Potions and charms
After lasts nights feast Jon and Mordred have no established a betting ring that grows increasingly profitable, for hermione. That's right! The small bushy haired girl is making quite the little fortune off their eating competitions. For some reason the other houses elected other members from their houses to compete.
The best would be slytherin with Crabbe and Goyle followed by Ron weasely. Alas they can never surpass a sabers appetite so they promptly became ill due to overeating and were whisked away to madam pomfrey. Hermione bets on the obvious result off us both tying again as the professors cause the plates to vanish.
One hufflepuff student suggested visiting the kitchen and speaking with the house elves to continue the match in the dorms. While I am tempted it's not for that reason, I'm going to insult the elves like in some other fanfics where the house elves begin expanding their recipe repertoire.
Our first class of the next day is potions with professor Snape. As we entered the room we shuffled to the corner and took some seats which resembled those hard plastic ones reserved for a science lab in my first life.
After placing the bags down and pulling out our books the professor entered. The man stormed in with his abyss coloured robes fluttering around the room. He instantly began quizzing students on random subjects that would be covered throughout the year.
His slytherins already knew the answers as this is his subject therefore they can receive diabetes tutoring on it within their dorm not to mention the older students who passed them transcripts of that what need to know.
The syllabus for the year will begin with a history of potion making and it's ties to herbology and care for magical creatures. The subject was created to allow wizards to take shortcuts in life. There exists potions that allow for the instant effects of several spells such as the poly juice potion which allows for advanced self transfiguration.
The subject then evolved to searching for cures for numerous diseases that arose and mutated due to magic. Lastly the subject included discovering the uses for everything that was brought into the lab. For example should a wizard find a strange herb or new magical beats it would be taken to be processed and experimented on by a potions master.
This profession has existed for millennium though Snape seems to interpret the subject as a means to cure and destroy people which means that thought process will shape our knowledge.
After giving a brief history of the subject we moved to vocabulary and theory off the subject. So for the first two months till midterm we will be mesmerising whatever Snape seems worthy of waisting our time on.
The next topic is analysis of tools and brewing methods which he considers "Dunder head level". This is follows by actually brewing a basic potion called the "cure for boils" but the main use of this lesson isn't the experience in brewing the potions, it's the testing off the charms involved such as Halato- the stirring charm and Briga- the simmer charm.
After the exams we would then begin studying on the uses of dragons, this topic is just a flex by dumbledore as he helped Nicholas Flammel discover the twelve uses for dragons blood. I then nudged Hermione "I believe it best to research Flammel and learn his other works on the side."
"What was that Mr Snow! Speak up for the rest of the class!" Shouted Snape, any chance to take down a Gryffindor. He gave me a look that said 'if this isn't useful to my class your getting clubbed'.
"Sir I simply suggested that we should research Sir Nicholas Flammel more on the side when we reach this topic as he has discovered many other things besides the uses of dragons blood. There is also his latest study sir!"
He raised an eyebrow "latest study? I haven't heard of such a thing, speak!" "He published a theory about how each may in fact have a unique usage to them therefore he has gone travelling to several dragon sanctuary's globally to collect samples and begin testing."
Snape went quite, from what I understand of the man is that when it comes to potions he'll drop most things such as a petty grievance amongst houses. There are exceptions such as Lily Evans and the marauders but this case is one of them.
The professor turned to me and said with a snarl "excellent work mr snow, researching ahead to the top members of the field is a skill all potion makers possess. I'm grateful to learn about the possible thesis. 5 points for Gryffindor!"
After that he turned around and continued teaching not realising all the students were in awe. Professor Snape has never in his entire career given points to Gryffindor. Who is Jon Snow?!?
While everyone else was being idiots and establishing the legend of the Gryffindor that could me and Mordred continuing making notes cause Snape wasn't stopping.
The next topic would be a test on ingredients, all
Ingredients fall under one of three categories. The first is a magical ingredient that is the source of the potions effect, the second is the mundane ingredient that even muggles can get but there still useful such as a specific type of wood or a common animal ingredient like a badgers anus (I'm not drinking a potion with that as an ingredient). The last is a transitional ingredient that helps during the brewing process.
The final topic before exams is brewing the forgetfulness potion that drags up forgotten memories. Good thing I have occulemency, still though this potion is kind of a gamble. Snape spoke about how during exams a certain rat he remembers thought it wise to drink one right before an exam.
