Crossroads of Two Worlds

20- Suspect

(Above is a slightly older Louis Weasley)

Today was my first day of potion class with the third years and I, despite my ability to make perfect potions on the first try, was nervous. As the terrifying number eight was approached by the hands on the clock, I stood from the table and headed to the Potions classroom.

I had waited for as long as was possible, not wanting to have to talk to the older students. Since I'd delayed so much, many students were already there, chatting over cauldrons.

I sat at the front of the room, having little to no desire to crane my neck to be able to see over the third years' heads.

Professor Lavens sat at his desk, grading papers with red ink. After giving nearly everyone in fourth year D's(Dreadful) and T's(Troll) as grades, I was shocked when I saw a single paper marked an O(outstanding). I squinted and read the name 'Lucy Weasley' at the top in neat handwriting. I'd briefly met the bubbly Hufflepuff a few days ago, but never would have pegged her as a Potions prodigy.

The clock hit eight o'clock and Professor Lavens stood up from his desk. He began to speak to the entire room and ignored the infamous quartet of James, Frank, Louis, and Fred, as they filed in four minutes late, laughing their heads off.

"Today we will introduce a new potion with a practical lesson of sorts. Your job today is to create a decent brew of the Pepperup potion."

Louis sat next to me and practically slammed his book on the desk, making an already nervous me jump a foot off my chair. His copy of the Potions book was tattered and worn, most likely given to him by his sister Dominique, and his other sister Victoire before that.

I returned my attention to the Professor, "You are welcome to work with a partner unless you came into class late today."

I snorted lightly. I'd thought that Lavens was going to let the four cocky Gryffindor boys get away with it, but by the groans coming from the four boys, this was punishment enough.

The Professor said, "Go!"

Immediately the room was buzzing. I hadn't wanted to work with a partner anyway so I just went to work by myself, this way no one would question my methods.

Summoning the required amount of water with my wand using a charm, I filled my cauldron and began to heat it. I discovered that the Professor clearly hadn't tampered with third year book and I didn't have to improvise quite as much. Still, the strange instinct that guided me pushed me to veer away from the instructions at certain points.

Muttering to myself I said, "Three dried horned slugs, ten beans..."

I was interrupted by Louis, who was stirring in four slugs and eight beans as the recipe read. He snarkily informed me, "That's not what it says! How did you end up in this class if you can't even read."

Smirking, I stirred my potion and retorted without looking up, "Even if I couldn't read, I should think that the important thing in Potions class, would be making sure your potion looks as described and that it works. Look down dimwit."

He looked at his cauldron and gasped at the congealed mess inside, then looked at mine and sighed, "How?"

I reached over and grabbed a pinch of sweet mint and sprinkled it in his potion while still stirring my potion with my left hand.

His potion immediately turned the same color and consistency as mine and as he groaned I started to explain, "Sweet mint, just a pinch, can be used to even out the levels of potion ingredients, if it isn't too far into the process or-"

"Don't, I don't need to know."

I laughed, "Well actually-"

"Ugh, fine! I don't want to know."