Integra looked over to her new found friend. “Hermione, the only thing this classroom needs is a Tulsa Coil. Looks like a bloody movie set, and cheap one at that.”
Hermione along with several of the other muggle-born, and half-blood students, including Harry Potter, snickered at the joke.
“May I ask what is so funny?” growled Professor Snape as he walked to the front of the class, and glared at everyone present. Under his wilting gaze, all laughter immediately stopped.
He glanced around the room and scowled.
“Harry Potter and Integra Wingates-Hellsing.” he stated coolly, “Our new celebrities.”
Malfoy, and his two stooges began to snicker behind their hands, but wilted under Integra’s own death-glare.
"You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion making. Fame… and infamy have no baring here. 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…” he paused dramatically, then continued. “If you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach."
Below Integra, Ron and Harry just glanced at each other. Next to the Hellsing heir, Hermione was on edge, obviously pumped up to prove that she was not a dunderhead, and Integra? She rolled her eyes at the melodramatics.
"Potter!" Snape snarled. "What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?"
Hermione's hand shot up like a rocket.
Harry gulped, “I… I don’t know, sir?”
"Tut, tut -- fame clearly isn't everything."
He ignored Hermione's hand.
"Let's try again. Potter, where would you look if I told you to find me a bezoar?"
"I don't know, sit."
"Thought you wouldn't open a book before coming, eh, Potter?"
Potter scowled but said nothing.
"What is the difference, Potter, between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
At this, Hermione stood up, her hand stretching toward the dungeon ceiling.
Integra scowled, and dragged her friend back into her seat with a scowl.
“Hermione,” she hissed, “Sit down.”
“But I know the answer…”
“You’re making a fool of yourself,” Integra replied, “You’re the only person with their hand up. He can see you, he is just not choosing to. Act dignified.”
Hermione opened her mouth as if to respond, but spied a glance at the rest of the class and nodded. She settled back into her seat, but did not put down her hand.
“Miss Hellsing,” Snape coolly stated, “Since you have taken it into your hands to interrupt this class, perhaps you can answer the question.”
Integra sighed. “Both monkshood and wolfsbane are the common name for the same poisonous flower.”
Snape smiled thinly. “Very good… Now here is an easy question. How is wolfsbane used in the hunting of werewolves?”
Integra scoffed. “Simple. It’s not.”
Snape grinned. If she didn’t know better she’d think he was bating her on. “Oh really?”
“Simple,” Integra replied, “While it does contain some magical properties, wolfsbane is not significantly more toxic to werewolves than it is to humans. The reason why is it called wolfsbane is because werewolves find the scent repellent and refuse to approach the blossoms.” She paused and added, “Theoretically it could be used to make an anti-werewolf toxin, but frankly, a MP5 with a full magazine of hollow tipped silver rounds will terminate the foul creature far more efficiently.”
Snape smirked, highly amused. “I see not all fame is unwarranted. One point to Gryffindor for Miss Hellsing’s rather accurate exposé on the use of wolfsbane in lycanthropthic pest-control.”
Integra smiled, before Snape’s expression turned as dower as it was before. “Now, care to answer the other questions?”
Integra shook her head. “I do not know the answers. I am from a family of monster hunters, not alchemists.”
Snape frowned but nodded. “Very well… Miss Granger, since you’ve been so patiently awaiting a chance to speak I’ll let you answer the question...”
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(Posted Sun, 28 Nov 2004 21:29)
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