Hey hey hey! Hope you had a great New Year.
If the whole story about Snape's son had hit me earlier, I may have timed one of the coming ep- eh, chapters to fall on the first day of the year that are going to be more… well fun, considering our Mr. Rasmus' favourite past time. No, I'm not going to tell now. ;)
So, after the first few strokes of darkness looming around, let's get down to school business shall we?
Onwards! Chapter 5.
***
Potions was taught by a rather young-looking bespectackled witch, petite and thin with potion-stained hands and a huge dark brown apron when in session or brewing, which she was when Rasmus entered to take the test to grant him access to higher Potions classes.
"Come, come, come," she said in a brusque tone, waving him further in.
Rasmus obeyed, glancing around him. This was still the dungeons, just like his father had described the location of his classrooms to be, but it was completely different than any of the photos or descriptions he had grown up with. Instead of the gloomy and drab, half-lit atmosphere, there was abundant light everywhere of a warm yet white colour. The stone walls stood out in high relief, their surfaces barely visible from the paintings, shelves and various other things hanging on them, giving the classroom a homely, almost cozy sense of ease- but not relaxation.
The light was strong, making it easy for the eyes to focus- but it also left no shadow in which to hide. Also, the work benches were rearranged in a large circular layout that made all the students- and their work- face to the centre and able to look at each other. And most of all, Rasmus assessed immediately, it would allow the professor easy access anywhere, at any time, with virtually nothing to escape her glance.
He glanced at her as she was bent over her cauldron. She was watching him, too, with a neutral expression.
"Approach, what are you waiting for? I want you to look at this."
She had olive green eyes and auburn hair that promised to be scary if unleashed, twisted up in a turkeytail. Rasmus hurried over and looked at the simmering potion. The professor allowed him a moment, then asked:
"What do you suppose this is?"
"Hm…" Rasmus contemplated. The bubbling surface was a serene rich blue, and there was the stimulating smell of eucalyptus wafting from it. "I think it is some sort of tonic, or healing potion," he said.
"How do you surmise that?" the professor further asked, watching him the whole time.
"Well, healing potions tend to be viscous, like this… and eucalyptus is used mostly in anything that's stimulating the heart, or easing breathing, or generally easing pain and fever," Rasmus shrugged.
The professor smiled.
"That's quite right," she nodded. "This is an Invigoration Draught. Why don't you go over there and brew me one just like this, and after that we can decide on what truly interesting thing you can do for me to grant you entrance in my Advanced Potions class, shall we?" she waved her wand and the appropriate cauldron and stirring stick popped on one of the desks. "Feel free to pick through the shelves and hooks on the walls to find your ingredients."
Rasmus could not help smiling back. He had a good feel for teachers, and he knew that while this one would be tough, she would be incredibly fun as well.
"Sure. Thank you," he nodded and turned to the bench.
"By the way, Mr. Snape," she used his name for the first time, "I am Professor Erna Frideswide. I do hope you will make the cut."
"I will," Rasmus said with simple assertiveness.
***
The Potions test finished, Rasmus walked out into the empty castle corridors feeling rejuvenated, just like every time he completed a task he enjoyed doing. And the professor had been good to offer him a choice between three projects with a deadline of August 29. Three projects that were interesting and challenging, and Rasmus felt like doing them all just for the fun of it.
His legs seemed to make him float towards the next floor, his shoes' heels tapping to a tune that had refused to go out of his head from the moment he began brewing- I Won't Dance- and energy made him thirst for the next test in the schedule, Defense against the Dark Arts. He chuckled to himself, and for the whole while he nearly danced his way to the classroom, everything truly was right in the world; it always was after a potion well brewed, a spar-duel well played, a book review well done.
He opened the door after knocking, pulling out his wand, a smile still playing at his lips.
"Impedimenta!"
Rasmus barely had time to jump out of the way like a panicked frog, eyes wide. What was that?
But the man in the room still growled, pointing his wand at him again:
"Confringo!"
"Protego!" Rasmus shouted now that the first moment of surprise had passed, and then after the curse smashed against his shield harmlessly, without thinking about it much further he cried:
"Stupefy! Petrificus Totalis!"
The two spells flew in quick succession, forcing the man to allow Rasmus a moment of respite while his attacker busily protected himself from both.
"Tarantallegra!" Rasmus added after having taken cover behind a sizeable set of office cupboards. Still his mind was reeling. Was this the test or had he gotten the wrong room, the one where they kept the nutters in?
