Potions Lesson 1

While he was waiting for possible questions, the door to his classroom opened and one of his Slytherins slipped in. He have her a short nod to let her know that her lateness was excused.

Seeing that obviously none of the students had any questions to pose, Severus slipped into lecture mode. "Very well. As this is the first lesson of term and I have no doubt those of you that had ever the slightest knowledge of potions have lost it over the course of holidays, we will cover some basics today." he drawled silkily.
He would not start with any practical tasks, as he did not have a wish for dealing with their imbecilic attempts at brewing on his first day back in the classroom. No, it was much better to test their knowledge, no matter how meagre it may be.

"Now then, who can list the uses of Valerian in potion making?" Severus asked, expecting to see several raised hands, at least from the older students.

Magnus was flipping through the pages of his potions book when he heard the dull thud of a small first year Gryffindor falling to the ground, his head shot up out of his book as he scanned the room. His eys locked in on the boy and a cruel smile danced across his face as he watch the professor swoop over him like a hawk over its prey.

After turning back to his book he heard the professor speak again and this time his attention snapped onto him, "Now then, who can list the uses of Valerian in potion making?" The professor asked the class, Magnus was about to open his mouth to answer him when a warning bell went off inside his head. 'Remember what mum said about professor Snape,' at that moment his mouth snapped shut and his hand in one smooth and swift motion raised into the air waiting to be called on.

Emrys moved to respond to Rowan when she heard the professor's question, raising her hand she said "Valerian is known as all heal, or it was in medieval times. Its used int he draught of the living dead most notably"

Rowan notcied her friend preparing to answer her, but then heard the lecture for the class start and figured she would check on her after class. The first question she knew the answer to, but Emrys beat her to the punch. Glancing at her, she gave her a small grin before readying to hear the next question.

Severus was quite proud to see that he didn't have to wait long for two of his snakes to raise their hands. Still, his eye twitched slightly in annoyance when one of them started speaking without being picked, but he decided to let it slight just once without taking points.
"You are indeed correct, Miss Grimm. Five points to Slytherin." he said, nodding, "though next time, I expect you to wait till I picked you on."

Turning to the class, he continued lecturing. "As Miss Grimm rightly said, Valerian was known as a remedy for different health problems. It was used as a soporific and for curing nervous diseases. The Draught of Living Dead is one potion for which we need Valerian, but it is of the utmost importance that you know to differentiate between Valerian sprigs and roots, as they can not be use equally. Who can tell me for what potions you need the roots?" Severus asked.

Ian had been listening attentively to his professor's lecture about Valerian and the answer of his classmate. He looked around, not knowing if he should copy these things down or if he should rather wait for his teacher to finish talking, but as he saw that the other students were not writing either, he shrugged and looked back at Professor Snape who had just posed another question.
This time, Ian raised his hand as well. This topic had been covered in one of the chapters in Magical Drafts and Potions.

Rowan could have sworn she remembered reading about Valerian roots and springs, and figured, why not give it a shot. Might earn her house some points. Putting her hand into the air, like one of the Hufflepuffs, she waited to see who would be call on to answer this question.

Magnus was greatly irritated when one of his house mates had not waited to be called for and instead just giving the answer, he was snapped out of his thoughts when the professor shot of another question. Magnus knew the answer to the question and began to raise his hand when two others shot in the air, slowly he lowered his half raised hand. He had been beaten at the questions game but that was only a part of the class. "I will wait until the potion making to show my true skill," he thought to him self as he picked up his quill and started to jot down notes and ideas.......

Severus nodded approvingly at the two students that had raised their hands and shot a short glance to the Slytherin student who had been about to raise his hand as well, acknowledging his attempt. The boy would get his chance as well. The term had just started after all and Severus held quite a few questions to see which student had actually come prepared for his class.
"Mr Mortinson?" he picked the young Hufflepuff first year that had been the fastest.

Arron was late and he knew it but it didn't bother him at all, professor Snape and Arron had never gotten along even on his first day in the class he had got a detention and 15 points deducted from Gryffindor. But none of this mattered, Potions was only one of his classes and he could easily earn back his points. As he reached the door he took a deep breath and exhaled composing himself before opening the door.

A rather loud and high pitched squeaking emitted from the door as Arron pushed it open, looking around he saw that class had already began. Closing the door behind him with another loud squeak he turned and moved to an opened seat about mid classroom, taking his seat Arron pulled out a few sheets of parchment a quill and small bottle of ink. Sitting all of his supply's on the desk he uncorked the ink dipped his quill in it and jotted something down across the first sheet of parchment. He looked up to hear the Professor call on a young first year Hufflepuff seated a few rows in front of him. Arron went back to his parchment and waited for some outrageous punishment from the professor...

