Chapter 03:
"Severus, I'm really sorry I have to say this of a relative of yours, but your brother is a nightmare!" Professor McGonagall said the moment the Head of House meeting had started.
Severus looked only mildly interested.
"What did he do, Minerva?" Professor Dumbledore asked.
"As you know, Albus, he was observing my class today and offered to walk around in class helping students who are, shall we say, less understanding of the subject matter. Well, next thing I know, he had completely charmed everything in the classroom to fly, including the students, and so far he hasn't been able to put a stop to it yet. I already asked Filius, but he said he couldn't do anything."
Professor Flitwick nodded at this. "Apparently he used a spell I don't know, because the normal reversal spells don't seem to work."
Severus smiled grimly. "I told you he'd be no good for this school, but you all chose to ignore my advice. Now you'll have to live with the consequences."
"Albus, you have to do something," Professor Sprout chimed in. "All the staff are complaining and he has only been here one week!"
"That is exactly why I won't do anything," Professor Dumbledore answered. "Teacher's first evaluations are at Christmas. But even if it were otherwise, I would not do anything. I feel we should give Sylvester a proper chance. We all know how difficult that first week is, and I'm sure he'll get over it once he gets used to teaching. We've got to give him time."
No one said anything to that, but it was clear that none of the other Heads of House, except for Professor Flitwick perhaps, agreed with their Headmaster.
"Today I will teach you how to cast the Glamour Charm." Sylvester said as he paced the classroom. "The Glamour Charm is a charm that will alter your physical appearance. It does not make you look like someone else, like the Polyjuice Potion my brother no doubt told you about. It simply changes the way you look. The incantation for the spell is 'Glamourus Totalis' for a full glamour or 'Glamourus Partiale' for a partial glamour."
At this, Neville raised his hand apprehensively. "Sir... shouldn't that be 'Glamourus Partialis?' " he said softly.
Professor Snape ignored Neville's comment and continued lecturing. "The wand movement consists of two circular movements in the direction of the person who wants to look different. The first circle should be drawn as you say the second syllable of – yes, Miss Granger?" for Hermione had raised her hand and coughed pointedly.
"Professor, I think Neville is right," she said. "You just said that the incantation is 'Glamourus Partiale', but like Neville said, it ought to be 'Glamourus Partialis'."
Sylvester sneered at her. "Miss Granger, I do not want to be interrupted by you ever again, especially when all you want to do is show off in front of your classmates. I do not want to hear another word from you anymore, apart from when you are going to practise this spell. Last time I checked, I was the Charms teacher here and while I am well aware of your reputation as this schools' most brainy know-it-all ever, I am quite sure that the incantation is 'Glamourus Partialis', like I said in the first place.
Hermione looked down at her parchment, shaking in anger, too furious even to cry. The looks the Gryffindor part of the students was giving Professor Snape were murderous, but the Slytherins were grinning from ear to ear.
"Everyone get your wands out. Observe how I do it and then try it for yourself in the mirrors I provided for you."
Sylvester whipped out his own wand. "Now, as I was saying before Miss Granger interrupted me so rudely, you draw the first circle on the second syllable of the first word. The second circle should be drawn on the stressed syllable of the second word. Remember to think of how you want the other person to look after your spell, or it could go horribly wrong."
He looked around. "Ah, Miss Parkinson, are you ready to become a purple-haired beauty queen for a while?"
Pansy nodded eagerly. "Yes, Professor."
Sylvester made a show of thinking. In the end, he opened his eyes. "Glamourus Partiale!" he said, drawing the circles with his wand. Immediately, Pansy's face started to change, but unfortunately for her, the change was not for the better. Her hair grew to the ground and became a pale green colour. Her skin turned purple with yellow spots and her nose grew until it reached past her table.
"This is the effect of bad spellcasting," Sylvester said as everyone started laughing. He said it as if he had meant for it to happen, but his cheeks coloured slightly. "Not to worry, Miss Parkinson, we will get you back to normal soon enough."
The Gryffindors laughed so hard that Sylvester's words could barely be heard. Hermione didn't laugh as much as the others, but she couldn't resist giving Neville a smug look.
"Miss Granger," Sylvester said threateningly. "Wipe that grin off your face and come over here this instant."
