Chapter 13
Snape surprises
The glow of their first Quidditch victory lasted until Monday, when they, and the Slytherins, unfortunately, had their Potions . It was on the way to that that the three of them met Professor Bat for the first time since the her introduction to the school.
"Congratulation on a great match last Saturday," she said, nodding, gazing at them with her dark, hooded eyes.
"Um, thanks, Professor," Hermione replied.
"I am avare of just how heavy a vurkload you three are under, vhat vith homevork as vell as Quidditch. So, you may have my permission to skip the homevurk I gave you last ."
"Really?" Ron and Harry said. "Thanks, Professor Bat! Thanks a lot!"
Hermione, on the other hand, just stared, her jaw hanging open a moment.
Harry and Ron pulled Hermione along before she could say anything further. The three were forced to trot quickly to their , reaching the dungeons before Snape, thankfully, so they didn't lose any house points because they arrived late. They took their seats at the desk furthest back from Snape's. Professor Snape entered moments later, and with a glittering glare and a stony expression on his face, started the .
"Today, , we begin work on a powerful potion. A potion that can mystify the mind and amaze the guilible. A draught that will result in the most surprising of changes. I---of course---speak of the Polyjuice Potion," Snape said in his theatric manner. He folded his arms, and then gazed imperiously about the room. "Now, who amongst you all has even a glimmer of idea what this potion might consist of?"
For once, Harry and Ron's hand flew up with Hermione's, eager to answer Snape's somewhat scathingly put question. This was because they had made such a potion back in their second year---back when they had thought Draco Malfoy might know something the Chamber of Secrets.
"Mr. Weasley? Well now, this is a most surprising development," Snape sneered, though it was plain that he was most surprised. "Something you've discovered during a lengthy bout of insomnia, no doubt. Well, out with it Weasley."
The Slytherins chuckled at Ron's expense, and Harry had to grit his teeth at the smarmy expression on Malfoy's ferret-like face.
"Right. Drinking the Polyjuice Potion will allow you to look---at least for a while---like somebody else, sir," Ron recited with a small triumphant grin. Malfoy looked at him in disappointment, surprised that Ron's answer was textbook correct. Snape's black eyes glittered suspiciously, but he nodded. "Surprisingly well stated, Mr. Weasley," Snape said snidely, but then closed his eyes, appearing as if something he'd just eaten was making him ill. "Five points to Gryffindor...as much as it pains me to award them."
Harry looked to Hermione, and both thought you could of heard a pin drop for that long, sweet moment. Snape? Awarding the Gryffindors five points? It just wasn't natural...
Snape turned his back on the and retreated back to his lecturn. "Any one else have anything further to add?" he asked, almost reluctantly. His sharp dark eyes hovered over the Slytherins...almost as if he were silently pleading with them to answer.
Harry grinned, and shot his hand up into the air. Professsor Snape tried mightily to avoid looking at Harry, but since no other student---well, except for the ever enthusiastic Hermione---raised a hand, he gritted his teeth and growled. "Yes, Potter?"
"The Polyjuice Potion only lasts a maximum of one hour's time. No longer, sir," Harry explained.
Snape closed his eyes, then rubbed them wearily. "Five points to Gryffindor," Snape muttered under his breath, sounding as if he were in physical pain.
Harry struggled to remain straight-faced. "Excuse me, sir...but what was that?" he asked.
"I said, Mr. Potter...five additional points to Gryffindor," Snape seethed. He then fixed Harry in his angry gaze. "Do I detect amusement, Potter? I can take away said points as easily as I may grant them..."
Harry said nothing, of course. Snape, now satisfied that his authority was still intact, continued on with his lesson. He turned, drew out his wand, murmured some incantation, and writing began to appear on the chalkboard beside him.
"Copy down the ingredients, as well as my instructions," Snape said, flicking his wand the nearby supply locker, which promptly unlocked and opened. "If you manage to comprehend my most simplistic instructions--- which I still doubt---it will take precisely one month to concoct this potion."
