Chapter 20: Potions

Days Later: Castle Dungeons (Potions Classroom)

The past couple of days were considered normal for Harry, normal for a young pirate when he learned that he happens to be a wizard weeks ago. He would commence with his studies here in the school, learning new spells and other magical methods which are similar to the muggle means of education, in fact some of them are compared to the lessons he took back when he was sailing with the Straw Hats years ago. For example, when he takes his first Herbology lessons in the Castle Greenhouse with Professor Spout, he can see that it reminds him of his botany lessons that he took from either Robin, Chopper or Usopp when he would help the doctor with his herb gathering chores whenever the ship moors on an island or tend to the Pop Greens in the gunner's garden. The herbs and plants growing in the greenhouse are identical to the ones he learned about, but there are other strange plants growing there, plus he learned about the magical properties which are used for either potions or other methods of magic which are yet to be learned in the castle.

But it doesn't mean that Harry didn't learn spells in that lesson, in fact he learned one spell called the Herbivicus Charm, which was used for gardening via stimulating plants to grow faster, which was cool and convenient...perhaps Usopp could learn this for his Pop Green Garden, if he were magical himself. When learning the spell, he and the other students were given potted saplings and help them grow into mature plants, which are Dittany for they are the easiest plant to cultivate in the Greenhouse.

He enjoyed the lesson, much more as Neville did, for he has a knack of it as he never once struggled with learning the spell and feels calm and happy around the plants. Harry is glad Neville found something that he's good at, but he'll be happier to help the fellow Gryffindor if he ever struggles with his schoolwork.

But not all lessons were fun, there is one that's completely boring, especially when it's been taught by a ghost. Professor Binns from History of Magic is completely droll as his lectures would put everyone to sleep, especially Harry as he struggles to stay awake to learn about the historic events occurring in the Magic community in Britain. Unfortunately, Harry fell victim to the boredom that the lesson displayed and fell asleep like the rest of the class, except for Hermione for she's the only person to stay awake and endure the boring lectures that the ghostly professor gave to the daily lessons.

But that's nothing compare to the current lesson that Harry is about to learn: potions with Professor Snape. If the rumours of Snape are true, then Harry needs to prepare himself for the harsh mistreatment that the moody wizard would give him. He now sits with the rest of the first years from Gryffindor and Slytherin, two rival houses which are sitting separately from each other and waits for their first potions lesson to start.

Suddenly, just when the students wait and idly murmurs in their own conversation, the room went silent as the door opens and Professor Snape enters through. The man is a pale middle-aged man dressed completely in black, he has greasy black shoulder length hair and a hooked nose which fits well with his gaunt and grumbling expression.

"There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class." Said Snape as he now stands before the entire class and begrudgingly starts the lesson to the first years. "As such, I don't expect any of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However, for those select few who possess the predisposition, I can teach how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper in death."

Harry was intrigued by this that he was starting to take notice from this, little does he know was that Snape saw him and made the assumption that he wasn't listening. Knowing who the boy is, Snape used this to accuse the boy whenever it was a misunderstanding or not.

"Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts with the abilities to not pay attention!" said Snape directly at Harry who was jolting out notes on a piece of parchment that it took Hermione to nudge at him to make him pay attention. Realising this, Harry turns to face Snape and silently pays attention, but that only made Snape scoff when he saw the boy. "Mr. Potter, our new celebrity."

Harry is aware at how condescending Snape was being but kept his mouth shut and let the attempted mockery slide. Snape was slightly surprised that Harry didn't react to this, but then he tried to attempt to insult and humiliate the boy further, and to do that is by asking him complex questions to prove his inferior intellect.

"Potter, what would I get if you added powered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Snape was expecting Harry to not know the answer, but to his surprise, Harry didn't hesitate and answered the question.

"You get a sleeping draught so potent that it simulates death, professor." Said Harry, this caused Snape and the class to stare at him with surprise. "The draught is called...the Living Death.

"How do you..."

"My dad, he use to suffers from nightmares triggered by PTSD, sir," said Harry with a sad frown as he explained how he knows about the draught. "The ship's doctor, Chopper would brew up this for him to help him sleep. It freaked everyone one out on the first time he took it, fortunately it only lowered his breathing and heart-rate very slowly that you couldn't feel his breath and/or feel his pulse. But he's fine now, since he feels safe sleeping my mums."

For once Snape was bewildered that Harry answered a question that only fourth years would know, the urge to smile of pride was threatening to form for some reason, but then it immediately forms into a scowl.