When Hermione was standing in the centre of the room, Sylvester walked to the seat she had occupied and sat down.
"Since you were so sure of yourself earlier, I will give you the chance to prove yourself. Cast a total glamour on yourself and dazzle us with your intelligence."
Hermione turned to the mirror that was standing next to her and looked at herself. She slowly raised her wand and took a deep, calming breath. She knew Sylvester wasn't giving her a chance to prove she was right. He was only trying to make her look like a fool. This was war, and she knew she didn't stand much of a chance of coming out on top. She could cast a perfect Glamour Charm, but Sylvester wasn't going to acknowledge it.
"Tut tut, taking a nap, are we?" Sylvester interrupted her thoughts. "Or are you scared perhaps?"
Hermione didn't answer him, but simply said "Glamourus Totalis" while making the wand movements.
The next moment, she started growing. Her hair lost its frizziness and gained curls. Her eyes became a deep blue and her hands turned into the slender hands of a ballet dancer.
The Gryffindors cheered and Hermione smiled happily. She didn't even care when Sylvester took points from Gryffindor for making such a noise. She was just very happy that she hadn't ended up like Pansy, who had been turned normal again and was now glaring at both Sylvester and her.
"Mr. Potter, do pay attention today. We are going to work on something that is bound to come up on your NEWTs, and you are not going to be my first student to fail."
Harry glared at the Potions Master, but said nothing. Six years of experience had taught him that Snape liked nothing better than to give him detention, and Harry didn't feel like rising to the bait.
Severus flicked his wand at the blackboard. "Instructions are on the board, you may begin."
He was about to sit down when there was a knock on the door. Sylvester walked in quietly and closed the door behind him. "Hello Severus," he said. "I trust you got my letter?"
Severus nodded curtly. "You may observe, but Sylvester: Don't. Touch. Anything."
Sylvester smiled. "I wouldn't dream of it, brother. Is there anyone in particular I should observe?"
"Miss Granger may be able to finish her potion even if you watch her," Severus replied and turned away.
"Well, well, well, Miss Granger, I see you've been able to charm my brother with your talent in potions brewing," Sylvester said smirking. "Tell me, what are you making? Why are you cutting everything so small? Why are you washing everything before putting it in the cauldron? Why-"
"Sylvester, do be quiet." Severus snapped. "Miss Granger has to be able to concentrate, as do the others. They might do something wrong and set the class on fire if you keep talking so much."
Sylvester held up his hands apologizingly. "I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I won't say another word," he whispered, approaching his brother. As he whipped round to stare at Hermione once more, he somehow managed to bump into her arm. Unfortunately, this meant that instead of the three drops of beetle juice she was supposed to add, the whole bottle fell into the cauldron.
Severus, who had seen the whole thing happen, was out of his chair and on his way towards her immediately, but before he had taken two steps, the contents of Hermione's cauldron exploded. Both Sylvester and Severus had the presence of mind to duck under the tables, but everyone else was splattered in the potion. Hermione got a face full of the stuff and tried to wipe it off her face with her hands.
Severus got up and turned to Sylvester. "GET OUT!!!" he bellowed. "GET OUT AND DON'T YOU EVER COME BACK!" Sylvester ran out with remarkable speed, leaving the dungeon in a state of disarray.
As Severus turned to his students, he looked at Hermione, who opened her mouth to speak. Instead of words, she let out the high trills of a nightingale. The moment she noticed what sounds she was making, she clapped her hands in front of her mouth, eyes wide as dishes. Severus sighed.
"Everyone who was hit by the potions queue up at my desk in a straight line; everyone else, gather your stuff and leave immediately."
"Here, take this." Severus handed Hermione a small vial with a purple liquid. Hermione took the vial and swallowed its contents without hesitating. Everyone else had already left, glad to be out of the dungeons and away from the potion that still covered all the walls.
"Say something, Miss Granger," Severus said impatiently, when she remained quiet.
"Is...Is he always like this?"
There was no need to ask what she meant.
"Yes, he is, so I suggest you run from here while you still can," was the wry reply.
And leave you? Not bloody likely. Hermione thought, but she didn't speak. She did however flush furiously. She quickly turned, grabbed her things and was out of the dungeons with a whispered 'thank you, sir'.
Now where did that thought come from? she thought as she ran to the Great Hall for lunch.