Chapter 6 – The Potions Class

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The next morning, everyone received new timetables with mixed emotions.  Harry and Ron groaned.  They had Divination first thing and right after that was Double Potions with the Slytherins.  Not only did that mean trekking from the top of the north tower all the way down to the dungeons, but it meant two hours holed up in a dank dungeon with the Slytherins and Professor Myfanwy.

Yet more bad news arrived with the morning owls.  Hermione opened her copy of the Daily Prophet and immediately showed it to Ron and Harry.

MORE TROUBLE AT AZKABAN

Following the unprecedented escape of mass murder, Sirius Black, two years ago and the more recent rumors about the return of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named, the Dementor Guards of Azkaban have reportedly become restless as of late.  Cornelius Fudge, current Minister of Magic, was not available for comment.  Ministry representative Percy Weasley, newly appointed Head of the Department of International Magical Cooperation, is quoted as saying, "They are just that, rumors, there is no solid proof substantiating either tale", before declining further comment on the matter.

The Ministry also came under fire earlier this month for a second alleged escape, this time of many of the most ardent supporters of the Dark Lord, and believed to be orchestrated by none other than felon-at-large, Sirius Black.  Current census records of the prisoners could not be obtained from the Ministry; however, attacks by alleged Death Eaters are markedly on the rise.

"I doubt Sirius Black was involved, Harry."  Hermione noted quietly, noticing Harry's hands tighten around the paper's edges.  He always worried about his godfather's safety and a renewed manhunt would mean that Harry saw, or heard from, Sirius even less than he did now.  Harry felt the stirrings of frustrated anger that even more atrocities were being pinned on an innocent man's head.  Ron's face went rather white at the article.  Harry folded the Prophet neatly and returned it to Hermione before silently abandoning the table.  Ron and Hermione glanced at each other worriedly, frozen momentarily, before rushing after him.

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"I can't believe that old bat gave us homework already!"  Ron complained, stuffing his parchment and books into his bag as they rushed down the stairs towards the dungeons after Divination.  Harry didn't say anything, he just kept moving.  They made it, breathing heavily, and with only seconds to spare as they joined the mill of Gryffindors and Slytherins filing through the heavy door of the Potions classroom.

The Slytherins looked particularly smug as everyone trudged into class and quickly took their seats.  The Gryffindors watching in apprehension as a sleek black cat watched them from his perch on the front corner of the desk.  Professor Myfanwy swept gracefully into the room moments later, arms wrapped around a large dark leather tome and glanced at her cat.  "Orion, down."  She commanded and the black cat regarded her with mismatched eyes before stretching languidly and leaping lightly off the desk.  Professor Myfanwy set her book on a large brass stand and turned to her new class, summoning the roll and a black swan-feather quill to her hand. 

The dungeon where Snape usually held Potions was still colder than the main castle, however, the clear jars of pickled animals favored by Snape had been replaced by neatly labeled, opaque jars and vials.  Several clusters of dried or drying herbs hung near the ceiling, and even the tall windows near the ceiling were now brightly polished and clean.

Professor Myfanwy finished up the roll, waving the roll of parchment into a desk draw and waved her class into silence. Like Snape and Professor McGonagall, Myfanwy had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort.  However, the students quickly discovered that Professor Myfanwy had little of McGonagall's severity and none of Snape's bad temper.

"As this is Professor Snape's class, I'll be following his lesson plans, but I thought we'd have a bit of fun for this first lesson."  She snapped her potions tome closed before stepping around her cauldron and perching on the desk.  Enchanting a piece of chalk with her wand to begin writing down ingredients, she began explaining their task.  "Now, does anyone know what you get when you combine Elaphoglossum and Caprosma to an infusion of belladonna?"  Predictably, Hermione's hand shot into the air while everyone else looked clueless. Professor Myfanwy nodded and called on her.

"A Vox Refractorum or Mirror Speech Potion, Professor."  Hermione answered triumphantly.  Professor Myfanwy smiled.

"Very good, Miss Granger!   Very Good!  One point to Gryffindor.  Now," She picked a pair of jars full of dried leaves up.  "Belladonna, you should all know by now, is nightshade, but can anyone tell me what the common names of Caprosma and Elaphoglossum are?"

Again, Hermione's hand raised, and so, surprisingly, did Neville's!  "Mr. Longbottom?"

"Mirror plant and Tongue fern, Professor."  Neville responded shyly, apparently emboldened by her almost easy-going manner.  She smiled approvingly.

"I see Professor Sprout was right, Mr. Longbottom, you do know your plants!  Excellent, and another point to Gryffindor!  Now, who knows the effects of this potion?" Professor Myfanwy glanced about the class but only Hermione's hand raised.  "Mr. Malfoy?  Any idea?"

Malfoy looked shocked, obviously not expecting the question.  Snape never questioned him.

