Wolf, Witch and Forks
AN: This chapter is from Harry's POV. In the last chapter I admit, SNAP was overdone a bit.
This chapter is going to hopefully stay true to my previous chapters and not fall in the never-ending pit of Slytherin Harry tropes which I enjoy a lot. Now they have been stretched to the point that they are felt necessary to be included whenever Slytherin Harry is done. If you have seen the tags then Daphne is paired with Harry but I will avoid the Ice Princess fanon which is my guilty pleasure and all the marriage contract nonsense.
Daphne is an OC with a fancy name, she can honestly have any personality and not be typecast into one mould. There is also Draco Malfoy is the supreme leader not to be messed with because of his father which is pretty common. I believe it is a bit unreal that a sixteen-year-old seventh-year student would ever follow an eleven-year-old spoiled brat.
Theo though is going to be almost like every fanfic. His cha
Disclaimer: I don't own Twilight or Harry Potter
Chapter 7: Snakes, Potions and Quirinus Quirrell
Harry
Evening, 4th September, Slytherin Common Room, Dungeons
"Malfoy is so annoying, Ugh!" Harry complained getting tired of Draco Malfoy's obnoxious and racist prattle. He was currently seated near the fireplace with Daphne and Theo far away from Malfoy and his first-year followers Parkinson, Crabbe and Goyle. The latter group had somehow poached the best armchairs in the middle of the common room.
Tracey, Millicent and Sophia were in their dorm completing their Transfiguration essay.
"Harry, come on, this is normal for Draco. He loves attention like Paul's crup" Daphne smirked. Theo and Harry were staring at Daphne as she never spoke her thoughts out loud till now. 'Maybe being around Paul, Bells and I, has loosened her up' Harry thought.
"Woah! Daffy. We should suggest it to Paul, he can rename his crup Draco."
"Pig will never agree but worth a try. He genuinely loves his dog"
"Harry is right Theo. Why not make a bet during the next History of Magic period?"
"Yea! It will be awesome if we win, poor Pig might have kittens" They all laughed.
Harry was glad that Theo and Daphne at least started showing some emotions openly.
He had observed in his first week that almost all of the Slytherins in the upper years were generally private and reserved people and did not interact much with the first and second years. They acted just as he behaved at the Dursley's silent and brooding.
The lively cheerfulness and banter which Bella and Paul brought to his dull routine, was the best gift of his life and he wanted to replicate that with the rest of the Slytherin.
Their head of house though was the worst representation of Slytherin traits, period. The professor had given him an unwarranted dirty glare similar to his Aunt Petunia when he first made eye contact with him during Breakfast when the former was handing their timetables. Harry had decided to avoid him like the plague after that, following Bella's suggestion when he shared the incident with her during their combined Herbology class.
'It would be a miracle if I survive potions' Harry shuddered.
Daphne as if reading his thoughts said, "Tomorrow after Lunch is potions. Harry, you should be prepared"
"Daffy, Snape is going to be rude and petty towards him no matter what. The man is an arse"
"Theo! Someone might hear you" Daphne warned but Theo just scoffed.
"Daph, you know Theo is right. I don't know what his problem is with me and I don't want to find out either"
"You can't avoid him forever. He is head of the house. He is also Draco's godfather maybe that's why he dislikes you." This was news to him.
"Bloody hell! I am toast"
"Oh Harry, don't worry, I heard that he is a bit biased towards our house and loves to give us House points. So, he is not going to do anything"
Daphne assurances were countered by Theo, "He is definitely going to do something. Harry just be calm and control Paul also. We have Potions with Gryffindor of all houses."
"Pig has a very short fuse. But let's see. Anyway, what else we have for tomorrow except for potions?" Harry asked. Theo just looked at Daphne.
"Charms with ravens and Defence with puffs"
"I can't suffer another lesson with Quirrell. Merlin! Garlic and that horrid stutter."
"Theo isn't Quirrell related to the Notts" Daphne needled Theo and Harry joined her enthusiastically as he was well aware that Quirrell was a distant cousin of Theo's father.
"What would your father say. His son mocking his relatives in Public!" Harry mock gasped.
