Chapter Two- Herbology, Potions, and PansyBashing

The next day found students chattering in the Great Hall. Evangeline and her newly discovered friend, Annie, slid into seats at the Ravenclaw table; however, a few Ravencalws glared in their direction.

"Evangeline," said Annie, helping herself to bacon, "please don't do that ever again!"

"Do what?" she answered.

"Lose that many points in Potions," Annie laughed, "though it was hilarious... "

At the Slytherin table, Malfoy and Cassandra conversed about their outstanding chance of winning the House Cup. Since they were first years, Gryffindor won it every year except for last.

"Well, we should win the House Cup easily," Malfoy said as he put his hands behind his head. "I mean between Potter and that new Forrest girl, losing sixty points a day,"

"I don't know," Cassandra pondered. "Potter always does something to win enough points to win each year... "

She shot a look at the Gryffindor table where Ron, Harry, and Hermione talked over breakfast.

"Too bad they don't give out points for stupidity, " Malfoy said.

"Yes, we could get lots of points for Crabbe and Goyle alone,"

Harry and Ron discussed the previous day's events at the Gryffindor table, while Hermione read from a book.

"The new girl certainly made an impression on Snape," Harry marveled.

Ron giggled over his plate. "Wouldn't it be funny if she gave him a heart attack?"

"RON! " Hermione yelled, as Harry groaned and held his head.

"What's wrong Harry?!" Ron exclaimed. "It's not...You-Know-Who, is it?!"

"No" he responded, wincing. "It's not that"

"What?" Hermione asked, worried.

"I whacked my head off the portrait hole... "

While Ron laughed at Harry's stupid misfortune, the Ravenclaws bustled about their newest addition to their house. Evangeline, looking over her full schedule, sighed.

"What class do we have first?" she asked absentmindedly.

"Double Herbology," Annie answered, eating a link of sausage. "With the Slytherins."

"Slytherins," Evangeline groaned, "again?"

She glared over at the Slytherin students where Malfoy was entertaining a small group with his impressions of Evangeline in Potions. Laughter could be heard from their area.

"It gets worse," Annie said, "after Herbology is Potions. And we know how much you love that class. And all our classes this year are N.E.W.T. level. This is pretty lame."

"Do we have any good classes?" Evangeline replied, half-heartedly.

"Astronomy," she told her, excited. "But all our classes this year are N.E.W.T. level."

Evangeline rolled her eyes." You've already said that once."

She stopped as she saw Cassandra, Malfoy, and a few others pass their table. They were still laughing at Malfoy's game of charades.

"Herbology with the Ravenclaws . . . " Cassandra muttered.

Malfoy snickered. "Perhaps a plant will eat one of them." He looked at Evangeline.

"Now," Cassandra laughed, "I wish it was with the Gryffindors."

The Slytherin clan was still laughing as they exited the Great Hall. Annie munched on her food, peacefully. But Evangeline got up quickly, leaving her plate half full. She grabbed her bag, already packed to the max and repaired with a bit of magic, and headed to the exit. Annie looked up surprised.

"Wait," she exclaimed, swallowing her food, "I haven't finished EATING! AND YOU DON'T KNOW WHERE TO GO! HEY! EVANGELINE!!"

Heads turned as she ran past the long tables to catch up with her friend. Students exchanged confused glances, but soon resumed eating.

In Greenhouse Number 7, Ravenclaw and Slytherin sixth years prattled as Professor Sprout, the stout head of the Hufflepuff House, entered. Annie leaned over to Evangeline.

"Don't worry," she assured, "she's a great teacher."

Evangeline nodded her head.

"All right, today," Sprout began, "we will be working with the Lemon Mint. Can anyone tell me what the Lemon Mint is, and what its uses are?"

Evangeline's hand flew up. And Malfoy and Cassandra, along with Crabbe and Goyle, suppressed giggles.

"Go ahead, Miss Forrest,"

"Lemon Mint, unlike its namesake, the Muggle lemon scented mint, is a mint plant that grows magical lemon plants used as a base in many Love Potions, and any very sweet magical bakings."

"Very good, Miss Forrest! Ten points to Ravenclaw!"

"Thank you!" Evangeline smiled and blushed slightly.

"Another Granger," Malfoy whispered to Cassandra.

"Who cares," she answered, "let her get points. More to lose in Potions."

Malfoy laughed evilly. "True."

"Everyone gather around tables with the plants on them. We're harvesting the Lemon Mint lemons for the kitchens."

Pupils chuckled. They stood at he tables that had a plant resembling a mint on it. The mint was growing around what looked like a cactus. Annie looked anxiously at Evangeline.

"Quiet, please. This is difficult for the Lemon Mint is extremely shy, and hates being touched. The fruit is in the center of the spikes inside the actual mint. The needles shoot everywhere when it is hit, so be very careful. You need your gloves," Sprout explained.

