Rowan Haywood

Book 1: Chapter 6 - Truth About Snape

As I went inside the class, it was a bit dark and cold. I felt bad for the Slytherins for a second because of the temperature of their common room and that the only view they get to see is the Black Lake. I sat by the boy, Neville, while Harry sat between Hermione and Ron. I saw Snape staring at Harry with dissatisfaction while looking around and I also heard some students that whispered among themselves about Harry and I.

"There, look."
"Where?"
"Next to the tall kid with the red hair."
"Wearing the glasses?"
"Did you see his face?"
"Did you see his scar?"

"Did you also see her."
"Who?"
"Rowan Haywood."
"The kid that saved Pansy Parkinson."
"Her parents are really famous."
"Where is she?"
"Beside the boy with a toad."

I sat uncomfortably while the others were murmuring before Snape said "Silence." and immediately, everyone became quiet. Snape is quite intimating but to me, he seem to bear an abundant amount of sorrow and regret. As the lesson start, I took my textbook out and took notes. Although I'm not as smart as Hermione, I'm still pretty smart. I copied down the notes as fast as I could while he was talking. "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."
　　
More silence followed this little speech. Harry and Ron exchanged looks with raised eyebrows while Hermione was on the edge of her seat and looked desperate to start proving that she wasn't a dunderhead. "Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Harry seemed confused but Hermione's hand had shot into the air.
　　
"I don't know, sit," said Harry.
Snape's lips curled into a sneer.
"Tut, tut -- fame clearly isn't everything."
He ignored Hermione's hand.
"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
　　
Hermione stretched her hand as high into the air as it would go without her leaving her seat, but Harry didn't have the faintest idea what a bezoar was. He tried not to look at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who were shaking with laughter.

I also tried to raise my hand but Snape ignored it.

"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?" At this, Hermione stood up, her hand stretching toward the dungeon ceiling. "I don't know," said Harry quietly. "I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?" A few people laughed; Harry caught Seamus's eye, and Seamus winked. I gave him a thumbs up but Snape, however, was not pleased.

"Sit down," he snapped at Hermione. "For your information, Potter, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of 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 all copying that down?"

There was a sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. Over the noise, Snape said, "And a point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter."

"That's a stupid reason to deduct points." I blurred out and Snape instantly glared at me.

"Oh, look. It's our second little celebrity." Snape mocked. The Slytherins laughed while the Gryffindors were silent.

"At least I'm popular unlike the rest of you who bribe people with money and bully others." I retorted.

The Slytherins looked like they were going to attack me when Snape said,

"10 points from Gryffindor."

Things didn't improve for the Gryffindors as the Potions lesson continued. Snape put us all into pairs and set all of us to mixing up a simple potion to cure boils. He swept around in his long black cloak, watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, criticizing almost everyone except Malfoy, whom he seemed to like. He was just telling everyone to look at the perfect way Malfoy had stewed his horned slugs when clouds of acid green smoke and a loud hissing filled the dungeon.

Neville had somehow managed to melt Seamus's cauldron into a twisted blob, and their potion was seeping across the stone floor, burning holes in people's shoes. Within seconds, the whole class was standing on their stools while Neville, who had been drenched in the potion when the cauldron collapsed, moaned in pain as angry red boils sprang up all over his arms and legs.

"Idiot boy!" snarled Snape, clearing the spilled potion away with one wave of his wand. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?" Neville whimpered as boils started to pop up all over his nose. "Take him up to the hospital wing," Snape spat at Seamus. Then he rounded on Harry and Ron, who had been working next to Neville. "You -- Potter -- why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor."

As Harry was about to say something, I said "It's my fault. I'm the one sitting beside Neville but I didn't warn him because I was focused on my cauldron. I'll take the blame."

"Hm. Well then, detention for Haywood." For the rest of the class, we focused on the potions and when class was finished, everyone was leaving. "Why did you defend Harry?" Edith asked, curious. "It's clearly my fault for not warning Neville." I answered back before ushering her and Hermione off. When I was the last one in the dungeon, Snape snapped.

"Why don't you leave, huh. Your mother, Penny Haywood, is much better than you."
"Why do you hate Harry?" I asked. Snape hesitated for a second before saying
"Mind your own business."
"You know, unlike the others, I can see that you carry a lot of guilt and regret."

"....."

"You know the tragic story of Lily and James Potter, right?"

"Of course, almost everyone knows about it."

He starts talking about about how he was in love with Lily Potter to now. I sat there, not moving an inch and I quietly listened to him. After he finished, he said "Pathetic, right?" he stood up and said "Do not tell ANYONE about it or else." he threatened. I smiled subtly and said "I won't." before getting up. "Although I'm younger than you, I'll give you an advice. NEVER let your past nor regret and hatred control your life. He's the only child of Lily Potter and he has her eyes. Sometimes, it's better to let go of the past than to hold on to it." before I got up and leave. "I'll think about it." he smiled bitterly as I walked up the stairs.

As I went to the Great Hall, there was no one there. It seemed like everyone had finished eating and went back to their common rooms. "Caput Draconis." amd the fat lady let me in. I placed my books down and begin to do my homework. "Haaaa." I sighed as I finished my homework. Honestly, how does Hermione finish all of the work. From time to time, I had to ask Hermione for help because I didn't understand something but otherwise, it wasn't a probablem. Edith, on the otherhand was being scolded by Hermione by not finishing her homework.