Always Together

5. Potions

Oh, my Godric! I am so sorry I didn't update yesterday, since it's Saturday now!! I'm so sorry but I was tutoring my classmate since he has trouble with English and all ... Forgive me! Anyway, here it goes:

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Chapter 5 | potions

Caitlyn woke up the next day very well rested. The first thing she heard was the sound of water, since the Slytherin common room and dormitories were under the Black Lake. She got up and dressed her robes, after taking a very quick shower. Then she went to the common room to see her timetable. She copied it down on a piece of parchment and went to have breakfast.

At the Slytherin table, she sat next to Draco and Blaise Zabini -- another fellow first-year Slytherin. They talked and ate cheerfully. Draco kept bringing up the fact their first class -- Potions -- was with Gryffindor. Draco didn't like Gryffindors at all, obviously. Caitlyn wasn't looking forward for him to realize she was friends with Harry Potter, Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger -- all Gryffindors.

Then they went to class. They went downstairs to the dungeons, where Potions would be taught. Draco and Caitlyn sat side by side on the first row. They waited a while and, finally, the room started to be filled with other students. Once everyone was there, they still had to wait a while until Professor Snape showed up. But he did. He stood in front of them all, passed his eyes through everyone and then stared at Harry.

"Ah, yes. Harry Potter. Our new -- celebrity," he started. His eyes pierced Harry's fiercely and then gazed across the room. "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making. As there is little and foolish wand-waving here, many f you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitched minds, esnaring the senses ... I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death -- if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach. Potter, what would I get if I added powered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

"I don't know, sir," Harry answered.

Hermione's hand was raised in the air, but the Potions Master ignored it.

"Clearly, fame isn't everything," Professor 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.

Hermione's hand shook and waved now.

"What is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

"I don't know," Harry said once more.

Hermione practically jumped in her seat, but Professor Snape didn't react.

"For your information, Potter," he started, " asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of the 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. Well, why aren't you copying that down? And a point will be taken from Gryffindor house on your cheek, Potter."

Hermione dropped her hand, looking extremely sad.

Professor Snape continued, "Today, you will work in pairs. You will do the Cure for Boils. Start now. The instructions are in the first pages of your book."

Caitlyn traded a look with Draco and he placed the cauldron in between them. Each of them opened their books and looked at the instructions. It was written: