Chapter 8
A New Friend
When Harry awoke he was in familiar surroundings, he recognised the feel of the plain flannel pyjamas, the hard mattress, the stiff sheets, and the cracks in the ceiling. Harry had spent more time at the Hospital wing at Hogwarts, than at his best friends house the Burrow. Out of the window Harry could see the sun was just rising above the horizon and he pulled himself to a sitting position on the bed to look round the white tiled room and the empty beds, that looked like a good sign. His left side ached and he tried to assemble his memories of what had happened at the platform. He had just used his arms to lift himself, so Madam Pomfrey must have already repaired any damage and he felt a funny numbness, so he was probably still under the influence of a pain potion. The school matron appeared at the door of the apothecary and surveyed her domain then seeing Harry; she walked over and asked him how he was feeling.
"I'm ok, my left side aches a bit, but you've down a great job." He said smiling.
"Thank you Mr Potter." Smiled the Matron unusually.
"Do you know where my glasses are please?"
"Unfortunately I do not believe there was chance to recover them from the station following the attack..." Then she mumbled something like, "Death Eaters attacking children on the way to school, what is the world coming to..." And final finished, "I don't see a reason to keep you, you seem to be doing very well. The Headmaster asked if you would go and see him when you woke, the password is 'cough drop', your clothes are in the cupboard next to the bed. I believe a rather persistent house elf has washed and pressed them for you."
"Thanks again, Madam Pomfrey."
"I believe with the uniformity of our encounters, I may permit you to call me Poppy." Said the Matron.
"Thank you Poppy. I wouldn't have made it past my first year without you." The rather under appreciated women glowed with pride and left to allow Harry to change.
Harry got dressed and looked at his watch it was 05:20, the corridors where empty and Harry's trip to the stone Gargoyle uneventful, apart from walking into several bookcases and a suit of armour not seeing them with his blurred vision. The walk was a short one, having made it on numerous occasions he even knew several short cuts, and it was only a matter of minutes until Harry was stood outside the Headmasters Office. He knocked and was asked almost immediately to come in, the Headmaster was sat behind his desk and motioned for Harry to take a seat, the Headmasters phoenix Fawks whistled a greeting and Harry said hello to the immortal bird.
"Good morning Harry, glad to see you awake, Poppy insisted on not allowing you to wake until your bones had regrown. She considered the quantity to great to attempt conscious." A twinkle in his eye.
"Is everyone okay professor?"
"Your plan worked Harry, the train and its occupants where complete unharmed, and the Aurors have informed me that the only injuries sustained where superficial. They succeeded in the capture of ten of the twelve assailants, from what I gather from reports you had a hand in both of these events. You may also be interested in learning, the Death eater who attempted the attack on the train is expected to make a full recovery after several months in St Mungos. There has been much speculation about the spell you used to disable him..."
"It was just a disarming charm, Sir, but I think I may have over done it a bit."
"Really..." Said the Headmaster with a small grin and Harry could see the twinkle in his bright blue eyes. "It proved quite advantageous that you did, apparently he was thrown forty feet directly into the remaining Death Eaters who had disabled all but two of the Aurors, two managed to get away but the remaining two where also knocked unconscious. Something Alastor claims probably saved the lives of everyone present."
"Did you manage to convince the Ministry, Sir?"
"Unfortunately I was not expedient enough, and while the attack on Azkaban was not entirely successful Tom managed to free several of his allies that where captured earlier in the year. A small number of Dementors also appear to have joined him, before a force was able to retake the Island. The names of the escapees are not common knowledge, but I believe several have children at the school, this was unfortunate however I still believe our position is considerably stronger than it might have been."
The pair discussed events and ramifications for another hour, Harry pleased the Headmaster was not holding back information and final presented Harry with a sheet of parchment. The old wizard stated, "While no official ceremony is possible, due to you being an under aged student and not technically on school grounds, many Aurors agreed, that this was entirely appropriate."
