There was only oions css per week, shared between Gryffindor and Slytherin. Everyone articurly looking forward to it, especially the Slytherin students who arrived early to wait for their Head of House.

  However, some Gryffindor students remained skeptical, having heard rumors about the Potions professor's bias toward Slytherin House.

  "I have a feeling Professor Snape might target me," Hermione whispered to Glenn beside her iions , gng behind to firm Snape wasn't standing there smirking.

  The "might" could probably be removed from that statement.

  "Well, you did end up in his least favorite house. Just try not to make mistakes ive him any ammunition," Glenn replied while helping Hermio up her cauldron and other potion-making equipment.

  He remained seated among the Gryffindors, even during Potions css, much to the Slytherins' growing displeasure.

  Just wait until Professor Snape deals with you!

  The young shought viciously, with Glenn's roommate Draco being particurly eager.

  To him, it was utterly humiliating for three pureblood Slytherins to share a dormitory with a mudblood Slytherin.

  Plus something odd had been happening tely - every m they'd wake up to find the three of them lying in a row on the floor, with no memory of how they got there.

  Strange, I don't normally roll around in my sleep.

  Young Draco scratched his head, thhly puzzled.

  Just as Glenn and Hermione finished anizing their workspace, BANG! The door was thrown open with tremendous force, making all the young wizards jump.

  Srode in wearing his characteristic bck robes, took his pce at the podium, and began taking attendahout ceremony.

  When he reached Hermione and Glenn, Snape gave Hermione a "friendly" gre. But Harry received the most notable treatment.

  Upon reag Harry's name, Snape's sharp, lifeless eyes narrowed.

  "Ah yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new — celebrity."

  Hermione's eyebrows rose, sensing there was more to this.

  Drad his ies "discreetly" snickered, their ughter loud and brazen, while Ron shot them a fierce gre in response.

  Glenn had already noticed the animosity between these groups i days.

  After finishing roll call, Snape surveyed the css with his cold, empty eyes and began his opening speech.

  "You are here to learn the subtle sd exact art of potion-making," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word — in the silence of the under his anding presence, every sylble was crystal clear.

  "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic," he tinued after a pause.

  "I don't expect you will really uand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitg the mind, ensnaring the senses..." Snape's voice rose with increasing pride and reverence for his subject.

  "I 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." His tone dropped suddenly, bringing a wave of tension to the room.

  After his brief introdu, silence fell.

  Glenn and Hermione exged gnces, sharing small smiles.

  The professor hadn't ged.

  Just as the students thought css would begin, Snape suddenly turo Harry with questions.

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

  Harry appeared stumped, frozen in pce, while Hermione's hand shot high into the air.

  I know this! Professor Snape, pick me, pick me!

  Hermione decided to participate eagerly as usual, hoping to reduape's dislike of them even slightly.

  But Snape ignored Hermione's raised hand, keeping his gaze fixed on Harry.

  Glenn noticed something odd - did Snape have some history with Harry or his family?

  "I don't know, sir," Harry answered.

  Snape's lips curled into a sneer. "Tut, tut — fame clearly isn't everything."

  "Let's try again, Potter. Where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?" Snape asked again. Harry likely wouldn't know this either, while Hermione's hand stretched even higher, her bright eyes b into Snape as if demanding to know why he wouldn't call on her.

  Drad his two sidekicks were shaking with ughter.

  "I don't know, sir," Harry replied again. The boy clearly hadn't reviewed over summer break, though truthfully he couldn't have answered even if he had - these questions were well beyond first-year Potions material.

  S out a cold ugh. "Thought you wouldn't open a book before ing, eh, Potter?" He shook his head, appearing "disappointed."

  He tinued: "What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?" Harry still looked lost, while Hermioood up, gring at Snape.

  You called me stupid! Let me show you what I do!

  Let me earn points, you horrible Professor Snape!

  Under Snape's dangerous gaze, Glenn quietly pulled Hermione bato her seat.

  "I don't know," said Harry quietly. "I think Hermione does, though, why don't you try her?" His voice grew bolder - typical teenage defiance when feeling humiliated.

  But what's the point of being defiant about not knowing the answers?!

  "Sit down!" Snape s Harry, his gaze sweeping over to Glenn and Hermione. Gleured for So let Hermione answer.

  Snape had inteo answer himself to properly chastise Harry, but faced with Hermione's ear eyes, he hesitated before breaking into a sinister smile. With a sigh, he said, "Very well then, Granger... and Hawthorne beside her, you tell our empty-headed Potter the ao these questions. I hope you answer correctly."

  What?

  Wait, Professor, you're draggio this too?

  The rese in Hermione's eyes ractically crystallizing!

  Sensing trouble, Glenn quickly stood up: "I apologize, Professor, but I don't know. However, I'm certain my colleague Hermione provide satisfactory answers."

  He simultaneously mouthed words to Snape.

  "One week anizing potion ingredients abooks."

  Snape clearly uood Glenn's meaning and frowned in displeasure, but acquiesced.

  "Well then, Granger, provide the correswers."

  Hermione finally stood up happily and rapidly recited: "Asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Livih.

  A bezoar is a stoaken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons.

  As for monkshood and wolfsbahey are the same pnt, which also goes by the name of aite!"

  She caught her breath, looking proudly at Snape.

  How was that! I did well, didn't I? I didn't embarrass you!

  Give us points!

  Hermioared expetly at Snape, who curled his lip and looked at her with disdain.

  No points were awarded to Gryffindor.

  Snape suddenly roared, "Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?"

  There was a sudden rummaging for quills and part. Over the noise, Snape added, "And a point will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter."

  Hermione and Harry were thuruck.

  My points???

  What?

  Hermione gazed reproachfully at Snape, who avoided her eyes.

  The rest of Potions css remaireacherous. S them into pairs ahem to mixing a simple potion to cure boils. Besides Glenn, Hermione, and Draearly everyone received criticism from Snape.

  At one point, somethi wrong with Neville and Seamus's potion. Their cauldron suddeed acidic green smoke with ominous sounds.

  The cauldroed, and the boiling potion was about to spsh onto Neville.

  In that instant, Glenn quickly cast "Wingardium Leviosa!" The scalding potion froze in mid-air but was still slowly moving toward Neville.

  "Scify!" Hermioed, using the ing charm to vanish the suspended potion.

  Neville, pale-faced from the shock, gratefully thahem both.

  No joke - as far as he knew, only Glenn and Hermione could have reacted so quickly.

  It was impressive enough that the others hadn't frozen in panic.

  e to think of it, they'd helped him several times now.

  From now on, you're my big brother and sister!

  "Idiot!" Snape shankfully Glenn and Hermione had taihe potion, or Neville would have been badly hurt.

  He whirled on Harry, shouting, "Potter, why didn't you tell him not to add the pore quills? Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? That's another point you've lost fryffindor."

  What?

  My points???

  No points for helping a cssmate?

  Hermione was distraught, tinuing to stare at Snape. Seeiruly had no iion of awarding her points, she let out a small "Hmph!"