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 Chapter Three: Potions in the Past

Classes began the next day and my schedule was jam packed. First I had Defense Against the Dark Arts and then immediately after I had Advanced Potions. I was going to be the only fifth year in Advanced Potions considering Snape bumped me up to fifth year potions last year. Even though I didn't take the O.W.L.'s last year, Snape signed off on a form allowing me to continue to the next level. Both classes would be interesting, since they were being taught by a new Professor.

I arrived early to Defense Against the Dark Arts and saw that we were sharing with the Gryffindors. "Caoimhe over here," I heard Ginny call and I went to sit with her in one of the middle rows. "Can you believe who our Professor is?" she whispered.

"I know such a shocker," I answered back. It definitely was shocking, but I wasn't upset about it. Ginny wasn't a fan of Snape so I left it at that. I personally couldn't wait to hear what he had to say about the subject.

Right before class began Snape entered into the room, closing the door behind him. He stepped up to the front of the class and had a sort of glow about him. He's always wanted to teach this. He must be thrilled now. I really hope the trend didn't continue with the Defense Against the Dark Art's professors disappearing. "No need to take out your books," Snape said turning around and facing us all. "At the end of this year you will be taking your O.W.L.s and I promise you, this will be the hardest you will ever have to work if you want to continue onto N.E.W.T. level."

A lot of students in the room looked frightened at that comment. I imagine everyone's already stressing out about their O.W.L.'s. I knew I was. Snape then carried on with defining Defense Against the Dark Art's for us and it was clear how passionate he was. He spoke about it differently than any other professor had. I'm shocked that Dumbledore hadn't hired him as professor all along. Then he even began to show us pictures of people who had suffered attacks from the Cruciatus Curse, the Dementor's Kiss, and even an Inferious.

A Gryffindor boy in the front raised his hand, "What's an Inferious sir?" he asked. Snape looked around the room.

"Can anyone tell me about Inferi," he said looking around the room. His eyes landed on me before I could even raise my hand. "Miss Riley."

"Yes sir," I said right away. "Inferi are dead bodies that are brought back by a witch or wizard to serve them. They can't think for themselves and are hard to destroy. Inferi were used in the First Wizarding War." Snape nodded. The class looked a little horrified at my description of Inferi.

"Ten points to Ravenclaw," he said.  A girl from Gryffindor raised her hand in the front and he nodded at her.

"Sir, if they were using Inferi in the First Wizarding War, do-do you think they're using them now?" she asked sounding frightened.

"The Dark Lord has used them in the past yes, which means we can all assume he is likely to be using them again," Snape answered. At least he got straight to the point.

For the rest of the class we began to practice nonverbal spells. Ginny, Luna, Colin, and I already knew how to perform defensive nonverbal spells thanks to Harry. We got to pair up with someone, so Ginny and I went together. From across the room I saw Colin Creevey nonverbally defend a spell from another Gryffindor boy, but Snape ignored it. Then when Luna did the same, he gave her five points to Ravenclaw. Snape really did not like the Gryffindors. When class ended I said goodbye and thanked Snape as always before leaving the class. "You're lucky Snape doesn't hate you," Ginny added as we walked the hall with Luna.

"Well I always answered his questions my first year," I said with a shrug.

"Anyway where are you off too?" she asked me.

"Advanced Potions," I muttered.

"Wow good luck with that one," she laughed. "Although Slughorn seems really nice. He asked me to join his Slugclub, I think it's called. Saw me hexing a few kids," she laughed. Interesting. "Well off to Transfigurations, see you."

"Bye Ginny," I called back. As I started walking towards the Dungeons, I looked down at my books. This wasn't right. I grabbed my potions book from last year, Fifth Year Potions. This is what happens when I rush to get everything ready in the morning. Turning around quickly I rushed down the hall and then ran up the stairs. Why did Ravenclaw Tower have to be so far away? I literally had about fifteen minutes in between classes.

Hogwarts was already massive and this run made it feel even bigger. The Dungeons and Ravenclaw tower were on complete opposite sections of the castle. When I got to my dorm I threw my books on my bed and grabbed my copy of Advanced Potions. Taking a deep breathe, I began running back down the hall towards the stairs. By the time I got to Advanced Potions, class was just about to start. Looking around for a seat, the only one available was by the Slytherin's...even worse, it was next to Malfoy. Sighing, I walked over and put my book down taking a seat.

Parkinson glared at me but looked away and Draco looked up at me. "Want me as a potions partner again, do you?" he muttered. I shook my head at him as Slughorn began to talk. I was still mad at Draco about possibly be the one to tell everyone about my father. I'd have to get to that at another point. Looking around the class I noticed Harry, Ron, and Hermione sitting at a crowded table with other Gryffindors. They smiled sympathetically over at me.

