#Harry "But Professor, Orli just recovered from her injuries. She's still very weak!"
Harry couldn't help but speak up.
#Snape "If she's out of the hospital wing, then by Madam Pomfrey's standards, she's a healthy person."
Snape said in a dangerous tone.
#Snape "Orli Waters, do you think you're weak?"
##Orli "No, Professor. I... I'm not weak."
Orli had no choice but to reply.
And so, for the entire class, Orli silently stood at the back of the classroom, watching everyone brew potions. Ron cut his daisy roots unevenly, while Harry accidentally chopped off the head of his caterpillar. Neville's Shrinking Solution, which was supposed to be bright green, turned into a bizarre shade of orange.
Snape appeared to be in a foul mood as he loudly berated Neville:
#Snape "Tell me, has anything managed to penetrate that thick skull of yours? Did you not hear me say—very clearly—that only one drop of rat bile was needed? Did I not explicitly state that just a small amount of leech juice would suffice? What do I have to say to make you understand, Longbottom?!"
Neville's face turned pink, and he trembled as though he was about to cry.
#Hermione "Professor, if you allow me, I could help him fix it."
Hermione looked at Neville and cautiously offered.
#Snape "I don't recall asking for you to show off, Miss Granger."
Snape said coldly, causing Hermione's face to turn as red as Neville's.
The entire class felt like an eternity for everyone. When the lesson finally ended, Harry and Ron dragged Orli, whose legs had gone numb from standing, out of the dungeon as if escaping a disaster.
#Ron "If I were you, I'd have stayed in the hospital wing until noon."
Ron thought Orli was being a bit silly.
#Ron "Why not just skip Potions altogether? Look at you—standing there for nothing all morning."
#Hermione "Not everyone is as uninterested in studying as you are."
Hermione said as she hurriedly came up from a side staircase, carrying her enormous bag. Ron and Harry were momentarily baffled.
#Harry "How did you manage that?"
Harry asked.
#Hermione "What?"
Hermione replied while adjusting the straps of her nearly bursting bag.
#Ron "A minute ago, you were behind us, and now you're coming up from below the stairs."
Ron doubted his own eyes.
#Hermione "What?"
Hermione mumbled vaguely.
#Hermione "Oh—I had to go back to fetch something..."
#Harry "Why are you carrying so many books? We only have Defense Against the Dark Arts this afternoon."
Harry said as he helped her carry a few.
#Hermione "You know how many classes I'm taking..."
Hermione stiffly changed the subject:
#Hermione "I hope lunch has something good. I'm starving."
——————
In the afternoon, they attended their first Defense Against the Dark Arts class of the term. Professor Lupin hadn't arrived yet, so they sat down and took out their books, quills, and parchment. When Lupin finally entered the classroom, they were chatting, but he simply smiled and didn't seem upset.
He looked as shabby as he had upon their first meeting, but healthier than he had on the train, perhaps because he'd had a few solid meals.
#Professor Lupin "Good afternoon,"
Lupin said kindly.
#Professor Lupin "Please put your books back into your bags. Today's lesson will be practical—you'll only need your wands."
The whole class put their books away, and the quartet exchanged surprised glances across the aisle. They had never had a practical Defense Against the Dark Arts lesson before, except for last year's disastrous Cornish Pixie incident.
#Professor Lupin "If everyone's ready, follow me."
Lupin led the class out of the room, down an empty corridor, all the way to the staff room door. Along the way, they encountered Peeves, but Lupin casually reprimanded him.
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