The next morning, Harry, Ron, and Annie ran down the stone halls to their first class of the day, Transfiguration. Annie was trying to keep up with Ron and Harry. "Guys!!" said Annie trying to catch her breath, "Wait up!! I can't run that fast!" "Come on, Annie!" said Harry, "Hurry up! We don't want to be late! Try and keep up!" "We're lost aren't we," said Annie out of breath. "I told you... we should've...made... a right... at the moving staircase... then a left... at the end of the hall," "No, it was a left at the staircase then a left at the end of the hallway," said Ron. "Oh well, how do you know that huh?" said Annie sarcastically. "Obviously, we're lost and you're acting like Mr. Know-it-all." "Alright, then why don't we check the map," argued Ron. "Yeah, if you hadn't grabbed it out of my hands and threw it over the railing of the staircase as it was moving," said Annie irritatingly. "Well then, why don't you conjure up another map for us?" said Ron. "I could except... I DON'T KNOW ANY SPELLS TO MAKE THAT HAPPEN!!!" "Would you two shut up!!" said Harry angrily.
Harry, Ron, and Annie finally found the classroom after what seemed like to be an eternity. Inside there was a tabby cat that was sitting on a desk. Harry, Ron, and Annie rushed into the classroom. Harry signaled Ron and Annie to hurry and find a seat before Professor McGonagall found out. "Whew," said Ron with a sigh of relief, We made it. Can you imagine the look on old McGonagall's face if we were late?" All of a sudden, the cat that was on the desk jumped off and turned into Professor McGonagall. Harry, Ron, and Annie were completely amazed Harry had been quite right to think she wasn't a teacher to cross. She was strict and clever. "That was bloody brilliant," said Ron. "Thank you for that assessment, Mr. Weasley." said McGonagall. Then she gave them a talking-to the moment they sat down in her first class. "Maybe if I were to transfigure Mr. and Ms. Potter and yourself into a pocketwatch, maybe one of you would be on time." "We got lost," said Harry. "Then perhaps a map?" said McGonagall. Ron and Annie glared at each other at the mentioning of the word 'map'. "I trust you don't need one to find your seats." "Sorry, professor," said Annie apologetically. "It won't happen again." "I sincerely hope not," said McGonagall. After Harry, Ron, and Annie found a seat, McGonagall proceeded with the class. "Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will learn at Hogwarts," McGonagall said. "Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned." Then she changed her desk into a pig and back again. They were all very impressed especially Annie who couldn't wait to get started. "Professor?" said Annie. "When will we get a chance to learn that?" "Not for a long time I'm afraid," said McGonagall. After taking a lot of complicated notes, they were each given a match and started trying to turn it into a needle. By the end of the lesson, only Hermione Granger had made any difference to her match; Professor McGonagall showed the class how it had gone all silver and pointy and gave Hermione a rare smile.
After Transfiguration was Potions later that afternoon. Potions lessons took place down in one of the dungeons. It was colder here than up in the main castle, and would have been quite creepy enough without the pickled animals floating in glass jars all around the walls. "I see Snape as a a pretty good taste in interior design," said Annie jokingly. The students were chattering amongst each other and sitting near steaming cauldrons. But the chattering suddenly stopped when the dungeon doors slammed open as a tell slender man with a long, black cloak came rushing in. It was Professor Snape. "There will be no foolish wand waving or silly incantations in this class," said Snape as he was walking up to the front of the class. "As such, I don't expect many of you to enjoy the subtle science and exact art that is potion making. However, for those select few." Draco looked up and smiled. "who possess the predisposition, I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory and even put a stopper in death." Draco raised his eyebrows and looked on as Snape spoke. Then, Snape noticed Harry writing down everything he said on a parchment paper and Annie looking over his shoulder to copy it down, both of whom not paying any attention. "Then again," Snape continued. "Maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable that you feel confidant enough to not...pay...attention." Hermione nudged Harry in the ribs and Harry looked up. Annie stopped writing wondering what happened and looked up to see Snape staring at them.