The sound of quills scribbling hastily on parchment filled the room. "Now, you are to work in pairs, if you please. Your time to successfully distill this potion begins at the end of today's . Now...get busy, and be quiet!"
Harry and Ron paired up together, while Hermione teamed up with Neville Longbottom. Hermione would of much preferred working with Ron, but Neville needed all the help he could get in Potions. Work commenced, and the room was mostly quiet---with the exception of whispered questions and instructions from the assembled pairings. Finally, at the end of the lesson, Snape whisked about watching each team preparing their potions.
"Well, Longbottom...it appears as if you are finally paying attention," Snape said, as if he were pulling teeth. "Five points for Gryffindor...as is only fitting for such a miracle." Neville's cheeks burned red at Snape's backhanded compliment.
The assembled Slytherins groaned to hear that. Malfoy's eyes looked balefully at Harry and his friends.
"Harry?" Ron said, wiggling a finger in his right ear. "Next Hogsmeade weekend, remind me to see a healer, okay? I think I'm starting to hear things, mate..."
When the lesson was finally overm, Neville followed after Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "Great match last Saturday, Harry," he said by way of awkward compliment. "You all were great."
"Thanks, Neville," Harry said. Neville continued to look awkward, alternately meeting and avoiding the three of their glances his way.
"Come on, Neville," Hermione urged. "Out with it! What's on your mind?"
"Um, do you think... I mean, would it be okay if... Oh, look...do you three think you could teach me to become, well...an animagi?" Neville finally blurted out, then blushed.
Harry, Ron and Hermione looked on each other, eyebrows rising. Finally, Harry answered. "Well, Neville...it´s not easy. In fact, it's quite possibly the hardest thing I've done, mate," Harry said, watching Neville.
"Well," Neville considered. "Maybe I shouldn't then. I mean...well, I'm not nearly as good at me lessons as you are, Harry. You either, Ron."
Hermione looked over at Harry, just a bit pleading. "Harry. Remember that Wormtail, I mean Peter Pettigrew, wasn´t very good at his studies either, and still he managed it."
"True, Hermione," Harry replied, considering. The hopeful look on Neville's round eager face finally convinced him to act.
"All right. Sure we will, Neville," Harry said.
"Oh, thank you, Harry!" Nevvile said, grabbing Harry's hand and shaking it over and over again.
"Meet with us tonight, down in the common room, at eight o´clock. Got it?" Harry said.
"Yes. I understand. Oh, and thanks again," Neville said and waved good- bye as he went off to eat.
"Neville will be a tiger, definitely," Hermione stated. "He's pure of heart as well as a true friend."
"You're probably right, Hermione," agreed Harry. "But, we'll see..."
They headed down to the Great Hall, meeting up with Amelia and Mariah before taking their seats at the Gryffindor table.
"Hello, people," Amelia greeted them with a smile.
"Hey, Amelia," Harry said in reply, placing a serving of roast beef on his plate.
"So...how do you like your new job as commentator?" Ron asked around a bit of chicken.
"It´s terrific!" Amelia gushed happily, then she frowned. "Too bad Professor McGonnagal had to sit right next to me, frowning and scolding me each time I didn't use...er, just the right words."
Amelia paled a moment later, when her mother, Madam Hooch, approached, her expression trying to be neutral, but frustration simmering just below the surface. "Amelia," she began in a voice that clearly said you-are-in- trouble.
"Yes, Mother? What may I help you with?" Amelia asked sweetly, some returning to her cheeks.
"Whatever did Professor McGonnagal mean when she said that I speak to me about thing or two if you didn't calm yourself down?" Madam Hooch asked suspiciously.
"Er..." Amelia hestited, slowly getting up from her place. "Sorry, Mum, but...gotta go! Bye!" she shouted, taking to her heels, as her mother rushed by hot on her trail...
"Wonder what that's all about?" Neville asked, totally clueless.
"Haven't a clue, mate," Harry grinned, helping himself to a small helping of goulash.