"Ha-Ha. Very funny. Are you both done?"
"For now. Didn't he teach muggle studies before?" Daphne questioned Theo.
"Yes, according to father apparently his sabbatical took a turn for the worse and he somehow qualified for the Defence position, he claims to have finished off a coven a of vampires on top of that an evil hag cursed him with the stutter"
Harry could see Theo was sceptical that how a feeble man like Quirrell made it through a vampire attack unscathed.
"He is not that bad, a scaredy-cat but he is definitely better than Binns" Daphne defended to which both he and Theo agreed immediately.
"I might be allergic to garlic as I keep getting these stabbing pains in my forehead whenever I am in the defence classroom," Daphne suggested that Harry should get Madam Pomphrey to look at it whereas Theo joked,
"Hope you are not a Vampire, Harry. Quirrell might have a coronary. That would be fun to watch if I am not dead first by his stutter"
"Theo if you survive Quirrell then help me prank Smith. He is worse than peacock over there"
Harry, unfortunately, sat with Zacharias Smith during his first defence lecture. Smith turned out to be the improved physical version of Dudley. The pompous boy kept belittling and bullying not only Slytherins but also his own housemates throughout the period.
"You got it Mate! Smith is such a bastard. Helga Hufflepuff's heir, my arse" Theo scoffed.
"Language! Theo, what would your mother say?" Daphne scolded but then quickly realised her mistake as Harry winced looking at Theo's hard eyes. "I am so Sorry… Theo... I didn't mean it that way" Daphne choked.
"It's okay Daffy. Mummy is ten feet under thanks to daddy" Theo muttered darkly; the last part only heard by Harry. He and Theo had made a deal during their first night in their dorm, no word about each other's unpleasant home lives.
Daphne had a carefree and happy spoilt lifestyle so she didn't know neglect as they did.
"Theo, did you complete your Transfiguration essay yet?" Both Daphne and Theo gave him incredulous stares at his not-so-subtle change of topic. Then both burst into fits of giggles getting weird looks from the rest of the students in the common room.
"Harry, never-change mate" Theo managed as he sobered a bit. Daphne nodded before saying,
"Don't ever think about joining politics"
"It worked right, so don't bash me about it."
Soon Daphne left after saying good night, Theo then whispered, "Daffy doesn't know about the Dursleys, I take it?"
"No, and I want to keep it that way. Only Paul, Bella and you"
"I get it. It's a pity that Blaise is not in Slytherin with us."
"Blaise is quite happy in Ravenclaw. Bells was going on about it. You just want him here so that you both can whine about your combined mummy issues" Harry grinned when Theo pushed him.
"Ooh, someone has grown fangs, I see. Get up, we should get some sleep, I am getting bags under my eyes from lack of rest due to your bloody morning marathons! How are we even allowed out that early?"
"Hagrid, the groundskeeper is a friend. Pig and I met him in Diagon alley, he was the one who bought Hedwig as a gift for me."
10:00 AM, 5th September Classroom 2E, Charms Corridor
"We had Professor Snape already. He is not friendly at all." Bella whispered in Harry's ear. She then slipped him a list of questions with answers.
"He loves to quiz students on advanced Potions and Herbology facts. I only knew six and Padma knew eight answers. But he purposely ignored us when we raised our hands. So much for class participation. He would definitely drive Hermione insane"
"At least you don't have him as your Head of House. You and Pig are so lucky! Professor Flitwick and McGonagall are great."
"Thank God. Do read the list during Lunch and pass it to Paul as well. Otherwise, he would definitely be cleaning cauldrons for detention like poor Ernie and Wayne Hopkins." Harry just smiled. Professor Flitwick then approached their desk.
"Mr Potter, Miss Swan, less chatting and more incantation practice." "Yes, professor!"
Charms had become Bella's favourite subject. He liked Defence more but he was very good in Charms also. Wingardium Leviosa the Levitation charm, he managed to get right in a couple of tries whereas Bella got it in her first attempt. Paul however was no genius in Charms, unlike Transfiguration to Bells and his amusement.
