I unfortunately don't own any of the characters in the HP series they belong to Mrs Rowling
Thanks to all my rewiers, I do read all of your comments. Thanks!
I've got my mind on other things
When Malfoy entered the Potions classroom late on Thursday morning, he walked straight into a heated discussion between Snape and Harry. And it wasn't the usual sneer at Potter fight. All of the students were gaping at the two, as if they had gone mad.
"…It's dark brown!" Harry said frustration evident in his voice. Snape was glaring at him, his dark eyes glinting.
"The mind clearing potion is NOT dark brown! It is milky white and gives out a hint of vanilla." Snape said in an I-Know-Better-Than-You kind of voice. Harry interrupted the snarky teacher by banging his fist down hard on the table. The cauldrons set upon it jumped and caused many worried gasps. Neville's cauldron emitted a high-pitched scream and soon had thick dark smoke billowing out of it. The boy slumped in his seat in defeat, Neither Snape nor Harry noticed though.
"NO! That's the Skin clarifying potion. For when you have the blue cough." Exclaimed Harry.
Snape opened his mouth to give a scratching reply but quickly turned around to get a thick tomb from his desk. Hermione meanwhile had motioned for Neville to sit next to her and was currently setting up a second cauldron for the nervous looking boy. Snape after consulting the thick book and no doubt finding what he was looking for, snapped the book shut after giving Harry a dark unreadable look.
"I'm back. Hello! Look at me!" Malfoy was tired of not getting any attention. He looked very insulted at being ignored whilst Harry got the whole class's attention. The Slytherin's all turned to their long lost hero and motioned for him to sit down. Pansy almost throwing herself on the blond boy, who looked very pleased. He then set up his cauldron next to Ron after giving Harry a look that said, Stay-away-from-me. Harry just shrugged his shoulders not really having the energy to play with Malfoy.
"Professor I need some help." Malfoy said lifting his arm pathetically.
Snape ordered Ron to do it and Harry quickly whispered for him to do it perfectly. Ron after giving him a look that said he was not going to bond with the enemy, started to chop Malfoy's roots up not caring how he did it.
Then later after giving Malfoy, all of his perfectly chopped roots he turned and looked at Harry with a bewildered look plastered on his face. Snape was still glaring at Harry.
"Potter! Leave your cauldron to simmer and get up front. Mr Weasley! Help Mr Malfoy with whatever he may need." Ron groaned and turned to the smirking blond. "Skin my Shrivelfig." The blond ordered in a smug voice. Ron seemed to want to skin something entirely different.
Harry walked up to a desk at the front were Snape pointed out a chair.
"Brew the mind clearing potion." he barked out before turning away. Neville who had been spared so far, turned pale and gulped as Snape swooped down on him. Snape sneered and started to down talk the terrified boy. Harry sighed and walked over to the potion's cabinet. He was so close to the half bloods potion's book, but he couldn't risk taking it in front of Snape. He absentmindly cared for his potion, he knew the steps. After finding the misplaced potions book in his trunk whilst packing at the Leaky Cauldron, he had finally found the right potion. Now all he had to do was add some of his own blood and get Snape to drink it at some point before the end of the school year. He had figured out that Voldemort must have invented a way to control his Death eaters through the dark mark. If Harry was to bind Snape's mind to himself after Cleaning Snape's mind of Voldemort, using the mind clearing potion and casting a binding spell using his blood in the potion, the dark mark wouldn't be able to get a grip around the already taken mind. At least Harry hoped it would work.
"Longbottom! What colour should this potion be?" Snape snarled. "Oh. That's all right professor. Just add this Neville." Harry said happily handing Neville a purple root. Neville grasped the root as if it was a lifeline and tossed the root into the cauldron before Snape could comment. Snape could do nothing but stare as Neville's potion turned from orange to acid green. He stiffened and then turned to glare at Harry.
"Ten points from Gryffindor, for knowing a Newt's level potion." he snarled. Harry couldn't help snorting. Trust Snape to take away points for knowing to much.
"Thank you Sir" Was his cheeky retort. He walked up to his desk and bottled his potion. It was dark brown and Harry couldn't help feeling proud of himself. He quickly hid one of the small bottles in his pocket and handed the rest to Snape who was still glaring at a beaming Neville. He left before more points could be taken from Gryffindor.
Walking alone in the corridor after leaving Ron and Hermione behind in Snape's classroom, he startled at the sound of running feet coming up behind him. "Here you go Potter." Malfoy handed him a note not even trying to hide his obvious delight. "Detention tomorrow at five." Harry looked up at the gloating Malfoy. "That's great! Thanks." Malfoy looked shocked and very displeased. Harry hadn't been able to get the potions book yet and maybe tomorrow would be his lucky day. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU?" He heard Malfoy scream after him before storming of in the other direction. Ron and Hermione who had sneaked up behind him seemed to think along the same lines.
