Chapter 12 Potions 501

That night in the dorms, Jon joined Harry and his friends in trading stories and wonderful tales of their experiences at school. Being that Jon was from a fellow wizarding school, everyone knew he was very experienced in the Dark Arts. Jon even knew about this past summer's adventure, Harry had a pet phoenix, and the Weasleys were waiting to reclaim their home back from the dementors.

Good night pecks and glances were given to each other as everyone quickly filtered out of the Common Room. Hermione had thought it best if a quick kiss on Harry's cheek would be best under the given circumstances. She whispered in Harry's ear, "I will dream of you tonight." Harry privately smiled at her statement and went off to bed with all the confidence in the world.

Ron, Harry and Jon woke the next morning in their dorm room and headed down to the dining hall to get their timetables. Ron went on and on about Quidditch tryouts and the leadership of the team. Jon said he would be willing to practice and try out as well. During breakfast the regular goons from the Slytherins walked over to the table.

Malfoy glided up to Jon and said, "So that beat up old hat got it wrong and put you in Gryffindor. I feel sorry for you 'Riddle' you deserve better than that. Why don't you join us and fly with 'a real team'."

Jon's blue eyes narrowed as he replied, "No thanks. I don't think that a Gryffindor should fly along side of a Slytherin, only against them."

"Why don't you just sod off Malfoy and get back to your table." Ron rose and retorted.

"You know, scar head, weasel and that little mudblood girlfriend will be sorry the day you crossed these hall now that I am a prefect. And of course that traitor now joins you little group, how pathetic."

Harry rose to meet Malfoy's stare and Crabbe and Goyle flanked Malfoy who had grown a considerable bit over the summer holiday. "Boys, please settle down immediately. I don't think you would want points off on the first day." McGonagall saved the day by whisking away the Slytherins and handing out the timetables.

"Ugh! Double potions with the Slytherins first thing." Ron moaned.

"Ronald Weasley. Why is it every time you get a schedule you moan on and on about it." Hermione rounded.

Ron rolled his eyes at Hermione and announced "Well, come on then, let's get going. I don't want to be late for Potions, she is still a Snape."

The dark narrow hallway rolled down into the tiny smoky damp dungeon. The room was barren of the odd looking jars with god knows what inside. A window was conjured to look as if the room faced an outside wall, but everyone knew the potions dungeon was in the middle of the castle. The desks had all been scrubbed spotless and the light smell of jasmine filled the air as the students noticed the chalkboard.

Attention all students:

Please sit down quietly and pull out your notebooks and begin reading chapter one in your Potions level 5 textbook.

Thank you,
Professor A. Snape
Potions Mistress
Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Malfoy's voice rang thru the tiny classroom as he noticed the surroundings actually looked somewhat cheery.

"What the… You must be joking! Our lab is clean? Wait until my father hears about this, he might pull me from this school yet! Incompetent Mudbloods running with pure blood wizards and that is only the beginning. My father is the type of man who understands what needs to happen in this world. My father works for and is the most powerful wizard of his time."

No sooner that Malfoy had turned around with his back to the front of the classroom and started his rant; the blackboard turned a shade of fiery smoke red and formed an all to non-pleasant form blood red lips and an envelope.

"No way man…" Ron mumbled terrified and pulled out his book and started reading.

"Is that what I think it is Harry?" Jon asked.

"Yeah, And it's headed right up to Malfoy." Harry said malevolently.

The huge 5'x5' howler rolled up to Draco Malfoy as the room was swallowed into a hard dead silence and Malfoy turned around and went white with fear. He looked like he was going to get the scolding of his life.

The booming voice bellowed out of the howler. It blew Draco's slick hair back even further, as he was face to face with the biggest howler any student had ever seen at Hogwarts:

"MR. MALFOY! HOW DARE YOU DISRUPT MY CLASS! MY HUSBAND HAD PRAISE FOR YOU BUT IT APPEARS THAT YOU LITTLE PEA BRAIN OF A HEAD CANNOT READ SIMPLE INSTRUCTIONS.

OHH, SUCH A GREAT WIZZARD FAMILY THOSE MALFOYS ARE. THEIR ONLY SON CANNOT READ. PREHAPS HE IS A SQUIB JUST LIKE HIS UNCLE JAKE!

MERLIN HAVE MERCY ON YOU AND YOUR HOUSE, 100 POINTS FROM SLYTHERIN! TAKEN BY YOUR OWN HEAD OF HOUSE NO LESS!

