Chapter 85: "Potions"

Following a lively breakfast filled with laughter and camaraderie, Harry and his fellow students eagerly made their way through the dimly lit corridors of Hogwarts towards the potions classroom, nestled deep within the castle's dungeons.

On this particular day, Harry was slated to attend potions class alongside his Hufflepuff counterparts. He breathed a sigh of relief, grateful to avoid a session with the notoriously competitive Slytherin house. Not only would he dodge potential sabotage to his potion from the Slytherins, known for their cunning and competitiveness, but he was also relieved not to endure the chaos that typically ensued in classes with the Gryffindors, which often involved a fair share of accidents and mishaps.

Upon entering the classroom, Harry acknowledged Cedric Diggory with a friendly wave, finding his fellow Hufflepuff already seated and ready for the lesson. Choosing a spot next to Reginald, he settled in, preparing for what was to come. The classroom, with its walls adorned with glass jars containing an assortment of pickled creatures, promised an intriguing yet slightly unsettling experience.

The anticipation in the room was palpable, and as the clock struck the hour, the door swung open with dramatic flair. Professor Severus Snape made his entrance, his expression stern and his black robes billowing ominously behind him. 

Harry could sense Snape's lingering frustration, no doubt a residue of anger from the prank that had disrupted the morning's peace. Known for his unforgiving nature towards those who crossed him, Snape had a long history of being the butt of jokes during his own school days at the hands of the Marauders, which only deepened his disdain for such antics.

Harry caught Snape's glare and braced himself, understanding that he, perhaps along with the rest of the class, might bear the brunt of Snape's bad mood today.

As soon as everyone had settled into their seats, Snape commenced the lesson with a roll call, his voice dripping with disdain each time he called out a name. However, when he reached Harry's name, his tone took on a particularly venomous edge.

"Hadrian Potter," he sneered as if the very name left a bitter taste in his mouth. "It appears we're graced with a 'celebrity' among us, attempting to walk in his famous younger brother's footsteps. I'm baffled as to how you managed to persuade the Sorting Hat to place you among the house of the intelligent. Rest assured, I'll be keeping a close eye on you—no mischief will be tolerated in my class."

The change in Snape's demeanor when addressing Harry caught the other first-years off guard, sparking whispers and puzzled glances. Harry's friends, equally bewildered, looked to him for an explanation, but Harry subtly signaled them to hold their questions for later to avoid provoking Snape further.

Once the roll call was complete, Snape turned to face the class, his eyes as dark and chilling as a bottomless abyss.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potionmaking," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word. "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."

A hush fell over the classroom, punctuated by Snape's piercing gaze sweeping over his students.

"Potion-making," Snape continued, "stands as one of the oldest magic arts. It is the most versatile out of any branch of magic. If done correctly, you can bring someone back from the edge of death, turn someone invisible, even bottle luck."

As Snape delved deeper into the essence of potion-making, Harry couldn't help but acknowledge Snape's profound knowledge of the subject. Despite this, Snape's delivery underscored his reluctance to teach. 

Every time he spoke, Snape glared resentfully at the class as if he was offended by having to teach students who didn't meet his high standards.

Harry had heard from older students that Snape was great at making potions. Yet, Snape didn't seem to like teaching or getting the students interested. It seemed like he just wanted to get through the lessons fast and didn't care much about making students love potion-making.

Suddenly, Snape turned his attention to Harry, challenging him with a question, "Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

Harry calmly replied, "A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat"

Snape responded skeptically, "Lucky guess. Now, tell me the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

Without hesitation, Harry answered, "There's no difference. They're the same plant, also known as aconite."

Pushing further, Snape asked, "And what happens if wolfsbane is taken incorrectly?"

Harry simply stated, "It poisons the person who takes it."

Harry remembered from his past life that Snape's questions had deeper meanings, suggesting Snape played the complex role of protector and spy. But Harry was not ready to overlook the past, especially Snape's part in his grandparents' demise.

However, Harry was open to giving Snape a chance at redemption. Not through spying though. Harry wanted Snape to redeem himself by using his potion skills for the good of the wizarding world. Snape was undeniably talented in potion-making, far more than being a spy or a Death Eater. Yet, Harry's future opinions would depend heavily on Snape's actions at Hogwarts.

At that moment, Snape was visibly frustrated. He had hoped to embarrass Harry, thereby venting some of his own frustration. But instead, Harry's correct answers only gave him more opportunities to demonstrate his knowledge, much to Snape's chagrin.

Snape's annoyance grew with each smile Harry offered after answering correctly. The morning's prank still fresh in his mind, Snape's irritation boiled over, and he sought to put Harry in his place.

In a moment of heightened tension, Harry, sensing Snape's brewing malice and guessing his next move, subtly lifted his hand to show Snape a specific finger. This wasn't just any gesture—it was a calculated one, displaying the prominent Potter Heir ring.

