Chapter 12, History, Potions and the Transfiguration Courtyard
"speech" – speech
^speech^ - parseltongue
speech – non-verbal speech
'words' - written
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They were fifty five minutes late when they found the History of Magic class. Unfortunately it seemed that this would be the trio's worst class. Neither Harry nor Hermione knew much about Wizarding History; both having failed to memorize the book. Ron however disagreed with nearly everything the teacher said.
Professor Binns was a ghost and, in the nature of ghosts, he didn't except change. While one might think that history never changes they would be very wrong. What you see in history class is affected by your culture, your beliefs and recent history. The history of the goblin wars should have been taught differently since goblins became allies to wizards however Binns was still using old bigoted lesson plans.
What was worse was that the twins were right that Binns never thought to make things interesting. His class seemed to be comprised of him read out loud from the textbook. By the end of the lesson Harry and Hermione had started to read the textbook by themselves, quicker and less mind numbing, while Ron chose to plan out his next training session.
In Harry's mind History of Magic would become study hall for them. When he learned silencing spells he might even be able to cast one on Professor Binns without him noticing, then they would be able to study in peace.
After that failure of a class, Harry pulled Hermione and Ron to follow Lisa, Morag and Terry who at least looked like they knew where the potions room was. It was only a short ten minutes before they managed to clamber into the classroom. Harry breathed a sigh of relief as he realised they were the first ones there.
Professor Snape looked up from his work and gave them all a glare while ordering them to find seats. Lisa and her friends took the second row seats this time, no doubt scared of the Professor. Harry followed Ron and Hermione's lead in taking the seats behind them.
The room was eerily cold and felt rather like a cheap horror movie set. The walls seemed to be lined with glowing green jars, the only source of light Harry could see, that were filled with pickled dead animals. Harry felt the air around them grow suddenly warmer and looked over to see Ron staring at Hermione's hand in shock. He hadn't seen it but Harry was sure that Hermione had used a wandless heating charm. Harry gave his friends a look to remind them where they were.
The trio had only just managed to unload their books when the door swung open yet again. Only instead of the rest of the Ravenclaws there was, what appeared to be, the whole load Hufflepuff first years. Vaguely Harry remembered the Headmaster saying that Potions was a double class.
Snape once again barked the order and the Hufflepuffs nervously filled in the opposite side of the room. Clearly the Hufflepuffs preferred the company of their own. It took another five minutes for the rest of Ravenclaw to arrive. As they hastily sat down in the front row, without a word being spoken to them, the Slytherin Head finally addressed the class;
"I'll allow that this is only your third class however you must all be aware that I will not tolerate tardiness from this moment on," he said smoothly.
The class nodded and Harry expected the teacher to continue lecturing them or to introduce himself however Professor Snape simply picked up a sheet of paper a called the roll. At Harry's name he paused, expression still unrecognisable, before continuing without comment.
Once the roll was called the Slytherin Head stood and moved to the centre of the room and spoke in a silkier tone, as if talking about a loved one, "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making. As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe that this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses … I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death."
Here the awed whisper left Professor Snape and he practically snarled at the class, "If you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach!"
Harry and Ron shared a grin over Hermione's head, after the last class, potions actually seemed worth-whiled.
"Potter!" the teacher suddenly snapped, black eyes studying him, "What would I get if powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Harry remembered reading something about that very situation but he hadn't spent as much time on the school texts as he should have. Suddenly Ron was in his head.
"The Draught of the Living Dead, sir," Harry outwardly echoed hoping that Ron wasn't messing him around.
The Professor didn't not react save to turn his onyx eyes to Hermione, "Granger, where would you look if I told you to find a bezoar?"
Hermione seemed uncommonly relaxed considering he knew that she hadn't even glanced at the text book. "A bezoar is a hard pellet made up of the indigestible matter in the stomach of an animal," there was a brief pause and Harry could feel Ron adding to her answer, "of course magic wise a goat's stomach would be best."
Professor Snape drawled out, "I asked you only for where to find it not what a bezoar is. Do not be so presumptuous in future." Dark looks were thrown to the professor. "Weasley," he snapped before anyone could argue the point, "What is the difference between wolfsbane and monkshood?"
