Chapter 8
The Potions Master
The first week of school went by in a blur. The first day of classes consisted of people whispering about us and learning just how much of a maze this castle is. I couldn't count the number of times Harry, Ron, and I would get lost. There were some doors that you would have to tickle, some that weren't even real, and some that were hidden due to them also being paintings. The twins would help anytime I would pass them by pointing out the right direction and describing what the entrance to the classroom would look like. Nick was also very helpful to all the Gryffindors but he was the only ghost that was. Peeves would make everything worse by giving you wrong directions or grabbing onto your nose and pulling. He tried with me a few times but learned I was serious when I went to the Bloody Baron and mentioned that Peeves was planning on wrecking the Slytherin common room. It was a lie of course, but the Baron didn't know that. I don't know how ghosts fight each other, but the next time I saw Peeves, he looked, in a way, rumpled and frightened. When he saw me his face became horrified. I just smirked at him and reminded him to not mess with me again. He nodded and flew away to probably annoy another student. The only other person to cause problems was the caretaker Filch and his mangy cat . If you did one thing wrong he would be on your arse and his cat was no better. If she saw you misbehave she would run to Filch and he would threaten to lock you in the dungeon or something. They were mostly empty threats, but you could tell how bad he really wanted to. After you got through all of that you would then have to deal with the many challenges of the classes. Since I read some books ahead of the school year, I had a good idea of what to expect, but reading things and applying them are very different. On Wednesdays we had to go to the astronomy tower at midnight to study the stars, which is not pleasing for me because I just want to be in bed. Three times a week we had to trudge to the greenhouses for Herbology with the head of Hufflepuff, Professor Sprout. In that class we learned all the different types of plants that the magical world had to offer and how dangerous some of them could be. The class that was a real pain though was history of magic. In the past I had no problem with my history classes in school, but this one was taught by a bland ghost who would get names and dates mixed up all the time. The only thing I learned in that class was that it was better to just learn from the textbook than the teacher himself. The two classes that I did find enjoyable so far were Charms and Transfiguration. The Charms class was taught by small and squeaky Professor Flitwick. On the first day he became so excited at our names that he toppled over, but he proved to be very fun and enjoyable when teaching us new spells. He was kind and encouraging which helped the more nervous students, like Ron and Neville. Transfiguration was much tougher and Professor McGonagal was stricter, but she challenged us. She showed that we had potential and worked hard for us to see that by pushing us. On our first day she changed her desk into a pig and let it run around the room before changing it back. It got students excited, but that excitement was dimmed when they learned that magic like that was much too advanced for us. She then handed us matches and worked on teaching us to turn them to needles. The only two who accomplished this were Hermione and I. When shown to the Professor she gave us a rare and proud smile, showing us that she was impressed. Defense Against the Dark Arts was the biggest let down of them all. We expected a class full of fighting beasts and creatures but in the end we sat around in a room that reeked of garlic and took notes. Professor Quirrel was also weirdly proitective of his stupid turban that smelled like death. He said it was a gift for getting rid of a zombie but no one believed him. While each class had their own positives and negatives, the one class I was looking forward to was potions. I had multiple books, some advanced, in my trunk that I had read over during the summer. I had used different foods from our kitchen, careful to use stuff Petunia didn't use often, to practice the many cutting and measuring techniques. On Friday morning I woke up with a smile on my face and I rushed to get ready. I checked my bag twice making sure I had all my books and equipment, I checked my wand in my arm holster, and I went down to breakfast not even waiting for Harry today. I got to the great hall and sat at the Gryffindor table putting together my breakfast of eggs, meat, and buttered toast. I was halfway through my plate when Harry and Ron trudged into the Great hall. They placed their bags across from me and sat down to make their own plate of breakfast. After they ate some of it and became more awake they finally acknowledged me with their usual morning hellos and asked what was on the schedule today.
"Today we have double potions with Professor Snape."
At the sound of the professor's name Ron let out a groan.
"Snape's head of Slytherin House, he always favors them and gives them extra points."
Harry gave his own groan as an answer following with
"Wish McGonagall favored us."
