Chapter 4: The Potions Master

Percy, the Prefect of Gryffindor House had led all of the first years up to the dormitory after Dumbledore's announcement, it was a giant circular room with multiple arm chairs, a sofa in front of a big fireplace and a bookshelf with a desk on the left wall.

Kiba followed close behind Ron and Harry as they entered a room that read 'First-years' at the top of a spiral staircase. To the left was the First years girls dormitory and to the right the boys dorm, on floor below them was the dorms of the seventh years, who as Kiba found out quickly were easily annoyed due to all the stress of their NEWT's. In the middle of the room was a metal pipe with holes in it at the top which was ment for heating, around it was a ring where wet clothing and towels could be hung to dry. Six four-poster beds stood in a circle around the room each with a big trunk at the food of them. On a big desk next to one of them was a cage with a snow white owl and a brown rat.

"Scabbers!" Ron said as he rushed over and opened the cage, Harry went over to the other cage and let the owl nibble on his finger.

'Please let me fly' Kiba heard her hoot.

"She's asking to be let out" Kiba said to Harry when he had found his trunk.

"how come you know?" Harry asked

"it's a rare gift my grandfather has" Kiba replied, he walked over to the snow white owl "i understand every animal" he smiled as the owl also nibbled on his finger "She likes the name you gave her, Hedwig, it is a wonderful name for a beautiful owl"

"What's Scabbers saying?" Ron asked and held his fat brown rat towards Kiba.

"i don't know, as a matter of fact i don't understand a single thing" Kiba replied as the Rat hissed and wiggled in Ron's hands "that's a first, i have spoken to rats before" Kiba turned around to ask Harry a question only to see him deep in slumber on his bed already. He also headed for his bed, he closed the curtains and pulled his sheets up to his neck, he could feel Hotaru enjoy herself on the soft bed. The last thing he heard was Dean and Seamus finally going to bed as well, and the occasional snores from Ron and Neville before he drifted off to sleep.

Kiba had woken early that day, he put on his robes and headed downstairs into the common room to get some more reading done. Even though he had, like Hermione, read all their study books twice already Kiba knew that their first lesson was potions with Professor Snape. Everyone knew that Snape was a man hard to impress and that's exactly what Kiba wanted to do, Snape was Head of Slytherin House and would most definitely favour them, that Gryffindor had double potions with them only made it worse.

Kiba had been so deep in to reading that he didn't realise Hermione sat down beside him. "you're you early" she said, Kiba jumped slightly because only now did he realize she was there.

"Mornin' Hermione" he replied with a smile, Hotaru climbed out of his robes and greeted the bushy haired girl as well.

'Kiba can i go fly around the castle?' Hotaru asked as she faced the window,

"of course, just try not to be seen" Kiba said "if Dumbledore found out i brought a Dragon here.. i can't even imagine what would happen"

Kiba looked back at Hermione who had her face buried in an Herbology book, 'right there's that too today' Kiba thought. The time finally came as the bell, which announced Breakfast time, rang. Hermione and Kiba made their way down to the great hall and sat down at the table to listen to the Morning announcements. When the food was presented Hermione tapped Kiba's shoulder.

"where are Harry and Ron?" she asked, Kiba quickly swallowed the bite of his Egg and toast to reply when he heard the doors to the great hall open. Harry and Ron came running in and took their seats opposite to Kiba and Hermione.

"this castle is definitely to big" Ron complained while Harry nodded, Hermione shook her head and received a genuine smile from Kiba for it. 9 am had drawn near, which meant time for first classes. Hermione and Kiba had to physically drag Ron away from the food and down into the dungeons.

Hermione had taken a seat next to Harry while Kiba sat next to Ron a little to the left of them in the row behind. It happened fairly quickly when the class room door opened and a teacher all dressed in black with a hooked nose entered, this was undoubtedly Snape. He walked past them to the front of the class, he turned around and looked over the class and began reading through the names. "ah yes, Potter… our new celebrity" he continued and the stopped again. "Scamander, now that's a name i haven't heard in a while" as he checked the last student he placed the book away and turned to the students once more. His eyes were black like Hagrid's, but they had none of Hagrid's warmth. They were cold and empty and made you think of dark tunnels.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word. Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. "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."

He stepped forward and closer too Harry who was scribbling on a peace of parchment. "Potter" Harry's head immediately shot up and he looked at Snape. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Hermione's hand shot upward in an instant as did Kiba's.

"I don't know, sir," said Harry. Snape's lips curled into a sneer.

"Tut, tut. Fame clearly isn't everything." He said "let's see if can save you"

"the combination would create a powerful sleeping potion known as the Draught of Living Death" Kiba answered, he felt bad for humiliating Harry but this was school.

