Chapter 5 – Professors Firada and Adarif
James woke up early in the morning and, unable to contain his excitement, walked down the dormitory stairs and into the common room. Well, he thought, if the Head boy was truthful in his comment about people spending most of their free time here, it looked like he was going to have to break the mould. Sure the room looked welcoming and comfortable, but the adventurer in his soul said spending more than one or two hours in the same place was as interesting as watching paint dry. He decided to have breakfast early and walked to the great hall, surprisingly not getting lost (which was due to his uncanny ability to remember details of a journey, even if the corridors moved) and sat down on the Gryffindor table. He was one of the first students to eat, but most of the staff table were eating. After watching the new teacher, professor Firada, and a young teacher who had evil looking black eyes and hair to match arguing about something (I wonder what that was about thought James) he picked up his plate of sausages and began to eat. After awhile he saw Sirius and a very groggy Remus making their way towards them.
"Lo, James" Remus slurred, looking very tired and somewhat older than he was. "Come on Remus, its our first day aren't you excited? Oh hi James," Sirius said, looking a little put out at Remus's unenthusiastic attitude. "You shouldn't have woken me up so early, I hardly get enough sleep anyway." "And why is that?" "I wonder what subjects we have today," Remus said thoughtfully, changing the subject. Sirius thought about pressing the subject, opened his mouth, then closed it and passed him their timetables. "What a day!" James said looking at his timetable "Double Potions with the Ravenclaws, Double Herbology with the Slytherins and Defence against the Dark arts" James did not like double lessons. "Potions is supposed to be a bitch," Sirius said without taking his eyes off of his breakfast and then continued "But that new professor is young, so maybe she hasn't learned."
Just then the mousy haired boy with equally mousy features walked down. He was skinny, like he had been starved, but he grabbed a plate and ate his breakfast with gusto. "Like your food, eh Peter?" Remus asked, obviously remembering the boys name from the sorting "looks like Sirius has got competition." "Ee erff no machhh fer me," Sirius said quite impressively through at least four sausages. "Uoo thirnk sor?" Said Peter equally impressively; he had the full English breakfast in his mouth. After that both boys started to cram food into their mouths like it was their last meal. "How disgusting!" Lily said, sitting down closest to Remus, who seemed to give off an aura of wisdom. James silently thanked the gods that he didn't do the same, girls were number one on the list of trouble to the young boy's mind. Peter grinned apologetically but Sirius seemed infuriated.
"Bugger off killjoy," he muttered fiercely, Sirius seemed to have taken a great disliking to Lily "No one asked you to speak or to voice your opinions and especially to sit near us, so if you don't like it you know where the door is and feel free to let it knock you on the floor!" James sniggered and Remus sighed, Peter just looked confused at Sirius's hostility.
Sirius was still muttering darkly as they entered the dungeons. He took a seat at the back with Remus and James, but Peter looked unsure as where to sit. "Come sit with us Peter, your cool" Sirius said, any boy who matched his stomach was a friend to be awed. Peter sat down, still looking a little nervous.
"Welcome first years," professor Firada said greeting her class as she walked in "to Potions. I have heard rumours that this class is viewed as a boring class, but if you pay attention and try your best I assure you that you will have fun." Some of the class looked doubtful, Lily and her friends at the front looked eager but Sirius and James simply looked bored. "We will be brewing a potion of quick wits today," she explained as she writ the ingredients on a blackboard at the front "It is a potion that gives the user heightened wit and intelligence for a very short time, and will only work on a user that is not at his or her peak. These flaws are made up for in the fact that it is a very simple potion. Lets begin."
Potions wasn't as bad as the class had feared. Professor Firada was a kind teacher who took the time to explain things to her class. James and Sirius managed to make their potions well enough, they weren't perfect, but good for a first try. Remus looked a little unsure, but made his potion fine with a little help from professor Firada. But Peter was very surprising; he managed to brew his potion perfectly and didn't need any help. He explained to his stunned friends that he loved all things plant and potions used lots of plants.