"Beginner's luck," said Snape "Alright then, Potter. Perhaps you can tell me where you can find a Bezoar?"

This made Harry grimace in disgust, which Snape mistook for him not knowing.

"So, you don't know, huh?"

"Not exactly, sir," said Harry as he tries to prevent from getting sick. "I know where you can find bezoars, and recalling that discovery is completely gross."

"Elaborate," said Snape, although he dreads that Harry knows that answer already.

"A bezoar is small stone-like thing that forms in the stomach of a goat." Said Harry as he resist the urge of being sick, although the pungent stench of the many foul potion ingredients doesn't help much as it burns his nostrils, even more than the time when he help Sanji gut fish in the Sunny's kitchen. "It's used to make antidotes for most poisons."

Snape remains silent while he grits his teeth in fury while his lips quiver as they want to form a proud smile at Harry. What the boy doesn't know is that Snape is conflicting himself with bases of emotions, one side ruled by hatred for the boy while the other... well the opposite. He then tries again with a more technical question and hopes that Harry doesn't know this and perhaps mark the boy's pride.

"What is the difference of Monkshood and Wolfbane, Potter?"

"There is none, sir," said Harry "Monkshood and Wolfbane, along with devil's helmet and blue rocket are names of a type of flower known as aconite. A beautiful purple flower, but poisonous which used correctly can also be used to make a medicine that treat fear, anxiety, fevers caused by either hot or cold weathers, and headaches."

"Let me guess, your doctor uses it?" said Snape with a deadpan and defeated tone.

"Why wouldn't he?" said Harry, "In fact, he and I use to go out and gather these particular flowers to restock his infirmary. And he taught me how to handle them with care."

"Alright, enough!" said Snape as he heard quite enough. "Clearly fame didn't stop you from learning, so take 10 points for answering all three questions completely, Potter."

Snape felt like it was his own pride that was bruised, but when he listened to Harry answer them with every detail, it reminds him of someone he knew...a certain redhead that he use to be friends and go to class together. Even more when he stares right into the boy's green eyes that this positive side of him forced the bitter side to surrender and be fair.

The Gryffindors around Harry were shocked and amazed when Snape rewarded Harry, which was something that Snape never do unless you're of the Slytherin House. For the first time in 8 years, when Snape started his career as Potions Professor, a Gryffindor was given house points by him, and it was Harry Potter the Boy who Vanished who made it possible.

"Now before any of you from Gryffindor House celebrate this," said Snape as he took notice of the Gryffindor students' shock and surprise on their faces. "Need I remind you that you are currently in my class and we barely started. Now, form into pair, go to your brewing stations and open up your potions book, page 13."

As the class pair up into 2s and head for their brewing station, which consists of a stove with a boiling pewter cauldron over a low fire. Harry teams up with Ron, Seamus teams up with Dean, Hermione pairs with Neville and Parvati pairs with another girl named with Lavender Brown.

As for the Slytherins, Malfoy pairs with Blaise, Crabbe pairs with Goyle, Daphne pairs with Tracey, and Parkinson is with Bulstrode.

"Today, we are going to brew the Wiggenwald Potions, a concoction that can heal minor injuries and an antidote for the aforementioned Draught of the Living Death if overdosed." Said Snape as he pulls out a small glass vial which contains a green fluid to show the class. "As it's required and easier to learn, it's also helping Madam Pomfrey's work easier at the Hospital Wing. Then again, I won't expect any of you to get it the first time, but I want you all to follow the recipe carefully if you want to avoid the trip to the hospital wing and a lecture from the school matron."

The students all start to open up their potions book and starts to work on their potions. Harry reads the list of ingredients thoroughly while going to the shelves to collect them. There he picks up pieces of wiggentree bark, Moly, Dittany (not to be mistaken for Yarrow), vials of Horklump juice and Flubberworm mucus, and lastly...Wolfsbane before returning to the brewing station. He asks Ron to stir the boiling cauldron while he adds the ingredient one by one and in between stirrings, both clockwise and counter-clockwise. When the ingredients were dropping in the boiling water in the cauldron, it causes the water to change colour and fume out pungent steam before it starts to bubble.

"Keep stirring, Ron," said Harry as he then adds more ingredients while going through the recipe carefully. "We mustn't let it bubble and foam,"

"I'm trying, Harry" said Ron as he's still stirring. "Bloody hell, my arms ache."

Harry rolled his eyes as he keeps on adding more ingredients and watches the water change into more colours which aren't the same as the sample Snape showed. Then with a sudden puff of green smoke, the liquid has changed into a correct shade of green and the surface now simmers.

