17 Start of Class Part #2
[] A/N: Merry Christmas to you all! Here's a chapter as a Christmas gift from me! If you all want to give me a Christmas gift, then you already know what to give me ( ´◡‿ゝ◡`)
Hint: It's written in the author's thoughts![]
[Hogwarts, Dungeons, September 3rd, 1991]
"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, and ensnaring the senses."
"…I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even stop death — if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."
With every word that Professor Snape utters, I can see what kind of professor he is. A very strict one, not Professor McGonagall kind of strict but—how can I say this?—darker, I believe, for the better word.
However, this does not diminish my interest in his lesson; after all, chemistry and potions have a lot in common based on my reading and observation. Concocting a medicine? Then the potions can do the same, though in a weirder and more magical way.
"It's a pleasure to meet an Addams, though I wonder if your reputation is as grand as they say, Ms. Addams." While looking at the goth girl by my side, Professor Snape said.
"I don't need to prove myself to anyone, Professor Snape; though I also heard about your fame as a potion master, I wonder if it's also as grand as they say?" Wednesday quip while looking at Professor Snape dead in the eye.
Professor Snape took a slow step toward Wednesday as he said,
"What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
"They're the same, Professor. You can even call them Genus Aconitum, Queen of poisons, or by its normal name, Aconite. They have highly toxic cardiotoxins and neurotoxins that can make you feel numbness and tingling sensations, a slow or fast heart rate, and gastrointestinal manifestations such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, and diarrhea."
Wednesday answered that while looking face-to-face with Professor Snape, their distance from each other is only a meter apart, thereby creating an uncomfortable atmosphere around them.
"What are the uses of dittany and where to find it?" Professor Snape asked again while squinting his eyes on Wednesday.
"Dittany is a magical plant used in potion-making and is a powerful healing herb and restorative. It can be found in most dry woodlands and prairies." Wednesday responded without breaking a sweat, her gaze still fixed on Professor Snape.
"What would I get if I added Jobberknoll feathers to an essence of comfrey?" Professor Snape asked again while looking intensely on Wednesday.
"You get a potion called Veritaserum, Professor, also called truth serum. This potion effectively forced the drinker to honestly answer any questions posed to them." Wednesday answered with confidence, not breaking her stare.
"Hmm...5 points to Ravenclaw." Professor Snape uttered these words as he turned around and grabbed his book. Unbeknownst to him, the Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students' expressions were clear, with a hint of shock. After all, according to the rumors, Snape had not given any points to any students other than Slytherins, his most favored house. So, to think that he gave a point to Ravenclaw all of a sudden because of one Wednesday Addams is quite shocking and stupefying.
"Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?" Professor Snape added.
After that, Professor Snape put us all into pairs and set them to mix up a simple potion to cure boils.
I was paired with a Hufflepuff girl named Susan Bones. She has long red hair, which she wears in a long plait down her back, and noticeable brown eyes.
"Hello..." She greeted me shyly.
"Hi!" I greeted her back with a smile.
"I'm Moses. You're Susan Bones, right?" I inquired, and she responded with a quick nod, her shy expression replaced with a small smile.
"Let's do well, Susan," I said as I raised my hand for a shake.
"Su-" She was going to take it but was suddenly surprised when a voice spoke behind us.
"You're here to study potions and make potions, Ms. Bones and Mr. Moses. Not to make friends—ready your ingredients now."
Professor Snape said to us as he made his way to the other students with his long black cloak magically floating.
He watched us weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticizing almost everyone except Wednesday's group; he was looking on Wednesday a little better than others. Some of our classmates finished their potions, but most of them failed, while others had low-quality ones.
The only group left that is not finished is mine and Wednesday's, though it looks like our potion is a little different than what's supposed to be in the book.
"Do you think we stirred too much?" Susan asked worryingly.
"Don't worry, I'll figure something out; can you look over the books again and tell me anything else?" I said to her, which she answered by nodding as she took the book and read it. While she was busy, I readied my magic.
{With my last stir, this liquid will turn into Cure for Boils.}
The previous grimy brown liquid transformed into a beautiful, fine, blood-like-colored liquid with my whispered command and final stir.
"It said here that it was supposed to be red. Why isn't our—"
"Looks like we're finished," I said to her with a smile. I grabbed the glass test tube and poured the potion into it, then closed it with a cork.
We turned around and came face-to-face with Wednesday and another boy named Michael Corner from Hufflepuff. The boy was timidly waiting behind Wednesday's back, a meter away from her.
"You're finished?" Wednesday asked,
"Just now," I replied.
"I see..."
We proceeded to Professor Snape's table to deliver our finished product. He both received and observed our potion for a few seconds.
"You both passed." With those words, Susan Bones exclaimed in delight quietly behind my back. I raised my hand for a high five, which he met meekly.
Professor Snape then dismissed our class, therefore finishing our first lesson on potions.
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[Hogwarts, Library, September 3rd, 1991]
The same afternoon that day, four first-year students are gathered up on a table in the library while reading an old, dusty book.
The book was named [The Powerful Oldest Family: A Wizarding Ancestry.]
"It was said that the Addams Family is one of the oldest families that terrorized a whole muggle population by torturing them in their own twisted way—by making them work for them. Once a no-maj or a muggle was taken by them, it was definite that their personalities, mentalities, and physiologies would befit the dark astuteness and reputation of the Addams Family in their own way. All of the Addams had great passion and fame based on their study of occultism, necromancy, and other dark arts. It is believed that they created almost all knowledge about the dark arts, particularly one of the most lethal spells in existence, the Killing Curse. According to the rumors, the wicked spell can't be used against them, but there is no evidence that proves so."
As Hermione spoke each of those words, an imaginary chilling atmosphere surrounded them. Every word that Hermione said just scared Harry and Ron so out of their wits that they're almost shivering.
"Moses, I told you! That girl's bad news!" Ron spoke with a horrified expression.
"Yeah, I don't think you should see her again, Moses. Do you understand what Hermione just read there? They're supposedly the ones who created the Killing Curse, the spell that has given me this scar." Harry added while pointing at his lightning-scar.
"Look, not everything a book says is the truth, okay? And so far, she hasn't done anything wrong to me or anyone else, for that matter. And even if she wants to do something to me, believe me, I can take care of myself." Moses muttered with a tired expression.
"But—but what if she already plans to have you work for them and you become some sort of dark wizard? It's too dangerous." said Hermione, worried about Moses.
"Work for them? That will never happen, Hermione." Moses uttered with a shrug while reading the rest of the book.
"They have a moving dismembered hand?! How cool is that?" Moses muttered to himself while laughing, a little amused at the Addams Family.
"Ehem...Hi, Moses." A feminine voice broke them from their stupor as Ron hid the book hastily.
"Uhh, yes, Sue?"
"Uhm, we just want to give you these cookies as thanks for helping us yesterday on Transfiguration; my mom owled me this earlier."
"Cookies?! Sure, I would love some, Sue! Tell Mrs. Li, thank you for me." Moses said to Sue Li as she handed him the box of cookies with a charming smile that made the girl's cheeks flush. After giving the cookies to Moses, Sue ran hastily, a little abashed at her actions.
"Bloody hell, second day at Hogwarts, and you've already got an admirer?" Ron said this while staring fascinatedly at Moses and looking intently at the cookies.
"Admirer? Don't be silly, Ron; it's just a thank-you gift. Want some?" He offered the trio some, to which they nodded and grabbed some. Hermione, with some reluctance, grabbed one of the cookies and munched the cookie with a little pout in her mouth while looking at Moses.
[]A/N: Don't forget my powerstones![]
