Surviving Times

Daphne's POV:

"I can't believe it." Draco sighed.

"Well, that makes it the two of us." I agreed with him.

"Count me in, mate." Theo chimed in. For once, I didn't have the mood to pick on him. We all share the same sense of crisis now. Except for Mia, who seems to be completely unbothered by it. We three share a look and stare at Mia.

"What?" She arched her brow. 'What?' she says. The three of us sigh.

"How did you know that Headmaster is a Legilimens of such high caliber?" Theo asked with mock curiosity, while casting a privacy spell. Yep, I wish to know that.

"Simple. My grandmother told me." Mia stated calmly and well that's a surprise. I know Rebekah has max level mystery but this… takes things to a whole new level. There wasn't even a wisp of rumor of Dumbledore being a mind reader in wizarding the world, but apparently Grandma Bex knew it…

"Anyway, thanks for the remainder, Mia." I say that and the boys nodded. We all walked to our first class. Transfiguration. We did chat along the way, though. We discussed about our fake thoughts. We four know each other very well, so the answer was a little obvious.

"Did you really think about alcohol in school, Mia?" Draco asked. Mia's passion for drinking was never a mystery.

"Yes. A little but since I shouldn't, I sang Gummy Bears in my head." I looked at my friend. Sometimes she's wise beyond age and childish without measure at the same time. Who would sing gummy bears?

Not that I have the right to criticize. I like to sing 'strawberry fields forever'. With a better tune of course.

"Fine. Let's go to the transfiguration classroom. The Guide (to Hogwarts) says the teacher's a strict one." We walked to the class. On the way, there were many hushed whispers, pointed fingers and gossips. About the boy who lived. I must agree, the boy was a little pitiable. He looked like he didn't have a clue on what was going on…

"Transfiguration class is this way." Mia said to the boy who lived. He looked at us and said a thanks and followed us along with his red-headed friend, a Weasley I presume. Wow, I didn't know Mia would meddle into something that is not her business. Very un-Slytherin but then again, she was always unpredictable, I guess.

Inside the classroom, there weren't many students yet. Only one, to be precise. A girl with a bushy hair whose name I didn't bother to remember. She sat on the front row. It's a lecture, not a movie, so no way in hell am I sitting in front row. My pals are the same as me. We sat on the last rows. The two boys who followed us settled for inner rows.

Soon, the room was filled and the class began after the cat transformed into a strict looking witch, none other than the Professor McGonagall herself. After an attempt of intimidation and success, the witch started her lecture. Unsurprisingly, it was boring.

I might not be very good at transfiguration, but even I can perform every spell thought all the way till the final year. Why did we come to school again? Naturally to look like typical wizarding children who go to magical school instead of setting up a global magic conglomerate… which was a huge success by the way.

So with no other choice, we have to blend. And which is boring and not helping at all. Fortunately, for me, I have friends who are even more bored than I am - Draco.

[Go or Chess?] He asked telepathically.

[Chess.] Mia and I replied at the same time. Theo g.r.o.a.n.e.d and accepted the result. This way, the four us played multiplayer 'mind' chess. It is possible. It's much more fun than the two player one. I had to bargain with Draco and allied with Mia. It took us both some effort to defeat the boys, but we did it. Then it was me vs Mia. She won like she always did.

By the end of our game, professor McGonagall finished her lecture and gave us a task to do. It's the good old turn a matchstick into a needle. No problem. I picked my new wand and tapped on the matchstick. It transformed into a beautiful silver needle. Draco and Mia did the same, except for Theo, being a lazy a.s.s, he did it wandlessly. Whatsoever happened to staying low key?

Thankfully, the Scottish witch didn't pay much attention to it and smiled a little. She seemed pretty satisfied and gave us a point each.

Then next charms, herbology, etc. they were mundane. And boy, the week was boring. I now understand why everyone hates school. It's just… way too boring. Even astronomy was unexciting. A celestial wizard said this, which means… I'd rather not tell. History was a little better, though. Because the ghost of a teacher didn't care what we did, hence we did what we want…creating The magical GPS.

And much to my disappointment, Defense Against Dark Arts was utterly useless. I dare say that Taurus, that lecherous fat cow can teach better. I really want to ditch all of my classes now…

Days passed by and we all adapted to our school life quite well. Thank every holy thing in the world for Uber Eats. Oh, and the restricted section didn't let us down at all. In fact, it was quite well stocked. And despite all of the all dangerous stuff in there, the section was only protected by some measly locks… that's added to the long list of illogical things at Hogwarts.

Today was just another day. "What do we have today, Draco?" I asked my blonde friend.

"Double potions with Gryffindors after lunch, which means now."

"Oh. And Mia, why are you so tired?" I asked Mia. She looked a little more pale than usual and dark circles beneath her eyes are about to rival Theo's, who needs coffee to survive.

"Maybe if you three stopped sneaking into my bedroom and let me sleep peacefully, I would not be so worn out." She said. Well, can't deny that. I think that I might die if I sleep early.

"Let's get to the potions class now, shall we?" Though I hate to admit it, Theo, for once had a good timing. Mia just rolled her eyes and came along.

Since the potions classroom's in the dungeons where Slytherin common house is also located, it was near. Yes, we stopped having supermodel diets in the great hall. No one cared about it really. Except for few who tried to fawn over us but backed away from Draco's icy glare.

***

3rd person POV:

The potions master took the roll call the moment he arrived. He paused for a bit at Harry's name.

"Ah, Yes," he said softly, "Harry Potter. Our new… celebrity. "

The class was silent. Everyone looked at the boy who lived but wanted to be the boy who became invisible. But alas, he couldn't. Snape finished calling the names and looked up at the class. His eyes were black like Hagrid's, but they had none of Hagrid's warmth. They were cold and empty and made you think of dark tunnels.

"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potionmaking," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word - like Professor McGonagall, Snape had the gift of keeping a class silent without effort. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses. . . I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death - if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach. "

More silence followed this little speech. Harry and Ron exchanged looks with raised eyebrows. Hermione Granger was on the edge of her seat and looked desperate to start proving that she wasn't a dunderhead. While the rest of the class was eager to watch the drama unfold. But the quartet didn't bother. Though they wanted some drama, they wanted a good one.

"Potter!" said Snape suddenly. "What would I get if I added the powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"

Powdered root of what to an infusion of what? Harry glanced at Ron, who looked as stumped as he was; Hermione's hand had shot into the air.

"I-uh, asphodel and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful it is known as the Draught of Living Death…" the boy who lived said that with a baffled look on his face. Snape paused for bit and spoke again.

"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"

"A bezoar is a stone taken from the stomach of a goat and it will save you from most poisons...?"

"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"

"Monkshood and wolfsbane, they are the same plant, which also goes by the name of aconite..."

Silence shrouded the classroom before the potionsmatser spoke again.

"Well? Why aren't you all copying that down?" He said, with a bit of surprise barely discernible. There was a sudden rummaging for quills and parchment. Over the noise, Snape said, "A point to Gryffindors."