Slughorn began introducing various Potions. He was asking us what they were, every time it was Hermione and I to raise our hands. He went back and forth between us. It was interesting to have someone else who always raised their hand. I smiled over at Hermione. Right as he finished introducing Felix Felicius, or better known as Liquid Luck, he said, "You all have until the end of the class to make the best Draught of Living Death Potion you possibly can. Winner will recieve a small vile of Liquid Luck."

Draco sat up straighter and his eyes lit up. Wow, he really wanted this potion. Everyone suddenly seemed interested. Hell, I wanted it for myself. "You may start now," Professor Slughorn said. Eveyone quickly began turning to the correct page and getting their supplies together. 

"Wish we could work in groups now Malfoy?" I asked him with a smirk.

"Please, I can do this on my own," he shot back.

I read all about this potion last year when I happened across it in a textbook. Quickly I began getting all of my ingredients out, following the instructions precisely. Hermione would most definitely be someone who could possibly win the vile. I looked up to see she was moving faster than usual. This was a difficult potion to make as there were mutliple ingredients and certain ways you had to cut each of them. At first everyone was excited but now everyone was stressing. Draco began looking very annoyed as he was trying to cut a small bean that kept slipping away. Slughorn was walking around the room. My potion was looking good so far, but I had a long way to go. "This is looking excellent," he said looking over at my potion. I smiled at him. "What is your name miss?" he asked.

"Thank you sir. I'm Caoimhe Riley," I said with a smile. Suddenly his face fell and I wondered why. He turned it back into a smile, but he looked uneasy.

"Ah well...very good work," he said turning and walking away. Draco looked up at me with a smirk, as if he knew what was going on.

"What was that all about?" I asked him. Slughorn looked almost scared of me.

"Your last name," Draco responded. "He now knows your father is a Death Eater, considering everyone does." 

"Yeah funny how everyone knows now," I replied darkly looking up at him. "When no one seemed to know before, not even the Professors." Back at the train everyone was treating me strangely. People still gave me uneasy looks in the hallway, but since I've been walking around with Harry, Ron, and Hermione much more they probably assume  I'm 'safe'. 

"What's with the attitude?" Draco asked me as he tossed a few more ingredients into his potion.

"It's obvious you're the one who told everyone," I snapped at him. 

"Me?" he asked shocked. "Why would I waste my time telling everyone that your father's a Death Eater when I have problems of my own?" 

"Then who else would have?"

"That fifth year Slytherin girl...Maeve I think her name is, said she overheard it and told everyone," Draco replied. "Welcome to the club," he added darkly. So it was Maeve who told everyone, not Draco? "Now if you're done distracting me I have a potion to win," he stated.

By the end of the class, everyone was rushing to finish up their potions. Crabbe and Goyles potions looked like vomit. Seamus Finnegan's exploded. Ron's was the wrong color. Draco's looked right, but had the wrong odor, which he seemed rather pissed about. Mine came out well considering I followed the directions precisely. Slughorn came around admiring everyone in the classes potions, and it was a big class. He came by mine and I saw Hermione look up. "Very excellent," he said with a nod writing something next to my name.

He walked over to Harry's table and looked at Hermione's, saying the exact same thing he said about mine. Maybe we could tie and split it. I'm sure that would work out well. Then he got to Harry's, "Why it's perfect!" he said excited. Harry? Not that I didn't think Harry was smart, I just always heard him complain how awful he was at Potions. It was his worst class. "One drop will kill us all! Very excellent Mr. Potter! Everyone come see."

Draco's face turned into a dark expression and he was not moving from his seat. I got up curious, and wow was I impressed. Harry's potion looked like it was made by a Professional. "How did you do it Harry?" I asked him.

"I dunno just followed the instructions," Harry said with a smile. Slughorn handed him the vile and dismissed the class. Well if anyone got it, I'm glad it was Harry. He needed it more than the rest of us. I watched as Draco stormed out without saying anything. Although I hated to admit it, I wish things were back to the way they were last year with us.

For the rest of the week everyone was trying to get back into our usual routine. My classes were much harder this year, the teachers were really stepping it up because of the O.W.L's. Harry, Ron, and Hermione were also beginning to study for the Apparation test and their N.E.W.T's which was frightening. I missed when I only had to worry about final exams. 

On Friday I had double Defense Against the Dark Arts which I didn't mind. We practiced a few new spells, but they weren't necessarily new to me because of Dumbledore's Army. Then we worked on our nonverbal spells. Luckily, I was really getting the hang of it and was feeling much better about my exam. "Ten more points to Ravenclaw," Snape said after our final practice. As we were leaving Snape asked "Ms. Riley, what field do you plan on going into after Hogwarts?"

