A/N: I don't own Harry Potter

This is for the Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry

Assignment #6, Herbology - Task #2:Write about someone who seems scary/mean/menacing/etc but is perfectly harmless.

Writing Club October

Amber's Attic: 11- The Winchester Mystery House, San Jose, California: Write about a family curse. Alt: Write about building something

Press Play: 16- Professor!AU

Liza's Loves: 6 - Life Domain - Write about someone helping someone in need.

Angel's Archives: 14 - Murder Loves Company - write about a bond between friends threatened/threatening to break / alt. write about the awkward tension between two or more characters.

Scamander's Case: 7 - (class) potions

Warning: Mentions bullying

Word Count: 1059

Professor Millicent Bulstrode glared down at the group of Gryffindor first years. She could see the fear in their eyes as they watched her stroll around the potions lab. This was her first year teaching potions.

"Now, can someone tell me what the Draught of Living Death is?" she asked loudly, her voice echoing through the dungeon. She had taken over the old potions lab since it was the safest place in the castle to brew. One of the first years, a girl named Dani, made a squeaking sound and seemed to try to be trying to shrink under the table. Millicent blinked.

"No one?" she asked wishing she wasn't so much bigger than the students. She couldn't help the fact she was tall and broad. That was a trait she'd inherited from her father. The loud voice was from years of being overlooked and ignored during her time in school.

"Very well, the Draught of Living Death," she started to explain when a loud crash echoed through the room. One of the students had managed to knock their cauldron to the floor.

I bet Professor Snape never had this much trouble, Millicent thought as she walked over to the student. The child, a boy it appeared, shrank back from her. She gave him a smile and gently picked the cauldron up.

"There you go, Mister... Aberman?"

"Yes, Ma'am, are you going to take points, Ma'am?" he whispered still trembling.

"No, it was an accident. Despite what you seem to think, I am not going to take points for something like that. I am not Professor Snape and I would prefer if you didn't think about him or his methods during my class." She could see a few of the students glance at each other. She'd known taking this job would not be easy, not with the reputation Snape had had. She had a feeling many of these children had heard rumors of the man from their parents or older siblings. "Your cauldron doesn't appear damaged, now about the Draught of Living Death," she continued as she watched the children. They appeared to at least be pretending to pay attention to her.

The lesson finally ended with most of the Gryffindor first years still seeming to be terrified of her. She watched them leave, glancing over their shoulders at her, as if she might attack them. Slythrin Gryffindor relations has never been good, but this was getting out of hand!

"I heard she once crushed a giant in a wrestling match." Millicent blinked at the words. She'd just entered the Great Hall and apparently she was the latest subject of interest.

"No way, I heard she was part of You Know Who's inner circle!" Millicent looked around to try and find who was speaking. She'd never been a Death Eater and even helped fight them in the Battle of Hogwarts. If she could find the speaker, she might be tempted to take points for slander. Instead, she slid into her seat at the head table. Professor McGonagall gave her a sympathetic look.

"It will get better, Miss Bulstrode."

"I know, these kids have been through a lot. I just wish I could help them understand I'm not their enemy."

"You'll find a way. I have faith in that." Millicent smiled and nodded.

"I'm sure I will," she agreed as she started eating dinner while keeping an eye on the Gryffindor table.

Millicent made her way towards her chambers. She was living near the Slytherin dorms since she was their new Head of House. She had only gone to her office to grab a book. As she started down the stairs, she heard the sound of someone crying. She paused thinking maybe it was one of the ghost, but the sound sounded too human. She followed it until she reached an abandoned classroom. She gently pushed the door open. Sitting against one of the walls was a small child in Gryffindor robes. She had had her face buried in her arms.

"Hello? Are you alright?" The girl raised her head slightly. She sniffled loudly. Millicent handed her a tissue. The girl blew her nose.

"Thank you, Professor Bulstrode," she whispered.

"You're welcome, Miss Brinks, is it?"

"Yes, Ma'am."

"What's wrong?"

"Artie said my hair looked like straw and I should be a scarecrow and go stand out in a field somewhere," the girl stated. Millicent nodded.

"I see, is this the first time he has made fun of you?"

"No, Ma'am. Yesterday he tried to take my books and ink spilled on them, and they're ruined and I can't buy a new set. We don't have that much money."

"Do you have your books with you?" The girl nodded pulling out a bag and several ink stained books. Millicent looked at them and pulled out her wand. The girl scooted closer to the wall. Millicent waved her wand over the books and the ink slid off leaving them much less stained than before.

"You should be able to read them now, Miss Brinks. As for Artie Fulsont, I will be speaking wit his Head of House. Do you need a hall pass to return to the tower?"

"Yes, please," Miss Brinks whispered. Millicent nodded writing the girl a quick note and sending her on her way.

"Professor, thank you," she said before slipping out the door and disappearing into the hallway. Millicent smiled. This was why she'd become a teacher, to help the students. She made a quick stop at Professor Flitwick's office to tell him about the teasing.

The next morning, she noticed Ravenclaw, the house of Miss Brinks' tormentor, had lost some points. She smiled glad that things seemed to be getting taken care of. She nodded to the girl who was sitting with the rest of the Gryffindors.

"And she's really nice, she even gave me a note so I wouldn't get in trouble," she heard her saying to her friends. And that was the start of Millicent Bulstrode's first year teaching at Hogwarts, although some of the students still fled when she walked past, she now had one group of first year Gryffindors that came to her for advice. Soon other students followed their example and while she still wasn't particularly popular, she, at least, didn't strike fear in her students hearts by simply existing.