"Bells, I hope no one in your house is giving you a hard time about being friends with a Slytherin?" Bella narrowed her eyes at him.
"Hmm... so Paul told you about his rude roommate. No one has said anything till now, though the girls in my dorm keep bugging me and Padma about how we know you"
"If they try something, tell me immediately I will prank them good with Pig and Theo." Bella just sighed.
The rest of Charms class went on with more Ravenclaws getting the charm right than Slytherins. Malfoy to his irritation had mastered the charm whereas Goyle had set flame to his feather.
"Mr Goyle! One point from Slytherin. That was a totally incorrect pronunciation. Please stay back after class. Students you have a two-foot essay due at the end of the next week on the Levitation Charm. I want you to properly explain its origin, incantation, wand movement as well its various uses. Class Dismissed."
"Professor Flitwick sure can be scary sometimes for the man, his size" Theo joked. Bella though defended her head of House instantaneously.
"Don't you dare make fun of his height! He is a world-renowned former Duelling Champion and he also runs the Hogwarts Toad choir and Duelling club on weekends."
"Ok-Ok calm down Bella. Theo is just being a git as usual." Harry waved his hand dismissively. "Oye!"
"I am with Bella on this. We will see how you both like it when you hear about the Bat in the dungeons" Padma glared at Theo as she joined them in the corridor. But to Padma and Bella's shock, both he and Theo burst in raucous laughter clutching their stomachs.
"Pads, Snape is not popular in Slytherin. Only Malfoy and his toadies worship him."
"Harry is right. Snape only interacts with the Prefects or with Slytherins whose parents are in his friend circle sadly that includes me" Theo added.
"But… What about all the rumours I heard from my sister that he always encourages Slytherin unity against the rest of the houses?"
"Just rumours, I guess... there might be some truth to them. Most of the other house students hate our guts coz of prats like Malfoy and …Voldemort. So naturally, snakes like to stick to each other but we are no puffs." Harry said sheepishly but then he looked up to see Padma, Theo and Bella gaping at him like fish.
"What?"
Theo was the first to say,
"Mate, did you just call the Dark Lord a Prat!"
"Shut up Theo" Bella and Padma screeched at the weedy boy.
They soon made it for Lunch, leaving the awkward conversation behind when Padma and Bella started giving them tips on how to brew the potion that Snape will assign them today.
12:30 PM, Great Hall
"Don't put the porcupine quills before you take the Cauldron of heat. It is like muggle chemistry and cooking so you have to be careful" Padma warned as she and Bells made their way to the Ravenclaw table.
"Theo, you go on. I have to give Paul something"
"Sure mate."
The Gryffindor table was not crowded as most Gryffindors skipped lunch for evening snacks or early dinner. The seated students were giving him questioning or curious glances as he made his way to where Paul and the first years.
Paul spotted him first. "Shrimp, there is still time left for potions, right?"
"Yes, Pig. Bells warned me there is going to be a quiz during class, so she and Padma made some questions for us."
"Thank Merlin, Bells is a Ravenclaw! I am sure Nev and Ronnie here would be roasted alive by Snape."
Both mentioned boys shoved Paul who just passed it off with a grin. Paul then waved Hermione to come over who was busy talking to Fay Dunbar, another girl in Harry's year.
"Mione, Harry got us questions which Snape's going to ask in class. Want to take a look?" Hermione snatched the parchment with lightning speed to their astonishment.
"These are some… high-level questions; I don't know five of them!" was Hermione's terrified cry as she passed the list back to Paul.
"Five, that's nothing Nev and I don't know ten and they are only twelve questions" Ron moaned. Neville just hunched into his seat further.
Harry just couldn't help himself, "Bells and Padma were also saying Snape does not like class participation much and treats hand raising as a sin"
Hermione was close to having a panic attack. By then Paul had caught on to what he was doing and fanned the flames some more, "Oh God! Hermione no hand-raising how will you ever make all those house points?"
Hermione was no fool either, she then gave them a knowing smile, "Harry and you are awful sometimes. Stop irritating me, and start cramming the answers, I will help."
