Potions Class Opening Act

"Harry Potter."

Professor Snape seemed slightly dazed as he read the name.

"Here!" Harry answered.

Professor Snape looked into those eyes, his breathing quickening slightly.

Green, hidden behind glasses, reflecting the dim light of the dungeon like emerald light glinting off shattered glass in the darkness of night.

They looked so much alike. For one fleeting moment, it was as though Lily herself were looking at him. How he wished he could apologize to her. People in their youth were always both insecure and arrogant; in a burst of anger, some words slipped out before he could even think of how to explain that he had not meant them. The two of them drifted farther and farther apart, and that insecure, arrogant person went to another extreme.

Perhaps there had still been a chance before that. He had wanted to prove himself, to show those people just how talented he was. Yet in the end, he had pushed her into the abyss with his own hands. Life was so fragile, so impossible to reclaim. He would gladly trade his own death to bring Lily back, but some people could never return.

This world was so dull, with darkness as its eternal undertone. But he could not die so easily. He had to atone, had to make certain people pay the price...

Snape steadied himself against the desk and looked to the next name on the List.

Only Loren noticed the slight abnormality in Professor Snape.

When he read Loren's name, Snape gave him a long, deep look as well.

That gave Loren an idea. Dumbledore had probably spoken with the professors about Scabbers. There was no way the school would fail to notify every professor that a Dark wizard was hiding within it.

After taking attendance, Professor Snape introduced them, as usual, to the great subject of Potions.

"In my classroom, there will be no wand-waving and no incantations," Snape began in his low, drawn-out cadence.

"Personally, I do not expect some of you to grasp the skill and subtlety of potion-making."

"However, for the very few among you with talent, I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses."

"I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even stop death."

Loren did not know whether Professor Snape said this to First Years every year, but his poetry-recital-like words were rather captivating.

Beside him, Harry wrote it all down in his notebook. He felt that this professor was not particularly friendly, but he recorded what he said anyway.

Snape also noticed Harry scribbling below, his head lowered. That distinctive manner of his resembled James somewhat, and a wave of irritation rose in Snape's heart.

"Perhaps some people at Hogwarts think that being famous makes them full of confidence."

"They think they need not listen carefully!" His drawn-out tone gained a hint of turbulence here.

"Potter! Tell me, what would I get if I added Mandrake powder to an infusion of Wormwood?" Snape suddenly demanded.

Harry panicked slightly and exchanged a glance with Ron, who was equally stunned.

The Slytherin students watched with barely concealed delight. This was their Head of House; he would surely go after Gryffindor. The little lions, on the other hand, were all somewhat bewildered. Were they expected to answer questions in the very first class?

Hermione eagerly raised both hands, looking as though the words I know this one! Ask me! were written across her face.

Harry could only tell the truth. "I don't know, sir."

Snape looked at him as though trying to see something inside Harry's body. "It seems fame cannot represent everything. Then let us try another question. If we were looking for a Bezoar, where should we start?"

Hermione thrust her arm high into the air.

Harry glanced at the person beside him. "I don't know, sir."

Snape continued, "Then what is the difference between Wolfsbane and Monkshood?"

Loren and Ron both looked at Harry with pity. Hermione nearly jumped to her feet to answer, but restrained the impulse and held her hand straight up without leaving her seat.

Harry felt both helpless and increasingly certain that Snape was deliberately making things difficult for him. "I don't know, sir." His tone relaxed. Since he could not answer anyway, he might as well stop trying.

"So regrettable. All reputation and no substance, isn't that right, Mr. Potter?" Snape did not sound regretful in the least. If anything, he felt quite pleased.

Harry was a little angry, his words edged with barbs. "Obviously Hermione knows the answer. It would be truly regrettable not to let her answer."

Several students laughed aloud.

Snape swept his gaze over them and said softly, "Quiet."

The students all sensed a tangible pressure, and the laughter was suppressed.

Hermione was still straining to raise her hand higher. Snape walked up to her, and the sound of his footsteps made the classroom seem even quieter. "Put your hand down, you silly girl!"

Hermione looked disappointed, but she still lowered her raised hand.

Snape then turned his gaze toward Loren and stared into his eyes. "Some people have a tiny bit of talent and are just as conceited."

Dumbledore had told him about Loren's strange eyes. To deal with the Animagus who had hidden in the Weasley family for more than a decade, Snape had prepared several potions and worked late into the night these past few evenings.

Loren was baffled. Why are you firing at me? My eyes aren't even green.

"Loren Morgan, answer these questions."

Loren knew that Professor Snape would give Harry a hard time in the first Potions class, but he could no longer remember exactly what questions had been asked, so there had been no way to tell Harry the answers beforehand. However, in preparation for Alchemy and the Wolfsbane Potion, Loren had thoroughly studied the Potions class textbook before school began and memorized all the key points.

"Mandrake powder and Wormwood can be combined to make a powerful sleeping potion—the Hellebore potion."

"A Bezoar can be found in a cow's stomach."

"Monkshood and Wolfsbane are the same plant, collectively called aconite."

Loren answered them one by one. They were not particularly advanced questions.

Snape had not gotten his way, so he stopped bothering Loren and turned to scold the other students. "Why aren't you writing all this down?"

The scratching of quills on Parchment immediately filled the classroom.

Amid the noise, Snape spoke up. "Potter talked back to a teacher. Gryffindor loses five points for it."

Several little lions curled their lips. You did not add a single point for answering correctly.

Loren had no particular thoughts about it. When you were out in the world, connections and influence mattered. Losing points would not affect the House Cup anyway.