Chapter two: Green potions, red potions.
After breakfast at the Slytherin table, Kyra joined her friends as they strolled towards the dungeons for their first Double Potions class of the year. Having two of her best friends in the same class was great. Even though they weren't supposed to talk, they would whisper something to each other from time to time and their mere presence was comforting.
" It's so good to be together again!" Sighed John as he wrapped one arm around Kyra's waist.
" Yeah, too bad that under circumstances like the one you face today," observed Marianne sympathetically.
" Double Potions… what a drag!"
" I know, Hélène, but at least we'll learn something," lectured Kyra.
" Like what, how to survive another two hours of Snape's abuse?" Asked John.
" Maybe he won't insult us this year…" Suggested a very hopeful Kyra.
" Sure, then he'll start giving out Chocolate Frogs…" Added Hélène in a friendly mocking tone.
" I was just saying that…"
" We know," interrupted Marianne. " But you are the only one who has faith in the man. I think you like him." The look John gave Marianne was enough to silence her. Actually, if looks could kill, the girl would have been six feet under.
But Marianne knew her. In their fifth year, they had both been elected Prefects and Kyra smiled as she recalled how much fun they had had during the meetings or when patrolling the school at night. Not only it had been a great honor, but also a good opportunity to spend time with Marianne. Problem was, it looked as is she had got to know her a bit too well.
" Oh, shut up!" Answered Kyra, trying to appear angry, but failing miserably. " I was just hoping that because I have classes with him four times a week!"
" My dear Ky, you won't make it through this year!" Joked Marianne.
" He's not that bad really…" Started Kyra.
" He's nothing but an overbearing, insufferable git!" Exclaimed John.
" I don't know how you can say that after how he's kept second-guessing you all these years."
" He needs to do that, Hélène. I think he wants to know if I'm paying attention."
" Or maybe he just needs to get laid," was John's flat comment.
" John!" Reprimanded Marianne. " He's our teacher and, no matter how dreadful he acts, we have to show him some respect."
" Sure," was his unabashed reply.
" Oh, pay no attention to him. He's just grouchy because I beat him at wizard's chess," said Kyra.
The girls laughed right at his face and he growled before engulfing his three friends with his arms and started tickling them until he was sure he had got his revenge. Still laughing, they continued until they reached the stairs that went down to the dungeons.
" I leave you here, I have Advanced Astrology Theory."
" OK, Marianne, see you at the library later." As Hélène greeted the Ravenclaw, Kyra looked at her watch and realized they had only two minutes left before their class.
" Oh, guys, look at the time!" John's eyes widened as he glanced at his own.
" Bugger, I don't want detention on the first day!" He knew about that, since he seemed to get in trouble for just breathing.
Truth was, teachers felt great liking for the warm and persistent boy. But he just didn't seem to notice elemental things such as the passing of time (his most common phrase was: " X PM already?") or the fact that teachers were teachers, not friends. That last had come to a head when he once patted Snape on the back and let out a " How are you today, my man?" Needless to say, the Potions Master hadn't appreciated that and John had spent a nice amount of hours scrubbing cauldrons.
Hélène was also used to getting them. With her straightforward nature and her tendency to speak now, think later, she had become Snape's favorite detention recipient. On the other hand, Marianne and Kyra rarely got detentions. They had only had two each in all their time at Hogwarts. Marianne's were both due to arriving late to classes, after having spent all night studying at the library, while Kyra's were a result of a slip of control over her flare-up temper.
" Then I suggest we hurry," stated Hélène cheerily. She was always the optimist, no matter how harsh things were.
The three of them started running towards the dungeons, arriving at the potions class with only a few seconds to spare and very short of breath. Kyra noticed Professor Snape glare at her with a scowl on his face, but took no notice of it. She separated from her friends and went to her table, next to the rest of the Slytherins.
" Take a seat, take a seat," Snape called dryly. As soon as everyone was sat, he went on. " Since today is the first day after your holidays, I expect to find you all out of practice. Dunderheads, you must have spent all your time doing nothing!"
Kyra felt John's eyes burning her back and suppressed her sudden urge to laugh.
" Anyway," Professor Snape continued. " Today you will be making a potion according to your level of education: an illusion-provoking potion." As a low chorus of apprehensive voices rose, Snape went on, obviously pleased at the impact of his words. " I know you think you will only end making fools of yourselves and you probably will, unless you have studied in your holidays. You will work individually and, oh, I will be giving no instructions. You all have books, and I expect you can read."
