Fan Fiction ❯ Mourning Tears ❯ Potent Potions ( Chapter 3 )

Mourning Tears

Chapter 3: Potent Potions

"Did you see how badly he was sucking up to Professor Mourning, the bloody git!" Ron said angrily as the trio walked towards their last class of the day, double potions with Professor Snape.

"There's nothing we can really do about it though, Ron," Hermione said vemenently. She was trying not to think about Draco at the moment but Ron really wasn't helping.

"Oh come off it Hermione, he was even worse then usual at lunch today because of this morning!" Ron retorted back, "You know full well the he took that Moke because someone from Gryffindor was goin' to take 'im."

"Were just going to have to wait and see what happens," Harry said with a sigh as he entered the classroom in the dungeon and made his way to a seat and started unloading his cauldron. Double Potions, his least favorite of all the classes that he took at Hogwarts, it was worse then Divination.

Harry and Ron had just gotten everything set up when Professor Snape stormed into the classroom, his black robes billowing about his form. The door of the room banged shut behind him causing part of the class to jump.

"There is to be no foolishness in my class," Snape snapped whirling to face the room full of students as soon as he reached his desk.

To many of the students' surprise Snape had snapped at a pair of Slytherin students, whom he normally favors. The pair of girls looked as if they were about ready to burst into tears for being yelled at for what they saw as no apparent reason. Even Draco sat there a few moments with his mouth agape at Professor Snape before it clicked shut as the man's dark gaze swept across the room.

Ron and Harry looked at one another as did Hermione and Neville, before turning their gaze back tot he front of the room. It was quite obvious that something was bothering Professor Snape more then just having Harry in the room.

Double Potions was going by at a painfully slow rate to everyone in the class, including the Slytherin students who could not escape the wrath of their professor. Neville had managed to melt another cauldron, which caused Professor Snape to become even nastier, as he terrified the poor Gryffindor boy nearly to death. Everyone was hoping that the bell would sound to free them for the rest of the day just to get away from Professor Snape. The class was crawling to a just half way through the hour when there was a knock on the door and the entire class pause and held their breath as the greasy haired professor turned his gaze to the door.

"Enter," Snape called loudly as he straightened up and backed away from Hermione and her partner, much to their relief.

"I'm sorry to interrupt you Professor Snape," came the reply of a melodious voice as Professor Mourning opened the door and entered the damp dungeon classroom. She paused a moment to look around the room not only to take in the students but, to take in her surroundings. "It's been a long time since I have been in this classroom," she murmured to herself.

"What can I help you with Professor Mourning," Snape replied through clenched teeth, as he noticed all the students gazes turning to fall on him.

"I need a few ingredients and I was told to come see you as none of the other professors have what I need, Professor," Trystania replied feeling it best not to refer to Snape by his first name in front of his class.

"Could this not wait till class was over," Snape replied bitterly as he looked about the class, causing the students to look back at their simmering cauldrons quite quickly.

"I'm sorry," Trystania replied, "but no it can't. If I don't finish the potion that I am working on in the next thirty minutes it will spoil and it will be too late."

"Very well," Snape responded with a sour note to his voice. "What do you need, I must make this quick for I have several students who I need to check their progress before class ends."

"This is what I need," Professor Mourning replied handing Snape a list of ingredients. "If you would like I could check on your students for you."

Snape took the list and began to read over it, one dark brow lifting the further he read. He then lowered the list so that he could look at the tawny haired woman who stood before him. His dark gaze then swung around the room, looking from student to student, making sure they were still working.

"It is going to take me half the time you need to gather these ingredients, Professor Mourning," Snape said as his gaze returned to the woman. "If you could," he paused, "keep and eye on my students…I will go get the ingredients you require."

He then held up a hand and pointed at Professor Mourning. "I do not want to here of you helping any of these students with their task, Professor Mourning, I will be quite disappointed if you do."

"Do not worry, Professor," Trystania replied in a soft tone. "I would do nothing that would jeopardize your teaching."

"See that you don't," Snape hissed softly as he swept by Trystania. "I will be back shortly."

Snape took one last glance around the room before he swept out the door. A loud thump sounded through the room, as it slammed shut again. The entire class let out a sigh of relief. Trystania shook her head as she moved forward to stand before Snape's desk. She then turned to face the class a slight forced smile upon her lips as she moved forward and started to inspect students work on their potions.

A few of the students whispered to each other about the events that had transpired within the last ten minutes or so in the classroom as Trystania stopped at Draco's cauldron and stirred its contents.

"Very good Mr. Malfoy," Trystania commented as she checked the constancy as well as the color of his potion. "It appears that you have the talent for potions."

"Thank you Professor Mourning," Draco said with a smile at the praise from the Slytherin instructor. He had hoped that there would be more, but as Trystania turned away, praise as the moment would have to be enough.

Trystania continued down the way, making comments to other students about how their potions were going some good, some bad, for both houses though she gave no points to either house, nor did she take any away. Her next stop was at Neville's cauldron, causing the poor boy to look up at her nervously.

"Let's see here," Professor Mourning said as she stirred the contents of Neville's cauldron. "It is coming along Mr. Longbottom, though you may end up running out of time before class ends for it to thicken enough." She gave the contents another stir. "It will work if it does not thicken for it is the right color, it will just work slower."

She then continued on with Neville beaming that his potion will work and he worked hard at making it thicken to the right consistency. She continued on stopping at each student that she could before Snape arrived back including stopping to see how Ron, Harry, Hermione, and the Slytherin student Pansy were doing. Each of them got some form of praise from her.

