Classes begin
“I am not delicate,” Harry growled, as he strode into Severus’ office and closed the door behind him. Severus had intercepted Harry after the feast and requested he come to his office after Severus greeted the new students. The young Slytherin had rolled his eyes in annoyance but he dutifully did as his Head of House requested.
“Of course not,” Severus replied with an amused smirk; then proceeded to cast even more diagnostic charms on him than Madam Pomfrey had cast and he made Harry eat another chocolate frog. The card was Morgan Le Fay; Harry didn't have that one, so he slipped it into his pocket.
Once he was satisfied Harry was alright Severus sat beside him on the sofa “What happened Harry?” He asked gently.
“I don't really know,” Harry said with a sigh. He tried his best to describe his experience of being frozen on the spot. He told him about the swirling mist and darkness which had surrounded him; he told him about feeling hopeless like he was back the Durselys locked in his cupboard after a beating. Then he told Severus about the woman he heard screaming. “She was screaming and begging Sev, no one else heard it but…it was scary she was terrified.”
The older man went pale and he wrapped Harry up in his arms in a warm hug. Despite his ire at being treated like a delicate little flower; Harry sank into the embrace and allowed himself to feel safe and protected in Severus’ arms. There was something deeply comforting and reassuring about the hug even if Severus did not offer any insight into what the screaming might have meant.
Severus had a terrible suspicion about what Harry had heard and if he was right then it would be very difficult for him to tell Harry. Lily Potter would have screamed when Voldemort attacked her family. Severus had imagined her scream over and over; he had tortured himself every night for years for his inability to protect his first-ever friend from the Dark Lord. Lily must have been terrified when Voldemort turned up at their safe house. Severus had blamed Albus for a long time but he had always known the truth; he was to blame. It had been him and Sirius Black who brought about the downfall of the Potters, only now he was not so sure about Black.
As he held Harry close, he forced his guilt aside lest the boy feel it. He had no idea how to tell Harry about his idea or even if he should tell him. He would put the question to Narcissa in the morning and follow her advice on the matter.
The hug lasted for several minutes before Harry drew away and thanked Severus with a sweet blush that the older man found endearing; he really was losing his edge. Harry had returned to his dorm with a whole box of chocolate frogs and another warning not to walk around the school on his own. He had completely forgotten about Ron’s rat what he had realised about it on the train.
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Classes began the next day and Harry and the other Slytherin third years made their way to the Great Hall for breakfast. Harry had been awake for hours before the others even stirred but he had promised Severus that he would not walk around unaccompanied; so he waited until the other were up and they all headed to breakfast together. Harry found he was quite hungry he had only eaten a few bites of his dinner and three chocolate frogs the night before; breakfast was Harry's favourite meal at Hogwarts and he happily filled his plate with eggs, bacon and toast.
Toward the end of the meal, Severus made his way along the table handing out timetables. When he reached Harry he tapped the parchment; then before handing it over he reiterated that Harry was not to go anywhere alone. “You will need to find someone to walk with to divination as Draco is not in that class,” he instructed. Pansy who was sitting across the table heard him and told the Professor she was enrolled in divination and Harry could walk with her from Transfiguration. Severus looked appeased and moved on to Draco.
When breakfast was over Harry and Draco made their way outside for their first Care of Magical Creatures class. Behind them, they heard angry voices Hermione and Ron were yelling at each other again. This time they seemed to be arguing about Hermione’s timetable. Harry shook his head and hoped they would stop once they got to class.
The elective classes were different to their regular classes because they were a mixture of all four houses depending on who chose to take each class. Harry looked around at his classmates there were only two people from Ravenclaw, Terry Boot and someone called Kevin who Harry didn't know. There were three Hufflepuffs, Hannah Abbot was the only one whose name he knew, there was another girl who he heard Hannah call Sally-Anne and a boy he didn't recognise. The majority of the class was Gryffindor and Slytherin Harry, Draco, Pansy and Daphne from Slytherin and Ron, Hermione, Seamus, Dean, Neville and two other girls whose names Harry didn’t know from Gryffindor.
They made their way towards Hagrids Hut and around the side to the fenced-off area which served as the Care of Magical Creatures classroom. Hagrid was waiting for them and he beamed as they walked. “Come in, come in quick got a real treat for yer today,” he said sounding very pleased with himself.
“Now firs’ yeh’ll be wanting to open ya books,” he told them.
“How?” came a clear cool tone from the back of the class. Harry turned around and looked at Terry Boot who holding up his book which was tied up with charmed rope.