Severus felt his eyes narrow in anger when the door suddenly opened and one of the Gryffindors walked inside to take his seat. He couldn't believe the utter gall of that boy! Not only being several minutes late, but also strutting into his classroom without even the smallest apology. Severus could feel the anger rising in him and almost flew into a full blown rage at this display of disrespect. It took all of his willpower not to walk straight over to the brat and give him a good hiding, but he knew that the headmaster would never condone such behaviour.

Taking a steadying breath, he grit his teeth and quickly made up his mind on how to deal with the boy. Two years of receiving detention and having points taken from his house, had obviously not tought the boy anything, so Severus had to take a different approach this year. We shall see who has the upper hand in this, he thought seething.

Turning back to the Hufflepuff, Severus gave him a short nod to let him know that he could answer the question now. "Mr Mortinson, please don't let yourself be interupted by Mr Thompson. Unfortunately, his parents were incapable of teaching him how to behave properly." he said nastily. "He shall receive his punishment after class and has just lost his house 50 points." Severus knew that it was quite a lot, but this was not the first occurence of such behaviour and he would not tolerate it any longer. He would not have his lesson disrupted by little Gryffindor brats.

Ian smiled to himself, happy that the professor had picked him to answer the question and was just about to speak when suddenly the door opened with a loud shrieking sound and another gryffindor student walked in.
Watching with his mouth slightly agape as the boy didn't even pay any attention to his teacher and had just sat down without any apology. Ian shook his head, not able to believe how anyone could act like that, even for a Gryffindor this was quite disrespectful.

Turning back to his teacher, he winced. Ian had never seen anyone look so absolutely murderous before, although Professor Snape managed to get his features under control quite quickly, so that if he hadn't payed attention, he would have missed the furious expression completely.

Clearing his throat nervously, Ian hoped that his answer was correct because he had no doubt that the Professor was close to exploding right now. "Valerian roots are used in the Draught of Living Death and in the Draught of Peace." he said as calmly as possible.

Neville was sitting on his chair with hunched shoulders, to make himself as small as possible. Hearing that there would be nothing practical today made him sigh in relief. He had absolutely no doubt that he would be dreadful in this subject and Professor Snape only made it all the more horrible by being so intimidating.

It was hard for him to concentrate on the lecture or one the answers the other students gave because he was still quite shaken up by embarrassing himself so much, especially in front of this teacher. Why couldn't he be a bit nicer? Like some of the other teachers?

He didn't even dare to turn when he heard the door open again, but one glance at his teacher made his mind go blank with fear. The man looked positively homicidal and if his body would not be frozen in terror, Neville would have fled out of the classroom then and there.
So he was confused when Professor Snape didn't even say much about the boy being late, just took quite a lot of points. But Neville was still quite scared for the other Gryffindor.

One of Arron's eye brows shot up as the professor announced a 50 point deduction from Gryffindor, "that's a bit much don't you think?" Arron thought to himself as he went back to his writing when out of the corner of his eye he caught a glimpse of a young boy first year and not to his surprise a Gryffindor, he appear to he avoiding looking at Arron but this only brought a smile to Arron's face leaning over he whispered to his house mate. "Don't worry he is only this cranky first term, it gets better," Arron told the boy with a sly grin spread across his face. "Arron, Arron Thompson by the way. Whats your name," he asked the younger boy.

Neville jumped slightly, eyes widening comically, when he heard someone talk to him from his side. It was the older Gryffindor that had just almost got killed by their professor and he was talking to him. Neville swallowed hard and looked back to the teacher, panic raising in him, he began to sweat slightly.
He didn't want to appear rude, but with the mood Professor Snape was in right now, he really shouldn't talk to anyone. Neville prayed that the earth would open right now and swallow him whole. "Neville..." he finally whispered, though so quietly that the other boy might not even hear him.

"50 POINTS?" Adrastos Moody nearly shouted as he came out of his seat, "Jesus fucking christ, ain't that a bit much, Snape?" he asked with a growl, "All he did was get here late, jeez," he roared. When he was irritated, his mood mirrored that of his father's, "Oh and take more points away, I don't care, at this rate, we don't even have a chance of winning the damn house cup," he spat. Ricardo pulled Adrastos back to his seat and hushed him, as Harry tried to hide his face so he felt less embarrassed, "I apologize for my colleague professor..." Ricardo whispered but in an audible tone.

