The Potter Twins (First Year)

CLASSES

Snape started the potions class by taking the roll call he paused before he could get to the twins names. "Ah, yes," he said, "Harry and Amelia Potter. Our new celebrities."

Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle sniggered quietly. Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class.

"You are here to learn the science and art of potion-making," he began. He spoke in a loud whisper, everyone in class caught every word.

"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."

More silence followed this little speech. Harry and Ron exchanged looks with raised eyebrows. Hermione was on the edge of her seat.

"Boy Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Powdered root of what to an infusion of what? Harry glanced at Ron, who looked as stumped as he was; Hermione's hand had shot into the air. "I don't know, sir," said Harry.

Snape's lips curled. "Tut, tut — fame clearly isn't everything."

"Let's try again. Boy Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
Hermione stretched her hand as high into the air as it would go without her leaving her seat, but I knew Harry didn't have any idea what a bezoar was.

I noticed he tried not to look at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who were shaking with laughter. "I don't know, sir."

"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh?" Harry forced himself to keep looking into those cold eyes.
We had looked through his books at the Dursleys', but did Snape expect him to remember everything in One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi?

"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?" Hermione had stood up, her hand stretching toward the dungeon ceiling. "I don't know," said Harry quietly. "I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?"

A few people laughed; Harry caught Seamus's eye, and Seamus winked. Snape was not pleased. "Sit down," he snapped.  "Girl Potter. How about you give it a try?"

I had a good memory, so when I read all those books last night with Hermione, I remember every word.
"asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful, it can be called the Draught of Living Death. " I told him. "A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it can save your life from most poisons." I added.

"As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite." I spoke quickly, not wanting to be interrupted.

"Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?"

There was a sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. Over the noise, Snape said, "And a point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Boy Potter."

Snape put everyone into pairs and set us to mixing up a simple potion to cure boils.

Snape was just telling everyone to look at the perfect way Malfoy had stewed his horned slugs when clouds of acid green smoke and a loud hissing filled the dungeon. Is it bad I was amazed? By the potion, not Malfoy.

Neville had managed to melt the cauldron into a twisted blob, and his and Seamus's potion was seeping across the stone floor, burning holes in people's shoes. Within seconds, the whole class was standing on their stools while Neville, who had been drenched in the potion when the cauldron collapsed, angry disgusting red boils sprang up all over his body.