Hello again.
Now it's time to see how Snape will be handled. And most likely the trip to inside Gringotts as well.
Don't own Harry Potter
Water works in mysterious ways
While Jasmine wasn't paying attention to them, Hermione and Neville couldn't not hear any of the whispers that passed them by as they walked to class.
"There, look."
"The girl with the gray skin and the toy."
"Her eyes are creepy."
"Can you see the scar?"
"She's interesting."
Whispers followed Jasmine from the she left the Great Hall that morning. People that were already outside classrooms stood on tip-toe to get a look at her, or doubled back to pass him in the corridors again, staring. However, none of it was noticed by Jasmine, especially when she got fed up with the stairs and simply started opening portals between halls for her, Hermione, and Neville to walk through.
Hermione and Neville, however, did notice, especially the whispers and looks that were directed towards Hermione and Jasmine's unique uniforms. Some of the boys were shocked, while others were somewhat leering, which creeped Hermione out. As for the girls, they were varied from shock, horror, and jealousy, with rare occasions being much more subtle leers that strangely didn't affect Hermione. At least to her.
Although they were all jealous when word got around that a spirit known as Peeves the Poltergeist stayed away from the three. He was worth two locked doors and a staircase if you met him you were late for class. He would drop wastepaper baskets on your head, pull rugs from under your feet, pelt you with bits of chalk, or sneak up behind, invisible, grab your nose, and screech, "GOT YOUR CONK!"
Yet he wouldn't even come close to the three first-years.
Unfortunately, that didn't mean anything in regards to the caretaker, Argus Filch. The three met up with the man after Jasmine desperately tried to get away from the stairs, unexpectedly trying to open up the very corridor that Hermione explained was labeled forbidden during the Start of Term Feast. The man wouldn't believe they were trying to pass by, thinking that Jasmine's actions were on purpose, and was threatening to lock them in the dungeons when Percy showed up and threatened to bring it up with Professor McGonagall if he didn't leave them alone.
After the man left, Percy also warned them about Filch's cat, Mrs. Norris, who would patrol the corridors as well.
"Basically, step one tow out of line in front of her, and he'll be on you in a matter of seconds." Percy told them. "I admit that just about all of the student populace hates the both of them. But there isn't anything we can really do about it right now."
"Okay, that's it!" Jasmine cried out. "I'm not about to deal with both stairs and a bully!"
She used portals ever since.
And then, once they managed to find them, there were the classes themselves. There was a lot more to magic, to Jasmine's great confusion, than waving your wand and saying a few funny words.
They had to study the night skies through their telescopes every Wednesday at midnight and learn the names of different stars and the movements of the planets (Jasmine openly asked why they didn't use a chart set to show the night sky during the day). Three times a week they went out to the greenhouses behind the castle to study Herbology with a dumpy little witch called Professor Sprout, where they learned how to take care of all the strange plants and fungi, and found out what they were used for (although Jasmine did give them an opportunity to talk about more water-based plants thanks to her walks underwater).
Easily the most boring class was History of Magic, which Jasmine barely walked in, saw the ghost, and walked out while saying, "Why is one of the biggest classes taught by a sleeper ghost? We'd learn more from Sabaton than him."
Hermione and Neville quickly figured out what she meant by that when the teacher, a ghost named Professor Binns, just droned on and on in a tone that only Hermione didn't drop from. Although they had to ask her about Sabaton.
Professor Flitwick, who taught Charms, had to stand on a pile of books to see over his desk. At the start of their first class he took the roll call, and when he reached Jasmine's name he squeaked as he suddenly found himself on a raised dais that allowed him to face the entire class at once.
Professor McGonagall quickly showed why she wasn't one to cross, albeit with a few minor exceptions for things that even she could let slide. One such exception was when a student had brought up 'Professor Miggy' and got the woman to sigh and say, "I'd rather appreciate it if you don't say that again, especially in any place where I could hear."
She then proceeded to give them a talking-to once they had settled down for their first class with her.
"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts. Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned."
However, both Jasmine and Moony didn't believe that, and she expressed such. "Why are you making it harder that it needs to be?"
"Pardon, Ms. Potter?" Professor McGonagall asked.
