Mass Collision

12. New Potions Teacher

After DADA had ended, they had a break where most of them started on either their homework for Snape or for Ancient runes. After break, Theo and Natalia headed to Arithmancy. It wasn't too exciting, just their teacher going over the expectations for the NEWT standard and answering questions about how the exam was going to go.

After lunch, everyone was very happy for their after lunch free period, but Natalia headed outside to go to Care of Magical creatures. There were maybe 7 other people there. 4 Hufflepuffs and 2 Ravenclaws. She was the only Slytherin and there were no Gryffindors, not even the golden trio.

"Welcome to NEWT level Care o' Magical creatures," Hagrid said as they gathered around his hut. "Today, we're gonna' go and meet some more Hippogriffs. This year, you're going to be meeting some of the more dangerous creatures and we're going to be learning the ins and outs of most of Newt Scamander's books." Natalia was excited, she had never actually met a Hippogriff even though she knew Sirius had one.

When she finally got there, she thought they were beautiful, she even rode one named 'Witherwings'. Which she later found out from Hagrid was actually Buckbeak with a different name.

When she had made it back to the castle, she met up with everyone, waiting for potions. They had never had another potions teacher so all the Slytheirns were talking about whether or not he would be good.

When they were in the middle of talking, the dungeon door opened and Slughorn's belly preceded him out of the door. As they filed into the room, his great walrus mustache curved above his beaming mouth, and he greeted Harry, Blaise, and Natalia with particular enthusiasm.

The dungeon was, most unusually, already full of vapors and odd smells. Blaise, Draco, Theo, and Pansy took a table together and Daphne and Natalia sat with two Ravenclaws as the other four Ravenclaws, and the golden trio plus a Hufflepuff all sat in tables of fours.

"Now then, now then, now then," said Slughorn, whose massive outline was quivering through the many shimmering vapors. "Scales out, everyone, and potion kits, and don't forget your copies of Advanced Potion-Making. . . ."

Natalia grabbed all of her supplies out while Harry talked to the professor about not having any of his stuff nor Ron.

"Now then," said Slughorn, returning to the front of the class and inflating his already bulging chest so that the buttons on his waistcoat threatened to burst off, "I've prepared a few potions for you to have a look at, just out of interest, you know. These are the kind of thing you ought to be able to make after completing your N.E.W.T.s. You ought to have heard of 'em, even if you haven't made 'em yet. Anyone tell me what this one is?"

He indicated the cauldron nearest the table with Pansy and the rest. Hermione's well-practiced hand hit the air before anybody else's; Slughorn pointed at her.

"It's Veritaserum, a colorless, odorless potion that forces the drinker to tell the truth," said Hermione.

"Very good, very good!" said Slughorn happily. "Now," he continued, pointing at the cauldron nearest the Ravenclaw table, "this one here is pretty well known. . . . Featured in a few Ministry leaflets lately too . . . Who can — ?" Hermione's hand was fastest once more, it was making Natalia annoyed as she saw Theo deflate every time he called on her, ignoring him.

"It's Polyjuice Potion, sir," she said.

"Excellent, excellent! Now, this one here . . . yes, my dear?" said Slughorn, now looking slightly bemused, as Hermione's hand punched the air again.

"It's Amortentia!"

"It is indeed. It seems almost foolish to ask," said Slughorn, who was looking mightily impressed, "but I assume you know what it does?"