Chapter ten - Potions

Lia felt a slight headache when she woke up in the morning. She looked around and realized that she was in some kind of a hospital room. She felt her hand being held by someone, but when she turned to see who it was she didn't see anyone there. She quickly pulled her hand and sat up, which made Harry wake up too.

"Morning Lia." He said with a sleepy voice.

"Who's there?" Lia asked, confused by the source of the voice. She recognized it as Harry's voice, but he wasn't there.

"Blimey! You can't see? I'll get Madam Pomfrey. Just… just don't get up, okay?"

"Harry, is this you? I can hear you but I can't see you! Where are you talking from?"

Harry was near the door when he realized that he still had his invisibility cloak on. He took it off and turned to Lia. "Can you see me now?" he asked.

"How did you do that? You weren't here a moment ago!"

Harry smiled. "I was wearing my dad's invisibility cloak, and I forgot that I slept while I was still wearing it." he walked back to his chair, which was near Lia's bed.

"Invisibility cloak? Why do you need that for?" Lia asked.

"To sneak out in the night." Harry said.

"So you like to do some mess during the night, don't you?" she smiled.

"Not really, I usually use it when I need to go somewhere forbidden. Last night I decided to spend the night here with you, so I used it."

"How sweet of you." Lia said. "Listen, I have this slight headache that won't leave me. Can you ask the nurse to bring me pills or something?"

"They don't use pills here, but I'll ask Madam Pomfrey to bring you a pain relieving potion."

"Whatever it is, it has to work."

"Alright, I'll call her now."

Harry left the room and went to see Madam Pomfrey who was in her office checking some medical records. Harry knocked the door and entered.

"Good morning Madam Pomfrey." He said.

"Good morning Harry. Are you here to see your cousin? She must be still asleep." Madam Pomfrey replied.

"Actually I was there a moment ago. She said that she has a headache, do you have any potion for that?" Harry said quickly.

"How come I didn't hear you coming?"

"I tried my best not to make a noise." Harry said with a smile. And his trick worked.

"How nice of you." She took out a small bottle from her drawer and gave it to Harry. "Here, let her drink it. It will take away the pain. I'll come to see her in a few moment."

"Thank you." Harry took the bottle and went back to Lia's room.

"So? Did you get it?" Lia asked.

"Yeah. Here, drink this." Harry said and gave her the bottle.

Lia drank the potion and felt better right away. Her headache was gone.

"What happened yesterday? How did I end up here?" she asked.

"You can't remember?"

"I only remember that I was speaking to Virginia, and my heart started to hurt. Then I remember Remus being there. That's all."

"Well, you lost your consciousness and we brought you here." Harry said.

"So I was that bad, huh?"

"Yes." Harry replied, then he remembered the dream he saw last night. "Lia, I want to ask you something."

"Sure, ask."

"Last night I saw a strange dream. It was in a place that I couldn't recognize. You were there, your mother and a guy."

Lia's smile faded. He has seen her mother and John, but how could he be so sure that it was them? She never told him how they looked like. The far corner of the room started to seem so interesting for Lia and she was staring at that direction.

"Listen, I didn't mean to hurt your feelings." Harry said. "I'm sorry, okay? Just forget it."

Lia turned to face him. "Tell me what you saw." She said.

At that moment, Madam Pomfrey came inside with a big smile on her face.

"Well, well. You look better today." She said.

"Thanks." Lia replied with a smile.

"Do you feel any pain in your chest dear?"

"No."

"That's good to hear. How about your scar, does it hurt?"

"No."

"Can you breathe properly?"

"Yes."
"Good. That's what I wanted to hear. You may get dressed and go to breakfast in about an hour." Madam Pomfrey said.

"Really? Thank you." Lia said happily.

"Alright, I'll leave you two to talk. I have some work to do." Madam Pomfrey said and left the room.

"So, what did you see Harry?" Lia asked him again.

"Well, I was in this house and you were crying over that guy. Then your mother came and fought with… another man," he didn't tell her that she dueled with him. "And they she told you to go out. But you didn't. The man was about to attack you when your mom jumped in between you and… the man. The spell hit her and you both fell to the ground. And then, I woke up."

Lia was crying now, her face in her hands. She has seen the same dream that night. She saw that night when her mother and boyfriend died in front of her.

