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Chapter 2 - Potions Class

The next morning, I woke up feeling energised and ready for my first proper day at Hogwarts. I sat with my Slytherin peers in the Great Hall for breakfast. I was forming a good friendship with Draco and his cronies, already feeling as though I fit in well with my house.

I was enjoying some scrambled eggs on toast when I could feel eyes watching me from afar.

I placed my fork down onto my plate and looked up at the source of what... Or should I say WHO, was the source of the interruption. Never get between a girl and her food. I'm cranky enough as it is in the mornings.

And there he sat, in all his miserable glory, Professor Snape.

As my eyes met his, he quickly looked away, diverting his attention to McGonagall and making small talk acting like I didn't just catch him gawping.

I raised an eyebrow and smirked. I've really irked him, I thought to myself triumphantly. And I've only just got here.

I resumed my attention to my now cold scrambled eggs, huffing that the dark haired bastard has now absolutely spoilt breakfast for me by simply looking at me.

But why was he looking at me?

I shook my head and engaged in conversation with Draco.

'What's our first lesson today then?'

Draco pulled out his timetable. Boys, no matter how many times they follow the same routine, they still don't remember anything.

'Potions' Draco responded bluntly.

'You wanna sit with us?' He asked casually.

I smiled.

I am merely just a girl, of course attention AND an invitation to join someone as devilishly handsome as Draco is enough to make any girl blush and giggle. But I'm not 'any' girl. I'm a bad bitch.

Ok... that was a bit far-fetched, and a bit big-headed. But there's a slight truth to it. Even if it means I won't fit my gigantic head through the doors when we leave for Potions, having a big ego never hurt anybody, right?

'I thought you'd never ask' I replied with a subtle bit of flirtation in my tone. He took well to it, responding with a cheeky smile and a wink. Booyakah, my first successful flirt of the school year. I correct myself, I AM a bad bitch. Still too much? Whateverrrr.

Draco stood and I followed suit, his other friendlings following his stride like lost puppies. Bless them.

We made our way to the dungeons and entered the Potions classroom. I took my seat next to Draco, got my books out of my bag and placed them down on the table.

Luckily for Snape, or not so luckily for him, Potions is my strong suit. So he can try and be a bitch to me all he wants, failing me isn't an option. Big-headed again? I'll try and reel it in.

As if on queue, the giant oak door slammed open. I rolled my eyes, must be his signature move. Snape came storming in, as usual, and the class went quiet. Does he have a hover board under all those clothes? I literally don't see his feet move, he just glides.

Snape stopped and spun around as soon as he got to the front, maybe he was a ballerina in a past life. All of these thoughts had me suppressing laughs. At my own jokes. I know. I just can't help being this funny- ok FiNe I'll sToP.

As if Snape sensed my absolutely hilarious jokes I was entertaining myself with in my head, he shot me a scowl. Feisty, I like it. I matched it with an innocent smile.

Snape sneered and swept his gaze over the class. He doesn't give a good morning to us as a collective or nothing, just straight to business rambling on about the potion we will be learning about today, waving his wand lazily as words magically scribbled themselves on the board.

I watched him carefully, scanning him over, his movement, his facial expressions, or lack, thereof. His hands. Damn those hands. Ahem, anyway, Snape carries himself as I would expect a man with great power to.

I turned my head to Draco slightly as Snape continued his ever so boring speech. 'Hey, Draco, this potion is a piece of piss, we did it that many times in my last school, I could do it with my eyes closed. What's say we do it quick and dip, try and sneak into the kitchens?' I whispered. I was, after all, still hungry from the very man that is currently boring me distracting my ability to fill my stomach.

Just before Draco could respond, Snape's head snapped towards me. His eyes narrow and dangerous. 'Miss Rivera. If my lessons are so... easy... for you, perhaps you can come up here and teach the class for me? Because I can assure you, I have much better things that I could be doing with my time than dealing with incompetent know-it-alls like you.' His tone was low, his brow raised as if to test me. If I wasn't so self-aware, my jaw would have dropped straight to the stone floor, and I would have left this classroom with it dragging behind my arse.

Snape tilted his head ever so slightly, as if daring me to make a smart remark. Draco's eyes widened, the boy was clearly somewhat afraid of the man, or admired him, I haven't quite figured that one out yet. I cleared my throat in preparation for my response.

'Professor Snape...' I said softly, my tone so sweet it was almost sickening. Draco side-eyed me as if to warn me about what I am next going to say.

