Harry Potter and the Twin Sister

Chapter 8 - The Potions Teacher

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.