Disclaimer - Obviously I didn't make up the characters that are in J. K.
Rowling's books but this is just a fanfic with the plot totally and
completely original. It makes references to characters and situations from
the books and the descriptions are similar to those in the book but they
are original as well.
Chapter Five: Double Potions
"Stupid alarms!" Lavender exclaimed as she got out of bed, still groggy. Hermione was already getting dressed and Oscie was fully dressed, sitting on her bed. Sally was just sitting up, rubbing her eyes.
"Oh, I didn't know we were getting another roommate," Lavender said, noticing Oscie. "Hi, I'm Lavender."
"Hello, I'm Oscie" she replied.
"And I'm Sally," she said as she got out of bed, still half asleep. Oscie returned the greeting and left the room since Hermione was done as well. They went down to breakfast and found Ron and Harry already seated at the table.
"Do you think sitting with you three again will be suspicious?" Oscie asked before they reached the two boys. Hermione shrugged.
"I doubt it since you've only just arrived," she replied. So the two sat down at the table and exchanged good morning with the two boys.
"Have you seen our schedules yet?" Ron asked. "Double Potions with Slytherin in the morning, first thing! And don't you even dare smile, Oscie!" Oscie laughed instead.
"I can't help it if I like to cook," she replied, grinning. Ron groaned.
"Then we have lunch, I guess Potions is really long today, then Transfiguration with Ravenclaw, and then we have Divination with Hufflepuff. Ought to be an interesting day," Hermione stated.
"I thought you dropped Divination," Ron said in surprise.
"Well since we have a new teacher who actually knows what he's doing I figured I would give it a go," Hermione replied. "I know I said that stuff about not being interested because I don't like horses but I read over the summer about how accurate the centaurs are at reading the stars. If I don't like it I can always get back out of it."
After breakfast they began their decent into the dungeon for Potions. They walked into the classroom and took seats at the tables. There were two to a table in the cold, dark dungeon and Oscie walked over to where Neville had set his books down at a table next to Harry and Ron.
"Mind if I sit here?" she asked, motioning towards the seat. Neville said he didn't and Oscie set her books on the table. Hermione went to the table in front of them and Oscie whispered in explanation, "Don't rub off on me, Granger." Hermione stifled a laugh.
Snape swept into the room with a burst of cold air as he walked quickly up to his desk. He turned to face the students and looked up and down the rows at every student with his beady eyes. He folded his arms slowly but in a smooth motion, still surveying the class.
"As sixth year students I would expect you to be able to make potions on the intermediate level and be beyond the basics. However.I know that some of you," his eyes shifted to Neville, who moved uncomfortably under his gaze, and then to Harry who just stared back, "are unable to even master the basics. Today we are going to brew a more challenging potion. Turn in your books to page two hundred and fifty six and begin the Asidoc Potion. We may test a few at the end of class to see how well you do," Snape said with a malicious smirk towards Harry and Neville. Oscie opened her book and read the items she needed. '2 unicorn hairs, sliced garlic root, vampire blood, the finger of a grindylow, crushed minsallow seed, a mandrake leaf, and the stinger from a blast-ended skrewt.'
"This will be a doozy," Oscie commented under her breath as she prepared her ingredients. Neville seemed slightly flustered as he prepared his items and she noticed his hands were shaking slightly.
"Just relax," Oscie spoke softly while looking down so nobody could tell. "He just likes to sound tough. He's just got a very bad case of a big head." Neville didn't reply but his hands did stop shaking a little.
Oscie noticed that Hermione's potion looked almost exactly as hers did. She blew on the fire under her cauldron to get the heat more evenly distributed for a little bit and then continued to follow the instructions. She felt very confident about her potion and was even enjoying herself as she cut the garlic roots into even sized pieces and crumbled the mandrake leaf.
With ten minutes left in the class Professor Snape stopped the class and had them extinguish the fires beneath the cauldrons. Oscie looked around and found an odd assortment of colors in the different cauldrons. Neville's was a midnight blue, Harry's a light orange, Ron's a similar color, Hermione's was a light yellow, and Oscie's was a goldenrod color. Despite the different colors, Oscie was sure she had made the potion correctly.
Snape slid from behind his desk and walked up to Neville and Oscie. Neville seemed uncomfortable but seemed to steady himself for a crude remark.
