Chapter 8: Giggle Potions and Pumpkin Juice.
Over the next two days, speculation and gossip spread throughout the school about Severa Snape. The boys fell in love with her and the girls were jealous of her good looks, but certainly not her parentage. There was only one really conspicuous question on everyone's mind however- how could she be Snapes daughter?
Severa seemed to be in all of Harry's Gryffindor-Slytherin classes and they often sat together. Harry found he had alot in common with Severa. They both loved Quidditch, flying, Defence Against the Dark Arts and they both agreed that Snape was an insufferable bastard. Severa also seemed to significantly understand the way Harry felt about his parents' deaths. She told him on Thursday evening that her mother had died when she was very young.
"I'm so sorry." Harry had said.
And Severa had replied- "I know that Harry, you understand."
~*~
On Friday morning, Harry walked into the Potions classroom with Hermione. Hermione bode Harry 'goodbye' and she took her seat next to Neville who immediately squealed- "Hermione! Help! We have an exam today! I don't know anything! What's the third ingredient of the Giggle Potion? Wormwood? No, beetle hide? No, that's not it! Oh, Hermione help!"
Hermione opened her book and began to reassure Neville he was not going to fail and Snape was not going to gouge his teeth out through his nose if he mixed up wormwood with crushed beetle's feet. Although, secretly, Harry thought Snape would try very hard indeed.
Harry stopped watching Neville's nervous breakdown and he walked over to his own desk. Severa hadn't arrived to the classroom yet, so Harry began to set up his equipment in silence.
Harry sat his heavy, black cauldron on the worn desk and he began to take his Giggle Potion ingredients out. Gollum stones, the heart of a wamble- bond, three newt droppings-ugh, beetle feet, a jar of--
Harry jumped as something prodded him in the small of his back. He quickly caught the large jar in his hand before it violently crashed to the ground.
"Sorry, Harry!"
Severa bustled past Harry to her seat, an apologetic expression on her face. She quickly set her pewter cauldron down on the desk and then she flopped onto the stool behind her. She let out a sigh of relief.
"Ah," she sighed, "that's much better, that cauldron was heavy!"
Severa began to say something to Harry when Snape strode into the dungeon. His long, velvet, black robes flowed behind him as he made his way to his desk at the top of the class. The expression on his face was what the trained eye would call a happy Snape face but to any normal Muggle it would have looked as if the Devil had just taken over the mortal Earth, cancelled Christmas and was forcing everyone to become his slave in the Underworld. Although, Harry mused, Snape would probably enjoy that.
"Who knows what day it is?" Snape sneered, with a cocky expression on his smug face.
"It's Friday, sir!" Draco Malfoy called out. Every Slytherin, except Severa, laughed gruffly at his brainless retort.
"Why yes, Mr Malfoy!" Snape smirked. "It is Friday! Take ten points for Slytherin for your outstanding aptitude!"
Draco didn't know whether he should smile or look puzzled so he did both in a mixed-up way. The expression that adorned his face was one of great absurdity and Harry couldn't stop himself laughing at the sight of Draco Malfoy looking like he was in immense pain on the toilet seat.
"And what, Mr Potter, do you find so amusing?" Snape snarled.
Harry quickly suppressed a fresh fit of giggles but he couldn't quite keep the smile from playing at the corners of his mouth.
"Do you know what day it is, Mr Potter?" Snape asked irritably.
"Exam day, sir?" Harry smiled.
"Exactly, Potter!" Snape shouted. "I'm glad to see you pay attention in my class, even if it is a rarity."
Snape began to turn back to his desk when he stopped, and swivelled to face Harry again.
"Oh, and Mr Potter? Ten points from Gryffindor for your trying impertinence. I will not tolerate smart-alecks in this class." And with that last remark, Snape turned back to his desk and he then announced they would now start they exam. He glared at Harry.
"Without further interruption, if you please."
~*~
"Careless work, Longbottom! I'd expect better from your foolish, portly frog! You fail! Ah, Ms Granger the usual standard of astounding work from you. How does it feel to be an intolerable know-it-all?"
Harry grimaced as Snape walked between the desks, checking each student's work. So far, every Slytherin, including Severa, had passed the exam, five Gryffindors had failed and Harry had been grudgingly passed. Snape was now at the back of the dungeon, correcting Hermione's Potion. Harry was glad Ron was still ill, he would have made a right mess of the Giggle Potion.
"Harry!" Severa whispered.
Harry turned to Severa, who was sitting beside him at the front of the dungeon classroom.
"What?" he whispered back.
"Hold this for me and keep on the look out. Make sure my Dad isn't coming this way."
Severa handed Harry a small glass jar. She motioned for him to hold it steady and then she ladled a spoonful of her faultless Giggle Potion into the diminutive jar. The slightly orange liquid sloshed into the jar and filled it to the brim. Severa then took the jar from Harry, twisted the lid on firmly and she pocketed it. She smiled triumphantly.