She deftly picked a lemon from the plant, without stimulating the needles, while students began pulling on their gloves.

"Everyone please try. And carefully!"

Evangeline plucked a lemon, handing it to Annie. She jumped, hearing a scream from the back of the greenhouse. All turned to face the source, laughing at the sight. Crabbe and Goyle were covered with cactus-like needles from the plants. Annie snorted, holding back hysteria. Malfoy picked out one of the needles and stuck it in his mouth.

"Hmm... It's sugar!" he observed, handing one to Cassandra.

"So it is ...reminds you of sugar quills, eh?" she whispered.

Sprout pointed to Malfoy and Cassandra. "Oh, you two, take your friends to the infirmary," she sighed.

Evangeline laughed. "Those two looked like hedgehogs."

"Yes," Annie giggled. "It's a good thing Malfoy and that suck-up Pierce left. They do nothing and get passing marks."

"Potions next. It'd be funny if Snape gave them detention for being tardy,"

"Ha!" Annie exclaimed, handing Evangeline a lemon, "Snape give his own previous students a detention? Pigs will fly sooner."

"True. Snape's a jackass,"

"HEY!" a few Slytherin students yelled.

Annie threw a couple lemons at them. "Oh, shut up!"

"Children!" Sprout said. "Miss Snyder! Ten points from Ravenclaw!"

Later, after Herbology, pupils packed into the Potions dungeon, most of them unwillingly. Ron talked with Harry while Hermione diligently copied the procedure for the day's potion.

"I bet she'll lose over twenty points," Ron said to Harry. "I'll bet you five Galleons."

Hermione elbowed him. Snape approached the front of the room. The dungeon smelled of sulfur from the fires under a roomful of cauldrons.

"Now," Snape started, "please add the lacewings to the --"

He was interrupted when the door creaked open, and Malfoy and Cassandra entered.

"We're sorry for being late, sir, we were at the hospital wing, "Malfoy explained, dripping with false goodness.

"Of course, go begin Procris' Death."

They took their seats, and Evangeline threw them a look of disgust.

"I told you," Annie whispered.

"Someone gets special treatment," Evangeline announced, quite loudly.

"Five points from Ravenclaw," said Snape.

Evangeline sighed. "You should know by now that I don't care."

"Another five, Miss Forrest," he replied. "Now before any more interruptions, can anyone tell me what exactly Procris' Death is?"

Evangeline and Hermione raised their hands. Annie and Ron rolled their eyes, while Malfoy snickered at Evangeline's lost points.

"Well, Miss Forrest," Snape sneered, totally ignoring Hermione, "I see you care to redeem yourself. Go on."

"Procris' Death, named after a figure in Greek mythology, is a highly toxic poison that means certain death because an antidote for it has not yet been discovered," she said, giving a text book answer even Hermione was proud of.

Hermione looked slightly jealous. Snape grinned, making Harry shutter.

"Ah, good," he said, laughing slightly, "I see you care about this class more than you let on. Now, all of you continue your work at your cauldrons."

He swept away to his desk. Malfoy, Cassandra, and several other students whispered back and forth, occasionally glancing at Evangeline. The minutes slowly ticked by as they continued to work. Evangeline was grateful that this class was slightly smaller and included the Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs. Less Slytherins was a good thing. After what seemed like an eternity, the bell rang and pupils filed out of the dungeon talking about this and that. Annie ran after Evangeline, who was eager to leave as soon as possible.

"Hey, Evangeline! Wait! I forgot to tell you, Ravenclaw's Quidditch team is looking for two new Chasers. Tryouts are next Saturday. Please tell me they have Quidditch in the States."

"Please! I'm not that foreign!" said Evangeline, straightening her glasses. "I served as Chaser at my old school since my second year."

Annie's eyes lit up. "Do you have a broom? We should go practice!"

Evangeline exhaled heavily. "I"d like to, but I think I'm going to head to the library. I need to relax before dinner."

"You're too smart, you know that? I guess I'll see you at dinner then."

She turned and headed to Ravenclaw Tower. Evangeline opened a book and read as she walked in the direction of the library.

Malfoy and Cassandra walked together down the dim corridors to the Slytherin common room.

"You know, Cassandra," said Malfoy, smiling, "we need a new keeper for Slytherin."

"Are you crazy?! I'd kill myself on a broomstick!"

"Well, it was just a suggestion... " he answered, slightly offended.

She blushed and gave a meek "sorry." The two of them turned at the sound of approaching footsteps. It was Pansy Parkinson with a look crossed between jealousy and loathing. She glared at Cassandra.

"Since when have you two been so close?"

Cassandra snickered. "Since your face resembled a pug more every day."

Pansy turned bright red and jogged away in tears.

"That wasn't too kind . . . " Malfoy observed, half concerned.

"Well, I am a Slytherin . . ."