5 Chapter 4 - Snapes Rage (1/2)
”So, this is the library?” Vincent thought as he walked around the bookshelves, ”it's enormous!”
The library probably can fit a house or two and still have room for more no problem. Vincent flipped through book by book trying to get a better understanding of the world. He's already heard a lot from Sister An, but it never hurts to stock up on knowledge.
”History of Goblins, Hogwarts: A History that's sounds like a must, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them sounds really cool,” Vincent kept piling the books with one hand while searching with the other, ”huh, Beginners Guide to Potions, potions sound like something I can do.”
As he was looking at the book, a yelp came from behind just as he felt someone crash into him. The books fell out of his hands as he caught the person from falling any further.
”You ok there Hermione?” Vincent gave a wry smile recognising the brown mess of hair
”Vincent?” Hermione looked up in surprise, Vincent saw her face go red slightly at the physical contact, so he let go of Hermione who took a step back, ”what are you doing here?”
”Same thing as you, searching for books,” Vincent nodded towards the books at Hermione's holding before bending down to pick his ones up
Hermione shook her head of embarrassment and placed her books to the side to help Vincent.
”Hogwarts: A History, this is my favourite book, it shows how the school came about, who made it, what kind of spells and enchantments this place uses,” Hermione kept going on and on about the wonders of the book
Vincent smiles as he watched Hermione talk, whenever Hermione talks about something, she loves she changes into a different person.
Hermione stopped as she realised, she had been babbling for a while and blushed a deep red, ”Sorry, I realise that I might ramble on a bit too long when it comes to books.”
”Not at all,” Vincent said as he started carrying his books, ”I think it's nice to see you like this, it shows how knowledgeable you are.”
”Thanks,” Hermione gave a grateful smile as they borrowed their respective books, ”so what subjects are you thinking of doing?”
”Well, I'm definitely going to do Herbology, Muggle studies is also another,”
”Why Muggle studies?” Hermione asked curiously
”I was mostly raised on the streets so most of my basic knowledge is lacking,” Vincent said as they made their way back to the common room, ”Oh, and Potions sounds like something I can do.”
”Hmm, Potions,” Hermione gave a thoughtful look
”Something wrong?” Vincent asked
”Well, truth be told, you will find a lot of people here who doesn't like Potions,” Vincent gave a questioning look, ”it's mainly due to the teacher.”
”Who's the teacher?” Vincent asked
”You've met him,” they both entered the Gryffindor Common Room, ”his name is Professor Snape, if possible, try not to tick him off.”
...
”So, you're not a vampire?”
For the first time in his life, Snape had no other wish than to murder the innocent looking student before him. Hermione just face palmed herself, feeling that her warning was for nothing.
”No, Mr Wong,” Snape said slowly through gritted teeth, ”I am not a vampire, I am a potions master and a teacher, I could easily have you for remedial lessons—”
”So, I can have extra lessons?” Vincent asked thoughtfully
Snape was literally at his wits ends with the boy. He just stared at Vincent, ”After class, visit me in my office.”
”Yes sir,” Vincent nodded and proceeded to work on his strengthening potion.
Snape's eyes twitched as he looked at Vincent who was concentrating on the lesson. Harry and Ron looked weirdly at Vincent before going back to their potions. Draco smirked feeling like Vincent was in trouble.
”Good thing Hermione's here to help,” Vincent thought, ”there are some steps that only a wizard can do.”
When Vincent entered Snape's lesson, he was told directly that no muggle can make a potion on his own. This is mainly because there is some magic involved when making a potion.
”Well, don't feel too bad,” Hermione said seeing Vincent's dejected look when he was told that a muggle could not possibly make a potion on his own, ”Since you can't make potions on your own then I could always help you.”
”Thanks Hermione, but I can't always rely on you to help,” Vincent gave a bitter smile as he stirred his pot
What no one noticed was the blue little pixie that decided to come out. The blue little creature wriggled out of Vincent's hoodie and watched him stir his potion.