Harry read the parchment and found it was a commendation for serviced provided to the wizarding community, turning to the Headmaster he said. "Could you keep this for me please, I think its better that this is not common knowledge, it is difficult to keep secrets in Hogwarts, without a piece of paper telling every one."
"A wise move Harry, you may also be pleased to hear that Miss Tonks also received one of these, and was allowed her choice of assignments. Following several discussions with Minister Fudge and a good few letters from worried parents, the school has been issued a small task force of four Aurors. Joining the force was her choice, and I'm sure you as well as I, are very pleased to have her."
Harry smiled broadly, the Headmaster then finished. "I believe it is very close to breakfast and I'm sure you will be eager to begin your lessons, you have missed several days, but I am confident you will catch up. I also hope you might be able to restore a little order to your house, several detentions have already been given to prefects for refusing to obey members of staff. I do believe Gryffindor, are in the unfortunate position of having negative house points. Oh and Harry I would like to thank you personally for your actions, for your service to the students of the school. I am also in your debt, and as a small token I thought you may appreciate these." Handing Harry a small case, which Harry opened to find a new pair of glasses, putting them on he found his vision perfect, Harry smiled and thanked the Headmaster and left his office and headed for the main hall, as he was now starving.
Harry wandered the corridors through the school, feeling a sense of belonging as he walked past familiar portraits and through secret passages learnt over the previous five years. He entered the main hall full of his peers most of the heads turned, as he walked towards the Gryffindor Table but he was only half way when a rumble started to erupt from three of the four tables. Soon the sound was deafening as students banged their fists on the tables and cheered, very embarrassed he started to continue towards the table. Looks like someone guessed something, he was only another couple of paces when he found he had a crying redhead's arms round his neck.
He felt Ginny's body pressed against his, her warm breath on his neck, the smell of her apple shampoo from her hair and he surprising himself he started purring. The girl backed away slightly and looked up at him questioningly. "What was that Harry?" She asked wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her robe.
Harry blushed through shock and embarrassment, he had accidentally transformed, but thinking quickly he smiled and said. "Sorry Gin', It must be my stomach rumbling." The pretty girl grinned kindly and grabbed his hand and pulled him to the table. He sat on Ron's left facing Hermione and Neville. Ginny sat on his right and grabbed an empty plate and filled it eggs, bacon, sausages, tomato and fried bread. The noise of the students had died down, to leave whispers and a few jeers from the Slytherin table, following the little scene with Ginny. Harry didn't care as he ate surrounded by his friends, who told him their accounts of what had happened two days ago. He felt like he was home.
When he had finished eating, Harry asked what had happened at school. Ron told Harry about his lessons so far, he had had Care of the Magic Creatures, and Hagrid had a Griffin and Muggle Lion. The lion apparently made the magical animal look friendly, and it was Ron's job to feed him tonight. Harry, trying really hard not to smile asked if he could come and help and his friend, who look relieved with the offer and agreed. Ron then told him about his Herbology, lesson which was just as popular as the previous years. As Ron was talking, Hermione fished several pieces of parchment from her bag and handed them to Harry. Harry studied the timetable, and assignments she had handed him, telling him he had missed Charms and Transfiguration, but she would help him catch up later today. They both had free periods in the afternoon. Harry checked todays schedule, he had Potions this morning and he told his friends, he had to go get his robes, and his Cauldron, but he would see them at lunch. Harry also added he wanted to talk to them about the behaviour of the Gryffindors, and the loss of house points. At this all three nodded, but put their heads down, avoiding making eye contact with him. Harry had the idea from their reactions, that they where entirely responsible.
Harry hurried back to Gryffindor Tower and stopped when he reach the portrait of the fat lady. Being unconscious for two days, unfortunately meant he hadn't heard the password yet and he was forced to wait until someone came back or left. He chatted to the fat lady about her holiday and didn't have to wait long till a small group of second years, who Harry didn't recognise, walked out. He still had ten minutes before his lesson, but it took at least half that to get potions dungeon, so Harry quickly collect all his things including the few extra potion books he now had and marched quickly to the dungeon.
