James, Sirius, Remus and Peter
Chapter 8- Potions with the Slytherins
James and Sirius entered the potion room and made their way to the back of the class, where they were shortly joined by Remus and Peter.
James and Sirius were discussing their plans to play pranks on the Slytherins. Apparently they didn't know much magic yet so they were going to cool of a bit and get used to Hogwarts in the mean time. But they still carried on discussing, sharing ideas and they would've carried on until silence had filled the room and the potion master had entered.
The potion master who was dressed in black robes had no hair at the top of his head but the sides were filled with a mixture of dark and grey hair. His blue eyes were ice cold and matched remarkably to the cold expression on his pale face.
Silently, he took his seat at the front desk; he watched the quite class for a moment before taking a quill and commencing the lesson with the register.
'I am Professor Gilman' he said, once he had finished the register. 'And I'm here to teach you the arts of potion brewing; and potion brewing does not require any foolish wand waving and should be taken very seriously and specially in my class… or you will be very sorry.
There was silence as Professor Gilman had stopped speaking; no one made a move or sound but just watched this man, who kept them very quite without trying.
Suddenly a cruel smile played on Professor Gilman's lips and slyly he left his seat and strode towards the back of the class where James, Sirius, Remus and Peter sat.
'Tell me' he said talking to a scared looking Peter. 'Tell me boy, what lesson is this?'
'P-Potions' stammered Peter
'So why is it you have your wand out boy?' he said looking coldly at him. 'Does this look like a Transfiguration lesson or Charms lesson?'
Peter went pink in the face, while hastily putting his wand in his bag and mumbling something that sounded like 'sorry'.
'I am hoping that this year' he said turning his back on Peter. 'I don't get another bunch of idiots like last year. However let's see if I'm lucky today'
He began throwing very complex questions at people, which none of them were able to answer.
James glared at Professor Gilman; James could see he was favouring his own house, the Slytherins. He threw hard questions at the Gryffindors and allowed the Slytherins to laugh out loud when they got it wrong. He also turned a blind eye as some of the Slytherins at the front still had their wands out.
'Pity' sighed Professor Gilman gazing at one of his jars on the shelf, his hands behind him. 'I ask that question a Gryffindor every year and not one answers it'
Suddenly a thought came to James and before he knew it he was acting upon it.
'The answers are: a bezoar, a shrinking potion, woodbane and the colour green'
Professor Gilman turned around with a flash, looking quite vivid. He searched for the one who had spoken and finally his eyes had fallen on the owner of the voice.
'Five points off from Gryffindor' he said eyeing James. James opened his mouth to demand the reason but Professor Gilman answered his unasked question for him. 'For not putting your hand up'
James closed his mouth and glared at Professor Gilman; he was beginning to dislike this man less every minute.
'Some of you may find potions not so fascinating as lessons like Defence Against the Dark Arts or Flying Lessons' he said walking back to the front. 'However maybe you might change your mind when I show you a few tricks'
The class looked between themselves as the potion master settled himself on the table, crossed legged. Casting his black robes aside seven glass bottles appeared standing in a line on the table. It was a very neat trick and James would've found it impressing if he didn't dislike the man; instead he gazed at the bottles.
The bottles were all different in shapes, sizes and colour. The first, a small transparent bottle which was filled with transparent liquid; next to it stood a rectangle shaped one which also was transparent but contained liquid the colour of sky blue; number three was bottle green but James could not make out the colour of the liquid but the shape of the bottle was a small cylinder; number four was more or less like a test tube with pink liquid; number five and number six however were two identically square transparent bottles but with liquids that were different colours, numbers six contained deep blood red liquid and number seven dark blue liquid; and number seven was a small, round crystal bottle with milk white liquid where a large bubble burst every now and then.
'Fascinating, potions they are' said Professor Gilman eyeing the seven bottles. 'But to show you its power I need volunteers'
Not one person volunteered; the class who had been intereted in the power of the potion now were not interested anymore. Trying out magical substances where you had no idea what it held was like asking for your deathbed.
'No volunteers' said Professor Gilman softly. 'I suppose I will have to choose'
The Gryfinndors shrank back while the Slytherins leaned forward for the potion testing to commence. Every Gryfindorr avoided eye contact with Professor Gilman as he hunted for his prey.
