Potions Class- 1st year

[Belle Black]

Hermione had been in the library trying to do a bit of extra reading before classes actually began. She had been sorted into Gryffindor, but hadn't really had the chance to make any close friends yet. She had too much studying to do! She had just found out over the summer that she was a witch and felt like she needed to catch up on the last 11 years of her life.

She of course did not want to be late for class- especially Potions since she had heard that the Professor was not one to be reckoned with, so she gathered up her books and started heading towards the dungeons. She had been up and dressed in her uniform with all of her books for today's classes in her backpack since early this morning so she didn't have to stop at the common room. This would save her some time. She really wanted to be early to class so she can get a good seat up front.

Hermione's schedule said that they were to have Potions with the Slytherins. It would be interesting to have class with another house. Maybe today would be the day that she would try to establish some friendships.


(OOC- never done this before- is this an OK opening post? should i include more?)

This post has been edited by Belle Black on Feb 26 2009, 09:07 PM

[Barbara Phoenix]

"Fred and George told me quite a lot about Snape. They are a pain in his butt, but hey - they're still alive. Really Harry, don't worry, things will be fine." Ron tried to calm his friend a little while they were making their way towards the potions classroom. As they walked through a group of fourth year students Harry got the usual glances and an inferno of whispers rose among them. Harry dragged Ron along the corridor that led to the dungeons as fast as possible.

"You don't like being famous, do you?"

"No," Harry said matter-of-factly. Ron decided not to pursue the matter. He could imagine why Harry did not want to talk about the subject. Becoming famous because of surviving a killing spray was not something you wanted to be famous for.

"I think it's over there." Harry pointed at a door at the end of the corridor.

[Aylarah Scale]

Severus scowled at his coffee before taking a long drink, ignoring the inane ramblings of the headmaster somewhere to his left. How anyone could be cheerful on days like today was beyond him. How they could actually enjoy the first day of term was another thing entirely - the concept was completely alien to him, and the reason was staring him in the face.

Not literally of course, the students were seated at their respective house tables, and most weren't looking in Severus' direction. However the fact remained the same. Eyes scanning the house tables, Severus' expression soured further as he watched and heard the students catching up with friends they hadn't seen over the summer, or new first years who had yet to see a ghost and were quickly becomming well aquainted with them. He raised one hand to his temple, already imagining the headache he was likely to have soon as he saw the Weasley twins arguing over something, a large package looming omniously between them.

Draining the last of his coffee, Severus swept out of the hall, robes billowing in a way that took years to perfect. There was another reason why this particular year was affecting his mood more than usual. Lily's son would be joining this year. That Potter boy. he thought angrily, Probably going to be just like his ignorant, arrogant idiot of a father. He didn't want to face this, not this soon, he wasn't ready. Couldn't forgive himself.

Bringing his thoughts towards the lesson, Severus walked towards the dungeons. He had set the potions lab up the night before after the feast, ready for the first lesson. It would be the first year Gryffindors and Slytherins. That meant the Potter boy, yes, but it also meant Lucius' son, so perhaps there was some hope for the group afterall. Severus didn't like teaching the first years. They usually didn't have the patience required to appreciate the art of potion making, wanting to get on with using their wands.

"Tempus" he muttered, checking the time. He still had a few minutes left before class was due to start. Entering an empty classroom to the right of the lab, he waited for the class to fill up so he could make his entrance, and hopefully, an impression.

This post has been edited by Aylarah Scale on Mar 19 2009, 10:48 PM

[Barbara Phoenix]

Harry and Ron entered the door Harry had pointed at and found themselves in an entirely dark place.

"We must be the first ones by exception," Harry said happily. The last few times they had been late for class, unable to find the classroom, but today they seemed to be right on time.

"I do wonder why Snape's not here though," Ron said. "I've heard he's always lurking in the dungeons. And why's the place so dark?" At that moment the stupid Baron came floating through the wall on their left. Ron swallowed. He did not like that ghost.

The stupid Baron stared at them for about a minute with his pale and empty eyes.

"I guess you were wrong there, Harry," Ron whispered, pulling Harry's sleeve.

"Let's go..." Slowly the two of them walked backwards. The stupid Baron kept staring at them.

Once outside they closed the door immediately.

"Jeez, that guy gives me the creeps."

[Aylarah Scale]

Draco smirked to himself as he pushed open the door to the potions classroom, noticing that he was the first to arrive. That's good, he thought to himself, I really want to do well in Severus' class. Should make father proud. He had been waiting for this class ever since he had boarded the Hogwarts Express on the first of September. Having been taught some of the basics by Severus previously, he really wanted to prove himself, show that he was the best at something, that he could live up to his name.

