A Note from the Author; I had some killer insomnia last night, and ended up writing this chapter along with another one, hope you like! This chapter ended up being a bit long, I just felt this chapter couldn't be broken up, you know? So I apologize! I hope you like anyways, my loves!
I was ten minutes late to my first class, Potions. Once I reached the closed door, I took a deep breathe, calming my nerves, I was fine, I have a note. Yeah, I'm cool, just walk in and hand it over I mentally prepped myself, quickly I opened the door, all eyes turned towards me. Bloody hell. Instinctively, I rolled my eyes. Seeing Professor Snape standing in front of someones desk.
" , let's see how fame has inflicted you" the bat looking man, went on "What would I get if I added a powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
"The Draught of Living Death, sir" I answered simply, not knowing why the bat of a man was using a degrading tone with me.
He then looked at the student whom he stood in front of, "Correct" His tone now changed from the disrespectful one from earlier. He then back up at me, "Now where would I find a Bezoar?"
What's with these elementary questions? "it's a stone taken out of the stomach of a goat, the ingredient is used in more antidotes to cure most poisons" I answered, elaborating on the ingredient.
He blinked a few times, then looked at Potter, "It'd appear as if her fame hasn't unhindered her ability to know this basic knowledge, now , tell me the difference between Monkswood and Wolfsbane?"
The puffy haired girl next to the Potter boy, whom I knew, her hand shot up, as she had the answer, "I don't know sir" The Potter boy replied, "But Hermione does, though, why don't you let her answer, seems a pity not to ask her, does it not?" He spoke in an as-a-matter-face tone. Causing a ripple of giggles in the room.
I let out a snort, how could he not have opened a book before coming to class, "Because you simpleton, these are basic questions, that should've been known to you before you entered the class room. If you bothered to open your text books" I went from that to answering the question Snape had "Now, Monkswood and Wolfsbane are the same thing, the ingredient also goes by the name Aconite. The ingredient is used in an advanced potion, known as the Wolfsbane potion; I doubt we will be learning about in this term or the next year, as the only wizards that can use them are those that have mastered potions." I took a breath then went on my little lecture, "as getting this Wolfsbane potion wrong would mean killing both the werewolf and the Potioneer that is using it to help."
Snape's face seemed to be caught off guard, even surprised, by my lecture, I doubt it happened often that he was left in this state, but he quickly recovered, "Well, why weren't you all copying this down." Quickly the class began writing. As the professor walked to his desk in the front of the room he spoke again" Five points from Gryffindor, for Potters cheek, and those five points will be given to Slytherin, for knowing the answers." He then looked at me, "You may take a seat Ms. Ravenclaw" He then walked to the front of the class, as I took an empty seat that I was closest to. Pulling out my quill and my textbook, I set both on the desk, crossing my arms over my chest as i listened to the lesson, and then the instructions for a potion that would cure boils. "... Now pair up" He commanded, watching as everyone scrambled to get partnered up, I didn't care to be working with a partner, not paying attention to whomever took the seat next on the opposite side of the cauldron, I flipped the book open to the lesson. Reading it quickly.
"Get the dried nettles, six snake fangs, four horned slugs, two porcupine quills." Looking up from my book, i looked down at the shelves in the front of the room, with labeled boxes of ingredients, "Also grab some Pungous Onions, Flobberworm mucus, shrake spines and a ginger root."
"Those aren't all on this list, Ravenclaw." I looked over to see, one of the fat boys, Crabbe or Goyle, whichever.