No one moved and he glared. " Well?! Hop to it! And no speaking!"
Sighing, Kyra opened her book and flipped through its pages until she found the directions for that specific potion. It was a tough one, she could tell by the huge amount of ingredients and the rigid sequence of steps to make it. However, she had always been good at the subject and was the first one to finish the potion. While she added the last touches, she looked around and found Snape staring at her. Kyra shifted a bit, uncomfortable, as that steady gaze seemed to be reaching into her very soul.
" Already finished, Miss Gardner?" He asked, approaching her slowly, like a hunter who knows his prey has nowhere to run.
" Oh, hello Professor," she greeted with a bold smile that annoyed him to no end.
" Good morning, Miss Gardner. Are we done with the polite formulas already?" Was his question, filled with sarcasm.
" No… how have you spent your holidays?"
" That is some cheek you have… I have asked if you have finished!" This time, he growled.
" Yes, I have," she said, directing her eyes to the cauldron. It was filled with a thick substance colored in a dark shade of red.
" Let's see," he said, leaning toward her slightly and breathing in the delicious scent of her hair. It smelled like raspberries and vanilla. Intoxicating, really.
' Damn it, control yourself!' He said to himself as he tried to focus on inspecting the potion. Snape knew that it was the exact hue it was supposed to present and he was glad to know she possessed the skills to brew such and advanced potion. Still, he didn't want to let the opportunity of ridiculing her pass.
" Class, everyone look here!" He commanded, pointing at Kyra's cauldron. " Looks like Miss Gardner has managed to brew a perfect illusion-provoking potion. Thank you for dazzling us with your knowledge," he said mockingly, turning back to her. " Twenty points to Slytherin," he finally announced and a cheer rouse from the Slytherin table.
Still, Snape needed to push her a little further. " Would you dare to try it?"
" Only if you have the antidote handy, Professor. I'm not very fond of illusions," she stated.
" Are you that confident about your work?"
" Yup."
" Beg you pardon?" Kyra cleared her throat.
" I mean, yes, Sir," she said, now respectfully. She didn't want him to get mad at her. And then she heard Hélène's moan; everyone turned to see her potion had turned a vibrant shade of green.
A few Slytherins laughed and Kyra could feel Snape's grim satisfaction literally oozing from him.
" Back to work, everyone," he commanded. " Miss Gardner, collect a vial of your potion and follow me."
Kyra did as told and ended up next to Hélène's cauldron, where Snape was slowly inspecting her potion. He took her vial and held it in front of the Gryffindor's nose.
" Tell me, Miss Dupont, what color is this?" He asked.
" Red, dark red," was Hélène's answer. She liked being as exact as she could when it came to describing potions' colors.
" Do you agree, Miss Gardner?" The Potions Master inquired, staring fixedly at her.
" Yes, sir." He then turned back to Hélène.
" And what color is your potion?"
" Green…" Started Hélène, blushing a little.
" Again, is that correct, Miss Gardner?"
" Yes, Professor," replied Kyra, a bit more harshly this time. She didn't care for him ridiculing her friend.
" Then what is your conclusion, Miss Dupont?"
" Sir," she said, in a low voice, " I think…"
" Oh, you do?" The Potions Master cut her off. " That's wonderful!" Biting back a sarcastic comeback of her own, Hélène finished her sentence.
" I must have done something wrong."
" Merlin bless your sharp sense of observation!" He mocked. " In which step exactly?"
" Maybe I added three porcupine quills instead of two." Hélène wanted to kick herself for that. She was never that careless, but that morning she was really sleepy. She had spent her holidays at Romania, where the Ministry had placed her father in order to establish fruitful relations with the wizards there and she was still adjusting to the time difference.
" I want you to correct it before this class is over or you will be coming every morning at six to be instructed on the basic numbers: 1,2,3, to name a few," he threatened. " Understood?"
" Yes, sir." Hélène was relieved, at least he hadn't taken any points from…
" And ten points from Gryffindor!" He growled.
She was about to protest when she felt Kyra's hand on her arm. Sighing, she followed her friend's unspoken advice and remained silent. Still, she couldn't control the venomous glare she shot Snape.
Kyra couldn't blame Hélène for being angry, but why did she had to have such expressive eyes? They definitely didn't help her situation, since they were telling the Potions Master how much it would please her to see him rot in hell.