He needed to show that it didn't matter what anyone else thought. How dare that Potter refuse my friendship? he thought angrily, whilst secretly hurting inside. He had been looking forward to meeting the boy he had heard so much about for years, had felt like he already knew him. But to be rejected that soon, so suddenly. I can't wait until father hears about that he thought, He's going to see it as a failure, I just know it.

Walking to a workstation at the front of the class, he placed his bag down beneath it before looking around. The room was quite dark, as was to be expected with it being underground. A few shards of light entered from a window high up on one of the walls, but the rest of the room was lit by candlelight. There were twenty workstations in the room, ten on the left and ten on the right, all facing the professor's desk at the front of the room. He could smell a hint of spices and smiled. He knew he'd fit in well here.

-----

On the other side of the castle, Lavender shot up in bed, startled out of a dream that left her mind as soon as it had entered. She shook her head and looking around, trying to clear her mind and regain her senses. Looking at the clock on her bedside table, she groaned and looked around to see who else was in the room still. All but one other girl had left.

"Oh no!" she cried, "We're going to be late!"

Scrambling out of bed, she tiptoed over to the other girl's bed and shook her gently. "Pst, wake up! We've already missed breakfast!"

The other girl's eyes fluttered open. "Whut? What time izzit?" She asked sleepily, rubbing her eyes and slowly sitting up.

Lavender started to walk back over to her bed and trunk, untying her hair from it's plait as she went. "It's already half past eight, classes start in half an hour. If we hurry, we might just be able to make it." She smiled at the other girl. "I'm Lavender by the way, I'm sorry, I don't quite remember you're name. I'm so dozey sometimes." She giggled softly and opened her trunk, taking out her robes for the day.

"Oh," the other girl replied, looking around, still half asleep, "I'm Parvati. Nice to meet you." She got out of bed and stretched. "Half past eight you say? Ok, I'm going to use the bathroom, will you wait for me please? Then we can go to class together."

Twenty minutes later the two girls were hurrying down to the dungeons, neither wanting to be late for Potions, they had all heard of Professor Snape's personality and attitude to latecomers.

Just before they entered the room, Lavender stopped Parvati and turned to face her. "Hey, will you be my partner?" She asked, seeming quite desperate. "I don't think I'm going to be very good at this, and it would be nice to work with someone friendly."

Parvati beamed. "That's fine. I've read a little about potions and I think I'll be alright at it, but I'm more interested in learning about other things like charms and divination."

Lavender's eyes widened. "Me too!" She exclaimed. "I'm really looking forward to divination, it's going to be so interesting!" She pushed open the door to the room and the two girls entered, taking a seat in the middle of the room on the right.

[Barbara Phoenix]

It took Harry and Ron about ten minutes to find the right door. Luckily they had been extremely early for class before getting lost, so the bell had not yet rung when they sat down behind one of the workstations as far away from Professor Snape's desk as possible.

Ron looked at Harry. "You don't look well. Afraid you're gonna fail at potions?" Harry shook his head.

"Snape doesn't like me. I saw him looking at me yesterday." He looked around the classroom and noticed two other Gryffindors sitting in class already.

"Hmm, I like the Brown girl," Ron said in a low whisper. "She's kinda pretty." Harry grinned while getting his potion books out of his bag. Ron followed his example.

[Belle Black]

When Hermione entered the classroom, she noticed a blond boy was already there. She didn't recognize him as a Gryffindor. Hmmm must be a Slytherin she thought to herself. She gave the boy a smile, but decided to sit on the other side of the room. She wasn't sure if they could sit with anyone or if they had to sit by house, but she decided to sit with the other Gryffindors- none of which had arrived yet. She took out her parchment and quills and ink and set them in front of her. She then took out her wand and placed that on the side. She was looking around the classroom taking in all of the surroundings. She didn't want to be rude so she addressed the other boy.

"Hi. I'm Hermione Granger. Do you think we'll get to start on an actual potion today? I hope so. I read the text over the summer and some of them seem real complex. I can't wait to get started. I just found out that I was a witch- how about you?" She smiled again at the blond haired boy.

[Aylarah Scale]

Draco smiled at the girl as she started talking, glad to find someone seemingly as interested in potions as he was. His smile faded however when he heard her mention that she'd only just found out she was a witch. She's a Mudblood then. He thought, saddened that he would not be able to associate with her. Mentally bracing himself, he sneered.

"I'm a Pureblood, Draco Malfoy, and I don't associate with Mudbloods like yourself." He said harshly, whilst inside he felt something twinge. She doesn't look like father said they would. She looks normal.

He turned away from her and took the potions textbook out of his bag. Despite the unfortunate start, he was determined to enjoy himself. He smirked and started reading the first page.

