LIGHT NOVEL Chapter 18: 18. "Not surprising"
If you want to read ahead by 10 chapters from her you can visit my Patre-on.
{P} {A} {T} {R} {E} {O} {N}
https://patreon.com/Playerfanfic
-----------
Professor McGonagall came into the room just then and everybody immediately quieted down. She called roll first to make sure everybody who was supposed to be there was and hadn't gotten lost. She started off their lesson by giving them a basic definition of Transfiguration. "Transfiguration is a branch of magic that focuses on the alteration of the form or appearance of an object by manipulating it molecular structure. Transfiguration can be done to most objects and as with most forms of magic it includes, but is not limited to Transfiguration spells." She quickly changed her desk into a pig and just as quickly changed it back into her desk as the class gasped in surprise. "You won't of course be able to do this particular transfiguration for many years yet, but it is an example of transfiguring one object into another and back again. Please turn to Page 10 of your textbook and read the first chapter. When you have finished, I'll pass out matches and you will attempt to turn them into needles."
Everybody settled down, opened their textbooks and begin to read the assigned chapter. After a half-hour, Professor McGonagall handed out the matches and instructed them on focusing their magic. "Learning how to focus your magic will make leaning spellcraft much easier."
Nobody had managed to turn their match into a needle by the end of class. Some were pointy and some were still plainly matches. Harry thought his match looked more pointy and slimmer, but it clearly wasn't a needle yet.
Their next class was double Herbology with Professor Sprout. Harry really liked the motherly looking Professor. She sorted them into teams of three. He was teamed up with Hannah and Greg while Neville was teamed up with Vince and Susan. Hermione was teamed up with Justin and Morag. They all worked amicably repotting Siamese Sipapodds under Professor Sprout direction. Harry knew from from what his dad had told him that Sipapodds were the main ingredient in nutrient potions because they were loaded with vitamins and minerals.
At lunch everybody talked about their classes and what their favorite one was. They would have Charms, History of Magic, and Defense Against the Dark Arts tomorrow. Harry was really looking forward to double Potions after lunch.
"There goes the bookworms," Weasley sneered as they left the table to head to the dungeon. "You know what they say about Ravenclaw's, don't you?" He asked Thomas and Finnigan who were walking with him.
"No, what?" Seamus grinned.
"They say they have to look in a book to see how to wipe their bums after they take a dump!" Finnigan and he cracked up, laughing hysterically. Dean Thomas looked embarrassed as if he wanted to be anywhere else but with those two.
"You know what I heard about Gryffindors, Weasley?" Greg asked. "They're too stupid to know how to wipe their bums and have to ask somebody to do it for them."
Weasley's face turn bright red in anger and it looked for a minute as if he was going to fly at Greg and punch him, but the other boy's size gave him pause.
"I guess he's not as dumb as he seems," Vince said to Greg.
Harry already knew his dad would make a startling entrance into the Potion's classroom. Severus came in, slamming the door and standing, watching the students jump before he strode up to the front, his cloak billowing out behind him. "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making. As there is little foolish wand waving, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses …I can 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."* He picked a roll of parchment and began calling out names. When everybody was accounted for, Severus began firing out questions.
"Miss Granger, what would I get if I added powered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
"A powerful sleeping potion called the Draught of Living Death," Hermione answered confidently.
"Good. Ten points to Ravenclaw. Mr. Crabbe, where would I find a bezoar?"
"In the stomach of a goat, sir."
"Good. Ten points to Hufflepuff."
"Mr. Potter-Snape, what's the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
"They're the same plant, Professor. It also goes by the name aconite."
"Good. Another ten points to Ravenclaw."
Severus sorted them into teams of two. He put Neville with Harry, knowing the boy didn't have a lot of confidence. "This will be a permanent arrangement for the entire year." He waved his wand and brewing instruction appeared on the board. "This is a simple cure for boils. Do not add the porcupine quills until you have taken your cauldron off the fire."
As the class brewed the Boil Cure Potion, Severus walked around the classroom peering into cauldrons and checking the students' progress. They all seem to be doing well and Severus congratulated himself on his decision to partner the houses.
"When you are finished, please decant your potions into vials, put your names on the label, and bring it up to my desk."
After all the students had brought up their sample vials, Severus said, "Please spend the remaining time reading the next chapter. I want three feet of parchment on the uses of Siamese Sipapodds in potions, due on Friday. Please use specific examples in your essays."
When the second hour was up, Severus dismissed the class and called, "Mr. Potter-Snape, please stay behind if you would."
"I'll see you at dinner," Harry called to his friends.
"You and Mr. Longbottom did very well on your potion," Severus remarked as Harry followed him into their quarters. Severus called Blinky and requested tea and biscuits.
"Thanks, Dad," Harry said. "I think Neville could be really good at stuff, but he doesn't have a lot of confidence I don't think."
"Not surprising," Severus replied as he poured the tea. "He has been raised by his paternal grandmother, Augusta and she is quite the stern matriarch. I think unfortunately she sees Neville as she wishes him to be and not as he really is, but it is good you have become his friend."
"He's really nice and he knows a lot about Herbology. In that class he seems like a different person than he does in our other classes."
-----------
If you want to read ahead by 10 chapters from her you can visit my Patre-on.
{P} {A} {T} {R} {E} {O} {N}
https://patreon.com/Playerfanfic