"There, that should do it," said Harry as he then takes a ladle and uses it to pour the potion carefully into a vial. And just in time too for Snape approaches him and Ron while he patrols to supervise the student's progress. "Here, Professor."

Harry gives Snape his potion to inspect. Snape looks at if thoroughly and narrows his eyes in judgement. He turns to Harry who stayed calm and waits patiently. Then he uncorks the vial and gives it a whiff and dips his pinkie finger so he can sample it.

"Hmm, not bad" said Snape, "although mediocre, it's still effective. 5 points...to Gryffindor."

Suddenly a boom echoes and a panicked scream was called out which caused Snape to turn to one of the other brewing stations. He immediately approaches it where Hermione is currently helping poor Neville back on his feet, for the concoction blew up in his face and suffered angry red boils that produce and seep out smelly puss.

"Foolish boy! Clearly you didn't follow the ingredients carefully," Snape said in anger as he shows no concern for the accident Neville got in. "20 points from Gryffindor."

"Sir, he's in pain." Said Hermione

"Then take him to the hospital wing," said Snape as he waves the two students off.

Ron is outraged by this, first he gave Gryffindor some house point and then he takes them away, all because of some mishap. Harry remains calm for he expected this and stops Ron from making things worse.

"It's not worth it, Ron," said Harry, "Clearly this is what he wanted, don't rise to the bait."

Ron grumbles as he crossed his arms, still not happy with the mistreatment Snape's being giving to his fellow classmates in his Lion crested house.

Grand Hall

After Potions, the Gryffindors head for the Great Hall for lunch. Ron is still grumbling while he fiddles with his plate while Harry and the others enjoy their meal. Harry turns his eyes at Ron and sighed at the redhead.

"Are you still going on about that happened at Potions?" said Harry

Ron didn't answer, instead he starts stuffing his face with food, enough for him to fill his cheeks like a hamster. Harry pulls a deadpan expression and goes back to his own food.

"Look, I get it. I'm ticked off by what Snape did," said Harry, "but confronting him isn't the answer."

Ron forcefully swallowed to the point that he nearly chocked and starts coughing hard. He takes his goblet of pumpkin juice so that he can ease his recently sore throat.

"Here," said Harry as he gives Ron a vial of wiggenwald potion so that he can heal his hoarse throat. "Just go easy on the food."

Ron takes the potion and starts drinking it to helps ease his throat after his forceful swallowing and starts to sigh in relief.

"Cheers, mate," said Ron.

"No problem, at least it may help with you calming down." Said Harry as he continues to eat his lunch.

"I still can't believe it though," said Ron to Harry, "I mean he deliberately took away points that we earned, only to take out more just to spite us."

"Of course, he would do that," said Harry, "But it'll only get worse if we reacts to it. Which is exactly what he wants just to punish us even more."

"How are you so calm about this?" said Ron as he isn't happy with Harry not reacting in outrage for this unfairness.

Harry then starts to tell Ron a tale about how his father, Luffy once react the same way as a child when his role model Red-Haired Shanks was disrespected by a bunch of bandits over the lack of booze which Shank and his crew drank up, leaving only half a bottle left for the bandits. The bandits leader Higuma the Bear smashed the bottle by Shank's feet in the hopes of starting a fight. But Shanks didn't take the bait and instead ask for a mop to clean the mess on the floor. Higuma assumed that Shanks was a coward, mocked him more by making more mess by swatting everything off the counter since Shanks "likes cleaning" before leaving the bar.

"Shanks and his crew laughed after the bandits left, which angered dad and asked why he didn't fight back." Said Harry. "He didn't understand why Shanks didn't fight back, until later on. And he did the same when back in a bar in Mock Town on Jaya, he was disrespected by a pirate named Bellemy the Hyena. It got worse when mum asked about the sky islands, causing the pirates and Bellemy to laugh more and continued to mock him and mum even more. Mum was humiliated, but Dad stood his ground while the pirates throw food and splash booze onto him and Zoro, but they never fight back."

"But why?" said Ron in shock from this tale. "Why didn't he and his first mate fight back?"

"Because it's not worth it," said Harry. "And if he fought back, then the jerks win. Just as Snape would win if any of us retort from his mistreatment. It would only cause us to lose more points."

"So that's it?" said Ron "We just left that snake get away with the mistreatment."

"Snape is but one man," said Harry "He's hardly a threat, it's not like he can put any of us in danger."

