Ed followed Harry, Hermione, and Ron to the lower area of the castle. He looked around him as they went. The place was dark, lit only by torches, and coldly damp enough that he was feeling a persistant ache in his ports that made him want to clench his teeth. Thick dusty cobwebs hung down from the ceiling, and were steadily getting thicker as..they finally arrived at a line at a closed dark door. After a few moments, the door creaked open, and Ed, with a last look about, filed in with the rest of the students. He noted that each one seemed to have the same kind of 'look of dread' that was clearly painted on Harry's face.
'All except those guys..' Ed thought, as he looked over at a pointy faced blond boy lined up behind him. His brain supplied the name after a few moments--'Malfoy'. His face wasn't exactly filled with glee, no. 'More like... confidence? Assurance?'
Ron, Hermione, and Harry all sat near one another. Ed watched as Neville choose a seat well away from the others--or rather, the others made sure to give him wide berth when they sat down. Ed narrowed his eyes, noting the extreme nervousness in Neville's movements. 'Obviously, not his favorite subject.' Ed thought. With a quick glance about, Ed saw that Severus closed the creaking door.
"Settle down." Severus said coldly.
Ed then noticed he was the only one, student that is, not in a seat just yet. The fidgeting and chatter had died down nearly instantly.
"Ed. Over here." Hermione said in a soft, bright voice. Hermione, Ron, and Harry had managed to keep a seat cleared for him. Ed glanced over to Neville, at the empty seats near him, then at her.
"It's alright. Go." Neville said in a soft, kind of defeated, voice.
"Is there a problem, Mr. Elric." Severus said.
Ed looked over at Severus. The greasy haired man was looked down with cold eyes at him with the sneer-mask in place.
"Dhere is not." Ed stated, and took his seat down by the overly nervous Neville. When he looked back, he saw Severus had raised a single eyebrow.
"Before we begin today's lesson..." Snape sweeped his eyes over the entire class. "I think it appropriate to remind you that next June you will be sitting an important examination, during which you will prove how much you have learned about the composition and use of magical potions. Moronic though some of this class undoubtedly are, I expect you to scrape an 'Acceptable' in your O.W.L or suffer my...displeasure."
Snape's eye lingered on Neville and himself. Neville gulped.
"After this year, of course, many of you will cease studying with me, "Snape went on. "I take only the best into my N.E.W.T Potions class, which means that some of us will certainly be saying good-bye." Ed saw Snape's eyes linger on another student, and the sneer mask broke, just enough for Snape to curl his upper lip.
"But we have another year until that happy moment of farewell." Said Snape softly. "so whether you are intending to attempt N.E.W.T or not, I advise all out you to concentrate your efforts upon maintaining the high-pass level I have come to expect from my O.W.L students.
"Today we will be mixing a potion that often comes up at Ordinary Wizarding Level: the Draught of Peace. a potion to calm anxiety and soothe agitation. Be warned: If you are too heavy-handed with the ingredient you will put the drinker into a heavy and sometimes irreversible sleep, so you will need to pay close attention to what you are doing."
"The ingredients and method" --Snape flicked his wand--"are on the blackboard" --The words appeared there-- Ed narrowed his eyes, wondering how it was done. "You will find everything you need" -Snape flicked his wand again--"in the store cupboard." --The door of said cupboard sprung open. "You have an hour and a half..Start."
The students in the class seems to rise as one and rush to the cupboard in question. Ed saw no need to hurry, and spent several moments regarding the list on the board. Neville remained with him, figeting with a cauldron and a set of scales he took from his bag. "Ed..um..you didn't bring..?" Ed glanced over at Neville a moment, then looked again at the board.
"No. I vas supposed to be tested first." Ed cocked his head to the side, then stood up as he noticed the jostling crowd of students at the cupboard was clearing. "I'll get your ingredients as vell as mine, as I have questions I vish to have answered. Equivalence?"
"Uh..sure..I guess. Er..can't talk much in here.." Neville said, and he dove to the floor to retrieve his clattering scales that he had just managed to knock over. Ed nodded, not really paying him much attention. As he gathered the ingredients, he felt a grin spreading on his face.
'This. Is going to be fun.' Ed thought.
"50 points from Griffindor. Mr. Elric, where is your cauldron? Your scales..?" Snape called coldly by Harry's desk. Ed couldn't stop his grin.
"I am not needing cooking pot..or inaccurate scales..for somedhing dhis simple." Ed said as he placed the supplies on his desk, and divied up his ingredients off from 'Neville's'. "You vwill let me show you I am very able of doing more dhan..vwhat vwas phrase..parlor tricks?" Ed looked up to Severus, and raised an eyebrow. Smile somewhere between a smirk and a frown.
Cold eyes regarded him, and ever so slightly, a single eyebrow raised. After a few moments, Severus took a breath.
"No, Mr. Elric. You will follow the instructions I have provided for this class."
Ed scowled, and punched the desk with both fists. The ancient wood beneath his fists cracked and splintered.
"Dis is zometing I vas doing vhen I vas barely five of years!!!" Ed yelled.
"Another 50 points from Griffindor." Ed heard gasps, groans and grumbles from his class mates. Even a few snickers from the ones around that Malfoy. Severus walked over to Ed's desk and looked at the cracks down his hooked nose. " Restrain yourself, Mr. Elric. Thus far, you have earned yourself the honor of joining me in detention this afternoon for destruction of ....
Ed, balanced array shining in his mind, abruptly clapped his hands, and slammed both to the desk. He let the warming energy flow down his arms. Blue lightning of the reaction flashed and arced from his hands. He leaned on the desktop and glared at Severus. When the reaction had finished and the light dimmed, the crack was no more.
:::
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