A/N School is beginning to get hectic, so I am sorry if you all have to wait longer.
Thank you all for the many views on my story. I honestly expected nobody to read this. Another thanks to the reviews on the story . They have given me some ideas for later in the series. *Smiles mischievously*
Enjoy the chapter!
Chapter 4: A snarky professor
H.J.P
Sweat trickled down Harry's brow while he woke with a start in the early hours of the morning in Gryffindor tower. He was muttering incoherent words before he could fully grasp where he was, his nightmare still fresh in his mind. He looked around wearily and remembered that he was at Hogwarts in his dorm instead of back in his cupboard under the stairs.
Harry's dorm mates were all fast asleep and with Ron's snores echoing beside him, he knew he would never get back to sleep. What's a few hours less of sleep anyway? It's not like he wasn't used to it anyways.
He grabbed his potion textbook and silently slipped out of the room. The fire in the common room was still roaring despite no one else being there so he settled on a plush maroon armchair close to the flames to read his textbook.
He was so engrossed in his book that he didn't notice that the sun had fully risen and it was just after 7 until he saw some other kids groggily walking down the stairs to the common room. Before they went to bed last night, the Prefects told them that breakfast was at 7:30-8:45 and that classes started at 9 so Harry decided to gather all of his stuff he would need for the day and left the common room through the portrait of the fat lady.
As Harry entered the Great Hall, he noticed that there were little to no students in the hall, only a few Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. He sat down at the Gryffindor table at the end closest to the door.
Even though he had seen it last night at the feast, he was still taken aback when the food magically appeared on his plate. He ate little, knowing that if he ate more than he was used to, his stomach definitely wouldn't agree with it.
More and more people came for breakfast as 8 o'clock rolled around and Harry soon found himself sitting with Ron and Hermione. He pushed his food around on his plate while they talked about what classes they might have today.
"I hope we don't have a potion lesson today, my brothers told me that Snape can be a real git to us Gryffindors," Ron stated before saying "Look at him now."
All three Gryffindors turned to the head table to see Snape scowling at some older students down the table. Harry was unsure what to think of him since he remembered Draco telling him on the train that Snape was his Godfather.
Professor McGonagall began handing out timetables to the Gryffindors. When she handed the trio their timetables, Harry noticed they had a double potion lesson with the Slytherins first up. He heard Ron huff beside him as he looked at his timetable and threw it down on the table. Harry looked towards the Slytherin table to see Draco observing the other first-year Gryffindors which consisted of Dean, Seamus, Neville, Ron, Hermione, Lavender, Parvati and himself.
He caught Draco's eye and they both gave each other a sad smile, knowing that despite being friends, no one could know. It was sad but since when was life ever fair. Just as Goyle turned his head to face Draco, his face had returned to a complete stone expression.
Many people began to leave the Great Hall to prepare for class and after much persuasion from Hermione, the trio followed suit shortly after. It was a bit of a walk to the dungeons and they took at least three wrong turns but they finally found themselves standing opposite the classroom, standing as far away as possible from the Slytherins.
After a minute or two, the door swung open and everyone walked in but not without a few pushes and shoves.
Both Ron and Harry moved to sit at the back but Hermione forced them to the front row with Neville. After everyone settled in their seats, the door of the classroom slammed open and the tall dark-robed Potion master strode in.
Snape started the class by taking the roll call, and he paused at Harry's name.
"Ah, yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new—celebrity."
Silence echoed his statement.
Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class. His eyes were onyx, they were cold and empty and made you think that he was staring into your soul.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word—like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping students silent without effort.
"As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death—if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."
More silence followed that little speech.
"Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
I know this, it makes the Draught of Living Death, a powerful sleeping potion.
Harry was about to answer when he heard a voice that sounded like his uncle stopped him cold. 'You ungrateful little freak. How dare you get better grades than our Dudders. If this ever happens again you're going to regret it, boy.' Those words ringed in Harry's ears. " I don't know sir." He replied quietly.
Snape's lip curled into a sneer. "Tut Tut - fame clearly isn't everything." Hermione's hand was high in the air but Snape took no notice. " Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find a bezoar?"
The stomach of a goat. Obviously.
"I don't know sir."
"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter." Harry couldn't help thinking back to primary school. He would get bad grades and the teachers would ignore him but Snape was different for some reason. "What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
Harry scoffed mentally. They were the same plant. "I don't know."
"For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons." He paused then said smoothly "Malfoy, kindly inform Potter about monkshood and wolfsbane."
Draco smirked slightly and said, "They are the same plant and also known as aconite."
"10 points to Slytherin." Snape smirked then barked "Why are you not copying this down!"
Potion's class continued but things only got worse for the Gryffindors. Snape stalked down the aisles between the desks and breathed heavily down all the Gryffindors necks which made it harder to concentrate. Harry made a few mistakes and rough cuts to his ingredients to make his potion average which got him some death glares and being mocked but he was fairing better than Neville. His potion exploded, which earned him a detention.
Finally, the class came to a close and Harry, along with classmates, rushed to their next class but he couldn't help but wonder if faking his grades was worth it anymore.
R&R!
