Chapter Eight
Conspiracies and Other Challenges of Authority
The boy Prefect of Slytherin was a seventh year student by the name of Horus Crumb. He was a slender boy of medium height and golden brown hair that was cut quite closely in the back but leaving almost rebelliously long bangs that constantly threatened to cover the only notable feature on his otherwise plain face; a pair of sharp, dark brown eyes which looked upon everyone with a general air of leadership and superiority. His sister Camille was the other Prefect; a year younger and rather portly but still had the same piercing eyes that commanded the attention of the common room when they entered it.
"Everyone gather around," Horus said, taking his place in front of the fire as the rest of the students found chairs, tables, and rugs to sit on or lean against as they filed into the room. "There will be time enough to settle in, but as customary, I'd like to hold our first meeting now. I expect you all know our new housemates, at least by family name if not personally. Again the Hat has chosen us the most worthy, and on behalf of everyone here, I now welcome them to the Common Room of Conspiracies," he said with a thin smile, eyeing the new students.
"Mind, that is a name we share with no one but ourselves, but this room has been called that by its House members for many hundreds of years. Legend has it that some of the very first students of this house used this room to plot a rebellion against some local Muggle barons who had found out about the school, and although no accounts of it are recorded in Hogwarts, A History, it is quite well known that it was during that time that the Muggle settlements surrounding the area had been quietly dispersed around the castle and what became the town of Hogsmeade.
"That may have been the first conspiracy, but it shall not be the last. For together, this house has used this room to plan and plot its goals throughout the years, to be the best of the four, and to obtain the acknowledgment of all four when we have achieved the best. Last year," he said, sighing and tapping a fire poker to the ground. "That honor was stolen from us at the last moment, thanks to a student volunteering to help that wretched Whomping Willow Tree, and because Dumbledore, as always, decided to award them twice the amount of points that such a simple tree rescue deserved. It's not the first time something like that has happened to us. We spend most of the year ahead in points, and then at the last minute, something always happens. Thanks to a disappointing loss in Quidditch," he said, glancing over at Xavier and Henry the Ox who were looking anywhere but directly at the Prefect, "our points only stayed a hair above both Ravenclaw and Gryffindor, even after, I must add, a fairly decent showing at the sparring tournaments.
"But this year more than any other, we have a chance. Dumbledore's announcement that he'll be gone for the passing of the House Cup at the end of the year means that the likelihood for another upset is going to be next to none, especially with Professor Snape to keep McGonagall in check. But that doesn't mean that we have any business to be sluffing around. In fact, I would like to see our goal for each years' classes to be beat last year's total by twenty points for each year, fifty if you can manage it. If we have a good hundred and fifty points over the other three teams, we should be able to keep our lead regardless of what disaster some idiot from one of the other houses decide to single handedly rescue the school from. And if anybody does try another 'hero' attempt, make sure one of you is there to take the credit for it!" he threatened, getting a round of determined nods from the crowd.
"All right. First years, stand up," he said, folding his arms as he looked them over, nodding to his sister. "It's time for you to vote for a person to be your Tiebreaker. Every year here has one. It's the person who's in charge of keeping track of the points all of you in first year accumulate for Slytherin. It's his or her job to organize ways to get points, whether it be volunteering, extra credit groups and so on, and also to find low risk opportunities to help members of other houses tank their points." Several of the other students glanced at each other grinning. "Once elected, the Tiebreaker will retain that position for the entire seven years, unless they had the misfortune to lead their class into a disaster that lends their class total negative. Such a dishonor as follows that event is not one I would wish on any fellow Slytherin. I trust that will not happen while I am here.
"Now, I will open the nominations. Any takers? Grey?" Everyone glanced over at Heph, the only one with an arm in the air.
"I just want to nominate the only obvious choice here, Aurelius Snape," Heph said. Several other of the other first years, mostly from Stoddard, murmured in agreement.
"Between his famous school record and blood, an excellent choice, not to mention perhaps being able to use his parentage as an advantage," Horus agreed. "Any other nominations?" He waited a few minutes but there didn't seem to be any others, and after a quick vote, Rel was welcomed to the position.
"Fellow Tiebreakers, feel free to advise your new member at your leisure. We'll have another meeting before the first Quidditch game to go over your first progress reports," Horus concluded, going over to his sister to talk to her. The gathering quickly broke up into groups, and Aurelius felt a tug on his sleeve as Heph came up beside him.
