Potions

Joyfully Hermione looked into her cauldron – the liquid inside had changed into a deep blue and silver curls rose from it. She had managed to create the potions of living deads, one of the most potent healing potions in the world of magic, absolutely perfect at once.

With a sigh the intelligent witch looked up and gave her teacher an angry glance – never he would admit that her potion was good or even give some housepoints for it.

"Oh, just give a damn on it!" she told herself, "I know it's good and that's enough!"

"Mione, your potions is perfect! Please, can't you help me with mine? PLEASE!" a begging whisper came from her right side.

"Ron … you did not follow the sixth line! Heat the potion once again and then add three drops of vermouth. If you continue with line seven then, you should at least succeed half-decent." Hermione whispered back.

"Thanks, Herms, you are such a sweetheart!"

A hushed cry sounded from the seats behind Hermione, Ron and Harry. Ron turned guiltily to Lavender Brown and blinked apologetically with his eyes.

"You have got a very jealous girlfriend there, Ron!" Harry grinned.

In the meantime, Severus Snape had stepped just behind Hermiones cauldron and given it a quick glance. He had seen her angry face before and knew very well what she had thought.

An absolutely different glance came from the front of the class – Draco Malfoy seemed to be very proud of his potion. It too was deep blue, but the smoke was more grey than silver and it rose in rings, not in curls, but still quiet good for the first attempt.

Snape knitted his eyebrows – even though he liked this boy, his attitude was very annoying.

"Okay then" he murmured and a malicious grin flew over his lips.

"The lessons draws to a close, ladies and gentlemen. You are now in the sixth year of your career here in Hogwarts, so I will tell you some news about the procedure for this year. We will go through one potion each lesson, if you cannot follow this pace, it's your own problem, I will not make any exceptions! Furthermore I will state the best potion at the very end of every lesson and with its help teach you some more information – which you of course will write down!"

A murmur occurred throughout the classroom – one potion each lesson? That would mean a big amount of work.

"The best potion this time …" Snape began and at once noticed the arrogant smile in Draco Malfoys face. He stopped for a moment, then turned to Hermione.

"I have never seen such a perfect potion in the first lesson after the big holiday, Miss Granger, and this one is a NEWT-level potion, which makes your success even more amazing!" he said calmly.

While he now, with a dipper full of Hermiones potion in his hand, explained the advantages of this liquid in particular and the healing potion generally, the eyes of the students grew bigger and bigger. When he said the words "10 points for Gryffindor", two thuds could be heard – Hermione and Malfoy had fallen from their chairs in disbelieve. Only with a big effort Severus Snape was able to restrain a grin.