"So Herbology is going to be right up your street then, that could be useful" Sirius said grinning. "What d-do you mean?" Peter squeaked, looking nervously from Sirius to James, who both had identical wide grins on their faces. "Well, me and Sirius were talking about stirring up some trouble around this joint on a regular basis and it might be useful to have your botanical talents on our side, what do you say?" James asked and explained to Peter who grinned. "Why of course," Peter said, mocking a bow "and I've heard Remus here is a great charms man." Remus mumbled something about having experimented with a few, but James and Sirius took this as modesty and said that they would view his talents in said lesson but expressing their confidence. "This school need some trouble," Sirius nudged Remus "And us four are gonna give it to them,"
After the bell rang they headed to the greenhouses, where professor Sprout told them that they would be learning the properties of Swifflewig, which turned out to have properties similar to alcohol and was vital to the brewing of Firewhisky and Butterbeer. "Reckon you could brew some good Firewhisky if we got some of that stuff Peter?" Sirius asked. "Probably, but I'd need some sort of fireberry flavouring and some whiskygrass," "Both Swifflewig and Whisky grass are in greenhouse one, but they're unavailable to students," Remus pointed out. "What we need," James said thoughtfully "Is a distraction." Sirius finished and then said, "Which happens to be my new middle name" He then proceeded to grab Peter's vial of quick wits, down it in one, and thought. Then he walked over to a small plant pot and poked it with his wand. It let out a very loud but muffled squeal, and everyone ducked to the floor covering their ears. This gave ample time for James and Peter, who got what they needed. Professor Sprout did not look happy. "We will be studying those plants, the Mandragora Drakes, in our second year if we survive until then Mr. Black!" Sirius grinned sheepishly. Professor sprout looked as if she was about to give a detention but Sirius quickly put on his face of first year innocence and cuteness, earning just a warning. The Slytherins in the greenhouse looked angrily towards the four boys, but the Gryffindors seemed impressed by Sirius.
After that lesson they had lunch, in which both Sirius and Peter managed to eat four helpings, gaining looks of disgust from the girls as they ate quickly. "As if we care what they think," Sirius muttered coldly as he pushed past one of Lily's friends, Isabella, on their way to DADA.
It didn't take a minute for Sirius to realise that the professor, Adarif (the one Firada was arguing with), was not going to be fooled by such concepts as innocence from him. "I know that you have had potions, with my younger brat of a sister, Firada, but let me warn you, I am her opposite. I am not going to make this lesson easy or fun, you are here to learn. Copy this down." They walked out of Adarif's lesson looking distinctly ticked off; he was horrible. He took points from their house because Peter stammered, points from Sirius for calling him Ady (Sirius always pushes his luck) and worst of all he took them from Remus for absolutely no reason. "I wonder why he hates you Remus," James pondered out loud. Remus quickly changed the subject to how they were going to brew the Firewhisky, which was surprising, as he had seemed to oppose the idea before.
"Well, I've got some Fireberry Ice cream left from the feats" Sirius said to inquisitive looks from his friends, "What? I kept it in a bag so I could re-freeze it." James muttered about his friend's mealtime habits but Peter looked delighted. "Well let's light a fire in our dormitory and start brewing" Peter set up his cauldron and started to mix the ingredients, occasionally checking his book, Brewers guide to Brewin' by Icarus Nighthabit (a present from his father). "Well, it will take about a week to ferment, but Sirius managed to save enough cream to make four pints of Firecreamwhisky, my own brand of improvised Firewhisky, and we can save the excess of the other ingredients to make some new flavours of whisky later." Peter declared to his friends, who looked at him in awe. "This will be great," Sirius said grinning madly. They stayed up late as Peter stirred the mixture, talking about their plans for the whisky and the day that had just passed.
"Professor Firada is cool, Potions is gonna be a blast ain't it?" James said looking eagerly at the cauldron full of the illicit brew. "But her brother is a complete ass," Sirius said darkly looking at Remus " I'm gonna get him for taking those points from you." But Remus had fallen asleep. Peter told them that they would each get a pint in a week, but drinking more than 100 ml at a time was severely dangerous. Sirius grinned and whispered something about slipping some into a teacher's goblet, at which James laughed and Peter grinned nervously and eagerly at the same time. Soon they were all asleep, as the concoction bubbled merrily in the corner, hidden from view.