After lunch, they had their first Defence against the dark arts lesson with professor Lupin. Harry didn't bother taking his books with him and Ron after giving Harry a searching look did the same. Hermione was not in the least impressed with them and nagged at them the way down to the classroom. Ron just cast another look at the bewildered looking Harry, who was starting to feel self-conscious.
"Good afternoon." Remus stepped in placing his tatty old briefcase on the teacher's desk. Harry heard someone whisper that the professor looked a little healthier this day. "Would everyone please put away your books. Today will be a practical lesson. You will only…" "HA!" Ron exclaimed jumping out of his seat and pointing at Harry before going beet red in the face and slumping down in his seat, looking as if his deepest desire was to sink below the ground.
"Right. If you'd all follow me." Remus said after giving Ron a curious look. The class followed, giving puzzled looks to both the new teacher and Ron who was still red in the face.
After getting Peeves to stop stuffing a keyhole with chewing gum, at which Remus earned himself some respect from the students, they entered the staff room. Snape glared at them when they entered and stood to leave.
"Oh, don't leave professor Snape." Harry exclaimed. He desperately wanted to see Snape's reaction to Neville's Boggart. Snape and everyone else turned to look at Harry as if he'd lost his mind.
"Um…I mean, it would feel safer if you stayed here as we don't know Professor Mo…Lupin very well yet." Harry stuttered, reddening at the looks he got from his fellow Gryffindor's. Snape glared and huffed before walking out of the staff room, his cloak billowing after him.
"Right." Remus said once again, casting curious looks at Harry this time whilst leading the students towards the end of the room. Harry was keeping himself as far away from the old wardrobe as he could without being to obvious about it. Ron seemed to notice something as he backed away to where Harry was standing and eyed the wardrobe suspiciously. Harry spaced out but couldn't help hearing Ron's gasp of terror at one point.
"Mr Potter." Harry looked up to see Remus eying him patiently. "Oh, sorry." He said blushing. "I asked you how to repel a Boggart." Harry smiled. "Riddikulus." Remus nodded but seemed to want to hear a more thought through answer.
"Oh right. You have to force the Boggart to assume an amusing shape and then laugh." Harry said sheepishly still blushing. Remus gave him an appraising nod.
"We will all practice the charm now without wands." Remus had them all repeating the charm. "Do I have a volunteer? No? Well I guess I'll just have to pick one then." he took a look around and noticed that Harry was once again daydreaming. "Mr Potter. What is your greatest fear?" He finally asked, his tone of voice showing that he was certain of the answer. "Dementor's Sir" Harry answered. The professor widened his eyes in surprise. "Please step up and repel your dementor." Harry viably gulped before walking up to the wardrobe. The door that had been rattling was now eerily still. "Are you ready?" asked Remus sounding as if he'd changed his mind about letting Harry meet the dementor. Harry nodded, thinking that he could always perform the Patronus charm if it got to hard.
"On the count of three. One-two-three-now!" the door slowly creaked open.
Professor Dumbledore fell out, looking very weak. Harry didn't hear the grasps emitting from behind him, he didn't see the chocked expression on Remus face. He had his eyes locked on Dumbledore's shaking body. The headmaster looked completely helpless.
"I don't want to play any more. I'm thirsty." the old man croaked out in a childish whine looking at the empty cup lying next to him. Harry stood stock still, his eyes searching the face of his old professor. Dumbledore's blue eyes lacked their usual twinkle and he looked beyond tired.
"Please." he begged again looking up at Harry. "Just a little water to drink." he croaked out pleading with his eyes for Harry to grant him his wish. Harry walked up to the professor and grabbed a hold of the empty cup and turned to his left, plunging the cup into the dark cold water. As soon as his hand holding the cup touched the water, white hands grabbed hold of him. They pulled at him trying topull him down into the freezing water. Harry fought the creatures feeling panicked, he turned to Dumbledore for help. The old man was lying on his back, eyes open without moving. Harry gasped as Fawkes, the Headmasters Phoenix appeared crying out his sorrow at loosing his owner and friend. Hearing the beautiful song of the phoenix Harry closed his eyes.
"HARRY! Harry!" Remus was dragging the chocked Harry away from the Boggart, which had turned into crystal ball.
"Class dismissed!" he screamed as he threw a handful of floo powder into the fireplace.