"Mr. and Ms Potter," said Snape. "Our...new...celebrities. Tell me, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood? Hermione's hand shot up like a rocket. Harry shrugged and Annie looked at Snape dumbly. "You don't know?" said Snape. "Well, let's try again. Where would you look if I asked you to find me a bezoar?" Hermione's hand shot up again. "A what?" said Annie confused. "We don't know, sir," said Harry. Snape continued to question them while Hermione tried desperately for her name to be called to answer the questions. "And what is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?" "I might've heard of Wolfsbane," said Annie. Harry looked over at Annie surprised to hear that Annie heard of this. "Is that the stuff used for werewolves?" "Are you giving me an answer or just giving me a guess?" said Snape. Annie was silent. "Do you know the answer to the question or not?" Annie shook her head. "I'll ask again," said Snape. "What is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane?" "We don't know, sir," said Harry. "Pity," said Snape. "Clearly, fame isn't everything, is it, Mr. and Ms. Potter?" Annie went red with embarrassment. "Clearly, Hermione knows. Seems a pity not to ask her," said Harry. The students laughed except for Annie who was still not talking. "Silence," said Snape. Snape then walked over to Harry's seat. Annie became nervous as to what he was going to do. "Put your hand down you stupid girl," snapped Snape. Hermione put her hand down slowly. "For your information, Potter," said Snape. "Asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death. A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons. As for monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite." Snape and Harry stared at each other for a moment until Snape said, "Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?" There was a sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. Over the noise, Snape said, "And Gryffindors take note that five points will be taken from Gryffindor House for your cheek, Potter."
Things didn't get any better for the Gryffindor students as the Potions lesson continued. Snape had gather in groups of two or three 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, criticizing almost everyone except Malfoy, whom he seemed to like. He was just telling everyone to look at the perfect way Malfoy had stewed his horned slugs when clouds of acid green smoke and a loud hissing filled the dungeon. Neville had somehow managed to melt Seamus's cauldron into a twisted blob, and their potion was seeping across the stone floor, burning holes in people's shoes. Within seconds, the whole class was standing on their stools while Neville, who had been drenched in the potion when the cauldron collapsed, moaned in pain as angry red boils sprang up all over his arms and legs. The potion spread at a rapid pace. Pansy Parkinson, one of the girls from Slytherin house who was partnered with Millicent Bulstrode, and Angelina Johnson, one of the girls from Gryffindor house who was partnered with Hermione Granger, became victim of Neville's poorly-made potion. "Parkinson and Johnson!" yelled Snape over the chaos. "Hospital wing! Now!!" Pansy and Angelina both rushed as fast as they could out of the dungeon whimpering in pain. Snape cleared the spilled potion away with one wave of his wand. "I suppose you added the porcupine quills before taking the cauldron off the fire?" Neville whimpered as boils started to pop up all over his nose. "Seamus!" demanded Snape. "Take him up to the hospital wing." Annie could almost Snape mumble under his breath, "Idiot boy."
A few minutes later after the chaos died down, Snape came to the front of the class looked around the room assessing the amount of students he currently had and who he thought should be partnered up. After making his decision and said, "Crabbe and Goyle! You two work together. Granger and Bulstrode! Work together." Then Snape looked at Malfoy who was sitting alone. "Ms. Potter!" said Snape. Annie looked up at Snape bewildered. "You go and work with Malfoy." Annie looked over at Malfoy who smiled at her that made Annie wanna gag. Annie was tempted to tell Snape that Malfoy appeared to do fine working on his own, but decided against since it cause her to get in trouble for not following an order. That last thing she wanted was to get in trouble on the first day. Annie glared at Malfoy as she picked up her books and moved over to the other side of the room. She then sat down and got to work not even giving a second look at Malfoy who was beaming. Then Snape rounded on Harry and Ron, who had been working next to Neville. "You -- Potter -- why didn't you tell him not to add the quills? Thought he'd make you look good if he got it wrong, did you? That's another point you've lost for Gryffindor." This was so unfair that Harry opened his mouth to argue, but Ron kicked him behind their cauldron. "Doi* push it," he muttered, "I've heard Snape can turn very nasty."