"Correct!" Snape hissed while stareing at Harry "Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

"I don't know, sir." He replied

"Thought you wouldn't open a bok before coming, eh, Potter?" Snape said as he leaned closer to Harry who forced himself to keep looking into those cold eyes. Snape was still ignoring Hermione's quivering hand and instead turned to Kiba again

"a Bozar is a stone taken from the stomach of a Goat" Kiba said "It is able to cure most poisons"

"How right you are" Snape sneered, his head whipped back towards Harry "What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?" Harry didn't even bother to answer, Snape snapped his finger and pointed at Kiba again.

Harry's eyes met with Kiba's and Harry nodded, he could see the apologetic look on Kiba's face. "They are the same plant sir," Kiba said "which also goes by the name of Aconite"

"Correct" Snape said "well? Why aren't you all copying that down?" he turned to walk to his desk and faced Harry again "one point will be taken from Gryffindor for 's failure, had not answered correctly for you i would have taken allot more so, Count. Yourself. Lucky."

A little later they were on their way out of the classroom after Gryffindor had lost another point because Snape had blamed Harry for Neville melting his cauldron. "Scamander!" Snape hissed, Kiba stopped dead in his tracks and turned to walk towards the teachers desk "i must congratulate you on your potion" he said "you have a knack for potions, i expect today's performance to be consistent throughout this year"

"it will sir," Kiba replied "it's difficult but i won't shy away from the challenge" Kiba quickly rejoined the other three as they were headed for Hagrid's hut. As they came by the great hall they ran right into professor McGonagall. "sorry professor" Kiba and the others said quickly apologizing

"no harm done" she replied " would you please come with me?" Kiba wanted to protest but the professor spoke before he could "I'm afraid i must insist" Kiba nodded and waved to three others as they continued in different directions. Hermione stopped once to turn back and look at her friend with a worried expression. "this way" Professor McGonagal said, they walked along the corridors but then stopped at an opening in which a giant gargoyles statue stood "sherbet Lemon" McGonagal said flicking her hands in the direction of the statue.

The statue rumbled add then began turning and rising upwards, stairs began spiraling upward together with the gargoyle. Kiba quickly stepped onto one of them and rose to the top where a door awaited him. He knocked on the door and it slowly swung open, he stepped inside and looked around the room. A set out steps led up to a desk with a set of stairs on either side leading to a third section of the office which Kiba couldn't see anymore. There were several shelves filled with different objects as well as the sorting hat which looked at Kiba, rather curiously, to the right was a wall which seemed to be openable.

"Ah. Kiba my boy" a recognizable voice called out, Kiba looked to the top of the stairs and saw the old man with his long white beard and his half-moon glasses.

"Professor Dumbledore" Kiba said, frankly he didn't understand why he was in the headmaster office.

"you might wonder, why i summoned you here" Dumbledore said as he descended the stairs "simply said, i wanted to talk with you. Lupin must have mentioned that he visited you on my behalf" Kiba nodded in response. Even Kiba, someone who knew very little about magic, knew that Dumbledore was Powerful, standing in Dumbledore presence was overwhelming. By standing infront of him, one could sense his power. "allot of this is likely still a little unbelievable for you" Dumbledore said as he sat down on his desk chair.

"yes, but I've read all my school books, and most of the easy spells seem to be working for me." Kiba replied "Professor Snape even congratulated me, on my potion"

"did he?" Dumbledore said with a hint of surprise "well, he does not do that very often, to any student." He added.

"As i understand it," Dumbledore suddenly said after a moment of silence "you have a very special Wand, right?" Kiba nodded and retrieved it from his pocket, Dumbledore grabbed it and analized it closely. "how intriguing" he whispered.

"excuse me, Professor" Kiba said "did you know my mother?" Dumbledore looked back at the boy and handed him his wand back, the he slowly nodded.

"of course i did" he replied "She also attended this school" he chuckled "you remind me of her a bit, but i think you're more like your Grandfather"

"Newt?" Kiba asked "the Magizooologist?"

"yes," Dumbledore replied "he attended Hogwarts when i was still a teacher." He laughed once more "He also helped me defeat a dark wizard once" Dumbledore added silently

"Grindlewald, right?" Kiba asked "i read about your duel" Dumbledore simply nodded

"well," he said "if you ever need help, don't be afraid to ask." Dumbledore said "because, at Hogwarts, help will always be given, to those who ask. Now, off you go, you've got classes to attend"

"thank you, sir" Kiba said as he turned to leave. He walked down the spiral staircase and heard the gargoyle come to a halt behind him.