Chapter Six: Snape, Snape. Severus Snape.

(Author's Note: Thank You to the video on YouTube called Potter Puppet Pals: The Mysterious Ticking Noise for the chapter title idea!)

Athena woke on Thursday, just as she had for the past four days that week. But, she did so with an unlimited amount of trepidation. Why, you may ask? Well, today was the day that she and the rest of the Ravenclaw first years would have their first-ever potions lesson with Professor Snape, who she heard had a huge rivalry with her biological father when they were in school. He would most certainly carry that rivalry over to her. She had also heard that he had a nasty habit of quizzing first years on their first day of potions class, so she had read ahead the night before and also reviewed her notes from when Ben Franklin tutored her.

Soon after lunchtime, the first year Ravenclaws and first year Hufflepuffs made their way down to the drafty dungeons, and sat down in their desks, with their things at the ready. Not a minute after the bell had rung, a greasy-haired man in black billowing robes stomped into the classroom, slamming the door behind him. He made his way to his desk, and began to speak:

"There will be no foolish wand-waving, or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art of this potion making. However, for those select few, who possess the predisposition. I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death, if you aren't the usual bunch of dunderheads I have to teach. MISS POTTER!"

"Yes Professor?" Athena looked up.

"Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Athena racked her brains. She knew this, she just knew it. Ben had taught it to her a month before she left for Hogwarts. "The Draft of Living Death sir. It is the most powerful sleeping potion ever."

"Correct. Where would you look if I told you to find a bezoar?"

Athena thought for a minute. "In the student cupboards, most likely. But in a wilderness setting, in the stomach of a goat. They can cure most poisons."

"And what is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?"

"There is no difference, sir. They are also the same plant, known as Aconite."

Snape was shocked. Hardly any first years ever got those questions correct. Yet here was a Potter getting them right. He supposed Athena must've inherited more of Lily than he originally thought. Looking around, he noticed that the rest of the class was staring at her in shock.

"Correct as well. Clearly you have not let the fame get to your head. Well, why aren't the rest of you copying that down?" He barked at the rest of the class, who immediately scrambled for quills and parchment.

Later that day, at the staff meeting…

Filius Flitwick sat on one of the many couches in the Teacher's Lounge, chatting with Minerva about the classes. Minerva was telling him all about how Miss Potter-Washington was always the first to succeed in practically everything she asked them to do. In a couple chairs beside the couch, Aurora and Bathsheda were playing a round of the muggle card game Go Fish (Aurora was winning.) Quirinus was muttering to himself in a corner. Severus, meanwhile, was sitting in one of the puffy chairs, grading the first year Ravenclaw-Hufflepuff essays. Unsurprisingly, Pomona and Rolanda were gossiping. Albus stepped into the room, and everyone quieted down.

"Our usual evening festivities concluded, I would now like to call this staff meeting to order. How are classes going?"

"Good!" Chorused the staff.

"Excellent!" Exclaimed Albus, clapping his hands together. "I would like to inquire as to what students have caught everyone's interests. Let's start with the Heads of Houses first. Minerva?"

"Well, while all my Gryffindors are exemplary students-"

"As if." Snorted Severus. Minerva glared at him and continued,

"I would have to say, there are a few that stand out to me, for good or for bad. One of the students who stands out to me is one Neville Longbottom."

"Neville? Why is that, Min?" Asked Pomona, curious as to why Minerva would take an interest in the son of two of Pomona's most favorite students.

"It seems as if young Mister Longbottom could do great things, but he has a bit of a self-confidence issue. I don't know why, or how, but I have the feeling that he will do great things one day."
"Well, then, Minerva. Thank you for that insight. Filius? Are there any other students that pique your interest? Surely there must be some." Albus said, eyeing the charms master.

"As Minnie ("Don't call me that, Filius!") put it quite simply, all my Ravens are, as usual, exemplary. There are two, however that I am extremely proud of." Filius told the staff.

"And, who, pray tell, are those students?" Drawled Severus, looking up from his grading.

"Athena Washington-Potter and her friend, Flora Franklin."

Filius then went on to explain what made them so great, but then decided to tell the staff about a run-in he had had Tuesday evening with Miss Washington on the seventh floor corridor, where he had overheard Athena playing her violin. The staff room fell silent when he finished his tale, and each pondered the meaning of this discovery. What could it mean?

After he listened to Filius' tale, Dumbledore wondered if music could be the Power the Dark Lord Knows Not that was described by Sybil's prophecy. Only time would tell, he decided.

Only time would tell.

In the FIrst Year Ravenclaw Girls' Dormitory…

While the staff was meeting, Athena was sitting on her bed, pondering the outcome of the day. She pondered many things, including what the manipulative old fool she was supposed to call her Headmaster wanted to do with her, why Professor Quirrell stuttered so much, and what George was doing at the present time. She decided to write down the week's events in her journal.

Day Book of Athena Abigail Washington

September 6, 2011

Well, my first few weeks in the future have been going pleasantly. I spent the last month of summer at the Leaky Cauldron in Diagon Alley, learning about the new world I have been thrown into: Wizarding and Muggle Britain. I have been astounded with my findings.

Anyway, my first week at Hogwarts is almost over, and I am mostly pleased with it so far. I have made a few good friends: Flora Franklin (Is she related to Ben?), Hermione Granger (I sat with her on the train.), Anthony Goldstein, Su Li, and Penelope Clearwater. My classes are going well. I think that by the end of the year, I will be top in all my classes.

Though, earlier in this entry I mentioned I was MOSTLY pleased with my findings. (Key word: Mostly.) The only things I am not pleased with are a) the prejudice running rampant in Wizarding Britain and b) the manipulative fool of a Headmaster, Albus Too Many Names Dumbledore.

Dumbles seems to think that I will bend easily to his will, but I will not. You see, growing up with the General of the Continental Army has given me a backbone, which is something Dumbles does not want me to have. Well, sucks for him! He even has the gall to try to manipulate me! Dumbles thinks that I do not know that he is a manipulative old oaf, but think again, Mister! I can see right through that! I swear, I will transfer schools if he goes too far!

Anyway, I am no closer than I was before to make a plan for getting the Continental Congress to agree to send reinforcements to Dad. Hopefully this summer I can work on them.

-Athena Abigail Washington, Signing off.

Athena closed her journal, and turned off her bedside lamp.

She was asleep five seconds later.


END OF CHAPTER


Author's Note: Hey guys! Since it is George Washington's birthday today, I am trying to upload as many chappies as humanly possible. I also have started planning out the sequel to this, which will cover Athena's summer. The sequel will be called Athena Washington and the Song of Summer. It will cover Athena's attempts throughout the summer to convince the Continental Congress to help out George's army, and is where the main elements of the musical 1776 will come into play.

The next book in the series will cover year two, or what is known in Canon as the Chamber of Secrets. Year two will be called: Athena Washington and Salazar's Legacy. The summer after year two will not get it's own separate book, so we will launch the story right into year three, which will be called Athena Washington and the Year Everyone Ignored Voldemort. (I know, creative right?) The titles for the next four years after that are undecided as of right now. And yes, the Triwizard Tournament will still happen in year four. That is also when Pairings will start to bloom.

Disclaimer: I do not own Harry Potter, Potter Puppet Pals, or the musical 1776.