Chapter 4: The Potion Master
Peri hurried through the dimly lit corridors towards the dungeons, following Snape's unusual request to meet before Potions class. The air grew icy as she descended deeper underground, sending shivers down her spine. Reaching the classroom door, she hesitated briefly before knocking softly. Silence greeted her, prompting her to cautiously push the heavy wooden door ajar and tentatively call out, "Hello? Professor Snape?"
Again, I am still waiting for an answer.
She entered the dimly lit room, setting her worn leather book bag on a desk cluttered with dried flowers and old quills. The air was thick with the musty scent of ancient tomes, and eerie shadows danced along the walls where glass jars held preserved creatures suspended in murky liquid. A stone basin stood ominously in one corner, water trickling from a gargoyle's mouth into its icy depths.
Intrigued by the mysterious ambiance, she approached the basin, feeling a chill run down her spine as she dipped her fingers into the frigid water. As she turned away from the basin, her gaze fell upon a weathered blackboard covered in faint chalk marks. Curiosity piqued, she moved closer to inspect it, hoping for clues hidden within its ghostly surface, only to find it barren of any writing or symbols.
She approached Snape's imposing desk, its dark wood gleaming under the dim candlelight of the dungeon. A book stood out among the scattered parchments and vials: "Advanced Potion-Making by Libatius Borage." Its spine was worn from frequent use, a telltale sign of its importance for N.E.W.T. level students. Curiosity sparked, she lifted the cover, revealing only the enigmatic inscription "The Half-Blood Prince." Before she could delve further into its mysterious contents, a forceful hand intercepted hers with a sharp slap. Startled, she recoiled, meeting Snape's piercing stare that seemed to pierce through her.
His voice sliced through the heavy silence like a sharp whip cracking against leather. "Did your mother not teach you the importance of respecting others' possessions?"
"She has, sir."
"Then why are you in my classroom alone without my permission? Why are you standing behind my desk? And why are you rummaging through my personal belongings?"
She shifted her gaze nervously towards the book on his cluttered desk before meeting his piercing stare. "You had requested my presence before our last class to discuss my experiences at Ilvermorny. However, upon my arrival, you were absent. So, I took the liberty to..."
"Intrude?" His eyebrow quirked with a hint of suspicion.
"I deemed it more appropriate to await your return indoors rather than linger in the corridor," she clarified. "Regarding the book on your desk, I couldn't help but notice it and wondered if it pertained to our current studies or perhaps a future reference. It is a book for sixth-year studies, right?"
"Sit," Snape's voice pierced the air, sending shivers down Peri's spine.
Her footsteps reverberated gently in the dimly lit room, creating an eerie atmosphere. Snape silently directed her towards a chair with a flick of his hand. Acknowledging his command with a respectful nod, Peri gracefully navigated around the imposing desk. Each step she took down the creaking stairs towards the student desk echoed the weight of the impending conversation ahead.
As Snape busied himself with organizing papers, his voice devoid of emotion filled the room, "Ms. King... your surname does not match that of your mother's."
Perplexed, Peri furrowed her brow, failing to see the relevance of her surname's name to their current discussion about previous studies.
Turning to face her fully, Snape's dark eyes bore into hers as he stated firmly, "There was no student by the name of King in our year."
Peri shifted uncomfortably in her seat, feeling a pang of unease at his intense gaze. "My mother and stepfather brought me up," she explained tentatively.
The mere mention of Richard seemed to ignite a fire within Snape as he sneered slightly, "Ah yes... Mr. Banks. Still not his last name and your mother's maiden name was Rice, not King."
Peri couldn't help but wonder how this personal history lesson tied into their Potions class.
"I am sorry, Professor, but how do these questions relate to what I know from Ilvermorny?"
Snape went to speak, but the doors in the back flew open, and the fifth-year Slytherins and Gryffindors entered the classroom. The room filled with chatter, but they instantly grew quiet seeing Peri and Snape. The students took their seats as Peri stood up, moving to the seat where her stuff lay on a different desk further back.
Snape began his annual spiel as Peri settled into her seat, "In this class, there will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations…" He paused, glaring at Peri, who was already taking notes with a quill and parchment, "I know most of you may not appreciate the subtleties of potion-making. But for those few with the innate ability, I can teach you how to bewitch minds and ensnare senses. I can show you how to create elixirs of fame and glory and even find ways to cheat death."
Despite his words, Peri continued taking notes without looking up, noting that these were essential potions typically taught in first-year classes. Hogwarts had a different approach to magical education than Ilvermorny.
"Or perhaps some of you think your abilities are too impressive for my lessons!"
A student next to Peri nudged her, causing her to look up. "Ms. King, our newest celebrity this term. Tell me, what would happen if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Before she could answer, he moved on to the next question.
"You don't know? Let's try again. Ms. King, where would one find a bezoar?"
Again, she did not wait for an answer before moving on to his final question. Peri knew all the answers but couldn't get a word in before Snape smirked at her failure. "Fame isn't everything, is it, Ms. King?"
Her pulse quickened, a surge of frustration rising within her. The questions he posed were basic, ones she could easily tackle if only given the opportunity. "You didn't even let me try," she retorted, her voice tinged with exasperation. "I could breeze through your first-year queries if you allowed me the chance."
His anger mirrored hers, and he stormed over to where she sat at the back of the classroom. He slammed his hands down on her desk, his dark eyes locking with her equally dark ones. "Just so you know, King, Asphodel, and Wormwood create a sleeping potion so potent it's called the Draught of the Living Death. A Bezoar is a stone from a goat's stomach that can save you from most poisons. And Monkshood and Wolfbane are the same plant, also known as Aconite." He glanced over his shoulder at their classmates, listening intently, "Why aren't you all writing this down?" The students scrambled to jot down the information, even though they had already taken these notes in their first year. As they hurriedly wrote, Snape walked to his podium and pulled out his point deduction book. "Slytherins, five points will be taken from your house for not paying attention."
