Disclaimer - The world of Harry Potter is owned by JK Rowling and various publishers. I make no claim to ownership.
A/N: Thanks as always to my beta Vettesr for helping to get this in decent shape. As usual, any errors are my responsibility.
Chapter 3: The Potions Professor
The next morning, Harry awoke and took a quick shower. After dressing, he headed down to the common room where Hermione had also just arrived, blushing. She had seen glimpses of Harry taking a shower in her mind. Shall we wait for Ron and Neville and go down to breakfast together? Harry asked.
Sure, we don't want to be late though, the class schedules will be handed out this morning, she replied. We should try to get to the library as soon as we can, maybe we can find a quiet place there to talk and see if we can find out more about Soul Bonding.
Sounds like a good idea, thought Harry. "Here's Ron and Neville, let's go eat."
"That was a fantastic feast last night," enthused Ron. "Looks like you could put on some weight there mate." He quipped to Harry.
"My relatives never allowed me to eat very much at their place," said Harry. "The food here is fantastic."
"My Gran says I should lose weight." complained Neville.
"Aw, you'll work that off in no time here. Did you see how many staircases there are here?" remarked Ron.
"There are a hundred and forty-two," replied Hermione.
Hermione, it seemed, knew everything. This seemed to irritate Ron for some reason, but he just glared at Hermione without saying anything.
Whispers and stares accompanied them to the Great Hall for breakfast. Everyone wanted to get a look at Harry. "Did you see him?"
"Did you see his scar?"
Mail came, delivered by dozens of owls. Ron received a letter from his mother, and a copy of the Daily Prophet, the wizarding world newspaper.
Harry spotted it and asked if he could read the paper, and Ron passed it to him.
"Guys, look! Somebody broke into a vault at Gringotts," exclaimed Harry. Whispering, he read to them that the vault in question, number seven hundred and thirteen, was the vault that Hagrid and he had visited after he got his own money. Hagrid wouldn't tell him what he took out of there.
"That would have to be the work of a Dark Wizard," exclaimed Ron. "Those vaults are really well protected."
"I wonder what was in that vault," Hermione wondered.
"Something that Professor Dumbledore wanted kept secret, I bet," said Neville.
At breakfast, they were handed their class schedules.
"Darn, we get Double Potions with the Slytherins!" Harry was not looking forward to that, as his least favorite person would be there: Malfoy.
Finding their classrooms was tricky, stairways seemed to change, and some doors weren't really doors at all, but walls masquerading as doors. There were hidden shortcuts and animated portraits. Worst of all, were Filch and Peeves. Argus Filch was the caretaker and had a nasty look about him. He also had an annoying cat named Mrs. Norris. Mrs. Norris could smell trouble and would quickly fetch Filch, who would come running to catch the perpetrator. He handed out detentions with glee, only sorry that the old punishments were not used anymore. Peeves was a Poltergeist and was worth two locked doors and a vanishing step if you were late for class. Floating along a corridor, he would dump water at you or throw chalk. Nobody except the Headmaster and the Bloody Baron Ghost seemed able to control him. Nearly Headless Nick, on the other hand, was always willing to show the way to a lost Gryffindor student.
***
The teachers were as different from each other as was possible.
Professor McGonagall taught Transfiguration. She was a very strict witch and soon made it clear that nonsense would not be tolerated in her class.
"Transfiguration is some of the most complex and dangerous magic you will be taught at Hogwarts. Anyone messing around in my class will leave and not come back. You have been warned."
After she had changed her desk into a pig and back again, she set them to the task of changing a match into a needle. After taking a lot of notes, only Harry and Hermione were able to change the match to a needle. It wasn't quite perfect, but it brought a rare smile from McGonagall. Ron had made very little change to his match, but he was not alone. Most of the students had at least changed the match to a silvery color, and Neville even managed to get a slight point to his.
At the end of the lesson, Ron was in a sour mood.
"Ron, magic is about intent, as well as wand movement," Hermione explained.
"Now she tells me," complained Ron.
***
Professor Flitwick was a tiny wizard who taught Charms. He was so small, that he had to stand on a pile of books to teach. Best not to cross him though, as he was a former dueling champion.
When he called the roll, he let out a squeak and fell off his perch atop the books when he came to Harry's name.
***
Professor Sprout, a dumpy little witch, taught Herbology, and was in charge of the greenhouses.
They studied plants and magical fungi. Neville seemed delighted with this class.
***
A ghost taught history of Magic. Professor Binns had fallen asleep years ago and died. His ghost carried on, not realizing he was dead. His classes were easily the most boring, as he tended to drone on like an old vacuum cleaner. They studied Goblins rebellions and quickly got lost in all the odd names. Fortunately both Harry and Hermione kept good notes. Ron tended to fall asleep.
***
Professor Quirrell's Defense Against the Dark Arts classes were a bit of a joke. He seemed afraid of the subject, and a strong smell of garlic hung around his classes. It was said that he encountered a Vampire while in Romania and he was afraid it would come back for him. He wore a turban that he claimed had been given to him by an African Prince for getting rid of a Zombie. His turban, however gave off a funny smell.
***
Professor Snape taught Potions, and was the most obnoxious teacher they had ever had. They had Double Potions class with Slytherin students on Friday. Snape favored his own house, which was Slytherin, and regularly deducted points from other students for almost no reason. He seemed to take particular pleasure in deducting points from Harry. Harry thought that Snape disliked him. He was wrong. Snape hated Harry.
The very first class they had with the Professor, confirmed this. As he was taking the attendance, he noticed Harry.
"Ah yes Harry Potter… our new celebrity… Tell me, Mr. Potter, what would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood."
Harry didn't know, but the answer popped into his head from Hermione! "It makes a powerful sleeping draught called the Sleep of Death sir."
