-Tell me again why any professor thought it a good idea to have us have double classes with the Gryffindors? - Bulstrode asked, as they walked off from the D.A.D.A. classroom.
-Hey! I'm right here! - Harry exclaimed.
He'd sat himself down next to Leandra before anyone else could, and refused to leave her side. "I want to get to know my sister" was his excuse. Leandra had hid her smile and waved her mates off.
-She doesn't mean any harm, Harry - Leandra explained - It's just that some of your classmates... Well, they throw us nasty looks, and it gets tiresome. The guy who almost exploded himself? He even asked me before class if I'd like the password to the Gryffindor common room so I wouldn't have to hang out with snakes!
-Well, that's just bonkers, isn't it, Ron?
The Weasley kid hadn't looked any of the Slytherins in the eye since Harry had pulled him off his seat and into the middle of their group less than five minutes ago. He kept looking at his shoes as he spoke.
-Is it even permitted?
-As if you'd ever play by the rules, Weasley. Bet your parents had to steal those robes from some second hand shop.
Leandra sighed. Malfoy's comments were getting annoying.
-Shut up, Malfoy! - Weasley's face was the color of his hair - Or else-
-Why don't you find someone more of your league to try and intimidate? My father would have you sent to Askaban for as much as touching me. And while you're at it, find people who you can afford instead of trying to mingle with the high class.
Zabini put an arm over Weasley's shoulder, completely ignoring Malfoy.
-So, Weasley, wasn't it? We've just met, but you seem like a nice guy, what do you say we start a study group? Me and Millie are entertaining the idea of this interhouse thing, for our year, help bring everyone's potential to light. You need to have actual potential to bring out, though, so you don't need to worry about Malfoy joining.
Now it was Malfoy's turn to blush furiously.
-How dare you?! Wait until my father hears about this!
-What happens if his father does hear about this? - Harry asked, watching Malfoy as the boy stormed off.
Bustrode shrugged.
-He'll probably get an earful about not being able to maintain aquaintances.
-Our parents put together are more influencial than his father alone - Greengrass explained, passing Weasley a bottle of water she'd produced from her bag - Here's a reusable bottle, by the way, exclusive from my father's business, they've figured out the magic to keep the water's temperature just before I came to Hogwarts, and he gave me a few to distribute among my peers. Do be sure to flaunt the logo when Malfoy passes you by, please.
-There's no way I can afford it - he blurted out after a pause.
Greengrass chuckled.
-I'm giving it to you, not selling it.
She pushed the bottle into his hands and produced a few more for the others.
-Potters, and Bulstrode, there you go - she said, looking sadly at Blaise - That's all I have for now, I'm afraid, but I'll have my father send me one more for you, Zabini.
By now they were at the door to the Potion's classroom.
-Don't worry, Greengrass, I'm sure I can survive another week without a way to carry my water around.
-Wizards use bottles?
Both Gryffindors groaned quietly as Greengrass blinked at that bushy-haired girl from the sorting.
-Obviously - she gestured to theirs.
-It's just I hadn't seen any until now. I own an ETS Express - she fetched it out of her bag - It's a muggle brand, I didn't know wizards had things so similar to muggles. Especially with technology not working around magic at all. Can't even listen to the radio here.
-What is your name? - Zabini asked.
-Hermione Granger. And you are?
-Zabini. Blaise Zabini. These are my friends, Millicent Bulstrode, - he gestured to her and then to Greengrass and Leandra - Daphne Greengrass, and Leandra Potter. I take it you've met the Gryffindor boys.
-Well, Blaise - every Slytherin's eyebrows shot up at the casual throw of his first name - Pleased to meet you. Do you know any other things the wizarding world has that have a muggle equivalent?
-I'm afraid not, but you know - he approached her - We were talking about starting a study group. I suppose we could also research such matters.
The girls's eyes shone at that.
-A study group? - she asked - Oh, that would be wonderful! We need to set up a meeting schedule, and choose a meeting place - maybe the library?
They both went off to sit themselves into a desk at the front, discussing every detail they might need to sort out to create the perfect study group.
-He really does know how to entertain someone, doesn't he? - Greengrass asked.
Bulstrode snorted.
-He's a Zabini.
They also strode off to sit.
-Professor Snape isn't here yet, but he'll be here soon, so, how do you want to sit? Should I go look for a desk partner? - Leandra asked.
-Do you mind if we sit together? - Harry asked - Just for this first class, we can probably switch it up throughout the term, when we've made more friends.
-No problem, Harry, I'll find myself a seat. Good work - she waved them off and went to sit herself next to a Gryffindor boy who looked like he could use the company.
Harry and Weasley sat themselves near them. Soon enough, uncle Sev entered the classroom, looking at all the students before taking the roll call. He paused at Harry's name.
-Ah, yes - he said, his voice dimished - Harry Potter... Our new... Celebrity.
He finished roll call and looked at them once again. His eyes were devoid of emotion, endless pits of black, unlike Leandra had ever seen them throughout the summer. It made her shiver.