Snape surprises
The glow of their first Quidditch victory lasted until Monday, when they, and the Slytherins, unfortunately, had their Potions . It was on the way to that that the three of them met Professor Bat for the first time since the her introduction to the school.
"Congratulation on a great match last Saturday," she said, nodding, gazing at them with her dark, hooded eyes.
"Um, thanks, Professor," Hermione replied.
"I am avare of just how heavy a vurkload you three are under, vhat vith homevork as vell as Quidditch. So, you may have my permission to skip the homevurk I gave you last ."
"Really?" Ron and Harry said. "Thanks, Professor Bat! Thanks a lot!"
Hermione, on the other hand, just stared, her jaw hanging open a moment.
Harry and Ron pulled Hermione along before she could say anything further. The three were forced to trot quickly to their , reaching the dungeons before Snape, thankfully, so they didn't lose any house points because they arrived late. They took their seats at the desk furthest back from Snape's. Professor Snape entered moments later, and with a glittering glare and a stony expression on his face, started the .
"Today, , we begin work on a powerful potion. A potion that can mystify the mind and amaze the guilible. A draught that will result in the most surprising of changes. I---of course---speak of the Polyjuice Potion," Snape said in his theatric manner. He folded his arms, and then gazed imperiously about the room. "Now, who amongst you all has even a glimmer of idea what this potion might consist of?"
For once, Harry and Ron's hand flew up with Hermione's, eager to answer Snape's somewhat scathingly put question. This was because they had made such a potion back in their second year---back when they had thought Draco Malfoy might know something the Chamber of Secrets.
"Mr. Weasley? Well now, this is a most surprising development," Snape sneered, though it was plain that he was most surprised. "Something you've discovered during a lengthy bout of insomnia, no doubt. Well, out with it Weasley."
The Slytherins chuckled at Ron's expense, and Harry had to grit his teeth at the smarmy expression on Malfoy's ferret-like face.
"Right. Drinking the Polyjuice Potion will allow you to look---at least for a while---like somebody else, sir," Ron recited with a small triumphant grin. Malfoy looked at him in disappointment, surprised that Ron's answer was textbook correct. Snape's black eyes glittered suspiciously, but he nodded. "Surprisingly well stated, Mr. Weasley," Snape said snidely, but then closed his eyes, appearing as if something he'd just eaten was making him ill. "Five points to Gryffindor...as much as it pains me to award them."
Harry looked to Hermione, and both thought you could of heard a pin drop for that long, sweet moment. Snape? Awarding the Gryffindors five points? It just wasn't natural...
Snape turned his back on the and retreated back to his lecturn. "Any one else have anything further to add?" he asked, almost reluctantly. His sharp dark eyes hovered over the Slytherins...almost as if he were silently pleading with them to answer.
Harry grinned, and shot his hand up into the air. Professsor Snape tried mightily to avoid looking at Harry, but since no other student---well, except for the ever enthusiastic Hermione---raised a hand, he gritted his teeth and growled. "Yes, Potter?"
"The Polyjuice Potion only lasts a maximum of one hour's time. No longer, sir," Harry explained.
Snape closed his eyes, then rubbed them wearily. "Five points to Gryffindor," Snape muttered under his breath, sounding as if he were in physical pain.
Harry struggled to remain straight-faced. "Excuse me, sir...but what was that?" he asked.
"I said, Mr. Potter...five additional points to Gryffindor," Snape seethed. He then fixed Harry in his angry gaze. "Do I detect amusement, Potter? I can take away said points as easily as I may grant them..."
Harry said nothing, of course. Snape, now satisfied that his authority was still intact, continued on with his lesson. He turned, drew out his wand, murmured some incantation, and writing began to appear on the chalkboard beside him.
"Copy down the ingredients, as well as my instructions," Snape said, flicking his wand the nearby supply locker, which promptly unlocked and opened. "If you manage to comprehend my most simplistic instructions--- which I still doubt---it will take precisely one month to concoct this potion."
