Report to the Board of Governors, Hogwarts School of Magic, for 1986-87.
Potions — Severus Snape
… that despite the chaos the accident caused, the Potions classroom had been restored by the end of the week, and classes were barely disrupted. As no students were injured and the explosion has been determined as the results of a student not following instructions, no disciplinary action has taken place. Professor Snape has adjusted the school curriculum (in consultation with the Board) so that the brewing of Doxycide is no longer taught before fifth year.
However, the School still managed excellent results in Potions in both NEWTs and OWLs, with several students going on to careers in alchemy and magical elixirs.
Professor Snape's disciplinary style, whilst strict, seems to be what's needed to keep students under control in that classroom. Certainly, with all those dangerous ingredients around, it is necessary to have someone keeping the students strictly in check.
Article in the Daily Prophet, September 1987.
Gordon Drummond and Sarah Buttle, students who finished their NEWTS this year with high marks in Potions, have started a company called "Lavish" to sell beauty products to the Muggle market by mail. The Ministry will be keeping a close eye on their venture to ensure that no actual magic is sold to the Muggles, but there is no reason why this should not turn out to be an excellent collaboration between the two societies. Both Mr Drummond and Miss Buttle attribute the success of their products to the rigorous training in Potions they received at Hogwarts, and the willingness of the students to be "guinea pigs" in testing the products.
Excerpt from the diary of Severus Snape, August 1987
And of course that House Cup looks rather pretty draped in green. I could get used to that.
Of all the dunderheads and dolts I've had to deal with, Shunpike is the worst I have ever had to teach. I swear he left something in the cauldron before the third-years came in for their lesson. Thank Merlin the worst casualties were Weasley Secundus's eyebrows and that foolish girl Tonks' hair. From the way the Weasley brat went on about it, you'd think he had his eyebrows burned off every week. Narcissa was concerned about her niece, but the hair grew out fast enough, although the girl insists on keeping it short. Probably a good idea. She's clumsier than Maddock ever was.
That Flint boy, though — Shunpike knocked a flask off the bench and Flint caught it before it hit the floor. I think I'll try him out for the Quidditch team next year.
Best moment: catching Tonks and younger Weasley in the girls' bathroom. (Thanks to Myrtle for the tipoff). Gloves. Vaseline. What were they thinking?
Second best moment: the look on Weasley Secundus's face when I told him that mixing the permanency potion into the hair dye Tonks was using on him had backfired, and that he was stuck with purple hair for a month. And watching Tonks rub her hand across her face, forgetting she had on a glove covered in hair dye. Shame she could change her own complexion to match the purple eyebrows.
Worst moment: Finding an old photograph of Lily and thinking for a moment that she might come back.