"Lia, I'm sorry. I didn't mean to upset you." He put his hand on her shoulder, trying to calm her.

"It's not your fault Harry. I saw the same dream too. And that's how it happened." Lia said and wiped her tears. "You see now why I don't want to remember it?"

"Yes." Harry said and looked at the ground. "I'm really sorry."

"It's okay. That's in the past now." Lia managed to smile.

"Was that your boyfriend?" Harry asked.

"Yes."

"What's his name?"

"John. But why do you ask?"

"He looked familiar. That's all." Harry said. "I think it's time for us to go to the Great Hall. I'll wait for you outside while you change your clothes."

"Okay."

Harry left the room and closed the door behind him. He waited in front of the door until Lia got dressed. She walked out of the room and they both headed to the Great Hall for breakfast.

On their way they saw Remus and Wolf walking in the corridor, also heading to the Great Hall.

"Remus!" Harry called.

Remus turned to see Harry and Lia following him and Wolf.

"Good morning!" Harry said.

"Good morning Harry. Lia, how do you feel today?" Remus asked.

"I'm much better, thank you."

"We were going to have some breakfast. Care to join?" Remus asked.

"We were on our way to the Great Hall too." Harry replied.

"Then what're we waiting for? I'm ravenous!" Wolf said and they all laughed.

They entered the Hall and saw only Professor Snape sitting there alone drinking coffee and reading the Daily Prophet.

"Morning Severus." Remus said.

Snape turned to see them walking to the table. "Good morning." He said coldly and continued to read his newspaper.

"Bad mod, huh?" Lia whispered to Harry.

"Tell me about it." he shrugged. "He's even worse during class." He whispered back.

They sat near the table and started to eat. Wolf's plate was full with bacon. He ate ravenously, which made Snape look at him in disgust. But Wolf didn't care. He kept filling his stomach, as there was no one there but him.

Lia didn't feel hungry, so she poured herself some coffee and drank it.

"You should eat you know." Harry said.

"I'm not hungry."

"Try to eat something Lia." Remus said.

"I'm not hungry, honestly."

"If you say so." Harry said and helped himself with some bread.

"I want to see Rex." Lia said.

"Okay. We'll visit Hagrid after breakfast."

"Don't be so sure Potter." Snape said without looking at them. He was still reading his newspaper. Lia and Harry looked at him. "Miss Jones has missed her potions class yesterday if you remember."

Harry looked at Remus and mouthed "help", but Remus shrugged.

"So, I have potions today as well?" Lia asked.

"Yes Miss Jones. Right after breakfast." Snape replied.

"Alright then. Breakfast hasn't finished yet, and I need to see my dog." Lia said and stood up. "Harry, are you coming?"

"Er… okay." He took a bite of his bacon sandwich and followed Lia out. Snape didn't even turn to look at them.

When they were out Harry stared at Lia with a smile on his face.

"What?" she asked.

"Nothing." He kept staring.

"Liar. Why are you staring at me?"

"That was great!" he said.

"What? Oh you mean leaving the Hall?"

"Exactly. I bet that Snape will make your potion classes like hell."

"Don't be so sure. I'll make his classes like hell. Does he think I'm eleven years old? He's such a…" Lia paused. She was trying to teach herself to shut her mouth when it was necessary.

"What?"

"Never mind."

They reached Hagrid's hut and before Harry could knock the door, he heard barking. Rex came running to them from the back of the cottage and threw himself on Lia.

"Hi sweetie!" Lia said and took him in his arms. Rex was waving his tail excitedly and licking her face. "I missed you too!" Lia said.

"Mornin' Harry!" Hagrid said as he came from the backside of the cottage.

"Good morning Hagrid." Harry replied.

"Hello Mr. Hagrid." Lia said while trying to get Rex away from her face.

"''Ello, Lia.  'ow're yeh feelin' t'day?"

"I'm fine, thank you. Rex that's enough. Good boy, now go and play." She said and the dog left her immediately.

"Yeh wanna cuppa tea?" Hagrid asked.

"Yes, please. Snape didn't let us have our breakfast. And I asked Harry to come with me, because I still haven't learned the way in and out. So, Snape spoiled my breakfast and I spoiled Harry's." Lia said.

"No you didn't. You saved me from seeing Snape. And I thank you for that." Harry said.

