"Very good," Snape said, his voice devoid of warmth, though it carried a hint of something that might, under different circumstances, have been interpreted as approval.
Snape's gaze flickered from Harry to Hermione, then finally settled on Sean. "Your answer was complete and accurate. I will award Slytherin five points."
He paused, his expression hardening as he shifted his focus back to the two Gryffindors. "Meanwhile, Potter! Because you spoke back to a teacher, I will deduct one point from Gryffindor. Miss Granger interrupted without permission, and I will also deduct one point from Gryffindor. I trust that next time, you will both remember not to rush to display your meager knowledge when you have not been called upon."
With those parting words, Snape completely ignored a disbelieving Hermione. He turned sharply on his heel, returned to the podium, and began to instruct the students on the correct procedures for brewing a Boil-Curing Potion.
Although already familiar with the theory and methods behind the Boil-Curing Potion, Sean remained diligently attentive. He knew very well that Snape, as one of the most accomplished Potion Masters in the wizarding world, possessed a depth of understanding of potion-making that far surpassed the content of any textbook. While Snape would rarely openly share his advanced knowledge, he would invariably reveal subtle insights during his lessons, providing invaluable learning opportunities for a keen student like Sean.
Drawing upon the textbook's instructions, Gavin's meticulously detailed notes, and these carefully gleaned, often unspoken insights from Snape's lessons, Sean felt the three sources of information reinforcing each other. He absorbed every detail, every nuance, of the art of Potions like a parched sponge.
Like Transfiguration, the latter half of Potions class was dedicated to practical application, giving the students a chance to practice what they had learned.
Working in pairs, each group had a cauldron and a full set of ingredients for brewing a Boil-Curing Potion placed on the table before them.
Sean possessed a solid theoretical knowledge of potion-making. However, he had very little hands-on experience. His past experience in a completely different field, cooking, allowed him to control the heat of the cauldron with reasonable competence, but everything else required focused practice and careful attention.
Gurgle…
The liquid in their cauldron was slightly viscous, shimmering under the dim light. As Sean carefully added the prescribed amount of powdered snake fangs, the liquid quickly transformed, swirling into a murky, yellowish-green color. After stirring precisely the number of times instructed, the yellowish-green mixture miraculously transformed again, clearing into a clean, vibrant emerald green.
Next, they prepared to add the final, crucial ingredient: porcupine quills. Just add this last component, carry out a bit more processing, and their Boil-Curing Potion would be complete.
Blaise watched as Sean accurately handled each step, meticulously measuring and adding the various ingredients, brewing the potion with a focused intensity. He couldn't help but feel a growing sense of respect for his new friend and an increasing sense of relief that they had become partners. While almost everyone else in the classroom was brewing their potions, they were also enduring constant, often scathing, criticism from Snape. Indeed, both of them were being spared. Even students from Slytherin weren't immune to Snape's sharp tongue.
Among those receiving the harshest criticism, perhaps predictably, were Harry Potter and Neville Longbottom. Harry was targeted because of Snape's deep-seated personal animosity. And Neville, unfortunately, was simply prone to making mistakes.
Of course, beyond those two, the student who was receiving the absolute worst of Snape's ire was, ironically, another Slytherin.
Millicent Bulstrode!
Perhaps spurred by his very public embarrassment during the earlier questioning, Snape now seemed to harbor an extremely low opinion of Millicent. He was almost brutally merciless when criticising his brewing technique. Given Millicent's truly mediocre talent in Potions, if it hadn't been for Harry and Neville serving as convenient targets, drawing away much of Snape's attention, Millicent might well have been verbally torn to shreds by Snape before the class was even half over.
Carefully pouring the prepared porcupine quills into the cauldron, Millicent held his breath. He desperately wanted to be the first in the class to successfully brew the potion, thus somehow washing away the public humiliation he had suffered earlier. However, in his haste and anxiety, he completely overlooked the effects of time on the potion. When he added the porcupine quills, he not only failed to wait for the previously added ingredients to fully integrate into the mixture but also, in his haste, ignored the crucial step of temporarily removing the cauldron from the heat.
As a direct result of his impatience, the moment Millicent put the porcupine quills into the cauldron, the liquid inside the crucible violently exploded, erupting like a miniature firecracker. The hot, yellowish-green, murky, and intensely viscous liquid splashed outwards in all directions, most of it directly impacting Millicent himself. Instantly, a horrifying array of large, red, swollen boils erupted across his exposed skin, spreading like wildfire. From a distance, Millicent's figure seemed bloated, almost grotesque. The intense pain made him cry out loudly, tears streaming down his face and snot bubbling from his nose in an undignified mess.
