Chapter Text
The gryffindor common room had never seemed to be an overly disruptive place to Harry and, in his eyes, was certainly not the "worse than casting sonorus on the rush hour crowd at waterloo" atmosphere that Hermione frequently compared it to. However as he stared down at the blank parchment in front of him, wishing beyond all hope that he might wandlessly turn it into the 'outstanding' potions essay he needed, Harry began to reassess his earlier musings.
"I know I'm no expert in the subject but I think you might need to write some words before Snape can give you a passing grade. Anyways, it's not due for ages so I don't know why you're bothering with it now."
Ron's sarcasm was more of a hinderance to Harry's mood today than had perhaps been intended but, often the more astute of the pair, Hermione intervened before the words had time to land their blow.
"Ronald!" She hissed. "I think Harry would prefer some peace and quiet right now, he told us what McGonagall said about Snape's grade requirements, we should be supporting him. Besides, it's due tomorrow afternoon."
"Yeh...ages away"
Luckily for Ron, Harry chose this moment to speak.
"I just don't get what it's asking me. What the hell is it talking about five uses for flobberworm fat, surely its only use is to make the potion work, right? It's not like you can use it to wash your socks or anything can you?"
Ron grimaced at the idea but it was Hermione who answered him.
"No Harry, definitely don't start washing your socks in flobberworm fat." She laughed then paused to think for a moment. "You know how, when you add wine to a meal, it's both for the taste and because the liquid helps to add moisture, yeah?"
Harry had made many meals such as this during his time at the Dursley's. "Mhm"
"It's the same principles for potions. Flobberworm fat can help make the potion more viscous so that later ingredients don't react too quickly as well as making it easier to consume."
"...right, so potions is basically just cooking but with really disgusting ingredients."
"Which also often have magical properties, but yes the basis is similar to cooking."
"Huh." Harry considered this. "That makes sense actually...I think. Ugh imagine if I made petunia a flobberworm and boomslang lasagna."
Harry laughed to himself at this afterthought but Hermione just rolled her eyes with a smile and tried restoring Harry to his studious state of mind.
"C'mon, I'll help you plan out this essay but after than you're on your own. If you're truly serious about this 'new start' for potions this year you can join me in the library later."
Ron watched with mock sadness as his chances of a game of exploding snap with Harry severely reduced, as well as many other future chess, snap, or quidditch games looking more and more endangered.
"The library!" He exclaimed. " but it's literally the first day of term, why would you two already need to go to the library – actually no don't answer that, it will only give me nightmares"
Harry laughed at his friend's usual response before turning back to his parchment, his determination to prove Snape wrong relit and the noise of the common room no longer bothering him.