Ron smirked slightly, "They are both common terms for the plant officially known as aconitum or aconite."
The professor sneered but eventually said, "Fifteen points to Ravenclaw but two points off for Miss Granger's arrogance. Now-"
The lesson continued much the same way with Professor Snape writing up the instructions to a boil-curing potion and snapping at students who talked over him. Harry realised quickly that potions was essentially cooking but far more precise. Hermione on the other hand was enraptured by the whole process and spent the ten minutes during which the professor was explaining looking up exactly why each ingredient had its effect.
Ron went and got three loads of ingredients as Harry and Hermione preheated all the cauldrons and filled them with water. As the water boiled and Ron started to return with the last group of things Hermione and Harry started to prepare the lacewings.
Suddenly Harry swore, Guys this potion needs to be stirred with our wands!
Hermione frowned at the board but Ron nodded his head, I can't believe you guys didn't read ahead. Don't worry, I'll stir all the cauldrons.
Harry and Hermione breathed a sigh of relief and sent their thanks.
In the end they didn't end up working on their own potions but collaborating as a group. Harry, who was growing annoyed with Hermione's slow deliberateness, took over the preparation of each ingredient. He simmered flobberworm mucus and chopped the tips off porcupine quills. Ron did a lot of the stirring and pouring. Hermione worked as a sort all round task manager letting Harry know what ingredients needed preparing next and telling Ron when one of the potions was ready for the next step.
At the end Hermione told Ron to keep it over the heat a while longer.
"But Hermione, its turning pink," Harry complained.
Both the board and the book clearly read that the potion needed to be heated until red.
"Weren't you listening to Professor Snape when he said that the lightest shade of red is best?" the wild haired witch scolded, "Honestly just make sure the potion is off the heat before it goes white and it'll be perfect."
It appeared rightly so as when they produced their potions to Professor Snape he gave Hermione a approving nod and said, "You three stay back a moment."
After everyone else was dismissed for lunch and the trio had packed up their belongings Professor Snape stalked over to their table.
"While I applaud your efforts do try to do your own work in my class from now on. Believe me that the only reason you have not had points taken is because you have saved me from making three extra boil potions. Now get out."
The trio didn't need to be told twice and fled the dungeons quickly.
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Harry didn't eat lunch, choosing instead to read as Ron managed to consume enough food for the both of them. Hermione frowned as she watched this, Harry of the summer had often complained that Professor Sprout was "fattening him up", and even after this the boy was still stick thin.
"Harry, do you want a roll?" she asked concerned.
Harry shook his head not even looking up from his copy of, 'Magical Theory'.
"I really think you should eat something Harry, it is the first day of school and you need your energy," she pressed.
Harry glared over the top of his book, "I don't like eating lunch."
Hermione let the matter drop but made loud noises of enjoyment over her own lunch which consisted of a steak sandwich.
"So," Ron said awkwardly obviously trying to break the tension, "Do you think McGonagall will try something in her class?"
The trio looked up at the teacher in question to find her in hushed conversation with Professor Snape. The headmaster wasn't present for this meal it seemed.
"You don't think she really would do you?" Hermione said aghast.
Harry nodded, "Probably, we should try to not look in her eyes. It the only precaution we have at the moment."
Ron and Hermione nodded together before quickly finishing their meals.
The trio left for the transfiguration room early, with directions from a friendly Gryffindor fourth year, Oliver Wood.
When they arrived in the Middle Courtyard, per Wood's instructions they wasted ten minutes trying to locate classroom 1B before they managed to follow a tabby cat to the door. Ron was wary of the creature but both Harry and Hermione crouched down to pet it.
"Hey there girl," Harry whispered scratching behind the tabby's ears, "Did you ditch your owner?"
The tabby gave him a proud reproachful glare and Hermione chuckled scratching the opposite ear. The Tabby meowed annoyed and batted its paw at them.
Hermione huffed, really weren't cats supposed to like being patted.
