(Severus)
I sighed internally as I helped the twins haul their luggage up the front steps of the castle and through the doors and then watched in silent awe as Sylvr let Phantom out of his carrier and watched as she removed the shrinking charm that she'd placed on him and he grew to the size of a wolf. I watched in amazement as the large and deadly cat butted her on the cheek, his purrs filling the empty entrance hall and Sylvr chuckled softly as she scratched his chin and then he turned and dashed out the door. "Where's he going?" I asked as I watched him merge into the shadows.
"If I had to guess he's going to race the Unicorns in the Forbidden Forest again." She replied nonchalantly as I looked at her curiously.
"Hey Professor Snape, since it'll be a couple of hours before the train gets here and dinner starts and all that can I...can I ask you a question?" Adrian said softly, I saw Sylvr tense before slowly turning to look back at Adrian and I.
"Yes what is it Mr. Brown." I said turning to face him, immediately he started scratching the back of his neck nervously, suddenly concern for the two of them filled me as Adrian started babbling quickly.
"I wasn't really sure if this was Madam Pomfrey question or a you question, cause it's medical but also potions..." I drew in a deep breath and slowly let it out.
"Out with-it Mr. Brown." I said apprehensively as Sylvr's eyes darted between her brother and I anxiously.
"Out with it...right, yeah. Uh...do you know of a potion that could...possibly...um...give a wizard more testosterone?" The question threw me for a second as it wasn't what was I was expecting.
"Why?" I asked softly, while from the corner of my eye I noticed that Sylvr was practically hyperventilating as Adrian continued.
"Because I have to get a T-shot every week and I have a phobia of needles, and I would much rather drink something even if it's disgusting and I have to drink it every day than to get a shot so...do you happen to..." Understanding flooded through me.
"As it turns out Mr. Brown. I do know of a potion that could help you."
"You do? There any chance you could...teach me to make it? Some like...extra tutoring? If you have the time?" Adrian asked anxiously.
"Of course, I will Adrian." I said and heard Sylvr release the breath she'd been holding in and I turned to her. "...Do you need the potion as well?" I asked, she looked at me in surprise for a moment and then mumbled while looking at the floor.
"Not unless there's a potion that can help with stomach cramps." I fought the urge to smile at her and said.
"There is, I'll teach you both how to make both potions. Should either of you ever need to know how to make the others for them." She jerked her head up and stared at me and then looked over at Adrain who looked like he'd just been given his life's dream.
"Wait really? You-you mean it? Thank you!" Adrian cried and then the two of them threw their arms around me. I tensed slightly but I gently put an arm around each of them, almost instinctively. They immediately stepped back blushing slightly and looked down.
"Sorry Professor..." Sylvr whispered.
"Sorry...I...got excited." I fought the urge to smile at them and cleared my throat as several different emotions and thoughts raced through me.
"Are you two ready to start?" I said turning and leading them through the empty halls to the dungeons.
"Yeah sure, we-we could start now...if you still wanna..." Sylvr said, stumbling over her words. I stopped and looked at the two of them.
"Of course, I'll still tutor you." I said softly. Soon we arrived at the Potions classroom and I let them in. "Take any seat you like." I said as I walked up to the chalkboard and wrote the two potions ingredients and the directions down for them to follow. When I turned they were sitting at the table they'd shared last year at the front of the room looking excitedly at the board. "I will go and the ingredients you'll need from my stores room, go ahead and set up your cauldrons." I went to the stores room and grabbed several of each ingredient and returned to the classroom to see the two of them copying the potions down onto parchment.
"I'm proud of you Aide..." Sylvr whispered as I watched the two of them and Adrian blushed slightly and shrugged bashfully.
"...S'not really anything big..." He mumbled as Sylvr dropped her pencil on the table and looked at him shocked.
"Are-are you serious? You took a risk reaching out to him, you were brave and I'm proud of you for it! Now shut up and accept my compliment and pride." She hissed as Adrain laughed softly.
"Yeah alright fine..."
'What could she have meant by taking a risk?...perhaps it's my reputation...' I thought to myself as I approached their table and deposited the ingredients before them.
"Alright...The directions are there on the board, but if you have any questions at all feel free to ask." I said as I sat down at my desk and started working on the lesson plan for the next day. A little while later the two of them approached, vials in hand and offered them out to me. I took Adrian's first and glanced at it before taking a small sip of it. "You added too much leech juice, try two or three drops less than you used alright." I passed the vial back to him, nodded and smiled as he bolted back to the table to try again as I took the vial from Sylvr and examined it before tasting it as well.
"Not enough powdered rose petals or valerian, pinch more of each. The potion should be a bit lighter than it is now..." I passed the vial back to her, she smiled and rejoined to her brother at their table. I watched the two of them dedicate themselves to their respective potions, laughing with each other every time one of them accidentally squirted something on themselves or they bumped into one another while reaching for an ingredient. Despite my reputation for being a cold hearted Potions Master, I couldn't help the smile that spread across my face as I watched them. After some more time passed they each brought their respective potions to me again.
"Adrian...it's the right color, but you didn't stir it long enough after adding the leeches a minute more should do it, and Sylvr...you got the roses right this time but added too much moonstone." This time I followed them back to their table and stood by them, offering tips as they attempted their potions for the third time...
(Sylvr)
"Alright...I followed your directions...I think...I think I did it..." Adrian said as he straightened up and wiped his brow with the back of his hand as I leaned back in my chair having finished my potion as well.
