Chapter Two
Remus, Sirius and James headed off to Potions after breakfast. Peter was horrible at Potions, and hadn't made it to NEWT level, so he took farewell with them in the Entrance Hall and went off to History of Magic.
"Can you believe he actually likes that subject?" said Sirius as the three of them started down the stairs into the dungeons. "I mean, being interested in History is one thing, but listening to that old geezer Binns droning on and on about goblin wars? I'll bet he'll die soon..."
"Well, I suppose he just likes it," Remus shrugged. "Not the goblin wars bits, perhaps, but the subject itself is interesting enough. It's just Binns who makes it boring."
"And our Wormtail is actually good at it!" James commented "He earned an E in his OWL. Hey, do you suppose he's the only one taking that class?"
"Don't be mean, James!" Remus berated him. "I'm sure Peter isn't the only one who's into History of Magic."
They reached the Potions dungeon and found themselves a table. They were relatively early, in spite of the late start. There were only a few other pupils in the classroom. One of them was Severus Snape, who sat alone at a table in the front, all his equipment already in front of him. He was hunched over his copy of Advanced Potion-Making, quill in hand.
"Look at Snivellus," Sirius whispered indiscreetly, nudging James. "What do you suppose he's doing? Editing his book? Pretty arrogant, don't you think?"
"I suppose he thinks he can make it better," James sneered. "Just because Slughorn thinks he's talented and has made him a part of that club of his he thinks he's a bloody genius at the subject…"
"Evans is in that club too, you know…" Sirius commented airily, inclining his head towards the door through which Lily Evans was just entering with a Ravenclaw girl by the name of Emily Roslinn.
"Shut up, Padfoot," James said softly, a half-smile on his face.
Soon after Professor Slughorn entered the dungeon. "Good morning, everyone," he said, placing a heavy stack of books on his desk. "Today we will be making a memory potion called a Soothing Solution. Can anyone tell me what this potion does? Miss Evans?"
"It's used to treat trauma," Lily said. "Its main effect is to reduce and dampen painful memories so that the patient's subconscious can deal with them without causing further stress to the patient."
"Correct, Miss Evans! Take five points. Now," said Slughorn, turning to the rest of his class, "this is a complex potion to brew alone, so you should team up two and two and do it together. Instructions are on page 340, you know where to find your ingredients. Ready, set, go!"
James tousled his hair with his hand and shouted across the classroom, "Evans! Team up with me?"
Lily looked up at him, cocked an eyebrow and then laughed humourlessly. "You can't be serious!" she retorted. "Come on, Emmy, let's go get the ingredients," she said to her friend.
Sirius raised an eyebrow at James.
"It was worth a try," said the other, shrugging. "You and me, then, Padfoot!"
Remus shook his head and laughed a bit. All was right with the world, it seemed.
"Lupin," came a voice from behind him. He turned around. "It seems we are the only two left without partners," said Severus Snape, plucking a stray strand of greasy, black hair away from his eyes.
Remus looked around. "Yes, so it seems," he replied, a little uncertainly.
"He's not teaming up with you!" Sirius cut in with a growl. "Moony, you can't partner with Snivellus!" Remus could hear him put as much venom as possible into the name.
"Fine, then," said Snape and turned around. "It was just a suggestion. I'm perfectly capable of making the potion by myself."
"I need a partner, Sirius!" said Remus a little angrily. "What did you have to go and insult him for? Hey, Snape! I'll team up with you!" he added, and Snape halted for a moment.
"Good," he said without turning around. "Bring your things over to my table; I'll get the ingredients."
Remus, ignoring Sirius' glare, did as he was told and gathered up his things to bring them over to Snape's table.
They worked quietly for most of the lesson, the only words being, "Can you pass that, please?" and "Chop these, would you?" Snape uttered most of them. It was clear, from the efficiency with which he worked, that he truly was as good as Slughorn thought he was.
Remus severed the flowers of the St. John's Wort from the stem with his knife and made to squeeze the juice from them when Snape grabbed his hand.
"Don't to that," he said. "We should add the whole flowers; the effect is greater that way."
