A Wolf in Sheep's Clothing

Chapter Seven

As the first week comes to an end, Nathan sits with the twins and Lee at breakfast when a tawny owl flies down and lands in front of him. Smiling, Nathan takes the letter from its leg and gives it a small bit of sausage before it flies off "Who's it from?" Lee asks. "My Uncle Remus." Nathan responds, Valour perking up at the mention of Remus. Nathan opens the letter and starts reading

Nathan,
I'm glad you've made friends already, by the sound of it they seem like they're going to be good ones. I'm happy you got into Gryffindor, but even if you hadn't I'd still been proud of you. I'm glad you're enjoying yourself, how are your lessons going so far? Hope you're enjoying them. If you have any trouble with them you can also write to me for help if you can't find the information in the library. I have a feeling you're going to like the library, your mother and I did. I can give you a list of books to read if you want, a mix of my favourites along with your mother's favourites.
If anyone gives you any problems let me know, remember what I told you before you left. I'm going to see if I can find some photographs of your mother for you to have in your dorm, I'll also get you a some copies of the photographs we got in the summer. We don't want you to start feeling homesick after all.
I hope you have a good term,
Uncle Remus

Nathan smiles and folds the letter back up, putting it in his the pocket of his robes "Any news?" Fred asks. "Nah, h-he's just gonna send m-me some photographs." Nathan responds. "What've you got today?" George asks. "D-Double Potions, we have F-Friday afternoons off." Nathan reads from his timetable. "Good Luck." Fred tells him. "Yeah, Snape doesn't like Gryffindors." George adds. "He favours the Slytherins, he's their head of house." Lee nods. Nathan scrunches his nose "I recognise h-his name but I don't kn-know why." he frowns. Harry and Ron walk over "Hey Nathan, do you and Valour want to come meet Hagrid properly this afternoon?" Harry asks. "Y-Yeah, what t-time?" Nathan asks. "About three, we'll come find you." Harry tells him. "O-Okay." Nathan nods in confirmation. "We better start heading to class." Lee says, realising the time. "You're right. We'll see you at lunch Nath." Fred tells him. "We'll meet you here." George adds. "Okay, see you later." Nathan nods with a smile.

Nathan sits in Potions, Valour under his desk as Snape takes roll call "Ah, Yes Harry Potter. Our new...celebrity." he says as he gets to Harry's name, Draco and his friends sniggering. "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making. 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." Snape tells the class as he finishes roll call. Hermione sits on the edge of her seat, taking everything in "Potter! What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Snape asks. Harry looks at Ron in confusion before looking back at Snape "I don't know, sir." he responds. Hermione puts her hand in the air, wanting to answer the question herself "Tut, tut, fame clearly isn't everything. Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?" Snape asks, ignoring Hermione who keeps her hand in the air. "I don't know, sir." Harry repeats. "Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter? What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?" Snape asks. "I don't know. I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?" Harry tells him. "Sit down.. Snape snaps at Hermione "Riddle, do you know the answers?" he asks.  Nathan takes a shakes breathe "A-Asphodel and wormwood make a sl-sleeping potion known as the Dr-Draught of Living Death. A bezoar i-is a stone taken from th-the stomach of a goat, it saves you fr-from most poisons. A-And monkshood and wolf-wolfsbane are the same plant, also know as a-aconite." he tells Snape. "Well? Why aren't you all copying that down? Five points to Riddle." Snape says. Nathan's eyes widening slightly in shock, the twins words about Snape running through his mind.

As the lesson continues, they learn how to makes a potion to cure boils. Snape goes round the room, criticising everyone except Malloy and Nathan. There's suddenly clouds of acid green smoke and a loud hissing filling the dungeon; Neville had somehow managed to melt Seamus' cauldron into a twisted blob, making their potion seep across the stone floor, burning holes in people's shoes. Within seconds the whole class are standing on their stools, Nathan holding Valour out the way. Neville, who had been drenched in the potion when the cauldron collapsed, moans in pain as angry red boils appear all over his arms and legs "Idiot boy! I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?" Snape asks, clearing the potion off the floor. Nathan gently puts Valour down on the floor, giving him a pat "Take him up to the hospital wing. 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 a point you've lost for Gryffindor." Snape glares. Harry goes to respond but stops as Ron kicks him Don't push it, I've heard Snape can turn very nasty." he warns.