Another Hogwarts Mystery

Chapter 3 - The new Potions Master

Beverly pushed Casandra to a table at the very back of the room. "The less he sees of me, the less harm it'll be, I guess." Beverly said hopefully. Casandra tried to hide her doubt behind a smile. She did not think that a place at the end of the classroom would keep Snape from making mean comments. It would rather be the other way around, she thought. He will definitely focus on the ones in the back, because he'll know that these are the people who are hiding from him. Casandra looked at Beverly and thought that Snape would be right. Most of them are worse than useless. She immediately felt sorry for her mean thoughts about her best friend, but it was true: Beverly was really dreadful at Potions. She had simply never failed because of Casandra and her good influence on Slughorn. Well, this won't be the case for Snape, she thought.

         With a sudden bang, the dungeon's door closed. Snape moved to the front of the class. His cloak floating behind him like a veil, made him look as if he was flying. He turned on his heel and faced the class with his gloomy eyes. He is so different to Slughorn, Casandra thought. Snape had an aura of resentment around him, that made the atmosphere even colder than it usually was down in the dungeons. The ambience was highly charged as if only one wrong movement would make everything explode at once. Snape stood there in silence, not moving at all. After a while, that felt like ages, he spoke up. "Since," he paused for a few moments "there are several new students in this class – whyever – I will read out the names of our new classmates, to make sure whether they are at least" he paused again and spawned a disparaging smile "physically attending this class."

            Beverly gulped in horror. Casandra, however, tried to stay calm and looked around. The class mainly consisted of Slytherins and Gryffindors. As far as she could tell, there wasn't anybody else from Slughorn's class, which would make them the only new students. Beverly seemed to have noticed that as well, as she darted a scared glance at Casandra.

Snape went to his desk and pulled out a small piece of parchment. "Brooks, Beverly" Snape said coldly. When Beverly hesitated, Casandra poked her in the ribs. "Ouch! Erm, here, sir." She said quietly. Snape briefly looked up and back down to his parchment. Without any sign of interest, he continued. "Clark, Casandra Elisabeth". Casandra blushed, although she did not know why. Maybe because she disliked her second name so much, she thought. "Yes, sir. Here." Casandra answered loudly. So loud that her voice echoed through the silent classroom. "I see!" Snape said softly "Our new students seem to have prepared themselves and set themselves at the far end of this room. Probably because you do not think much of this class?" He raised his eyebrow and stared at them.

Everything happened so fast, that Casandra felt as though someone else took control of her mouth. "No, sir. Quite the contrary!" she heard herself saying. Snape fixed his gaze on her. His eyes glowed. She blushed so intensively that she could have lightened up the whole classroom with her face. "Very well," Snape continued and shirked from her look "Since this is your fifth year – and hopefully the last year of studying Potions for many of you – I expect you all to brew a flawless version of a Draught of Peace." he groaned.

            "What the heck?!" Beverly turned to Casandra in pure shock. "Draught of Peace? Is he joking? I've never heard of that. Nor have I ever witnessed Snape using the word 'Peace'."  Beverly moaned. "But sir," Casandra said aloud. Again, she did not know who controlled her mouth. Snape and the whole class turned to her in surprise. "Yes, Miss Clark? Is there a problem?" "Sir, Draught of Peace is an advanced potion and is supposed to be part of our O.W.L. How are we supposed to know how to make it properly without any previous knowledge or instructions? Furthermore, if not carefully prepared, Draught of Peace can cause extreme harm to its consumer." Casandra added. Snape hastily walked over to Beverly's and her table. "Miss Clark, I've heard that you are Professor Slughorn's favourite student. How does it come that you think a potion would be too advanced for you?" he hissed. "Well, I don't—" insisted Casandra "—you better don't think it is. Since you aspire a career as a teacher, you intend to keep potions, don't you?" Snape hissed "So you better don't waste your time complaining about my teaching and get going. All of you!" He shouted and turned back to the class. "Instructions can be found on the blackboard and in your books. Due to your classmate's cheek and complaining, you have only 80 minutes left."