I just rolled my eyes at the two of them. I remember when Fred told me about him, I also started recalling more memories of my parents talking about him. I remember mom showing us old photographs of her at Hogwarts with her best friend Sev. On the other hand, I remember dad laughing with his two friends about all the pranks they pulled on Snivellus, one of those pranks was levitating him and pulling his pants down in mid-air. The more memories I bring up, the more I realize how much of a prat my father used to be. He may have been good to most people, but it seemed he had a prejudiced problem with Slytherins, like they have against us. I was lost in thought when a note dropped in front of me on the table. Following my letter was another one for Harry. We grabbed our envelopes and opened them to see they were letters from Hagrid inviting us to his hut for tea this afternoon. Harry grabbed a quill and some parchment to write a response letting him know we would be there. He gave the note to Hedwig who was perched beside him along with Renata, and they both flew off to give Hagrid our response. After that we finished off our food and grabbed our stuff to head to potions. The potions lab was deep in the dark dungeons of the castle. It was bleak and cold with an eerie look to it, then you went inside of the room and it looked even creepier. There were many jars of miscellaneous things and creatures. All ranging in color from clear to black. Then there were the many pre-made potions that were in different size tubes and jars. Some had almost a glow to them, while others looked like they needed a skull and crossbones on the front. A part of me was a little creeped out, but I also loved it. It fascinated my weird and creepy side, and it made my mind wonder about all the different creations we were going to make. I walked to a black table and set all my stuff down with Hermionie joining me. When it was time for class to start Snape came billowing into the classroom with his robes flying behind him. He slammed the door and started his own little monologue about potion making. I was making sure to take notes in case he decided to quiz us or something.
"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 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 in death - if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."
Um, ok. I don't know if I should be wildly impressed or insulted. Suddenly he turned to my brother sitting a few seats away.
"Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
My brother had a confused look on his face.
"Tut tut - clearly fame isn't everything. Let's try again, Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
Ok, this is getting ridiculous.
"Hmm, didn't you think to open a book before you came? What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
Ok that's it, I'm putting an end to this nonsense. I stood up from my chair and said very clearly,
"Asphodel and wormwood make Draught of Living Death, one of the most powerful sleeping potions there is. It was found in the book Magical Drafts and Potions. A bezoar is a stone found in the stomach of a goat, it can save you from most poisons. That was found in the book One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi. You will also find in that book that monkshood and wolfsbane are the same thing, a plant called aconite."
Everyone was looking at me with dropped jaws. I don't know if the shock was from me knowing the answers or for standing up to Snape. Snape got red in the face and stormed over to me.
"I don't recall asking you."
I shrugged my shoulders.
"Well you said Potter, you just didn't say which one, and last time I checked my name was Hope Potter. Maybe next time you should be more specific."
I crossed my arms and smirked sitting down. Snape knew that for the first time, he had been bested. To save himself from anymore embarrassment he turned to the class and barked at them to take notes of all the answers I gave him.. While walking away he decided to have the last say.
"And a point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter."
I wanted to say something back but a hand over my mouth from my brother prevented that. Once all the notes were taken Snape put up a potion on a board for us to create for the lesson. Harry and Ron were partnered up and I partnered up with Hermione. The Gryffindors continued to have trouble with the lesson and it didn't help that Snape would criticize whatever we did. He occasionally would do the same with the Slytherins but never as harsh and didn't take any points away. He also chose a favorite student in Malfoy who he praised consistently. He was praising Malfoy again as a hissing sound started and a green smoke filled the air coming from Neville's cauldron. Their cauldron then started to twist and melt till it was blob on the table with their potion spilling onto the floor melting holes into people's shoes. Within a few minutes, the entire class was standing on their stools to avoid the acidic mess. Neville however wasn't as lucky, as he was covered in the potion, causing angry red boils to appear all over his body. Snapes face turned into a sneer as he cleaned up the potion with a wave of his wand.
"Idiot boy. I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?"
He pointed at Seamus.
"Take him up to the hospital wing."
He then rounded on the partnered boys who were working next to Neville and Seamus, Harry and Ron.
"You - Potter - why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? That another point lost for Gryffindor."
I was going to attempt to say something again but a hand over my mouth from Hermione this time prevented me. I just grumbled and sat back in my seat and continued to work on the potion. An hour later we were turning in our potions and leaving when Snape requested that I stay while people left, which resulted in multiple people snickering and my brother to tell me he would see me at Hagrid's when I was done. The rest of the class trickled out till it was just me and the Professor. He was sitting at his desk in the front corner of the class and I approached him to see what he needed to talk to me about. He looked at me with narrow eyes and an eyebrow raised.