I gently pushed myself up from where I was sat, the room was so full yet so quiet that you could hear my stool scrape across the stone flooring. Snape watched my every move, his expression still daring. But I could see the small flame of rage build up in his eyes. I didn't take my eyes off of him though. Fight fire with fire.

'I would be honoured to. Thank you for having so much faith and confidence in me to take on such an important role.'

Draco looked at me in utter shock, the rest of the classroom's mouths were collectively open in shock. What? Does nobody ever stand up to this man?

I'm surprised my entire being wasn't sucked back to my chair with the amount of open mouths there were in the room. Snape was seething as I toddled up to the front of the classroom, standing next to him, turning to face everyone. He won't expect what I was about to do next.

You see, in my spare time, I dabbled a lot in Potions. My mother was always busy working and my father always travelling for his publications, so I had to find a hobby. And this just so happened to be it. Now, it seems it was my calling.

I faced my peers. 'Greetings, students. How art thou today? Now, I know what you're thinking "this new girl coming here acting all cocky", yes I see you nodding Potter, I've heard all about you. Chosen one and all that. Should be you up here.'

I'd heard all about Harry Potter everywhere, it began to get annoying knowing so much about a stranger.

'I'm sorry for what happened to you, but relax a bit, yeah?'

Draco let out a loud laugh, then quickly covered his mouth. I glanced over at Snape and even he seemed slightly amused. Wow, I was shooketh.

'Anyway, as I was invited by our lovely, kind and caring Professor to deliver today's lesson to you, I'm sure you'd much rather be looking at my face than his, so you're welcome. But, I digress! Let's begin with today's lesson.'

I chanced another glance at Snape, and his face was so full of rage I was too scared to look again. But I'm committed now, I can't back down. I began to write on the chalk board everything I knew, down to the ingredients, where they are sourced, little hacks on making the process of creating the potion easier, which earned a startled look from Snape, and everyone got on and did their thing.

By the end of it, everyone had successfully brewed, not a single mistake. Everyone was happy... except Snape. Obviously.

As the students cleared up and left, I tried to quickly get my things and leave with Draco, that was until a firm hand grabbed me by the upper arm.

Draco shot me an apologetic look; 'I'll wait for you', he whispered quickly before darting out, him being the last of the class to leave, the door shutting loudly behind him. The noise echoing in the now empty room. Empty but for two. Me standing here with my arm in a vice-like grip. Helpless. I slowly turned my head to look over my shoulder at the now very angry, very furious, Professor Snape.

'You could have just asked me to stay after cla-'

Before I could even finish my sentence, Snape spun me around and slammed me up against the door. My breath hitched and my eyes widened from the impact.

'Was I unclear on our conversation yesterday, Miss Rivera?' He forced his words out through gritted teeth.

'Was I speaking another language? Or are you just that incompetent and full of yourself that you have nothing better to do than to act like the class clown?'

His tone was demanding. I stared him dead in the eyes, those dark pits, nothing but a black void, eyes. I was afraid, but also a little turned on, I can't lie.

Snape's grip tightened on my arm, forcing me to respond.

'I merely did as you asked, Professor. You invited me to teach, and so I did. What did I do wrong?'

My eyes glistened. Snape's expression was turning more and more dangerous with every word that left my mouth.

His grip loosened on me, moving his hand to rest on the door behind me, his fingers close to my head as he leaned his head towards my ear. His hot breath tickling my ear.

'You want to play, little girl?'

Oh... My... Holy... Fucking fucker FUCK that was HOT.

'You do not know me, Miss Rivera. And it is best that you don't. I am capable of things even the darkest of wizards wouldn't question. My advice to you? Do not try and pick battles with me. You will not win.'

He was still whispering his threats into my ear. My eyes closed slightly, a wave of so many emotions flooding my entire body.

He pulled his head back, I opened my eyes to meet his stare. A smirk on his face. God he is something else. But also twice your age, Cleo, what the fuck is wrong with you?

'But were you not happy with my performance, Professor?'

It's like I just don't know when to shut the fuck up. This also took Snape by surprise, his eyes widened slightly, before he quickly composed himself. Oh he has never been faced with a student like me before, has he? A war he wants. A war he can have.

He stepped back slightly, but I advanced forward.

'Miss Rivera-'

'I saw the way you looked at me in the Great Hall this morning during breakfast.' I interrupted. Never back down never what?

Snape looked taken back. Completely.