He arrived with a couple of minutes to spare, thankful the second floor staircase had switched in his favour. Harry stood outside the door to the classroom slightly away from the rest of his potions students, as it was a small group mostly Slytherins with the exception of Harry and the Hufflepuff perfect Hannah Abbott, who seeing Harry waved a friendly 'Hello' to him and came over, "Oh thank goodness I thought I was stuck here with a load of Slytherins."
Harry smiled. "It's never been the most popular lesson with the others Houses."
"Any special reason you're taking it?" Asked the girl.
"Oh yeah, got to have it if your going to be an Auror."
The girl smiled at him. "Should have guessed you'd pick the most dangerous job imaginable."
"Yeah," came a drawling voice, "the heroic Harry Potter, not happy unless he is running around saving people! whether they need it or not!"
The conversation ended abruptly before Harry had time to retort, as the door to the dungeon swung open and the sneering potions master ordered them into the room. Professor Snape instructed them to occupy a desk each as they would be working on their own this year. Harry carried his cauldron and bag into the room and took a desk in the middle of the room, left of the desk which Hannah had taken. The potion master strode to the front of the class and spun to face them, robes bellowing behind him. "You have all obtain a reasonable grade in the entirely inadequately OWLs, and I have with some reluctance agree to allow you to continue and take your Potions NEWT." Staring directly at Harry as he said this.
"Today we be commencing the course, with a look at some work on poisons and antidotes and I hope you have used your summer to familiarise yourself with at least a small portion of the course. For example you should all be able to tell be what effect is produced by the use of bezoar in a potions antidote, Mr Potter?"
Harry had known he would be picked on and had worked hard during his summer on his potions studies with Tonks but this question he knew was beyond NEWT level and he had only happened across it when cross referencing the effects of ingredients in an attempt to turn an antidote to a vaccine. "Well ... the Bezoar doesn't produce any effect specifically. So it is a trick question sir, the stone actually acts as a catalyst in potions enabling over ingredients to react together when they normally wouldn't."
Professor Snape was stunned but only for a second. "As Mr Potter correctly guessed, Bezoar will be a standard ingredient in all the antidotes we will be attempting but I have attained one stone for each other you."
Draco Malfoy then asked. "Why only one stone sir, aren't we making a number of antidotes?" Harry smiled the Slytherin had shown considerable ignorance with this question.
"Perhaps Mr Potter, can enlighten you." Professor Snape said with a sneer and Draco smiled, thinking this was completely beyond Harry's knowledge.
Harry saw his chance to belittle his rival, he thought on his feet, or his stool, as the case was. Then simply stated the logical. "Well as not a great amount of catalyst is needed; because are cauldrons are not that large, and the bezoar is a stone and so doesn't dissolve you can reuse the stone numerous times, provided it is cleaned each time of course."
The smile was gone from Draco's face when Snape's face soured and he awarded "Two points to Gryffindor." But quickly the teacher recovered and added. "Now the famous Harry Potter..." He spat his name, "is done lecturing the class I think we will begin." He turned and wrote a list of ingredients on the board with a wave of his wand, but Harry noticed in the instructions Snape had switched the order for two ingredients in the 'Clear Scorpion Sting Venom' one of the less complex poisons. Harry also knew that doing so, would make the poison a milky pink colour, and would substantially lessen the effectiveness. He wondered if the vindictive Potions Master, had done this on purpose. His suspicious where confirmed as they where writing all the information down, Harry saw the teacher move between the Slytherins and whispered to each of them avoiding Harry and Hannah. Harry quickly scribbled a note telling Hannah this and when the Professor walked to the front of the class slipped her the note while his back was turned.