[Belle Black]

Hermione was saddened. At first it seemed like the boy was going to be friendly, but he quickly emphasized that he was a Pureblood. What was that he had called her? a mudblood? Hermione didn't know what he was talking about, but it didn't sound very nice. She made a mental note to go to the library to check out a book of wizarding families of the 20th century. It would be fascinating to learn about the pureblooded wizards and their history. It may come in handy in the future. Maybe she would even come across what a mudblood was.

At this point she noticed two Gryffindors walk in and they had sat in the back. One of them was Harry Potter. Him she knew about since she had read about him in one of her books. He was sitting next to his red headed friend that she met on the train- Ron Weasley. She decided that she would switch her seat to be closer to the other Gryffindors.

"Hi Harry. Mind if I sit here? I wasn't sure if the Gryffindors had to all sit together. I don't know too much about this professor but I heard he wasn't one to cross. I would hate to get off on the wrong foot just because I was sitting in the wrong spot! I was reading up on 1000 Magical Herbs and Fungi- we're going to be working with some very interesting ingredients this year! Dont' you think?"

[Aylarah Scale]

(OOC: Yes, I stole the speech. That's to make it more authentic )

"Tempus"

Severus glanced at the shimmering numbers that signaled it was time for class. He had given the students plenty of time to settle down, and it was time for him to arrive. Being late was not an option, Severus was never going to let the brats think he was a pushover.

Leaving the empty room he was in, Severus walked until he was just outside the potions classroom and took a deep breath. He hoped that no one would blow something up today, but wouldn't bet on it. First years were always stupid.

He pushed open the door and strode into the classroom, walking to the front of the room, then turning to survey the students. All was quiet.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," he began, speaking in barely more than a whisper, "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."

He doubted that he'd get to do any of that, but it made a good speech. Unfortunately for Severus, the class had to stick to the curriculum, and he didn't get to enjoy his art during the school lessons. How he longed for a competent class.

Noticing how few people had their textbooks open, he sneered and decided to start with a quiz.

"Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Let's see if he's inherited any of Lily's talent at all, or if he's too arrogant to even open a book.

[Belle Black]

Hermione's conversation with Harry was cut short because at that moment Prof. Snape walked in. Hermione quickly opened her textbook to Chapter One. Prof. Snape began making a speech about what they would be learning this year. Hermione sat up straighter on the edge of her seat and was enthralled by what the professor was saying. She sat up even straighter trying to prove that she wasn't a dunderhead when he got to that part of his speech.

All of a sudden, it seemed like he was giving the class a quiz.

Asphodel and wormwood? That was an easy one! Hermione smiled as she threw her hand into the air.

"I don't know Sir" answered Harry. How could he not know? Hermione thought. However, Professor Snape didn't call on her, but instead asked another question.

"Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

Maybe he didn't see me, Hermione thought. This time she stretched her hand in the air even further and started waving it around a bit to try to catch Prof. Snape's attention.

"I don't know Sir" Harry answered.

Honestly, did he not even look at his books this summer? These were so easy!

Finally, Prof. Snape asked yet another question and this time Hermione couldn't help herself. She shot up out of her seat with her hand held high in the air.

[Aylarah Scale]

"Miss Granger, do you have a problem? If not, I would ask that you desist leaping around like a cricket and sit still." Severus sneered at the girl who obviously knew the answer. If there was one thing he hated, it was people who thought they knew everything. Having someone able to constantly answer every question in a class would make the other students feel less able and more uncomfortable, and while Severus cared little for the students feelings, the more at ease they felt, the less likely they were to blow up a cauldron.

"As it happens," he continued, "Asphodel and wormwood combined would make a powerful sleeping potion, and a bezoar is to be found in the stomach of a goat. Had you bothered opening your textbook before you arrived, you would have known that."

Turning to face the board, Severus muttered a spell under his breath and the text he had written on there earlier suddenly appeared. Satisfied that everything was in order, he turned back to face the class.

"We are going to start with something ridiculously easy. Instructions are on the board. You have two hours to get it finished and bottled."

[Belle Black]

Yikes, Hermione thought, this Professor really isn't one that messes around.

She would have to remember to always be prepared because he seemed to be the type that if he asked you a question he only wanted an answer from you and you better know it! She would also have to try to control herself and not get so excited and jump out of her seat. She was so mad at herself! She was already off on the wrong foot with Prof. Snape. She had to do something to redeem herself, prove that she wasn't a dunderhead, but what?

At this point Prof. Snape wrote the assignment on the board- a potion that they had to concoct. She remembered reading about it int he book, so it shouldn't be too difficult to brew. If she made the perfect potion maybe, just maybe, Prof. Snape would like her.

She gathered all of the ingredients she needed first. She needed to get a couple of items from the school cupboard but once she was all set she got to work on the potion. She triple checked everything that needed to be placed in the potion and made sure to count each stroke precisely. Finally she lowered the flame and had to sit and wait for it to brew. While this was happening she took the opportunity to look around to see how everyone else in the class was doing.