"What are you doing?" Harry whispered, puzzled.
Severa answered with a question of her own.
"Doesn't it seem perfect that Giggle Potion is the same colour as Pumpkin juice?"
Snape was finished grading all the Giggle Potions. He called from the back of the room- "Class dismissed!"
Severa smirked.
"See you at dinner, Harry."
~*~
Harry arrived early in the Great Hall at dinnertime. Severa was already seated at the Slytherin table chatting animatedly to some Slytherin first year that looked horrified talking to Snapes daughter. Harry walked towards the Slytherin table giving the first year a look that plainly said 'Go away.' The first year responded immediately to Harry's look, making a beeline for the sanctuary of her first year friends and Harry could see she was wholly glad to be getting away.
"Hey Severa." Harry said, sitting opposite Severa at the Slytherin table.
"Oh, hello Harry!" Severa smiled. "I'm famished! How about you?"
"Yeah, I'm really hungry." Harry said impatiently, "Listen Severa, you still haven't told me what you took that Giggle Potion for."
Severa smiled cheekily. Harry had been asking her all day what she was planning to do with the offending Potion, and she hadn't told him. He was getting just like an over-protective brother. She smiled smugly at him.
"For revenge." She smiled sweetly. "For you and for me. Have a nice dinner."
And Harry took that as his signal to leave. He was clearly going to find out the concluding use of the Giggle Potion very soon and he wasn't very sure he wanted to know anymore.
~*~
"Let the feast begin." Dumbledore smiled.
Harry grinned as the food appeared before him. He had been at Hogwarts five years now, but he could never really get over the magnificent food that appeared before him day after day, meal after meal. Crispy roast chicken, succulent roast potatoes, dripping, brown gravy- the thought of it all made Harry's mouth water. Harry piled helpings of gravy, chicken and potatoes onto his plate and then he reached for the Pumpkin juice. It was as he was pouring the orange liquid into his golden goblet that he remembered what Severa had said in Potions class earlier- "Doesn't it seem perfect that Giggle Potion is the same colour as Pumpkin juice?" Harry decided to test the waters a bit before drinking his Pumpkin juice. Hermione, who was sat next to him, was sitting patiently holding her goblet, waiting for Harry to pass the jug of Pumpkin juice.
"Here Hermione," Harry said, "Let me pour your juice for you."
Hermione looked a bit taken aback by his kind gesture, but nevertheless, she held out her goblet.
She drank the juice when Harry had finished pouring it. He looked at her expectantly and she clearly thought he was waiting for her thanks.
"Thank you, Harry." She smiled. "That was lovely."
"It didn't taste funny or anything?" Harry asked, somewhat anxiously, Hermione thought.
"No," she said, a little surprised, "it was just perfect."
Harry smiled at her. Severa definitely hadn't done anything to the student's juice. Harry finished pouring his own juice and then he passed the heavy jug on to Neville Longbottom, who was sitting beside him.
Harry began to eat his dinner again. He noticed the Hall was quieter than usual. The first week back had clearly taken its toll on everyone. But what had Severa done with the Giggle Potion? She hadn't bewitched the students juice and she wouldn't dare try to spike the teachers- oh no.
Suddenly, a melodious sound of deep laughter filled the Great Hall. Harry, afraid to look, turned his focus towards the staff table, and there, he saw the most unusual and frightening sight he had ever seen in his life. Severus Snape, surly Potions Master at Hogwarts, was clutching his sides laughing as if there was no tomorrow. Harry banged his head off the table. His worst fears were confirmed.
Harry turned in his seat. Severa grinned triumphantly at him from the Slytherin table. He shook his head at her. They were both in for it now- deep trouble.
The Hall grew quieter than before, and everyone stared in disbelief at Snape. Harry distantly heard Professor McGonagall say in shock- "Professor Snape, are you quiet alright?"
Snape couldn't speak. He was laughing too much. He just shook he head, gave McGonagall an angry look and set off into a fresh fit of laughter.
Professor Dumbledore rose from his seat. He motioned to Professor McGonagall and they both took Snape by an arm and began to help him out of the Hall. They walked down through the House tables, Snape falling every so often because he couldn't contain the laughter. It was as Dumbledore and McGonagall were dragging Snape past the Slytherin table that Harry heard Snape gasp- "Snape, Potter --detention --Monday-- eight o' clock." And then Snape was finally dragged out of the Hall.
There was silence in the Great Hall for a moment and then noise broke out like a great dam bursting its waters. Harry turned around to face the Slytherin table. Severa met his eyes and shrugged with an apologetic expression upon her face. Harry saw her mouth-
"Sorry. I guess now you have detention with The Snapes."
