~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unlock a treasure trove of stories and join a community where your imagination can soar
become a Patron and dive into the adventure today!
you'll get exclusive early access to over 30+ chapters ahead of what's posted here!
(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)
http//patreon.com/NAnami725
~~~~~~~~~~~~~
They were in the Great Hall eating breakfast when the mail came, Harry surprised that he actually had received a letter.
Dear Harry,
I know you get Friday afternoons off, so would you like to come and have a cup of tea with me after your classes? I want to hear all about your first week. Send us an answer back with Hedwig.
Hagrid
Harry replied, 'Yes, please, see you later,' on the back of the note, and handed it to Hedwig.
Harry could hardly wait.
Harry and the other Gryffindors entered the dungeons, joining the first year Slytherins.
Neville, Harry, Ron, and Hermione sat together, in that order. Harry looked across some of the tables to find Draco and his buds staring at him. Harry gave an acknowledging nod, quite enjoying the confused expression on Draco's face. He clearly didn't know what to make of Harry, and that was how Harry liked it.
Everyone suddenly went silent upon Snape's entrance, the door being slammed open.
Harry and the others listened intently to Snape's little 'Introduction to Potions' speech after he had completed the roll call, his feelings towards 'celebrities' coming in loud and clear the whole time.
"Potter!" Snape said suddenly. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Harry blinked, having trouble just understanding the words Snape had just said, let alone what they made, though those ingredients did sound familiar…
"I don't know, sir," Harry said, trying not to let himself phase out into a memory as he vaguely noticed Hermione's hand shoot high into the air.
"Tut, tut—fame clearly isn't everything."
Hermione looked apologetically at him, lowering her hand, deciding now was not the time to really answer questions.
"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
Harry closed his eyes, hoping this memory would be done quickly, since he wasn't able to beat it back…
Tom began reading the chapter on 'Cures and Their Ingredients', his finger trailing down the list, and passing 'Bezoars'.
Harry looked back up to Snape, thankful to realize only a few seconds had passed.
"It's a stone sir, from a stomach of a goat, and if I remember correctly from 'Magical Drafts and Potions', it will save you from most poisons, right?"
That caused Snape's eyes to narrow and everyone in the room to go very still.
"Correct, though, I'd like to know why you knew that, but did not know the first question I asked you," Snape said, suspiciously.
"I uh…was a little more interested about reading cures and positive things potions can do, if you want to know the real reason, sir. I find Potions to be one of the more useful subjects here, though, I don't think it could ever be my favorite, there's too many things that could go wrong by not mixing a potion correctly, or using too much of a certain ingredient…"
He trailed off, looking past Snape to find Draco staring at him with an eyebrow raised.
"Well, I'm glad you are conscious of that fact, Potter. I'm going to expect you not to make those kinds of mistakes, especially now that you seem to understand the risks so very well," he said, exuding sarcasm and rudeness, before beginning the lesson.
Harry looked over at Ron, who shrugged. Snape clearly didn't like Harry –at all–.
Mixing the potion for that lesson, Harry looked over at Neville who was about to put porcupine quills in his cauldron.
"Neville, wait, you need to take it off the fire first," he said as Ron stirred their cauldron.
"Oh, thanks Harry," Neville said, Seamus looking just as grateful.
"What's this?" Snape asked, walking up, hearing what had been exchanged. "Keep focused on your own work, Potter, and let others do their own."
Harry looked up, meeting his cold dark eyes. He was about to explain himself when he thought better of it.
This is a man who adores respect; show him some, Harry told himself.
"Yes, sir."
Snape barely narrowed his eyes, more as if in confusion than in hatred, though, plenty of hatred was still there, all of it directed at Harry.
Later, after they left the dungeons, they were on their way to Hagrid's.
Ron and Neville had asked if they could join him, while Hermione seemed content to stay to herself and study.
Hagrid welcomed them in, happy to see that Harry was already making some friends, and ones with good families as far as he was concerned.
They talked about what had happened that week, and the Potions lesson that day.
Hagrid seemed to change the subject soon after Harry muttered that it seemed that Snape didn't like him.
Looking down, Harry found a newspaper, something quickly catching his eye. A break-in at Gringotts, the very day they had been there.
"Hagrid, look!" Harry said, pointing, receiving only a half grunt from Hagrid.
Harry decided Hagrid didn't want to talk about it, remembering his words earlier in Gringotts.
Neville and Ron looked up at Harry, giving a silent shrug.
Ron then brought up the incident on the train. Hagrid turned to Harry, his eyes wide.
"Yeh actually said his name?!"
"Well…yeah. The way I see it, being afraid to say his name gives him more power…in a way."
Hagrid thought for a moment on that.
"Yeah, I suppose yer right, Harry."
Hagrid looked at them all before talking again.
"You all should just stay away from Malfoy, it's better not to interact with that fam'ly," Hagrid began.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Unlock a treasure trove of stories and join a community where your imagination can soar
become a Patron and dive into the adventure today!
you'll get exclusive early access to over 30+ chapters ahead of what's posted here!
(P).(A).(T).(R).(E).(O).(N)
http//patreon.com/NAnami725
~~~~~~~~~~~~~