Harry Potter and the Norse Gods

{11} Professor Slughorn

MAGNUS' POV

The morning of our first day of school was chaos. 

In retrospect, we probably shouldn't have stayed up as late as we did, because, despite the fact we were all used to little sleep and early mornings, we were entirely unfamiliar with the Hogwarts timetable and only narrowly missed breakfast. It was Storm, of all people, who reminded us that breakfast was almost over, even though she didn't leave with us or make an appearance during breakfast at all. 

A rushed breakfast was followed by Will and I heading off to Herbology, and the others going to their free period. 

We weren't all in the same place again until Potions later that day, as both Will and I hadn't elected to take Defense Against the Dark Arts - I felt that I got more than enough practice outside of school, and besides, we had been told that Professor McGonagall was going to teach us some spells so we wouldn't attract unwanted attention for failing to accomplish even the simplest of spells. 

Apparently, that had been a suggestion from Annabeth, as the previous year they had struggled to keep up with their more experienced classmates. 

I arrived with Alex just as the door opened to let us in, thoroughly out of breath, and ignored the looks some of the others sent our way. Why did it matter if Alex and I had spent out free period making out in our dormitory?

The Potions class was mercifully small. In addition to Nico and Alex, there were four Slytherins, including Malfoy, four Ravenclaws, three Gryffindors - Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and another Hufflepuff, Ernie Macmillan. 

We split up perfectly into groups of four, with Ernie joining Harry, Ron, and Hermione, and us demigods taking another table for ourselves. 

"Now then, now then, now then," the professor - Slughorn, if I remembered right - boomed, "Scales out, everyone, and potion kits, and don't forget your copies of Advanced Potion-Making." 

"Sir?" Harry said, raising his hand. 

"Harry, m'boy?" 

"I haven't got a book or scales or anything - nor's Ron - we didn't realise we'd be able to do the N.E.W.T., you see-"

"Ah yes, Professor McGonagall did mention... not to worry, my dear boy, not to worry at all. You can use ingredients from the store cupboard today, and I'm sure we can lend you some scales, and we've got a small stock of old books here, they'll do until you can write to Flourish and Blotts." 

The professor strode over to the cupboard in the corner and withdrew with two battered copies of Advanced Potion-Making and two sets of tarnished scales which he gave to the two Gryffindors. 

"Now then," Professor Slughorn said again, returning to the front of the class, "I've prepared a few potions for you to have a look at, just out of interest, you know. These are the kinds of things you ought to be able to make after completing your N.E.W.T.s. You ought to have heard of 'em, even if you haven't made them yet. Anyone care to tell me what this one is?" 

He gestured at one of the cauldrons that looked like it contained plain, bubbling water. I had learnt to expect appearances to be deceiving, however, and I wasn't at all surprised when Hermione's hand shot up and she revealed it to be Veritaserum, a powerful truth potion, although I did subconsciously move away from it. 

"Very good, very good," he exclaimed before pointing to a different cauldron, "Now, this one here is pretty well known... featured in a few Ministry leaflets lately too... who can-?"

More hands went up that time, but Hermione's was still the fastest. 

"It's Polyjuice Potion, sir," she answered.