Chapter 195: I Have a Unique Talent for Potions [bonus]
First day of term. First class. Potions, down in the dungeons.
Slytherin and Gryffindor took opposite sides of the classroom, with several rows of empty desks between them like a line nobody needed to point out.
The Gryffindors were loud, all of them talking over each other about their holidays.
The Slytherins were quieter. A few low voices here and there, quickly suppressed. Most of them just waited.
Regulus and Hermes sat together near the wall. Cuthbert and Alex were right behind them.
The back door swung open, and Professor Slughorn came through belly first, smiling like he'd been waiting all summer for this exact moment.
He waddled to the front, spread both arms, and addressed the room in that rich, overly warm voice of his. "Ah, second years. Welcome back, my dear students. Did you all enjoy your holidays? I certainly hope so, because this year..." He lowered his voice and gave them a wink. "We're going to get into some genuinely interesting material."
With a flick of his wand, chalk began writing on the board by itself.
Wound-Cleaning Potion: