Chapter 6

All of the lessons so far on that Monday weren't too bad.

Then I had Snape.

The only space in the class was right at the back where the Aces sat. I was forced to sit next to Theodore but it wasn't too bad. I was still far enough from the rest of Slytherin but my brother sent looks over in my direction. I knew he'd want to speak to me later but class began and we all went quiet.

"Settle down," Snape started coldly.

"Before we begin today's lesson,I think it appropriate to remind you that next June you will be sitting an important examination, dur-ing which you will prove how much you have learned about the composition and use of magical potions. Moronic though some of this class undoubtedly are, I expect you to scrape an 'Acceptable' in your O.W.L., or suffer my… displeasure. After this year, of course, many of you will cease studying with me," Snape went on. "I take only the very best into my N.E.W.T. Potions class, which means that some of us will certainly be saying good-bye. But we have another year to go before that happy moment of farewell."

He looked at all of us.

"So whether you are intending to attempt N.E.W.T. or not, I advise all of you to concentrate your efforts upon maintaining the high-pass level I have come to expect from my O.W.L. students. Today we will be mixing a potion that often comes up at Ordinary Wizarding Level: the Draught of Peace, a potion to calm anxiety and soothe agitation. Be warned: If you are too heavy-handed with the ingredients you will put the drinker into a heavy and sometimes irre-versible sleep, so you will need to pay close attention to what you are doing."

He flicked his wand, "The ingredients and method are on the blackboard. You will find everything you need in the store cupboard. You have an hour and a half…Start."

I found Potions the easiest since it was just like cooking, just a lot more disgusting.

When I stood to get my ingredients, I was told to sit my ass down by Theodore.

"Excuse me?"

"You heard me," He said. "I'll grab them."

Draco left with him to get the ingredients while I scowled. Blaise just looked at me, almost rolling his eyes before they were back and we all started.

Using the mortar and pestle, I powdered the moonstone and added it to the boiling cauldron, turning it a shade of green. I didn't quite like the colour so I added a little more until it was richer. Stirring it until it turned blue didn't take long and then added more moonstone until a beautiful purple came. I let it simmer until pink.

Every drop of hellebore turned it a little more turquoise. I stopped when the right shade came, letting my gut tell me. It simmered as I shaked the stewed mandrake bottle, watching the potion turn a bright red after I added them. More mandrake turned it yellow and I stirred until it went green again.

I didn't know why it had to change colours so often but it did tell me what needed to be added to be right.

I leaned over to grab the powdered unicorn horn I had prepared when the whole class went quiet.

"Miss Parkinson, detention and ten points from Slytherin," Snape suddenly said and I looked up to find an extra bit of stewed mandrake hovering just above my cauldron. Snape had his wand out, stopping it from going into my potion. "If that had gone in, it would have sent the drinker into a permanent sleep. Never mess with another's potion. You have dentention with me every night this week."

Parkinson went red under her heavy makeup, turning her a sickly pink colour as she stormed back to her seat several tables away.

My potion turned white by the end of the lesson.

Harry's did not.

"Potter, what is this supposed to be?" Snape asked him.

"The Draught of Peace,"

"Tell me, Potter," He said. "can you read?"

I tried not to laugh, holding it back.

"Yes, I can,"

"Read the third line of the instructions for me, Potter."

I could see Harry squinting from back here.

"'Add powdered moonstone, stir three times counterclockwise, al-low to simmer for seven minutes, then add two drops of syrup of hellebore.' "

"Did you do everything on the third line, Potter?"

"No," Harry's voice was quiet.

"I beg your pardon?"

"No," He raised it. "I forgot the hellebore. . . ."

"I know you did, Potter, which means that this mess is utterly worthless. Evanesco." His potion vanished from his caldron. "Those of you who have managed to read the instructions, fill one flagon with a sample of your potion, label it clearly with your name, and bring it up to my desk for testing. Homework for everyone, twelve inches of parchment on the properties of moonstone and its uses in potion-making, to be handed in on Thursday. Miss Potter, bring yours straight to me."

I filled the flagon with my sample as everyone brought theirs to the desk. I took mine to Snape and he nodded once in approval. I left with the rest of the class for lunch.

Harry pulled me aside.

"Why the fuck were you sitting with them?" He demanded of me.

"It's the only seat left in the class,"

"Yeah," He looked at me like I was an idiot. "For a reason. I told you to stay away from them. And what happened to Parkinson?"

"She tried to haze me," I said. "Drugged me and brought me to the Whomping Willow. I got her back by doing that to her."

"Why didn't you tell me?"

I scowled, "I don't need you fighting my fights."

"You're not that strong, Viktoria. You need to be careful with them. They could beat you in a duel easily,"

"Oh, yeah because I don't have the experience, Harry. I don't need Magic to fight my battles. I'm getting lessons anyway. I've caught up to the third years now so it's not going to be long until I get to the level of you,"

"You can't've catched up so quickly," He rolled his eyes. "You're not that smart."

"Yeah, thanks for the support," I turned on my heels and strode away before he could catch me.