Harry gave the cat an amused grin, "Very well miss independent cat, we shan't bother thee further," and he bowed.
Ron gave Harry a looked that clearly showed that he thought the younger boy crazy. Hermione cracked up into pearls of laughter which grew as the cat gave Harry a glare before slipping through a hole in the classroom door. With the cat gone Harry and Hermione lent against each other laughing loudly.
"It wasn't that funny guys," Ron said but his words were ruined by a chuckle in his voice.
"Get your grubby paws off of me!" a loud female voice cried.
The Hermione turned to see three Hufflepuff boys messing with a large stone gargoyle.
"Hey you there, leave her alone!" Hermione yelled walking over towards the boys.
The boys raised their heads and gave her a menacing glare but Hermione own didn't waver. She had long given up being a victim to bullies. She took another step forward only to have Ron tug on her sleeve. Turning back to the boys she saw Ron's blue eyes imploring her to stay back while Harry was simply watching with interest. She shrugged Ron off.
"You three! Does it make you feel tough to hassle something that can't fight back? Make you feel like big men?" she spat at them in disgust.
The tallest boy gave her a snarl, "Stay out of it girlie. Don't interfere with things that don't concern you."
Hermione concentrated, she had done this a few times at her primary school but she wasn't sure how it would work against other wizards. Feeling the magic flow through her she opened her mouth and screamed, the power charged her voice causing it to be almost deafeningly loud and produced a strong gale that knocked off one boy's hat.
"Crap, let's go. This chick is a banshee," the leader muttered wiping flecks of spit off his face.
Hermione smiled sweetly as the puffs hurried away but once they were out of sight she groaned in exhaustion.
"Thank you child!" the gargoyle called out and Hermione nodded in acknowledgment as the boys approached her.
"Bloody Hell 'Mione!" Ron said softly, "What if they had attacked you?"
Hermione shrugged, "They were picking on a stone they were too cowardly to attack me besides if they had attacked it would have been three against three and Ron knows up to fourth year spells. See there wasn't so much risk."
Harry shook his head, "You're wrong, it would have been one against three or maybe two against three, either way Ron wouldn't have joined."
Hermione quickly flicked her eyes to Ron; the redhead was staring at the ground ashamed.
"B-but I thought we were friends?" she whispered and watched as Harry laid his hand on Ron's shoulder in the slightest gesture of comfort.
"Ron has extreme Thanatophobia no matter how much he might wish to assist you he psychologically can't; his body will simply refuse to be put near harm. In short you'd be lucky if you were his younger sister threatened with death and he came to your aid."
The look of fear Ron had as he held her back wormed its way to the front of Hermione's mind.
"Why wouldn't you help?" she asked in a subdue voice.
Harry shrugged, "Unless I could feel pain through my mind then it would not be my fight."
Hermione opened her mouth to yell at him and explain how wrong standing for injustice was when the bell rang. Just as this happened Lisa and her friends ran up to them.
The smaller girl looked at them with relief, "Good the teacher isn't here yet so we are not late then?"
Harry gave the three a warm smile and said in a teasing voice, "You are late you're just lucky the teacher is as well."
But as his eyes met her own Hermione could see the hardness, he was challenging her to continue berating him in front of the new comers. She bit her tongue and glared back at him. Doubt crept into her mind, perhaps she was too hasty accepting a bond with them.
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Sorry once again for the lateness of update, gosh I had under estimated how much stuff I do offline. Anyway, I didn't get around to answering any reviews (sorry) but I quickly want to address one of them here. "weeksauce" brought up an excellent point, I have sought of super-powered the trio so I thought about what I could do about it without re-writing the chapters I've already done. I've found the solution and shall be striving to make this story a little more realistic.
Anyway enough with the boring stuff, this is the part where I beg all of you to REVIEW! Like weeksauce above tell me what you think about my story.
Anyway, anyway I'm currently working on two oneshots; one Drarry (Harry/Draco) and another Harmony (Hermione/Harry/'Mione threesome, yes I wrote that correctly). Review and let me know if (A) you want to see them and (B) which one you'd rather see first. I won't bother posting them if no one wants to see them.