The Blind Witch

4 - The Potions Professor Gave me Sight

*Full credit to J.K. Rowling for the world and characters of Harry Potter. I own nothing but the Miller family*



“Oof!”

I got up from the floor and rubbed my head. Something had hit it and knocked me out of my chair.

“Are you alright?” Hermione asked.

“I think so,” I said. “What hit me?”

The first day of school I’d revealed my blindness. Now mostly everyone seemed to treat me like a fragile glass. I was always asked to be helped everywhere (even though Harry and Ron always helped me) and when practicing spells, someone would take my hand and move it in the correct way. Herbology was very hard, but Professor Sprout found a way for me to learn: just by feeling whatever we were learning about. It wasn't comforting at times, knowing that a plant could've been dangerous and bite off my hand.

In Astronomy, I was allowed to sit out or leave since I obviously couldn’t look through a telescope. History of Magic put me to sleep or at least close to it. Charms and Transfiguration were fine. Apparently I got the spells right. Defense Against the Dark Arts wasn’t the best since Professor Quirrel stuttered a lot, but it was better than History of Magic with Binns the ghost.

“A small package,” Darren said. “Want someone to open it?”

“I can open things,” I hissed at him. “You know that.”

I felt around for the package. When I found it, I ripped it open and rolled whatever was inside around my hands.

“What is it?” I asked, getting back in my chair.

“A purple marble,” Harry said.

“It’s from Mum,” Jessica said. “She writes, ‘Hope when you hold the marble you remember home.’ Oh look, she’s been crying.”

“Typical Mum,huh?” Sage said behind me. “Well, you little ones play nicely.”

“Little ones?” I turned to the sound of his voice. “I’m not little.”

“Of course you’re not,” he patted my head. “Play nice, don’t let the blindness get to ya.”

“C’mon, Amber,” Ron said. “It’s time for Double Potions.”

Harry took my hand and led me out of the Great Hall.

Potions didn’t seem too bad until Professor Snape shot questions at Harry when I'm sure he knew Harry know the answers.

“What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?” Professor Snape asked.

“I don’t know, sir,” Harry said.

“Tut, tut - fame clearly isn’t everything,” Snape said. “Let’s try again.Potter,where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?”

“I don’t know, sir,” Harry repeated.

“Thought your wouldn’t open a book before coming, eh, Potter? What is the difference, Potter, between Monkshood and wolfsbane?” Snape questioned.

“I don’t know,” Harry said. “I think Hermione does, though, why don’t you try her?”

A couple of people laughed. I don’t think Snape was amused, though.

“Sit down,” he snapped. “For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make 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 and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite.” He paused. “Well? Why aren’t you copying that down?”