First Day of Class II

[A/N: Haiyaaaa~… I really don't wanna write this class/chapter. I mean, we've all read this scene over an' over again dozens of times. But given that this scene will differ because Draco and Harry are both 'different'- I need ta write it. Okay guys. Here's to hoping I don't do a sh*t job at writing this chapter.]

Not long after we sat in our seats, the bushy haired mud-... muggleborn entered and seemed disappointed that the front seats closer to the teacher's podium were already taken. But she seemed to convince herself of something, then sat bright and cheery in the center of the classroom.

She seemed to try to catch the attention of Pansy and Millicent, but both snubbed her without missing a beat. She seemed to redden and bloat in fury and/or embarrassment, then sat quietly in her seat as we waited for the rest of the gryffindors to trickle in.

…

How curious, has no one taught her the existing inter-house rivalry between the lions and us slytherins?

But that didn't seem to be the case within her own house. 5 minutes before class started, Potter and the Weasel entered the room with flushed cheeks and heavy breathing. It seems that they ran to class. How typical.

Weasley looked around the classroom and seemed disappointed that the only seats available were on either side of Granger. Potter, on the other hand, seemed excited. Interesting… How very curious…

Something is definitely off with Potter.

Hatching an idea, I covered my mouth and hissed under a whisper "[Catalypsssie]" calling her to wakefulness.

With a tremble, I felt her rouse from her slumber in my sleeve. But it seems she wasn't the only one to be alerted. Potter seemed to jolt as though electrified then visibly stiffen in his seat.

… Blasted! I can't believe I forgot that Potter was the Heir of Slytherin and a parselmouth!

I picked up my quill and feigned ignorance as I wrote 'Potions - 10/02 Monday' and some other nonsense in my notebook. This was definitely a good move on my part as through the corner of my eye, I saw Harry jump from his seat and fiercely look around - eyeing every possible thing he could see in the room.

His gaze seemed to land on me and my notebook for a second before moving on.

Should anyone ask, I will never admit that my hands got faintly clammy and it was a challenge to keep my quill steady.

My hand relaxed after Weasley asked Potter "What's wrong mate?" who replied with "Nothing." while shaking his head and settling back down into his seat.

… Dear Merlin, that was too close. Far too close…

Focusing legilimency on my sleeve, I spoke to Catalypsie.

[Catalypsie, could you go through that kid's bag and tell me anything strange you find. If you could also take a 'peek' in his mind for anything out of the ordinary I'll give you 1, no 2! 2 tubes of Del*ctables Squeeze up Tuna flavored treats.]

[No. I want chicken!]

[But Catalypsie, you know your stomach reacts badly to the oil in the chicken one.]

[Want chicken!]

[Fine 1 chicken 1 tuna]

[mkay]

Catalypsie crawled out of my sleeve and seemed to vanish in thin air.

After finally figuring out how her abilities work, they still astound me to this day. Her shapeshifting/vanishing abilities aren't like those of actual shapeshifters or hidebehinds, but are closer to Boggarts. She doesn't change anything about herself, but tricks people's minds into believing that she isn't there or that she is something else. With enough concentration, she could convince people into believing they are 'feeling' something else.

Catalypsie told me that since she is still young her abilities are limited to her location and her size, but she can feel that when she gets older - she would be able to alter people's perceptions of things other than herself.

In other words, just like in the myths, she can make 'the moon appear to have disappeared at the most random of times.'

With a loud bang, the doors of the classroom slammed open and Prof. Snape came gliding in with his cape billowing behind him until he reached the very front of the room. With a swoosh, he turned on his heel and interlocked his hands with extended fingers. Without missing a beat he began his speech.

""There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science of potion making."

The chatter of the Griffindors immediately ceased, and they held their breath in fear.

Truly sublime. I never did learn how to silence an entire room with my presence alone. Perhaps I may work my way into Prof. Snape's good graces and learn it from him in this life.

Prof. Snape sharply flung his gaze onto Theodore.

"However, for those of you who possess the pre-disposition-"

Theodore beamed in his seat, pleased at already becoming the teacher's favorite. The Prof. trailed his gaze to observe the rest of the class.

"I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses; I can tell you how to brew glory, bottle fame, and even put a stopper in death."

Here it is. Prof. Snape zeroed in on Potter who was entirely focused on his notebook to notice the attention. Curious enough, Potter's quill didn't move and an ink blotch slowly spread from the nib of his quill onto the parchment.

"Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable that you feel comfortable enough to not pay attention… Mr. Potter, our—new—celebrity."

"Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

[...]

"That is… that Draught of Living Death! O-or the Vitamix potion… Sir."

?!?!

Potter could answer that?!? What???

… Oh right. Potter became ever so slightly competent in potions during his fifth year. Perhaps, as is my suspicion, Potter - like I - came from the future?

Prof. Snape's eyes widened and his head subtly tilted down as he observed his target with increased mindfulness.

Afterwards, a thought so strong blasted out of the Prof.'s head, I couldn't help BUT hear it. The voice of a young girl, so soft and caring as she said 'It's a bezoar, eat it.'

"And where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

"The antodote cup-boar- No! I-I mean. T-the stomach of a goat, sir."

It was at this point Catalypsie sent me a thought in the form of a memory, a hand shoving a bezoar down Weasley's throat.

Snape stepped forward, his attention solely focused on understanding the young wizard before him.

"And what is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

"It's the same thing sir. It is used for making the Wolfsbane Potion."

Catalypsie sent me another short memory, a quick glance of one of my previous or, should I say, future DADA professors. Lupin, the one rumored to be a werewolf. But it seems that according to this memory, it was no rumor at all.

My head started to hurt from receiving these short memories, hence I sent a thought to Catalypsie asking her to not send any more visual thoughts.

This certainly is interesting information, but not something I can use at this time.

Snape seemed to find something past Potter's spectacles that affected him emotionally. Something easily missed unless you spend your entire childhood and adolescence with him.

I barely saw this change with Prof. Snape. It usually happens when he believes he is alone whilst deeply concentrated on researching something or brewing a potion. How strange that it appeared whilst talking to Potter.

"One point to Gryffindor."

Gasps were heard amongst Slytherins and half/pure-blood Griffindors. I myself had almost sucked in a breath of my own.

Potter seemed to startle as he started to flush pink from his neck up.

For the rest of the lesson, Snape never returned his attention to Potter, and Slytherin earned 15 points in total. But even until the end, the shock of what happened at the beginning of the lesson never left the minds of the students.

The less ignorant Griffindors seemed excited and - dare I say - even hopeful as more than a few raised their hands for a chance to answer a question during the first half-hour. But after Griffindor lost 7 points for incomplete or partially correct answers and some cheek (from the more emotional Gryffindors), only Granger's was left obnoxiously raised and fluttering for the entire duration of the class.

Once class dismissed, Catalypsie crawled back into my sleeve. Potter seemed… emotional as he meandered out of the room to his next class.

Potter… It seems I need to have a 'conversation' with him sooner than later.