Chapter 10: Professor Green's Practical Lesson
Lynn nodded and said, "Of course! What good stuff is it? A new product from Zonko's Joke Shop?"
Fred chuckled and said, "Better than any new joke product! It's more exciting than that!"
George grinned, "See you tonight!"
...
After bidding farewell to the Weasley twins, Lynn made his way to the underground Potions classroom.
This was a large dungeon room that could easily accommodate at least twenty students for lessons. The shelves lining the walls were stocked with glass jars containing preserved specimens of animals and plants, floating in sickly-colored potions. There was also a store cupboard housing various potion ingredients that students of all years would need access to.
The Potions room had a much colder, bleaker atmosphere than the rest of the castle. Whether it was the dim lighting or the creepy jars of animals, something about it felt unsettling.
BANG!
Suddenly, the dungeon door burst open and Professor Snape swept in, his black robes billowing behind him like a great bat's wings.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," Snape began in a silky whisper that nonetheless carried to all corners. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic at all."
"I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids creeping 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."
As Snape spoke, he crossed his arms, staring them down imperiously like a looming bat.
The entire classroom was rapt, stunned by Snape's dramatic speech.
Lynn, seated towards the back, felt thrilled. After all, this was another famous scene!
It was a shame he'd be a second-year next term, otherwise he'd look forward to witnessing Snape interrogating Harry with those three rapid-fire questions.
The Potions lesson proceeded smoothly. Snape split them into pairs and set them brewing a simple Boil-Cure Potion.
Lynn was partnered with Irving Mulciber, the boy who had introduced himself the prior evening.
"I'll handle weighing out the ingredients, you brew it - sound good?" Irving proposed.
Lynn agreed, so Irving quickly measured out the dried nettles, crushed snake fangs, and passed the prepared components to Lynn one by one.
Lynn carefully added each ingredient in the proper order, heating the mixture. He'd studied the textbook thoroughly in advance. Though he lacked practical experience, his chemistry background gave him an intuitive edge many of his classmates lacked.
Soon, their potion was complete - the first pair to finish in the room.
Snape swept over, dipping a finger into their cauldron and wafting the vapors towards his oversized nose.
"Mediocre, but adequately brewed with no glaring errors. For completing it first, five points to Slytherin," he said flatly.
...
After Potions, it was lunchtime, with only one class remaining that afternoon - Defense Against the Dark Arts taught by Professor Wallison Green.
The new DADA professor arrived precisely on time.
Just like his Chocolate Frog Card image, Professor Green cut an intimidating figure - severe countenance with an undercurrent of brooding melancholy in his pale blue eyes, likely from some dark past experiences.
"Put away your textbooks. You won't be needing them in this class," Green stated, surveying them coolly. "Today we'll be covering general methods for incapacitating dangerous dark creatures."
"Remember, you are wizards, and your wands are your foremost tools for solving most threats. Perhaps your textbooks deemed you too young for certain defensive magics, but this is my class - I don't accept their judgment." Green picked up a cage draped in a red cloth from behind his desk.
He whisked off the cloth, revealing a petrified Acromantula hatchling within, clearly captured from the Forbidden Forest.
"The Full Body-Bind Curse - this is a spell that can effectively neutralize a threat, be it a dark creature or a dark wizard, by rendering them immobile. I believe this is one of the most suitable defensive spells for your level to master."
"The incantation is 'Petrificus Totalus'. When cast successfully, it will freeze the target's limbs together in rigid paralysis."
"Finite Incantatem!"
Green ended the Body-Bind on the spider, which began scuttling about its cage once freed.
"Observe carefully! Petrificus Totalus!"
Green reminded them, then smoothly swished his wand. A jet of grey light lanced out, catching the Acromantula instantly as it stiffened, limbs snapping together as it toppled over, utterly petrified.
After this demonstration, Green unveiled over twenty more cages behind his desk, each containing an animated Acromantula hatchling.
"Your task today is to successfully cast the Full Body-Bind Curse. The first student to petrify their Acromantula will earn their house ten points!"
Green distributed the cages among the eager students.
The prospect of earning a full ten house points instantly captured everyone's attention and competitive spirit, especially the Gryffindors who were raring to try.
Ten points! That was more than Lynn had earned for Slytherin in Transfiguration and Potions combined! How could any of them not feel fired up at this chance?
Not just the Gryffindors, but Slytherins like Lynn also eyed their spindly targets with bright, determined stares. As snakes, they naturally relished the honor and would seize any opportunity to pull ahead.
(End of this chapter)