"Idiot!"
Snape strode quickly to Millicent's side, his face a mask of barely suppressed fury. With a flick of his wand, the spilled liquid vanished instantly from the floor and tables, leaving them pristine once more. Then, he took in the sight of Millicent's ravaged skin and the few smaller boils that had appeared on those nearby and addressed them in a voice dripping with disdain. "Those of you who are injured, take Bulstrode to the hospital wing immediately! For a Slytherin student to make such a basic, elementary error in Potions class is simply… unprecedented!"
Pansy Parkinson and Gregory Goyle, who had also suffered minor burns from the explosion, immediately moved to support Millicent, leading him towards the exit. Pansy, in particular, wore a barely concealed expression of disgust on her face.
Watching the three leave, Snape turned to the remaining students. His gaze swept over them, his expression stern. "As you have just witnessed, Millicent Bulstrode forgot to remove the cauldron from the heat before adding the porcupine quills. This is a major, unforgivable transgression when brewing a Boil-Curing Potion. I do not want to see anyone else making this same, boneheaded mistake!"
As soon as he delivered this warning, Snape's eyes landed on Harry. "Potter," he snapped, "Millicent has caused this mess and is now on his way to the hospital. But you are sitting there, smirking. Your distinct lack of House unity is appalling! I will deduct one point from Gryffindor!"
"That's not fair, sir! Harry wasn't laughing at Millicent! We were just—"
"Weasley!" Snape interrupted, his voice cutting like a knife. "Talking back to a teacher earns Gryffindor another point deduction!"
Having lost two points in quick succession, Harry instinctively wanted to protest further, but Ron grabbed his arm, pulling him back. "Don't say anything else, Harry," he whispered urgently. "Snape's being completely unreasonable. He seems to have it in for Gryffindor in general and for you in particular. Don't give him any more excuses to deduct points!"
As Harry and Ron fell silent, Sean reached forward and delicately stirred the potion in his own cauldron, his movements precise and practiced. As a plume of white smoke curled upwards, he revealed a cauldron containing a quantity of light green, transparent liquid, the surface smooth and unblemished. With meticulous care, Sean poured the potion into the waiting glass vial, not spilling a single drop. The moment the last trace of the potion left the crucible, Snape reached out with a speed that belied his age, snatched the container from Sean's hands, sniffed it with a critical air, then finally, almost grudgingly, showed a hint of satisfaction on his face.
"A qualified Boil-Curing Potion," he announced, his voice devoid of emotion. "Slytherin gains five points."
Sean looked at Snape, his expression carefully neutral. He had now earned a total of twenty points during this class alone, adding to the five points he had gained in the earlier Transfiguration lesson. He had already recovered more than half of the fifty points that had initially been deducted. Sean couldn't help but suspect that Snape's actions, at least in part, were influenced by a degree of favouritism, even if the Potions Master was unwilling to explicitly acknowledge it.
As groups of students gradually completed their attempts at brewing the potion, their skill levels ranging from competent to disastrous, the Potions class finally came to an end.
Perhaps because Millicent had left the classroom early and in such dramatic fashion, Neville, who seemed destined for a similar fate, actually managed to make it to the end of the class unscathed, although the potion he ultimately produced was, by most accounts, still somewhat difficult to describe in polite terms.
After class, the young wizards and witches filed out of the dungeon classroom one after another, eager to escape its oppressive atmosphere. Even Malfoy, uncharacteristically, seemed keen to leave as quickly as possible.
Sean was one of the last few to depart.
Just as Sean was about to offer a brief farewell to Snape, he heard the Potions Master speak. "Sean," Snape said, his voice low and surprisingly direct, "part of the reason you were deducted fifty points earlier was due to my actions. I will acknowledge that, although I certainly did not anticipate that you would ultimately be sorted into Slytherin at that time…"
Snape paused, his dark eyes studying Sean with an unreadable expression. "The points I have awarded today are, in part, a reflection of your demonstrable skill, and in part, because I have made some… compensation to you for that earlier decision. Do not expect these extra points to be awarded so frequently in the future, nor will they always be so… generous. You would be wise to make the most of this initial advantage."
Having delivered this rather cryptic statement, Snape offered no further elaboration. Instead, he turned and strode away, his black robes billowing behind him, and quickly disappeared from Sean's sight, leaving Sean and Blaise standing in the deserted classroom.
***********
✨ 300 gems = 1 bonus chapter
✨ 500 gems = another bonus chapter
Get access to advanced chapters at my P@treon.
p@treon.com/meowthtl