailing of your neighbor." Neville paused momentarily and waited for the titters to die down. "No, Herbology requires nothing but herbs." He paused and laughed at his own joke. Moira and Daniel massaged their temples and Will rolled his eyes.
"Over the next year you will learn which plants can heal and which plants will, ultimately, kill you."
A stocky boy with thick, black hair stuck his hand up. "Do we get to test the deadly ones on people?"
Neville glanced down at the register. "That explains it." He muttered when he found the boys name. "Mr MacMillan, obviously if we did that we would have a shortage of graduates by the time seventh year rolls around."
"Well if you're such a great Herbologist why couldn't you just save them right before they died?"
"What if I didn't get there in time? What if there was not yet a remedy for the plant? No spell can bring people back from the dead." Neville closed his eyes for a minute, Elisabeth had the feeling he was remembering some of his friends killed in the war. "No, Jarod, I don't think that's a good idea. I sincerely hope you think of better suggestions for your next classes." He looked at the boy over the tops of his spectacles. "I know that Professor Granger, for one, will not tolerate such nonsense."
Then he clapped his hands together and smiled. "Alright! Today we are going to dice Munfungus roots. These roots-" he held several blackish roots up, "These roots help conteract the influenza virus. Each root has seven chambers, inside each chamber is a teaspoon of dark blue powder. You need to slice the root so you do not cut into the chambers. In the end we'll give them to Madame Abbot and she'll mix the powder in water and keep it in a cool dry place until one of you gets influenza."
"Why are we using a plant that destroys influenza? No one gets influenza any more, not even Muggles."
Neville smiled. "You'd be surprised how many people are struck down with the flu when they find out they have Defence Against The Dark Arts with Professor Snape.
"Now! Get slicing."
"So what do you guys have after this?"
"Defence Against The Dark Arts."
"Is it a double?"
"Nope," William paused to shove a piece of toast into his mouth. "Our next doubles class is after lunch."
"Mr Weasley!"
Will dropped the piece of toast that was on it's way to his mouth. "What?"
"Breakfast was over fifteen minutes ago."
"Well, yes. It was but-"
"I have no problem with you eating in my class but try to make it less noticible." He smiled slightly. "The Blykoods are touchy about people eating in front of them."
The rest of the class was uneventful and the Ravenclaws filed out of greenhouse number 2 and headed for the dungeons where DADA was held.
"If I catch anyone fooling around in this class they will find themselves out of Hogwarts with all magical privliges revoked." Professor Snape stared at them.
"I wish he wouldn't waste so much time with introductions." Will said to Daniel.
"I know, jeez, we're going to waste all our time." They laughed.
"Gentlemen!" Snape yelled. "And Miss Potter. Come here for a moment."
"Now you've done it." Elisabeth said sharply.
"Sorry, we didn't know he had a thing against happiness and good cheer."
"Perhaps he'd like us more if we were bats."
"Yeah, I read somewhere that animals are drawn to their own kind."
"We should make sure that we're female bats though, he might get territorial if we're male bats."
"You're right, of course that would take complicated Transfiguration though. I wonder if we could just get Mum to do it for us."
"If you don't shut up I'll just cat them off." Elisabeth said through clenched teeth.
"Mr Jordan! Perhaps you should just sit this class out." He lowered his voice. "We wouldn't want you to get hurt." Elisabeth looked at Everett who was shaking violently.
Snape turned back to them. "You boys may think you have special privliges because your parents work here-"
"That's BS! We don't think we have special privliges any more than the next kid!"
"HOWEVER! In my class, you will be treated like any other student."
"So are you going to single every other student out now too? Is that your plan? Because if you don't single everyone else out hey might get jealous." Will's voice was trembling with rage. "And what of Elisabeth? Her parents don't work here."
"I will be speaking seperately to Miss Potter. Ten points from Gryffindor for yor cheek. And detention."
"That's crap and you know it." He said.
"We'll talk to your mother about it." Snape said, amusement rolling in his voice. "Now boys, you may go back to your seats."