~*~
Next: Chapter 9- Detention with the Snape family.
Over the next two days, speculation and gossip spread throughout the school about Severa Snape. The boys fell in love with her and the girls were jealous of her good looks, but certainly not her parentage. There was only one really conspicuous question on everyone's mind however- how could she be Snapes daughter?
Severa seemed to be in all of Harry's Gryffindor-Slytherin classes and they often sat together. Harry found he had alot in common with Severa. They both loved Quidditch, flying, Defence Against the Dark Arts and they both agreed that Snape was an insufferable bastard. Severa also seemed to significantly understand the way Harry felt about his parents' deaths. She told him on Thursday evening that her mother had died when she was very young.
"I'm so sorry." Harry had said.
And Severa had replied- "I know that Harry, you understand."
~*~
On Friday morning, Harry walked into the Potions classroom with Hermione. Hermione bode Harry 'goodbye' and she took her seat next to Neville who immediately squealed- "Hermione! Help! We have an exam today! I don't know anything! What's the third ingredient of the Giggle Potion? Wormwood? No, beetle hide? No, that's not it! Oh, Hermione help!"
Hermione opened her book and began to reassure Neville he was not going to fail and Snape was not going to gouge his teeth out through his nose if he mixed up wormwood with crushed beetle's feet. Although, secretly, Harry thought Snape would try very hard indeed.
Harry stopped watching Neville's nervous breakdown and he walked over to his own desk. Severa hadn't arrived to the classroom yet, so Harry began to set up his equipment in silence.
Harry sat his heavy, black cauldron on the worn desk and he began to take his Giggle Potion ingredients out. Gollum stones, the heart of a wamble- bond, three newt droppings-ugh, beetle feet, a jar of--
Harry jumped as something prodded him in the small of his back. He quickly caught the large jar in his hand before it violently crashed to the ground.
"Sorry, Harry!"
Severa bustled past Harry to her seat, an apologetic expression on her face. She quickly set her pewter cauldron down on the desk and then she flopped onto the stool behind her. She let out a sigh of relief.
"Ah," she sighed, "that's much better, that cauldron was heavy!"
Severa began to say something to Harry when Snape strode into the dungeon. His long, velvet, black robes flowed behind him as he made his way to his desk at the top of the class. The expression on his face was what the trained eye would call a happy Snape face but to any normal Muggle it would have looked as if the Devil had just taken over the mortal Earth, cancelled Christmas and was forcing everyone to become his slave in the Underworld. Although, Harry mused, Snape would probably enjoy that.
"Who knows what day it is?" Snape sneered, with a cocky expression on his smug face.
"It's Friday, sir!" Draco Malfoy called out. Every Slytherin, except Severa, laughed gruffly at his brainless retort.
"Why yes, Mr Malfoy!" Snape smirked. "It is Friday! Take ten points for Slytherin for your outstanding aptitude!"
Draco didn't know whether he should smile or look puzzled so he did both in a mixed-up way. The expression that adorned his face was one of great absurdity and Harry couldn't stop himself laughing at the sight of Draco Malfoy looking like he was in immense pain on the toilet seat.
"And what, Mr Potter, do you find so amusing?" Snape snarled.
Harry quickly suppressed a fresh fit of giggles but he couldn't quite keep the smile from playing at the corners of his mouth.
"Do you know what day it is, Mr Potter?" Snape asked irritably.
"Exam day, sir?" Harry smiled.
"Exactly, Potter!" Snape shouted. "I'm glad to see you pay attention in my class, even if it is a rarity."
Snape began to turn back to his desk when he stopped, and swivelled to face Harry again.
"Oh, and Mr Potter? Ten points from Gryffindor for your trying impertinence. I will not tolerate smart-alecks in this class." And with that last remark, Snape turned back to his desk and he then announced they would now start they exam. He glared at Harry.
"Without further interruption, if you please."
~*~
"Careless work, Longbottom! I'd expect better from your foolish, portly frog! You fail! Ah, Ms Granger the usual standard of astounding work from you. How does it feel to be an intolerable know-it-all?"
Harry grimaced as Snape walked between the desks, checking each student's work. So far, every Slytherin, including Severa, had passed the exam, five Gryffindors had failed and Harry had been grudgingly passed. Snape was now at the back of the dungeon, correcting Hermione's Potion. Harry was glad Ron was still ill, he would have made a right mess of the Giggle Potion.
"Harry!" Severa whispered.
Harry turned to Severa, who was sitting beside him at the front of the dungeon classroom.
"What?" he whispered back.
"Hold this for me and keep on the look out. Make sure my Dad isn't coming this way."
Severa handed Harry a small glass jar. She motioned for him to hold it steady and then she ladled a spoonful of her faultless Giggle Potion into the diminutive jar. The slightly orange liquid sloshed into the jar and filled it to the brim. Severa then took the jar from Harry, twisted the lid on firmly and she pocketed it. She smiled triumphantly.