"How should I know?"  He snapped.  "It's the first day!"

Mercury quick, Professor Myfanwy pale eyes frosted causing Malfoy to shrink back slightly.

"I am not Professor Snape, Mr. Malfoy."  She cautioned quietly.  "And I would advise you not to display your father's arrogance in my classroom."

Malfoy puffed up indignantly.  "My father . . ."

"Would not dare cross me."  Professor Myfanwy finished for him.  "I'm not Hagrid.  Nor am I Professor Lupin.  And for future reference, a simple 'I don't know, Professor' will suffice."

Looking sulky and chastised, Malfoy slouched down in his seat but didn't comment audibly. For her part, Professor Myfanwy returned easily to lecturing - dropping the cold, aristocratic air - and began detailing their assignment's brewing process before instructing them to pair up and begin.  Orion reappeared from the back of the room and paced soundlessly between the cauldrons.

Professor Myfanwy returned to her desk and began making notations out of several books into a smaller one, telling the class to feel free to ask if they had any questions or problems with their assignment.

After several silent minutes, Malfoy – still peevish over being scolded in a Potions class - roused himself out of his sulk enough to begin taunting Harry and his friends (though markedly quieter) over the article that had appeared that morning in the Daily Prophet.  He'd noticed Harry leave after reading the front page.

"Still think you're on the right side, Potter?"  He sneered.  "The Ministry seems to be going to pieces, doesn't it?  And that's just over a rumor."

"Sod off, Malfoy, unless you want a detention.  Snape's not here and your father doesn't have Professor Myfanwy on his payroll."  Harry snapped.

"At least I have a family, Potter."  Malfoy snarled back mockingly, kicking at the inquisitive black cat beside his cauldron.  "And it's not just some escaped criminal."

Harry's stool clattered to the flagstones as he leapt up, almost lunging for Malfoy before a cool voice stopped him.  "Problem boys?"  Professor Myfanwy appeared between them, her wand held idly at her side and her sharp eyes analyzing them both.

"I'm sorry, Professor, but Malfoy . . ." Professor Myfanwy held up a hand, silencing Harry.

"I heard what he said, Mr. Potter.  And I am quite aware that it's not accurate."

Malfoy glared balefully at Professor Myfanwy.  She returned the glare with cool equanimity.  "I will not repeat myself again."  She warned.  "Do not pick fights in my class.  You will both call a truce while you reside in my classroom and leave your competitions for the Quidditch field."

Harry nodded softly in agreement, but Malfoy snarled sourly under his breath.

Rather than removing House points, Professor Myfanwy simply summoned a small goblet from her desk.  "Thank you for volunteering, Mr. Malfoy."  She dipped a portion of the bubbling potion from his cauldron into it and placed it in front of the stunned Malfoy.  "You may be the first to try it."  The class stared at the steaming goblet in shock. 

Malfoy stared at the goblet and the glowing blue mist pouring out of it.  He swallowed uncomfortably before taking a deep breath and downing the potion in one gulp.  "And now you may all see the effects of a common Vox Refractorum potion."  Professor Myfanwy commented mildly as the tips of Malfoy's ears began to glow.  "As you can see, it works almost immediately."

"I t'nod leef yna tnereffid!"  Malfoy protested glaring at the other students whose sniggers were rapidly changing into laughter.  "Tahw deneppah ot ym eciov?  Pots gnihgual!  Rosseforp!"

To her credit, Professor Myfanwy didn't even smile as she responded.  "You should all see why it's called Mirror Speech by now.  Don't worry, Mister Malfoy, the dose I gave you will wear off before your next lesson.  Though," She added as an afterthought.  "The glow tends to linger.  Tonight's homework."  Professor Myfanwy turned and swept back to the front of the room as her enchanted chalk began listing assignments on the board.  "One role of parchment on a practical application of today's potion and a copy of the recipe for the antidote, due day after tomorrow.  Also read and outline chapter nineteen for our next lesson."

*

"Not so bad, is she?"  Hermione noted smugly, stuffing her books back into her bag as they made their way out of the dungeons to the Great Hall.

"Did you see the look on Malfoy's face?"  Ron crowed, relishing the memory and ignoring Hermione.  "Bet he's never been told off like that before!  And that potion was priceless!"

"Doesn't go light on the homework though, does she?"  Harry commented, looking at the list of homework he'd copied down.  "First day too."

Hermione glared briefly at Ron before answering.  "Well we're preparing for our O.W.L.'s aren't we?  All the teachers will give us more work than normal.  In fact, we should start studying extra for them right now."

"Hermione, don't say that!"  Ron groaned in protest.  "O.W.L.'s are months away!"

Harry rolled his eyes, smiling slightly at their familiar mock-quarrel and silently followed his best friends through the corridors.

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