𝐭𝐨 𝐡𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐲𝐨𝐮 𝐜𝐥𝐨𝐬𝐞 | 𝐡. 𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐞𝐫

𝟗𝟗 - 𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐲 𝐨𝐥𝐝 𝐛𝐨𝐨𝐤

𝘽𝙮 𝙢𝙞𝙙𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙩𝙝𝙚 𝙣𝙚𝙭𝙩 𝙙𝙖𝙮, Harry and Ron were making their way to their potions classroom when they decided that seeing the "first day back struggle" would be more entertaining, so they stood on an elevated part of the corridor and watched Professor McGonagall divide the sea of students like Moses' staff, the students went around her for the sake of avoiding her pinched wrath.

"History of Magic is up ladies, not down. Mr Davies -- that the girl's toilet..." said McGonagall in a louder tone, McGonagall's eyes shift, finding Harry and Ron peering over the crowd, clearly deriving immense pleasure from the chaos, and in her own fashion belted, "Potter!" When she spots their smiles drooping and finds a twang of amusement.

"This can't be good." said Harry to Ron who grins as he watches Harry move through the sea of students towards McGonagall.

"Enjoying ourselves, are we?" she asked with a raised eyebrow.

"Well, you see, I've got an open period this morning, Professor--"

"So I noticed. I would think you'd want to fill it with Potions. Or is it no longer your ambition to become a Professor in Defence Against the Dark Arts?" asked McGonagall

"It is! Or was... but I was told I had to get an Outstanding in my O.W.L--"

"And so you did when Professor Snape was teaching Potions." McGonagall explained, redirecting a confused first year without taking her eyes off of Harry as she spoke, " However, Professor Slughorn is perfectly happy to accept N.E.W.T. students with 'ExceedsExpectations.'" Said McGonagall, "I daresay it would be a shame to waste all that time you spent revising last year with Miss Le Fay for the exam."

Harry nodded, "Well, yeah... um, thank you... I'll head there straight away."

"Good, and take Weasley with you. He looks far too happy over there." She said, pointing to Ron who looked quite frightened upon a sudden as to what he was being pointed at for, he hopped down to meet Harry and after being told what they were talking about, he began to winge.

"But I don't want to take Potions!"

Harry had to practically drag Ron all the way to potions, until they eventually tumble through the doorway, interrupting the introduction speech that Slughorn had no doubt prepared beforehand. They spot Hermione scowling at them, whilst a couple of other students beamed at the sight of them, Romildughhhhh and Lavender, whose beaming eyes were following Ron as they entered the room.

"Harry m'boy!" Slughorn proclaimed widely, "I was beginning to worry! And I see we've brought someone with us..."

"Ron Weasley, sir." said Ron, steadily backing out towards the doorway, "But I'm dead awful at Potions, a menace actually, so I probably should just be going --"

"Nonsense! We'll sort you out!" beamed Slughorn proudly, completely missing the grin that Harry flashed at Ron's dismay, "Any friend of Harry's is a friend of mine. Right then, books out --" began Slughorn but he was interrupted again by Harry.

As he said "Um, sorry, sir, but I haven't got my book yet -- nor's Ron. You see --"

"Not to worry. You can get what you need from the cupboard," said Slughorn, turning back to the rest of the class who's attention went back to their Professor while the two young boys dive for the brand new copy of Advanced Potion Making over the ratty, worn in copy that certainly looked like it had seen better days, their struggle was heard over Slughorn speaking but a select few actually seemed distracted by it.

"Now, as I was saying, I've prepared a few concoctions this morning." Slughorn began, gesturing to the several bubbling potions in front of him "Any ideas what these might be? Yes, Miss...?"