"I have someone I want you to meet," he grinned. "This is George Stockton, but everyone just calls him Stock."
"As in money," Stock said. He was fairly tall for a first year, but there was something about him… perhaps it was the gold clip on his tie or the quality leather of his shoes… that reeked of wealth. "My uncle left me a gold mine in America in his will, hidden in the Superstition Mountains."
"His parents are suing," Heph explained. "They're trying to take it away from him."
"Oh, don't worry, they won't win. They can't even afford a decent lawyer. It's not my fault my uncle didn't leave them anything and they're still destitute. I don't see why that means I have to share," Stock shrugged. "Anyhow, if you need any monetary influence to swing things our way, just think of me as your friendly neighborhood bank, without the unfriendly atmosphere."
"You'll share with me but you won't share with your parents?" Aurelius asked.
"Of course. I like you," Stock grinned. Aurelius stared after him as Heph went to help the boy get comfortable and get him a drink. If he was going to make a decent Tiebreaker, Aurelius mused, he was going to admit that some people were willing to do things that he wouldn't do. Hording money was definitely one of them. Licking boots to someone who had money was definitely another. Well, at least he could probably use both to his advantage, he decided, turning to appraise some of the other first years.
Just then a pair of moans announced the arrival of ghosts, and Aurelius instinctively ducked as the Bloody Baron burst through the fireplace, seemingly part of the flames. He flicked and sparked as he zoomed through the room, coming to stand directly between the Crumbs, listening intently to the conversation. Another ghost casually floated in and looked around searchingly, his eyes finally finding Aurelius, prompting him to smile.
"Ah, there is my descendant! Welcome to Slytherin House!" said the ghost. He appeared to be a man wearing torn Slytherin robes and weather-tossed auburn hair and beard. "Janus Craw, at your service."
"You were one of Slytherin's first apprentices, weren't you?" asked first year Stella Bulstrode.
"Indeed I was, until I went off on a quest that cost me my life," Janus said. "But now I am back to haunt everyone! Well, except maybe Slytherins themselves, of course. And don't let any of the other ghosts haunt you either; the Baron gets rather testy if they try. Especially Peeves."
"Peeves?" Aurelius asked.
"A poltergeist, but don't worry. Your mother keeps him locked up in a bottle on the first night. She's done so ever since the year he decided to steal the Sorting Hat in the middle of the ceremony and replace it with an old toilet seat. Dumbledore was not amused, let me tell you," Janus said, having a hard time keeping a straight face. "The Baron only tolerates me because I'm a Slytherin. But he does insist on haunting you himself, and for the most part we let him. I hope you brought ear muffs," Janus added thoughtfully. "It can get rather loud in here at night. The echo in here is splendid, I'll give it that."
"Wonderful," Aurelius said without enthusiasm.
The door suddenly opened with an energetic bang and Aurelius looked up to see his father glide in with a stack of papers in his hand.
"I assume you have completed your plotting for the evening," Severus said as the seventh years stepped up to get their schedules. "Make sure you get your sleep, please, I have little intention of seeing that cup in the Gryffindor case more than one year. And I hope… sixth years step forward… that every time you pass that Cup, you'll remember exactly how close we came to having it last year," he grumbled. "Fifth years, come now, you knew you were next, why weren't you ready?"
"Don't worry, sir, I'm sure none of them will even come close this year," Horus assured him, glancing over his class list.
"Well, make sure of it. McGonagall has already taken to remind me how close it was every time she sees me. Fourth years!" Severus barked.
"The Quidditch team won't let us down this year either, will you, Platt?" Horus added warningly.
"Not a chance. Henry has a new broom," Xavier said.
"Heavy duty, and built to withstand, well, even me," Henry Oxford said. Aurelius decided that any broom made to handle the huge boy would have been quite a feat; the boy was heavily built with muscle on top of mass. It was little wonder why they called him Henry the Ox.
"I expect more of a presence in the sparring tournament as well… third years step up… who's the new Tiebreaker?" Severus asked. Aurelius blinked. He knew about that too?
"Aurelius is, Professor," a girl named Tamya answered.
"Hm," Severus said, looking at him with a frown for a moment. "I should have known. Second years, forward. See that you don't mess up, then, for pity's sake."
"Yes, sir," Aurelius grinned as he stepped up with the remainder of the students to get his schedule.
"All right, get to bed, all of you. And no one had better be missing any other curfews this year. That goes for you too, Platt," Severus warned. "And don't forget to take your earmuffs."
