Jars containing the preserved organs of various creatures, both mundane and magical lined the walls of the room, some of them glowing in ominous colors. Plant parts joined them on other shelves, with everything being meticulously labelled. Various complicated glass devices were scattered about the room, with books being placed on low shelves that never came above the waist. The room held eight tables, each with four chairs at them, and what appeared to be a designated spot for a cauldron. Each table had a set of scales on them, with various sized weights neatly arranged from heaviest to lightest immediately next to them. Standing in front of his desk was one Professor Severus Snape, a tall man with longer dark hair that appeared to be slightly shiny. His nose is large and crooked on his face, and Harry had never seen the scowl that currently occupied his visage leave it. "Please take your seats. Each table should be two Slytherins and Two Ravenclaws."
Harry noticed that he now had a problem. He certainly didn't want to split up from Padma or Hermione, but one of their trio would be forced to sit separately. Tracey Davis however, thankfully provided his solution for him. "Hey Hermione, come sit over here with Alice and I" That was a good solution for their problem, with Hermione sitting with Tracey she had an in with the Slytherin at her table, even if the Ravenclaw wasn't a friend. This let Harry and Padma sit together, and the beckoning of the girl he recognized as Daphne Greengrass, who he knew was Tracey's best friend let him sit with someone who had the highest chance of being pleasant. He also had Padma by his side, who had, at least by his estimation, proved to be a people person.
"Hello Harry, I'm Daphne Greengrass. Thanks for sitting with Tracey on the train, I ended up having to sit with Draco Malfoy and Theodore Nott. This is Pansy Parkinson, she's one of my dormmates." Daphne says. Daphne is a very pretty young girl, with striking blue eyes and hair that was half-way between platinum and strawberry blonde.
Pansy would likely also be a very pretty girl without the shriveled up nose of disgust she was currently making towards him. She had black hair done in a bob style. With brown-eyes that were currently looking at him in calculated scrutiny.
"Ugh, hi. I'm Harry, Harry Potter." Harry says, meeting her gaze.
"Hi to both of you, I'm Padma Patil. You've probably seen my face before being worn by my sister Parvati from Gryffindor." Padma says, trying to cut the tension at the table with her joke.
"I was wondering how you changed so fast!" Daphne says, chuckling to herself.
"Yes… a pleasure to meet you both." Pansy says, with a fake smile that doesn't even come close to meeting her eyes. Harry is unsure as to what he's done to make this girl dislike him already, but hopes that it won't become a problem.
"Now that we are all here. I shall begin instruction. If you do not already have your quills and parchment out I highly suggest getting them. This is Potions class there will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. 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-if you aren't as big a bunch of dunderheads as I usually have to teach." Snape glares around the room, looking at students individually, as though evaluating them. He turns to Harry, who at this moment did not have his eyes on the teacher, instead making sure that he had properly gotten down the information that had been provided. "Although it appears as though some of us are so naturally talented we do not feel the need to pay attention. Mr. Potter!" Snape nearly growls out.
Harry is shaken from his focus and can only meekly ask "Yes sir?"
"What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" Snape asks, arching his eyebrow. All eyes were on Harry, Hermione raised her hand.
"I don't know sir." Harry says dejectedly. Was he meant to know that? This was their first class.
"Where would I look if I wanted to find a bezoar?" Snape asks, Hermione's hand shoots up once more.
"I don't know sir." Harry sinks deeper into his chair, he hadn't even heard of that word before.
"One final question Mr. Potter, what is the difference between monkshood and wolfsbane?"
"I don't know sir." Harry briefly considered tossing himself off of Ravenclaw tower, but at the moment he feels so small that he can't even make it up the stairs.
"Fame surely isn't enough to make it through my class Potter. That'll be one point from Ravenclaw for your incompetence." Snape sneers. Harry briefly notices the unrestrained glee in the eyes of both Draco Malfoy and Pansy Parkinson.
"For now, we shall begin by going over safety procedures in the potions lab. This is important for all of you dunderheads, so I expect your rapt attention. Potions, even more than spellwork, are disastrous if not done correctly. As such the following procedures shall be enacted whenever the need arises…" Snape continues on into his lecture, more or less ignoring Harry for the rest of the class period.