Vector's Challenge

Chapter 5

Three weeks after the first day of classes, the Slytherins and Gryffindors had double Potions together again. This time, however, the Slytherins knew what was going on, and walked into class with a plan.

Pansy Parkinson and Seamus Finnegan were partners that day. She waited until Finnegan had his back turned, and dropped a handful of ice cubes into his cauldron. Snape did not have his back turned. "Miss Parkinson, what did you just do?" he asked her.

"I put some ice cubes into Finnegan's cauldron because I wanted to see how this potion would turn out if it were chilled, sir."

"Miss Parkinson, unauthorized experiments on another student's cauldron are NOT allowed. Ten points from Slytherin."

During this exchange but on the other side of the classroom, Millicent Bulstrode pulled the henbane out of Neville Longbottom's hand, and switched it with the hemlock. Crabbe and Goyle, meanwhile, were standing in just the right positions to block Snape's view and the Three Gryffindors as well. She whispered, "Done," and they moved again.

Harry and Ron looked at Millicent, who had settled back to working with Lavendar Brown. They looked at Neville's cauldron. It was still intact, and the potion was turning the correct color. If we tell Snape, he'll just take points off from Bulstrode to show Professor Vector he's being fair, Harry thought. And whatever she did doesn't seem to have caused any harm. He looked at Ron. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" he whispered.

"That we should just stay quiet? Yes," Ron replied.

Snape continued to stalk around the classroom and check finished potions. He paused when he got to Neville's. "I don't believe it," he muttered.

Neville muttered even more softly, "Neither do I."

Snape loomed over Neville and looked at him like a snake at a mouse. Harry and Ron had to hold Hermione back from coming to Neville's defense. Ron slapped his hand over her mouth, and Harry grabbed her arms.

After a long moment, Snape asked quietly, "How did it happen, Mr. Longbottom, that you actually got a potion right?"

Neville squeaked, "I don't know, sir."

Snape raised his eyebrows. "You don't know whether this is a miracle, or truly inspired cheating?" Crabbe and Goyle started a bit at that. Parkinson froze, and Bulstrode's face took on a very bland look. Snape noticed this out of the corners of his eyes. Neville's glance briefly followed Snape's over to Bulstrode and Parkinson. Everyone else's eyes were on Snape or Neville.

There was a moment of silence. Neville closed his eyes, took a deep breath, then opened them, squared his shoulders and replied, "I think it's a miracle, sir."

Snape looked startled at this comeback. "Indeed. Five points to Gryffindor, Mr. Longbottom. There may be hope for you yet."

"And thank you, St. Jude, for prayers answered," Seamus Finnegan muttered. All of the other Catholic students within earshot, and a few of the non-Catholic Muggle-born students as well, laughed at that.

"Excuse me, but what is so amusing?" Snape asked. "Who is St. Jude, and why are you invoking him or her?"

The Catholic students started to laugh even harder. "He-he's the patron saint of lost and impossible causes," Seamus gasped out.

"Patron saints - oh, yes Catholicism," Snape muttered to himself.

"Isn't that where you get to have your God and eat him too?' Draco asked.

Semaus took a step toward Draco.

"That will do, both of you. Religious bigotry has no place in our world. You ought to know that, Malfoy," Snape said. Seamus and Draco looked at Snape, startled.

Snape continued, more loudly, "Catholicism has patron saints of impossible causes? Such as Mr. Longbottom actually managing to get a potion correct. I see. Very well." Snape then continued to check the other students' potions. Neville nodded to Millicent, and smiled a silent thank you. She raised her eyebrows, and Neville gave her a second, uncertain, nod. She smiled, and nodded back, then jerked her head in Parkinson, Goyle and Crabbe's directions. Neville looked more uncertain, but the Slytherins all nodded to him, and he nodded back.