potions and rudeness
Lily woke us up an hour early for potions.
“We need a good breakfast, I heard potions is such a hard class!” She was already dressed and had her books ready. The three us looked at each other. It was no secret why Lily was excited for today, we had potions with the Slytherins.
“Lil, it takes hazel and me so long to do our hair, we may be late!” Mary teased but lily shrugged it off.
“It’s not wash day which means hazel is just going to tie her hair back and you’re going to wrap it in a bandana” Lily said very matter of fact like. The worst part was, she was right. My hair is so bushy and everywhere that I just tie it back. I know my dad made a hair potion that works specifically for my hair, but that’s too much work in the morning. Mary and Marlene were just as stunned by Lily’s correctness as I was.
“Holy hair you’re scary” Marlene said.
“Thank you” Lily said “now come on get up or we’ll be late for breakfast!”
It would’ve been a miracle if we were late for breakfast seeing how Lily practically rushed us to get ready then pushed us out the door. We were the only ones in the great hall eating breakfast. Marlene was falling in her toast, Mary was rocking back and forth, I was pretending to draw designs with my wand. Lily was practically memorizing her potions book.
It took a while, at least a half hour, for other kids to enter the great hall. They shuffled in from every house and slowly ate breakfast. Lily glanced at the door every few seconds looking for someone. Looking for severus. Mary and Marlene noticed this too, and while none of us said anything, we all really wanted to push Severus away for good.
Lily gasped excitedly then sighed to see my brother and his friends arrive. I waved them over, at least they’re fully rested and would speak. James sat next to me and the others followed. Remus didn’t seem too pleased to be sitting with us, Sirius looked half asleep, Peter just looked happy to be there.
“What are you doing here so early?” James asked
“We got here even earlier. Lily is just excepted for potions class” I explained
“Why-?” Sirius began but then everyone’s questions were answered. Severus snap and his gang of evil walked into the great hall. Lily waved then pointed to her potions book, the seven of us stared at her. Severus waved back and gave his creepy smile. Lily turned back to us.
“What are you starting at boys?” She asked, remus and Peter looked away but Sirius and James kept starring at her.
“Just you waving to your boyfriend” Sirius laughed but James only gave a pity laugh, he looked hurt for some reason.
“He’s not my boyfriend!” Lily protested. Marlene looked like she was going to say something but Mary gave her a look that said not here, Marlene shut her mouth.
“If he’s not your boyfriend when why did you wave at him like that?” James questioned
“Like what?” Lily shot back
“Like a mindless deer stuck in the light!” He mocked her wave by mimicking it.
“James..” I muttered. I had never seen him to rude to someone, what was his deal?
“James Potter you are an annoying git!” Lily stood up and the rest of us followed. She started walking out the room, I turned back to James.
“What was that?” I asked
“What? I was just having a laugh! Besides it’s snivelous you should be worried about, he’s a total creep.” He said, I wanted to agree but now wasn’t the time.
“You didn’t have to be rude about it”
“Haze, you’re overreacting it’s fine”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah”
“Alright then, I’ll see you in class” I followed my friends out the room and to class.
To make my day worse, we had to partner off in potions. Lily chose Severus and Remus, Mary, Marlene, and I made a group, James went with Sirius, and Peter paired up with a Slytherin he knew. It was fine until a Slytherin girl came up to us
“Potter right?” She asked, I nodded “I heard loads about your brother, nothing of you though, no surprise there.”
“What’s that supposed to mean?”
“Come on, your brother is cool, good looking, funny and talented, you’re none of those things”
“Yeah?”
“Yeah” she smiled at me. I hated her.
“I didn’t catch your name” I said.
“Savan Lee” she smiled at me like I was five years old.
“We’ll Savan I’ve never heard of you before which makes complete sense seeing as you were left without a partner. And seeing how no one is making eye contact with you or trying to talk to you makes you even less popular than me so sorry.” I didn’t realize what I had said until after I said it. I had been so mean so unlike me. I looked over to see Marlene giving me two thumbs up and Sirius you looked proud.
I didn’t feel proud or happy at all, I felt guilty and like I should be punished.
“I’m sorry,” I said “that was rude, if you still don’t have a partner we could-” I looked at her, she looked disgusted at the idea.
“You won’t catch me dead having a partner like you” She scoffed and sat down at a different table.
Professor Slughorn explained the class and what we would do today. We were making some potion, all I know is Mary did not want to touch any of the ingredients.
“Mary, Slughorn said we have to take turns making this. I’m not failing because you think it’s gross” Marlene said before opening Mary’s hand and putting the desiccated snail-eye stems in her hand. I quickly covered Mary’s mouth so she wouldn’t scream.
“Just put them in the cauldron and we can move forward” I said calmly and she obliged.
“Marlene I swear to what wizard god there is, I am getting you back for that one!” Mary warned, Marlene just smiled innocently.
The rest of the class would’ve been fine if Severus didn’t decide it was time to bully Remus. He caused this whole scene yelling at Remus asking if he could read and basically suggested he was incompetent.
“How is she friends with that toad?” Mary asked in a hushed tone. We didn’t want Lily to hear us.
“They were childhood friends, maybe he was different before” I said
“He’s different when it comes to Lily but how can she not see how rude he is?” Marlene asked.
“We don’t think… we don’t think she likes him.. right?” Mary asked. The three of us stood there silent for a while.
“No.. no..” I said unconvinced. Marlene nodded along.
“Ok, as her friends it is our duty to stop any plans of hers to get with him if she has any plans. If not then we’re good!” Mary said and we agreed. It was the kindest thing to do