"Great! I will call over Theo, Daph, Trace and others. Don't give me those looks; I am not inviting Malfoy"
For the first time, the entire student body and faculty seated within Great Hall bore witness in stunned silence to an incredible scene of Gryffindor first years sitting peacefully with their Slytherin peers revising Potions of all subjects and that too at the Gryffindor table. The sun had definitely come from the wrong side this morning.
2:00 PM, Potions Lab 1, Dungeons
"That was an amazing speech, Snape should teach drama. Stopper Death, Brew Glory, Bottle fame Oh my!" Paul mocked. Harry smirked as they both straightened when Snape took their roll call.
"Patil Parvati" "Present" "Potter, Harry… hmm, our resident celebrity" "Present sir" he answered through gritted teeth. Paul and Theo were both frowning at the teacher whereas Malfoy snorted.
"Theo, you were saying he liked Slytherins, so what was that?"
"No idea. Snape just loathes Harry, Merlin Knows why?" Harry just let out a frustrated sigh, as the Professor started randomly calling students.
"Lahote, there are how many uses of Dragon's blood?" "Twelve…. I think" Paul mumbled. It was one of the questions on Bella's list to Harry's immense relief.
"You think! Greengrass, Name two key ingredients of Wiggenweld potion"
Daphne then answered with more confidence, "Flobberworm Mucus and Salamander Blood"
"That's right. Two points to Slytherin and stop gloating girl" "Brown, where can you find a Bezoar?" "Stomach of a goat, sir" Lavender replied in a low voice. "Speak clearly. Lions without any roar these days. Answer by chance is correct"
"Malfoy, infusion of wormwood is used in which potion." Malfoy gave an imperious smirk before saying, "Draught of Living Death, Euphoria Elixir and Shrinking solution to name a few." 'Smarmy git' Harry thought bitterly.
"Your classmates should learn by your example. Five points to Slytherin. Weasley, Dittany can heal both doxy and werewolf bites, True or False"
"True… Sir" Ron muttered and then winced when Snape gave him a death glare. "False Dittany needs to be mixed with silver to cure werewolf bites, only stops the bleeding but cannot cure lycanthropy. Read your textbook carefully next time. Dunderhead! Two points from Gryffindor"
Hermione who was sitting in front of Harry hissed, "That is not even in the book. It must be third or fourth-year material."
"Biased git" Paul muttered angrily.
"Shut up Pig, Snape deducts a lot of points from Gryffindor and you would end up serving detention," Harry warned.
"Longbottom difference between wolfsbane and monkshood?" "Aren't… they both the same thing" Neville obviously knew the answer but Snape's dark scowl could make even a grown man cry.
"Surprisingly correct for a blubbering mess" Malfoys and his cronies laughed but the rest of the class became deadly silent at the petty rebuke. Harry just gave Neville a sympathetic pat on the back which was regrettably seen by the Potions master.
"Potter, playing the benevolent hero, are you? Tell me which potions require Boomslang Skin and Fanged Germaniums." Harry seethed and barely controlled himself from lashing out.
"I don't know sir…"
"Unprepared Slytherin, that's a first. Sit down Potter and next class do crack open a book before coming to class." Snape barked.
Harry felt humiliated but was relieved when he heard Tracey whispering to Hermione and Daphne, "They were OWL and NEWT level questions. My mum is a potion mistress for St Mungo's so I know that Fanged Germaniums are used for Skele-Grow, it was very unfair."
"The instructions for Boil Cure Potion are on the board. Copy them down and then I will be choosing your partners for the entire year. At the headmaster's request, it will be Slytherin and Gryffindor pairing. In my opinion, it is a disaster in the making"
"Lahote and Greengrass, Granger and Nott, Longbottom and Davis, Potter and Weasley, Finnegan and Parkinson, Malfoy and Thomas, Bulstrode and Brown, Patil and Roper, Goyle and Dunbar. Crabbe, you need to brew the potion on your own. Now stop staring like lemmings and move"
The next one hour was intense and gut-wrenching. Ron was not horrible in chopping and ingredient preparation but the bloody wraith aka Snape watching them like a hawk was not helping things. Harry had to stop the redhead twice from adding materials before the right time.