The door to the dungeon classroom swung open, the slight creak of the door opening slowly caused the students to look up as well as Professor Mourning, a look of relief on the woman's face when she saw that he carried all of the supplies that she needed. With a flurry of motion she was over to Professor Snape's side in an instant.

"You're a life saver, Severus," Trystania whispered in the tall man's ear as she took the ingredients from him. She straightened quickly and added in a normal tone of voice. "Thank you, Professor Snape, some of your students are progressing quite well."

"You're welcome, Professor," Snape replied to the retreating form of Trystania as she swept past him, his dark eyes watching her go. His gaze only returning to the class after the door had shut behind the woman.

"Now where were we," Snape said with a bit of malicious glee. "Ah yes, I remember, time to check your progress."

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Trystania headed back to her room quickly and locked the door behind her, before heading over to the cauldron that was simmering on a table by the window. She added the ingredients one by one and stirred the potion slowly waiting for the change of color as she hoped that she was not to late. She needed the potion to be finished so that it could age for one monthly lunar cycle before it would be truly ready.

"Excellent," she murmured excitedly to herself as she saw the liquid turn from a murky green to a pale silvery blue. Keeping a close eye on the time she lifted the cauldron off the fire exactly two hours after starting the potion, any longer and the potion would have gone sour.

Trystania left her room, locking it behind her as she left for the great hall for dinner as the silvery steam waifed from the cauldron as the potion cooled. The potion had to cool an hour before it could be poured safely into a container of crystal.

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Several students groaned on their way to the Great Hall for dinner. Double Potions had been a nightmare for the entire class, including the Slytherin students, some of which were complaining as they sat down to eat.

"Can you believe that," Hermione said furiously. "Neville's potion worked and Snape still took points away from Gryffindor as he accused him of cheating!"

"Bum wrap that was," Ron added as he walked next to the girl with wild brown hair. "Seems that Professor Snape was in much worse of a mood today then he normally is."

"I agree," Harry replied as he shook his head. "I wonder if it had something to do with the new professors, or more pointedly Professor Mourning."

The three sat down at the table, Neville was soon to come along and join them though he looked to be quite down given his treatment in Potions. Soon the four of them were talking as more and more students showed up for dinner.

Not long after Neville arrived in the Great Hall, many of the Professors entered as well. One of them happened to be Professor Snape, looking to be in just as foul a mood that he was in during Potions. Many students at both the Gryffindor table and the Slytherin table flinched at seeing the sallow complected Professor enter the room. It appeared that he was just as curt with many of the other instructors as he had been with his students.

"Boy somethin's really got to be eaten on him," Ron remarked looking up at the teachers table.

"Meaning our lives are going to be made much more unbearable in Potions," Harry said glumly.

Neville and Heriome just sighed, what could they do but grin and bare it. It wasn't like they had a solution to what was wrong and they were going to try to stay on what ever tiny little good side they could find with Professor Snape till things blow over.

Professor Mourning entered the Great Hall not long after many of the other professors arrived and made her way up to the teachers table.

"Evening," Trystania said as she reached the table.

She was greeted back warmly by most of the professors there, all except one, Severus Snape.

"I think that someone is still mad at me," Trystania said as she sat down between Professor Dumbledore and Professor Snape. Dumbledore just smiled through his beard.

"Mad at you Trystania, never," Snape said in a dry tone. "Displeased, very much so."

"I still can't thank you enough, Severus," Trystania replied, a smile alighting on her lips, as she placed a hand on his arm. "Please don't be sore with me."

Snape just sighed, as his dark eyes slid shut for a moment and he set his utensils down. He then turned so that he could get a better look at the tawny haired professor that still had one hand resting upon his left arm.

"Did you finish your potion in time?" Snape asked, changing the subject somewhat, as he tried to be a bit more pleasant. "What potion are you making, Trystania, I am not familiar with one with such ingredients."

"Yes, the brewing of the potion went well thanks to you, Severus," Trystania replied as she removed her hand from Snape's arm and fixed herself a plate. "But it will not be ready for at least another 28 days."

The greasy haired professor blinked before raising a dark brow at Professor Mourning's statement, obviously at a lost for words. There was a few moments pause of silence.

"Oh no it's not that," Trystania said with a light laugh. "Severus the look on your face is priceless. Besides, I had concocted a potion for that years ago."

The conversation between Professor Snape and Professor Mourning changed several times during the course of the evening then woman departed after dinner.

"Try and go easy on her Severus," Dumbledore said softly as he lifted to his feet and placed a hand on the potion master's shoulder. "She's just glad to be back here once again and see a few familiar faces."

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Entering her room Trystania checked the potion; seeing that it was cool enough to pour she carefully filled two crystal bottles with the odd colored liquid and set them in the open window. The pale blue silver liquid swirled with darker ribbons of blue and silver as if it were full of some light metallic substance. She watched the colors swirl for a few moments before she left the window.

"I hope that that potion turns out well," Trystania said to herself as she slid behind her dressing blind and shrugged off her robes and pulled on a deep green silk sleeping gown. "It will make things much easier if it does."

She then walked over to her bed and sat down, looking over to the table beside the bed she picked up the letter that she had written earlier.

"I'll have to send this tomorrow," she murmured, before setting it down once again and sliding under the covers. The lanterns in her room slowly going out as she drifted off to sleep.