'It won't hurt' he said quietly but due to the silence of the room he could be heard loud and clear. 'Very well, I will choose…'
Professor Gilman pulled out one long, pale, thin index finger and as though it was a guide for him he began searching around for someone and finally the hunt was over and Professor Gilman was pointing at someone.
James looked at the person and was shocked to find out he was pointing at a girl, a pretty girl but the reason James was shocked was because she was a Slytherin. The girl looked exactly as how James felt and James was not the only person shocked but every single student was.
'I choose you Miss Black' said Professor Gilman calmly as ever. 'Now why don't you join me here Miss Black. I promise that you don't have to test all of the potions'
Nacrissa Black slowly left her seat and walked to the front, all eyes on her while James thought to himself does he really favour his house or did he treat all equal. Meanwhile Remus and Peter were relived they were not picked and interested what will happen to Nacrissa, while Sirius was with beyond excitement.
Professor Gilman picked up the first bottle once Nacrissa reached the front and turned to the class.
'This is called the Mist potion' he told the class. 'And this is what it does…'
He suddenly threw the small glass at Narcissi's feet, who screamed and as soon as the glass broke at her feet, snow-white mist appeared which began to blossom rapidly until Nacrissa was no longer visible.
'That is the reason why it's called the Mist potion' said Professor Gilman. 'Often used when one needs to make an exit but has unfriendly eyes are upon him. You may take your seat Miss Black'
Nacrissa walked back towards her seat looking shaken but nonetheless relieved. Sirius however looked as though Christmas was cancelled and the fear was creeping back into Peter as Professor Gilman looked for another victim.
'Anyone else' said Professor Gilman looking expectantly at the class. 'Very well I choose…you'
James looked to see who Professor Gilman had chosen; it was another girl but a Gryffindor. James was very surprised to find out it was the same girl with dark red hair and emerald green eyes, he had seen at Diagon Alley.
'Up we come Miss Evans' called Professor Gilman
'Hey look its carrot head' whispered Sirius. 'The one from Diagon Alley…I didn't know she was in Gryffindor'
'That's because you were too busy stuffing your face last night' whispered Remus joining in on the conversation. 'And for your information her name is Lily'
Lily was now standing between the small mist and Professor Gilman who was holding the second bottle: rectangle shaped with sky-blue liquid.
'Hold still' said Professor Gilman before spraying some of the blue liquid in to Lily's face. After a few moments the Slytherins burst in laughter while the Gryffindor filled with pity for Lily at what Professor Gilman had done.
'It's a hair growing potion' he said turning to the class. 'As you can see it's quite powerful, it only takes few sprays'
Lily now had a very long beard and moustache both which were both the same colour as her hair. Her eye brows were bushy and both had joined making a very long wine-coloured line.
'You make take your seat Miss Evans' said Professor Gilman. 'You will receive the antidote after the lesson'
Lily who was feeling her knew features stopped and looked at the man that stood before, she then turned to look at the pleased Slyterins.
For second James thought she was going to run out of the room in tears. Instead she did something else that James found himself admiring her for. Throwing her head back with her nose in the air, she marched back to her seat.
Professor Gilman didn't look very happy about Lily's reaction, as matter of fact he was scowling and it wasn't a very pleasant sight.
Peter was shaking uncontrollably than ever as Professor Gilman hunted for his next prey; and when Professor Gilman's cold blue eyes rested on him, a small squeak escaped his lips.
'What was that Mr Pettigrew? I didn't quite hear' called Professor Gilman, a cruel smile breaking over the ugly scowl. 'Do you volunteer?'
It looked like Peter wanted to shout out "Hell no" but every time he opened his mouth no word had come out and he was beginning to do a very good impression of a gold fish.
'Well come on up Mr Pettigrew'
Peter dragged himself out of his seat walking to Professor Gilman which seemed like his last walk. He tried to say something but every time he opened his mouth there just were no words.
Professor Gilman lifted up the third potion; bottle green and the shape of a small cylinder he unscrewed the top.
'Drink this' he said holding it in front of him
Peter looked at him horrified at the idea of drinking a potion which was being handed to him by a man who already showed how much he disliked him.
'Don't worry it's not poison' he said reading Peter's mind. 'If it was, would I do it front of your class mates'
The words had sunken in to Peter and he eased up little. He took the potion in one of his small, plump hand which shook a little.
