The Underground Classroom for Potions Class was as cold and damp as ever. The steaming Cauldrons gave off too little heat, and the air reeked of a pungent mix of strange ingredients.
Most students said it felt more like a dungeon. To Harry, the dungeon also came with a vicious, greasy guard. Though Snape had started washing his hair now and then lately, to everyone's surprise.
Harry and Ron were fumbling with their potion, which had turned a suspicious color and was giving off ominous green smoke. "Ron! You put the powdered Nundu teeth in before we even lit the fire!"
"Merlin's helmet, I forgot."
"What does the book say?" Harry frantically flipped through it, looking for a way to fix the potion. They had only just started brewing it. At worst, they could make another batch.
Just then, Snape glided up behind them like an enormous bat, without a sound.
"Look at this. Mr. Potter and Mr. Weasley, perhaps Hogwarts isn't the place for you." Snape's cold voice carried its usual sneer. "It seems I was wrong to think you were making porridge. This looks more like something left to rot and ferment."
Harry's face turned as red as Ron's hair.
"It seems you're determined to take failure in Potions to new heights. Perhaps you could donate this cauldron of filth to the Swamp Trolls. I'm sure they'd love it. Five points from Gryffindor for an assault on both sight and smell."
Harry gritted his teeth and fought to keep his retort in.
"Mr. Weasley, surprisingly, even with Mr. Behrens so close, you couldn't be bothered to copy his method." Snape glanced at Will and Sylvia's Cauldron beside them. "Perfect. Take a look at Mr. Behrens's technique. Five points to Slytherin for Behrens."
Ron's face burned red, half with