Snape snaps Part 2

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making, he began. he spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word--like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. " As there is little foolish wand waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect that you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering Cauldron with shimmering fumes , the delicate power of liquids that creep through the human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses . . . I can teach you how to bottle fame , brew glory, even stopper death_ if you are not as big a bunch of dunderheads I usually have to teach ."

More Silence followed this speech.

Hermione was on the edge of her seat and looked desperate to start proving that she wasn't a dunderhead.

Neville had already swallowed the potion during that little speech.

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

"Draught of Living Dead," answered the boy who lived.

If this question had been asked before Neville and Hermione quizzed them this morning then he probably would not have answered it. But now he was able to recall and answer promptly.

On the other hand Snape looked like he had just eaten a fly.

It wasn't clear if it was due to the liquid luck or whether it was Neville's affinity, Snape proceeded to throw his next question to him.

Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?

"In a goat's stomach," curtly answered Neville.

Snape had almost given up hope at this point.

Why are these first year Gryffindors so prepared for Their first potions class?

It must be their seniors who warned them beforehand!

Okay! I'll just get some more homework for you !

George and Fred who had been working on their next prank item shivered!

Is someone thinking I'll of us?

For the last question he turned to recently infamous Ron and finally asked her the last question

"What is the difference, Weasley, between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?"

Ron began to answer the question but due to his lack of attention ended up stammering out the answer

"Ummm! They are...

Snape finally was relieved to find that not all Gryffindors had gone astray.

Looks like he would be able to shear some points today!

.... the same plant!"

Good!

very Good!

Looks like you leave me no choice.

"Five point from Gryffindor for not stating that the plant is also called Aconite. Also you should always be sure as the slightest inaccuracy in making potions may cost you your life"

The Gryffindors all balked at the injustice their house had just answered all of Snape's questions but still had to lose five points.

Neville didn't care as the points deficit would naturally be filled by Dumbledore at the end of the year.

As for poor Hermione because everyone had answered the questions without taking long she could not raise her hand to answer the question.

Snape then put up all of them into pairs and set them up to make a simple potion for boils.

He kept pacing around the room looking for the slightest excuse to take points from Gryffindor.

After the class got over they left the castle and made their way to Hagrid's Hut.

Hagrid lived in a small wooden house at the edge of the forbidden forest.

When they knocked on the door they could hear frantic scrabbling and booming barks from inside.

Hagrid's big hairy face appeared in the crack as he opened up the door.

He let them in, as he struggled to keep a hold on the collar of an enormous black boarhound.

There was only one room inside. Hams and pheasants were hanging from the ceiling, a copper kettle was boiling on the open fire and in a corner stood a massive bed with a patchwork quilt over it.

After Harry introduced Ron and him they sat down to have tea and rock Cakes as they gossiped about things.

The rock Cakes almost broke their teeth but they pretended to enjoy it as they told Hagrid all about their first lessons.

Harry found a newspaper reports about the recent break-in at the Gringotts, he managed to connect the dots and asked Hagrid to confirm his suspicions when Hagrid kept averting his eyes and changed topics.

As the three walked back towards the Castle for dinner, there pockets weighed down with the rock Cakes they had been too polite to refuse, Neville looked at his Hogwarts Explorer mission and found it raised to 9 percent.

He planned to take a trip in the night the following day but cancelled that planet when he spotted a notice in the Gryffindor common room which made all the Gryffindors groan.