"How do you know?" asked Remus.
"I made this potion at home last year," Snape replied. "Do you know the properties of St. John's Wort?"
"Er…" Remus began hesitantly.
"I thought not," Snape continued. "St. John's Wort is a powerful anti-depressant. Adding the whole flowers not only makes the potion better, but actually helps the patient to function in day-to-day life. It partially counters the effect of the Belladonna, which is sedative." He took the flowers from the table and dropped them into the cauldron, stirring carefully counter-clockwise a few times. "Depression often follows trauma," he added, as the potion turned deep crimson. Remus looked at the description in the book. The potion had turned the colour it was meant to be at this point in the process. Remus shrugged and returned to his ingredients.
As the last ingredients were added, Snape took a flask of something from his bag and made to pour some of its content into the cauldron.
"Hang on, now what are you adding?" asked Remus, putting a hand over the cauldron.
"Glumbumble fluid," Snape replied simply.
"But that's not even in the ingredients!" Remus said frantically.
"Of course it's not in the ingredients, Glumbumble fluid causes melancholy," said Snape. Remus opened his mouth to protest, but Snape cut him off. "However, I find that a small drop of it balances out the extra manic effect we get from using the whole flowers of the St. John's Wort." He looked up at Remus. "Just trust me, will you? Anyway, if I'm wrong you can tell Slughorn what I did. Then he'll only fail me for the day. You'll be fine."
He added a drop of the Glumbumble fluid, and the potion fizzed for a moment. Then it turned clear, pale pink, and after Snape had stirred in it a few times, he declared it finished.
Slughorn inspected their potion thoroughly and then smiled. "Excellent work, boys!" he said. "This potion is absolutely perfect. Ten points to Gryffindor and Slytherin respectively. Leave a sample on my desk and vanish the rest, will you? Then you're free to go!"
"I'll get the sample, could you put the ingredients back in the cupboard?" Snape asked Remus. The latter shrugged and gathered the leftover ingredients. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Snape take first one sample, which he discretely put in his pocket, and then another one, which he labelled and placed on the table in plain sight. As Remus went off to the store cupboard, Snape muttered, "Evanesco," and the remaining content vanished from the cauldron.
When Remus returned he gathered his things and he and Snape exited the classroom together. Remus could feel Sirius glaring daggers at his back, but resolutely ignored him.
"So, how did you know about the ingredients?" Remus asked conversationally as he and Snape left the room.
"Like I said, I've done it before," Snape replied. "I've tested it and made modifications based on my knowledge of the ingredients. The good thing about potions is that if they look the way they're supposed to, they work like they're supposed to as well."
Remus decided not to enquire any further into why he had made it or whom he had tested it on. Instead he smiled. "I knew you were good, but Merlin, you're a right bloody genius at this subject, aren't you?"
Snape shrugged. "I don't know about genius," he said indifferently. "It's a hobby, I suppose."
Remus raised an eyebrow in his direction. "A hobby?" he commented. "You are strange, Snape."
Snape frowned. "No stranger than you, I'm sure. How come you miss so many classes all the time?" He glanced sideways at the other. Remus looked away.
"I have poor health. I get ill easily," he replied. "I'm just like that."
They walked in silence for a bit longer, until they reached a fork in the corridor. "Well, I'm going to my Common Room," said Snape. "Stairs up are that way."
"I know," said Remus. "I suppose I'll see you later."
Snape didn't answer, but headed off towards his Common Room in silence. Remus turned towards the stairs.
There was something strangely fascinating about Severus Snape. Something in the way he didn't seem to care about anything. But his black eyes had a spark to them most didn't notice, perhaps because he rarely if ever looked people in the eye.
Had he figured out Remus' secret? Was that where this sudden interest was coming from? Remus shook his head as he emerged into the Entrance Hall and was greeted by daylight once more. Sirius was probably right. The only reason why Snape didn't seem to have much against him was because he didn't take sides. He was that desperate to be liked by everyone…
Then again, it seemed to be working. Remus decided not to dwell on it, and went to the library to work on an essay. It would all turn out in the end.