"Moony says that all you need is enough magic and knowing what you're turning and what you're turning it into." Jasmine said. "Although he did say if you're doing this to help give them an idea on how it works and later on doing it the faster way, then we'll stay quiet."
Professor McGonagall left it at that, making a note to look into Jasmine's words. If it truly was faster, then the Transfiguration Class will need a major overhaul. Although she probably would have to seek Jasmine's help to be sure.
The class even Jasmine was looking forward to was Defense Against the Dark Arts, but Professor Quirrel's lessons turned out to be a bit of a joke. His classroom smelled strongly of garlic, which everyone said was to ward off a vampire he'd met in Romania and was afraid would be coming back to get him one of these days. His turban, he told them, had been given to him by an African prince as a thank-you for getting rid of a troublesome zombie, but they weren't sure they believed this story.
Jasmine barely even got the door open before she started heaving and had to be brought to the Hospital Wing. It was too strong a smell for her to be exposed to for long. Professor McGonagall was quickly notified, but wouldn't be able to have a solution for a few days, so Jasmine would have to deal with getting help from Hermione and Neville until then.
Jasmine pouted, but went with it after her two friends convinced her to listen. She just wanted to go ahead and wish the smell to be gone at the very least. Her attention was quickly diverted when Hermione started asking about Moony.
It all started settling down on Friday at breakfast. A few of the students had finally gotten the nerve to ask about both the portals she was making and the clothes. It just ended up making greater waves, especially in Professor Flitwick who saw the portals in particular as a project like none other.
Unfortunately, his House wasn't quite as enthusiastic, especially thanks to the questions Jasmine has had that undermined common knowledge. At least in the eyes of the more die-hard members. In the cases of students like the Indian-descended Padma Patil, they were a bit more open-minded.
But back to Jasmine, Hermione, and Neville.
"What do we have today, Hermione?" asked Neville, only to be answered by Draco.
"Double Potions with Slytherin House." He told the three. "Professor Snape is the teacher, and also our Head of House. He also has the unfortunate bias towards anyone not in Slytherin."
"Wish Professor McGonagall favored us." Neville grumbled at that, but Draco wasn't finished.
"Ms. Potter, I must warn you that he is likely to bare down on you in particular. For some reason no one really knows, he hates the name Potter."
"Thanks for the heads up." Jasmine answered, confused as to what could have made it so bad.
Just then, the mail arrived. Jasmine hadn't cared about it, since Shantae had brought anything to her since they got to Hogwarts. Occasionally, Shantae would spend some time with Jasmine, being fed and petted during it. This time, though, the bird had brought two letters to her, which she quickly opened and read.
"The first is from Mommy." Jasmine said out loud. "They'll be picking me up at breakfast for the trip to the bank. And who's Hagrid?"
"Hagrid is the man who led us into the castle our first night here." Hermione told Jasmine
"Oh yeah, the big guy." Jasmine recalled. "He's asking to meet us this afternoon after classes for tea."
"That sounds like a good idea." Neville said. "An education isn't good to us if we're stressed out from them. A break every now and then will keep that from happening."
Hermione was a bit reluctant, but did see how it would help. Even she needed a break from time to time, she just had a longer period between them. "Okay, I'll go as well."
Jasmine wrote out a reply, gave it to Shantae, then sent the bird on its way.
The three weren't the only ones glad to have tea with Hagrid to look forward to, because the Potions lesson turned out to be the worst thing that had happened so far. And also proved that Draco's warning to Slytherin House about Moony and Jasmine was a warranted one.
Jasmine was getting concerned as she felt Moony tense up in her arms as they went down into the dungeons where the Potions classroom was located. Moony had never tensed up before. Growl, yes, but tense? No.
A nearby Draco was the first to notice the minute trails of water starting to follow after the girl. I hope my godfather doesn't do anything, otherwise this could get really ugly.
It didn't help Draco's peace of mind that it all had nothing to do with the colder temperature or the pickled animals floating in glass jars all around the walls. He still had no idea why the man liked it that way.
Snape, like Flitwick, started the class by taking the roll call, but unlike Flitwick, he paused at Jasmine's name.
"Ah, yes," he said softly, "Jasmine Potter. Our new – celebrity."