James woke up early in the morning and, unable to contain his excitement, walked down the dormitory stairs and into the common room. Well, he thought, if the Head boy was truthful in his comment about people spending most of their free time here, it looked like he was going to have to break the mould. Sure the room looked welcoming and comfortable, but the adventurer in his soul said spending more than one or two hours in the same place was as interesting as watching paint dry. He decided to have breakfast early and walked to the great hall, surprisingly not getting lost (which was due to his uncanny ability to remember details of a journey, even if the corridors moved) and sat down on the Gryffindor table. He was one of the first students to eat, but most of the staff table were eating. After watching the new teacher, professor Firada, and a young teacher who had evil looking black eyes and hair to match arguing about something (I wonder what that was about thought James) he picked up his plate of sausages and began to eat. After awhile he saw Sirius and a very groggy Remus making their way towards them.
"Lo, James" Remus slurred, looking very tired and somewhat older than he was. "Come on Remus, its our first day aren't you excited? Oh hi James," Sirius said, looking a little put out at Remus's unenthusiastic attitude. "You shouldn't have woken me up so early, I hardly get enough sleep anyway." "And why is that?" "I wonder what subjects we have today," Remus said thoughtfully, changing the subject. Sirius thought about pressing the subject, opened his mouth, then closed it and passed him their timetables. "What a day!" James said looking at his timetable "Double Potions with the Ravenclaws, Double Herbology with the Slytherins and Defence against the Dark arts" James did not like double lessons. "Potions is supposed to be a bitch," Sirius said without taking his eyes off of his breakfast and then continued "But that new professor is young, so maybe she hasn't learned."
Just then the mousy haired boy with equally mousy features walked down. He was skinny, like he had been starved, but he grabbed a plate and ate his breakfast with gusto. "Like your food, eh Peter?" Remus asked, obviously remembering the boys name from the sorting "looks like Sirius has got competition." "Ee erff no machhh fer me," Sirius said quite impressively through at least four sausages. "Uoo thirnk sor?" Said Peter equally impressively; he had the full English breakfast in his mouth. After that both boys started to cram food into their mouths like it was their last meal. "How disgusting!" Lily said, sitting down closest to Remus, who seemed to give off an aura of wisdom. James silently thanked the gods that he didn't do the same, girls were number one on the list of trouble to the young boy's mind. Peter grinned apologetically but Sirius seemed infuriated.
"Bugger off killjoy," he muttered fiercely, Sirius seemed to have taken a great disliking to Lily "No one asked you to speak or to voice your opinions and especially to sit near us, so if you don't like it you know where the door is and feel free to let it knock you on the floor!" James sniggered and Remus sighed, Peter just looked confused at Sirius's hostility.
Sirius was still muttering darkly as they entered the dungeons. He took a seat at the back with Remus and James, but Peter looked unsure as where to sit. "Come sit with us Peter, your cool" Sirius said, any boy who matched his stomach was a friend to be awed. Peter sat down, still looking a little nervous.
"Welcome first years," professor Firada said greeting her class as she walked in "to Potions. I have heard rumours that this class is viewed as a boring class, but if you pay attention and try your best I assure you that you will have fun." Some of the class looked doubtful, Lily and her friends at the front looked eager but Sirius and James simply looked bored. "We will be brewing a potion of quick wits today," she explained as she writ the ingredients on a blackboard at the front "It is a potion that gives the user heightened wit and intelligence for a very short time, and will only work on a user that is not at his or her peak. These flaws are made up for in the fact that it is a very simple potion. Lets begin."
Potions wasn't as bad as the class had feared. Professor Firada was a kind teacher who took the time to explain things to her class. James and Sirius managed to make their potions well enough, they weren't perfect, but good for a first try. Remus looked a little unsure, but made his potion fine with a little help from professor Firada. But Peter was very surprising; he managed to brew his potion perfectly and didn't need any help. He explained to his stunned friends that he loved all things plant and potions used lots of plants.