Harry had developed a new love for the art of potion making, or cooking as Tonks called it, when you didn't get to experiment trying to develop new potions, venoms, antidotes or vaccines. He carefully followed his own amended instructions preparing the ingredients as Tonks had advised him paying careful attention to the critical ingredients. Harry knew these because he had made this poison before, even tested it on a normal mouse and then used the antidote Tonks had been experimenting with trying to increase its potency, successfully as it happened. After an hour his poison was complete he removed the cauldron from the magical flame that appeared on the desk and deactivated it with the simple charm, straining the potion to remove the stone and larger shreds of ingredients that where present he Stoppered the poison in a vile and cast an unbreakable charm on it and scrubbed his cauldron. Sitting back on his stool and checked his watch he still had twenty minutes of the lesson remaining, looking round he saw he was the first to finish, all the other students still stirring bubbling cauldrons. Harry picked his quill and took a fresh piece of parchment and began testing himself, writing the purpose of each of the ingredients, then the ingredients of the antidote Tonks had made, then was just scribbling the sequence of events that would occur to the unfortunate victim of the poison. When the Professor told the class to each label their vile and bring them to the front so they could be marked, Harry labelled his carefully and started to proceed to the front, but was ordered to bring the parchment which was so important he could waste time in his potions lesson, so Harry did so.
When Harry was stood in front of Snape he handed him the vile, who very intentionally dropped the vile on the floor without looking down and when the glass impacted the hard stone floor asked. "What is the first rule of poison making Mr Potter?"
"To ensure that when you produce a poison, it is secured in a way, that will help prevent any unfortunate accidents." Replied the boy quoting Tonks, still looking at the Professor having never looked down.
The potion master looked down and saw the vile undamaged on the floor and picked it up, Harry could tell if the vile had broken he would have received no marks as he would have no potion, the teacher simply continued "And the parchment Mr Potter."
Harry handed it over and Snape read it out loud, and then stated. "The ingredients for the antidote are incorrect Mr Potter."
"Well sir, a friend of mine found that changing chopped daisy stems for shredded dandelion leaves, increase the potency considerably. She was a student of yours I believe sir, and she said it was you had told her, that this was a simple substitution, that was often over looked."
The potion master was visibly stunned, but just for an instant. "Very well, class dismissed and your homework will be to research substitutions for the poison you just created that could increase its potency, I expect a roll of parchment by next lesson."
Harry quickly gathered his things and left the dungeon, he had made it through the first potions lesson, but he knew it would only get harder now. Harry had gained Gryffindor two points, it was a tiny amount, but in the whole five years so far, the first points Snape had ever awarded to a member of Gryffindor of Harry's year. As he walked towards the large staircase to go up to the Gryffindor Tower, he heard someone jogging behind him and he paused and turned around, it was Hannah and slightly out of breath she panted. "Thanks Harry, how did you know all that and how did you know he'd switched the order ?"
"I just did a lot of reading this Summer, I was pretty lucky, I happened to do some cross referencing in books that are beyond NEWT level and the switching thing, well that's just cause I guess I'm getting used to Slytherin dirty tricks, but it will get worse now, they don't like being beaten."
"Well I owe you big time, we'll have to watch out for each other in there, okay?" Asked the girl.
"Hey, I was thinking, I figure there's going to be loads of work for this course and that means loads of research. It's always easier with two people, you can cover twice the material... Maybe we can meet in the library sometime, we might be able to keep ourselves on top of them?"
She smiled broadly, "Brilliant, but I don't think I'll be much help you seem to know everything."
"I just got lucky back there; I hope you realise, to get through this we might have to actually 'know everything!' I'm a little unsure about my timetable, I only got it earlier on today, so I'll catch up to you some time and we can arrange a time to study."
"That would be great."
"Right. I better go dump this stuff in the dorms, see you later," and Harry turned and left up the stairs towards the tower, he still didn't have the password but was lucky Neville appear at the same time, and gave Harry the password 'Phoenix tears'. Harry immediately went up the dorm to change his robe, he left his cauldron and collected his charms and transfiguration books, exchanging them in his bag with his potions things and headed to the great hall.