Jasmine leaned slightly away, clutching Moony tighter as the toy rumbled. Thankfully, the man finished calling names and looked up at the class. His eyes were black, but were cold and empty and made you think of dark tunnels. Although Jasmine thought more of the dark area at the very bottom of the ocean.
"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 – like Professor McGonagall, 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 sense...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."
More silence followed this little speech. While Hermione was eager to prove she wasn't a dunderhead, she was more concerned over Jasmine's reaction to Snape. And she wasn't the only one of the students to notice, especially as the water that followed her started moving up the walls and towards Professor Snape.
"Potter!" said Snape suddenly, getting an "Eep!" from her. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Jasmine recited Moony's answer, or at least tried to until she heard the name of the potion. "It helps make a potion called...EW!"
"How is 'Draught of Living Death' 'Ew?'" Hermione asked for the class.
"How can it not when it makes a potion that makes zombies by stealing water?" Jasmine asked in response.
"Hu...Oh!" Hermione realized what Jasmine was talking about. "It's actually a drink that forces a coma. 'Draught,' in this case, is just another word for drink, while 'Living Death' is to meaning that you're still alive, but utterly stuck in your own body until you're given the cure."
Jasmine blinked, then spoke to Moony. "Do you know why they called it such a stupid name?"
"Ten points from Gryffindor for disrupting class, Potter." said Snape.
"How did I do that? I only tried to answer you." Jasmine responded, only to get rebuffed by Snape taking another ten for 'talking back to a teacher.' "Okay, now you're not being nice."
"Enough." said Snape as he drew a wand from his black robes and aimed at Moony. The class gasped.
"No!" cried Jasmine, diving under a desk.
That was when the water struck. Lashing out, it lengthened and wrapped around Snape's wand arm and roughly pulled it to the side, forcing him to turn away from the students. It then wrapped around his throat, partially cutting his airways while picking him up off the ground. His head was then slammed with enough force to cause a small crater in the ground, which got every student except Jasmine to wince.
Draco checked on the man as Neville sent for help. Hermione bent down to check on Jasmine.
"Is he gone?" asked Jasmine.
"He may not be dead, but he certainly isn't getting up by himself." Draco called out. "And if this is just out of slight fear, then I definitely don't want to be the one that makes either of them angry."
"Neither do I." Professor McGonagall's voice was heard saying from the door. Accompanying her were an old man that Jasmine thought really needed his eyes checked and his beard trimmed, and a woman that Moony said was a healer. "It would seem that Professor Snape wasn't so thoughtful, Professor Dumbledore."
The man said nothing as the healer woman moved, confirmed Draco's diagnostic, then promptly took Snape to the Hospital Wing. He honestly didn't really see the need to at that moment. Although that changed once Professor McGonagall asked, "What exactly happened?"
"Professor Snape had asked Jasmine a question that, now that I think about, wasn't exactly first-year material." Hermione explained as she helped Jasmine to her feet. "Jasmine had an issue with the name of the answer, only to be docked twenty points because of it. Afterwards, he drew his wand and pointed it at Moony. Jasmine cried out and ducked under a desk before water came from the ceiling and attacked him."
"And what exactly was the issue?" Professor McGonagall asked, only to get a few snickers and a pout.
"She thought that 'Draught of Living Death' meant 'Making a inferi by drying the body.'" Draco answered.
"And yet it really means 'force a coma.'" Jasmine grumbled. "Just how does that work? Why not just come out and say it?"
Professor McGonagall sighed. She's been hearing about Jasmine's outlook/reactions ever since the first day.
As it turned out, Jasmine and her toy wolf were correct in the approach to Transfiguration. While it did take more effort for a quick and effective spell, she barely felt anything when she focused on accuracy after ensuring she knew enough of what she was working with. Although it did somewhat peeve her to learn that centuries of transfiguration was undermined by the simple fact that the movement and incantations weren't needed at all. Just enough magic, knowledge, and willpower. Anything else will turn up automatically.
And she couldn't consider her nonverbal skills as separate from her verbal ones either.
However, more pressing matters have now come from three classes. Jasmine Potter wouldn't consider listening to Professor Binns, she couldn't tolerate the smell from Professor Quirrel's classroom, and now her magic apparently attacked Professor Snape after he aimed his wand at her.