It didn't go unnoticed to Snape. " Looks like you've lost Gryffindor another ten points," he said, and Kyra could tell he was very pleased for having provoked that. " And give me that look one more time, Miss Dupont and you will be spending the rest of the academic year scrubbing cauldrons," he threatened.
After arrogantly glowering at the now discouraged Gryffindor, he then turned to Ky. " Return to your seat, Miss Gardner," was Snape's dry command.
Nodding obediently, Kyra dedicated Hélène a warm smile and went back to stand next to her cauldron. The smile hadn't quite vanished from her lips when he turned to her.
" Do you find my punishments amusing, Miss Gardner?" He snapped.
" Oh, no, Professor," she answered silkfully. " I was just caught in my own thoughts about the similarities between one and the mirage-inducing potion used by the ancient Egyptian wizards."
Snape was truly, completely and positively amazed. That particular potion was mentioned in very few texts and it surprised him that she knew about it. Still, he would have died before admitting his wonder.
" And exactly what part of that thought made you smile?" He asked, a bit less callously.
" Well, I've always loved Egypt." For a second, Severus thought she was mocking him, but after staring at her for a good minute, he realized the comment had been perfectly earnest.
That marveled him. The girl was unafraid of him, of anyone, if he had to guess. There was something that was strange about her, she seemed to be very self confident, as well as bright and able to express herself respectfully. She also gave the impression of being, unlike most Slytherins, kind and thoughtful. She was one in a million, he could see that much. Whatever was strange about her, though, didn't keep Professor Snape from testing her once again.
" Then you will not mind writing a 1000-word paper on their ancient magical practices and rituals, will you?"
' What a bastard…' " No, Professor, not at all. When should I hand it in?"
" How about tomorrow? That is, of course, if it doesn't come in the way of your Inter-House socializing."
A few barely concealed laughs coming from the Slytherins made John go rigid. She saw a killer stare settle in his eyes and knew he was about to explode. Oh, yeah, he was her knight in armor. He was always there to 'fight for her honor'. Kyra still remembered last year's duel in the astronomy tower between him and a Slytherin who had summoned a black scorpion and attached it to her robes. She had gone almost hysterical and John, well, he couldn't stand it.
If it hadn't been for Dumbledore's extreme kindness and the fact that he had absolutely no family, John would have in out on his ass in next to no time. But he had only endured two months of detention and had been given a severe warning not to break another school rule. Ever again. The other boy wasn't so lucky, though. Let's just say he wasn't at Hogwarts anymore.
Not that that had kept John from going into a fistfight with another Slytherin that very same year, after the prick had been talking trash about her. Luckily, no one had found out and he had gotten away with nothing but Hélène, Marianne and Kyra's severe reprimands. They knew he only meant good, but that wasn't the way things should be handled.
Sensing that he could actually make a scene right there, Kyra hurried to reply, " Of course not, Professor."
He nodded dryly and the class went on, while Kyra collected several vials of her potion and thanked God for calming John down. Five minutes before the end of the class, Severus addressed the students once more.
" Now," he started, raising his voice a bit. " Don't expect the next classes to be as easy as this one. I'd recommend you to spend all your days studying as if this was your only subject or… well, you will fail."
" Miss Dupont, present a vial of your potion to me. NOW."
Hélène took a sample of the now dark red potion and then handed it to Snape, while she clutched the small piece of parchment Kyra had subtly slid to her.
// Hélène, to reverse the effect of the extra porcupine quill add the potion 1 dusted cobweb. Then, stir it counterclockwise for 30 seconds. Be careful, don't let the Prof see this note. Good luck, Ky.//
Severus watched the vial and his scowl deepened.
" How did you fix it?" He inquired caustically.
" I added a dusted cobweb and then stirred the potion counterclockwise for 30 seconds," answered Hélène, repeating Kyra's instructions.
He dismissed her with a wave of his hand and Hélène sighed in relief as she gave Kyra a 'thank you for saving my life' look.
" For those of you who haven't been able to brew such a simple concoction and have forced me to endure such a disgusting display of failure, I want 5 feet of parchment on this potion, its uses, and how it came to be brewed for the first time. Include also research on its antidote and side effects," he announced. " I want it for Friday. Class dismissed." Grumbles erupted, as the students were disappointed after having hoped Snape wouldn't give them so much homework. It was, after all, only their first class.
Shaking her head, Kyra took her bag and almost ran out of the dungeon in the company of John and Hélène, but Snape's voice stopped her in her tracks.
" Oh, Miss Gardner, I need a word with you."