Chapter 8
Harry Potter
(Potions class)
"That would be enough", called out Professor Snape as he opened the doors for Potions class
Both Malfoy and his twin gave each other a murderous glare as their stooges glared hatefully it was amusing to see Longbottom and Weasel sneer while Goyle and Crabbe were incapable of sneering Malfoy's impressive sneer made up.
"Inside", Professor Snape said forcefully.
Both he and Hermione sat beside each other, this was their first potions class even though he was not that impressed with what he had read, Hermione was quite enamoured with Potions and their capability but regardless he had spent time reading Potions book and some additional guides to get started so he hoped he was not unprepared for the first Potions class. Apparently, Professor Snape had cultivated a reputation as a very harsh taskmaster and teacher and even though he was known to favour Slytherins, even by many of his housemates was considered a brutal teacher.
The whole class took seats and Professor Snape started calling out attendance
"Potter Jim, the celebrity", Professor Snape drawled
"Present", his brother said.
"Potter Harry"
"Present Sir"
And the roll went on calling a few more students before Professor Snape waved his wand bringing forth several Blackboards and boxes of chalk in front of the class.
"There will be no foolish wand-waving in this class, Potions is an art which I will try to teach it to you, imbeciles, Potions is an art and to really understand it you must have the imagination, the creativity if you have those skills then I can teach you to brew glory and cure death but just like knowing how to move pieces on a chess board does not make you the master of Chess knowing and following book does not make you potioneer.", Finished Professor Snape a flash of irritation passed across his face as his imbecile twin kept on talking with Longbottom and Weasel.
"Gryffindor Potter", the potions master roared angrily
Snapping his brother out.
"Yes", his brother spoke bored
"Potter, what was I telling the class right now?", Professor Snape asked his brother
"I don't know sir", his brother said
"Well then since you are such a master of potions would you mind telling me what is a bezoar?", asked Professor Snape
"It is a stone which can soak most poisons", his brother replied drawly
He saw the jaw of the Potions Professor tighten just slightly
"What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane", asked Professor Snape
"They are the same plants", his brother realised
As much as he disliked his Brother, being the boy who lived had given him an early start in Magical Education and being taught by the brightest witch of her generation had its own benefits, already his brother was ahead in most of the classes which only helped inflate the ego of already an highly egotistical boy.
"What do we get when we add Powdered Root of Asphodel and Infusion of Wormwood", the potions professor asked
"We get a draught of living death, and to be frank that is not a question of this year nor of the second year, it is that of the third year", his brother said smugly as most of the students started at his brother in awe and he inwardly raged as his brother even though did not possess the slightest maturity and was petty beyond reason had the knowledge of third year potions, he saw Hermione beside him tense and saw determination creep inside her just as a feeling a feeling of showing that he was better than his brother crept inside him
"Well since you managed to answer Potter, you don't have much to complain potter", Potions Professor snapped and turned towards the blackboard wrote some numbers turned towards the class and snapped
"These are the pages Read"
Then He walked off from the class, The Rest of the class went uneventful as Professor Snape did not return and none of the class had the gall to talk and bear the wrath of the angry Potions Professor except Potter and his Stooges.
(Later)
"I cannot believe Jim Potter was allowed a wand and tutors well before he started Hogwarts it is unfair", Hermione moaned for what was the twentieth time.
"Be as it may, Mione we need to work hard to catch up to him", he said in a tired voice
"Yes, yes you are right, there is not much point moaning about what has happened, we need to focus on the present", Hermione said
The next few hours all the way up till dinner went silently as both of them furiously studied with every intention of beating Jim Potter the biggest Prat In studies while at the same time protecting themselves from their own house.
(Sorting Flashback)
"Potter Harry", deputy headmistress called
He walked slowly towards the stool where the ancient hat was kept as he prepared to sit Professor McGonagall placed the sorting hat on his head
~~ Oo Most interesting ~~ said a voice inside his mind
He got startled but composed himself
~~ I see potential… ah I see you would like to go to Ravenclaw but you would become great in Slytherin~~
He had always wanted to become great when he was at Dursley's he was beaten and abused and actively suppressed from achieving his Potential whether that be in studies to games, they hated him and even then, he had promised himself to become great, to make his parents proud.
But when he found out that his parents were alive, it hurt him, to know they had left him even though for his own good, it had filled him with rage, rage to prove to them that they had chosen the wrong kid.
And so when the Hat had told him that Slytherin would make him great he had chosen Slytherin.
(Hermione sorting)
Harry was in Slytherin, her only friend even though they had promised each other they would go into Ravenclaw, she was afraid, afraid because she was new to this world and alone and that too literally.
Her parents had split and that had seen her out of the picture as well, she had spent the last two months with Harry.
Her name was called and like thousands of students before her, the hat was placed on her head as she sat down on the stool.
~~Oh, don't blame Mr Potter, he wanted to go to Ravenclaw just as you both had promised each other but alas, Slytherin was where he would grow and Ravenclaw would have not helped him so I put him in Slytherin Worry not Miss Granger, I see potential in you as well, the potential to become great as well, what a year it has been~~
~~SLYTHERIN~~
Soon enough she followed Harry to Slytherin's seat while none in the hall clapped and most of the house looked angry and hateful towards her.