-You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making - his voice was barely above a whisper, but everyone heard him - As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe 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 put a stopper to death - if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach.
Silence followed.
-Mr. Potter! - said uncle Sev suddenly - What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?
Leandra rubbed her temples.
-I don't know, sir.
Uncle Sev's lips curled into a sneer.
-Fame clearly isn't everything - he drawled - Let's try again, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?
Leandra pinched her nose between her fingers.
-I don't know, sir.
-Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh?
There was a pause then with neither of them speaking. If looks could kill, though, uncle Sev would have killed Harry, and Leandra would have killed uncle Sev.
-What is the difference between a monkshood and wolfsbane, Mr. Potter? - uncle Sev continued.
-I don't know, sir - Harry repeated - Maybe you should try someone else.
Uncle Sev's eyebrow shot up.
-One point from Gryffindor for the cheek, Potter. Perhaps your sister will be able to aid your knowledge. Or lack, thereof.
He turned sharply to Leandra. She put on her most innocent face, the one she used to put on when her parents would come home to find the cookie jar empty. She looked her godfather dead in the eye and answered:
-I don't know, sir.
Uncle Sev blinked twice. And then the sneer was back in his face and he was turning around, sweeping his robes around for what Leandra thought was dramatic effect, and returned to his desk.
-Asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death - he explained - A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of acolite. Well? Why aren't you copying that all down?
As everyone scrumbled to get some parchement and ink, uncle Sev stared at Leandra and wondered why she had lied like that.
-Today you will be attempting to brew a potion called "Cure for Boils" - he said after mostly everyone had settled down - The instructions are in the board, follow them carefully.
And indeed, a series of lines appeared in the black board.
As the students tried to follow the instructions to the best of their abilites, uncle Sev roamed the room, stopping sometimes to give harsh criticism (Leandra had noticed he only did it when the student was a Gryffindor) and what could barely be passed as praise (and again, Leandra had noticed he only did that when the student was a Slytherin). Having read about the potion and tried it before during her stay at uncle Sev's house, she went through the first part of the potion rapidly, and went about watching the other students perform their own attempts. And just in time too. The Gryffindor seated next to her was about to add the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire.
-Wait! - she exclaimed, pulling the boy away from the cauldron - You need to take it out the fire before adding the quills.
She pointed the instruction in the board out before releasing the boy.
-T-Thank yo-you - he stummered as he dropped the quills onto their shared desk and went to turn off the heat.
He was kinda chubby, the way most little kids were, his hair was a mess from the vapors and he was trembling like a leaf on a very chilly autumn morning.
-No problem, forgetting steps is a normal mistake - Leandra smile - I'm Leandra Potter, by the way, I don't believe we've met.
-Neville Longbottom - the boy nodded shyly.
He dropped the quills into his potion and double checked the amount of times to stir before finishing his potion up. It wasn't the perfect shade of blue, but it was a good enough try. Uncle Sev stopped by her cauldron and smiled slightly. It was almost perfect.
-Next time, try not to be so vigorous in your stirring, Miss Potter.
He then turned his head to Longbottom's cauldron and snarled.
-What is this? Poison? I'm impressed you didn't explode your cauldron with how wrong your potion came out.
The boy sagged in his seat. As uncle Sev turned to go, Leandra turned to the boy.
-Don't listen to him, he must be feeling under the weather, your potion was pretty good for a first try. First time I tried it, I almost exploded my cauldron. If it wasn't for my godfather stepping in, I wouldn't have managed to finish my first try.
Longbottom chuckled. Uncle Sev, although they didn't notice, had froze in place, pretending to look at some student's potion.
-I was so worried about this class - the boy said - the professor has a reputation of being mean to everyone but the Slytherins. To top it off, we had class with the house that everyone says is full of mean people. You're nice, though.
-We're not all bad - Leandra sighed - Some of us, yes, but I'm sure there's mean people in every house. I will say though, my godfather's been a bully today.
Longbottom's eyes were the size of tennis balls.
-You're godfather is professor Snape?!
Leandra laughed.
-I forget people don't know that. Yes, he is. And he's a sweetheart, really, when he's not around crowds, at least.
-Why was he bullying Harry then?
Leandra shrugged, wondering herself why uncle Sev had done that.
-Maybe he gets nervous around crowds and lashes out as a way to cope? Heard it happens sometimes.
She doubted her guess was right, but it seemed to calm Longbottom down.
-Time's up! - her godfather practically growled - Bottle your poor attempts at potion making and hand me your vials so I can grade them.
As the class was leaving, Leandra went to Harry's side and took his arm. Uncle Sev looked at them before sighing. He waited five seconds after everyone was out to wave his wand, close his door, and check his schedule for the day. One more class.
Later that day, he dragged himself to his living quarters and locked the door with every single locking and protection charm he knew before he took a bottle of firewhisky and drank himself to sleep. He also pretended to not hear when Albus came knocking on his door.