chapter 8 the potions master
After the first week, Harry had begun to settle in. Most of his classes had been with the Gryffindors except for History of magic and their flying classes which were with Ravenclaws and Herbology which is with the Hufflepuffs.
He could safely say that transfiguration was his favourite so far. Not just because it was taught by his Aunt Minnie and his Uncle Padfoot. Professor McGonagall (He, Neville and Sirius are forbidden from calling her Professor Minnie in class under the threat of no more biscuits) was the stricter of the two, as she wanted the class to be as safe as it could be but also still be enjoyable for the students but that they need to know the right wand movements and incantations before they even try the spell. Where as Professor Sirius (NEVER call him Professor black, no one’s seen the 7th year perfect since he called him that since, he’s still hiding) is the more laid back of the two. Don’t get him wrong he will still hand out detentions for serious (get it) stuff but he tries to get the students dong more practical work on the theory. He still covers the theory stuff but he thinks doing is better than reading about it, so both he and professor McGonagall clash sometimes but they do the best work that they can.
The only class that everyone hates (even Hermione) is the history of magic. This horror of a subject is taught by a Ghost who taught the subject even after his death centuries ago. Its so dreadfully boring as all the boring old ghosts would drone on about was goblin wars. When harry brought up that he was falling asleep in class because of how dreadful Professor Binns was. His uncle Moony was a little upset that they were falling asleep in class but he understood and he offered to tutor them in the subject. The only subject that he had not had yet was potions.
He had already been warned about what Professor Snivellus (Sirius insisted that they call him that much to the annoyance of Remus) as he had been treating Katie horribly since her first Potions class. “don’t be surprised if he calls on you after reading your name” Katie warned, “he did the same to me and he asked questions that you won't learn about until you are in 4th year, just to make you look A stupid and B like you feel like you are too good to be in his class.” So waiting outside with his classmates he is nervous about what might happen. When the door opened but no one was inside they all walked in and took their seats with Harry sitting with Draco, Neville and Ron. Everyone was nervous about what the lesson would be like as everyone had heard stories about what the professor was like.
About 10 minutes later the door banged open and in walked Professor Snape the second most disliked teacher (after Binns). Snape, like Flitwick, started the class by taking the roll call, and, like Flitwick, he paused at Harry’s name. “Ah, yes,” he said softly, “Harry Potter. Our new – celebrity.” Harry felt his face heat up not only in embarrassment but also in anger. He hated that people saw him and his sister as celebrities when all they did was survive their parents’ death. Being constantly reminded by random people on the worst day of the year for the four of them that they should ‘celebrate’ and be happy because the dark lord is gone. Snape continued with the register and once he was done, turned to the rest of the class.
“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 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.”
More silence followed this little speech. Harry and Ron exchanged looks with raised eyebrows. Zoe was still squirming at the sight of the pickled animals. Hermione Granger was on the edge of her seat and looked desperate to start proving that she wasn’t a dunderhead. “Potter!” said Snape suddenly. “What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?” Harry knew the answer to his question having his aunt Andromeda and his grandmother Augusta tutoring him and Nevile in potions after school since they were 7. “The answer sir is that asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of the Living Death” Snape looked displeased that he knew the answer to his question. But just as quickly as his displeasure had shown his smirk was back asking “All alright Mr Potter if you are so smart then what is the difference between Monkswood and Wolfsbane?” Harry had to think about that one as he was not entirely sure until he remembered about wolfsbane that his Uncle Moony has to take for his time of the month as his uncle Padfoot liked to call it, he only just noticed that Hermione was standing waving her hand desperate to answer the question. “it’s the same plant sir also known as Wolfbane.” Said Harry proud that he knew/ remembered the answer. “fine” snapped Snape getting irritated that Harry knew the answers to his questions “Where would you find a bezoar” “Well it should be in your storage cupboard but if you have to harvester, it the bezoar would be in the stomach of a goat” said harry getting fed up of Snape picking on him so thought that if Snape is going to hate him he would hate the man to. “15 points from Slytherin for your cheek Mr Potter and 20 points from Gryffindor for your distracting behaviour Miss Granger now sit down. Well? Why aren’t you all copying this down?” snapped Snape as Hermione sat back down her face bright red from embarrassment.
There was a sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. Over the noise, but Things didn’t approve for anyone in the class as the Potions lesson continued. Snape put them all into pairs and set them to mix up a simple potion to cure boils. He swept around in his long black cloak, watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticizing anyone. As they were working on his potion Draco took Neville's are and said “Stop. You were about to add the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire, it would have exploded on you.” Draco said taking the cauldron off the heat for Neville” just as Draco had helped Neville Snape walked over to them. “Mr Malfoy I would appreciate if you do not act as a potions master in my class and let your classmates do it themself so that they can learn. 5 points from Slytherin and I will let your father know how you are behaving in your classes” Draco paled and stayed silent for the rest of class. Once class was over Harry took Draco straight over to his uncle Moony’s class.
“Hey kids how was potions?” asked Remus as he was clearing up from his last class. “Snape threatened to inform Draco’s dad about in front of the class,” Harry said as Draco’s breathing was getting faster and faster “shit, ok come here Draco it's ok he can hurt you now,” said Remus as Draco started to sob “why does he hate me now, he’s my godfather and he now hates me what did I do wrong”. Remus just held Draco letting him get it out of his system but on the inside, he was fuming. How dare that man think that it was alright to hurt children like that and get away with it. He vowed silently that he would get his own back against the dungeon bat.