David was late for class.. probably something to do with the fact it was taught by Snape, someone who, in his short time of knowing him, he detested, the way he treated Slytherins like they were the kings of the world, and Gryffindor's like they were dirt.

He walked in as Snape took points away from a Gryffindor for something,"Fifty?!" he said in outrage, before he could help himself.. he them clammed up, taking a seat in front of Thompson. "what the heck did you do man?" he asked the kind in an undertone.

Rowan swallowed and her brown eyes grew wide at hearing that the Gryffindor house lost points that maybe they didn't even have already just for a student being late. Mental note, Rowan, show up on time... She had heard the door open and the other student arrive late, but she didn't dare look to see who it was. Instead, she focused on what Professor Snape was saying and listening to the answer from the Hufflepuff that he chose to answer his second question. There is always next time, Rowan...

Emrys patted Rowan's hand as her eyes watched the angry gryffindors with a small smirk, they were losing points faster then they could earn.

Arron gave the boy a small smile, "nice to meet you," he said but sensed the boy was uneasy and decided to leave him alone. Turning his attention back to the professor he listened but to his surprise another one of his house mates had a out burst about the points, Arron couldn't help it but smile and chuckle. When David walked into the room a grin spread across his face, "nothing I am innocent," Arron said jokingly spreading his hands in defeat.

On the other side of the classroom Fred lead over and whispered to his brother, "if that fat pompous fool said that any louder the professor might have heard." Gorge could help but snicker at his twin brothers joke, "you know I think your right Fred." He said with a sly smirk plastered on his face...

Magnus had stayed quite as the whole commotion had went on, he was quite disgusted with the behavior that had been shown in the class. He was raised to have the up most respect for the professors at Hogwarts and this was just a disgrace. Finally coming to the conclusion he could do nothing about it he sat there quietly.

Severus could have sworn that his eyes went slightly cross-eyed in outrage when he had to listen to the outburst of yet another Gryffindor. At this point, it didn't even matter anymore that another Gryffindor made his late entrance. What the hell was wrong today with these children? he wondered, pinching the bridge of his nose while seething anger shot through him.

"Thank you for voicing your completely irrelevant thoughts on my teaching methods, Mr Moody. That will be ten points from your house, another ten from Mr Shuter and the next person that opens their mouth without being called on by me, will be placed under a silencing charm and can repeat this lesson tonight. I hope I made myself clear." he hissed coldy. Severus had trouble to keep his voice smooth and silky like normal, but he would never lower himself to actually raise his voice at the children.

He gave a curt nod to acknowledge the other boy's apology, obviously there were still some students with common sense in that blasted house. The thought that his own son would take an example form these brats was almost bad enough to reconsider his decision to send Mio to Hogwarts.

Severus could still feel the anger boiling in him, just below the surface, but hearing the right answer from his student succeeded in appeasing him to some level. He nodded shortly at the young Hufflepuff student. "Very good, Mr Mortinson. That will make five points for your house." he told the boy and continued questioning the class. "Now you know the uses for Valerian root and I hope you are all copying this down as I shall not repeat myself. Now who can tell me what the sprigs of Valerian are used for?"

Malphas quickly raised his hand after the class calmed down, willingly trying to make Snape regain complete control. Because even after his warning, you never knew if the gryffindors would continue or not.

Rowan looked away as Professor Snape gave the conditions of the next outburst should one happen. And, as he spoke, she took the time to jot down what they had covered thus far. It was sure to be a rather interesting class if today was any indication of how the class was going to go. When she heard another question get posed to them, she shot her hand into the air and looked up, hoping to be called on this time.

Giving a curt nod to one of his snakes, Severus called him on. "Mr Gaunt, please prove to these gentleman that there are still some students who can utter something sensible." he said with a long-suffering sigh. It was time to focus his class back on the subject at hand.

Letting her hand fall, Rowan looked over at Malphas as she was beat by him to answer the question at hand. She could only hope that this wasn't the last question of the day. She really wanted to earn her house some points.

Malphas nodded, and then spoke calmly and firmly, "The sprigs of Valerian are used as ingredients for the Forgetfulness Potion. They are usually used in pairs, and are added to the cauldron after the heating process is done with," he finished, and then winked at Kain who stood next to him, before looking up at professor Snape, waiting for him to evaluate his answer.