(Present)
(The following week)
Hermione and Harry
They had worked hard the past whole week which had been uneventful in the sense of drama though both he and Hermione felt that they had advanced in leaps and bounds. With a clear target of outmatching Jim Potter, they had something to drive them.
They had read theory, practised spells, researched the library read more books, in fact, both He and Hermione had managed to complete half their syllabus for DADA and Transfiguration for this year and started charms for the second year.
They had to make some concessions of course and had completely dropped History of Magic not even caring to complete the assignments, which the barmy old ghost did not even notice, He himself had stopped exploring the castle and Hermione had started skipping Lunch.
Lily and James Potter
"Harry is in Slytherin", James repeated amazed how a Potter could get sorted into the house of Bigots
"Yes, and I hope it does not change any opinion of yours for Harry as his friend a muggle-born got sorted in with him as well", Lily said crossly
"No, I am just worried, he was angry at us for months and we decided to let him cool not paying much attention to him you know with Holly being only seven and we both have too many duties", James said
"I fear he may suffer now because we drove him away from us", James said
She nodded, they had failed as parents not trying to connect with their estranged son and treating him as if things had been always normal, with the treatment that Harry had received from Dursley she would not be surprised if Harry had been seduced by Darker Ideologies as a way to exact revenge on them and her sister.
However, if that was the case then if she and her husband began to try and connect may haps they could pull their son from darkness, though it would be wrong to assume anything since not every Slytherin was evil (like Severus) just like not every Gryffindor was brave and Loyal considering how Pettigrew had turned out.
"Well then we shall try and connect with him", she spoke
"Yes, Lily that is a wonderful idea, I will talk to Dumbledore perhaps he can arrange something", James spoke excitedly.
"Nice, I will try to get some dates off and we can go and have dinner with Harry", she said
"Yes, Lily you are brilliant", James spoke and picked up Holly who was playing with Sweetpaws her cat from her school days
"Yes, that was why you married me though didn't you", she said batting her eyes playfully at James who flushed
"Why am I thinking the night is going to be long", James said
She simply grinned.
Quirrell / Voldemort
"M…master", Quirrell croaked
"You have already failed me Quirrell, you must not fail if you are to become most faithful of my followers", spoke the cracking voice of Voldemort
"M…M… master I am trying my best", Quirrell spoke in a stutter
"I can see that, though you must try harder", He spoke
His mind was already working overtime.
"I shall M… M… master, Dumbledore has bought the stone inside the castle though I think he already suspects me", Quirrell reported
"Hmmm… then we must use someone else to explore the traps in our place", He spoke if he had eyes then they would be sparkling but alas in this form he was still quite incapable of anything more than speech, it would require more time, but he was patient if nothing else, he had waited twelve years for his return what were few more months.
"Who my Lord", asked Quirrell
"We shall find that out soon", he replied
Harry / Hermione
"Look what I found", he said pointing at a passage inside an old tome that they had managed to smuggle out from the Restricted section after perusing the open part of the Library quite thoroughly for this very tome.
"Secrets of Mind arts", Hermione repeated after him
"We must copy this book and return it before anyone finds that a book is missing from the restricted section", he said
"Yes, Gemino", Hermione intoned and an exact copy of the tome split from the original version
"I will smuggle it back you take that book and hide it, Hermione", He said
"Yes, I shall", she said and transfigured the cover of the book into one of their textbooks.
(a few hours later)
Mind arts this ability is split into two parts Legilimancy, and Occlumancy, both are arts quite difficult to master in their own right, in wizarding Europe this art is further divided into seven levels, each level signifies mastery of one aspect of each art respectively.
In my own pursuit and experience, I have devised a method of teaching which is quite similar to that of the Eastern method which is completely wandless and perhaps more versatile but alas the limitations imposed by the Merlinian system cause us Westerners to lag in wandless arts. Though I shall not dwell too much into the advantages and disadvantages of the Merlinian System, I shall state that this art is dangerous and hard to master but the true master of this art shall master his mind, soul and body…. Some people are gifted in this art and shall learn quickly and others like me are not and shall devout their whole lives to master their magic and body.
The first step into Occlumancy begins with meditation, I find this ability to help increase the power of the mind starts with draining emotions from your mind taking deep breaths in and releasing them slowly after can hear your heart thump, feel the magic run inside your Blood and slowly focus the magic inside your brain…
(Several hours later)
"It is amazing this art of meditation I feel so much better now, Harry", Hermione said
"Me to Mione", he said amazed by how much energetic and fresh he now felt.
AUTHOR'S NOTES
HOPE YOU HAVE LIKED THE WORK TILL NOW, SHALL IN COMING MONTH EDIT THE PREVIOUS CHAPTERS AND ADD MORE DETAIL AND PLOT IN IT
I WOULD REALLY APPRECIATE IF YOU LEAVE COMMENTS AS THEY HELP ME IMPROVE THE STORY AND INCREASE THE MOTIVATION
:)