"How do you know?" said Ron

"Because I can...sense people's intentions," said Harry, hesitant with his answer, "It's complicated to explain, but all I can say is that Snape isn't to be concerned about. Just keep your mouth shut, cool your temper and you'll be lucky to risk at least a minimum of house points lost."

"It'd listen to Harry, Ron,"

Suddenly Fred, George and Lee arrived to sit next to the two first-years.

"We heard what you did there, Harry," said Fred as he gives Harry a smile. "Earning House points from Snape? I couldn't believe it."

"Aye, I thought Seamus and Dean were pulling our leg, having us on and all that." Said George

"Aye, only for it to be taken away from us," said Ron

"No surprising there," Fred and George said simutantiously

"You'd be lucky to finish potions class without even earning a single point at all," said Lee to Ron. "Harry was wise to stop you there. Even if Snape was always unfair to us non-slytherins."

"Do you mean that he's also harsh with the Ravenclaws and Hufflepuffs?" said Harry with a raised brow.

"Aye," said Fred and George.

"At least Professors Flitwick and Sprout, who are Heads of Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff, are fair with us and only take away points in necessary means." Said Lee as he helps himself with a plateful. "Even our own Head, McGonagall is fair and tolerates no rule breaking."

"Well, that's reassuring," said Ron, still unconvinced as he grumbled. "But we can't just let Snape get away with what he did to us."

"Doing nothing is the best thing, Ron," said Harry "By retorting to his cruelty only makes him triumph, wanting us Gryffindors to be pictured under a bad shade."

Harry then turns to Fred and George.

"We might as well tell the rest of the Gryffindors of this," said Harry "Silence is golden, golden as the lion on our house crest."

"That was...profoundly sound of you, Harry,"

Harry then turns to see Hermione who took a seat next to him.

"Hi Hermione, how's Neville?" said Harry

"He's fine," said Hermione, "Madame Pomfrey has giving him some ointment to help with the boils, he'll be back on his feet for the next class."

"That's good, I bet he's upset about losing the house points," said Harry with a sympathetic smile.

"Distraught, actually," said Hermione. "He felt responsible for it and is worried that you'd be cross with him."

"It wasn't his fault," said Harry. "Clearly it was an accident."

"Yeah, and does Snape care? No." Ron grunted. "One mishap and he take away points."

"It does seem unfair, but Harry was right to stop you," said Hermione "You would've made things worse for Gryffindor."

Ron only grunted and got back to his lunch. Suddenly the sound of flapping can be heard from above which caused everyone to look up to see a flock of owls soaring through the bewitched ceiling, though the high openings which they enter through while holding either letters with their beaks or parcels with their talons. They descend to the tables so they can drop their mail to the students, which were sent by their parents who already miss them after their few days at school and wanted to give their love to them. And among the flock is Hedwig, Harry's Snowy Owl as she has her own mail to deliver to her master. She drops the letters in front of Harry before flying off to leave the castle. Harry smiles at his Owl and then turns his attention to the letters which are written by the Straw Hats.

He opens up the letters and starts to read them, each gives out their love and how they miss him on board their ship. Fortunately he's planning to visit them on his break days, and he'll be taking his new friends along so they can see the ship that he grew up in.

"Hey Harry," said Seamus as he hands him today's Daily Prophet. "Your pirate crew's on the front page."

"Really?" said Harry as he took the paper and starts to read the headline and main article.

PIRATES IN THE WIZARDING WORLD? ARE THEY TO BE TRUSTED?

(Picture: Luffy and Nami walking through the Atrium of the Ministry, ignoring and passing through reporters trying to get an interview from the two pirates.)

By Rita Skeeta

An unusual turn of events has occurred in the Magical Community of Great Britain, when pirates from another realm arrived and docked by Hogwart's School of Witchcraft and Wizardry on July 31st, day before the term for this year's new students with one of them being Harry Potter, the Boy who Vanished. Harry Potter, who was declared dead by the ministry 10 years has returned us to attend to Hogwarts this year was also allegedly raised by these pirates, commonly named the Straw Hat Pirates. The pirates, led by the proclaimed Pirate King, Luffy Monkey D, a.k.a Straw Hat Luffy and Pirate Queen "Cat Burglar" Nami Monkey D, were unable for an exclusive, although Mrs. Monkey D stated that she'll accept an exclusive if I pay her, extorting me for the information.