"Mr. Longbottom." he began, "I don't think I've ever seen this potion made much worse than that." A few Slytherins smiled and a few even snickered. One girl in particular at a table with Draco let out a loud laugh. Neville avoided eye contact with the professor. "However, I won't be testing your potion. I'm afraid I would hate to have to clean up the mess that this would make since there is no telling what the results may be." Snape abruptly turned to face Oscie. "Now then Miss. Whitmore, I do believe we shall test your potion. The color is a bit off," he commented. Oscie felt appalled as she stared at his face, trying to keep her anger from reaching a higher level and in shock from not expecting to be criticized. Snape picked up a ladle and scooped at the potion. "It's a little too thick as well. You put in too many unicorn hairs."
"I put in two hairs, cut to four inches in length for consistency," Oscie replied. Snape's menacing stare was intense and his eyes seemed almost to bore holes in her own.
"You obviously haven't, Miss. Whitmore," he replied curtly and his lip curled slightly. Oscie could tell all eyes were on her and Snape and there was absolute silence. Oscie's anger reached a point in which she couldn't control it any longer. Potions were what she loved and she couldn't take criticism when it wasn't based on anything other than pure dislike.
"Why don't you test it," Oscie dared him, tilting her head so she was looking directly into his face. Snape's eyes widened slightly and he seemed slightly shocked.
"That will be all," he said, taking a step away but still staring at Oscie. She didn't break the stare either but could see others around the room leaning towards one another and whispers could be heard. "The homework will be a full report on the use of Asidoc and the proper way to make it," Snape said, finally breaking the stare and turning away to go back to his desk.
The class began cleaning out their cauldrons and packing away their equipment. Oscie's insides seared with anger even as she cleaned up her items. A few students still kept glancing at her while she packed her ingredients in her bag and left the classroom without waiting for anyone. She almost slammed the door behind her but caught herself. She was walking quickly down the hall when she heard footsteps coming closer from behind.
"Oscie!" a voice other than the expected voice of Hermione exclaimed. Oscie whirled around to find herself face-to-face with Malfoy. He took a step back apprehensively and then squinted, studying her face.
"What?" she questioned, without even the slightest sound of friendliness. She began walking towards the Great Hall and Draco walked alongside her.
"Professor Snape treats all Gryffindors like that," he replied.
"I'm not a Gryffindor," Oscie replied, stopping in the hallway to face Draco. She finally felt some of her anger leaving her and took a deep breath. "Sorry, I'm just not used to criticism in Potions." Draco shrugged.
"Your potion was the same as mine," drawled Draco. "He didn't say anything about mine, so it's just because you're living with the Gryffindors." She smiled slightly and Draco shifted uneasily. "But.what's with your eyes?"
"A curse gone bad," Oscie replied. "They turn black when I'm angry." Draco's eyebrows raised in amusement. "Not one of my best qualities." Draco's mouth rose in a slight smile, he seemed incapable of a full one.
"You should sit at our table for dinner some time. If you don't belong to a house then there isn't anything wrong with switching tables," Draco suggested as they began walking again.
"I suppose I will sometime," Oscie replied. Draco said farewell and turned back towards the dungeon. Oscie kept walking towards the Great Hall and sat down to wait for Hermione, Ron, and Harry.
"Bloody hell, that eye thing was regal," Ron exclaimed as the group joined her at the table. Oscie laughed. A few more Gryffindors greeted Oscie in the same fashion as they went to their seats, obviously having been told the cause of it by Hermione.
"I didn't think Snape could look at someone with as much hate as he looks at me with but that experience just about did it," Harry stated. "I think you scared him slightly when your eyes changed colors on him. He probably thought he was going bonkers."
"I'd love to see that face again," Ron commented, staring off as though he were replaying the scene in his mind.
"Well I for one am surprised we got through that without points deducted and I also feel bad for you, Oscie," Hermione replied, annoyed with the responses already given. Oscie shrugged.
"I should learn to check my anger," she replied simply.
"I don't think Draco could have left the dungeon any quicker after you left, either," Hermione added. "However much I may object, your plan is working."
"Look at Snape," Harry said. Oscie turned towards the teachers' table and found Snape looking at her but he immediately turned away.
"Probably still trying to figure out what happened, the old git," Ron laughed.
"I don't get how you two do it!" Ron complained as he, Harry, Hermione, and Oscie left Transfiguration. "You both turned those cats into quaffle balls on your first few tries! My ball was still furry with a tail and ears and McGonagall wasn't happy with mine."
"Don't worry, Ron. You'll get it," Hermione said off-handedly as if it were an everyday thing to say. Ron looked at Harry and mimicked Hermione with a sneer.