'Drink only a mouthful' informed Professor Gilman
James watched as Peter gulped what looked like lime liquid in to his mouth and then he watched his throat, waiting to see if the liquid had passed that border.
'It's a boils potion' said Professor Gilman as he watched the liquid pass Peter's throat so that spitting it out was impossible.
Suddenly loud popping noises could be heard. Great, thick boils the colour of lime began appearing all over Peter's podgy face; and for once the Slytherins did not break into laughter but into 'eeews' and 'eerrrrs'.
Peter felt his face and once again James thought he would run out the class but just like Lily he held his head back with nose in the air juts like Lily he marched back to his seat.
The way Peter reacted to his new boils was pretty good but he should have left the nose in the air bit out, seen as he slipped and fell flat on the his face; the Slytherins burst into laughter but then they went back to their 'eeeeeewhs' and 'eeeeers' after a horrible squelch sound met their ears that could only mean on thing: Peter had burst one of his boils.
Sirius who was the nearest to Peter had sprung out of his seat and helped Peter to his feet. It looked like Peter had burst one of the boils on his nose.
'Ah, Mr Black' said Professor Gilman once both Sirius and Peter had settled into their seats. 'That was very kind of you to help Mr Pettigrew. Perhaps a reward …may be you could try one of these potions'
'No thanks, sir' said Sirius smiling. 'I can't except a treat like that'
'Very well' said Professor Gilman. 'I choose you Mr Black and this is no reward…its direct order'
Furious, Sirius left his seat and strode to the front of the class without making a sound. James could see that Nacrissa was looking gleeful as Sirius had looked earlier when she had been called up.
Professor Gilman lifted the fourth potion, which shaped like a test tube but filled with pink substance.
'Face the class Mr Black'
Sirius did as he was told and had his back to Professor Gilman who had taken the lid off and poured some of the liquid on to Sirius dark hair. Sirius had not noticed until the soft substance trickled down his face. As soon it had flashed past his eyes, Sirius whipped round and looked at Professor Gilman feeling his hair.
'Don't worry, Mr Black' said Professor Gilman. 'It's only a hair colour changing potion…and a I thought this colour would be more noticeable'
The substance had disappeared but Sirius hair was no longer dark but put bright pink. The Slytherins were having the time of their life, laughing, pointing at Sirius new hair colour.
Sirius walked back to his seat his face beginning to turn the colour of his hair. When he reached his seat the first thing he done was jam his wizard hat on to his head concealing his hair.
'Mr Lupin' called Professor Gilman. 'Your turn'
Remus walked to the front, digging his hands into his pocket robes.
'Let me see your hands Mr Lupin'
Remus took his hands out of his pockets and where Professor Gilman squirted some of the potion on and then squirted on his feet.
'Encouraging potion' informed Professor Gilman
The class watched as Remus hands and feet began to grow rapidly. They had actually grown so big that they were the sizes of Hargid's hands and feet.
The Slytherins chuckled at Remus new features and chuckled even more when they watched him walk back to his seat clumsily.
'Miss Banks, come on up'
A small girl with bouncy brown hair who was sitting next to Lily Evans left her seat. She reached the front where Professor Gilman lifted the sixth potion and squirted some of the potion on to her neck. He neck began to shrink rapidly until her neck was almost as sharp as her arm.
'Discouraging potion, obliviously the opposite of Encouraging potion' said Professor Gilman lazily.
The Slytherins chuckled once again as the girl made her way back to her seat. Her now thin neck making her head look enormous.
'Now for the last potion'
The remaining Gryffindor shrank back while the gleeful Slyterhins leaned evermore excited. Professor Gilman clearly scanned for a Gryffindor and at last his eyes fell on James.
'Potter' he said softly but due to the silence it was heard loud and clear. 'Potter, I choose you to take a little sip from this potion'
James hoped of his seat and clearly showed the whole class he cared nothing for what lay ahead. He rumpled his hair while winking at various Gryffindor girls looking relieved and when he reached the front (the mist had finally disappeared) he snatched the potion out of Professor Gilman and drank more than he intended to.
'You'll be very sorry for that Potter' said Professor Gilman his eyes flashing dangerously. 'You were only to take a sip'
'Taste like milk' replied James wiping his mouth with the back of his hand. 'And I feel very fine, so I'm gonna take my seat'
James was half-way there when suddenly he clasped his stomach. A burning sensation was going through his inside; he could feel his face and body burning hot red and sweat beginning to come down his brow.
