When All is Lost One is Found

Chapter 32: A Class of Three

When All is Lost, One is Found

Author: Rinoaebastel

Chapter 32: A Class of Three

Disclaimer: I don't own Harry Potter and gain no profit from this fanfiction other than writing practice. Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling.

AN: This story may contain scenes taken from the Harry Potter movies and books, but it's not exact dialogue, just rewording of dialogue or omission. It is not marked.

September 1996

His dungeon's domains had been divided, but at least his living quarters remained the same. After all, he was still the head of the Slytherin house. Now he shared a classroom, or rather it had birth a twin. Now there were two doors instead of one, next to each other. The right one, was his advanced class, the left, was Slughorn's normal potions class.

The room was smaller, a possible consequence of the lack of students that were going to attend this opportunity. It had two doors inside, one that still connected to his office, and the other to the potion ingredient closet. It had four stone pillars in each corner and three large wooden tables. Each one had three cauldrons, distillation equipment, and a proper place to prepare the ingredients.

The door opened slowly and he didn't bother to look. He knew who would be attending.

One Slytherin, one Ravenclaw, and one Gryffindor.

At least the classroom was quieter this way. This would be a potion class that he could enjoy teaching.

When the rustle of robes, books, and materials finished, he looked up and stared in silence at the attendants. The Slytherin was an ambitious boy that wasn't under the clutches of the Dark Lord, the Ravenclaw was a meticulous girl that was perfectionist to the point it would drive a normal being mad. Then, the last one, the Gryffindor. Her. The know-it-all and the brightest witch of her age.

He parted his lips to speak. He would get straight to the point and was confident that these three would be able to grasp his words first listen. "I won't deal with trivialities, I won't tolerate stupid mistakes. All of you have chosen to be here. To learn like an apprentice to a master rather than a young student. You didn't cower away like the rest of your classmates. If you don't qualify and keep up, I won't hesitate to throw you out with the mediocre brains. I won't tolerate disrespect. You all know how I teach, so I don't want to hear complaints."

The pupils nodded.

He couldn't help but notice her tired eyes. It was the first time he saw her that close since he'd helped her at the infirmary. She was different. She looked like she had the weight of the world on her shoulders.

He waved his wand and a box appeared in front of him.

"We will start with strengthening healing potions. It's a simple task. It's a kid's game in comparison of what you will have to do here." He opened the lid to uncover three blue vials. "I want you to think, to improve it by your own means. Get a potion and start. You have two hours."

The last one to grab the vial was Granger. She looked even worse close up. Drained of energy.

Hadn't she recovered fully from the curse? If not, then it would be his fault. Maybe he should check if there were remains that he didn't eradicate, or ask Madam Pomfrey.

The young witch uncorked the vial and smelled it, trying to decipher the ingredients first. The others just assumed it was a normal healing potion and of course, they made a mistake. Then she put the contents in the cauldron and started to work.

He studied her movements with a subtle look. Her agility and concentration looked the same as last year when she brewed, but her confidence wasn't there.

He frowned and grabbed some parchments. He would check her later if he had the time.

The fumes and the boiling noises spread through the room. When the students were sweating, it was time to stop.

"Put your mixtures in the vials." He relished the fact there were no groans or words of complaint about not being finished.

He watched as they cleaned their tables, cauldrons, and materials, as effectively as any master did, after they had placed their concoctions in their vial.

"Before you go I want you to write an essay of fifty inches about what you did today and why. You have until next week."

The first two placed their vials on his desk. The last one was Granger and she did it with a small unsure movement. She didn't move away as she stared at the vial she'd set down.

"Is something bothering you, Miss Granger?" The words left his mouth without control. He was going to regret this.

Much to his surprise, the witch only tensed and said, "It's nothing, Professor Snape."

He grabbed his wand and tapped the young girl's shoulder. Then his eyes looked around her body to detect some curse residue he might not have eradicated.

She was looking at him with bafflement, but he didn't care.

"Professor, what was that for?"

He ignored her, trying to see if he had made a mistake. When he was satisfied that there was no more curse, he removed the scanning charm.

"A simple checkup," he said, but that probably wouldn't satisfy the witch.

"Thank you, sir." She tangled her hands to play with her fingers. "I...you saved my life." A pang hit his chest. Life debts weren't something that should be played with. He was destined to die to pay his, but she didn't need to.

"You don't owe me a debt, Miss Granger. It's my responsibility to take care of students."

"Not when they are out of Hogwarts, sir."

She was right but. . . "I don't care, Miss Granger. You don't owe me a thing. So, go. You have other classes for sure." He dismissed, not giving room for an argument.

She nodded and put her bag strap over her shoulder.

"Thank you again, sir. For the concern," she said and smiled at him.

She left the classroom more relaxed than any student he had in his classes.

Did he worry? Of course he did. A brilliant witch was a rarity. He'd been worried about her from the first time he'd seen her in a dangerous situation with those fools. She was also his student. His responsibility.

He looked at the new potions and arched a brow. Hers had an intense blue colour and the other two were opaque. Was she comparing her work with the others? Perhaps her mentality of always being right was ending. He hoped so because that meant she had finally learned some humility.

AN: Looks around innocently. Okay he is empathizing with her. Let me know what you think and hope you liked it. See you next week!