"Ms. Potter, while I do acknowledge that it was good of you to actually study before the lesson, I would encourage you to not talk back to a professor and keep your temper in check, don't think I didn't notice the many times you wanted to speak out of turn again. You need to learn to respect your professors."
I snorted and crossed my arms
"And with all due respect professor, respect is earned not given freely. So, when you have earned my respect, I will give it. Until then I will treat you no better than any other adult I come across that pisses me off. And some advice for you professor, my brother is not my father so stop treating Harry like you treated him."
His face was the one getting red now and I suspect it took major control to not smack me across the face for what I just said.
"You know nothing about your father. He was a lazy and arrogant man."
I slammed my hands on the desk, my face now getting red with anger.
"He was not lazy, an arrogant bully, yes but he treated us and my mother well. You also have every right to hate him after the crap he pulled on you but he is DEAD and you are STILL HERE! So leave my brother alone!"
I saw a flicker of shock in his face, from what I didn't know. It could have been that a student was actually talking to him like this, or It could have been over the fact that I knew what my father was like and didn't agree with how he treated Snape. The flicker of shock passed as fast as it came and his anger was back. He rose to his feet and placed his hands on the table as well. In his anger he could only get two words out that were so quiet I could barely hear them.
"GET OUT!"
I narrowed my eyes and turned and left the room slamming the door behind me. Professor Snape may have been treated unfairly as a child, but that gave him no right to act like a pompous ass. I walked up from the dungeons and out the giant doors of the castle to Hagrid's hut. It was a small house, barely big enough to fit the half-giant, but comfortable looking. It was sitting off to the edge of the grounds right beside the forbidden forest. It was surrounded with greenery from his garden and the many tools he used to help keep Hogwarts beautiful. I went up to the large wooden door and knocked, already hearing my brother and Ron talking inside. The door opened wide to show Hagrid with his hair as bush and wild as ever and his eyes twinkling in delight of having company. Suddenly I was pushed on the ground by an enormous black dog with drool falling down its face and licking me like crazy.
"Fang, back, get off."
Hagrid wrangled the giant dog and it ran back into the house to cuddle up on a pillow that clearly belonged to him. Hagrid helped me to my feet and helped get the slobber off.
"Sorry 'bout 'im, he really is a good dog, jus excitable."
I shook my head at his apology and smiled.
"It's fine, I don't mind. The Dursleys never allowed us to have pets so it's not a big deal if I get a little slobber on me."
Hagrid smiled again and I took a seat at the table with Harry and Ron. The table consisted of biscuits that looked more like rocks than food and boiling water to use for tea. The hut was just one room filled to the brim of all different stuff from meat and plants hanging from the ceiling and different tools for gardening and dealing with the occasional animal from the forbidden forest strewn about the room. I turned to Harry.
"So, what were you boys talking about when I came in?"
"The lesson we just had with Snape, what did he want to talk to you about anyway?"
"Oh, nothing much, just commenting about me being a brat pretty much, nothing new."
Harry then turns to Hagrid with his arms gesturing towards me.
"See he hates us."
Hagrid just shook his head.
"Rubbish! Why should he?"
I wanted to answer, to tell them the truth, but I couldn't. I doubt Professor Snape wants everyone to know the humiliation he went through, and Harry already has no memory of mum and dad, it would kill him to know what dad was actually like. So I sipped my tea and let the conversation change to how Ron's older brother Charlie was doing. I looked to see Harry reading a newspaper headline about Gringotts. His head suddenly snapped up from the paper and looked at Hagrid.
"Hagrid, That Gringotts break in happened on our birthday! It might've been happening while we were there!"
Hagrid just refused to meet our eyes and pushed more rock cakes towards us. I slid the newspaper over to me and looked more at the article. I noticed that the vault that was broken into was the same one we went to. If that was the case, then what the hell did we take out of there and who would want something so small and insignificant looking so much that they would risk being stuck in a wall in Gringotts for who knows how long. We were later walking back to the castle with our pockets full of rocks, in other words Hagrid's biscuits, and Harry was silent the whole way with the break-in heavy on his mind. I'll admit that it puzzled me too, but for all we know it didn't have anything to do with us.