"Why don't we go visit Hagrid until time for Divination?" Ron suggested.
"But we have that essay to do for Snape. We really should get started on it," Hermione replied.
"Let's go," Harry stated, ending the disagreement since Ron and Hermione were happy to see him wanting to do something.
"I'm going to let you guys see Hagrid on your own and I'm sure he'll want to tell you stories that he wouldn't feel right saying around me without knowing me. I'll meet you for Divination if I don't get lost," Oscie replied. The three friends left Oscie alone in the hall and she looked about, unsure where she should go.
"Are you lost?" came an unfamiliar voice from behind. Oscie turned to find a tall, brown eyed boy with light brown hair. He was very handsome and reminded her a bit of the boy she liked in the U.S., Paul.
"Not lost, just trying to decide where to go," Oscie replied, swinging her book bag to her other shoulder. She noticed a pin on his robe that read 'Head Boy' which meant he was in his seventh year since only seventh years could be Head Boy or Head Girl.
"Are you headed to a class?" he questioned.
"Not for an hour and a half," she replied, looking at her watch.
"Would you like a tour of the grounds while there is still some light out? They're quite pleasant in the evening," he replied.
"I'd love to see them, but first you must tell me your name," Oscie agreed. He looked a little embarrassed at having forgotten that and a little color emerged on his cheeks.
"I'm Walter Frost but most of my friends just call me Walt," he replied and they began walking towards the exit of the castle. "I'd ask for your name but after your introduction last night I pretty much know who you are."
"Did you know the doors to the Great Hall are really light? I almost hit myself in the face with them on the way in and that would have definitely made my entrance to the school stunning," Oscie laughed and was joined by Walt.
"It's okay; we've all done our share of embarrassing things at this school. I dropped a book on Professor Flintwick's head in Charms my first year when we learned how to pick up objects," he mused, smiling at the memory. "Needless to say, I was made fun of for weeks for that."
"Before we part this evening, could you please tell me where the Divination classroom is? I'm not quite used to the layout yet," Oscie requested. He smiled and agreed to help her out.
****Personal Note**** Howling Wolf 22 - Thanks for the review! I'm really hoping others will do the same since I want feedback, but Parvati is still here. I just thought it would be weird having the two friends Lavender and Parvati and then Hermione and Oscie paired up in the same room. Sally is just another Gryffindor, which not all the names of them are mentioned in the books.
Chapter Five: Double Potions
"Stupid alarms!" Lavender exclaimed as she got out of bed, still groggy. Hermione was already getting dressed and Oscie was fully dressed, sitting on her bed. Sally was just sitting up, rubbing her eyes.
"Oh, I didn't know we were getting another roommate," Lavender said, noticing Oscie. "Hi, I'm Lavender."
"Hello, I'm Oscie" she replied.
"And I'm Sally," she said as she got out of bed, still half asleep. Oscie returned the greeting and left the room since Hermione was done as well. They went down to breakfast and found Ron and Harry already seated at the table.
"Do you think sitting with you three again will be suspicious?" Oscie asked before they reached the two boys. Hermione shrugged.
"I doubt it since you've only just arrived," she replied. So the two sat down at the table and exchanged good morning with the two boys.
"Have you seen our schedules yet?" Ron asked. "Double Potions with Slytherin in the morning, first thing! And don't you even dare smile, Oscie!" Oscie laughed instead.
"I can't help it if I like to cook," she replied, grinning. Ron groaned.
"Then we have lunch, I guess Potions is really long today, then Transfiguration with Ravenclaw, and then we have Divination with Hufflepuff. Ought to be an interesting day," Hermione stated.
"I thought you dropped Divination," Ron said in surprise.
"Well since we have a new teacher who actually knows what he's doing I figured I would give it a go," Hermione replied. "I know I said that stuff about not being interested because I don't like horses but I read over the summer about how accurate the centaurs are at reading the stars. If I don't like it I can always get back out of it."
After breakfast they began their decent into the dungeon for Potions. They walked into the classroom and took seats at the tables. There were two to a table in the cold, dark dungeon and Oscie walked over to where Neville had set his books down at a table next to Harry and Ron.
"Mind if I sit here?" she asked, motioning towards the seat. Neville said he didn't and Oscie set her books on the table. Hermione went to the table in front of them and Oscie whispered in explanation, "Don't rub off on me, Granger." Hermione stifled a laugh.
Snape swept into the room with a burst of cold air as he walked quickly up to his desk. He turned to face the students and looked up and down the rows at every student with his beady eyes. He folded his arms slowly but in a smooth motion, still surveying the class.