“Eh?” Hagrid said in surprise.
“How do we open them?” Terry elaborated, with faux patience.
Hagrid looked crestfallen as more people pulled out their books, some had their books held closed with a belt like Harry and Draco, and others had them tied with charmed rope, Hermione’s seemed to be wrapped in spellotape, one person had shoved their book in a tight leather pouch. “Hasn’t anyone bin able ter open their books?”
All the students shook their heads.
“Yeh gotta stroke ‘em,” the half-giant said taking hold of Hermione’s book ripping off the spellotape and running his finger down the spine. The book froze before it could bite, shivered and fell open in Hagrids hand.
The class all stared in horror. “I thought they were funny,” Hagrid mumbled.
“Of course, that makes total sense,” Harry said loudly with a forced smile. He grabbed hold of his book and removed the belt with one hand then he quickly ran his finger down the spine. Once the other students saw Harry with his book lying docile in his hand; they gained some confidence and tried to copy him. Most succeeded, but only two students ended up being bitten both of them were Hufflepuffs.
“Righ’ then,” Hagrid said once he had bandaged up Sally-Anne and the boy Harry now knew was called Rodger. “Let’s get on fer the surprise,” he led the curious students out of the enclosed classroom and to the edge of the forest where several huge feathered, horse-like creatures were tethered to a fence.
‘Hippogriffs,’ Harry thought. They were magnificent creatures, part horse and part some kind of bird. Their massive wings were tucked against muscular bodies, each one was a different colour and they gleamed in the sunlight. They were beautiful but they seemed to Harry to be a bit agitated as they scratched the ground with taloned front feet.
Harry was very impressed he had never seen a hippogriff in real life but he wasn’t sure that these creatures were suitable for a first-ever Care of Magical Creatures class. He would have thought starting smaller might be wise, perhaps with flobber worms or bowtruckles.
“Oh wow!” Hannah gasped sounding rather too pleased, Harry thought, considering how intimidating the creatures looked.
“What are those?” Hermione’s horrified voice came from somewhere behind him. “Are they even safe to have in a school?” She asked. As annoyed as Harry was with her tone; he could not disagree with her. They were third years after all and this was their very first Care of Magical Creatures class.
“Hippogriffs,” Neville answered, sounding nervous.
“Hippa what?” asked Dean sounding confused and awed at the same time.
“Hippogriffs,” Daphne repeated crossly. “They are half eagle, half horse and they are not at all safe to be near,” she finished glaring at Hagrid.
“Well no tha’s not true, they’re safe as long as yeh show ‘em the proper respect. Yer need to be polite but firm and maintain eye contact, then what yeh hav’ ter do is bow to ‘em,” Hagrid explained.
“Bow to them?” spluttered the Ravenclaw Harry didn't know.
“Yeh, yer got to be polite they don’ take to bein’ insulted. Would someone like ter have a go?” Hagrid replied sounding uncertain Harry could see the man was quickly losing what little confidence he had left. He skimmed over the information in his text and glanced quickly at the illustration and then he stepped forward.
“I’ll do it, tell me what I need to do, Hagrid,” he said confidently.
“Oh er right thank’s Harry, erm well, yeh got to keep eye contact an then yeh bow to ‘im, here,” Hagrid said as he stepped towards one of the huge beasts and bowed low from his waist; the creature stared at him with a glint in it’s eye and then slowly it bowed in return, lowering its great head and bending its scaley front leg. Hagrid smiled and untied it and led the grey feathered beast towards Harry who was standing apart from the group. Draco had his head in his hand already mentally composing his letter to his father.
“This here is Buckbeak,” Hagrid told Harry. “Now jus’ go easy an look ‘im in the eye then bow to ‘im,” Hagrid said as if it was the most reasonable thing in the world.
Harry met the creatures eyes determinedly and then as much as it felt wrong to expose the back of his neck to such a beast he bent at the waist and bowed low. The hippogriff eyed him suspicuosly and then just before Harry started to panic, it bent its front leg and bowed to Harry. Harry was flushed with success and grinned back at Hagrid.
“Ah well done Harry,” Hagrid exclaimed. “I reckon he might let yer ride him,” the giant said with grin.
“What?” Harry exclaimed, shocked, that had not been part of his plan. He had just wanted to show the others how to approach the hippogriffs and build their confidence.
