If there's a ranking for the most interesting yet criminally underused or underdeveloped Hogwarts class, Potions would rank top on that list.
As the magical counterpart for Chemistry, JK Rowling's least favorite subject, Potions, for at least 5/7 of the books, had a teacher that's a worse influence than self-study. Old Neville suffered notoriously, though Harry had his fair share of unfair treatment and poison threats.
Seeing as the Boy-Who-Lived, half of the reason why I'm an orphan and Snape loses the love of his life, is as good as a stranger to the Potions Master, I do not feel too optimistic about Neville's future in the class, though that's neither here nor there.
Having read most of the material taught this year, the course felt quite restrictive while providing limited or outright dangerous instructions. Despite great practical benefits to brewing potions, the complete lack of safety procedures while processing raw, potentially poisonous materials is a cause for concern.
Hermione also seems to notice these defects in the books, but out of respect for the authorities, she excused:
"Maybe the book is intentionally flawed to make students more independent and reward creativity?", to which I merely gave her a stink eye. It wouldn't be long before Snape shows her exactly what happens with this "independence" and "creativity".
That Friday, as we approached the dungeons, Hermione and I saw a brawl break out between Draco and Neville. It appears the "Dark" and "Light" pure-bloods' clash of ego is simply inevitable.
What really surprises me, however, is Snape's response. As nobody intends to break up the fight, when the Professor went out both sides had bruises from, ironically, punching like Muggles over pure-blood wizard pride. Snape merely silenced both and levitated them to his classroom as students trailed behind him.
After the door closed, both perpetrators landed on the very first table, probably for observation, as Snape's robes billowed and settled down in front of the class. Snape glared at all students, one by one, before starting his roll call. Unlike before, he merely whispered at Neville's name:
"Neville Longbottom. Our new... celebrity."
To which the person in question shuddered. He must've sensed a bad future, which I could only offer silent condolences and be happy Snape's attention is not on me.
Draco tensed up slightly when his name was called - his relationship with Snape must've not been as close as the original. As the Potions Master finished, he looked up at the class. His eyes were pitch black, cold and empty, devoid of warmth.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," he began, his voice barely louder than a whisper. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will truly understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep 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."
Silence followed as Snape's gaze landed on a particular boy at the front. Hermione next to me was on the edge of her seat, eager to prove that she was different.
"Longbottom!" said Snape suddenly. "What potion uses Ashwinder eggs, squill bulb, Murtlap and Occamy eggshells?"
As I glanced to my right, Hermione was furiously turning the pages of her book to no avail - the answer isn't even covered in this year's course. Though I expect Snape to give Neville a hard time, this is... another level of pettiness.
After looking around for support and finding none, Neville lowered his head and flipped his "A Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi" in a panic. Unfortunately, if Hermione cannot find the answer, he stood no chance.
"I don't know, sir.", Neville muttered.
Snape's lips curled into a sadistic sneer.
"Tut, tut — fame clearly isn't everything."
He ignored the presence of the rest of the class as he continued to question:
"Let's try again. Longbottom, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
This time, Hermione stretched her hand as high into the air as it would go without leaving her seat, but Neville didn't seem to have the faintest idea what a bezoar was. I reminded myself I would be in the same situation if not for Neville's aggro.
"I don't know, sir."
This time, Snape narrowed his eyes:
"Haven't opened the book before coming here, eh, Longbottom?"
I pulled Hermione's hand down, slightly forcefully, whispering urgently:
"Professor Snape is clearly wanting to humiliate Neville, Hermione! If anything, you'll only make him dislike you for trying to stop him."
With doubts in her eyes, Hermione glanced at me suspiciously but remains silent. Not failing our expectations, Snape continues:
"And what is the difference, Longbottom, between aconite and wolfsbane?"
This time, Neville didn't even attempt to find the answer.
"I don't know," snapped the boy. "You can't expect us to memorize the whole 'Thousand Herb and Fungi' though?"
A few Griffindors laughed: Ron and Seamus seems oblivious to their impending doom and winked at Neville. Snape, however, was not amused.
"Don't try to be witty with me. Longbottom. For your information, Ashwinder eggs, squill bulb, Murtlap and Occamy eggshells make a luck potion so potent it is banned from any competition or examinations, which is disastrously poisonous done wrong, if any of you dunderheads have even the slightest intention to try making them.", while speaking of this, Snape paused to make eye contact with everyone in the room.
"A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for aconite and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of monkshood. Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?"
There was a sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. Over the noise, Snape landed the final blow, "And five points will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Longbottom."
Things fortunately improved for the everyone else except from Neville as the Potions lesson continued. Snape put students all into pairs and set them to mixing up a simple potion to cure boils.
He swept around in his long black cloak, watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs, constructively criticizing all except for the poor boy, whom anyone can see he bore as grudge.
Snape was just openly pointing out Neville's mistakes for everyone to look at when clouds of pale green smoke and a loud hissing came from the very same spot.
Neville, breaking down from the excessive pressure, had somehow managed to melt his cauldron into a twisted blob, his corrosive potion spreading over the stone floor, burning painful holes in people's shoes.
Within a few chaotic seconds, the whole class was standing on their stools while Neville, drenched in the supposed "Cure for Boils" when the cauldron collapsed, moaned in pain as red boils sprang up all over his four limbs.
"Idiot boy!" snarled Snape, waving his wand to clear the spilled potion away. "I just told you to not add the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire!"
The boy whimpered as boils started to pop up all over his nose.
"Take him up to the hospital wing," Snape spat at Seamus and Ron. "And class ends early, we can't afford another mess like our celebrity just now. Five points off Griffindor for endangering the class and interrupting my lesson, and when Longbottom comes back tell him I expect a foot long essay about the correct method of brewing the Cure for Boils, as well as how he did wrong, am I clear?"
As neither of Neville's followers are here to defend him, the class merely nodded glumly, afraid Snape would target someone for speaking out. I feel relieved seeing Hermione stay silent despite shaking in frustration.
When we finally left the classroom, Hermione half-shouted: "That was so unfair! Why did Snape pressure Neville into making mistakes and punish him for that? He's a professor!"
"I think he's not so happy with Neville's attitude, and besides, Snape always hates Griffindors. Neville might just be too unfortunate as the obvious target."
Hermione scowled, but didn't deny. Snape's reputation being bad is certain in any world it seems.