"You mean we really do need earmuffs?" Aurelius said warily.
"Slytherin tradition. He always tries to keep us up the first night," Henry said, glancing at the Baron who grinned nastily before floating through the wall towards the dorm rooms.
"Try under your pillow," Severus hissed softly in Parseltongue, the rest of the students giving the professor an odd look as their advisor turned and headed towards the door. "Have a quiet evening," he said with a sinister smile, closing the door behind him.
"Easy for him to say," Heph grumbled. "I don't think I even packed any earmuffs."
"Then you get to learn the first of your lessons here at Slytherin house," Horus said. "'Slytherins' remorse will not be shared with foolish students who don't come prepared.'" he quoted, taking a pair of green and silver earmuffs from his pocket. "Good night, first years."
Aurelius decided very quickly to wait until the lights went out before he put his on.
The next morning, Stock, Heph, and Aurelius dashed out of their dorm rooms, cursing for oversleeping, their fellow Slytherin all having left some time ago.
"We're never going to make it," Heph said as they headed for the common room door. Suddenly the door opened and Xavier looked at them from the other side.
"There you are!" he said disapprovingly. "Come on, follow me!"
"But we'll be late for Potions!" Aurelius protested.
"Not if I can help it," he said, going over to the opposite wall from the door and pushing in the eyes of the Owl statue in the wall. There was a rumble and the pillar moved to the side, revealing a secret passage.
"Wow. That's brilliant!" Stock said appreciatively as they followed Xavier in, grabbing the lanterns beside the door.
"You can get to several different classrooms from this particular passage," Xavier said quickly, hurrying down a stair and straight down the main narrow corridor. "If you keep up, we can still get you to class on time. We can't be having the Tiebreaker tanking first-year points on the first day, can we?"
"Where does that passage lead to? It looks as if it goes directly into the house rooms," Aurelius said with a frown.
"Oh, don't worry, about that," Xavier said, a bit short for being out of breath. "Slytherin house may boast the most secret passages, but all of the ones leading into the house rooms that we know about have been sealed for hundreds of years. Nobody's getting in that way. Now a hard left, we'll be there in no time. Make sure not to go through the first door; it leads into the Potion Master's office and I daresay she has it trapped now," he warned, leading them to the second door and opening it, pulling back a tapestry covering the way. "See you at lunch."
"Thanks," Aurelius said as they hurried out, immediately spotting the smoky open door of the classroom and heading in, taking their seats.
"So glad you decided to join us," Stella teased them quietly. "But then it looks like you need all the beauty rest you can get."
"Well that explains why you're here, doesn't it? With that face, you probably gave up years ago," Heph said sweetly back, getting a tongue stuck out at him in return.
"All right everyone, settle down," Jennifer said with a yawn as she came in from her office, gazing at her class. "My name is Professor Craw Snape. You will refer to be as Professor Craw for simplicity's sake, and this is Introduction to Potions, as you may have guessed from all the cauldrons in the room. Since we have a double class today, you'll actually get to make your first potion at the end of the class, and I hope you're all excited about that," she smiled warmly, quite aware of the fact that most of them looked half asleep, elbows on tables as if trying to keep their heads up. "Potions may seem to be a difficult subject at first, but in actuality it is only a matter of learning to chose proper ingredients, a few basic formulas to explain interactions between components, and most importantly, learning how to follow directions. In later years, or if you take Dabbler's class, you'll also learn how to make your own potions, but for right now, we'll just concentrate on those three steps."
A loud yawn from the Gryffindor side of the class directed her attention towards Peter, who blushed bright red and apologized quietly.
"Goodness, we're not getting off on the right foot, are we?" Jennifer sighed, shaking her head. "How many of you got up early enough to have breakfast? Come now, be honest," she asked. Only four or five hands, mostly on the Slytherin side, were raised. "Well, this will never do. All right, I don't normally do this, but I can't possibly teach a snoring class," Jennifer said, heading back into her office and bringing out a tray with two large decanters, one of coffee and one with hot water for tea, some tea bags, and a stack of cups. Then she brought out a Cauldron, this one filled with an odd pink substance. Lastly, she turned over a tray that quickly filled with pastries, scones, and a stack of bowls earning an enthusiastic rumble from the class.
"Very well, line up and grab a cup and bowl, and please don't spill them. I'd rather not to have to overstep and teach you a cleaning charm before you're ready... and I'm not cleaning it up myself," Jennifer declared, grabbing her own cup of coffee before the class lined up. "And I expect you all will do better in the future coming to this class properly fed and awake," she chided them, the students grinning at her. She took roll call then, calling them each by their first names and greeting them warmly when they answered.
