Chaos and Order - A Multiverse Fanfic-Chapter 984: Snape’s Practical Lesson and Lupin’s Boggart

Chapter 984: Snape’s Practical Lesson and Lupin’s Boggart

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"Professor Dumbledore believes that students are ready to learn the advanced and practical art of potions," Snape drawled as he walked into the Potioneering classroom in the dungeons. "I... think otherwise."

Black and Harry shared a glance, realizing that Snape was up to something again.

The first day of their third year at Hogwarts had ended with a bloody note yesterday, with Pansy gaining a long scar across her left arm.

The uproar had been so much that even the wild rumor of Black scaring a Boggart was buried under the latter’s reality.

Presently, they were attending their double Potions with Slytherins.

Yet, there was still no sign of Pansy Parkinson.

"I am telling you!" Hermione hissed from the table next to Harry and Black. "Pansy has a penchant for making everything about her. I bet she just wants to create more ruckus. Poor Hagrid... Madam Pomfrey can mend anything! Pansy must still be faking it, hoping to get Hagrid in trouble."

Black looked toward Hermione. "... penchant for making everything about her?" he repeated. "Well... that’s one thing common between you and her, then, no?"

Before Hermione could fume at Black, Snape’s cold voice rang again in the classroom.

"Mr. Black..." Snape called out, approaching the boys. He briefly glanced toward Hermione, who put her head down, and then brought his eyes back to Black. "Having a lover’s spat, are we?"

Draco and Ron sniggered, standing behind a cauldron. 𝙛𝒓𝓮𝙚𝔀𝒆𝒃𝓷𝒐𝓿𝙚𝓵.𝙘𝒐𝒎

Harry had to look over his shoulder to hide the grin on his face.

Daphne tried her best to keep a stoic expression and failed, burying her chin in her chest.

Hermione’s reaction was much more drastic. "Lovers?! Him?!" she hissed. "I’d rather date a troll!"

"... only if that troll knows how to tame wolves..." Black snapped back.

"Enough." Snape stepped forward, looming over Black like a Dementor. "5 Points from Gryffindor for raising your voice in front of a Professor, Mr. Black."

Draco, Ron, Harry, and almost all the other Gryffindors gasped at the injustice.

Snape looked around as if daring even one of them to open their mouths. When none did, he walked back to the head table and faced the students. He lifted his hand and pulled out a vial from his sleeves, carrying a dark purple potion.

"Sleeping Draught," Snape introduced, talking slowly and deeply as usual. "And, no. This will not be the potion we will practice today. As most of you already know... Sleeping Draught causes the drinker to fall almost instantaneously into a deep but temporary sleep. Not as potent as the Draught of Living Death, but it’s simple and can be mass-produced by even... half-wits (-he looked at Neville-). Which makes it crucial for you to know how to counter it."

Snape waved his wand, and a barrel appeared on the table.

He opened its top and poured the entire vial of Sleeping Draught into it, already making the students’ faces pale.

"Today, you all will be brewing Wiggenweld Potion," Snape addressed, his face holding a light smirk which all Gryffindors hated. "A practical healing potion which can heal minor injuries, and is an antidote to the Sleeping Draught and the Draught of Living Death. At the end of the class — each one of you will drink from the barrel before taking the Wiggenweld Potion brewed by yourself."

Feet shuffled.

Students looked at each other, dread flashing across their eyes.

"Sir, what if we fail to brew it?" Harry asked, heads nodding around him. "We have our first Defense Against the Dark Arts class after lunch..."

From the disappearance of the smirk on Snape’s face, Harry instantly knew he shouldn’t have mentioned the next class.

"Well, Mr. Potter..." Snape said, his dark eyes penetrating Harry’s glasses. "In that case... let’s hope Professor Lupin will hold an extra lecture for you... a likely thing to happen, given... how special you are."

And the first class of their Potions began exactly as Harry and others had thought it to be — on a very nasty note.

...

After lunch, Black and Harry yawned as they walked toward the Defense Against the Dark Arts classroom, Ron dragging his feet behind them.

Draco, walking lively a step ahead, looked back. "Oh, come on!" he threw his hands exaggeratedly. "Will you three just..."

Black threw his books at Draco’s face.

"You are enjoying it, aren’t you?" he said as books slid down Draco’s face, revealing his smirk. "Why are you so good at Potions anyway?"

Draco rubbed his nose and smacked his shoulder against Black’s.

He still remembered his Potioneering lessons with Darcie from years ago.

Those lessons had been meant for Darcie, but, in trying to prove himself to his father, he had tried to learn the subject as well.

Only later had Draco realized how pointless a quest that had been.

"I swear..." Ron mumbled. "If Yellow Warlock attacks Hogwarts right now, Snape will first deduct points from Gryffindor before doing anything else..."

The boys entered the classroom, half laughing and half yawning.

And they immediately came to a halt.

The classroom was missing all the tables, and students had gathered in the middle, with Professor Lupin standing in front of them, a large, old cabinet rattling next to him.

There was no need to even say a word.

Harry, Draco, Ron, and Black looked at each other, knowing exactly what Lupin’s first practical lesson was about.

If the cabinet wasn’t enough of a sign, then it surely was the fearful expressions on students’ faces.

However, the moment they turned back and saw Black at the door, their faces gained a flash of curiosity.

"Ah... here you are," Professor Lupin smiled at the boys. "Your reputation follows you. Especially yours, Mr. Black. What is this I am hearing? You scared a Boggart?"

As the four boys walked in, Professor Lupin tapped the cabinet lightly with his wand.

"Boggarts..." he began, smiling at the students. "Can someone tell me what they are? Yes, Miss Granger?"

Hermione put her hand down. "It’s a Shape-shifter, Sir," she answered. "It takes the shape of whatever it thinks frightens us the most."

"Precisely!" Professor Lupin nodded. "Given Hogwarts’ situation, I think it’s time that you learn how to deal with a Boggart. And, to show that a Boggart can only be confused, not scared, how about...

"... we start with Mr. Black?"