A New Friend
When Harry awoke he was in familiar surroundings, he recognised the feel of the plain flannel pyjamas, the hard mattress, the stiff sheets, and the cracks in the ceiling. Harry had spent more time at the Hospital wing at Hogwarts, than at his best friends house the Burrow. Out of the window Harry could see the sun was just rising above the horizon and he pulled himself to a sitting position on the bed to look round the white tiled room and the empty beds, that looked like a good sign. His left side ached and he tried to assemble his memories of what had happened at the platform. He had just used his arms to lift himself, so Madam Pomfrey must have already repaired any damage and he felt a funny numbness, so he was probably still under the influence of a pain potion. The school matron appeared at the door of the apothecary and surveyed her domain then seeing Harry; she walked over and asked him how he was feeling.
"I'm ok, my left side aches a bit, but you've down a great job." He said smiling.
"Thank you Mr Potter." Smiled the Matron unusually.
"Do you know where my glasses are please?"
"Unfortunately I do not believe there was chance to recover them from the station following the attack..." Then she mumbled something like, "Death Eaters attacking children on the way to school, what is the world coming to..." And final finished, "I don't see a reason to keep you, you seem to be doing very well. The Headmaster asked if you would go and see him when you woke, the password is 'cough drop', your clothes are in the cupboard next to the bed. I believe a rather persistent house elf has washed and pressed them for you."
"Thanks again, Madam Pomfrey."
"I believe with the uniformity of our encounters, I may permit you to call me Poppy." Said the Matron.
"Thank you Poppy. I wouldn't have made it past my first year without you." The rather under appreciated women glowed with pride and left to allow Harry to change.
Harry got dressed and looked at his watch it was 05:20, the corridors where empty and Harry's trip to the stone Gargoyle uneventful, apart from walking into several bookcases and a suit of armour not seeing them with his blurred vision. The walk was a short one, having made it on numerous occasions he even knew several short cuts, and it was only a matter of minutes until Harry was stood outside the Headmasters Office. He knocked and was asked almost immediately to come in, the Headmaster was sat behind his desk and motioned for Harry to take a seat, the Headmasters phoenix Fawks whistled a greeting and Harry said hello to the immortal bird.
"Good morning Harry, glad to see you awake, Poppy insisted on not allowing you to wake until your bones had regrown. She considered the quantity to great to attempt conscious." A twinkle in his eye.
"Is everyone okay professor?"
"Your plan worked Harry, the train and its occupants where complete unharmed, and the Aurors have informed me that the only injuries sustained where superficial. They succeeded in the capture of ten of the twelve assailants, from what I gather from reports you had a hand in both of these events. You may also be interested in learning, the Death eater who attempted the attack on the train is expected to make a full recovery after several months in St Mungos. There has been much speculation about the spell you used to disable him..."
"It was just a disarming charm, Sir, but I think I may have over done it a bit."
"Really..." Said the Headmaster with a small grin and Harry could see the twinkle in his bright blue eyes. "It proved quite advantageous that you did, apparently he was thrown forty feet directly into the remaining Death Eaters who had disabled all but two of the Aurors, two managed to get away but the remaining two where also knocked unconscious. Something Alastor claims probably saved the lives of everyone present."
"Did you manage to convince the Ministry, Sir?"
"Unfortunately I was not expedient enough, and while the attack on Azkaban was not entirely successful Tom managed to free several of his allies that where captured earlier in the year. A small number of Dementors also appear to have joined him, before a force was able to retake the Island. The names of the escapees are not common knowledge, but I believe several have children at the school, this was unfortunate however I still believe our position is considerably stronger than it might have been."
The pair discussed events and ramifications for another hour, Harry pleased the Headmaster was not holding back information and final presented Harry with a sheet of parchment. The old wizard stated, "While no official ceremony is possible, due to you being an under aged student and not technically on school grounds, many Aurors agreed, that this was entirely appropriate."