A nasty scowl appeared on Snape's forehead as he continued.
"Where, Mr. Potter, would you find Bezoars?"
Hermione's answer popped into Harry's head at once. "It's found in a goat's stomach and is an antidote for most poisons sir."
There was definitely a foul look on Snape's face now, but he continued.
"What is the difference between Monkshood and Wolfsbane Mr. Potter?"
Again Hermione came through to him. "They are the same plant sir; also known as aconite."
This time Snape snarled at him, "Ten points from Gryffindor, for your cheek, Potter."
This was blatantly unfair, and Ron responded, "He answered your questions Professor, you had no right to deduct points."
The room became very still, and everyone knew Ron had gone too far.
Silkily Snape replied, "Detention, Weasley, I will run this classroom and award or subtract points as I see fit."
Ron turned a bright red, but kept silent.
Draco and the rest of the Slytherins snickered.
After the class had ended, and the four friends exited, Ron burst out, "That git, he's so unfair! What did he expect? That Harry wouldn't know the answers so he could deduct points anyway?"
"Yes, but why does Snape hate me so much?"
"It's not just you Harry, Snape hates anyone not in his house," replied Ron.
Hermione gave Harry an odd look, and quickly suggested that they head to the library as it was their first chance to be alone after a trying week. Ron and Neville didn't seem interested, but Harry readily agreed.
"We'll see you two later," Harry said.
"OK, don't study too hard," replied Ron and Neville together.
Their study load wasn't too heavy this early in the year, but Hermione wanted to learn as much as she could, and pushed the others to study hard as well. Harry took up the challenge, but Ron seemed not as interested. Neville was interested in Herbology, and seemed to be good at it.
As soon as Harry and Hermione were alone, she turned to Harry and asked, "Did you really know the answers to Professor Snape's questions?"
Harry answered, "You know I didn't, thanks for the help. They just appeared in my head from yours." He grinned, "Thanks to you, I won't look like a complete fool with Snape."
"You really have to study harder Harry, but you can help me with things I may not know as well," she remarked.
"We can read each other's thoughts!" Harry said. "I think I really like you, you know. I've never met anyone like you: you're smart and pretty. How cool is that!"
Hermione blushed, "Thank you Harry, I think you're pretty special yourself."
Holding hands, they proceeded to the library. The magic seemed to strengthen when they touched, and they both felt a strong sharp tingle flowing through their hands. The hairs on the back of Harry's neck rose and Hermione gave a little gasp as her hand warmed perceptibly.
"Harry, I think it's getting stronger when we hold hands!" exclaimed Hermione. "It feels really nice.
"Dumbledore said that we could be very powerful together. I feel very comfortable with you. Harry suddenly stammered. Thinking to her, so they wouldn't be overheard he continued:
Hermione, I've never had anyone that I felt I could trust before, but with you, I feel safe. I've never even had friends, The Dursley's never let me associate with anyone. Even at school, Dudley would make sure no one would be my friend. They all hated me and called me a freak!
Oh Harry, I've never had any friends either. At least my parents loved me. I can't imagine what a horrible life you've had. At least now you have me. I'll always be your friend. We're bonded Harry, somehow meant for each other. She turned and gave him a quick kiss on his cheek and he blushed a deep red, before returning the favour, turning even redder.
This is spooky Harry, I felt a kind of shock that time!
H-Hermione, he stuttered, I think we better be careful. The bond seems to be pulling us. I-I'm not sure we can control this. I-I'm a bit afraid…
Ok Harry, we'll take it slow. We're still pretty young, we have lots of time They quickly made their way to the library and found a secluded corner.
"Let's see what we can find about Soul Bonding," suggested Hermione.
"I'll bet it's in the restricted section," Harry replied.
"Madam Pince won't let us use the restricted section without a professor's permission. Let's look anyway," Hermione replied. "We can always ask Professor McGonagall for permission, if it's in the restricted section."
"Remember, we also have to see Hagrid. He invited us down to his cottage," Harry reminded her.
"Right. When shall we go, and should we invite Ron and Neville as well?"
"Yes, of course, we're all friends, aren't we," Harry said. "We'll check with them, but I think after supper would be a good time."
Searching through the library confirmed Harry's suspicions. The books were not there.
***
In the Headmaster's office, Albus Dumbledore looked up sharply. Another small disturbance in the magic had just occurred; two sharp brief spikes. There could be no doubt this time, Harry and Hermione were continuing to bond. This was most disturbing. They were simply too young to push their bond this quickly! He'd have to have a talk with them, if they continued at this pace, they would be effectively married. Advancing that quickly could produce an unstable bond, he thought. It could be disastrous for them both, now that their magical powers would have increased. They might not be able to control any wild magic they accidentally produced, and they were much too immature to control their emotions.
He called Minerva McGonagall to his office for consultations.
As she sat down, she noticed the worried look on the Headmasters face. "Albus, what's happened?" she asked.
"Minerva," he began, uncertain how to proceed. "I think we may have a problem with our two bonded students. The bond seems to have increased dramatically a few minutes ago. I think they may be now in the second stage of bonding."
Minerva gasped. "So soon Albus? How could this be? They're much too young to reach that stage and that quickly."
"Something must have pushed them. I was afraid this might happen. The bond must be self-reinforcing. We'll have to talk to them, and try to slow down the bonding, or serious consequences may result. If they reach the third stage, they would be effectively married, and Merlin knows what that would do to a pair so young. The bond might not be stable and it could wind up destroying them both," Albus replied.
"When do you want to see them?" asked the Professor.
"As soon as possible, but I think we can wait a day or two. We'll have to keep a close eye on them though. Thank goodness the books on Soul Bonding are in the Restricted Section of the library," Albus said.
"Just make sure they can't get at them Albus," Minerva replied.
***
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