Upon the whole, no one was very certain what they thought about their new teacher after that first lesson. He seemed rather nice, with a hint of mocking sternness that they could appreciate. But he would still have to do what he said he would. They waited for what would be coming.
There wasn't much time to discuss it, however, for the next lesson was potions. They entered the classroom with less enthusiasm than could be found in a cat about to be showered.
Bang! They were hardly seated when Snape swept into the classroom. "Turn to page 297 of your textbook. Proceed to list the ingredients you will need to brew the Clarification potion. After that, start to brew it. Begin now."
Harry and Ron were sitting next to each other. They were both less than motivated to begin. They had had a quidditch match the evening before, and their potions homework had suffered slightly. Hopefully their system would once more work out.
During their long years of Potions lesson they had perfected their system of collateral support communicaton. (CSC). They were not entirely sure what collateral meant, but it worked like a charm. Mostly. It was particularly useful when either of them was being grilled by Snape on some minor potions detail. It involved a lot drumming on the table with certain fingers (very silently), rubbing the scar (Harry), shuffling with feet (both), go with hand through hair (both), softly nudging Hermione (Ron, he was usually sitting next to her) and the like. In the course of the years it had grown to be a highly sophisticated communication system that could be used to the delivery of all kind of messages. Including potions answers. Provided the other knew the answer, of course.
Snape had never found out. Well, of course Ron's very frequent sighing and Harry's shuffling didn't exactly raise Snape's opinion of them both, but that wasn't a great loss.
Today they used it to discuss their opinion of the new teacher and to avoid being questioned by Snape. At the end of the lesson their potion had the right colour, which proved once more the entire usefulness of their system. Well, perhaps it smelled a bit odd, and perhaps there was a tad too much smoke, but you couldn't have everything.
At the end of the lesson, Snape was unexpectedly standing next to Harry. He disdainfully sniffed. "Well, Potter, it is fortunate indeed that the dark lord has already been beaten. This potion wouldn't have been of much help."
Harry looked up quickly, indignant answer on his lips. But then Snape's words sickered in and he excitedly asked, "Do you mean that potion could be used in Defense, sir?"
Snape drew up one mocking brow.
"Well, well, hope is not entirely lost, it seems. It can indeed, Mr. Potter. How would that work, do you think?"
Harry racked his brains. It was a potion. That meant it would have to be ingested somehow. That meant stealth. And secrecy. Hm.
"You make the enemy swallow it, and then question him, sir?"
"10 points from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter. Who of you dunderheads does know the answer?"
Even Hermione seemed to be at a loss.
Snape sneered. "I might have known. The point of this potion is, that you don't swallow it. Instead you might use it on inanimate objects. Now think again. How might it be used?"
Silence.
Ron sat back, frowning. Inanimate objects. What kind of objects.
"Sir," he hesitatingly asked, "could it be used on mirrors and the like?"
Snape looked at him. One brow risen. "Well, Mr. Weasley, this is definitely a first. Class, write an essay on the uses of the Clarification potion to be handed in next week. Dismissed."