AN: The first Potions class. A better confrontation with Snape is still coming!

***DNMCY1***

The first week of classes went by in the blink of an eye. Professor McGonagall did not tolerate shenanigans in her classroom, and while Flitwick, the Charms teacher, was somewhat excitable, falling from his stack of books when he came across Harry Potter's name, once he got down to business he showed that he had his subject down pat.

Binns from History of Magic, on the other hand, while he might know a bit about history, had the world's most boring voice to try and get his point across. He must have been like that before dying as well. It was a shame, really, because history was fascinating. Well, more fascinating if you could live it, but still. She'd love a module comparing Magical with Mundane history, because she refused to believe wizards could exist in a vacuum, much as they might want to.

Just look at that Grindelwald war they talked about during the Welcome Feast. So many victims made by Hitler, and he barely warranted a footnote in the magical history books.

Herbology with professor Sprout was interesting enough, although Donna didn't have a green thumb now any more than she did before. She did like the matronly woman, who seemed like the type of person who could bring out the best in everyone.

Before she knew it, Friday rolled around and they had their first Potions class, together with Slytherin. The group naturally divided along the House line, with the Slytherins taking the right side of the classroom and the Gryffindors the left.

Sitting next to Hermione, Donna looked around at the various glass jars standing on shelves along the wall. They seemed to contain animals, although she'd rather not guess which ones. Some even looked like embryos. She hoped they were not going to use those in this class.

Shortly after they were all seated, professor Snape entered the classroom and immediately took the roll call. Right after Donna Noble, he paused for a moment.

"Ah yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new... celebrity."

Donna frowned. There was real malice in the way he said that, as if Harry had personally offended him. Hard to believe, that. He was a nice kid, if a bit shy and awkward.

After the roll call, he started a speech that sounded as if he used it every year, ending with a lovely little insult to the classroom in general. Charming.

And then he went back to glaring at Harry, asking him about asphodel and wormwood. The boy looked perplexed, while Hermione's hand shot up into the air. Donna saw Snape's eyes flick over to the girl and then back at Harry. She reached out and took Hermione's wrist, bringing her hand down. The girl looked startled for a moment, shooting her a questioning look.

"Not now," whispered Donna. She didn't want to say more, in case Snape heard her.

When Harry admitted to not knowing the answer, Snape asked about a bezoar. Donna wasn't sure, but she thought he might just be making up words at this point. Maybe not, though, considering the way Hermione was quivering in her seat. Donna could see her hand itching to shoot back up, but she managed to restrain herself admirably.

Again, Harry had to confirm his ignorance, and Snape immediately followed it up with the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane. Finally, a question Donna knew the answer to! Only thanks to the benefit of her many years, though. She wouldn't have known that the first time she was 11, either.

Hermione was practically bouncing in her seat now, but a warning elbow in her side calmed her down a little.

"I don't know," Harry said for the third time. "I think someone else might have the answer, though. Why don't you try Hermione?"

Oh, backtalk. She couldn't even blame the boy, she'd have done the same thing if she'd been singled out like that. Snape wouldn't like it though, as evidenced by the point he took from Gryffindor for cheek.

With a wave of his wand, instructions appeared on the blackboard, and he told them to gather supplies and get to work. Really? That was it? Literally their first class and not a word about theory? Basic safety precautions? Proper tool maintenance? Alright then.

While she worked together with Hermione, she decided her impression from the beginning of class was right. Snape had it out for Harry, with an intensity that seemed unwarranted for what little interaction they'd had in the first week of school.

"Why did you stop me raising my hand earlier?" Hermione whispered when Snape was busy at the other end of the classroom and they had to wait for five minutes before stirring anti-clockwise.

"There was no way he was going to let you answer. He was trying to humiliate Harry. Might as well save yourself the trouble. How did you know the answers to his questions anyway?"

"Oh, I read about it. I think it might have been the third year syllabus?"

"You've already got the third year books? Nevermind, not the important part. The point is, you don't think it strange that he'd ask a first year a question from a third year book?"

Before Hermione could answer, a hissing sound came from behind, followed by acid green smoke. In short order, Snape had banished the mess, Neville was being led to the hospital wing, and Harry had been docked another point for not warning Neville, because... she didn't know, he should have been paying attention to two cauldrons or something?

"Oh, we have to stop each other making mistakes, when some of us have never made a potion before in our lives? Silly me, I thought we had a teacher for that."

Snape, who had gone to the front of the class, had evidently heard. He whirled around and narrowed his eyes at her. "That will be one point for insolence, miss Noble."

She gave him an unimpressed stare. She had a point, and he knew it. You could not expect first years to know in their first lesson when someone else made a mistake. Especially if you weren't going to explain anything to them.

After the lesson, Donna dragged Hermione with her to McGonagall's office. She wondered again how the woman could be there now. With her schedule, she ought to not even have time for sleep, let alone down-time from teaching.

Then she pushed the thought away as unimportant. She was on a mission.

"Enter," professor McGonagall's voice said after Donna had knocked. She was sitting behind her desk, but she put down her quill when she saw the two girls.

"Miss Noble, miss Granger. How can I help you?"

Donna approached the desk, while Hermione stayed a step behind. "I want to lodge a formal complaint against a teacher. What is the proper procedure for this?"

Professor McGonagall leaned back and pursed her lips in displeasure. "I know your schedule, miss Noble. I can guess the teacher. Please tell me what happened."

And so she explained – about the third year questions, and the scathing remarks that apparently had to pass for teaching, about the accident and how Snape apparently expected a first year to monitor his peers.

Professor McGonagall wrote everything down and had her sign the document. She promised to talk to professor Snape about his behaviour, although he would not hear who had complained.

Despite that promise, Donna had a sinking feeling that she would be lodging more complaints before the term was over. Perhaps it was not much, and one complaint – or several coming from one source – might not lead to any action, but if nobody said anything, that would definitely have the same outcome.

If nobody listened to an 11-year-old, she could always get Jack and Archie to kick up a fuss. Archie for his contacts in the wizarding world, and Jack because he usually got what he wanted when he ratcheted up the charm. Or maybe they could help her figure out a different solution.