Ron-Weasly book 1. V2

It's so cool in here. I'm fine in warm trousers and a shirt. It's also scary in the potions room itself. Glass jars filled with pickled animals stood in cupboards along all the walls.

Professor Snape, like Flitwick, began classes by opening a Grade book and getting to know the students. And, like Flitwick, he stopped when he reached the last name Potter. But if Flitwick was happy, Snape looked like he'd chewed a lemon.

"Oh, yes," he said softly. "Harry Potter. Our new celebrity."

Draco Malfoy and his friends Crabbe and Goyle giggled mockingly, covering their faces with their hands. Snape immediately glared at them and the giggling stopped immediately. But Draco was grinning: over the past few days, he had already realized that Harry hated being called a celebrity and a national hero. And he was constantly walking around about it at recess and when he found himself nearby in the great hall.

After completing his introduction to the class, Snape looked around the audience with an attentive gaze. His eyes were black. They were cold and empty, and for some reason they looked like dark tunnels.

"You are here to learn the science of making magic potions. A very precise and subtle science," Snape began.

Snape was almost whispering, but I could hear every word clearly. Like Professor McGonagall, Snape had a gift for effortlessly controlling the classroom. As in Professor McGonagall's classes, no one dared to whisper or engage in outside activities.

"Silly waving of a magic wand has nothing to do with this science, and therefore many of you will find it hard to believe that my subject is an important component of magical science," Snape continued. "I don't think you can appreciate the beauty of a slow-boiling cauldron exuding the most subtle odors, or the gentle power of liquids that creep through a person's veins, bewitching his mind, enslaving his senses.... I can teach you how to bottle fame, how to brew triumph, how to plug death. But all this is only on condition that you are at least somewhat different from the herd of blockheads that usually comes to my lessons.

Unfortunately, although potions attract me, I understand that, most likely, I am still an ordinary crooked sheep in the opinion of our teacher. And it's much easier to buy a ready-made emergency kit on a hike, and not bother with preparing them in field conditions when you catch a cold or break your arm or leg. Although I have to learn how to make rowan broth and other popular potions. By the way, Mom poured me a few vials of rowan broth and cold potions into my medicine cabinet so that I wouldn't have to run to the hospital wing for nothing.

After this short speech, the silence in the course became absolute. Harry looked at me blankly. I didn't object to the fact that, in Snape's opinion, I was probably a crooked sheep. As Percy told me, the professor considers everyone who doesn't pass the OWLs at least well to be fools. Hermione Granger shifted impatiently in her chair, looking as if she couldn't wait to prove that she was definitely not one of the herd of blockheads.

"Potter!" Snape said suddenly. "What happens if I mix crushed asphodel root with wormwood tincture? The Weasleys sit in silence."

Harry glanced at me, but I was as puzzled by the question as he was. Even though I've been reading a textbook on potions, a lot has already disappeared from my mind. And I only read the chapters for the first year. And our mother didn't cook anything from asphodel roots. They say only professional potion makers work with him. But Hermione Granger clearly knew the answer, and her hand shot up into the air. Of course, she learned her textbook right up to the fifth year, I asked her on Tuesday.

"I do not know, sir," Harry replied.

A contemptuous expression appeared on Snape's face. Well, yes, my friend just admitted that he's a crooked sheep who doesn't read textbooks.

"Well, well... Obviously, fame is not everything. But let's try it again, Potter." Snape stubbornly refused to notice Hermione's raised hand. "If I ask you to bring me a bezoar stone, where will you look for it?"

In the medicine cabinet, of course. I couldn't quite remember where it was mined. And whether it's a stone at all, considering how it looks. A hairy stone, creepy. I carry a couple of them in my backpack all the time. Mom told me to put it in my mouth and try to swallow it. And then run to Madam Pomfrey or to Professor Snape, they say he is an expert on poisons.

Hermione continued to pull her hand, barely restraining herself from jumping up from her seat. Malfoy, Crabbe, and Goyle were shaking with silent laughter. And I myself only laughed at her behavior. I could barely contain myself. Damn, don't laugh, Harry will be offended.

"I do not know, sir," Harry confessed.

"It doesn't seem to have occurred to you to read your textbooks before coming to school, does it, Potter?! Do you know Weasley?"

Snape continued to ignore Hermione's trembling hand.

"No, sir. All I know is that it's in every first-aid kit."