I also tried to get an exclusive from one crew instead, but they were challenging to also, all from the ship's cook, Sanji Vinsmoke (picture: Sanji being the flirtatious gentleman to a young witch running a greengrocers in Hogsmeade) hasn't answered any of my questions when he's only serving me a meal with dessert which I...couldn't help but enjoy it that I forgot about interviewing him. I tried to interview the ship's first Mate Zoro Rononoa (Picture: Zoro is at the Flying Broomstick, drinking from his 5th mug of beer, oblivious of Madame Rosmerta's swooning from behind the counter.) but my judge of character kept me away from the guy for I fear for my life (I mean why would he wield 3 swords? And how does he hold the third?). The ship's gunner Usopp (picture: Usopp is at Zonko's with his son and daughter) was also a failed attempt for when I asked him many questions, the answers were...questionable as his boasting was too much that my quill committed suicide before it scribbled up what it wrote, losing everything from my interview with the gunner and his damn silver tongue.

Harry chuckles when Usopp was mentioned, no doubt his tall tales was too much for even this reporter, for he did recall Morgans had the same issue trying to interview Usopp and his escapades. He continues to read the article, and this time he starts to laugh from the continued contents.

My pursuits on these pirates continues to be fruitless as I turn my attention on the ship's archaeologist Robin Nico (Picture: Robin is having a cup of tea outside Madam Puddifoot's Tea Shop) as she's been rather difficult to interview her no matter how many questions I asked her. Despite her calm demeanour, her smile does bring sudden chill down my spine that I was forced to back away.

The rest of the crew...they aren't human and wasn't sure if I ever want to interview, especially when the metal man Franky (Picture: Frank poses in his Super pose, dressed in his usual floral shirt and Speedos, up on the Thousand Sunny's Bulwark.) and the living skeleton Brook (Picture: Brook ominously stands still while sipping tea...if sipping is possible without lips.) whose so perverse and has no shame (especially when the skeleton has asked me to show him my unmentionables, ugh!) The Helmsman Jimbei (picture: Jimbei is meditating by the lakebed and not interacting with Rita or the photographer) keeps to himself and refused to speak with me as he shows and simply stated "No comment" before dismissing us.

There were the ship's doctors, Chopper and Kaya (Pictures: Chopper is at Honeydukes eating Doxy Floss while buying other confectioneries to sate his sweet tooth. Kaya sitting at a bench next to the statue of Hogsmeade's founder Hengist of Woodcroft). Yet again another blunder for the main doctor was scared off before I could even ask him any questions and Mrs. Kaya was as bad as her husband Usopp that my spare quill also committed suicide.

Out of all people I reported, these pirates are an enigma, which would make anyone sceptical around them. They may be muggles, (or at least most of them) but they aren't normal, what kind of world did they come from? What made them become pirates, and are we in danger?

And are they a bad influence for young Harry Potter?

Harry scoffs at the end of the article and shook his head at it. Then he noticed something else on the front page

"Hey, look at this?" said Harry to Ron and Hermione, "There's been a break in at Gringotts."

"Really?" said Ron as he and Hermione starts to take a read at the next article.

GRINGOTTS BREAK-IN LATEST

(Picture: Gringotts Goblins under investigation around Vault 713, Manager shouts at Griphook)

Investigations continue into the break-in at Gringotts on 31st July, widely believed to be the work of Dark Witches or Wizards unknown. Gringotts' Goblins today insisted that nothing was been taken, yet coincidently the vault in question was already emptied the same day, prior to the break-in that occurred.

"We will not lay you the details for former contents of Vault 713 for we are under oath on customer confidentiality, so keep your nose out where it doesn't belong...now scram." Commented the Gringotts spokesperson after we inquired him of the reasons of this break-in, which the bank was apparently rumoured to be unbreakable.

"Blimey, it was a good thing that vault was already empty when it was broken into, eh?" said Ron

"Indeed," said Harry as starts to show a puzzled look when he gazes at the article's picture of the open yet empty vault bearing the number 713, with the Goblin staff bickering about the attempted break-in that occurred weeks ago, the investigation is still pending. "Strange."

"What's strange?"

"That's the exact vault Hagrid went to while Dad and I came to my own vault to make a withdrawal." Said Harry "It can't be a coincidence, can it?"

"Do you know what was inside that vault?" said Hermione making an inquiry.

Harry shook his head, he was still in his vault with Luffy when Hagrid came to collect the item in question, not once has he showed it, stating that it was "Hogwarts Business, very secret." Does that mean that Dumbledore foreseen this break-in? This got the young Prince curious as he turns to look over to where Dumbledore is.

"Hagrid kept mum on that, I'm afraid," said Harry "But whatever it is, it's something that someone with ill intent wants desperately to risk breaking in Gringotts, despite the risks."

End of Chapter