The sound of quills scribbling hastily on parchment filled the room. "Now, you are to work in pairs, if you please. Your time to successfully distill this potion begins at the end of today's . Now...get busy, and be quiet!"
Harry and Ron paired up together, while Hermione teamed up with Neville Longbottom. Hermione would of much preferred working with Ron, but Neville needed all the help he could get in Potions. Work commenced, and the room was mostly quiet---with the exception of whispered questions and instructions from the assembled pairings. Finally, at the end of the lesson, Snape whisked about watching each team preparing their potions.
"Well, Longbottom...it appears as if you are finally paying attention," Snape said, as if he were pulling teeth. "Five points for Gryffindor...as is only fitting for such a miracle." Neville's cheeks burned red at Snape's backhanded compliment.
The assembled Slytherins groaned to hear that. Malfoy's eyes looked balefully at Harry and his friends.
"Harry?" Ron said, wiggling a finger in his right ear. "Next Hogsmeade weekend, remind me to see a healer, okay? I think I'm starting to hear things, mate..."
When the lesson was finally overm, Neville followed after Harry, Ron, and Hermione. "Great match last Saturday, Harry," he said by way of awkward compliment. "You all were great."
"Thanks, Neville," Harry said. Neville continued to look awkward, alternately meeting and avoiding the three of their glances his way.
"Come on, Neville," Hermione urged. "Out with it! What's on your mind?"
"Um, do you think... I mean, would it be okay if... Oh, look...do you three think you could teach me to become, well...an animagi?" Neville finally blurted out, then blushed.
Harry, Ron and Hermione looked on each other, eyebrows rising. Finally, Harry answered. "Well, Neville...it´s not easy. In fact, it's quite possibly the hardest thing I've done, mate," Harry said, watching Neville.
"Well," Neville considered. "Maybe I shouldn't then. I mean...well, I'm not nearly as good at me lessons as you are, Harry. You either, Ron."
Hermione looked over at Harry, just a bit pleading. "Harry. Remember that Wormtail, I mean Peter Pettigrew, wasn´t very good at his studies either, and still he managed it."
"True, Hermione," Harry replied, considering. The hopeful look on Neville's round eager face finally convinced him to act.
"All right. Sure we will, Neville," Harry said.
"Oh, thank you, Harry!" Nevvile said, grabbing Harry's hand and shaking it over and over again.
"Meet with us tonight, down in the common room, at eight o´clock. Got it?" Harry said.
"Yes. I understand. Oh, and thanks again," Neville said and waved good- bye as he went off to eat.
"Neville will be a tiger, definitely," Hermione stated. "He's pure of heart as well as a true friend."
"You're probably right, Hermione," agreed Harry. "But, we'll see..."
They headed down to the Great Hall, meeting up with Amelia and Mariah before taking their seats at the Gryffindor table.
"Hello, people," Amelia greeted them with a smile.
"Hey, Amelia," Harry said in reply, placing a serving of roast beef on his plate.
"So...how do you like your new job as commentator?" Ron asked around a bit of chicken.
"It´s terrific!" Amelia gushed happily, then she frowned. "Too bad Professor McGonnagal had to sit right next to me, frowning and scolding me each time I didn't use...er, just the right words."
Amelia paled a moment later, when her mother, Madam Hooch, approached, her expression trying to be neutral, but frustration simmering just below the surface. "Amelia," she began in a voice that clearly said you-are-in- trouble.
"Yes, Mother? What may I help you with?" Amelia asked sweetly, some returning to her cheeks.
"Whatever did Professor McGonnagal mean when she said that I speak to me about thing or two if you didn't calm yourself down?" Madam Hooch asked suspiciously.
"Er..." Amelia hestited, slowly getting up from her place. "Sorry, Mum, but...gotta go! Bye!" she shouted, taking to her heels, as her mother rushed by hot on her trail...
"Wonder what that's all about?" Neville asked, totally clueless.
"Haven't a clue, mate," Harry grinned, helping himself to a small helping of goulash.