Disclaimer: Mature content - read responsibly. I own and gain nothing, Harry Potter belongs to J.K. Rowling.
Author's Note: Here is a an update! I have not abandoned this! Simply gotten a tighter schedule. More chapters to be added soon. Enjoy :) (R&R!)
Task Two
Potions class while stoned
Hermione raced up flight after flight of broad stone steps; the short, wide flights, the tight spirals and the ones she had to practically climb up using all appendages. She was quite winded by the time she burst through the heavy oaken doors of the owlry. The lantern like eyes hundreds of birds swiveled to watch her. She nodded to them, scattering some treats on the hay-covered ground. She rubbed the grooves in the small snuff box clutched in her sweaty hand as she watched the young birds scramble for the treats as the older ones looked down disapprovingly.
She made her way to one of the many windows, enjoying the crisp and refreshing autumn air clearing her nose from the overwhelming scent of the owls. Only pausing a second to look out at the Hogwarts grounds, the neatly cut grass, sloping into the dark mystery box that was the Forbidden Forest, she pulled the metal tin from her robes. Inside was spliff she had rolled out back of the Herbology greenhouses of some premium bud circulating the Gryffindor house. Balancing the thin cylinder between her lips, she lights the tip of her wand, cupping her hand around the glowing red tip to shield it from the wind. Breathing deeply, she feels the thick, pungent smoke flood her lungs, tasting it's harsh scent on her tongue. She exhales slowly, pushing the grey tendrils from her mouth and watching them spin, dancing wildly in the wind before dissipating. She stands in the window until all that is left is her homemade filter and the last burning bits of the drug. She closes her eyes, flicking the stub onto the roof below, and feeling effects set in, her body becoming lighter, shedding pounds of stress and anxiety... or maybe that was her brain. Chuckling, she salutes the owls and walks out of the room.
She walks into potions class, the charmed door slamming just on her heels, preventing any late students from slipping in unpunished. She giggles, walking to her seat, ignoring the knowing looks of a handful of fellow students picking up on the scent still clinging to her.
The Slytherin sitting next to her did a double take, sniffing deeply and watching her every move. She growls playfully at him, clapping her hand over her mouth to stifle her giggles. Snape coughs loudly in her direction.
"Miss Granger! Do you find something amusing about the properties of herbs most commonly found in the Himalayas?" Hermione arranges her face into an expression she hopes is both serious, and chastised, and shakes her head.
"Good. I am going to proceed with my lesson now Miss Granger if that is alright with you?" He says, his voice positively poisonous with contempt. The entire class swivels to face her, some boys too distracted by the rumors they've heard to do anything but salivate, some girls looking jealous, others disapproving, and others in awe.
"You may carry on, Professor." Titters and chuckles spread across the room in shock waves. Snape stood, gaping like a fish out of water, so astounded by her insolence that he had no idea of how to gain back control of this situation.
"A week's detention and two points from Gryffindor for your insolence, Miss Granger."
"Yes, sir." She replied, duly punished, hanging her head slightly.
At the end of her class, Snape assigns them three scrolls about the dangers of using expired Hermit's Wort, at which Hermione can't help but burst into a fit of giggles. He takes another point from Gryffindor and boots her out of the class.
Four down, two left. She chants excitedly to herself. It's only been one week and she is already close to finished.