Well, at least this new one will be the easiest to handle. Thought Minerva as she spoke to the class. "Seeing as class is now dismissed, I want each of you to find a potion and write five to ten inches on how you think it can be improved. To be turned in this time next week to either me or your new Potions Professor."
"Minerva, I'm sure-"
"Professor Dumbledore, even including how Professor Snape was incapacitated does not allow us to disregard the fact that he pointed his wand at a student." Professor McGonagall stated. "The moment word reaches parents' ears, they will see to it that Professor Snape no longer works here, especially since it could've been their child instead of Ms. Potter."
Professor Dumbledore fell silent once more, as he knew that to be true. Severus, you fool.
Professor McGonagall then felt Jasmine lightly tug her robes. "Yes, Ms. Potter?"
"Where is the safety gear kept, again?" Jasmine asked. "Now that Moony is safe and calm, I saw that there wasn't any in sight, and this reminds me of those 'kemistree' and 'fisiks' classes I once went into."
"Chemistry and Physics, Jasmine." Hermione corrected, contemplative. "And she's actually correct on that. Chemistry is the science of combining different items with one another and seeing what happens, while Physics is the science of how certain things like gravity and making fire work. But in any science class, not just those two, the first thing to talk about is proper protective equipment from fumes and spills and how to be safe. Yet Professor Snape started by suddenly asking Jasmine about the Draught of Living Death."
Professor McGonagall was quiet for a few moments before she answered. "I'm afraid I haven't heard of any of Professor Snape's classes using protective equipment. Although it would certainly be of help to Madam Pomfrey in minimizing potions accidents during class. I'll see what I can find."
A thoughtful woman was what led the class out of the dungeon, with a subtly somber man at the rear.
The entire castle knew by lunch time what had happened, resulting in Hermione and Neville keeping people from overwhelming Jasmine and Draco being given respect by the rest of his House for forewarning them about Jasmine. Even the nastier ones realized that they didn't want to cross paths with Jasmine Potter and be on the receiving end of her power.
XXXXX
At fire to three Jasmine, Hermione, and Neville left the castle and made their way across the grounds. Hagrid lived in a small wooden house on the edge of the Forbidden Forest. A crossbow and a pair of galoshes were outside the front door.
When Jasmine knocked they heard a frantic scrabbling from inside and several booming barks. Then Hagrid's voice rang out, saying, "Back, Fang, back."
Hagrid's big, hairy face appeared in the crack as he pulled the door open.
"Hang on," he said. "Back, Fang!"
He let them in, struggling to keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boar hound. That quickly change some water lightly splashed on its face, diverting its attention.
There was only one room inside. Hams and pheasants were hanging from the ceiling, a copper kettle was boiling on the open fire, and in the corner stood a massive bed with a patchwork quilt over it.
"Make yourselves at home." said Hagrid, letting go of Fang as Jasmine giggled at the dog. "Allow me to introduce myself. Name's Rubeus Hagrid, Keeper of Keys and Grounds at Hogwarts. You can call me Hagrid."
He handed out cups of tea as Jasmine introduced them. "Hi, I'm Jasmine Potter, Wish Maker. This is Hermione Granger and Neville Longbottom. They didn't say any titles yet, though."
Hagrid chuckled at moment of humor before going in to why he invited them. "Yeah, I know who you all are. By now, everyone in the school has. However, I wanted to get to know you. It's nice to hear things from the source. Like that title of yours."
Hagrid may have been big, but his questions definitely had Jasmine's attention hooked. So much so, that Neville now noticed a newspaper reading "GRINGOTTS LATEST: BREAK-IN!" on the table. He took a look, and read that someone had actually managed to break-in into Gringots and escape! Although the impact was lessened by the fact that the vault they had attempted to rob was emptied earlier that day, and had minimal protection period because of it.
Still, the fact that someone managed to do this is scary. Thought Neville. Best keep it to myself until I can talk to the girls privately about it.
He remained silent, leaving Jasmine and Hagrid oblivious to his actions, with Hermione not all that much better. Some of the things that were talked about had caught her interest as well.
It quickly devolved into a simple chat among friends, with topics like 'that old git' Filch and how they thought the whole ordeal with Snape would play out. And once it was time to return to the castle, the three students felt they had a pretty solid friend in Hagrid from that day forward.
