𝑨𝒎𝒖𝒍𝒆𝒕 - ʜᴊᴘ x ᴏᴄ [𝐌𝐀𝐉𝐎𝐑 𝐄𝐃𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆&𝐑𝐄𝐖𝐑𝐈𝐓𝐈𝐍𝐆]

𝟗

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

ᴛᴇᴀᴄʜᴇʀ'ꜱ ᴘᴇᴛ

─── ･ ｡ﾟ☆: *.☽ .* :☆ﾟ. ───

Cassie leaned back in her chair, twirling her quill between her fingers as she watched Snape survey the room with his usual air of disdain. His eyes flickered over the students, landing on her.

"Yes, Ms. Black, isn't it?" he drawled.

She rose smoothly to her feet, lowering her hand with deliberate ease. "Yes, sir," she said, voice laced with polite indifference. "May I answer?"

Snape gave her a curt nod. "You may."

Cassie flashed a small, knowing smile. "Thank you, Professor. Asphodel and wormwood create 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, capable of curing most poisons. And monkshood and wolfsbane are the same plant, also called aconite."

Silence followed. Cassie could feel the weight of everyone's stares. Even the Gryffindors were watching, waiting for Snape's response. He let the pause drag out for a moment before nodding once, almost begrudgingly.

"Yes. Very well. Five points to Slytherin. Now, why aren't the rest of you copying that down?"

Cassie sank back into her seat, a satisfied smirk tugging at the corner of her lips. She wasn't particularly fond of Snape, but Merlin, she loved being better than everyone else in his class.

"That was wicked," Draco whispered beside her, nudging her arm. "You should've seen Granger's face."

Cassie hummed in amusement, sparing a glance at the Gryffindor girl, who looked thoroughly unimpressed.

"Merlin, it's the first week, and you've already earned us ten points," Katherine pointed out, shaking her head. "And from the two strictest professors—McGonagall and Snape."

Cassie grinned. "What can I say? I'm quite the charmer." She flashed them a cocky smile.

Draco rolled his eyes. "No, you're the teacher's pet."

Cassie gasped dramatically, placing a hand over her heart. "How dare you?"

Before Draco could reply, Snape's sharp voice cut through the murmurs in the classroom.

"And a point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter."

Cassie tilted her head, watching as Harry scowled. Snape clearly had it out for him—not that it was a surprise. Gryffindors were practically born with a target on their backs in this class.

"Now," Snape continued, pacing at the front of the room. "You will be paired with a partner for the remainder of the academic year."

Cassie exhaled slowly. Wonderful. She could already imagine the disaster of getting paired with someone insufferable.

"Weasley and Granger," Snape announced.

Ron let out an audible groan.

"Rosier and Malfoy."

Draco smirked at Katherine, who merely rolled her eyes. Pansy huffed beside them.

"Potter and Black."

Cassie's lips curled into a smirk as she exchanged a glance with Harry. At least she wouldn't be stuck with some idiot.

The rest of the names blurred together. She only half-listened as she absentmindedly ran her fingers over the chain around her neck, feeling the weight of the ring against her collarbone.

They were tasked with brewing a simple Cure for Boils. Easy. Cassie had read about it before. Not that she would admit to studying ahead, but she hated being unprepared. The class fell into a steady rhythm of chopping ingredients and stirring cauldrons—punctuated, of course, by Snape's constant criticisms.

Neville, predictably, was a disaster waiting to happen.

One second, everything was fine. The next, an acidic-green smoke billowed through the dungeon, followed by a loud hissing sound.

Cassie barely had time to react before Neville's cauldron collapsed in on itself, melting into a twisted lump of metal. The potion seeped across the floor, eating through shoes, robes, and anything unfortunate enough to be in its path.

Within seconds, the entire class had scrambled onto their stools, shrieking and cursing. Cassie had just steadied herself when she felt a hand grasp her arm.

She glanced down to see Harry, slightly flushed, looking up at her. "Er—are you alright?"

Cassie arched a brow but smirked nonetheless. "Touched by your concern, Potter."

Draco, standing on the stool beside her, looked murderous.

Cassie didn't miss the way Snape's gaze flickered to her, nor the briefest hint of amusement in his expression. Snape. Amused. That was new. And unsettling.

Once the chaos died down, Snape wasted no time ripping into Neville. Cassie didn't particularly care, but even she had to admit it was a bit much. Neville looked about ready to sink into the floor.

As class ended, Cassie packed her things, lingering just long enough to hear Snape's final remark to Harry.

"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."

Cassie rolled her eyes. Right. Because Harry was responsible for Neville's incompetence. That was completely fair.

Draco fell into step beside her as they left the dungeon. "Getting a bit comfortable with Potter, are we?" he drawled.

Cassie scoffed. "Oh, please. He was just helping me. Try not to be so dramatic, Draco."

Draco raised a skeptical brow. "Yeah, sure. I totally believe you."

"Oh, for Merlin's sake, grow up," Katherine muttered, dragging Cassie forward before she could make some snarky retort.