Harry heard Draco splutter and mutter something about dangerous beasts and incompetent teachers; he was fairly sure he heard his brother mutter the words ‘my father’. Harry would have rolled his eyes had he not been completely preoccupied with his current predicament. Hargid actually wanted him to ride the Hippogriff.
“Go on, Hagrid encouraged and he stepped in close to the shoulder of the beast and stroked its feathered neck. He was looking at Harry with such hopeful pride, that the Slytherin walked towards him without really thinking about what might happen next. Suddenly, Harry was sitting on the back of the beast and Hagrid was slapping its hindquarters.
Buckbeak was startled, then he started to run and then Harry was flying. At first, he held on for dear life but then after a few minutes, he felt brave enough to look up from the beast’s feathered neck. He took in the view of the castle and the forest and of the class watching him in awe and he started to enjoy himself. It wasn’t anything like being on his broom; it was so much better.
Harry was a long way up, too far away to make out the expressions on the faces of his classmates but he could pick out Draco’s white-blond hair. His brother's face was upturned watching Harry. He was too far away to see clearly but he knew Draco would be a little bit jealous of Harry getting to ride the hippogriff.
Buckbeak circled the paddock a few times and then reluctantly, Harry thought, the beast responded to Hagrid’s call and landed back in front of the half-giant. Harry slid off Buckbeak flushed with his success and was greeted with cheers from the class.
The rest of the class buoyed by Harry’s success all formed a line to bow to Buckbeak. Hagrid, deciding Harry had Buckbeak well under control, went to fetch two more Hippogriffs and brought them back to the group.
“This here is Nellie,” Hagrid said indicating a beautiful black creature whose dark feathers shone blue and green in the sun. “an this is Henry,” he said indicating the brown hippogriff. Now don’ forget to be polite, if yer insult ‘em they won’t take to yer,” Hagrid warned. He seemed to be speaking specifically to Draco.
The students excitedly divided themselves into three groups and waited for their turn bow to a hippogriff. Draco was sneering at the creatures and Harry knew immediately his brother was going to cause trouble but there was nothing he could do Draco was lining up in front of a beautiful black hippogriff called Nellie. Harry refocused on Hannah who was about to bow Buckbeak and prayed to anyone who would listen that Draco behaved himself.
The rest of the lesson progressed reasonably smoothly. When Hannah had successfully bowed to and greeted Buckbeak with a gentle pat on the neck, Hermione stepped up. The girl had a determined look on her face and she followed Hagrids instructions to letter bowing from the waist, Buckbeak returned the gesture. A happy and relieved smile broke out on Hermione’s face as she reached out to pat the hippogriff.
Then Neville stepped forward; the Longbottom heir was so nervous he was shaking. Harry repeated the instructions three times but Neville seemed to be frozen and unable to bow. Harry stepped forward and pushed Neville aside putting himself between the Gryffindor boy and Buckbeak; he had just got the creature to bow to him when there was a huge commotion. Harry looked up and saw Hargrid wrestling Nellie into a collar and Draco was lying on the ground blood staining his shirt sleeve.
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The class was dismissed and Draco was taken to the Hospital wing by Pansy and Daphne. Pansy had been fussing around Draco yelling about dangerous beasts. Harry made eye contact with Daphne who had managed to convey that she would tell Professor Snape what had actually happened. Once he was sure Draco would not get away with exaggerating the situation he helped Hargrid with getting the hippogriffs back in their pen.
Harry returned to the castle just in time for lunch but instead of heading to the Great Hall, he went straight to the dorms to change into clean robes. He called Dobby to bring him some food and headed straight to Transfiguration after lunch. He knew he should go and check on Draco; he also knew that Pansy would be fussing around him and Severus would be there making sure he was ok and besides that, he was still furious with the berk.
Draco was not at dinner; Severus however was at dinner, so Harry figured Draco must be ok. Harry decided he would go and see him as soon as he had eaten and give him a piece of his mind. Just as dinner was finishing an owl arrived at the teacher's table and landed in front of Severus; it was Shiloh, Lucius’ eagle owl and Harry watched closely as Severus read the message.
The potions teacher stood up immediately after glancing at the parchment; he met Harry’ eyes before hurried from the Great Hall. Harry scarfed down the rest of his treacle tart and followed his Head of House. If Draco was making trouble Harry was going to put an end to it; the bloody drama queen he thought to himself as he hurried after Severus.