XXXXX
They would find out about what would happen to Snape at breakfast when Amelia showed up with Sirius, Bellatrix, a somewhat tattered man they introduced as Remus Lupin, and a few aurors to help with the investigation, including sending two to the Hospital Wing to detain Snape until it's done.
Jasmine jumped into Bellatrix's arms, with Moony squashed between them and Remus looking on in silent shock. "Mommy!"
"Hey, baby. I'm cleared with the Ministry." responded Bellatrix. "Ready to head to Gringotts?"
"Yep!" Jasmine chirped.
Amelia cleared her throat. "Jasmine, would you mind helping bring your class over? I just want to get their side of the story about the incident in Potions yesterday. Although I do have a little something else to talk about to Mr. Malfoy, if he is available. It concerns his father."
"Just a sec." Jasmine told her before complying as the two aurors from before came back with a floating Snape. Once they were all before her, Amelia set to work the other aurors while she talked with Malfoy, letting Jasmine, Bellatrix, Sirius, and Remus to be on their way. The last the four heard was "Mr. Malfoy, you father has been arrested for-"
Once outside, though, Jasmine quickly led the three adults to the lake, absently humming her habitual tune whenever she saw large bodies of water.
Remus was the most confused about their destination. "Why are we heading to the lake instead of towards Gringotts, Sirius?"
"I can get us there much faster if I use the lake." Jasmine answered, having heard the man. "We also don't have to hide our arrival this way. Just either hold hands or hold onto me, okay?"
They stuck to holding hands, and barely managed to hang on as Jasmine tipped into the water without making a splash, dragging them all through to the same spot that she transported Professor McGonagall about two weeks ago, give or take a few days.
"Bloody hell!" Sirius cried out, shaking himself to ensure it wasn't a dream or illusion. "What was that?"
"I can use water tops to move from place to place." Jasmine explained. "Although I do need to know exactly where I'm going to. Don't want to end up on an island by mistake."
"Good point." said Bellatrix. "I can also see the Leaky Cauldron from here. Come on, you two."
Both Sirius and Remus were still reeling from the new method Jasmine showed them. Outside of her seemingly falling into water, it was without a doubt the fastest and nicest method of travel the two had been on so far.
The quartet walked into the pub as Bellatrix warned Jasmine. "Jasmine, I should warn you that the goblins might not take too kindly to my presence in particular. Something I had put in a vault long ago that they absolutely hate. Humans aren't the only species that can hold a grudge."
Jasmine frowned. "They better be nice."
Moony growled in agreement, although the adults didn't know that. They just heard the growl and glanced at the toy. The two men only spent a glance toward each other before swearing to not prank the girl.
Thankfully, the only problem when they arrived was the normal attitude towards wizards, although the teller they walked up to did narrow his eyes minutely. "Can I help you?"
"We'd like to see the Potter and Black Account Managers, as well as the Inheritance Office." Bellatrix said politely.
"Griphook!" the teller called out. "The Potter entourage."
Another goblin came forward. "Follow me."
Jasmine was weary, but didn't do anything since Moony hadn't done anything to warn her yet. Although she did quietly ask Moony why he had only said Sirius and Remus, with no mention of Bellatrix.
Moony didn't have an answer as they arrived in an office room, quickly joined by three goblins.
Jasmine grumbled. "Let's just get this over with."
Like I stated, Non-verbal magic still has the incantation. It's just in the person's head instead. Fullmetal Alchemist pretty much uses all that is really needed for most magic that requires a sort of foci: energy, will, and knowledge.
As for Hagrid's personal accent, just picture it in your head. And just because he didn't make it through Hogwarts, doesn't mean he isn't dumb enough to not want to hear from the direct source. The only time that really changed was when he was told by Dumbledore and nothing countered his words.
Like I had stated earlier, bashing in this story is come and go, so some times they show up as bashing, and some times they won't. The only time Snape is actually bashed in this chapter is when he pulls his wand, otherwise he would be acting more his normal self combined with an actual professional. No one really likes being talked back to, let alone one of their students seemingly undermining their art and knowledge in public and thus made a fool of. His case was even worse off due to Jasmine being more childish and innocent in comparison to her classmates, so she of all wouldn't entirely know to wait until a more private setting to politely discuss the issue.
Until next time. Please let me know what you think.