Everyone was allowed to finish their breakfast before they were asked to get out their potion kits. They went through each ingredient in turn as Jennifer helped some of the more unsure students identify them. She walked between the tables as she pulled out each new ingredient and explained their properties and how to judge quality. Every time she passed Aurelius and Heph she smiled warmly at them but never paused, concentrating on the students she noticed from their thoughts or actions had little or no experience.
"Now, your marks will be determined by the addition of two scores; practical knowledge and practical application. The first you get from homework and written test scores, the other is based on your lab work," Jennifer said. "Don't expect perfect scores. Even the best alchemists have a potion go bad every now and then. But if that does happen to you, I will allow you to make up some of that score if you can write out an accurate explanation of what went wrong. Your first assignment will be writing out all the herbs listed in the first chapter, and writing down their properties, including all the ones we just discussed. They're not all in the book, so I hope you paid attention. The second half will be the Itch-Me-Not Salve I'm going to teach you now, a pure mixture of balmsweed leaves, water, and aloe paste. Make sure you start out with a cold cauldron and do not prepare the leaves in any way, and I'm sure you'll survive your first experiment," Jennifer said with a wry smile. "Feel free to help each other out."
"A cold cauldron?" Aurelius repeated quietly. Heph glanced over at him curiously. "That's not how we make it at home. Why would she teach us different? The only thing you're supposed to start in a cold cauldron are poisons."
"I'm not sure I know what you're talking about, Rel, but I figure we had better do it the way she says, she's marking them after all," Heph said, carefully getting out eight leaves from the jar. Aurelius glanced over at his mother, who had, after a cursory inspection, settled back behind her desk with a fresh cup of coffee and some worksheets.
"Look, even the recipe in the book says to start it out with boiling the water separate. I'm going to do it that way," Aurelius said at last, turning on his burner. "When mine turns out better than everyone else's, I'll just point out she told us wrong."
"This isn't going to go well," Heph mused, ignoring the glare Rel gave him for that.
But after Rel gently bruised his leaves and stirred them in for the half hours simmer, Heph was wondering if Rel wasn't right after all. His mixture definitely seemed to have a more salve-like consistency to it; Hephs was a bit on the lumpy side, and the aroma of Rel's was definitely stronger, prickling the air with a faintly acrid smell. Completely satisfied by the results, Rel got to work on cleaning up just ahead of Jennifer heading around to check on the mixtures. She paused and put a tip of her finger in each one, then nodded and instructed the maker to bottle it. Finally she got to the Slytherin side of the class, frowning immediately when she saw Aurelius and let out a sigh as she rubbed a bit on her finger.
"I'm afraid your potion is much too thick, Aurelius, and too potent," Jennifer told him.
"Too potent?" Aurelius repeated in disbelief.
"Did you forget to add an ingredient until near the end?"
"No, I didn't forget anything! The book here said to wait until the water boils…"
"And I remember telling the class to start with a cold cauldron," Jennifer said with a frown. "The book is just words, Aurelius, it can't foretell what I plan to do with the potions after they're made."
"But what about the alchemist's adage, 'Cold Cauldrons Brew only Death'?" Aurelius quoted, becoming increasingly annoyed.
"Aurelius, I realize, of course, that you and many of the other students here have picked up some potion lessons at home. But in this classroom, it's quite important that you follow my instruction, not any you might have learned in the past and not even what the book says if I've already told you not to follow it. Now, I was planning on this class using these salves for a base in the Butterfly Balm potion, but that means they have to be stored until our next class. When you bring something up from room temperature, not all of the energy stored within the ingredients is released at once, which means it'll last longer on the shelf than what it would normally. By the time next week rolls around, your potion will be completely useless, and then you'll not only lost ten lab points from not following this weeks instruction, but you'll destroy your Butterfly Balm before you've even started it."
"What! What do you mean I've lost ten points? And you can't expect me to take an automatic loss next week for something we've not even started on yet!" Aurelius protested.
"Actually, we did start on it. You just hadn't realized it," Jennifer sighed. "I did warn you that points are hardly ever perfect in labs, and I can see a couple of other imperfections that will cost you a point or two. You can come in later this week on your own time to try and make a new one if you want for your Butterfly Balm. But this time, pay less attention to the book and more to the professor," she advised. "Go ahead and bottle it for now." Aurelius glared at her as she continued on, sighing with frustration as he took a bottle out. At least she didn't take any house points away, Aurelius brooded; but she didn't seem to be any more willing to give them to students who got it right, either.