I raised a brow at him, "Get them anyways, I don't plan on making a mediocre potion, nor do I plan on getting mediocre grades, now fetch" I commanded, and I began preparing the cauldron, staring a fire below it and filling it with water. Soon the chubby kid returned with everything, "Alright, you're going to crush the snake fangs into a fine powder, no lumps." I ordered handing him a mortar, "don't add it in till I approve the powder. While he went about the grounding of the fangs, I began cutting the Pungous onions into fine slices, every now and again looking at the snake fang powder as well as the heat of the water. "Alright add in what I tell you as I do the wand waving." I began to slowly wave my wand over the cauldron, the water slowly turning with my wand, "alright add in four measures of the fangs, then add the onions" He did as he was told, "Now add in the dried nettles, breaking them in half before you do, and add in two of the porcupine quills" as he began breaking the nettles in half I threw in a dash of worm mucus, as well as the shake. Once these in ingredients were in, i blew the fire out and handed the bow a stirrer, "alright stir, gently and slowly, going clockwise as I add in the rest" Without getting an argument, he began to stir the ugly green colored potion, as I tossed in the last of the ingredients, as the horned slugs, and then crushed the ginger root over the pot, causing the root to turn into dust, as the dust went in the potion changed from the ugly green color to a light lavender color with a itty-bitty of blue swimming in it. Now on the last stir, I lifted up my wand waving it counter clockwise, once. The potion then turned nearly a fluorescent blue color. "Alright done, now clean up" I instructed the chubby boy.
As I was walking up the container of Flobberworms there was an explosion. My heart nearly stopped at the sound, spinning on heel, as everyone looked to see a Gryffindor, that was covered in soot, as well as the potion to bubble up, as the bubbles popped, the Gryffindor, his partner and the group in front of them ended up with boils. Snape then went about loosing his temper. While he did, i finished my task, putting the ingredients I had away.
"Amber, you're done? Why'd you have Flobberworms?" Hermione ask as I was about to walk past her group, she was with Harry Potter and the Weasley boy.
I smiled, "It's to make the cure work faster" I answered her, walking closer to their table, I looked to Harry, whom seemed to have a glint of annoyance by my presence, "I'm sorry if I came off as a twat, earlier. I have a tendency to spout off what I know" I chuckled lightly, "Just ask my sister. Anyways, I do apologize for coming off as a twat"
The Weasley boy snickered at my use of the slang 'twat', while Harry nodded, "It's alright I suppose." He still seemed wary of me, giving a roll of my eyes I waved them both of, proceeding to walk to my station.
As I was about to sit down, my name was called, turning to the familiar cool, emotionless voice that was Snape, whom called me to his desk. Letting out a huff, I grabbed my note from the librarian and proceeded to the front of the class.
" , How did you know the details of Wolfsbane?" He questioned in a low tone, as if this were a private conversation, he didn't want the rest of his students to hear, though it was obvious they were trying to hear. As the room got real quiet.
I tilted my head to the side, "I read books on it. I wasn't just letting fame hinder my knowledge, as you suggested, or thought" I responded, recalling to his comment when I first entered the room. "I didn't spend the first eleven or so years of gushing over my families noble-like heritage. As it has no impact on what I know, and have learned. Blood, family and history have nothing to do with my ability to learn and do what I learn" I handed him the tardy slip, "Here's this also, my excuse note from Pince"
"I apologize." He replied simply, taking the note and setting it to the side"How, far are you in your knowledge of potions?" He questioned.
I raised a brow, feeling as if there were more to his question, "Are you asking about how far I've read or how many potions I've made?"
He shrugged, "Let's start with how many you've done"
Standing there, I wasn't sure how to answer the question, even if i have practice potion making outside of class, what did that matter? Of course I've practiced potion making. Finally, I gave him an answer, "a few, as I haven't always have a wand with me, my ability to practice anything that retains to a class was limited." I explained, then went to answer the next question, "As to how much I've read, enough, I did have a library at my disposal, growing up."
He just stared, as if assessing if I were telling the truth, which I was, not seeing a reason why it mattered if I didn't tell the truth. He ended up nodding, allowing me to return to my seat. Once I did I pulled out the book I had taken from the library.
With a few minutes left of class Snape had proceeded to walk around the class inspecting everyone potion.
