Nico Di Angelo at Hogwarts (book 1)

Double Potions with the Slytherins

Disclaimer - I do not own Harry Potter or Percy Jackson

Nico's POV

One of these days, I might end up punching Malfoy. He had pestered me all through breakfast today and the day before that, and  the day before that. Although, at least I could take some comfort knowing I could at least sit with Harry and Ron in the next lesson. We had Double Potions with the Gryffindors all morning, and then the afternoon off. Potions lessons took place down in one of the dungeons. It was a lot colder here than up in the main castle and would have been quite creepy enough without the pickled animals floating in glass jars around the wall. It wasn't too bad, if you ignored the rancid smell coming from the jars. Our professor, Snape, had greasy black hair, a crooked nose and sallow skin. Immediately, it became clear that for whatever reason, Snape hated  Harry. He began by taking the register, and just like Flitwick, he paused on Harry's name. "Ah, yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new- celebrity." Malfoy and his friends Crabbe and Goyle sniggered behind their hands. Luckily Snape continued calling out names, or I might have hexed one of them. I had picked up hexing rather quickly and I must admit it was rather useful. After he had finished calling the names, he looked up at us. His eyes were black, like Hagrid's, but held none of his warmth. They were cold and empty, rather like tunnels. "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," he began. He spoke barely more than a whisper, but I 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 that 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 the human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses... I can teach you to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death- if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach." More silence followed this little speech. Ron and I exchanged looks with raised eyebrows. Hermione, who was sat next to me, was on the edge of her seat and looked desperate to prove that she wasn't a dunderhead. "Potter!" said Snape suddenly, "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Asphodel. I was confused at first, how could you have a root of part of the Underworld? Then I remembered that it was also a plant, one in fact that used to be associated with the Underworld. Harry glanced at Ron, who looked as confused as him. Hermione's hand shot into the air.

"I don't know sir," said Harry. Snape's lips curled into a sneer.
"Tut, tut- fame clearly isn't everything." He ignored Hermione's hand and continued to interrogate Harry. "Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?" Hermione stretched her hand as high into the air as she could get it without her leaving her seat, but Harry still looked completely lost. He obviously didn't have the faintest idea what a bezoar was, and I didn't blame him, this was our first Potions class. How was he supposed to know? I tried not to glare at Malfoy, Crabbe and Goyle, who were now shaking with laughter.

"I don't know, sir."

"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?" Harry looked as though he was forcing himself not to bite back. Snape again ignored Hermione's quivering hand. "What's the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?" At this Hermione stood up, her hand stretching towards the dungeon ceiling.

"I don't know," said Harry quietly, "I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?" I smirked and a couple people laughed; Harry had caught Seamus' eye and Seamus winked. Snape, however, was not pleased.

"Sit down," he snapped at Hermione. "For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite. Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?" We all started rummaging for our quills and parchment, eager to not further anger our professor. Over the noise, Snape said, "And a point will be taken from Gryffindor house for your cheek, Potter." Things didn't improve for the Gryffindors as the Potions lessons continued. Snape put all of us into pairs and set us to mixing up a simple potion to cure boils. I was paired with Hermione who already seemed to know exactly what she was doing. Snape swept around in his long black cloak, watching everyone weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticising almost everyone except Malfoy, whom he seemed to like.
"We're almost done now, Nico. Could you pass me two porcupine needles, please?" Hermione said. I passed them over and watched her complete the potion. Pink smoke rose from the cauldron: a sign that it had been brewed properly. Hermione beamed with joy and looked around to find Snape. He 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. Neville had somehow managed to melt Seamus' cauldron into a twisted blob and their potion was seeping across the stone floor, burning holes in people's shoes. Within seconds, we were all standing on our stools while Neville, who had unluckily been drenched in the potion when the cauldron collapsed, moaned in pain as angry red boils sprang up all over his arms and legs.

"Idiot boy!" snarled Snape, clearing the spilled potion away with one wave of his wand. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?" Neville whimpered as boils started to pop up all over his nose. "Take him to the hospital wing," Snape spat at Seamus. Then he rounded on Harry and Ron, who had been working next to Neville. "You- Potter- why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor. That was outrageously unfair. Harry opened his mouth to argue, but Ron kicked him behind their cauldron.

"Don't push it," he muttered. "I've heard Snape can turn very nasty." Now there was just another whole hour to endure. 

Hello again! It's been a while. I'm currently having soft mocks, with hard mocks coming up in January and my actual GCSEs in May so its getting more and more difficult to update. Hope you've enjoyed this chapter and let me know what you think :)

Thanks for reading x