The results were meant to make him recall his cramming in perfect detail. Instead it made the student have Vietnam flashback of something he was terrified off. He made the potion too strong and used an unclean cauldron that contained trace ingredients of the fighting fear tonic. This led to a lecture about always cleaning your tools which I have agree with.
One guy in Jon's life refused to ever clean his sword, as a result it rusted and when it was finally cleaned the blade began to bleed the rusted blood. People assumed that the blade was cursed so the swordsman had to be burned at the stake by fire worshippers. Jon didn't argue because he didn't know but thanks to my first life's knowledge I know that phenomenon.
Moral of the story is clean your tools otherwise someone is going to suffer. You will either get Vietnam flashbacks or be set on fire, both excellent motivators.
With class finally over everyone scurried away for lunch. Before Mordred and I could start our next epic battle several older Gryffindors surrounded me. They grabbed me by the collar and shook me "how did you do it?!?! How did you make him give out points?!?!" Before I could answer I was grabbed and dragged into a sixth years bosom.
Her name was Bethany Deanwat, a sixth year in the quidditch team with an impressive figure and overwhelming assets. She strangled me with her tits for information "how did you do it?!? Was it your Hair?!?! Did he ask you about your Products?!?! What conditioner do you use?!?!"
Ah she was just strangling me for beauty tips, some boys tried to stop her line of questioning but one glare from similar like minded girls. Mordred got angry "for some reason" and yanked me away from her with strength that shocked everyone. She made the excuse of our battle about to start.
When the girls continued glaring at me i relented and said "in my homeland we have mammoths, my sisters sent me shampoo made from their milk. It's similar to coconut milk shampoo but much better". The pure bloods Immediately fell into disarray as they all discussed how they could attain a mammoth milk supply line and some even wanted to create their own brands based on it if the results are as effective for them as they were Jon.
Someone mentioned that their cousin in Alaska farms them, that boy ended up with five new girlfriends that day. Greedy bitches wanted to lockdown on the supply. I ignored it and slipped away to eat my food. The males were still curious so decided to ask the others what I said to Snape to earn points.
When they learned conversing with him about recent and obscure discoveries could wand points they all began gossiping about potion masters for the month and broaching the topic with Snape. It worked Two times before he caught on to why and started dishing out punishment. He didn't blame me though, when I'm in class he just gives me a wide berth as he thinks I'm a good seed.
After finishing our meal we went to Flitwicks class on charms. The cheery half dwarf alleviated the horrible mood generated from Snapes class. He happily explained about the first year of charms that we wound be accomplishing.
The first years cover the spell casting basics which included: wand movements, pronunciation, language mastery required for spell crafting, the branches of charms, drawing upon your magic, willpower, concentration and above all else visualisation.
For today's class he had us learn about the levitation charm which every meme lord knows. Wingardium Leviosa~
He started us off by telling us how that charm came to be, by merging several other charms over the span of decades as the creators didn't have access to as many resources or have as fine an education as today's people.
The charms were: levioso- hover charm, alarte ascendare- rocket charm, Fluito- floating charm. We practiced with these ones before he demonstrated that with enough mastery even a person could fly though he only hovered off the ground and began sweating heavily demonstrating it is in fact not as easy as he made it out to be.
After that class Ron mocked hermione for helping with pronunciation which caused her to run off crying. I gave a scowl and Mordred directed a glare before chasing after her to comfort her. Mordred may not be very feminine but she still is empathetic. So for the rest of the day I stood outside the girls bathroom listening to Mordred try to placate the girl.
After finally calming her down we discovered we missed dinner so I thought it best we meet the house elves. "Alright let's get some grub" Mordred bellowed rubbing her stomach.
"We can't, we missed the dinner in the great hall" spoke hermione sullenly. So I grinned "then we'll go to the kitchen and ask the house elves for some dinner". I said with a smile on my face that lifted their moods
Hermione questioner me about house elves so I explained about how elves vanished eons ago and a wizard tried to bring them back or artificially make them. The result was a house elf, they are magic symbiotes that require a wizards magic to survive long term otherwise they would die. She looked frightened by that explanation so I continued.
So the house elves bonded with places filled with magic like hogwarts Or with magical families who were powerful. As a result of this bond between wizards house elves became subservient much unlike their ancestors. They would become religiously devoted to serving the person or place they bonded too.