Finally they broke for lunch. Aurelius couldn't get out of their fast enough, and Stock and Heph had to almost run to catch up.
"What a class! Not a Mr. or Miss in any sentence, what sort of respect is that? And who ever heard of starting a Potions class with a tea party?" Heph asked.
"I kept waiting for her to tell us to face our desks in a big friendly circle," Stock grinned. "The only person she was hard on in the entire class was you, Rel, her own son at that!"
"Don't think I didn't notice," Aurelius grumbled. "What is she doing going against what the book teaches, anyhow? We're going to get to our achievement tests and not be able to tell whether they want the book answer or her answer!"
"I think she was testing us and I think you fell for it, Aurelius," Heph said. "I told you that you should have done it the way she said to."
"And you admitted my potion looked way better than yours, too," Aurelius said. "Maybe I'll just start making two potions, her way and my way, and we'll see at the end of the year who's worked better."
"You'll need a bigger potion kit if you're going to do that," Stock grinned.
"No problem, I'll just ask Father. He's the one who actually taught me how to make that potion the right way," Aurelius said. Heph and Stock looked at each other thoughtfully, wondering if they weren't on the verge of a family war. "But first, we have another matter to deal with. Broom practice," Aurelius said with determination.
Madame Danyelle Brittle, one time World Cup Champion of Quidditch and Sports Director of Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry, had not been quite prepared for Aurelius Snape's attempt to take the school by a storm. In fact, it was made quite evident by the broken leg propped up in front of her.
Next to her in the hospital wing, Aurelius looked no happier for being there, his own leg propped high. It was then that Jennifer and Severus came in, nearly knocking down Madame Pomfrey who had to juggle to keep from spilling the potion in her hand.
"What happened?" Severus snapped, frowning as he inspected Aurelius' heavily bruised leg.
"Just a slight mid-air collision, Professor Snape, no permanent damage," Danny said calmly. "Mr. Snape had challenged me to a race, and things got a little out of hand is all."
"I knew it was only a matter of time before that challenge of yours went sour, Brittle. I hope you're finally ready to stop messing around the first day and teach them how to fly safely!" Severus said.
"What? You want me to teach them all how to fly like Craw?" she joked. Jennifer's face pinked noticeably. "It might be safe, but won't get them anywhere on the Quidditch Pitch. Don't worry, I think I've finally convinced your son that perhaps he should take his lessons with the others."
"Nonsense. I want a rematch."
"Aurelius!" Severus snapped.
"You'll do nothing of the sort!" Jennifer scolded him. "And I had better not hear of you trying to show off in the air, or you won't see any sign of a broom in your hand next year, either."
"What? But Mum, the tryouts…"
"Tryouts? Oh, no you don't, Aurelius Snape. I think with your attitude lately, you're much better off staying on the ground. There will be time enough for that when you're older, and that's final," Jennifer said, stepping out of the way so the Pomfrey could get through.
"I don't believe it! Father, you're not going to actually let her ground me, are you?"
"She said it was final," Severus said firmly before gazing over at Danyelle. "I don't suppose you'll give up this little challenge thing now that someone's gotten hurt?"
"Oh, come on, Severus, accidents happen on brooms all the time. But if makes you feel any better, I promised Dumbledore I'll stop the moment a student actually beats me," Danny chuckled.
"Hopefully that'll happen before you break something I can't fix," Pomfrey chided her, making her drink down the potion in her hand. "Don't worry, Professors, both of them will be completely back to their own selves by morning and ready for class. No permanent harm done."
"If only they can stay out of trouble for that long," Jennifer said in a tone that indicated that she was doubt if either were capable of that. Aurelius and Danny grinned at each other sheepishly. It was then that Aurelius realized that he actually liked the overly energetic broom instructor.
"Come along, we might as well head for dinner," Severus told Jennifer. She gave her son one last look before heading out behind Severus.
"All right, Severus, you go ahead and handle the potion thing your way," Jennifer told him the moment they were out of the wing. "It's more obvious than ever now that Aurelius is going to keep testing the waters as long as he thinks he can get away with it."
"He is a Slytherin, after all," Severus said musingly. The expression on Jennifer's face indicated just how much she didn't need that reminder.