Vincent added in a some salamander blood and was about to ask Hermione for assistance before noticing the blue pixie sitting on his arm.
His eyes widened and he was about to call out before the pixie put its hand into the cauldron and started making strange sounds. Vincent watched in amazement as he saw the reddish like solution turn into a pure bright blue.
”What the hell?” Vincent thought, ”this pure colour, if what the book says is correct, then this little fellow just sped up the strengthening solution process.”
”Vincent, do you need any help?” Hermione looked over and was stunned, ”wha—is that the complete strengthening solution?! Even if you had magic it still would take days before completion!”
”Miss Granger if you do not stop talking in my class—” Snape's eyes widened incredibly at the completed solution
He stared at it for a good five minutes before announcing to the class, ”Everyone, class is over, Mr Wong, come with me.”
Vincent followed Snape to his office leaving the whole class confused. Harry and Ron both gave Hermione a questioning look which she returned with a shrug.
...
”Show me how you made that potion with that pixie.” Snape ordered setting down a cauldron with multiple ingredients beside it
Vincent and the pixie just looked at each other before Vincent started the process.Every time he put an ingredient in, he would then ask the pixie to add magic to the ingredients. For whatever reason, the pixie obeyed Vincent's orders and completed the job perfectly. Snape was watching the process with intrigue, the way Vincent prepared the ingredients and handled the process was at an expert level. If he wasn't a muggle then he would have become a great potions master on his own.
Now the pixie, he had heard about Lockhart's awful lesson, but he didn't know why it followed Vincent around. Pixies, especially Cornish Pixies, are known to be untameable, so seeing a pixie help a muggle was an extremely shocking sight.
”Professor Snape, we're done,” Snape shook himself out of his thoughts before taking a look at the potion.
Snape took a small vial and filled it with the liquid. He smelt the fragrance and nodded his head.
”Seems like you got lucky today, Mr Wong,” Snape said as he pocketed the vial, ”I'll have to inform the Headmaster of your little, 'Friend' in case of any incidents.”
”Yes sir!” said Vincent before he sheepishly asked, ”So is this solution mine to keep?”
Snape was looking through the cupboards for something to store the solution when he heard Vincent's question. He bumped his head and then glared at Vincent who was already using his own vials. He saw Snape's look and looked confused.
”I mean I did make it along with this little guy,” Vincent pointed to the pixie on his shoulder who gave a nod in agreement
”One, vial,” Snape gritted his teeth as the words came out forcefully
He couldn't fathom what was going through Vincent's head as he stared at the boy who filled one vial up. He turned back to continue his search before realising that Vincent hadn't left.
”What, are you still doing here?” he asked dangerously
”Don't I have remedial lessons?” Vincent said as if it was obvious
Snape finally snapped.
”GET OUT!!” Snape roared and used his wand to blast Vincent out the door
Vincent landed face up with the pixie sitting on his belly. The blast wasn't meant to harm anyone, so he didn't have any injuries.
”He must be having a bad day, I'll come back after dinner.”
Snape heard this and just yelled in frustration. Vincent walked away wishing Snape good health as he listened to the screams.
...
”So, Snape blasted you with a spell?” Hermione said incredulously
”Yep,” Vincent said as he was jotting down notes for Herbology
They were all gathered together back at the Gryffindor common room. The pixie that Vincent had picked up was currently sleeping against Hedwig. Vincent thought that the two of them got along pretty well.
”So, what are you going to do about the pixie?” Harry asked, Hedwig still hasn't forgiven him nor Ron for the car incident and instead grew closer to Vincent
”I'll keep it,” Vincent said, ”I don't think I can make it go away even if I wanted to, it seems quite attached to me.”
”Are you out of your mind?!” Ron yelled startling a few first years, ”don't you remember the chaos they caused?”
”But you got a rat,” Vincent said feebly
”Yeah a rat that does nothing!” Ron said
Harry and Hermione were silently laughing at the absurd argument that Vincent put up.
”But, it's cute right?” Vincent said
”Oh, stop it Ron,” Hermione said, ”if Dumbledore says he can keep it, he can keep it.”
