DURSLEY ― harry potter

‣︎︎ CHAPTER TEN

CHAPTER TEN:
POTIONS AND BROOMSTICKS

☍︎︎

IF SNAPE DIDN'T LIKE DAISY BEFORE HER SECOND POTIONS CLASS, HE DEFINITELY DIDN'T NOW.

As if being in her least favorite professor's class wasn't enough, the only seat left when she arrived was next to Pansy Parkinson. Not to mention, rather than having a class of only Slytherins as they had two days prior, they were trapped in a room with Gryffindors for a double period.

Daisy did her best to keep her annoyance to herself. Professor Snape began class with roll call, reading names from a scroll. He sneered her name and she ignored the teasing smirk Theo sent her across the room. It wasn't until he reached Harry's name that the problems began.

"Ah, Yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new — celebrity."

Daisy frowned at his mocking tone -- Harry never asked to be a celebrity. Did Professor Snape think Harry wanted his parents to die and for him to live? Just to be famous? She knew Harry. He was hardly a celebrity, he was decent and humble and good.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," Snape began after finishing roll call. His eyes met Daisy's for a moment and his lip curled. She didn't like his eyes -- they were black as coal and just as heartless. His voice was barely above a whisper, but everyone held their breath, clinging to every word. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of 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, bewitching the mind, ensnaring 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."

Daisy's face twisted up as Pansy nudged her. "You're going to fail, dunderhead."

Daisy rolled her eyes, going to reply when Snape called her name. Her eyes widened and she stiffened up, ignoring the class's eyes as they gazed in her direction.

"Miss Dursley," he began, his voice droning on bitterly, "have you decided this class isn't good enough for you?"

"N-no, Professor --"

Draco Malfoy and his friends were sniggering behind her. She pursed her lips, hating the attention everyone was giving her. Why was Snape singling her out? She hadn't even said anything!

"Pity," he added sarcastically, "one point from Slytherin for incessant chatter."

Daisy sunk in her seat, trying to block out the grumblings of her classmates. She'd already lost a house point and class had barely begun.

"Potter!" His direction shifted to her cousin. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

What?

Daisy watched as Hermione's hand shot into the air. Harry looked as lost as she did.

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

Snape's lips curled into a sneer. "Tut, tut — fame clearly isn't everything."

Daisy's insides twisted at the jab. Why was he picking on Harry so much? Harry hadn't done anything wrong -- he was just attending class.

"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

Daisy's eyebrows furrowed together as Hermione's hand plunged into the air again. How did she know that? Glancing around, Daisy noticed no one else seemed to know the answer either. Draco Malfoy and his friends were laughing at Harry's misfortune as well as her own. She scowled.