Freaks: Year Two

Oh Ahere, Aho, Ahere, Aho, Aha

"I think Bowtruckles are my favourite creature," Toby said to his brother while walking back into the castle.

"Well, I can see why," Jasper said with a smile. "They are adorable and they love you! Maybe you can visit them tomorrow. Now, where are you two headed to next? I'd say my class, but I am nervous that it'd be too obvious..."

Toby looked thoughtful while Meg said, "What about Potions? That way Tommy over here can actually do the class. What do you say?"

Toby nodded, excited that he could actually participate in the class. Potion making sounded fun! He wondered what type of ingredients they used and what potions they made. He wondered if it would be like those films where the witches gathered around a large cauldron throwing in eyeballs and guts, all while smoke was rising into the dark night sky.

"Well, I hope you have fun!" Jasper exclaimed. "I'll see you after class. I have Defence Against The Dark Arts."

"You have always been really good at that."

Jasper gave a nervous smile, knowing Meg was standing right there and with all she knew about children in rocky situations, he didn't want to risk anything. He had to remind himself that it was his overthinking. Everything was alright. "Well...thanks, but I'll see you soon? Have fun with Potions!"

"Thanks, Jaz," he said and he watched as Jasper went down the corridor before turning back towards Meg. "So...that's downstairs right?"

"I am pretty sure."

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They found the Potions classroom pretty easily as they both had gotten used to going to the Hufflepuff common room and the Potions classroom was right down the same corridor. Meg peeked her head in and then turned back to Toby. "It's the second year Gryffindors and Slytherins. I know the Gryffindors, they're cool, but are you okay with there being Slytherins...?"

"Well, a professor is there," Toby said, slowly. "It can't be too bad, right?" He didn't want a few nasty students to ruin his once in a lifetime experience. Meg was with him, there was a teacher supervising, everything should be fine in his opinion. "I think it will be fine."

Meg nodded and knocked on the Potions door and said a hello to the teacher whose name was Professor Slughorn. Toby thought that it was a pretty unique last name as he had got the jist that many wizards had quite interesting first or last names. Toby also heard a boy's voice say hello to Meg and she signalled Toby to follow her in.

Toby slowly walked into the classroom, surveying the students. Again, he felt quite small in a room full of wizards. However, he noticed that the Slytherins didn't look too perturbed that he was there. Maybe everything would be fine after all.

Professor Slughorn started to explain the potion the second years were making. A fire protection potion and that immediately got Toby's attention. There was a potion that protected you from fire? That was one of the best things he had ever heard. He thought of how handy that potion would be if a house caught on fire. If you took the potion at least you'd be protected from the burns.

"Do you think we can try to make it?" Meg asked. She indicated towards Toby. "He really likes potion making and we have been dying to know how you do it at Hogwarts!"

The Potionsmaster looked pleased. "Of course! Why don't you two take a seat."

Meg took a seat at one of the empty desks. Toby took a seat beside her, noticing they were behind two Gryffindor boys. Professor Slughorn placed a secondhand textbook in front of them, telling them what page to turn to. Toby immediately turned to that very page, feeling a spike of excitement go through him. He was actually going to make a potion! He felt giddy at the thought.