”Still don't like it,” Ron grumbled as he continued his homework, ”So, this was one hell of a first day. Mandrakes, Lockhart's terrible lesson, you can't change my mind Hermione, and Vincent got a new friend.”
It was an hour before dinner when Vincent got up.
”I think I'll go for a walk, I'll be back a bit before dinner.”
The three of them nodded as Vincent made his way out. Along the way, he bumped into Ginny.
”Hey Ginny, how are you—?” Vincent furrowed his eyebrows as he examined Ginny, ”Are you alright?”
Ginny looked extremely pale like she saw a ghost. Headless Nick passed by whistling a tune.
”Ah, yes, I'm fine,” Ginny said, ”just thinking of a nightmare I've had.”
Vincent saw that she was still unsettled and decided to give her a pat on the head.
”Well I'm going on a walk, want to join me?”
Vincent and Ginny both walked out of the school and into the school grounds. They didn't talk about any important things and just chatted like friends would. Ginny who would usually not say a word to Vincent or Harry before going red was laughing, she was generally enjoying talking with Vincent. She also got to see the little blue pixie that sat on Vincent's shoulder. He was glad that at least someone found it cute.
”So now that your here, who's keeping London safe?” Ginny has this question on her mind ever since she knew Vincent was attending Hogwarts
”A wizard called Sister An,” Ginny's eyes widened while Vincent had a wry smile
Ginny learnt about Vincent's life and how him meeting Dumbledore changed his life. She learnt about Sister An and the Orphanage she took care of, so she was surprised to hear that she was doing the Trespassers job.
”Even though she doesn't approve of me risking my life, she doesn't want London to know that the Trespasser's gone, otherwise it would incite other criminals,” Vincent explained, ”she also studied what you call muggle fighting techniques so even without magic, she can handle herself.”
”Wow,” Ginny had this image of a super cool woman fighting of criminals, ”she sounds amazing.”
”What's this place?” Vincent asked as they stopped in front of a hut.
It was located at the edge of a large forest that gave an ominous feeling to Vincent.
”This is Hagrid's place,” Ginny said, ”Ron told me all about it, he's the groundskeeper of Hogwarts. Ron visited him a lot last year along with Harry and Hermione.”
”Huh, shall we say hello?” Vincent asked
”Um, ok,” Ginny said feeling nervous about meeting someone new
Vincent walked up and knocked on the door.
”Com'n!” boomed a deep voice
The two of them heard large heavy footsteps before stopping at the door. The door opened and Vincent's eyes widened at how big the man was.
The man stood around eleven and a half inches with a shaggy beard and hair. Despite seeming terrifying, Vincent didn't feel any hostility from the man's kind black eyes.
”Who ar you lot?” Hagrid asked, ”let's see, red hair, freckles, must be a Weasley. Yer brothers Fred and George have givin me some hell, if ya know what I mean.”
Ginny giggles a little while Hagrid turned to Vincent, ”An you, you're the muggle that Ron brought in eh? How's Hogwarts for ya?”
”It's a bit disjointing, but I quite like the school.” Vincent said honestly
”That's good to know,” Hagrid said before smacking his hands together, startling both Vincent and Ginny, ”O where av my manners gone, come in!”
That little meeting with Hagrid would be something that Vincent would never forget. If Sister An was the motherly figure, Hagrid would be the big brother that Vincent never had. Vincent and Ginny were interested in the many stories that Hagrid had to tell. The little blue pixie played with Fang's, the dog, ears while it just sat there uncaring.
”Huh, you only have twenty minutes till dinner starts,” Hagrid exclaimed as he looked at the clock, ”better hurry along then.”
”I'll see you soon Hagrid,” Vincent said
”See you!” Ginny gave a wave as they walked back to the castle
Hagrid watched them leave with a smile before heading back inside the hut to boil some tea.
”Vincent, thank you for inviting me,” Ginny said happily, ”It's been really fun.”
”Anytime, if you want to do this again just tell me.” Ginny nodded as she skipped back to the castle.