Voldemorte's Downfall

Chapter Nine: Loki's Surprise

(Author's note: I promise this is better then the last chapter.)

The next morning, Loki, Harry, Hermione, Ron, Zofka and Rice headed to Potions, sans Ciara, who had decided to ditch. "I need my beauty sleep," she had told them. "These early morning classes are not helping." They'd therefore gone on without her. Snape swept into the dungeon as everyone was finished setting up their cauldrons. "Settle down," he called lazily; there was no real need. Snape's entrance was enough to guarantee silence. "Now, today, we'll be mixing the Kilden Poisoning Potion, which, of course, will come up in your N.E.W.T. level exams. Now, the test will only require you to know how to make the antidote, but you cannot very well mix an antidote if you cannot recognize what the poison is. We shall be mixing the antidote next class." On Loki's right, Hermione was feverishly taking notes, and Harry and Ron were on her left playing Exploding Snap. Professor Snape continued. "Now, although there is an antidote to this poison, it is rare, and difficult to make. I have one bottle-" He produced a tiny vial filled with a purple liquid- "and cannot make more in time to save any blockhead who poisons himself. Should you accidentally swallow some-though I doubt you can get there in time, this potion kills the drinker in under thirty seconds-there is a small box of bezoars in the supply cupboard. Now, the method will not be in Advanced Potion Making, so do not even attempt to look it up. It is, however..." Snape was cut off by the sound of the door opening. Loki raised her eyes from her notes, and her mouth fell open. Standing in the doorway was the most handsome boy she'd ever seen. He smiled, and Loki detected the mischievous glint in his eyes that she'd learned to recognize in Fred and George's eyes. Snape merely forced a smile, though the rest of his expression said something else-Fear, perhaps? Loki thought. But before she could register it deeper, Snape spoke. "You must be Tomàs Montoya. The headmaster warned me of your arrival. Why don't you sit..." He looked around for an empty seat, and Loki pushed Harry out of the chair next to her at once. "Over there, with Miss Black." He pointed towards Loki, who smiled. Tomàs went to the seat, and Snape threw a glare at Harry. "Potter, get back in your seat before I give you detention!" he snapped. Turning back to the board, he continued. "Now, as I was saying, you will find the method for the Kilden potion on the board. You have a little under two hours. Start." He swept back towards Loki's table. "Miss Black, please explain what we are doing to Mr. Montoya." Loki nodded. "Yes, sir." Snape nodded curtly and moved towards Neville's cauldron to, presumably, yell at him. Loki grinned at Tomàs. "Welcome to Hogwarts. Gryffindor?" Tomàs nodded. "Gryffindor." He looked Loki over a moment, and smiled. "So, a pretty girl like you must have a boyfriend." Loki laughed. "Nope. I'm unattached." Tomàs grinned. "There is hope!" He threw up his hands in mock celebration, which earned him a glare from Snape. Tomàs lowered his arms. "What's his deal, anyway?" Loki shrugged. "He's wanted to teach Defense Against the Dark Arts for..." she thought a moment. "Sixteen years. Dumbledore keeps denying him the post." Tomàs frowned. "Why?" Loki shrugged again. "Don't know. Oh, and he hates Gryffindors. Especially me, Harry and Rice." Tomàs looked confused. "Harry Potter?" Loki nodded and he continued. "Why does he hate you guys?" Loki laughed. "Our fathers. He hated them, so he would, naturally, hate their offspring." Tomàs lowered his voice. "So, you are...Sirius Black's daughter?" Loki smiled. "Yeah. Well, in their sixth year, my father, James Potter, Peter Pettigrew and Remus Lupin played an amusing prank on Snape, one which, had James not gotten cold feet at the last minute, would have resulted in his death. Snape's never forgiven them. Of course, my father and his friends were really cruel to him. But it's a mutual enmity." Tomàs' frown deepened. "So, you are Black's daughter, Harry is James Potter's son, and Rice is...?" "Remus Lupin's daughter," Loki said matter-of-factly. "Her full name is Rice Clantona Anne Lupin. She prefers just plain Rice." Tomàs nodded. "Ah. And what are we making?" He grimaced as he looked into the cauldron. Loki smiled. "The Kilden Poisoning Potion. He's going to teach us the antidote next week. Neville, don't!" she snapped. Neville jumped. He had been sniffing at his potion. "The smell alone is strong enough to kill you." Neville gulped. Loki sighed. "Potions is not his strong point, but his grandmother wouldn't let him quit. He'd be better off if Snape weren't here. He's afraid of Snape." Tomàs nodded. "Ah. And now..." he was cut off by Ciara entering the room. She stomped angrily towards Loki, who smiled warmly. "Morning, Ciara. What happened to skiving off?" Ciara glared. "Why didn't you warn me about McGonagell's spontaneous inspections?" Loki laughed. "It slipped my mind, honest." Ciara opened her mouth, but was interrupted by a commotion at Neville's cauldron, where it seemed Crabbe had been trying to dunk him into his potion. By the look of things, he'd succeeded. Snape swept down the length of the dungeon, pulling out the antidote. Snape threw the bottle at Harry. "Potter! Administer Longbottom the antidote quickly! Crabbe! Detention!" He glared at Loki. "Back to work, Miss Black, or you'll be in detention as well!" Loki rolled her eyes as Harry dumped the antidote down Neville's throat. Neville gasped and Loki smiled. "Danger averted." Tomàs, by this point, was white. "Does this happen often, Loki?" Loki nodded. "Yeah. It's not usually this deadly though. Normally, Neville just adds the wrong ingredients." "Normally?" Tomàs was incredulous. Loki nodded. "Yeah. It's all right though. We can..." she trailed off as the door opened again. Loki looked up, and her face went white. "Oh. My. God. Hermione." Hermione looked up and gasped, because standing in the doorway was Erick Chica, very much alive.