Coup de Foudre [Fred Weasley] [1]

⚡️ Chapter 7 ⚡️

The first thing that Snape did was take a roll call of the Gryffindor and Slytherin students. Vega sat quietly, waiting for her name. She had heard all about Snape from Dora and she knew that just their relationship would serve as a good setting for Snape to dislike her as well.

Lavender Brown, Millicent Bulstrode, Vincent Crabbe, Tracey Davis, Fay Dunbar, Seamus Finnigan, Gregory Goyle, Hermione Granger, Daphne Greengrass, Vega Lestrange –

Vega quietly raised her hand to give her presence to Snape. Once he had located her, Vega lowered her hand. The name right next to hers was Neville Longbottom's, and Vega lowered her head, trying to sink away into the ground.

Draco Malfoy, Theodore Nott, Pansy Parkinson, Parvati Patil, Sally-Anne Perks, Harry Potter –

"Ah, yes, Harry Potter, our new celebrity," Professor Snape said once he had gotten to Harry's name on the register. Vega looked up awkwardly and at Snape. Why did he mention it like that?

Finding it immensely amusing for some reason, Malfoy and his cronies Crabbe and Goyle all sniggered behind their hands. Vega wondered why her name had asked for such a reaction. Maybe Snape found funny enough that her and Neville's names were next to each other.

Sophie Roper, Dean Thomas, Ronald Weasley, Blaise Zabini.

Once he was finished with calling the register, Snape turned look up at the class. His eyes were black like coals, but they didn't have the warmth. They were very cold and Vega wondered if he could read minds, the way he looked at them all.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," Professor Snape began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word – like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort.

"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 stop death – if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach,"

Vega took in everything that Snape had said. She did find a lot of fascination in potions; it was something she enjoyed immensely. Andromeda was an excellent Potioneer and since Vega was always stuck at home, she watched Andromeda create several of them. It took a while before Vega was allowed to experiment herself.

But unlike Andromeda, who was soft-spoken and always happy to help her, Snape seemed like the kind of person who would kill if you asked a question wrong. Vega wondered what she should be more worried about: Messing up her potion or fearing Snape to drop a dungbomb at them any moment?

Given how shy she was, Vega knew she would just keep herself shut up and just try to do her very best with the potions. She disliked being put on the spot. It annoyed her greatly, and it also embarrassed her. She preferred comfortable teachers.

"Potter!" Snape said suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Vega jumped out of her thoughts and glanced over her shoulder.

"I don't know, sir," Harry said. Next to Vega, Hermione's hand was already in the air. Snape's lips curled into a sneer.

"Tut, tut – fame clearly isn't everything," Snape said, ignoring Hermione's hand. "Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"