"Well, at least you know something, sit down, Weasley. Malfoy, tell us where the bezoar comes from and what it's used for."

"From the stomach of a goat, sir. It is a universal antidote." I imagined poisoning myself and sending Harry to get a goat that might not have bezoars in it, and I almost laughed in my office.

"Okay, 2 points for Slytherin. Potter, what's the difference between wolfsbane and monk's hood?"

Hermione, unable to sit still any longer, stood up, stretching her arm towards the ceiling. Will this know-it-all ever calm down? She doesn't let anyone else answer in class at all. I know for sure that Neville knows a lot about plants, but no, Hermione is the first to pull her hand at herbology. And then Neville raises his hand, he's very shy. And of course Professor Sprout asks Hermione.

"I do not know," Harry said softly. "But I think Hermione knows that for sure, why don't you ask her, Professor?"

Laughter was heard. Harry looked around nervously. So, did he think they were laughing at him? I'll have to calm him down. In the meantime, it's better to sit quietly and keep quiet.

"Sit down!" Snape snapped, turning to Hermione for a moment. "And you, Potter, remember: from the root of asphodel and wormwood, a soporific potion is prepared, so strong that it is called the drink of living death. And wolfsbane and monk's hood are the same plant, also known as monkshood. Do you understand? So, everyone write down that bezoar is a universal antidote, so that everyone has a bezoar in a small medicine cabinet!"

I pulled my potions notebook out of my bag, a stack of parchment sheets neatly held together with a thin silver ribbon that shimmered slightly. Harry adjusted his set of parchment sheets stitched together and opened the "Potions: Basics" section, and the pages themselves opened to the desired entry. Dipping my pen into the ink, I prepared to write down Snape's words. I hurriedly grabbed my pens along with everyone else and rustled the parchment in my notebooks. But Snape's quiet voice cut through the uproar.

"For your insolent behavior, Miss Granger, I'm putting a penalty point on Gryffindor's account. No need to jump up, I can see you already, but I want to interview others. Mr. Potter, next time, read the textbook in the summer. If you mumble to me the same way after the next vacation, I'll take 2 points off you." The professor continued to interview the students on the initial chapters of the textbook on safety when working with boiling boilers.

If the Slytherins knew them and already brewed simple potions like me or helped their parents, then my fellow Gryffindors did not work with cauldrons at all, since they were from mixed families or Muggleborns in general.

"Come on, our people, remember!" I muttered from my seat. So that our faculty can hear me. The professor commented on my statement, saying that the students should not just read, but memorize the first three chapters. You were specially given so much time before your first potions lesson.

"By the way, Mr. Weasley and Longbot, where are your familiars, hopefully in the bedroom and not with you in the company?"

Snape looked at us urgently. Am I an idiot to drag him to such a dangerous place for a rat on my shoulder? And Neville was warned by Professor Sprout yesterday to leave the toad in her greenhouse for the duration of the lesson, where she would be comfortable.

"Of course, sir, but I left my rat walking on the lawn in front of the castle, and Neville left his Trevor at the greenhouses." I remember yesterday after herbology, I caught up with Hannah to ask her to bring fresh carrots for the Brat.

Chapter 6.2 a trip to the kitchen

The herbology lesson had just ended, and the students were pouring out of the greenhouses, shaking clods of earth from their robes. Noticing Hannah Abbott ahead, I quickened my pace and caught up with her on the path leading to the castle. I knew her well, because the Abbot farm was not far from the Burrow. Mom even bought vegetables and meat from them for cheap.

"Hannah! Wait a minute," I was a little out of breath from walking fast, but I didn't slow down, matching her pace.

Hannah turned around, eyebrows raised.

"Ron? Hi! How are your chickens?" She was referring to the Weasley farm, which was adjacent to her family's property in the wizarding world.

"Yes, it's fine, but... My baby rat needs fresh carrots. And I do not know where to get anything here. You're from Halfpuff, so you probably know where the kitchen is?"

Hannah nodded, smiling slightly.

"Yes, it's nearby. And what?"

I took the Brat out of my pocket, which immediately began sniffing the air, wiggling its whiskers.

"You see, he needs fresh carrots. And I do not know where that is.... Could you go to the kitchen and ask?"

Hannah laughed, but without mockery— rather, from the surprise of such a request.

"Do you want me to go to the kitchen and ask for carrots for your little rat?"

"Well, yes..." Ron blushed. "I know it sounds weird, but..."

