Chapter 7 – First Day (2)
Walking down steps, coming out from Professor Binns's lesson, was like taking a refreshing walk in the rain on a truly hot summer day. I felt my brain was turned into mush, a very dangerous spell as it needed nothing but the monotone ramblings of a ghost. No wand, no magic... just the power of words.
"This is not going to be my favorite," I said between two yawns while many who were walking close by echoed with a yes and their own yawns.
"Could have been worse," Quincy added, slapping her cheeks with two hands, rubbing the sleepiness from her eyes as we arrived at the dungeons where our potions classes were going to take place.
"I hope Professor Slughorn is going to be much more... lively."
"He should be, and even if not, we should act extra attentive... he is the Head of Slytherin!" Another student added, who I didn't know at first. Looking at the gold ring on his finger with a stylized S, it has to be someone from the Selwyn family. "He has been head of Slytherin house and been teaching here for fifty years! He was the mentor of HIM!" He added with a whisper and, collectively, made everyone stop at the door to our classroom.
"Yeah..." Another girl added with a mosquito-like voice, "Imagine what would happen if someone who is a mentor to... HIM starts complaining about us!"
Somehow, by the time we all entered the potions classroom, we thought that another hour of Professor Bins's lesson wasn't a bad thing at all. When the Professor, a bald, fat-bellied old man, walked in, we were all looking on silently. How was he going to act? Was he friendly, or was the mentor of HIM just as... well... persuasive as his protege?
"Hm?" He looked at us and our white faces with surprise. I stole a quick glance at Draco, who I assume felt the same as his face was free of the usual, smug smile that often accompanied him. "What is the long face for? Did someone die?" Professor Slughorn asked us which was not the best choice of words as I exchanged a grim look with Quincy, with who I shared my desk. "Oh boy... someone did? Already?" the Professor gasped, checking us individually and making a headcount. When he was nearing me, I tried to hide behind my cauldron, but of course, it was a futile effort. "Oh. You are all here. Then nobody died. It would have been weird; most accidents happen in the Dark Arts lessons... You don't have that until 2nd year."
"People... die?" Draco asked, unable to hold back, and for a moment, I was glad because I had the same question in mind.