'When I made that comment about Potter. The way your expression shifted when I put chalk to chalkboard, sharing my knowledge. You think me dumb, attention seeking, "know-it-all", but you have underestimated me, Professor Snape. I am much, much more. You may have gone your entire career bullying the other students to the point that they are scared shitless. But not me, Professor. I have faced much worse than a grumpy Potions Professor.'

This part is true, I would sometimes accompany my father on his adventures, and there were a lot of dangerous wizards in every country. Death Eaters all over the world. I had no choice but to learn to fight, my father would've been crazy if he brought me along without being equipped with the knowledge and ability to defend myself. Otherwise, I would not have been able to go.

My dad wasn't irresponsible for allowing that to happen, he wants me to be strong and hold my own, so that when he is not here to protect me, he knows that I can protect myself. Of course, him and Mother had an awful row over it. But she gave in, and now she's pleased with the stubborn, but confident, woman I have become.

Snape's expression changed from shock, to anger, to shock again, to confusion. The poor man was having quite the episode of emotions. I wonder if he has ever felt some of those on their own let alone all together. Must be quite the shock to the system.

Finally, Snape had composed himself. He stood up straight and tall, regaining his power. 'You have no idea as of whom you are speaking to.'

His tone was deadly serious, that it peaked my interest. What is this man hiding?

'Oh please, it's not like you're a Death Eater.' I laughed.

Snape froze. Which then led to me freezing.

Good God. What have I done.

'...It's not like you're a Death Eater... Is it... Professor?'

This time, my tone was a lot softer, more scared, and it was now a question and not a joking comment.

Snape's silence was all that I needed to know.

You can tell he did not expect the question. But you can also tell by his reaction that I did not even need an answer.

My hands started to shake as I walked backwards, my back hitting the door again, but this time, by my own doing. My breathing quickened.

I've seen the awful things that cult have done to so many innocent people. I felt like I was suffocating, images racing through my head. Now, stood before one of those. I felt physically sick. My eyes beginning to get cloudy as my mind raced.

'Miss Rivera.' Snape broke his silence.

I regained my composure, slowly. But I couldn't calm the anxiety and fear that was rippling through me, wave after wave.

'They let YOU... teach CHILDREN.' I said in-between pants.

Snape rolled his eyes.

'What makes you think I won't leave this room and inform the Ministry? Or tell Dumbeldore? Or-'

Snape raised a hand to silence me.

'Enough.' Another momentary pause.

'All of these people know.' He sighed defeatedly.

Just before I exploded, Snape continued.

'I can't believe I'm explaining myself to you, a girl who has only been present at this school for not even one full day... but seems as you're clearly far more turned on academically than your peers...' Snape flicked his wand and put up what seemed to be a temporary charm to ward any noise from leaving the room. Oh it's serious serious.

'...Yes. I am a Death Eater. Yes, those with an ounce of authority know. But I am planted there.'

I looked at him, completely confused. And also, not convinced.

'You're a spy?' I scoffed. 'That's the only excuse you can come up with?'

Snape rolled his eyes once more.

'I do not need you to believe me. But you can discuss this with the Headmaster. Although, he'll be questioning how you even found out - and I'm sure you wouldn't want him finding out about your antiques during today's lesson.' There was a hint of smugness to his voice.

'Are you threatening me?' I replied.

Snape raised an eyebrow.

'You either believe me, or you don't. Your little friend Mr Malfoy knows the truth. Ask him. But this goes no further. You speak of it to nobody else but him. And you do not mention it again. Do I make myself clear?' He asked, his voice dripping with disdain.

So that's why Draco is around him the way that he is... He admires him if this double-spy story checks out?

'But... why?'

'That's a need to know basis, Miss Rivera.'

'But I want to know wh-'

'ENOUGH' Snape commanded.

My mouth snapped shut as I obeyed.

'You're a smart girl. You'll figure it out. I don't want to hear anymore of it. You could collect every timeturner that were ever created, and still, there will never be a time you can go to where a teacher must answer to their student.'

I sighed in resignation.

'Detention, tonight, seven pm, for your behaviour in my class... I told you I don't give chances. But luckily, your knowledge and your performance in the deliverance of today's lesson saved you today. But only today. Now leave.' Snape spat.

My eyes darted around in confusion, taking in all the information he just delivered to me. I could feel a headache brewing. I nodded by head and rushed out wordlessly.

Besides the whole Death Eater ordeal... did the man just... praise me!?

And am I falling for a fucking Death Eater that I've only known for ONE DAY!?

What in the actual fuckery have I gotten myself into...?

To be continued... oooo it's getting exciting isn't it? Let me know what you think so far. Trust the process by darlings!Xoxo