"Sorry Harry, Snape is making me nervous."
"I know Ron, but we can't get this wrong." Harry then heard Snape berating Tracey, "Davis stop spoon-feeding Longbottom all the instructions." Then a huge explosion occurred and everyone turned to the back row where acrid green smog was spilling out of Crabbe's cauldron. The boy was covered in red pus-filled boils.
"Crabbe, such incompetence is unacceptable! Go to the Hospital Wing. Detention with me this weekend." Snape commanded as he vanished the contents of Crabbe's cauldron.
"Show is over, get back to your cauldrons. I am working with a bunch of distracted five-year-olds. I want a phial of your potion on my desk in the next two minutes!"
Ron and Harry hurried as everyone descended in a mad rush. Paul was arguing with Daphne about the final step while Hermione was bossing Theo. Neville was consoling a sobbing Tracey whereas on the other side Dean looked like he wanted to murder Malfoy.
"Ron! Get it off the heat before you add the porcupine quills. Otherwise, it might explode!" Harry shouted.
In the end, it was well worth the effort. Snape had not thrown their phial in the dustbin as he did with Fay, Goyle, Millicent and Lavender. He had not praised it either but Harry was just happy that it was over.
"A three feet essay on the Boil cure potion is due next Friday. You would also be preparing a separate assignment on the differences between a brew, potion, solution, elixir, concoction, draft and draught, which is to be submitted in my office by coming Monday. Every class there will be a quiz on important ingredients so better read your textbooks thoroughly. Make use of the library for once in your life"
"Your assigned reading for this week is Forgetfulness Potion. Dismissed."
Harry then hurried out with Paul and Daphne, who were still fighting, "You ignored me! Daph. I was telling you to stir gently. Thank merlin! the shark spines did not get overexcited."
"I will only listen if you stop acting like a spoilt princess Paul! and at least help in cutting and prepping the damn stuff"
Harry just sighed as this was turning out to be such a long day, to top it off Snape had given them so much homework after just one lecture.
He only had one more class after this and that was Defence or DADA, his favourite. As they were making their way to the Defence corridor, Theo asked,
"Harry, have you decided which clubs you want to join?"
"Not yet, they are so many, it is hard to choose…"
"Well, Duelling is very popular. First years are not allowed to have their own brooms, so quidditch teams are out. Gobstones team kind of sucks. There is also MDA but you need to know Dance for that. I wanted to check out Ghoul Studies, it is taught by the House ghosts and Peeves the poltergeist."
"Theo you are like a Hermione for clubs."
"Hey! Hermione is awesome but Merlin! she is bossy"
"Daphne?"
"Same as you Harry. Not made up my mind yet. Mum wants me to try out for Duelling and MDA, and daddy was pushing me to be a Chess club member in his last letter. They both are so passionate about their clubs and societies even more than their houses Ravenclaw and Slytherin. I was thinking of Art and Photography club.
Tracey for sure would be joining the school newspaper 'Hogwarts Herald'"
"I think there are clubs or classes which only upper years can take, right?" Harry asked Theo.
"Yes, there is ancient studies, enchantment, spell-crafting, Warding, Healing, Alchemy, Advance Arithmancy, Animagus training and the Mind Arts which the Headmaster and Snape teach together.
For them, you need OWLs in certain subjects with very good grades. They are more like optional career electives for NEWT and OWL students in the fourth year. Though Animagus Training and Ancient studies are open for third years."
The surprises kept on coming when it came to the variety Hogwarts offered. "Can anyone start their own club as well?" Harry inquired but Daphne answered before Theo,
"Students can start their own clubs provided they have at least five members and the founding member should be a fifth-year or above. There are other terms and conditions but I am not aware of them."
Theo then added "There are also some who convert abandoned classrooms for study groups which are like unofficial clubs. My cousin Lydia Rowel did that with her friends in her second year."
'That would be a fun project to do with Bells and Pig' Was Harry's last thought before he entered the Defence classroom.
AN: Chapter is done. Hopefully, I was able to do justice to Harry and Slytherins. There is no actual hate and antagonism against any house and I barely avoided Snape bashing.b