Ginny quickly waved and took off. I turned around while picking up my books and looking at Snape. "I'm not really sure sir," I said with a shrug. I've thought about it loads of times but couldn't think of one thing that would make me happy. Being a Professor would be nice, but I'm not sure I would have the patience to reteach everything over and over again each year. A healer would be an excellent job, but I hated seeing severe injuries...and in the wizarding world there was plenty.

"Have you thought of becoming an Auror?" he asked. 

"A few times," I said with a nod. "I know it's a difficult field to get into." You had to recieve five passing grades at N.E.W.T. level.

"I think you make a fine Auror," Snape said. 

"Thank you sir," I said with a smile before walking off to my next class. Maybe I could become an Auror. As difficult as it was, maybe it was something I could achieve. 

There was twenty minutes until my next double so I took the long way around to kill some time. As I was passing a group of third year Hufflepuff girls, they all looked at me strangely and quickly took off. I don't see why everyone was thinking it was a big deal. This was my fifth year here and they never even noticed me, let alone fear me! I rolled my eyes when I spotted Draco smirking from across the hall. At least the older years were treating me normally again.  He was alone. "As I said, welcome to the club," he added.

"I'm not in your hypothetical club," I added annoyed. "I don't even know what my father looks like. He has absolutely nothing to do with me."

"Like they care," he added rolling his eyes. "No matter how well you do in Potions even Slughorn won't invite you to join the Slugclub." That couldn't be true. There was a big difference, Draco grew up with his father and was close to him. I could honestly pass my father on the street and not even know it was him. Slughorn could realize that eventually.

"We'll see," I added with a quick smirk before taking off. I was going to prove to Draco that nothing has changed now that everyone knew. Slughorn eventually would invite me to join his club. 

That night I was in the library, researching more about the Auror profession. It was practically empty, considering it was a Friday night. Ginny was off with a few of her Gryffindor friends walking around the castle. There was a lot of really intense training involved with becoming an Auror. I mean, I'm sure if I worked hard I would get the grades but it was the actual training part that was difficult. 

"Caoimhe right?" a friendly voice said. I looked up from my book to see Cathal, Head boy and Ravenclaw prefect, standing there with a few books of his own. "I'm Cathal. What are you doing here" he asked with a smile. 

"Yes that's me," I answered to the name part. "I was studying for my O.W.L.'s and now I'm just reading about Aurors," I answered. 

"Interesting isn't it?" he said with a smile. "I'm thinking of becoming an Auror myself, but I would also like to work in the Department of Mysteries." I smiled but cringed at the thought, that was one place I would definitely not want to go back to.

"I've been there," I added with a laugh. "It's definitely interesting."

"Really?" he asked interested pulling the seat out from across from me and sitting down. "How? I've heard they don't let any visitors go in there."

"Well I wouldn't say we were 'visitors'." I laughed. His face turned into an amused smiled.

"Wait you wouldn't have happened to be with Harry Potter last year at the Ministry?" I nodded. "I think it's really great what you all did. I know a lot of people say it was reckless, but it was definitely worth it." I completely agreed. Although it was dangerous Harry got to reveal that the Dark Lord was back.

Cathal and I talked for over an hour after that. He told me all about his N.E.W.T. exams, he received seven of them so he was clear to begin Auror training when he graduated this year. It seemed like a scary profession to get in to. What I liked about Cathal was that he was honest, he wasn't afraid to admit that he was nervous to beging the training. Then we talked all about O.W.L.'s, and he gave me a few helpful tips. "You're only a fifth year and you're taking Advanced Potions?" he asked seeming impressed.

"Well Professor Snape bumped me up last year to fifth year potions, so I was placed into Advanced Potions by him this year," I explained.

"We must be in the same class," Cathal said. "I was really busy concentrating on that potion last week that I barely made eye contact with anyone," he laughed. The class was large, I only noticed the tables close around me. "What do you think of Slughorn?"

"He seems nice," I said with a nod. 

"Kind of strange though?" Cathal added in a whisper and I laughed. "He seems to almost play favorites. Did he invite you to join his Slugclub?" I shook my head. "Really? I'm surprised. He asked me to join after class one day. I haven't gone to a meeting yet."

"He didn't ask me," I said with a shrug. "It's because my father, well I'm sure you know, being a Death Eater." The whole school knew, which obviously meant the Head Boy knew. "Not that I have ever even met my father," I added quickly.

"Well that's not fair. It's not your fault," Cathal added causing my face to brighten. "Well I best be going, I have some more errands to run. I'll see you in the Ravenclaw common room I'm sure. It was nice talking to you," he said while standing up.

"Bye," I said with a smile.