"What are you doing?" Harry whispered, puzzled.
Severa answered with a question of her own.
"Doesn't it seem perfect that Giggle Potion is the same colour as Pumpkin juice?"
Snape was finished grading all the Giggle Potions. He called from the back of the room- "Class dismissed!"
Severa smirked.
"See you at dinner, Harry."
~*~
Harry arrived early in the Great Hall at dinnertime. Severa was already seated at the Slytherin table chatting animatedly to some Slytherin first year that looked horrified talking to Snapes daughter. Harry walked towards the Slytherin table giving the first year a look that plainly said 'Go away.' The first year responded immediately to Harry's look, making a beeline for the sanctuary of her first year friends and Harry could see she was wholly glad to be getting away.
"Hey Severa." Harry said, sitting opposite Severa at the Slytherin table.
"Oh, hello Harry!" Severa smiled. "I'm famished! How about you?"
"Yeah, I'm really hungry." Harry said impatiently, "Listen Severa, you still haven't told me what you took that Giggle Potion for."
Severa smiled cheekily. Harry had been asking her all day what she was planning to do with the offending Potion, and she hadn't told him. He was getting just like an over-protective brother. She smiled smugly at him.
"For revenge." She smiled sweetly. "For you and for me. Have a nice dinner."
And Harry took that as his signal to leave. He was clearly going to find out the concluding use of the Giggle Potion very soon and he wasn't very sure he wanted to know anymore.
~*~
"Let the feast begin." Dumbledore smiled.
Harry grinned as the food appeared before him. He had been at Hogwarts five years now, but he could never really get over the magnificent food that appeared before him day after day, meal after meal. Crispy roast chicken, succulent roast potatoes, dripping, brown gravy- the thought of it all made Harry's mouth water. Harry piled helpings of gravy, chicken and potatoes onto his plate and then he reached for the Pumpkin juice. It was as he was pouring the orange liquid into his golden goblet that he remembered what Severa had said in Potions class earlier- "Doesn't it seem perfect that Giggle Potion is the same colour as Pumpkin juice?" Harry decided to test the waters a bit before drinking his Pumpkin juice. Hermione, who was sat next to him, was sitting patiently holding her goblet, waiting for Harry to pass the jug of Pumpkin juice.
"Here Hermione," Harry said, "Let me pour your juice for you."
Hermione looked a bit taken aback by his kind gesture, but nevertheless, she held out her goblet.
She drank the juice when Harry had finished pouring it. He looked at her expectantly and she clearly thought he was waiting for her thanks.
"Thank you, Harry." She smiled. "That was lovely."
"It didn't taste funny or anything?" Harry asked, somewhat anxiously, Hermione thought.
"No," she said, a little surprised, "it was just perfect."
Harry smiled at her. Severa definitely hadn't done anything to the student's juice. Harry finished pouring his own juice and then he passed the heavy jug on to Neville Longbottom, who was sitting beside him.
Harry began to eat his dinner again. He noticed the Hall was quieter than usual. The first week back had clearly taken its toll on everyone. But what had Severa done with the Giggle Potion? She hadn't bewitched the students juice and she wouldn't dare try to spike the teachers- oh no.
Suddenly, a melodious sound of deep laughter filled the Great Hall. Harry, afraid to look, turned his focus towards the staff table, and there, he saw the most unusual and frightening sight he had ever seen in his life. Severus Snape, surly Potions Master at Hogwarts, was clutching his sides laughing as if there was no tomorrow. Harry banged his head off the table. His worst fears were confirmed.
Harry turned in his seat. Severa grinned triumphantly at him from the Slytherin table. He shook his head at her. They were both in for it now- deep trouble.
The Hall grew quieter than before, and everyone stared in disbelief at Snape. Harry distantly heard Professor McGonagall say in shock- "Professor Snape, are you quiet alright?"
Snape couldn't speak. He was laughing too much. He just shook he head, gave McGonagall an angry look and set off into a fresh fit of laughter.
Professor Dumbledore rose from his seat. He motioned to Professor McGonagall and they both took Snape by an arm and began to help him out of the Hall. They walked down through the House tables, Snape falling every so often because he couldn't contain the laughter. It was as Dumbledore and McGonagall were dragging Snape past the Slytherin table that Harry heard Snape gasp- "Snape, Potter --detention --Monday-- eight o' clock." And then Snape was finally dragged out of the Hall.
There was silence in the Great Hall for a moment and then noise broke out like a great dam bursting its waters. Harry turned around to face the Slytherin table. Severa met his eyes and shrugged with an apologetic expression upon her face. Harry saw her mouth-
"Sorry. I guess now you have detention with The Snapes."
~*~
Next: Chapter 9- Detention with the Snape family.