Snape's brewing storm of anger came to an abrupt halt. He had been on the verge of launching a discreet Legilimency attack on Harry, a tactic covert enough that no one would question Harry's sudden discomfort or fainting in class. It would have been a perfect way for Snape to discipline Harry without drawing any blame upon himself.

However, the sight of the Potter Heir ring on Harry's finger stopped Snape cold. Snape was well aware of the ring's capabilities. While the ring couldn't block a mental intrusion, it could record any attempt of such an attack. Given Snape's unique skill set, he would be the prime suspect if the ring logged such an incident. Snape, despite his disdain for Sirius Black, recognized the trouble the man could cause if he decided to act on this evidence.

Harry felt both relieved and disappointed when Snape stopped himself. Angry at how Snape was treating him but also knowing that Dumbledore would protect Snape, Harry understood that fighting back directly would not solve anything.

Dumbledore's support for Snape and the tricky nature of proving a mental attack even with the ring evidence meant Snape would probably not face any consequences. The only consequence Snape could face was pureblood families started doubting him and not wanting him to teach their kids. But that wouldn't help Harry in any way and the mind attack would also reveal the fact that he was a Master Occlumens to Snape and Dumbledore.

So, Harry decided to show the ring and stop Snape before he could do anything. It was a sad reflection of what Harry had to do just to hide some of his strengths, but it was the best way to avoid trouble and fight in the shadows.

Frustrated yet unable to act against Harry, Snape redirected his ire towards the entire class.

"Stop staring!" Snape barked suddenly. "A bezoar, for those of you who don't know, is a stone found in a goat's stomach and can counteract most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are indeed the same plant, also known as aconite. Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?"

The class scrambled for their quills and papers in a rush. Snape, was clearly irked but had no grounds to penalize Harry. Harry had indicated with the way he acted that he was aware of his rights, suggesting any unfair deduction of points would be contested.

"Now, open your textbooks to the first chapter," Snape instructed, a hint of resignation in his voice. "There, you'll find the recipe for the Pepperup Potion. I expect a sample from each of you by the end of today's session."

The students hesitated, not accustomed to such an abrupt start to a practical lesson without any prior theoretical introduction. Confused, they opened their textbooks, only to realize they had no idea how to proceed. The instructions seemed like gibberish: which ingredients to chop, how they looked, or the correct way to stir the cauldron remained mysteries.

Faced with no support from Snape, the class decided to fend for themselves. They ventured to the supply cabinets, trying to match ingredients to those listed in their recipe.

Harry wanted to help his classmates but knew better. Snape's hawk-like gaze was fixed on him, eagerly awaiting a misstep as an excuse to dock points. So, Harry concentrated solely on his potion.

As the class progressed, it was evident this session comprised mostly of cautious students from Hufflepuffs and Ravenclaws. Although errors were made, there were no disastrous outcomes like explosions or toxic fumes.

Snape went around, scolding everyone for the mistakes they made. This approach, while far from inspiring, was at least somewhat a way of teaching.

About two hours later, the potions were bottled and handed over to Snape, and the students left the dungeon with much lower moods.

Reflecting on the lesson, Harry concluded Snape's presence at Hogwarts was doing more harm than good. He understood Snape might be important for Dumbledore as a spy in Voldemort's ranks, but having someone who doesn't like teaching to lead a crucial subject like Potions was not good for the wizarding world.

Harry could bet that the number of Healers, Aurors, and Potion masters in Britain should have drastically gone down since Snape started teaching at Hogwarts.

Harry wasn't sure if Snape always taught like this or if it was just because he was mad about the prank. Either way, it wasn't right to teach the first potions class like that.

Snape probably didn't enjoy staying at Hogwarts either, but he stayed for the protection it offered. Without Dumbledore's protection, Snape would be questioned under Veritaserum about his past as a Death Eater, and even his skills in Occlumency couldn't save him from that since the ministry had ways around that.

Snape would probably prefer working quietly in a potion lab rather than teaching. But the mistakes from his past meant he was stuck at Hogwarts, teaching students he didn't seem to enjoy teaching.

After the class, everyone felt drained but relieved that they had no more classes for the day. The general feeling about potions class was pretty negative, and the thought of enduring more sessions with Snape was something they all dreaded.

Harry could have offered his help, but he knew he wasn't responsible for tutoring his classmates. While he was willing to clarify their doubts, taking over Snape's teaching duties wasn't something he was prepared to do. Besides, Harry had his own studies to focus on and simply didn't have the time to teach others.

He did take a moment to share with his friends some background on the bad blood between his father, his godfather, and Snape. He explained that because of this history, he needed to tread carefully in potions class, as Snape was just looking for a reason to dock points. Harry emphasized the importance of staying out of trouble in Snape's class.

Later, the Ravenclaws decided to hit the library to brush up on their potions knowledge. They understood that they would have to learn much of it on their own.

Harry excused himself from joining them, claiming he had other commitments. He headed towards his private study space, the Room of Requirement, eager to dive back into his own studies.