Peri's voice cut through the silent room like a sharp blade, causing heads to turn towards her. "You are taking points away from your own house?" she asked incredulously. She stood tall and unafraid, her words challenging the authority of the man before her.
He paused in his writing, slowly lifting his head to meet her gaze, which glowed with a glare that could freeze fire. Without breaking eye contact, he continued his task, their conflict hanging thick and heavy in the air between them.
As the day's final lesson ended, students eagerly made their way towards The Great Hall for dinner. The corridors were bustling with energy as friends chatted and laughed while going through crowds. Amidst the crowd, she noticed Hallie and Fred engaged in a flirtatious exchange, utterly unaware of each other's mutual feelings. Smirking at their obliviousness, she continued on her path, only to glimpse Draco leading Holly down a secluded corridor, her expression betraying annoyance.
Stepping into The Great Hall, her eyes swept across the room until they settled on her two younger sisters seated at the Gryffindor table. Alicia, though not yet a Hogwarts student, attended tutoring sessions with professors during free periods and shared meals with Gryffindors while residing in the school-provided suite where her parents stayed during the Tri-Wizard Tournament preparations led by her mother and Mr. Crouch.
Finally, her gaze traveled to the head tables, where she located her mom and papa before skillfully navigating the sea of students and teachers to join them.
Richard watched as his daughter approached, his face brightening at the sight of her, "Hello, my darling. How was school?"
Her expression turned sour as she replied, "Honestly? Awful...Mad-Eye is completely insane. And Professor Snape was particularly cruel today." Her dark eyes locked with her mother's light blue and Papa's soft green ones, conveying all her frustration and anger.
"He even slapped my hand," she continued, her voice trembling with emotion. "I was just looking at a sixth-year textbook on his desk while I waited for class to start. But that was a crime, and he puns, wished me for it."
She paused, taking a deep breath before continuing, "And then, during class, he kept asking me questions but refused to answer any of mine. And when I spoke up, he took points away from my house, claiming I was being cheeky."
The words spilled out of her in a rush, her emotions still raw from the day's events. Richard could see the hurt and frustration in her eyes and wished he could do something to improve it.
Cassie's eyes darted towards Snape, who was making his way up to the head tables. She glanced at her husband's furious expression as he approached him, "Richard, leave…" She tried to prevent her husband, who was already away from her and their daughter.
He did not listen, approaching Snape angrily. "Professor," his voice was stern.
Snape strode up to the tables, his black robes billowing behind him, before fixing his gaze on Richard. "Mr. Banks, how can I assist you?"
Richard's voice was low and tense, demanding, "What have you done to my daughter?"
Snape's jaw tensed visibly before he replied evenly, "You'll have to be more specific, Mr. Banks. I have four of your five daughters in my classes."
"My oldest. Peri."
Snape's eyes flickered with a dangerous glint as they shifted from Richard to where Cassie and Peri stood. "You are not a Headmaster here, Mr. Banks."
Richard's voice turned cold and hard as he spoke, "As the head of the Ministry's Education Department and father to four current students, with another joining next year, I hold sway in matters concerning student well-being. I can easily speak to Dumbledore and the Ministry about your behavior, and we'll see if you still have a job."
Snape's expression grew even darker at the mention of Dumbledore. He shifted his gaze back to Richard and defended himself sharply, "She showed blatant disrespect towards me in front of the entire class."
"False," Richard snapped, his voice dripping with contempt. "It was you who disrespected her first. You laid your hands on a student, an act that is not only inappropriate but also criminal. And even if you were her parent, which you are not, it still does not give you the right to harm her physically."
Snape's face contorted in anger, his words coming out in a low, evil hiss. "She was going through my things."
"You mean she was observing and taking an interest in her education," Richard retorted calmly. "As her professor, you must encourage and support your students' thirst for knowledge. You should be proud that she showed curiosity in your book. However, that does not give you the excuse to lay a hand on her. If you wanted to punish her, then detention, not that I would agree she needs it in this instance. Secondly, you asked her questions and did not allow her time to answer. That is your fault, not hers. As a teacher, you are responsible for guiding and teaching your students, not cutting them off before they can even speak."
Peri boldly stepped forward, much to her mother's audible protest. Her eyes sparkled with defiance as she spoke up, "He kept questioning me beforehand about your relationship with your mother. It struck me as quite odd."
The tension in the room intensified as Richard's anger flared, his jaw clenched and his voice sharp. "Our private lives are none of your concern. You will learn your place," he warned, forcefully pulling Peri back to Cassie before taking his seat next to McGonagall and his wife.
The air was thick with unspoken words and unbridled emotions.
Draco had made his way to the Slytherin table, weaving through students and dodging elbows and trays of food. He caught sight of Richard, his stepfather, in a heated argument with Snape. The tension between them was palpable, like two predators circling each other in the wild. Peri sat across from him with a smile, watching the scene unfold with amusement. "My papa has my back," she said confidently.
Draco couldn't help but feel a twinge of envy at her unwavering support. He looked at the professors, trying to decipher what caused this outburst. As if on cue, plates and bowls appeared before them, filled with steaming dishes that brought comforting scents to their noses. "Snape looks like he could murder your stepfather just with his eyes," Draco commented half-jokingly.
Peri's gaze followed his to Snape, who seemed ready to strike. "My papa has just as much power to his name as your family or even my cousin's family," she replied coolly.
Her eyes flickered over to Pansy, seated directly next to Draco and deeply conversing with Blaise.
"Nothing will ever happen to him. As long as he is around, I am safe."