.But.what.does.it.matter!..
.It.means.they.re.not.real.fans,.they.re.just.jumping.on.the.bandwagon.‐..
That.s.the.bell,..said.Harry.dully,.because.Ron.and.Hermione.were.bickering.too.loudly.to.hear.it..They.did.not.stop.arguing.all.the.way.down.to.Snape.s.dungeon,.which.gave.Harry.plenty.of.time.to.reflect.that.between.Neville.and.Ron.he.would.be.lucky.ever.to.have.two.minutes.of.conversaion.with.Cho.that.he.could.look.back.on.without.wanting.to.leave.the.country..
And.yet,.he.thought,.as.they.joined.the.queue.lining.up.outside.Snape.s.classroom.door,.she.had.chosen.to.come.and.talk.to.him,.hadn.t.she?.She.had.been.Cedric.s.girlfriend;.she.could.easily.have.hated.Harry.for.coming.out.of.the.Triwizard.maze.alive.when.Cedric.had.died,.yet.she.was.talking.to.him.in.a.perfectly.friendly.way,.not.as.though.she.thought.him.mad,.or.a.liar,.or.in.some.horrible.way.responsible.for.Cedric.s.death….yes,.she.had.definitely.chosen.to.come.and.talk.to.him,.and.that.made.the.second.time.in.two.days….and.at.this.thought,.Harry.s.spirits.rose..Even.the.ominous.sound.of.Snape.s.dungeon.door.creaking.open.did.not.puncture.the.small,.hopeful.bubble.that.seemed.to.have.swelled.in.his.chest..He.filed.into.the.classroom.behind.Ron.and.Hermione.and.followed.them.to.their.usual.table.at.the.back,.where.he.sat.down.between.Ron.and.Hermione.and.ignored.the.huffy,.irritable.noises.now.issuing.from.both.of.them..
.Settle.down,..said.Snape.coldly,.shutting.the.door.behind.him..
There.was.no.real.need.for.the.call.to.order;.the.moment.the.class.had.heard.the.door.close,.quiet.had.fallen.and.all.fidgeting.stopped..Snape.s.mere.presence.was.usually.enough.to.ensure.a.class.s.silence..
.Before.we.begin.today.s.lesson,..said.Snape,.sweeping.over.to.his.desk.and.staring.around.at.them.all,..I.think.it.appropriate.to.remind.you.that.next.June.you.will.be.sitting.an.important.examination,.during.which.you.will.prove.how.much.you.have.learned.about.the.composition.and.use.of.magical.potions.
.Moronic.though.some.of.this.class.undoubtedly.are,.I.expect.you.to.scrape.an.
.Acceptable..in.your.OWL,.or.suffer.my….displeasure...
His.gaze.lingered.this.time.on.Neville,.who.gulped..
.After.this.year,.of.course,.many.of.you.will.cease.studying.with.me,..Snape.went.on...1.take.only.the.very.best.into.my.NEWT.Potions.class,.which.means.that.some.of.us.will.certainly.be.saying.goodbye...
His.eyes.rested.on.Harry.and.his.lip.curled..Harry.glared.back,.feeling.a.grim.pleasure.at.the.idea.that.he.would.be.able.to.give.up.Potions.after.fifth.year..
.But.we.have.another.year.to.go.before.that.happy.moment.of.farewell,..said.Snape.softly,..so,.whether.or.not.you.are.intending.to.attempt.NEWT,.I.advise.all.of.you.to.concentrate.your.efforts.upon.maintaining.the.high.pass.level.I.have.come.to.expect.from.my.OWL.student..
Today.we.will.be.mixing.a.potion.that.often.comes.up.at.Ordinary.Wizarding.Level:.the.Draught.of.Peace,.a.potion.to.calm.anxiety.and.soothe.agitation..Be.warned:.if.you.are.too.heavy‐handed.with.the.ingredients.you.will.put.the.drinker.into.a.heavy.and.sometimes.irreversible.sleep,.so.you.will.need.to.pay.close.attention.to.what.you.are.doing...On.Harry.s.left,.Hermione.sat.up.a.little.straighter,.her.expression.one.of.utmost.attention..The.ingredients.and.method.‐.