"Would you mind checking to see if we fucked up or not?" I asked as Professor Snape looked over our shoulders from behind us and nodded.
"Yes, it would seem that you have both successfully brewed your potions." He said nodding, a hint of what sounded like pride in his voice.
"Really? It's good? We did it?" I asked surprised as Professor Snapped nodded again and I looked at Adrian.
"Hey-third time really is the charm! Thank you Professor." Adrain said happily.
"Yeah thank you!" I said as he passed each of us a vial of our respective potions.
"So just take this in the mornings and it'll replace the shots? I won't have to take shots anymore?"
"That is correct Adrian...
"Awesome thank you!"
"And Sylvr, take yours whenever you start...cramping and it should last you a full 24 hours before wearing off." I took the vial from him grinning and slipped it into my pocket.
"Thank you Professor..." I mumbled softly.
"Hey Professor...Are potions considered magic that minors can't do outside of school?" Adrian asked as he stared at the potion in his hand.
"Yes, Adrian they are..."
"How long does this potion keep for?" Adrian asked curiously.
"Mine too?" I echoed.
"Each potion should last about 4 months." He replied as he waved his wand and our brewing stations began to clean themselves up.
"About 4 months...okay that'll cover the summer holidays-" I started
"We'll just have to come to you to help us brew a big batch so that we can last over the summer...if-that's okay?" Adrian finished hesitantly.
"Yes of course I'll set up the time and let you both know when." He said as I felt relief and happiness filter through Adrian and into me.
"Thank you!...I know it's night time...but I was due for a T-shot this morning ...so-" He turned vial up and drank it quickly. "Hmm..." He said and then looked at Professor Snape and I. "I was kinda expecting it to be worse it kinda tastes like...fizzy lemonade."
"Hmm, and how are you feeling?" Professor Snape asked, glancing him over cautiously.
"I feel fine...I feel-pretty great actually."
"Good...now the feast should be starting soon."
"Oh yeah...oh...the train'll be here soon...and we're covered in potions aren't we?" I said as Adrian tried to dust himself off.
"We should go...get cleaned up for the feast...Um, thank you Professor!" He called as the two of us ducked out of the classroom and raced through the halls to the Slytherin Common Room. Around twenty minutes later Adrian and I had cleaned ourselves and donned our uniforms and had entered the Great Hall, where the other students now sat waiting.
"Oh! Hermione hey! Before we go to our seat we just wanted to say hi..." Adrain trailed off as he noticed the two empty seats next to Hermione.
"Where are Ron and Harry?" I asked
"I don't know, they weren't on the train..." Hermione said and trailed off as she looked around the room, hoping they would walk in.
"They're not here yet?...Uh-oh..." Adrian mumbled
"What does that mean?" Hermione said whipping her head around to stare at the two of us. "What do you know?"
"No don't-don't worry about it...it's...hopefully nothing..." I muttered and then Adrian and I left the Gryffindor table and headed for the Slytherin table.
'You don't think something happened to them do you?' I asked silently and Adrian shook his head.
'Honestly knowing those two...they got lost and are flying around in circles or something...hopefully...' He didn't sound convinced as the two of us took our seats next to Draco at our House Table.
"Where the hell were you two?" Draco demanded as soon as we sat down and Adrian groaned.
"Hey Draco...hey...yeah..." Adrian slowly let out a breath and looked at me like he'd rather be anywhere else in the world right now.
'Think about Potions class and the extra tutoring we'll get this year.' I offered and was rewarded with a brief smile before Draco said something else that irritated him and it was gone.
(The Next Day)
The next morning Adrian and I were walking up the stairs from the Common Room, heading to breakfast when we ran into Harry and Ron. Relief that the two of them were okay washed over me. "Oh! Harry! Ron! Hey...the fuck happened?" Adrian demanded as he waved them over"
"Um...we uh...took my dad's car and flew it to Hogwarts..." Ron mumbled scuffing his toe along the ground.
"Why the fuck would you fly a flying car...Do you even know how to drive?" I demanded, crossing my arms Harry shook his head but neither of them said anything.
"Ron...did you forget...that your father...works in the Ministry of Magic...dealing with the Misuse of Muggle Artifacts? I'm pretty sure a flying enchanted car is misusing a muggle artifact!" Adrian said, his anger bubbling up as Ron flinched slightly.
"Well how did you two make it to Hogwarts then?" He demanded hotly, trying to justify their reasons.
"What do you mean how did we get to Hogwarts? We sent a letter Dumbledore, who sent Snape, and we apparated from King's Cross to a portkey that took us to Hogwarts...and then we spent the afternoon in the dungeons before the train got here..." I said and trailed off as the two of them were staring at me.
"Why are you looking at her like she's crazy?" Adrian demanded.
"So...Snape was mad that you missed the train and made you stay in the dungeons?" Harry mumbled.
"No he wasn't mad at us, after we explained that the gate closed before we could get through he was pretty understanding, actually." Adrian explained.
"It probably helped though that we asked for more potions tutoring." I said as Ron stared at me as if I really had lost my mind.
"Snape...wasn't upset with you and didn't punish you...either of you?"
"No yeah he actually seemed pretty excited someone genuinely wanted to learn potions...You know he might like you two better if you didn't talk in his class all the time." Adrian said pointedly.
"And actually paid attention...just for the record." I added