Angry voices met him at the Hospital wing door; he heard his father demand Hagrid be sacked and the dangerous creature destroyed, while Narcissa wailed about her boy being scarred for life. Harry rolled his eyes and walked into the middle of the noise, he noted Professor McGonagall was present, her expression stony and her lips pursed as Severus tried to calm Lucius down.
Harry loved his parents and loved that they were always there for Draco and for him; he appreciated that they were prepared to fight for them and protect them. However, he could not allow an innocent creature to be killed because his brother had behaved like a daft idiot. He eyed Draco with an unimpressed expression and the blond boy shrank down a bit. Narcissa looked up to see what had caused Draco’s reaction.
“Draco,” Harry said in a low dangerous tone. “Tell the truth,” he ordered.
Lucius stopped speaking and turned to look at Harry who had a hard expression on his face. Draco rolled his eyes “Oh fine,” he said with annoyance. “I insulted the stupid beast. I called it ugly and stupid. Hagrid told us not to be disrespectful to them but I did it anyway,” he said with a roll of his eyes.
Harry pushed his shoulders back. “Well, it serves you right then you pillock!” He said crossly. “Look, Hagrid might have got a bit carried away; maybe hippogriffs were a bit much for a first lesson but Draco getting hurt was not the fault of the hippogriff. Nellie behaved exactly the way Hagrid said she would Draco just didn't listen. You can't have her put down because he’s a prat,” Harry said firmly.
“Language Mr. Potter,” Severus drawled, mostly for Minerva’s sake. He was quite enjoying Harry's spirited defence of the hippogriff.
“Draco?” Lucius asked his eyebrow raised reproachfully.
The boy sighed. “Alright yes, it was my fault,” he admitted. “I didn’t want you to demand the creature be put down, I just want something done about that oaf teaching,” he spat.
“Now Mr Malfoy, Hagrid is quite an authority on Magical Creatures and he has a lot of knowledge on how to care for them,” the warm, calm voice of the Headmaster came from behind them.
“Perhaps, but what qualifications does he have to teach?” Narcissa asked.
“Well he assisted Profesor Kettleburn for many years and he had been the keeper of the grounds for even longer. He takes care of all the creatures here at Hogwarts and his knowledge and understanding of them is second to none. What's more, the creatures respect him,” Dumbledore told them.
“He never graduated from school! He was expelled, he never even completed his OWLs. Lucius said with a growl. “I raised these very objections with the board when they approved the appointment.”
“Well, that is true, technically he did not finish school,” Dumbledore allowed.
“He can't use magic?” Narcissa asked horrified. “How can he protect the students when things go wrong if he never passed his OWLs and cannot use magic?”
“Mr Potter? Dumbledore asked looking at Harry with a twinkle in his eyes. “What is your view of Hagrid's class?”
Harry glanced at Severus, who was looking as composed and unconcerned as always. He sighed and looked back at the Headmaster. “Hagrid is very enthusiastic and he does know a lot about Magical Creatures but perhaps he should keep the hippogriffs for the NEWT students; maybe he needs someone to help him with age-appropriate lessons and classroom control,” Harry suggested diplomatically.
Dumbledore stroked his beard thoughtfully. “A sensible suggestion,” the old man murmured. “Yes, indeed, very sensible,” he said almost to himself as he turned and wandered away.
Harry watched him go and wondered if the old man had finally cracked.
“Harry?” Lucius said as Dumbledore left the room. “What was your real opinion of the class?”
Harry turned back to look at his father. “Honestly, I was going to write to you about it, it really wasn’t a good lesson. I mean, Hagrid knows a lot about hippogriffs and most of the class respected him and listened to him,” he said with a pointed look at Draco. “I would say Hagrid had better control of the creatures than class,” he replied.
“Oh come on Harry, it was hardly an appropriate first lesson and the textbook bites,” Draco objected.
“No, it wasn't an appropriate first lesson. Mother makes a good point; Hagrid can’t use magic. Draco was not the only student hurt today; two other students were bitten by their books, and Hagrid had to bandage up their hands. Neville was terrified of Buckbeak, he might have been attacked too if Draco hadn’t caused a commotion and distracted the creature,” Harry said a little sadly.
Lucius curled his lip and stalked after the Headmaster.
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The next day was Harry’s first Defence against the Dark Arts, he walked to the class with Pansy and Blaise since Draco was still in the hospital wing. When they arrived in the classroom the first thing they noticed was a large covered tank standing beside the teacher's desk. The second thing was Professor Lupin magically locking a large trunk which was rattling and moving around as he placed the locks on it; with a last flourish of his wand, the trunk went still.