Harry read the parchment and found it was a commendation for serviced provided to the wizarding community, turning to the Headmaster he said. "Could you keep this for me please, I think its better that this is not common knowledge, it is difficult to keep secrets in Hogwarts, without a piece of paper telling every one."
"A wise move Harry, you may also be pleased to hear that Miss Tonks also received one of these, and was allowed her choice of assignments. Following several discussions with Minister Fudge and a good few letters from worried parents, the school has been issued a small task force of four Aurors. Joining the force was her choice, and I'm sure you as well as I, are very pleased to have her."
Harry smiled broadly, the Headmaster then finished. "I believe it is very close to breakfast and I'm sure you will be eager to begin your lessons, you have missed several days, but I am confident you will catch up. I also hope you might be able to restore a little order to your house, several detentions have already been given to prefects for refusing to obey members of staff. I do believe Gryffindor, are in the unfortunate position of having negative house points. Oh and Harry I would like to thank you personally for your actions, for your service to the students of the school. I am also in your debt, and as a small token I thought you may appreciate these." Handing Harry a small case, which Harry opened to find a new pair of glasses, putting them on he found his vision perfect, Harry smiled and thanked the Headmaster and left his office and headed for the main hall, as he was now starving.
Harry wandered the corridors through the school, feeling a sense of belonging as he walked past familiar portraits and through secret passages learnt over the previous five years. He entered the main hall full of his peers most of the heads turned, as he walked towards the Gryffindor Table but he was only half way when a rumble started to erupt from three of the four tables. Soon the sound was deafening as students banged their fists on the tables and cheered, very embarrassed he started to continue towards the table. Looks like someone guessed something, he was only another couple of paces when he found he had a crying redhead's arms round his neck.
He felt Ginny's body pressed against his, her warm breath on his neck, the smell of her apple shampoo from her hair and he surprising himself he started purring. The girl backed away slightly and looked up at him questioningly. "What was that Harry?" She asked wiping her eyes with the sleeve of her robe.
Harry blushed through shock and embarrassment, he had accidentally transformed, but thinking quickly he smiled and said. "Sorry Gin', It must be my stomach rumbling." The pretty girl grinned kindly and grabbed his hand and pulled him to the table. He sat on Ron's left facing Hermione and Neville. Ginny sat on his right and grabbed an empty plate and filled it eggs, bacon, sausages, tomato and fried bread. The noise of the students had died down, to leave whispers and a few jeers from the Slytherin table, following the little scene with Ginny. Harry didn't care as he ate surrounded by his friends, who told him their accounts of what had happened two days ago. He felt like he was home.
When he had finished eating, Harry asked what had happened at school. Ron told Harry about his lessons so far, he had had Care of the Magic Creatures, and Hagrid had a Griffin and Muggle Lion. The lion apparently made the magical animal look friendly, and it was Ron's job to feed him tonight. Harry, trying really hard not to smile asked if he could come and help and his friend, who look relieved with the offer and agreed. Ron then told him about his Herbology, lesson which was just as popular as the previous years. As Ron was talking, Hermione fished several pieces of parchment from her bag and handed them to Harry. Harry studied the timetable, and assignments she had handed him, telling him he had missed Charms and Transfiguration, but she would help him catch up later today. They both had free periods in the afternoon. Harry checked todays schedule, he had Potions this morning and he told his friends, he had to go get his robes, and his Cauldron, but he would see them at lunch. Harry also added he wanted to talk to them about the behaviour of the Gryffindors, and the loss of house points. At this all three nodded, but put their heads down, avoiding making eye contact with him. Harry had the idea from their reactions, that they where entirely responsible.
Harry hurried back to Gryffindor Tower and stopped when he reach the portrait of the fat lady. Being unconscious for two days, unfortunately meant he hadn't heard the password yet and he was forced to wait until someone came back or left. He chatted to the fat lady about her holiday and didn't have to wait long till a small group of second years, who Harry didn't recognise, walked out. He still had ten minutes before his lesson, but it took at least half that to get potions dungeon, so Harry quickly collect all his things including the few extra potion books he now had and marched quickly to the dungeon.