Next to me, I took notice of the boy next to me sweating, I assume it wasn't from the temperature of the chilled room, "relax, I know what I'm doing, you'll get a perfect score." I muttered. Snape then walked by our station, pulling out a vial, he dipped it into the potion, till the glass vial was full, once it was he corked it, he did that to four other cauldrons. Calling up the students that had ended up with boils on themselves, he lined them up against a bored, pulling his wand out he flicked it, causing writing to appear over the four students. The one with soot had R/C over his head, his partner had M/G, the next student had D/Z and the last boiled student had N/G over her head.
"These are the best four potions from the room. We will test which one deserves the best point, out of toady's lesson." Snape instructed, giving each of the four students in the front of the room a vial. Well, that answers my question on which chub, I was stuck with. Now understanding what the letters on the bored stood for."Now on a a count of three, drink the potions. First one showing improvement, that team will get the best marks." With a curt nod from him the four boil-ed students drank their potions. It was down to the boy with soot and his partner, they were clearing up quicker than the other two students. Snape then looked upwards, "End, both team; Malfoy, Goyle, and team; Ravenclaw and Crabbe, shall receive the highest points of the day, now go." He commanded, probably wanting us to make it to our class. the books now in my bag, i picked up my wand and quill, stuffing both into my cloak pocket, then I walked out to my next class.
"Oi, Ravenclaw" I was brought to a halt hearing my name. I looked behind me, seeing Pansy, followed by two of our roommates, neither were Daphne Greengrass. The three were walking closer, not giving a second thought I turned around and continued walking towards my next class, Herbology, ignoring the yelling of my name.
Making it to Herbology I grabbed a seat at the table in the greenhouse, with a bit of time, I pulled out the book for this class as well as the book from the library.
The next topic in the book goes on to explain the Legilimency Spell, allowing the caster to delve into the mind of the victim, letting the caster to see memories, emotions and thoughts. Interesting, suppose it'd be best to learn how to do it without reveling the spell. hmp. I know what I'm doing during my free time. I nodded, agreeing with myself.
"What're you reading Ravenclaw?" I looked over to see next to me was Malfoy, whom sat at the same table as me, on the other side of him were Crabbe and Goyle.
"A book, I'd assume" I responded, smartly, earning a dirty look from him, I gave an innocent, yet cockily smile, then explained the book, a little bit, "It's apart of my independent study, learning mind magic basically" I didn't want to tell him everything, Legilimency was a dark art, I'd rather learn in private. I shut the book.
Shutting my book I took notice of Pansy and the two roommates walk in, I rolled my eyes looking to the two empty seats next to me, cursing under my breath. Hoping, they didn't sit next to me. In that moment as if answering my prayer someone I knew took the seat closest to me, it was non-other than my own sister, sitting in the other seat next to her was a boy with shoulder length black hair and brown eyes. My sister had kept the dirty blond hair she had yesterday.
"Mind if we sit here?" She questioned, giving a wink, smiling lightly. Before I could respond a short,fat old woman walked in, "Head of Hufflepuff" My sister whispered quickly, before the class started.
Today we were going to learn the about Fire-Spell Making, and the Devil's Snare, both of which would be on the O.W.L exams in our fifth year. We were now being shown how to do the hand movement for this charm.
I looked to Ava's hand doing it wrong, I shook my head, "You've got to curve it, your going to sharp on the curves." I instructed, grabbing my quill and a parchment, I drew the flame like hand movement down, "see, it's like a flame, with smooth sides and a sharp top, not all sharp."
"I don't think so." She objected, as she went on with the movement then saying the charm, "Insendio" nothing happened.
Rolling my eyes, I held up my wand, "curved movment, and it's pronounced in-SEN-dee-o, not in-SEE-dee-io, watch" I instructed, doing the flame shape, thinking of a small flame, like a lit candle flame, but picturing the little flame at the end of my wand, and pronounced the spell, correctly, "Incendio" The tip of my wand lit with a small orange, yellow flame.
"Alright, I get it" Draco next to me muttered, listening in on my instructions, he then proceed to do as I did, but letting out a jet of orange and red flame, catching the roof of the green house on fire.