"A'righ', yeh two.  Le's get inside." Hagrid said and they all went inside the cottage. He put the kettle on the fire and brought three huge mugs.

"So, yeh like the school, Lia?" Hagrid asked as he poured tea into the mugs.

"Yeah. It's a nice place. I think it would look better once terms start. The corridors must be filled with kids at that time."

"Yeah, they're a righ' mess.  Runnin' 'long the corridors an' no' missin' any chance ter jinx each other when there're no teachers 'roun'." Hagrid replied.

Lia drank her tea and looked at her watch. "Oh, I better get going. I don't want to be late for potions."

"Yeh go' Snape on yer firs' day?" Hagrid asked.

"Yeah. It's okay, I can handle him. Don't worry." Lia said with a smile.

"I hope so." Hagrid said.

Lia and Harry went back to the castle and headed to Lia's room. She took her bag and they went to the dungeons where the potions classroom was located. The knocked the door and entered. Snape was sitting in front of his desk writing something on a parchment. When they entered, he turned to them.

"I see that you're in time Miss Jones. That's a good start." He said with his cold voice. "Mr. Potter, may I ask you what are you doing here?"

"I showed Lia the way."

"Then you may go now."

Harry looked at Lia and mouthed "good luck". Then he left the classroom leaving Lia and Snape all alone.

"Have a seat Miss Jones." Professor Snape said. But this time his voice wasn't as cold as it was. Lia sat on one of the desks on the first row.

"You will need to take some notes, unless you have great memory." He told her, but Lia didn't answer. She took out her quill and parchments out of her bag and prepared to write.

"That's better." Snape said. "Miss Jones, do you know what are potions?"

"I'm here to find out, aren't I?" Lia replied.

"No one can tell Miss Jones. Most of the students say the same, but they never find out." Snape replied.

"Well, I hope that I'm not one of them." Lia sighed.

"Alright, potions are special liquids which are made from different kinds of ingredients and each potion is prepared and brewed individually."

Lia took notes while Snape was explaining the importance of potions. The lesson didn't seem boring as Harry has told her. Instead, she enjoyed it.

After two hours of non-stop potions Lia got up. "Can I leave now?" she asked.

"Yes Miss Jones. Your homework will be a foot long essay about the importance of potions. You are dismissed."

Lia gathered her stuff and left the classroom. When she reached the stairs she saw Harry standing there waiting for her.

"So, how did it go?" asked Harry as they climbed the stairs, heading to Lia's next class, history of magic.

"Not bad."

"Don't tell me you enjoyed it!"

"As a matter of fact, I did." Lia said with a smile. "That man has a talent!"

"Oh come on! He's so annoying!"

"At least he didn't show it. So, were you waiting out here all the time?"

"Yes."

"Really? Wow! That's so nice of you Harry."

"You can't find your way through this place yet, you'll get lost easily."

"That's true. I have History of Magic next, who's teaching it?" Lia asked.

"Professor Binns. He's a ghost."

"A ghost? Are you serious?"

"Of course I am! I've been studying here for five years now. And believe me, he's not the only ghost that you'll meet."

"Is he… umm… scary?"

"No, well, if you take out the fact that he's a teacher, as they all seem scary to students. Otherwise, he's fine."

They reached the classroom and Harry led Lia in. Professor Binns wasn't there. Lia sat near a desk on the front row and Harry sat next to her. After a few moments Professor Binns came through the blackboard, which made Lia gasp in horror.

"You'll get used to this." Harry whispered to her.

"Ah! Mr. Potter, I see that you're also here. Spending your vacation at Hogwarts I suppose?" professor Binns said.

"Yes Professor. I'm accompanying my cousin." Harry replied.

"Miss Jones," Professor Binns said as he turned to her. "Allow me to welcome you to Hogwarts. I'll be teaching you History of Magic."

"Nice to meet you Professor." Lia said.

"Alright, how about starting our lesson. Mr. Potter, do you care to join?"

"I think I better go to my dormitory. I'll be back to take Lia to the Great Hall after the class is finished." Harry said as he got up.

"As you wish Mr. Potter."

"See ya." Lia whispered to Harry who smiled to her and left the classroom.

Harry went to his dormitory; he had two hours until Lia's History of Magic class was finished.