He arrived with a couple of minutes to spare, thankful the second floor staircase had switched in his favour. Harry stood outside the door to the classroom slightly away from the rest of his potions students, as it was a small group mostly Slytherins with the exception of Harry and the Hufflepuff perfect Hannah Abbott, who seeing Harry waved a friendly 'Hello' to him and came over, "Oh thank goodness I thought I was stuck here with a load of Slytherins."
Harry smiled. "It's never been the most popular lesson with the others Houses."
"Any special reason you're taking it?" Asked the girl.
"Oh yeah, got to have it if your going to be an Auror."
The girl smiled at him. "Should have guessed you'd pick the most dangerous job imaginable."
"Yeah," came a drawling voice, "the heroic Harry Potter, not happy unless he is running around saving people! whether they need it or not!"
The conversation ended abruptly before Harry had time to retort, as the door to the dungeon swung open and the sneering potions master ordered them into the room. Professor Snape instructed them to occupy a desk each as they would be working on their own this year. Harry carried his cauldron and bag into the room and took a desk in the middle of the room, left of the desk which Hannah had taken. The potion master strode to the front of the class and spun to face them, robes bellowing behind him. "You have all obtain a reasonable grade in the entirely inadequately OWLs, and I have with some reluctance agree to allow you to continue and take your Potions NEWT." Staring directly at Harry as he said this.
"Today we be commencing the course, with a look at some work on poisons and antidotes and I hope you have used your summer to familiarise yourself with at least a small portion of the course. For example you should all be able to tell be what effect is produced by the use of bezoar in a potions antidote, Mr Potter?"
Harry had known he would be picked on and had worked hard during his summer on his potions studies with Tonks but this question he knew was beyond NEWT level and he had only happened across it when cross referencing the effects of ingredients in an attempt to turn an antidote to a vaccine. "Well ... the Bezoar doesn't produce any effect specifically. So it is a trick question sir, the stone actually acts as a catalyst in potions enabling over ingredients to react together when they normally wouldn't."
Professor Snape was stunned but only for a second. "As Mr Potter correctly guessed, Bezoar will be a standard ingredient in all the antidotes we will be attempting but I have attained one stone for each other you."
Draco Malfoy then asked. "Why only one stone sir, aren't we making a number of antidotes?" Harry smiled the Slytherin had shown considerable ignorance with this question.
"Perhaps Mr Potter, can enlighten you." Professor Snape said with a sneer and Draco smiled, thinking this was completely beyond Harry's knowledge.
Harry saw his chance to belittle his rival, he thought on his feet, or his stool, as the case was. Then simply stated the logical. "Well as not a great amount of catalyst is needed; because are cauldrons are not that large, and the bezoar is a stone and so doesn't dissolve you can reuse the stone numerous times, provided it is cleaned each time of course."
The smile was gone from Draco's face when Snape's face soured and he awarded "Two points to Gryffindor." But quickly the teacher recovered and added. "Now the famous Harry Potter..." He spat his name, "is done lecturing the class I think we will begin." He turned and wrote a list of ingredients on the board with a wave of his wand, but Harry noticed in the instructions Snape had switched the order for two ingredients in the 'Clear Scorpion Sting Venom' one of the less complex poisons. Harry also knew that doing so, would make the poison a milky pink colour, and would substantially lessen the effectiveness. He wondered if the vindictive Potions Master, had done this on purpose. His suspicious where confirmed as they where writing all the information down, Harry saw the teacher move between the Slytherins and whispered to each of them avoiding Harry and Hannah. Harry quickly scribbled a note telling Hannah this and when the Professor walked to the front of the class slipped her the note while his back was turned.