"It's okay," Hannah waved her hand, holding back a smile. "But you know what? Let me just tell you how to get there. It's not far. Go down the main staircase to the bottom, then turn into the left corridor — there is a large still life with fruits. If you tickle a pear in a painting, it will giggle and turn into a pen. Then just open the door and go downstairs. Understood?"

"Uh... sort of," I frowned, trying to remember. "Still life, pear, tickle... won't the elves get mad if I come? However, students are not allowed into the school's utility rooms."

"On the contrary! They are very kind. Just don't be shy and ask politely — they'll be happy to give you anything."

"Thank you very much!" I beamed. "You're just... You're saving us both!"

Hannah went to the showers, and I went to the kitchen.

I was about to turn around and run to follow the instructions when Fred and George suddenly jumped out from around the corner.

"Hey, brother, where are you going in such a hurry?" Fred exclaimed cheerfully.

"I'm trying to find a kitchen," I said honestly. "I need to get a carrot for the Brat. Hannah said that we need to find a painting with fruits and tickle a pear. Does that sound okay at all?"

The twins looked at each other and burst out laughing.

"Oh, our little Ronnie is finally discovering the wonders of Hogwarts!" George clapped me on the shoulder. "Yes, that's right. Just make sure you don't mix it up — don't eat this pear, it's meant for something else!"

"And don't forget to say "please" to the elves," Fred added, grinning. "They like to be polite."

"Yeah, thanks..." I was a little taken aback by their amusement, but I nodded anyway. "Well, I'm off."

"Good luck, hero!" George called after them.

"If anything, we are always ready to help... for a small fee in the form of pies!"

I, no longer listening to their teasing, hurried to the main staircase, repeating to myself:

"Still life, pear, tickle..."

I went straight to the shower room and then to the kitchen. Repeating the instructions of the brothers and Hannah to himself, he went down the main staircase to the very bottom, turned into the left corridor and soon saw the painting.

"So, a still life... here she is,"

I thought, carefully examining the canvas. It was decorated with lush bunches of grapes, juicy apples and a single pear, which stood out with its pale green color.

I looked around — there was no one around, so there was no one to laugh if it was a joke. I reached out and gently tickled the pear. She giggled, wriggled, and in the blink of an eye turned into a shiny bronze pen. I didn't waste any time pulling on it, and a secret door opened in front of me, leading down a stone staircase. Downstairs, there was a commotion: house elves scurried between huge cauldrons and tables piled high with fruits and vegetables. The air was filled with delicious aromas.

"I'm sorry..." I began uncertainly, adjusting the rat on my shoulder, but I was immediately surrounded by a group of curious brownies.

"How can we help you, young master?" A short elf woman wearing a clean pillowcase with an embroidered yellow leaf asked.

"Uh... my name is Ron. I... I need some fresh carrots. For my little rat, the Brat," I blushed slightly, but tried to sound confident. "And maybe some more greenery?"

"Of course, of course!" The elf beamed. "My name is Leti. We will be happy to help Mr. Ron!"

She waved her hand, and a small pile of fresh carrots with green tails and a bunch of juicy lettuce immediately appeared on the table. And a couple of slices of ripe apple.

"Here, take this, Mr. Ron. Leti will bring you some every day in your living room or bedroom if you want."

"Really? That would be just wonderful!" I beamed, glad that I wouldn't have to come here every couple of days. "I'll leave the food bowl in the bedroom, on the bedside table."

"Okay, Mr. Ron, fly to find it."

I put the vegetables in a bowl and put them on the floor along with the Brat. While I was looking at the vegetables, my nose caught another delicious scent. Turning around, I saw a huge tray with pies that had just been taken out of the oven. Damn, the brothers love them, especially Fred.

"And these are... pies?" I couldn't resist and decided to ask for some while my little rat was gnawing on vegetables. He was crunching carrots so deliciously that my stomach rumbled.

"Yes, with cabbage and meat! The freshest ones!" Leti happily confirmed. "We'll feed you, Mr. Ron, you don't have to go hungry."

"Can... Can I have five pies? For myself and my brothers" Ron added hastily, so as not to look too gluttonous.

"Of course! As many as you want!" Leti immediately put a dozen pies in a small basket and handed it to me, covering it with a towel. "Take some more pies. We have apples from the eastern grove and wild mushrooms," elfiechka pointed to the dishes under the towels."