Naturally this inflated pure bloods egos and made people have a bad image of house elves as weaklings over time. Most people abuse house elves who accept it in order to continue living. Giving a house elf clothing or items breaks the bond freeing them, which actually means that they may die soon so they search for a better master.
Mordred furrowed her brows remembering Dobby from the movies. Hermione was aghast and must have developed thoughts of freeing them mid explanation but after hearing me continue speaking it sounds like freeing them would kill them. She hasn't adopted Ron's ignorance yet which is good.
"Then how are the ones at hogwarts treated?" "Rather well, they gave food and a roof over their heads. Not to mention the abundant magic would make them incredibly healthy. They also avoid students unless you walk into one of their areas in which case they will serve you. So don't tell someone who frowns upon them their locations. They'll abuse their authority over them like they do in their own households."
"Can't we help those house elves?!?" I looked at her, "yes but that would take a lot of time, after all how long did it take before women had the right to vote or different races to gain rights?" She shut her jaws at that before going quite as we walked toward the kitchen hidden behind the lear painting.
She finally opened her mouth "couldn't the minister of magic change that?" I smiled as this could be a motivation for her to lead England to prosperity after we leave. "I suppose that would be the most effective method for a muggleborn wizard to make changes. So yes! If you wanted to improve their living conditions you would have to become the minister of magic".
She smiled and began affirming her goal while Mordred just scratched the pears on the painting so that the doors would open. After it did we saw hundreds of elves performing chores like washing dishes or preparing meals for the staff.
They turned and looked at me before puffing their chests as a sign of bravery. I saw the look in their eyes, like they spotted a challenger. So I stood ahead of the two in a similar matter while they processed the sight.
"You elves do make good food however I find it subpar". Several of the elves began taking this comment over the top. Some began crying as if their child was murdered while others became listless. I even spotted one elf spitting blood from outrage.
One elf walked ahead of the pack meeting my gaze. "How so? Kopy lives to serve and has served for decades".
I smiled "do you know that muggles gave developed the art of serving others to levels well above others. They call them butlers/maids/waiters and such." All their eyes bulged at the thought of muggles surpassing them.
So the elf known as kopy spoke again "elaborate more please!"
"The people who follow this art are given uniforms based on who they serve and use it to display their position. You all have dish towels as clothing. Those muggles also research and improve their dishes constantly by looking abroad. Since I've been here I've only had the same old fashioned British cuisine. Lastly the muggles have refined each practice of servitude into subcategories and established standards. What standards do you all have. They receive a supply of money to better themselves with so they can serve better! Do you have such a thing?"
Each of my statements was like a smack in the elves faces. The final nail in the coffin was when I pulled out a book I purchased on our travels. The books title was "1000 ways to use pasta and all its types". I handed it to kopy who trembled "what is.....pasta!"
"An Italian cooking ingredient used in a wide variety of recipes. An example is lasagne however my personal favourite Italian dish is pizza though". My words echoed in their Brains. The unfamiliar words felt grating time them.
Kopy opened the book, I could have sworn a golden wind emerged and brushed past her face as her ears blew back. The words "Pasta Betch!!!" Echoed in the air.
Kopy closed the book and looked at me "young master snow! We will speak with the headmaster about this. We will expand our cuisine! We will have uniforms! We will surpass the muggle standards! And we will make you Pizza!!!!" The other elves raised their tools in the air and clanked them together.
Jon nodded before asking them for dinner, he then stated to use the book he gave them as a starting point. They all memorised the dishes and began making pasta dishes. They apporated away and stole ingredients from muggle shops. Before long me and Mordred were scarring down meatball carbonara and lasagna. I gave them a few helpful tips on convincing dumbledore.
After we left for bed Dumbledore was greeted with an army of house elves in his office. His twinkly eyes were ineffective in getting them to leave so he asked "how may I help you?" "We need money to improve ourselves and our craft".
"Why should I do that" he asked while some elves grinned similarly to the goblins. "Because we can make new sweets for you if we get the money". Dumbledores twinkles froze, the man has a legendary sweet tooth. So Kopy began rattling off desserts and sweets from around the world and explained how they look and feel.
Dumbledore normally swipes away some of the funds of hogwarts for himself. But from now on he may have to stop and finance the elves ventures. He wishes to taste the thing they called "lemon sorbet".