And with a razz of the tongue the howler appeared to blow up and the smoke filled the potions chamber with choking as Jon raced over to the window and opened up the room to vent out the smoke.

As the smoke began to clear a rather tall thin woman was standing face to face with Mr. Malfoy. She had a pointed nose and the dark black robes fixed with the Slytherin badge signaling head of house.

"Mr. Malfoy take a seat up front and I don't want any sass out of you!" Draco still looked stunned, as he still couldn't hear due to the boom form the howler.

"Now Mr. Malfoy move it! Or do I need to call that all powerful father of yours to kick you into gear and get you settled!"

Draco looked to his feet as the class began to suppress snickers and grins. Quickly he took a seat as Professor Snape conjured up her class list to go over the names of each in the class.

"Oh and by the way 10 points to Gryffindor for following directions. I apologize for my own houses disgust in not being able to follow the rules." Professor Anaranë announced.

"I think I'm going to like potions mate." Ron whispered.

"Right now it looks like everyone is here so let's begin shall we." And off the lesson went. Draco never volunteered once for an answer but no more points were given out or taken from the houses that day.

At the end of class Professor Anaranë addressed her students:
"Be aware students of mine are expected to get away with nothing. I believe no one, not even my own house is above the law or should have favoritism. This is how the world works outside these walls and it is how we will all lean from now on. I expect more participation form Slytherin house next time. That is unless you are all willing for me to send progress reports to your parents blasting them for their incompetent children."

"That is all class dismissed." Professor Anaranë announced and the entire class got up in silence and Draco was led out of the room flanked by Crabbe and Goyle yelling in Draco's ear what he wanted for lunch today.

"That is all class dismissed." Professor Anaranë announced and the entire class got up in silence and Draco was led out of the room flanked by Crabbe and Goyle yelling in Draco's ear what he wanted for lunch today.

At lunch the Gryffindor table was buzzing with talk of the new professor and how fair she was to all the students.

The next few days for Harry went along just fine. Draco seemed to be getting his hearing back and he didn't even dream of disobeying Professor Snape's directions again. Harry enjoyed the new format of Potions. It was quite lively and very interesting. He had won points and lost points all in the same day, Anaranë Snape was defiantly a woman that lived up to her own standards and she was quite fair with her points system. There was something else though. Harry couldn't quite comprehend what it was because he was still a boy of 15, but there was a deep sadness Harry saw there behind the professor's eyes.

One lesson after class, Harry approached Prof. Snape and asked her how her husband was. It was in that one brief moment Professor turned from facing Harry and croaked, "My husband, Professor Snape will be okay, I guess." and it was at that moment Harry said, "Professor Snape is your husband in danger?"

Anaranë turned around to look Harry boldly in the eye and size him up, "What do you know about my Severus!" Anaranë appeared to be annoyed to have to explain her current state to merely a 15-year-old boy. But then the professor remembered what Albus had told her just before her agreement to temporally teach Potions, "Be kind to him Anaranë. He knows much for only being 15 and I fear, that this year is only the beginning of his powers coming to maturity."

"I'm so sorry professor. I meant no disrespect. I only was just noticing that you seemed to be said and I have been having dreams recently about different people that I know… Sorry to bother you, I'll be going now."

Anaranë looked at Harry oddly for a moment. Had this student taken time out of his lunch period to ask her nicely about something that was so obvious? "Harry wait. Don't go." Harry paused, as he was about to walk out the door and turned around. Somewhere, beyond the tears Anarane's face and voice softened, "Won't you please join me for some tea and biscuits?"

Harry approached the table apprehensively, "Sure Why not."

Anaranë called for her favorite blend of tea, tension tamer with a hint of jasmine, "And for you Harry?"

"Umm I dunno. Every time I have tea I keep being told that I'm going to die or something." Harry answered.

"Sounds like you have been dealing with Sybil Trelawney. Tell me Harry, is that old crackpot sill teaching with her doom and gloom predictions?"

Harry tried not to laugh and managed to suppress his laughter to a mild giggle, "Yes professor she is."

"Well, that's too bad. Why don't you have some of my tea, you might find it quite relaxing." Professor Anaranë calmly spoke.

And with a few sips of tea and some biscuits Harry felt quite relaxed and very at home. The tea Professor Anaranë gave his made his body relaxes. It was almost like a potion. After a few moments Harry asked, "Professor, you called me back, is it because of your husband?"

Anaranë stirred another cup of tea with a spoon, "I hope you are feeling comfortable Harry, this story is going to take a while."