Suddenly, the cupboard shrunk from in front of him, just in time to allow a careening leg locking curse to hit him. He toppled with a thud.
"Attack a teacher, do you, Mr. Snape," came the rather jeering tone of the man as he approached, but Rasmus was not done, gritting his teeth at getting caught like an idiot.
"Expelliarmus!" he snarled though his legs had locked together and there was no hope for him to get up off the floor anytime soon. The man's eyes widened and he made an evading move, and the curse barely missed- but miss it did. The man flicked his wand, lightning fast, and the Impediment curse took any hope of winning away.
"You don't give up in a duel," the man said thoughtfully. He was well in his fifties, of obvious Asian descent, with dark hair and eyes. He was not too tall, but well built. There were scars across his face, like one side of it had been grated against something. "And you have reflexes. Not very inventive though, are you, although I wager your dark-dabbling father must have taught you a ton of curses, mmm? The first thing you should have done, Mr. Snape, would be to ensure my wand would be unreachable to me-not making me dance the jig, but still able to use my hands and mouth."
Rasmus simply glared. The man arched an eyebrow, then clicked his tongue and flicked his wand.
"Finite. Get up."
Rasmus did, clamping his mouth shut almost stubbornly. He couldn't deny that what the man was saying was true; he dueled for the fun of it, not to save his life. Wasn't that what he'd always been told back in Athens? He would have agreed with the man and been respectful-
…but nobody sneered at his parents' memory.
The man was circling him, as if appraising him.
"So, why do you want more advanced DADA than fifth year? Do you fancy yourself better than others? Or are you eager to single yourself out for some obscure elitist and violent prone group that I should know about? Preferably before it yields the next Dark Lord?"
"Are you trying to goad me into talking back to you, sir?" Rasmus managed to keep his voice calm, but his knuckles around his wand whitened again.
"I am asking you to answer my question," the man said. "Answer it."
Rasmus exhaled in moderation.
"No, sir, I am not affiliated nor am I interested in becoming so with any sort of obscure, elitist and violent prone group, known or unknown. I do not intent on ever officially becoming a wand-happy, wand-abusing and curse-delirious simpleton that attacks minors or adults, either."
The man grinned a little- it was not a happy grin or a satisfied one, but rather a feral one set on an opponent.
"I see. Answer my question then, and become more adept in conversation than you are at dueling."
Don't talk back. It's what he wants. He doesn't want you in advanced classes, he's trying to goad you out. He tried to school the silky irony out of his voice as he answered.
"Because as I understand it sir, the material covered in fifth year has already been covered in my school back in Athens, and I am interested in progressing further. I like to learn."
The man squinted his eyes at him, then snorted.
"Well, since you did hold out in a duel against me for the whole of five or so seconds, here is your assignment: On the last day of August, I will call you back in here and cast this curse at you. If you manage to shield or cancel it effectively, I will accept you in my Advanced class. Dismissed."
The man thrust a piece of paper in Rasmus' hand and then virtually shoved him out of the room and shut the door behind him. What the hell just happened? Rasmus couldn't help thinking, frowning to himself. He felt dampness on his back and forehead- he'd broken sweat, and he knew it was from nerves more than the exertion. He swallowed and glanced at the paper.
Research the curse 'Antahiga'.
Prof. Guiren Bai
Rasmus hadn't heard of the particular spell before. He shrugged and shoved the paper in his pocket. He'd handle this. He was good at research… and he had just gotten one good excuse for access to the restricted sections of the library.
The smile returned to the young man's lips, and he walked away to lunch whistling. It was not long before the bounce that made his heels clack to the rhythm returned to his gait, too.
***
And that's it for tonight! It is, after all, New Year's. But I introduced the two new professors (I hate adding multiple OCs, but I suppose it is necessary for post DH staff) that will be important to the story (along with others), and some more academic action.
Next time, we see Harry again, and what Nikos is up to… and some more stuff about important background. :)
Remi Hakvoort: Thank you! I hope you like this one, too.
Duj: Eventually, if something else doesn't happen, I expect she'll cave and just order him to spill the beans rather than just ask him.
Ctc:Yay! At least someone did except me! As for Severus, I guess it's harder to parent when you're a piece of canvas, but he'll sure try.
Tar heels superstar: wow! That sounds like quite the theory! But Rasmus was legitimately carried and given birth to by Aello.
Angelous369: Thanks! I am not sure that Severus could be brought back two years after his interment. But we'll see.
Till tomorrow! Review at will :D