It was then the teacher looked up and saw his class. “Ah, welcome, I see we have third-year Slytherin and Gryffindors,” the man said with a huge warm smile. “Please take your seats,” he told them indicating the desks. Everyone found a seat and took out their books.
“What's that thing?” Ron Weasely asked pointing to the trunk which had started to rattle again.
Lupin looked back over his shoulder and he fired another spell without speaking or even looking at the trunk. “That's a boggart,” he said easily. “I found it in a cupboard in the storage room and moved it out into this old trunk. We have a lesson on boggarts coming up next week, he will be perfectly fine in the trunk until then. Today however I want us to to start with water creatures.”
Lupin drew their attention to the large tank beside his desk and pulled off the sheet which was covering it. “Who can tell me what this is?” he asked.
The class all started at the strange creature in the tank. It was not conventionally attractive but there was something almost cute about it Harry thought. Its skin was pale green and it had sharp horns and teeth. It moved like a squid propelling itself erratically around the tank with its tentacles, baring its vicious looking teeth at them before diving behind a rock and some water plants at the bottom of the tank.
Several people raise their hands to answer the question, none quite so enthusiastically as Hermione however. “Yes, Miss Granger,” Lupin said smiling at the girl who was almost jumping out of her seat to answer.
“It's a grindylow,” the girl said happily.
“Yes indeed, now what can you tell me about them,” Lupin invited the rest of the class.
The students quickly took up the challenge, Harry had read the entry about grindylows over the summer but he chose to sit back and observe. His classmates all seemed to know a lot about Gindylows.
Pansy informed the class they were water demons and they were sometimes tamed by merpeople as pets. Daphne told them about the grindylow's long thin, brittle fingers that they use to grab hold of their prey and strangle it; adding that the only way to make them let go was to break their fingers. Ron added that they lived in weed beds in lakes and that they were found around Great Britain and Ireland.
Professor Lupin it turned out was a very good teacher, he had easy control of the class as they discussed grindylows and where they were found. He told the students about the grindylows in the black lake and warned them that Grindylows were just one of many reasons to stay out of the water.
The professor set them a reading task and then put some notes on the chalkboard which most people copied down, at the the end of the class he set them a six-inch essay on where grindylows are found and what type of habitat they prefer.
When the bell went he stood up to pack his bag, the class had been very good and Harry had enjoyed it. It seemed that Professor Lupin was well versed in Dark Creatures and he seemed to have some teaching ability. The man was a vast improvement on the two previous years; even if Severus did not like him.
As he hoisted his bag onto his shoulder he felt movement close to him, he looked up and found himself being observed by the teacher. “Hello, Harry, do you have a moment?” he asked genially.
“Oh, I um…sure,” Harry stammered. Severus' warning about being alone with the man suddenly sounded in his ears.
“I just wanted to check you recovered from the dementors on the train,” the professor said once the room was empty.
“Ahh yeah, I did,” Harry answered. “Professor Snape met me as I got off the carriage and took me to the hospital wing. Between you, Professor Snape and Madam Pomfroy I have almost gone off chocolate,” he said with a weak smile.
Lupin smiled a genuine smile. “That’s good to hear, that you recovered I mean, not that you have gone off chocolate.”
Harry returned the smile. “Only almost,” he said.
“Excellent news,” Lupin replied. “Look Harry, I…”
“I have to go,” Harry interrupted suddenly. “I have potions, don't want to be late,” he said and he ran for the door. Harry was confused, Severus had seemed to indicate that Lupin was in some way dangerous but Harry could not reconcile that with the calm, softly-spoken professor he had just observed. He needed time to think but could not do that until after potions.
Lupin watched him go, he knew Severus was rather strict about students being late to his class but there had been something else in Harry’s eyes. Remus wondered if Severus had told Harry anything about him. He knew Severus was friendly with the Malfoys but how close he was to Harry Lupin didn't know.
Remus had initially been horrified to learn that Harry was living with the Malfoys, and he could not understand that could have happened. Afterwards, though, he had the strangest feeling that he had known or at least should have known how it happened - but he couldn't quite grasp the memory.
The Headmaster had expressed concern about Harry’s guardians and Severus’ influence over Harry. He had asked Lupin to try and get close to the boy and find out if he was being swayed away from the light. Lupin, however, was concerned about Harry for his own reasons; Sirius Black was out of prison and Harry was likely the man's target.