"As sixth year students I would expect you to be able to make potions on the intermediate level and be beyond the basics. However.I know that some of you," his eyes shifted to Neville, who moved uncomfortably under his gaze, and then to Harry who just stared back, "are unable to even master the basics. Today we are going to brew a more challenging potion. Turn in your books to page two hundred and fifty six and begin the Asidoc Potion. We may test a few at the end of class to see how well you do," Snape said with a malicious smirk towards Harry and Neville. Oscie opened her book and read the items she needed. '2 unicorn hairs, sliced garlic root, vampire blood, the finger of a grindylow, crushed minsallow seed, a mandrake leaf, and the stinger from a blast-ended skrewt.'
"This will be a doozy," Oscie commented under her breath as she prepared her ingredients. Neville seemed slightly flustered as he prepared his items and she noticed his hands were shaking slightly.
"Just relax," Oscie spoke softly while looking down so nobody could tell. "He just likes to sound tough. He's just got a very bad case of a big head." Neville didn't reply but his hands did stop shaking a little.
Oscie noticed that Hermione's potion looked almost exactly as hers did. She blew on the fire under her cauldron to get the heat more evenly distributed for a little bit and then continued to follow the instructions. She felt very confident about her potion and was even enjoying herself as she cut the garlic roots into even sized pieces and crumbled the mandrake leaf.
With ten minutes left in the class Professor Snape stopped the class and had them extinguish the fires beneath the cauldrons. Oscie looked around and found an odd assortment of colors in the different cauldrons. Neville's was a midnight blue, Harry's a light orange, Ron's a similar color, Hermione's was a light yellow, and Oscie's was a goldenrod color. Despite the different colors, Oscie was sure she had made the potion correctly.
Snape slid from behind his desk and walked up to Neville and Oscie. Neville seemed uncomfortable but seemed to steady himself for a crude remark.
"Mr. Longbottom." he began, "I don't think I've ever seen this potion made much worse than that." A few Slytherins smiled and a few even snickered. One girl in particular at a table with Draco let out a loud laugh. Neville avoided eye contact with the professor. "However, I won't be testing your potion. I'm afraid I would hate to have to clean up the mess that this would make since there is no telling what the results may be." Snape abruptly turned to face Oscie. "Now then Miss. Whitmore, I do believe we shall test your potion. The color is a bit off," he commented. Oscie felt appalled as she stared at his face, trying to keep her anger from reaching a higher level and in shock from not expecting to be criticized. Snape picked up a ladle and scooped at the potion. "It's a little too thick as well. You put in too many unicorn hairs."
"I put in two hairs, cut to four inches in length for consistency," Oscie replied. Snape's menacing stare was intense and his eyes seemed almost to bore holes in her own.
"You obviously haven't, Miss. Whitmore," he replied curtly and his lip curled slightly. Oscie could tell all eyes were on her and Snape and there was absolute silence. Oscie's anger reached a point in which she couldn't control it any longer. Potions were what she loved and she couldn't take criticism when it wasn't based on anything other than pure dislike.
"Why don't you test it," Oscie dared him, tilting her head so she was looking directly into his face. Snape's eyes widened slightly and he seemed slightly shocked.
"That will be all," he said, taking a step away but still staring at Oscie. She didn't break the stare either but could see others around the room leaning towards one another and whispers could be heard. "The homework will be a full report on the use of Asidoc and the proper way to make it," Snape said, finally breaking the stare and turning away to go back to his desk.
The class began cleaning out their cauldrons and packing away their equipment. Oscie's insides seared with anger even as she cleaned up her items. A few students still kept glancing at her while she packed her ingredients in her bag and left the classroom without waiting for anyone. She almost slammed the door behind her but caught herself. She was walking quickly down the hall when she heard footsteps coming closer from behind.
"Oscie!" a voice other than the expected voice of Hermione exclaimed. Oscie whirled around to find herself face-to-face with Malfoy. He took a step back apprehensively and then squinted, studying her face.
"What?" she questioned, without even the slightest sound of friendliness. She began walking towards the Great Hall and Draco walked alongside her.
"Professor Snape treats all Gryffindors like that," he replied.
"I'm not a Gryffindor," Oscie replied, stopping in the hallway to face Draco. She finally felt some of her anger leaving her and took a deep breath. "Sorry, I'm just not used to criticism in Potions." Draco shrugged.