Harry had developed a new love for the art of potion making, or cooking as Tonks called it, when you didn't get to experiment trying to develop new potions, venoms, antidotes or vaccines. He carefully followed his own amended instructions preparing the ingredients as Tonks had advised him paying careful attention to the critical ingredients. Harry knew these because he had made this poison before, even tested it on a normal mouse and then used the antidote Tonks had been experimenting with trying to increase its potency, successfully as it happened. After an hour his poison was complete he removed the cauldron from the magical flame that appeared on the desk and deactivated it with the simple charm, straining the potion to remove the stone and larger shreds of ingredients that where present he Stoppered the poison in a vile and cast an unbreakable charm on it and scrubbed his cauldron. Sitting back on his stool and checked his watch he still had twenty minutes of the lesson remaining, looking round he saw he was the first to finish, all the other students still stirring bubbling cauldrons. Harry picked his quill and took a fresh piece of parchment and began testing himself, writing the purpose of each of the ingredients, then the ingredients of the antidote Tonks had made, then was just scribbling the sequence of events that would occur to the unfortunate victim of the poison. When the Professor told the class to each label their vile and bring them to the front so they could be marked, Harry labelled his carefully and started to proceed to the front, but was ordered to bring the parchment which was so important he could waste time in his potions lesson, so Harry did so.
When Harry was stood in front of Snape he handed him the vile, who very intentionally dropped the vile on the floor without looking down and when the glass impacted the hard stone floor asked. "What is the first rule of poison making Mr Potter?"
"To ensure that when you produce a poison, it is secured in a way, that will help prevent any unfortunate accidents." Replied the boy quoting Tonks, still looking at the Professor having never looked down.
The potion master looked down and saw the vile undamaged on the floor and picked it up, Harry could tell if the vile had broken he would have received no marks as he would have no potion, the teacher simply continued "And the parchment Mr Potter."
Harry handed it over and Snape read it out loud, and then stated. "The ingredients for the antidote are incorrect Mr Potter."
"Well sir, a friend of mine found that changing chopped daisy stems for shredded dandelion leaves, increase the potency considerably. She was a student of yours I believe sir, and she said it was you had told her, that this was a simple substitution, that was often over looked."
The potion master was visibly stunned, but just for an instant. "Very well, class dismissed and your homework will be to research substitutions for the poison you just created that could increase its potency, I expect a roll of parchment by next lesson."
Harry quickly gathered his things and left the dungeon, he had made it through the first potions lesson, but he knew it would only get harder now. Harry had gained Gryffindor two points, it was a tiny amount, but in the whole five years so far, the first points Snape had ever awarded to a member of Gryffindor of Harry's year. As he walked towards the large staircase to go up to the Gryffindor Tower, he heard someone jogging behind him and he paused and turned around, it was Hannah and slightly out of breath she panted. "Thanks Harry, how did you know all that and how did you know he'd switched the order ?"
"I just did a lot of reading this Summer, I was pretty lucky, I happened to do some cross referencing in books that are beyond NEWT level and the switching thing, well that's just cause I guess I'm getting used to Slytherin dirty tricks, but it will get worse now, they don't like being beaten."
"Well I owe you big time, we'll have to watch out for each other in there, okay?" Asked the girl.
"Hey, I was thinking, I figure there's going to be loads of work for this course and that means loads of research. It's always easier with two people, you can cover twice the material... Maybe we can meet in the library sometime, we might be able to keep ourselves on top of them?"
She smiled broadly, "Brilliant, but I don't think I'll be much help you seem to know everything."
"I just got lucky back there; I hope you realise, to get through this we might have to actually 'know everything!' I'm a little unsure about my timetable, I only got it earlier on today, so I'll catch up to you some time and we can arrange a time to study."
"That would be great."
"Right. I better go dump this stuff in the dorms, see you later," and Harry turned and left up the stairs towards the tower, he still didn't have the password but was lucky Neville appear at the same time, and gave Harry the password 'Phoenix tears'. Harry immediately went up the dorm to change his robe, he left his cauldron and collected his charms and transfiguration books, exchanging them in his bag with his potions things and headed to the great hall.