As Denlin followed the other first years into the potions classroom for their double Potions class with Gryffindor, Malfoy smacked him on the back of his head, causing him to stagger forward, drop his book, and almost actually fall. Thankfully he caught himself on a nearby shelf, managing to not pull it down.

He knew what Malfoy was trying to do, and instead of reacting, he simply picked up his textbook, took a seat, and then drank down one of the two potions he'd brought with him. By not reacting, he would be a better advocate should the issue ever be brought up to Dumbledore or the Ministry. He watched his father walk into the room, talking about wand waving, and begin to ask Harry Potter questions. He had to busy himself with setting up his cauldron to avoid shouting answers out of turn—his father hated when he did that.

He did hear his father begin with an introduction he'd not yet heard, "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 stopper death — if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."

Absorbing himself back in his work of setting up, he missed most of the questions being asked, but did hear Harry's response to the last one.

"I don't know," said Harry quietly. "I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try asking her?"

A few people laughed, though Denlin kept it to himself, laughing in his head instead.. Snape, however, was not pleased.

"Sit down," he snapped at Hermione. "For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. 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 aconite. Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?"

There was a sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. Over the noise, Snape said, "And a point will be taken from Gryffindor house for your cheek, Potter."

"Why do I need to write all of this down, you already know I know it!" Denlin said, immediately regretting it when Snape whirled towards him, crossing the room effortlessly.

"Just because you're my son does not mean I don't expect the same from you as any other student. Watch the cheek, Denlin." Snape said coldly, and Denlin realized for certain that he was not going to be able to use that as an excuse again, so he hastily copied down the notes, that he was certain he already had, before they got paired up to make a cure for boils. He was not about to bring up his ability to brew much more complex potions—especially not here in front of everyone.

An hour later, after a quite eventful class, he was packing up his stuff, muttering to himself about Snape being unfair in class, when Malfoy hit him again.

This time, however, there was no controlling it, and he looked at Malfoy with the blank gaze he usually had when he made a prediction, boring right through his soul, it would feel like.

"Beware of those who walk as friends, for through them, you will meet a bitter end." The echo in his voice was far more pronounced than usual, causing Malfoy to stagger back slightly, and he raised his wand to point it at the other boy, it was yanked out of his hand, and as Snape caught it, he waved Malfoy and his friends out of the room, walking up to Denlin.

"That was uncalled for." He said, seeing right through Denlin's ruse. "You should have just ignored him, like you did earlier."

"Yes, but now he's scared of me."

"Hardly. He'll be even more determined now to make you have an episode in front of everyone, so he can use that as proof you should be expelled." As Snape handed him back his wand, he continued, "I told you I am going to treat you like any other student of mine during class. I know that beginner potions are dreadfully boring, but think of it like good practice for later years once you finally get to officially brew most of the potions you've watched me brew."

"Now, you have a free period. I suggest you stay out of trouble. Maybe study for Charms, I've heard you are doing dreadful in that class."

Twenty minutes later, Denlin was standing around outside the castle, simply people watching, bored out of his mind and missing being able to fly around on his broom. That was when he saw it, movement out of the corner of his eye, but as soon as he turned to look, there was nothing. I'm getting paranoid after that attack. He thought, but he still made his way inside and to the common room to relax there.

As he entered, he couldn't help but hear what Malfoy and some of the others were going on about.

"Yeah, I knew about him before even seeing him on the train. Apparently my father sent some sort of letter to scare him off from attending Hogwarts, but that obviously didn't work. Supposedly he forged McGonagall's signature and everything, I briefly glimpsed the letter, and it looked very official, so I'm surprised it didn't work."

Denlin's heart fell into the pit of his stomach hearing that, and he knew he'd have to tell Snape about it. That letter lead to one of his worst episodes and an actual prophecy, though he didn't remember it. Pretending he didn't hear it for now, though, he sent to the boys' dormitory, reaching the cabinet.

With shaking hands, he opened it, only to find it empty. He quickly pulled out the other phial of potion he had on him—his last from the batch he'd brewed with Snape—and chugged it down, as he checked for any signs of tampering. Only five students in the entire school knew what was in this cabinet, and only two professors he could think of, none of whom would take everything out without a note or warning.

Slamming the doors of the cabinet closed, Denlin stormed out of the common room, intending to head for his father's office. Behind him he heard the footsteps of what was unmistakably the arrogant walk of Malfoy.

"What do you want, Malfoy?" He asked, as he turned the corner to the hall Snape's office was on.

"Where are you going?" The other boy asked, trying to keep up, and on several occasions attempting—and failing—to block Denlin's path.

"I have to speak to my father, if you'd be so kind to leave me alone."

"Why? Looking for these?" Malfoy said as they stopped outside of Snape's office door, pulling a phial of Denlin's potion out of his pocket.

"What are you two doing here?" Snape said, having rounded the corner at the other end of the hallway, and both of them began speaking simultaneously, making the babble incoherent. "Be quiet! Malfoy, you first!"

"I was just trying to see why Denlin had stormed out of the common room so suddenly."

"And that potion you're holding. Where did you get it?"

"Somehow he got the cabinet open." Denlin said, "I also have something I need to talk to you about, privately." As he said the second statement, he locked eyes with Snape, letting him see the memory of what Draco said about the fake letter.

"I see." Snape said, after probing for proof of the cabinet being empty, knowing Denlin was weak in Occlumency in any form. "Mr. Malfoy, I'm not sure how you would have accessed a secure cabinet in your dormitory, nor why you would take unknown potions from it without permission. However, I encourage you to return everything you took from it. Come along, Denlin." He said, entering his office, Denlin hot on his heels.

Once they were securely in the office and reasonably certain Draco had moved on, Snape spoke. "You never were good at Occlumency, so I'm going to assume that wasn't a fake memory and Draco actually said his father sent that letter."

"That's exactly what happened!"

"Lucius is a very influential individual, so nothing will likely come of it, but I do thank you for coming to me."

Denlin nodded slightly, turning to leave, before Snape spoke again.

"I expect better reports from Professors Flitwick and McGonagall before the weekend, or you will not be allowed to freely wander the castle this weekend—I will busy you with work both days to remind you to always do your best."

"Yes sir." Denlin said, before heaving the door open and leaving the office.