'Don't worry' called Professor Gilman calmly. 'It's part of the procedure when you drink the vomiting potion. Just breathe Potter'
James who had his knees on the floor breathed and watched himself as he made a small pool of sick, where his response from the Slytherins was repugnance and disgusts'
'The Vomiting potion's original colour is transparent. It can come in many disguises, the Vomiting potion' said Professor Gilman clearing the sick with a wave of his wand. 'This is why Mr Potter tasted the flavour of milk when he had droned it'
The bell had rang and most of the class began to pack ready to leave the class. The Gryffindor would have loved to have been the first to leave but unfortunately they had to get the antidote for trying the potions.
'That's it for today' called Professor Gilman. He whipped his robes and the seven potions had disappeared and he was just to leave when he noticed some of the Gryffindors still there.
'Yes?' he said slowly
'The antidotes' called Sirius
'I'm afraid I don't have them' he said smiling cruelly. 'And it takes very long time to brew, about a month or two. Don't worry the effect will wore off by lunch and I seriously doubt it if anyone would notice'
With that he strode out from the room, his black robes flowing behind him leaving the horrified Gryffindors.
The horrified Gryffindors looked among them selves, and then suddenly they began to franticly better themselves. Lily Evans ran around asking each Gryffindor if they happen to be carrying scissors or razor. Lily's small friend wrapped her Gryffindor scarf around her now thin neck, while Sirius lowered his wizard hat that is bright hair was concealed completely along with his ears.
'I don't suppose your carrying a mask by any chance' asked Peter
'No' answered Remus. 'I don't suppose you have anything to hide these'
'No'
'Come on, we got until lunch'
And so the Gryffindor marched out of the dungeons facing one of the most embarrassing moments of their life. Although through out the whole day apart from the first years no one else looked surprised to see the first year Gryffindors new appearance, in fact they acted normally as though nothing had changed. Even the teacher's as well, Professor McGonagall had bucket ready for James who threw up every thirty minutes.
The mysteries of the school's behaviour was soon revealed at lunch when a Prefect at the Gryffindor had told them that Professor Gilman did his seven potion testing every year and it was not new.
'But he should be stopped' said Lily Evan indignantly when she heard this.
'Don't you think people haven't tried' snorted the Prefect
'So why is he still getting away with it' Lily demanded
'That's because he told Dumbledore its good way of getting the class interested by showing them a few tricks'
'Must be a sad life brewing seven potions every year just for the fun of it' said Sirius eyeing Professor Gilman with loathing.
'Actually, they are already brewed' said the Prefect. 'His got a whole cupboard to it to last him a life time. So who got the Vomiting Potion?'
'Four eyes down there' said Sirius indicating to James a few seats away.
'It should have worn off by lunch' said the Prefect.
It was true, the potion should have worn off by lunch like every one else but apparently he took too much than he should have.
Once James, Sirius, Remus and Peter had finished dinner (James ate little, since he was feeling a bit peaky) made their way back to the common room. The boys ignored the Slytherins as they made fun of them and quoted at Sirius some of the message the howler bought at breakfast.
The boys were on the first landing, where they were arguing among themselves who had the worst potion-
'Come on' said Sirius. 'My hair was pink that's every guy's worst nightmare'
'But I had boils' whined Peter. 'No one wanted to come near me'
'At least you two got to hide them' said Remus. 'I just had no chance. But I think James had the worst…James where are you going?'
James walked to the balcony of the first floor and was aiming at a group of people who had come out of the hall and then suddenly he puked. Sounds of shrieks and yelps had reached them on the first floor which meant James had got his target.
'I guess Snivelus and his little gang are going to have to wash their hair tonight' said James panting.
'Nice one' said Sirius chuckling and looking down. The he reached for James arm and put them around his shoulder helping him to the Gryffindor while planning revenge not only on the Slytherins but Professor Gilman as well.
Author's note: I know, I know I haven't updated for a long time but it's not my fault. I had a lot of coursework to do and those of you who live in England and are in year 11 or 10 then you'll know what I am going through. Those of you who have no idea then basically I really have to do these assignments or else I fail my subjects and I do want to pass. And I know I don't say it often but thanks to all the people who review, it encourages me a lot to right more.
Please review.