"So Herbology is going to be right up your street then, that could be useful" Sirius said grinning. "What d-do you mean?" Peter squeaked, looking nervously from Sirius to James, who both had identical wide grins on their faces. "Well, me and Sirius were talking about stirring up some trouble around this joint on a regular basis and it might be useful to have your botanical talents on our side, what do you say?" James asked and explained to Peter who grinned. "Why of course," Peter said, mocking a bow "and I've heard Remus here is a great charms man." Remus mumbled something about having experimented with a few, but James and Sirius took this as modesty and said that they would view his talents in said lesson but expressing their confidence. "This school need some trouble," Sirius nudged Remus "And us four are gonna give it to them,"
After the bell rang they headed to the greenhouses, where professor Sprout told them that they would be learning the properties of Swifflewig, which turned out to have properties similar to alcohol and was vital to the brewing of Firewhisky and Butterbeer. "Reckon you could brew some good Firewhisky if we got some of that stuff Peter?" Sirius asked. "Probably, but I'd need some sort of fireberry flavouring and some whiskygrass," "Both Swifflewig and Whisky grass are in greenhouse one, but they're unavailable to students," Remus pointed out. "What we need," James said thoughtfully "Is a distraction." Sirius finished and then said, "Which happens to be my new middle name" He then proceeded to grab Peter's vial of quick wits, down it in one, and thought. Then he walked over to a small plant pot and poked it with his wand. It let out a very loud but muffled squeal, and everyone ducked to the floor covering their ears. This gave ample time for James and Peter, who got what they needed. Professor Sprout did not look happy. "We will be studying those plants, the Mandragora Drakes, in our second year if we survive until then Mr. Black!" Sirius grinned sheepishly. Professor sprout looked as if she was about to give a detention but Sirius quickly put on his face of first year innocence and cuteness, earning just a warning. The Slytherins in the greenhouse looked angrily towards the four boys, but the Gryffindors seemed impressed by Sirius.
After that lesson they had lunch, in which both Sirius and Peter managed to eat four helpings, gaining looks of disgust from the girls as they ate quickly. "As if we care what they think," Sirius muttered coldly as he pushed past one of Lily's friends, Isabella, on their way to DADA.
It didn't take a minute for Sirius to realise that the professor, Adarif (the one Firada was arguing with), was not going to be fooled by such concepts as innocence from him. "I know that you have had potions, with my younger brat of a sister, Firada, but let me warn you, I am her opposite. I am not going to make this lesson easy or fun, you are here to learn. Copy this down." They walked out of Adarif's lesson looking distinctly ticked off; he was horrible. He took points from their house because Peter stammered, points from Sirius for calling him Ady (Sirius always pushes his luck) and worst of all he took them from Remus for absolutely no reason. "I wonder why he hates you Remus," James pondered out loud. Remus quickly changed the subject to how they were going to brew the Firewhisky, which was surprising, as he had seemed to oppose the idea before.
"Well, I've got some Fireberry Ice cream left from the feats" Sirius said to inquisitive looks from his friends, "What? I kept it in a bag so I could re-freeze it." James muttered about his friend's mealtime habits but Peter looked delighted. "Well let's light a fire in our dormitory and start brewing" Peter set up his cauldron and started to mix the ingredients, occasionally checking his book, Brewers guide to Brewin' by Icarus Nighthabit (a present from his father). "Well, it will take about a week to ferment, but Sirius managed to save enough cream to make four pints of Firecreamwhisky, my own brand of improvised Firewhisky, and we can save the excess of the other ingredients to make some new flavours of whisky later." Peter declared to his friends, who looked at him in awe. "This will be great," Sirius said grinning madly. They stayed up late as Peter stirred the mixture, talking about their plans for the whisky and the day that had just passed.
"Professor Firada is cool, Potions is gonna be a blast ain't it?" James said looking eagerly at the cauldron full of the illicit brew. "But her brother is a complete ass," Sirius said darkly looking at Remus " I'm gonna get him for taking those points from you." But Remus had fallen asleep. Peter told them that they would each get a pint in a week, but drinking more than 100 ml at a time was severely dangerous. Sirius grinned and whispered something about slipping some into a teacher's goblet, at which James laughed and Peter grinned nervously and eagerly at the same time. Soon they were all asleep, as the concoction bubbled merrily in the corner, hidden from view.