You'd known, you'd been told, but the utter shock of his icy demeanor was like a slap across the face. At your muggle schools you'd been admired, revered even, your teachers loved your friendly personality and eagerness to learn, not him though.
You were sitting on a dusty stool in the potions classroom deep in the bowels of the time old establishment of Hogwarts pouring over your potions textbook, all too aware of your professor looming over you.
As you stirred the cauldron, your mind raced, trying to pinpoint where you had gone wrong. Every step had been followed meticulously, yet something had still gone awry. You took a deep breath, steeling yourself to ask for clarification. "I'm sorry, sir," you began, your voice barely above a whisper, "but I'm not sure what my mistake was."
The professor's response was as cutting as ever, his words dripping with condescension. "Of course you don't," he drawled, his tone laced with disdain, "that's the problem with you Ravenclaws. You can't comprehend that you could ever make a mistake."
His words hung heavy in the air, mingling with the pungent aroma of simmering potions. You resisted the urge to roll your eyes, knowing it would only worsen the situation. Instead, you focused on the task at hand, trying to salvage what remained of your potion.
With a sense of resolve, you focused on the task at hand, determined to salvage your potion despite the professor's dismissive attitude. Ignoring the stifled whispers and curious glances from your classmates, you meticulously reviewed the instructions in your textbook, searching for any possible oversight.
As you scanned the page, your eyes caught a subtle discrepancy in the ingredient measurements. A surge of frustration welled up within you. How could you have missed such a crucial detail? But there was no time for self-recrimination now. You had to act quickly to rectify the error before it was too late.
Taking a deep breath to steady your nerves, you carefully measured out the correct amount of potion ingredients, making sure to follow the instructions to the letter. The professor's disdainful gaze bore down on you, but you refused to let it intimidate you. You were determined to prove yourself capable, despite his doubts.
With each precise movement, you felt a sense of satisfaction wash over you. As the potion began to bubble and emit a faint glow, a small smile tugged at the corners of your lips. Despite the professor's harsh words, you had succeeded where others might have faltered.
As the class drew to a close, you carefully transferred the potion into a vial, a sense of accomplishment swelling within you. Though the professor offered no words of praise, you didn't need his validation. You knew in your heart that you were capable, and that was all that mattered.
Gathering your belongings, you made your way out of the classroom, determined to continue proving yourself in the face of adversity. And as you walked through the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts, you couldn't help but feel a newfound sense of confidence blooming inside of you.