Sirius had been his friend at school, one of his best friends. It had been difficult for him to accept that Sirius could have betrayed James, Lily and Harry; especially James but it was the only possible explanation for them being found.
Remus wanted to ensure Harry was safe but he did not want to tread on Severus' toes; former Death Eater or not he could not imagine Severus would wish Harry ill. Harry was Lily’s son after all. No matter what James and Sirius had believed Remus knew Severus had loved Lily. He had smelled the regret and heartbreak on the boy after that fateful day in fifth year and he knew the Marauders and Dumbledore had done wrong by Severus.
He held on to hope that the man could forgive him; or at least that he would not stand in the way of him getting to know Harry. Lupin wanted to get to know Harry, not because the headmaster had asked, but because Remus wanted the chance to know the son of his friends.
Remus Lupin's greatest regret was staying away from Harry all these years. He had not known Harry had been placed with the Durselys until it came out in the reporting of Vernon Durselys's trial and he had been furious. Lupin would never have listened to the Headmaster's insistence that Harry was better off growing up away from the Magical World; if he had thought for a moment the old man had placed him with Petunia.
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Harry ran the whole way to potions and he made it before Severus entered the room. The first thing he saw was Draco sitting in their usual seat with his arm in a sling. The second thing he saw was Hermione pushing Ron into his seat with a furious glare at Draco. Fabulous just what Harry needed; his brother out of the hospital wing and teasing the lions.
Harry put his bag down at the table and sat next to Draco raising an eyebrow at him; but before Draco could say a word Severus swept into the classroom and Harry’s attention refocused on his teacher. The man really was impressive, Harry was sure other people must see it too, surely he wasn't that biased. Professor Snape, waved his hand at the blackboard and the recipe for wiggenweld potion began to write itself on the board.
Turning to face the class Severus looked impassively around the room noting Draco’s return with a very slight nod. “You should all know how to brew this by now. It is a first-year potion, however, it will come up in your OWLs. Work in pairs you have two hours,” the teacher said as he sat at his desk.
Harry and Draco worked together Harry doing preparation and Draco stirring as he only had the use of one hand.
“How long are you going to wear that?" Harry asked under his breath.
“Until the board do something about…you know who,” he said with a sly smile and eyebrow wiggle.
Harry rolled his eyes, “I dare you to say that in the presence of Tom,” he snarked.
Draco blanched slightly and set about stirring the chopped-up dittany root and honey water into the salamander blood already simmering in the cauldron, while Harry dealt with the flobberworm mucus.
“What happened with Ron before I got here,” Harry asked passing a dish of mucus to the blond before adding billywig stings to the mortar for crushing.
Draco scoffed. “He took exception to my sling. He thinks I am trying to get Hagrid sacked.”
“Well you are,” Harry said reasonably.
“Humm,” Draco said noncommittally. “Well you can understand why,” the blond returned irritably
“I do,” Harry told him, adding mandrake root to the Billywig stings and proceeding to pulverise them. “...but you can't expect the Lions to be on board with it. Don't provoke them.”
“I did nothing I just walked into the room,” Draco objected.
“Wearing an entirely unnecessary sling,” Harry told him.
Draco smirked “Yeah, well it’s not my fault he’s easily upset,” he replied as he added more salamander blood.
Harry hummed as he prepared the lionfish spines and measured moon dew and boom berries.
The rest of the class passed fairly quietly. Longbottom melted his cauldron and Finnegan somehow set fire to his potion, however, both were regular occurrences and Harry and Draco ignored Severus berating the lions and focused on their potion.
The two hours were almost up and Draco was giving the potion a final clockwise stir when something flew through the air and landed in their cauldron. The entire room froze as the mandrake root splashed into Draco’s cauldron; there was a moment of silence and then the potion began to bubble. Harry cast a wordless and wandless shielding spell over himself and Draco as Wiggenweld potion exploded out of the cauldron and covered the students nearest them. Fortunately, the potion had been perfectly brewed and the only effect was for the students to feel slightly giddy as a result of their very good health.
Severus however was livid and Harry almost feared for the life of Ron and Seamus; as he left the potions classroom the teacher was in full angry snake mode hissing and spitting as he assigned detention to the two foolish Gryffindors and took house points.
Harry and Draco stopped off at their dorms to leave their books there before they made their way to lunch both boys had the afternoon free and they intended to spend it in the common room playing wizard chess before starting on their schoolwork. Harry had a lot to think about after defence and he was glad for the opportunity to stay in the Common Room while he tried to make sense of what he had leaned about Lupin.