)()()(

Defence was after a gruelling lunch with Harry trying to get my attention for the whole hour. Umbridge was already seated in the teacher's chair. Harry saw me enter the class and pointedly looked at the seat next to him. I took it, not wanting a fight in front of people.

"Well, good afternoon!"

Only a few people mumbled a greeting back.

"Tut, tut," She said.. "That won't do, now, will it? I should like you, please, to reply 'Good afternoon, Professor Um-bridge.' One more time, please. Good afternoon, class!"

"Good afternoon, Professor Umbridge," we chanted back at her.

"There, now," Her voice was sweet, like a honey trap. "That wasn't too difficult, was it? Wands away and quills out, please."

Umbridge pulled her wand out and tapped the blackboard.

Defence Against the Dark Arts

A Return to Basic Principles.

"This won't be an interesting lesson," Silver mumbled.

"Well now, your teaching in this subject has been rather disrupted and fragmented, hasn't it?" She faced us. "The constant changing of teachers, many of whom do not seem to have followed any Ministry-approved curriculum, has unfortunately resulted in your being far below the standard we would expect to see in your O.W.L. year. You will be pleased to know, however, that these problems are now to be rectified. We will be following a carefully structured, theory-centred, Ministry-approved course of defensive magic this year. Copy down the following, please."

Course aims:

the principles underlying defensive magic.

to recognize situations in which defensive magic can legally be used.

the use of defensive magic in a context for practical use.

We copied them down without a problem.

"Has everybody got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?"

A dull agreement came.

"I think we'll try that again," She began again. "When I ask you a question, I should like you to reply 'Yes, Professor Um-bridge,' or 'No, Professor Umbridge.' So, has everyone got a copy of Defensive Magical Theory by Wilbert Slinkhard?"

"Yes, Professor Umbridge,"

"Good," Umbridge nodded. "I should like you to turn to page five and read chapter one, 'Basics for Beginners.' There will be no need to talk."

I read the chapter quickly. It wasn't a particularly long chapter, just very boring.

"Did you want to ask something about the chapter, dear?" Umbridge asked Hermione.

"Not about the chapter, no," Hermione said.

"Well, we're reading just now," Professor Umbridge smiled. "If you have other queries we can deal with them at the end of class."

"I've got a query about your course aims,"

"And your name is…?"

"Hermione Granger,"

"Well, Miss Granger, I think the course aims are perfectly clear if you read them through carefully,"

Hermione was blunt, "Well, I don't. There's nothing written up there about using defensive spells."

"Using defensive spells?" Professor Umbridge repeated with a little laugh. "Why, I can't imagine any situation arising in my classroom that would require you to use a defensive spell, Miss Granger. You surely aren't expecting to be attacked during class?"

"We're not going to use magic?" Ron interupted.

"Students raise their hands when they wish to speak in my class, Mr..?"

"Weasley,"

Hermione thrust her hand up.

"Yes, Miss Granger? You wanted to ask something else?"

"Yes," She said curtly. "Surely the whole point of Defense Against the Dark Arts is to practice defensive spells?"

"Are you a Ministry-trained educational expert, Miss Granger?"

"No, but—"

"Well then, I'm afraid you are not qualified to decide what the 'whole point' of any class is. Wizards much older and cleverer than you have devised our new program of study. You will be learning about defensive spells in a secure, risk-free way —"

Harry rolled his eyes, "What use is that? If we're going to be attacked it won't be in a —"

"Hand, Mr. Potter!" Umbridge turned her back on him as she addressed someone else.

"Dean Thomas."

"Well, Mr Thomas?"

"Well, it's like Harry said, isn't it?" Dean said. "If we're going to be attacked, it won't be risk-free —"

"I repeat," Umbridge said, her smile turned inirtating. "Do you expect to be attacked during my classes?"

"No, but —"

Umbridge talked over him. "I do not wish to criticize the way things have been run in this school, but you have been exposed to some very irresponsible wizards in this class, very irresponsible indeed — not to mention, extremely dangerous half-breeds."

"If you mean Professor Lupin," Dean piped up angrily. "He was the best we ever —"

"Hand, Mr. Thomas! As I was saying, you have been introduced to spells that have been complex, inappropriate to your age group, and potentially lethal. You have been frightened into believing that you are likely to meet Dark attacks every other day —"

"No we haven't," Hermione said, "we just —"

"Your hand is not up, Miss Granger!" Hermione put up her hand and Umbridge turned away from her. "It is my understanding that my predecessor not only performed il-legal curses in front of you, he actually performed them on you —"

"Well, he turned out to be a maniac, didn't he?" Dean snickered. "Mind you, we still learned loads —"

"Your hand is not up, Mr. Thomas!" Umbridge trilled her words out. "Now, it is the view of the Ministry that a theoretical knowledge will be more than sufficient to get you through your examination, which, after all, is what school is all about."

Every time someone didn't put their hand up, she scolded them.

"Parvati Patil, and isn't there a practical bit in our Defence Against the Dark Arts O.W.L.?" A girl asked. "Aren't we supposed to show that we can actually do the countercurses and things?"

