Chapter 8: Double Potions with Gryffindor

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A.N: Donating a power stone is like giving me a shot of inspiration. Without it, I'm just a writer staring blankly at a computer screen. It's a sad sight, trust me.

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The third class of the day was potions. They had double potions with Gryffindor. The class was situated in a separate wing of the castle, away from the classrooms.

The sun casted a golden glow on the stone walls of the separate wing that housed the potion classroom.

As Sebastian made his way to his seat among his fellow Slytherins, his gaze landed on his cousin, Draco Malfoy, who was seated a few tables away. The sight of Draco brought a strange sense of familiarity to him.

It was like he had known Draco his entire life, even though, based on the memories of the previous owner, he had barely interacted with Draco before, only on specific occasions.

Sebastian knew that the previous owner of the body was the reason for his strange feelings, but he didn't let it distract him from his goal. He was determined to make the most of this second chance and to be the best he could be.

The Potions classroom was even more mesmerizing than he had seen in the movie. It was dark and mysterious, with stone walls that looked like they had been standing for centuries. The large glass window overlooking the grounds below was a stark contrast to the gloomy surroundings, as if it were a portal to a brighter world. Sebastian couldn't help but feel a twinge of excitement as he wondered what magical creatures and secrets lay beyond the castle walls.

It's understandable why he felt that way, having been transported from his previous ordinary life to a world full of magic.

He took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of the potion ingredients that surrounded him. It was a strange mix of fragrances, some pleasant and others pungent.

Sebastian then took out his textbook and began to read up on the course material once again. He had already memorized it, but he wanted to make sure that he was fully prepared. He couldn't afford to fail, not when he had been given a second chance.

Professor Snape, the Potions master, made his entrance, and the students all stood up to greet him. Sebastian noted that Snape was a tall and imposing figure, with greasy black hair and a hooked nose. Despite his stern appearance, Sebastian knew that Snape had a soft spot for his own house, Slytherin, and thus he had no reason to fear him.

"Good morning, class," Snape said, his voice cold and silky.

After he greeted them, he started taking roll call. and paused at Harry's name.

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

Draco Malfoy and his friends, Crabbe and Goyle, sniggered behind their hands. Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class.

His eyes were as dark as Hagrid's, yet they lacked the warmth that made Hagrid's eyes so inviting. Instead, they were cold and empty, reminiscent of the eerie darkness of cold, lonely tunnels.

Snape then starts talking, his voice resounding in the room.

"In this class, don't expect to see much flashy wand-waving, which may make some of you doubt the existence of magic." But there's more to magic than that, and I'll show you the true beauty of potion-making. "From the softly simmering cauldrons to the powerful liquids that can ensnare the senses, I'll teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even stopper death."

Then he took a deep breath and said:

"But this will only be possible if you're not as dull as my previous students."

Sebastian's eyebrows raised in surprise as he realized that this version of the universe was quite different from what he remembered from the movies.

He glanced over at the Gryffindor table, observing Ron and Harry exchange perplexed looks while Hermione nearly fell out of her chair at Snape's last statement. It seemed like life at Hogwarts was going to be far more challenging and unpredictable than he had anticipated.

Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered asphodel root to an infusion of wormwood?"

I guess the famous scene is still here. Sebastian thought while looking at the scene that was about to unfold.

Harry's expression slowly changed into a confused look as he looked at Ron, who looked as confused as he was. Hermione's hand had shot into the air.

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

Snape's lips curled into a sneer.

"Tut, tut—fame clearly isn't everything."

Snape ignored Hermione's hand, which was held high.

"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.

Sebastian could see Harry trying not to look at Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle, who were shaking with laughter.

"I don't know, sir."

"I thought you would open a book before coming, eh, Potter?"

Snape was still ignoring Hermione's quivering hand.

"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

At this point, 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?"

There was a ripple of laughter from some of the students, but Sebastian did not join in. He didn't find humor in someone else's misfortune.

Snape's attention turned to Hermione, and he snapped at her to sit down.

"Black, what is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

Sebastian was taken aback, as he didn't expect to be called on so soon. It seemed that Snape still had a prejudice against his uncle.

Sebastian was thankful for revising the book before class started.

Leaving that aside, Sebastian answered the question.

"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."

Seeing Sebastian answer all the previous questions perfectly, he turned to the class and said:

"Well? "Why aren't you all writing 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 Potter."

And he continued: "Slytherin house shall be awarded 5 points for the exceptional explanation provided by Mr. Black," Professor Snape announced.

Snape then continued teaching. After Snape finished explaining the potion they would be making, he began to pair the students up. Sebastian was paired with a student whom he couldn't recognize, so Sebastian came to a conclusion that the student was just a background character in Harry Potter.

Ignoring his thoughts, Sebastian focused on the task at hand.

Sebastian started gathering the ingredients he needed as soon as he noticed his partner struggling with a missing ingredient. Sebastian walked over to him and offered to help, recognizing that he had forgotten to introduce himself earlier.

Sebastian turned to his partner and extended his hand. "Hi, I'm Sebastian Black. "Nice to meet you," he said, smiling warmly.

The guy hesitated for a moment before shaking Sebastian's hand.

"Hello, Sebastian, I'm Charles, Charles Graytwig." Charles said as he thanked Sebastian for helping him find the missing ingredient.

After observing Charles' calm demeanor, Sebastian inferred that he belonged to a pure-blood family that wasn't very prominent.

Additionally, Sebastian understood that gaining admission to Slytherin House was difficult for individuals who didn't come from a pure-blood background.

So, he came to a conclusion. That Charle's less prominent family might be the reason for his absence in the movies.

To foster a potential friendship, Sebastian chose to maintain the conversation and build a positive relationship.

"I've always found potions fascinating, and I'm looking forward to working together with you," Sebastian added, hoping to break the ice and establish a positive rapport.

Charles nodded in understanding as they started talking about various things.

After a minute or so, Sebastian and Charles started weighing dried nettles and crushing snake fangs.

Snape went around, criticizing everyone except Malfoy, whom he seemed to have a favorable impression of.

Snape also criticized the Slytherins, although much less harshly than the Gryffindors.

which, in Sebastian's opinion, is a plus side of being a Slytherin.

As time passed, Snape continued to rant about how perfect Malfoy's potion was.

In the middle of that, 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 Nevill, 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.

"Potter, why didn't you tell him not to add the quills?" You didn't think he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? "That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor." He said it in a venomous tone.

Sebastian looked at Snape, who was lecturing Harry, and felt a surge of anger and frustration welling up in him.

He wanted to give Snape a piece of his mind, but the memory of a past life where he had been similarly mistreated made him hesitate.

He knew that arguing with Snape would only make Slytherin lose points, and he wouldn't get anywhere.

While also knowing the love Snape had for Lily.

And how much Harry's eyes reminded him of her.

Finally, an hour later, the class ended.

Sebastian and Charles worked together to brew a potion that met Snape's high standards, and the two hit it off so well that they agreed to be friends. It was clear that Charles, like Sebastian, had difficulty making friends, especially given the unfriendly attitudes of some of the Slytherins.

Sebastian left the class with his new friend feeling satisfied. He had made a new friend. And he also watched a scene he always wanted to see in his past life play out in front of his very eyes.

He knew that he was going to enjoy his time at Hogwarts, and he couldn't wait to see what the rest of the year had in store for him.