"Miss Potter. Perhaps you think that having a famous father entitles you to favouritsm among students and teachers. I, however, do not favour students."
"Perhaps, Professor, we need to discuss this with my father. I'm sure he has many ideas on this subject."
"Well Miss Potter, what a moronic idea, I expected better from you."
"Well if William is to be treated like other students and his mother is brought in why should my father not be brought in?"
The sardonic smile on his face twisted off. "Very well Miss Potter. We will speak with your father. Now return to your seat!" He barked.
Elisabeth sat down next to Daniel. "He's going to call dad in, I know it." Daniel said through the side of his mouth, not taking his eyes off Snape.
"If he's calling Hermione in he definitely will."
"Christ, where did they find him? St. Mungo's?"
"In the brain dead department."
The rest of the day passed in a haze, Elisabeth went to all her classes, none of the other teachers singled her out nor did they single out William and Daniel.
The last class of the day was Transfiguration.
Hermione said her speel about the dangers of Transfiguration, gave them some complicated notes and motioned Elisabeth and the boys forward.
"I just talked to Professor Snape, what is going on?"
"Me and Dan laughed in his class and he gave us a lecture on how he wouldn't single us out for special treatment because you work here."
"I told you not to mess with Snape William Alexander, I told you. I can't get you out of this one lest I be accused of favouring my son." She looked at Daniel. "Is he calling your dad in too?"
"I imagine so, he didn't say. He's calling Harry in too."
"What did you do?" Hermione asked, looking at Elisabeth.
"I stood next to William and Daniel when they laughed or I'm the daughter of Harry Potter. Take your pick."
Hermione sighed. "Go back to your seats and copy down the notes on the board, I'll figure something out his evening. And William?"
William swiveled his head around. "Yeah?"
"Don't be late or it's your own neck."
"Yes Professor."
Dinner that evening was a sombre affair. The moment they had told Derrick and Vivyann what happened Derrick pulled out a wooden stake and told them to plunge it into his heart. Vivyann told Elisabeth to stuff her bra with garlic and Caroline suggested they just leave the school.
To make matters worse towards the end of the meal Harry walked in. He strode over to the head table (actually he tried to stride but he kept getting mobbed by girls who wanted him to autograph their satchels and boys who wanted to chat with him about Quidditch. Derrick got up to get his autograph but Elisabeth told him she'd get him three dozen autographs if he would just sit down. McGonagall finally stood up and told everyone to sit back down and Harry went and talked to Hermione. They conferred for a moment, glancing occasionally at the Ravenclaw table. Actually Hermione glanced occasionally a the Ravenclaw table, Harry was too busy shooting death glares at Snape who was eating his soup and pretending not to notice. "Did you se the looks Harry is giving Snape?"
"I know! He should patent that."
"Oh shut up you two! Honestly, I do not want to hear what my dad is doing. Please."
"Sorry. It's just amazing. Do you think he could give me Quidditch lessons?"
"NO! Look, Derrick, I'm sorry but it's just like, my dad went from being the guy next door, book salesman and now he's some sort of icon. It's tough."
Derrick patted her on the back. "It's alright, at least your dad came. I broke my collar bone in second year and Madame Abott didn't know if she could fix it and my dad didn't even come see me."
"I think my dad just wanted to face off with Snape."
Everyone laughed. "Uh-oh." Daniel said.
"What?"
"It appears the parentals are done conferring. They are ready to take drastic action."
Elisabeth looked up at the head table and sure enough her dad, Hermione and Neville were preparing to go to the dungeons. Snape stood up as well and Elisabeth glanced at her watch. 7.00. Detention time.
"Well, we better get going."
"Good luck." Caroline said.
"What kind of flowers do you like? I'll bring some to but on your grave."
"Shut up Derrick." Vivyann said, hitting him on the back of the head.
They got up and headed down to the dungeons. Elisabeth opened the door to the DADA room and took a deep breath.