"As long as you have studied the theory hard enough, there is no reason why you should not be able to perform the spells under carefully controlled examination conditions," Her tone was dismissive.

"Without ever practising them before? Are you telling us that the first time we'll get to do the spells will be during our exam?"

"I repeat, as long as you have studied the theory hard enough —"

Harry kept his fist up, "And what good's theory going to be in the real world?"

Professor Umbridge looked up. "This is school, Mr Potter, not the real world."

"So we're not supposed to be prepared for what's waiting out there?"

"There is nothing waiting out there, Mr Potter."

I could tell he was losing his temper.

"Oh yeah?" Harry said.

"Who do you imagine wants to attack children like yourselves?"

"Hmm, let's think…" He began mockingly. "Maybe Lord Voldemort?"

Most of the class gasped at his name. The classroom went silent.

Umbridge did not, "Ten points from Gryffindor, Mr. Potter. Now, let me make a few things quite plain. You have been told that a certain Dark wizard has returned from the dead —"

"He wasn't dead," Harry snapped. "but yeah, he's returned!"

"Mr-Potter-you-have-already-lost-your-House-ten-points-do-not-make-matters-worse-for-yourself," Umbridge said in one breath without looking at him. "As I was saying, you have been in-formed that a certain Dark wizard is at large once again. This is a lie."

"It is NOT a lie! I saw him, I fought him!"

"Detention, Mr. Potter!" Umbridge smiled cruelly. "Tomorrow evening. Five o'clock. My office. I repeat, this is a lie. The Ministry of Magic guarantees that you are not in danger from any Dark wizard. If you are still worried, by all means come and see me outside class hours. If someone is alarming you with fibs about reborn Dark wizards, I would like to hear about it. I am here to help. I am your friend. And now, you will kindly continue your reading. Page five, 'Basics for Beginners.' "

Harry stood up, "So, according to you, Cedric Diggory dropped dead of his own accord, did he?"

Umbridge stared at Harry, glancing at me once before returning to him, "Cedric Diggory's death was a tragic accident."

"It was murder. Voldemort killed him, and you know it."

"Oh, Potter," Blaise started from the back of the room. "Stop it before you get in even more trouble."

"Shut up, Zabini,"

It didn't take long for Harry to be sent out of the class and straight to McGonagall.

"Right. Let's clear something up," Umbridge said to the rest of us, "What Mr Potter has said is false. He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named is not back. Now, let us resume the class. What can you tell me about the chapter?"

Hermione's hand was up first.

)()()(

My first extra lesson was with Professor Binns and didn't take long to finish. It was after dinner when I had it so I had freetime after it but I had homework to do.

I went to the library, finding a secluded area so I could work in peace.

I had an hour of true work before the space around me was occupied.

As the Aces began to approach my table, I packed up my stuff as quickly as I could.

I didn't even have time to get past them before Draco grabbed my arm, stopping me from barging past.

"Sit down," He nodded to the table.

I resumed my seat with a grievous sigh, "What do you want?"

The Aces took the seats, crowding me into the corner table I took in the back of the library.

I rejected my decision to sit at this table now.

"You need to sort your brother out," He said as he was across from me with Blaise and Theo took the seat to my left. "Do you think it's wise to let him mouth off to Umbridge? She's a Ministry official."

"It's not like I can stop Harry," I said.

"Try,"

"No,"

"Why not?" Draco raised a blond eyebrow. It was a couple shades darker than his natural hair. "He's making life hell for the reason of us."

"That's not my problem, that's yours,"

He muttered a French swear under his breath, rubbing a hand at his temple. "Why are you making it so difficult?"

"You want it sorted out? You do it." I told him. "I'm not your lackey."

"Potter doesn't listen to us," Blaise said. "He listens to the bloody Ghosts more than us, and we're the ones trying to keep our year together."

"Together? Is that what you call it?" I laughed. "I didn't know your year was so close that they decided to haze a new student. That's a new one. Oh how it brings everyone together to watch a girl get thrown around by the fucking Whomping Willow."

"We didn't think she'd try it," Theo snapped at me. "We warned her but you pissed her off."

"She pissed me off first,"

Blaise tried not to smile, his lip curling up. "She pisses everyone off with her too-good-for-you-I'm-a-Pureblood stance. I don't get how those Greengrasses can stand to stay around her. Bullstrode, I get."

I couldn't disagree with that but I sighed, "Are you done? I've got work to do."

"Already? It's only the first day back," Theo asked. "You've got all week to do them."

"I get extra work," I explained. "I didn't attend from year one to four so I'm still catching up. They're just trying to see if I can do the OWls at the end of the year or if I need allowances to get the grades and pass."

Draco frowned, "What did Snape give you for extra work? He's always cruel with that shit."

"The essay we all have to do and another essay about a potion from last year's teaching,"

"Not too bad," He shrugged. "He'll make the homework really hard right before the exams."

"Don't all teachers?" I smiled as I watched all of them laugh a little under their breaths.