"Now think of it smaller, like a wick flame, from candle, but replace the wick and candle with the tip of your wand." I instructed him, as to aid in his control.
Giving a nod, hearing and understanding me, the bleach blond boy then went through the motion, "Incendio" Now a small red and orange was, lit the end of his wand. "You're proving yourself Ravenclaw."
I rolled my eyes, setting my wand down and Looking to Ava as she continued to try. After the fifth try, she finally got the hand of the spell, as did the rest of the class. Allowing, Pomona Sprout, the professor to go into depth about the planet, Devil's Snare.
"If it likes It dark and damp, light it with fire" She instructed, going on about the constricting plant, that kills anything that struggled against sharp tentacle-like appendages.
The class soon came to an end, the professor not wanting to dip into next weeks lesson, assigning us to do a report on Devils Snare. I looked on either side of me, as I couldn't leave yet, being in the middle of the row.
"So, any thought to how to explain to mother and father?" Ava asked, as her friend moved, I got up and followed Ava out of the row and class.
"Not a clue. I'm sure father will be displeased." I muttered, now being haunted by the repercussions that would follow, after telling our proud Ravenclaw devoted parents that, one of their daughters was place in a house that wasn't Ravenclaw. Sure, they wouldn't hurt her physically, physical pain was never their forte, more of the cold shoulder types, I'd be lucky if all they did was disown me. With the heavy thought I was off to my next class, charms.
Now sitting at the Slytherin table, everyone seemed to have their books out and were busy with the first day of homework, while I was sitting with a parchment out, thinking of how to, tell my parents I wasn't in Ravenclaw.
Dear Mother and Father,
My first day at Hogwarts was alright. I've made a few friends, the most notable being Hermione Granger, as well as Draco Malfoy. Though, my short time here has caused me grief, as I am haunted by your reactions towards me being sorted into Slytherin and not Ravenclaw-
That won't work... Maybe, I can just go about my next few years, not telling them anything. I looked up from my paper, my eyes landing on Ava, who was studying alike everyone else in the great hall, I can't lie to them, not with that with her big mouth. On my right was a girl by the name Lilly Moon she had sat with me in charms class, she was a quiet student, or from what I've gathered about her, which I liked. Quiet and didn't have a face imitating that of a pug. She was of an average build, with dark brown eyes and deep yellow blond hair. While on my left was Draco, he had both of his fat friends sitting in front of him, they were chatting lightly about Charms class, where we learned the Levitation Charm, instead of talking about that or the paper we had to do on levitation, they were talking about the professor, the head of Ravenclaw, Filius, Flitwick.
I rolled my eyes at their conversation, with a sigh, I took a bundle of grapes from a dish that sat in front of me, and taking my bad I walked out of the room, quietly, not wanting to be noticed. Thankfully, that's what happened. I made my way back to the Slytherin dorms,quietly going past the painting of the houses creator, and made my way to my dorm, that was empty, aside from Capone, whom was still asleep in his pyramid hideout. Now happily sitting on my bed I proceeded to practice no spell in particular, but practice without my wand and without saying anything. Simply, just wanting to use my sheer will to make spells happen. Wanting to us Legilimency without anyone knowing, it'd be pretty stupid using that spell if people knew I was using it. Trying with something simple, I focused on the lights. It felt like hours, nothing happened. Getting up, I let out an annoyed groan, once I did something soft fell from above, landing on my head, Capone. He jumped from my head to the bed and began to munch on what was left of my grapes. I bit my lip lightly, in thought.
Perhaps, I should try using magic without my wand, and work my way up to non verbal spell casting? I nodded agreeing with the statement. Focusing on the light closes to me only, "Nox" I whispered, not wanting anyone to hear me. Nothing happened.
A Note from the Author
3389 words! 9.5 pages, Not counting my little notes! The pros of insomnia! Let me know if You'd like me to release the next chapter today! ^_^
Hope you enjoyed my loves!