Eleanor Snape- Book 2

A Blunder Cure Potion Would Have Been More Appropriate

"Why didn't you stay the rest of the week?"Draco demanded the next day through the Floo Network.

"I, erm...Didn't feel well." I lied.

"Seriously, Ellie, why? You felt fine yesterday." There was no use arguing with him, so I went ahead and told him the truth.

"I had a nightmare last night."

"Yeah, I know. I heard you screaming."

"You did?"

"Yeah, I was trying to sleep. You woke me up."

I frowned and looked down. Not only had I upset him by leaving early, but I had also interrupted his slumber.

"I'm sorry..."

"And it took at least an hour for me to get back to sleep."

"I didn't meant to-"

"Why do you have all these nightmares, anyway? I mean, the first couple times worried me, but now they are just kind of annoying."

At this point all I wanted to do was go back in time and erase every nightmare I had had in the past year. Obviously, they were upsetting people.

"I can't help-"

"Eleanor," I turned around to see Uncle Severus standing behind me. "It is time for your lesson. Say goodbye to Draco." I turned back to the fireplace.

"I have to do."

"Okay, bye."

"Bye, I love-" He hung up before I could finish. "...You." I sat there for a moment, blankly staring into the fireplace.

"Today, Eleanor," Uncle Severus reminded, impatiently.

"Yes, Uncle Severus." I got up off the floor and he thrust a Beginner's Potions book into my hands.

"Come with me" He started walking towards the kitchen and motioned for me to follow. I did and sat down at the table. Uncle Severus continued to go into the hallway that began at the other side of the kitchen. A few seconds later he re-entered.

"I believe I told you to come with me." He stood in the doorway.

"I thought it was time for my lesson?"

"It is, but you are going to have your lesson in my bed room today."

"Why?"

Because, you are going to practice getting your own ingredients and the cabinet is in there."

"So? Why can't I just go in and get the ingredients and-"

"Do not question me, Eleanor." He snapped.

"Okay" He turned around and started making his way to his room. I silently followed.

I had never been in his room before. It was a lot like mine; plain white walls, gray bed spread ,simple wooden desk...the only difference was on the far wall, instead of a small shelf, there was a huge double-door cabinet. And I mean huge. It literally took up the whole wall!

"Today you are going to make the Boil Cure Potion. Turn to page 96 and get the ingredients. Everything in the cabinet is in alphabetical order."

"Okay." I opened the book and read the list of ingredients;

Flobberworm Mucus 

Dried Nettles, 

Crushed Snake Fangs, 

Porcupine Quills 

Horned Slugs

'That shouldn't be to hard.' I thought and opened the cabinet. My jaw dropped. There was not an open space in it. Every inch of it was filled with vials and jars of various ingredients. On the top shelf I saw one of my ingredients: Flobberworm Mucus. I gazed up at it, wondering how in the world I was going to reach it. As if he read my mind, Uncle Severus said,

"There is a stool to the left of the cabinet." I looked over and saw that he was correct.To my misfortune, I still couldn't reach the jar when I stood on the stool. My hand was maybe and inch below it. Maybe if I stood on my tiptoes...

I grabbed the jar triumphantly, but before I could get flat-footed again the stool started to lean backwards. Trying to catch my balance, I grabbed the shelf directly in front of me, but it was no use. I fell backwards, along with the shelf I was gripping onto. I closed my eyes, bracing for impact, and then...

BANG! CRASH! CLANK!

I heard the sounds of various containers smashing and breaking as I got sprayed with foul smelling liquids and showered in broken glass.

I opened  my eyes back up to see Uncle Severus angrily standing over me.

"Eleanor..." He said, sternly. "How did you manage this?"

"I-"

"Ah. Don't answer that. I do not want you to get into any more trouble than you are already in. What I want you to do is go clean yourself up. When you are finished with that, I want you to start on this mess." I nodded my head yes. "We'll talk about how you are going to help me pay for replacing all this later. Just go."

I had been cleaning for an hour and I still didn't have everything picked up! I was sweeping up some newt's eyes when an owl flew through the open window and landed on top of the broom. I stopped sweeping and saw that the letter it was carrying was addressed to me. I opened it up and read:

Elle,

I have tickets to a Quidditch game Friday. Vincent couldn't go. Do you want to? We can take you. Tell me as soon as possible.

-Gregory G.

A Quidditch game with Goyle? That was defiantly not what I was expecting. Today was Wednesday, so I needed to respond by tomorrow. I leaned the broom against the wall and went into the kitchen. Uncle Severus was sitting at the table, drinking a cup of tea.

"Can I go to a Quidditch game with Goyle?" I asked and sat down across from him.

"When?" Uncle Severus drained the rest of his tea.

"Friday."

"Isn't that a little sudden?"

"I just got the letter." I handed it to him.

"I suppose." He said after he read it. "Write back and tell him that I said it was okay."

"Thank you, Uncle Severus." With that I went to my room to write his approval, smiling. That was another day I wouldn't have to sit at home and get myself into more trouble.