Potions Class

Because the staircases changed position, the group wandered around for ages and nearly got lost. In the end, Mia asked a portrait for directions, and they made it to the classroom without further trouble.

The Potions Classroom was in the dungeons. Its windows were shut tight, the lighting was dim, and it was rather cold. Mia thought it must be miserable in winter.

Slytherin and Gryffindor had this class together, though of course the two houses sat distinctly apart.

Harry and Ron arrived just as class was about to start. Fortunately, the professor had not yet arrived, and Hermione motioned for them to sit down quickly.

Soon, Snape strode in, his black robes billowing as he walked. He waved his wand, lowering the curtains, and the Potions Classroom instantly grew dim.

Even dimmer.

The classroom was silent.

"No foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in my class," Snape said in a low voice, speaking at an unhurried pace.

"Personally, I do not expect most of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art of Potions. However, for those very few... who possess the aptitude." As he spoke, he looked at Draco in the front row. Draco knew he meant him and proudly raised his platinum-blond head.

Then he saw Mia sitting beside Draco, and his face instantly fell. He glared at Draco, who had no idea why.

He shifted his gaze to Mia, who sat there obediently, and his voice softened without his realizing it. "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 stopper death."

Then he looked over at Harry. "I must also reiterate that some people may feel so confident in their fame at Hogwarts that they think they need not pay attention..."

It was obvious he was talking about Harry. Mia turned around worriedly and saw Harry writing intently with his head down. Hermione hurried to alert him, and Harry looked at her in confusion. Hermione tipped her head toward the front of the classroom.

Snape folded his arms. "Mr Potter, our new celebrity, what would I get if I added Asphodel Root Powder to an Infusion of Wormwood?"

Hermione raised her hand to answer, while Harry shook his head.

"You don't know. Then let's try another question. Where would you look if I asked you to find me a Bezoar?"

"I don't know, sir."

Beside him, Hermione's hand was practically reaching for the ceiling. As Mia watched Harry, she wanted to stand up too.

"What is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?"

"I don't know, sir."

"What a pity. Clearly, fame isn't everything, is it, Mr Potter?"

"Miss Potter, please answer for us." Snape looked at Mia. Called on so suddenly, she found Draco preparing to slip her the answers, worried she might not know them.

"Yes, sir. Asphodel root and wormwood make a powerful sleeping potion, the Draught of Living Death. A Bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a male goat and can counteract most poisons. Monkshood and Wolfsbane are the same plant, both known as aconite. That's all, sir."

"An excellent answer, Miss Potter. Two points to Slytherin." Snape nodded at Mia in satisfaction, then abruptly changed his tone. "Well, why aren't you writing this down?"

"Gryffindor will lose five points because your classmate was disrespectful to a professor."

At that, the Gryffindor students could not help grumbling under their breath.

"Silence!"

Draco and the others looked at Harry with glee. Mia thought Snape probably had some grievance against Harry.

Next came potion-making in pairs. Naturally, Draco partnered with Mia.

They were to make a Cure for Boils in this lesson. Draco was very good at brewing potions, and Snape had tutored him before, so it was easy for him. Mia was clever and deft with her hands, so the two worked well together.

Preparing the slugs was a little... hard to describe, so Draco volunteered to take care of them, while Mia crushed the fangs.

Professor Snape patrolled the classroom, appearing silently behind one student or another and criticizing them harshly. Gryffindor bore the brunt of it, losing more than ten points in that short time.

Slytherin, meanwhile, had gained more than ten points. Yes, their head of house really did play favorites.

They tipped the prepared ingredients into the cauldron, then moved it away from the flame and added two Porcupine Quills. This was the important part: the quills had to be added off the flame. Next, they stirred five times clockwise, and pink smoke rose from the cauldron. They only had to wait for the potion to turn blue, and it would be done.

"We did it!" Mia looked at Draco, her lovely green eyes crinkling with her smile and her delicate face full of joy. Draco blushed a little, but also looked rather pleased with himself.

"Of course."

"Miss Potter's potion is perfectly brewed. Five points to Slytherin." Snape suddenly spoke, startling Mia and Draco.

Snape had been standing silently behind Mia for a while, watching her brew the potion. Mia was very talented, just like her mother, and looked even more like her when she smiled. But when he looked at Draco, Snape gave him a warning glare before turning to leave.

"Idiot, take the cauldron off the fire before adding the Porcupine Quills!" But it was too late. Neville's cauldron exploded, splashing him and the people around him.

"Watch out!" Draco and Mia were close to Neville. Luckily, Draco reacted quickly, or Mia would have been hurt too.

"Thank you." Mia looked at the potion that had come so close to hitting her and thanked Draco.

"Mr Potter, why didn't you stop Longbottom?" Looking at the injured students, Snape directed his anger at Harry.

"I..." Harry had a grievance he could not voice.

"Professor, let's get them to Madam Pomfrey first," Mia quickly said, rescuing Harry.

"Ten points from Gryffindor. The injured students will come with me to the Hospital Wing. Everyone else is to stay where they are." With that, he led a group of students away.

Mia hurried over to Harry. He had been very close, and she was worried he had been hurt.

"Harry, are you all right?"

"I'm fine. What about you? You're not hurt, are you?"

"I'm fine, thanks to Draco pulling me back."

"That's good."

As soon as class ended, all the students hurried out, afraid Snape would keep them behind.