---
Chapter 57 — Potions, Praise, and Points
The next Potions lesson quickly became Harry's personal nightmare.
Professor Snape divided the class into pairs, instructing them to brew a simple Boil-Cure Potion. Then, like a cold, looming bat, he swept between the tables, robes billowing, eyes sharp for the smallest mistake — and especially for Harry's.
Harry took some comfort, at least, in knowing that Snape seemed equally harsh to almost everyone.
Everyone except Darren.
When Snape stopped at Darren's table, his expression shifted for the first time all lesson. He stared into Darren's cauldron, his black eyes unreadable.
Then, in a voice barely above a murmur, he said,
"Perfect. Simply… ingenious."
After a long pause, he added, "Twenty points to Slytherin."
Harry nearly burst out laughing. Snape's expression was priceless — torn between pride and irritation. His younger brother, a Slytherin, had just earned house points from the most biased professor at Hogwarts.
Darren himself looked surprised.
He hadn't done anything special — at least, he thought he hadn't.
While brewing, he'd followed the textbook steps, but a few creative impulses had struck him midway. He adjusted the ratio of dried nettles, crushed his snake fangs a bit finer, and stirred counter-clockwise twice instead of once.
The result? A potion that shimmered a soft turquoise instead of dull green — clear, flawless, and perfectly brewed.
Kassandra, seated beside him, hadn't stopped him once. She'd simply watched with an amused smirk, as though expecting him to succeed.
Snape stared at the potion a moment longer, lost in thought.
Darren wondered if he was thinking of her — of Lily Potter, who'd also been brilliant at Potions.
But Darren knew his own talent came from something… else.
Something not entirely from Lily's side.
A flicker of pride passed through him, but he quickly masked it.
Instead, he gave Snape a modest, almost innocent smile.
"Thank you for the compliment, Professor."
Snape's hands tightened behind his back.
His voice was low. "Keep brewing."
Then he turned sharply toward the rest of the class, his tone colder than ever.
"Well? What are you all staring at? Brew! Or must I hold your hands through every step?"
The students jumped and hurriedly focused on their cauldrons, terrified of drawing attention.
Darren only sighed softly and opened his Potions textbook again, the corners of his lips twitching in quiet amusement.
Just then, something caught his attention — Neville Longbottom's cauldron was starting to bubble ominously.
Before Darren could react, a familiar ding sounded in his mind.
---
[Ding! Holy Father System Mission: A student is about to cause a cauldron explosion. Run to assist Neville and carry the cauldron out safely.]
[Reward: Neville's innate Herbology talent.]
---
Ah, Neville again.
Darren couldn't help but think wryly that in Snape's class, there was always at least one explosion.
"Accept."
Almost the instant he accepted, green smoke began to pour from Neville's table.
Neville had somehow managed to set Seamus's cauldron on fire as well.
Harry was right beside them, eyes widening.
"Brother, get back!" Darren shouted.
He sprinted forward, grabbed the deformed cauldron before it burst, and ran toward the door.
"Be careful!" Snape barked, his voice sharper than a whip.
With a flick of his wand, he sent the bubbling cauldron flying safely into the corridor, where it detonated harmlessly with a loud BANG!
Snape turned on Darren, furious.
"Are you mad? What were you thinking—? Sit down before you blow yourself up!"
Then he rounded on Neville.
"You idiot! Did you even remove the cauldron from the flame before adding the porcupine quills?"
Neville burst into tears, his face covered in boils.
"Take him to the Hospital Wing!" Snape snapped at Seamus, his voice echoing through the dungeon.
The entire class shrank back.
No one dared breathe too loudly.
When Seamus had half-dragged Neville out, Snape spun toward Harry and Ron.
"Potter," he said coldly, "why didn't you stop him? You were right beside him. Twenty points from Gryffindor — for your carelessness."
Harry's jaw dropped.
"What? That's not fair!"
Before he could say more, Ron kicked him under the table.
"Don't. He's not reasonable with anyone outside his own House," Ron muttered.
Harry clenched his fists, his face red with frustration.
Then he saw Snape turn again — this time toward Darren.
"Oh no," Harry groaned under his breath. "Not Darren too."
But instead of a reprimand, Snape said coolly,
"For quick thinking and protecting a fellow student, twenty points to Slytherin."
Harry: "…"
Ron: "…"
Both groaned inwardly.
By the end of the lesson, Harry and Ron stumbled out of the dungeon, utterly drained.
Behind them walked Darren, calm as ever, trying to console them.
"Don't take it so hard," he said gently. "Professor Snape just wants everyone to learn properly. Once you brew the potion correctly, he doesn't mind what else happens."
Harry sighed. "That's you, Darren. Not us."
He rubbed his temples. "I swear he hates me. I don't even know what I've done to make him so angry. But at least you're in Slytherin — he obviously favors your House."
He slumped against the wall. "I've lost thirty points in my first week of school. How am I supposed to face my Gryffindor classmates now?"
Darren only smiled quietly, hands in his pockets.
He didn't say it aloud, but deep down, he was already wondering how many Father Points he'd earned today.
---
--
---
---
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Like it ? Add to library!
Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.
Your gift is the motivation for my creation. Give me more motivation!
Creation is hard, cheer me up! VOTE for me!