"Your potion was the same as mine," drawled Draco. "He didn't say anything about mine, so it's just because you're living with the Gryffindors." She smiled slightly and Draco shifted uneasily. "But.what's with your eyes?"
"A curse gone bad," Oscie replied. "They turn black when I'm angry." Draco's eyebrows raised in amusement. "Not one of my best qualities." Draco's mouth rose in a slight smile, he seemed incapable of a full one.
"You should sit at our table for dinner some time. If you don't belong to a house then there isn't anything wrong with switching tables," Draco suggested as they began walking again.
"I suppose I will sometime," Oscie replied. Draco said farewell and turned back towards the dungeon. Oscie kept walking towards the Great Hall and sat down to wait for Hermione, Ron, and Harry.
"Bloody hell, that eye thing was regal," Ron exclaimed as the group joined her at the table. Oscie laughed. A few more Gryffindors greeted Oscie in the same fashion as they went to their seats, obviously having been told the cause of it by Hermione.
"I didn't think Snape could look at someone with as much hate as he looks at me with but that experience just about did it," Harry stated. "I think you scared him slightly when your eyes changed colors on him. He probably thought he was going bonkers."
"I'd love to see that face again," Ron commented, staring off as though he were replaying the scene in his mind.
"Well I for one am surprised we got through that without points deducted and I also feel bad for you, Oscie," Hermione replied, annoyed with the responses already given. Oscie shrugged.
"I should learn to check my anger," she replied simply.
"I don't think Draco could have left the dungeon any quicker after you left, either," Hermione added. "However much I may object, your plan is working."
"Look at Snape," Harry said. Oscie turned towards the teachers' table and found Snape looking at her but he immediately turned away.
"Probably still trying to figure out what happened, the old git," Ron laughed.
"I don't get how you two do it!" Ron complained as he, Harry, Hermione, and Oscie left Transfiguration. "You both turned those cats into quaffle balls on your first few tries! My ball was still furry with a tail and ears and McGonagall wasn't happy with mine."
"Don't worry, Ron. You'll get it," Hermione said off-handedly as if it were an everyday thing to say. Ron looked at Harry and mimicked Hermione with a sneer.
"Why don't we go visit Hagrid until time for Divination?" Ron suggested.
"But we have that essay to do for Snape. We really should get started on it," Hermione replied.
"Let's go," Harry stated, ending the disagreement since Ron and Hermione were happy to see him wanting to do something.
"I'm going to let you guys see Hagrid on your own and I'm sure he'll want to tell you stories that he wouldn't feel right saying around me without knowing me. I'll meet you for Divination if I don't get lost," Oscie replied. The three friends left Oscie alone in the hall and she looked about, unsure where she should go.
"Are you lost?" came an unfamiliar voice from behind. Oscie turned to find a tall, brown eyed boy with light brown hair. He was very handsome and reminded her a bit of the boy she liked in the U.S., Paul.
"Not lost, just trying to decide where to go," Oscie replied, swinging her book bag to her other shoulder. She noticed a pin on his robe that read 'Head Boy' which meant he was in his seventh year since only seventh years could be Head Boy or Head Girl.
"Are you headed to a class?" he questioned.
"Not for an hour and a half," she replied, looking at her watch.
"Would you like a tour of the grounds while there is still some light out? They're quite pleasant in the evening," he replied.
"I'd love to see them, but first you must tell me your name," Oscie agreed. He looked a little embarrassed at having forgotten that and a little color emerged on his cheeks.
"I'm Walter Frost but most of my friends just call me Walt," he replied and they began walking towards the exit of the castle. "I'd ask for your name but after your introduction last night I pretty much know who you are."
"Did you know the doors to the Great Hall are really light? I almost hit myself in the face with them on the way in and that would have definitely made my entrance to the school stunning," Oscie laughed and was joined by Walt.
"It's okay; we've all done our share of embarrassing things at this school. I dropped a book on Professor Flintwick's head in Charms my first year when we learned how to pick up objects," he mused, smiling at the memory. "Needless to say, I was made fun of for weeks for that."
"Before we part this evening, could you please tell me where the Divination classroom is? I'm not quite used to the layout yet," Oscie requested. He smiled and agreed to help her out.
****Personal Note**** Howling Wolf 22 - Thanks for the review! I'm really hoping others will do the same since I want feedback, but Parvati is still here. I just thought it would be weird having the two friends Lavender and Parvati and then Hermione and Oscie paired up in the same room. Sally is just another Gryffindor, which not all the names of them are mentioned in the books.