Chapter 81: Lesson Learned...?
Harry soon found himself in the dungeons attending his first class, Potions. The room was rank, smelling of old, rotting exotic materials that were undoubtedly ill-maintained. Snape was lucky Kali wasn't here to see it, otherwise she might've burned it all down on principle alone.
The tables had been set up with their cauldrons and other equipment prepared, though, Harry found himself sitting on his own in the corner of the room. No one wished to go anywhere near him, and even Hermione stayed distant, still conflicted with his earlier remarks about his parents no doubt.
The whole thing seemed pretty abysmal to Harry, he'd seen Kali's set up at home, and compared to that the classroom was 'barbaric'. If that wasn't enough, the audible bickering and whispers from other students about him were doing his head in.
At least in the great hall there was some distance between them, space allowing him to tune them out... But here? It was almost deafening to him.
Soon enough Professor Snape arrives with his cloak billowing behind him, he introduces the class with some speech about stoppering death or something, then walks over and stands over Harry's desk. "Mr Potter, I see you've chosen to attend the class without a partner... Think you're better than everyone else, no doubt?" he drawls.
"Was that ever in question?" Harry neutrally responds.
"Folly of prideful child. How about we demonstrate your mastery in Potioncraft, as you are so confident? What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" the bat-like man questions with an analytical eye.
"I assume you are referring to the Draught of Living Death? A sleeping potion of dubious use."
...
"Dubious use..." Snape parrots in confusion.
Harry shrugs, "I have it on good authority that someone under the potion's effect for a prolonged period of time would experience... Side effects." anyone under its effects fo too long would see a permanent decrease in their magical potential, at least in Kali's opinion after analysing the sample she'd purchased in Diagon Alley.
Snape folds his arms, subduing the curious expression that was attempting to bubble through his facade. "Explain..."
"Why? I thought you were the teacher here, it wouldn't be right for me to teach the class."
"Hmph, arrogant." the professor sniffs before continuing, "Where would I find a bezoar?"
"A rudimentary reagent that neutralises most ingested poisons, the weakest and most common of which would be found in the stomach of most mundane goats."
...
"What is the difference between monkshood and wolf's bane?"
Harry crooks a brow, "Monkshood is a very toxic plant that cannot grow in the vicinity of pollution of any kind, it acts as a paralytic that can stop the heart at certain dosages... As for Wolf's Bane? I've never heard of that before."
Snape's eyes shine with victory, "Hm, it seems that your fame is just for show, Mr Potter." he drawls while stepping to the front of the class, both the Slytherin students and Gryffindors snickered at him, as if they knew the answers to the Professor's questions themselves...
"Five points from Gryffindor, for failing to live up to expectations." he states while scratching the lesson onto the board, writing out the potion recipe he wanted them to follow.
The class continued as normal, the students getting to work on creating the potion on the board. At least, until Draco had the bright idea of sabotaging Harry's cauldron... He had one of his 'bodyguards' toss a rotten toad tongue shaving at his cauldron, only for Harry to telekinetically sends it back, causing Crabb and Goyle's cauldron to explode and cover each of them.
They let out screams as the boiling concoction burned into their skin, which only worsened when large, seeping boils quickly began appearing. They were quickly carted off towards the Hospital Wing, and the class was cancelled due to the fumes the foul mixture was releasing.
Snape glared at Harry the entire time as he exited, suspecting him to be the real person responsible despite the lack of evidence.
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With the class cancelled and the next thing on his schedule being 'free time', Harry had nothing to do for a couple hours, leaving him time to explore the castle. Ducking out of the crowd, he heads up to the third-floor corridor, where his 'painful death' awaited him.
Unfortunately, it turned out to be a giant letdown. The only thing behind the locked door(which was stupidly easy to access mind you), was a giant three-headed dog... Since it didn't breathe fire and Harry wasn't currently in hell, it clearly wasn't a true 'Cerberus'. More likely just a mutated dog that'd been grown through experiments.
A light firebolt shot from the tip of his finger was proof enough that the beast wasn't a threat to anyone with a modicum of power. The light attack had burnt a patch of fur away and injured the flesh underneath, showing just how fragile the thing really was.
He'd have gone further down this rabbit hole if Kali was with him. He knew better to walk into what was almost certainly a trap without an escape plan. He'd check it tomorrow when she returned.
Next on his list of things to do, visit the Imps... Which should be in the kitchens, wherever they are...?
"Hmm..." he spots a moving painting nearby and approaches it, "Excuse me? Do you know where the kitchens are?"
The high-class-looking woman hums in thought, "Hm? Are you not eating enough young man? Are the feasts not enough, hmmm?..."
Harry gives a mental shrug and nods, "I missed dinner yesterday, and I don't think I'll last for lunch." he asks in a faux-innocent tone.
"Ooooh, I just want to pinch your widdle cheeks." she smiles, "The kitchens should be under the great hall, behind a painting if my memory is right...? Or maybe not? It has been a while since I've moved after all!"
"Really? Thanks." Harry says, giving a 'pleasant' wave as he walks off towards the basement.
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