"There will be no silly waving of wands or stupid spells in this lesson," Snape immediately established himself as a strict teacher who would not tolerate leniency. "I do not expect you to appreciate the subtle science and precise art of potion-making. However, I will endeavour to teach those few chosen ones who have the aptitude. I will teach you how to bewitch the mind and deceive the senses. I will tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even cap death..."
It's one thing to see Snape's face on the screen, but it's quite another to feel his cold, piercing gaze in real life.
"Harry Potter," the teacher's attention immediately focused on the boy. "Our new celebrity. Tell me, what will I get if I mix goldenseal root and wormwood tincture?
"Um," Barry had deliberately prepared for these questions because he knew Snape would ask them. "A very strong sleeping potion?"
"Correct. Goldenseal and wormwood make a sleeping potion so powerful that it's called a Draught of Living Death. Now, where can I find a bezoar?"
Barry swallowed nervously, catching sympathetic glances from his classmates, including his doppelganger, who was probably secretly glad that he wasn't the one being interrogated. Only Hermione raised her hand.
"In a goat's stomach?
"That's right, Potter," Snape grinned. "The bezoar stone is an ingredient in most antidotes. And one last question, just to be sure: how does wolfsbane differ from borage?"
"Oh," Harry had to think hard. He saw Hermione almost jump up.
"Maybe you should ask Hermione?" Barry asked. "She definitely knows better."
Some of the children laughed, including Harry himself.
"Sit down," Snape snapped at the girl. She had to obey. "So, what's your answer, Potter?"
"It's the same plant, as well known as aconite," Barry managed to remember the answer in that short time.
"Not like, but exactly," Snape nodded. "Fame is not everything, remember that... And by the way, why hasn't anyone written that down yet?
While the students began to write, the professor finished his task with the following words:
"And you, Potter, deserve a reward for your knowledge. Five points for Gryffindor. I hope you will continue to demonstrate your knowledge in the future.
Barry hoped that in this version, Snape wouldn't treat Harry Potter so badly, because thanks to Allen's efforts, Harry had shown himself to be a capable student in front of Snape. He understood why this was happening, why Severus had been so cold to Harry all this time and only opened up to him at the end. There was no point in upsetting him any more...
...When the lesson was over, Barry and Ron ran up to "Harry."
"Oh, he's so cruel," said Ron. "He just started asking you questions right away. You're lucky, I saw how nervous you were.
"Yeah," Barry agreed. "The way he looked at you... You could have forgotten everything from the excitement!
"I don't see anything wrong with it," Harry shrugged. "You can tell he takes his job seriously and won't tolerate amateurism. Teachers like that are usually better at teaching, and students remember them better. Well, he definitely wouldn't let you fail.
"I agree with you," Hermione suddenly appeared. "He may not be a great person, but he's a really good teacher."
"Where did you come from?!" Ron exclaimed indignantly.
But Granger didn't answer, just winked at Harry and ran off in an unknown direction.
***
The long break began, and most of the students were relaxing in the clearing. Barry decided to be alone, so he sat down under a small tree and gave himself over to his thoughts. He still had a list of people in his head...
"Harry!" His doppelganger ran up to him. "I'm not disturbing you, am I?"
"No, I don't think so," the boy shrugged.
The boy sat down next to him.
"What are you reading?" Barry noticed the book in "Harry's" hands.
"It," he replied.
"Do you like horror stories?"
"Not really, but I decided to give it a try.
I'm glad that Stephen King existed on this Earth. Barry immediately decided to pick up a book that had scared him a lot as a child. It was a shame, of course, that his favourite book, The Green Mile, hadn't been published yet.
"Oh, look!" Allen pulled his friend by the sleeve, distracting him from his reading.
The boys saw a group of Slytherins gathered in one place, laughing at something. They decided to sneak up on them and find out what was going on...
The reason for the laughter was... Caitlin Snow. The girl stood with her eyes downcast, slightly wet from tears. These snakes surrounded her and, judging by everything, were laughing at her.
"Go back to America, you dirty slut!" Malfoy threw something black and slimy at her.
"Hey!" Barry Allen stood in front of the girl. "Harry" smirked to himself, but nevertheless supported his friend by standing next to him. "Stop it!"
"Oops," Draco smiled. "The losers are defending the loser."
"You're the only pathetic one here, Malfoy!" Harry hissed.
"They've come here from America," said the girl. Barry thought he remembered her, but couldn't place her. "You're a disgrace to pure-blood wizards."
The girl also threw some kind of slimy abomination, and Barry caught it. It was a dead slug.
"Don't touch her, she didn't do anything to you," his double stood up, and Barry could only watch.
"Now!" Professor McGonagall cried indignantly. "What is going on here?!"
"Professor," began "Harry," "Draco Malfoy and his friends are bullying this girl!
The teacher looked at Caitlin, who was trying to shake the slugs off herself.
"Miss Snow," Minerva said more kindly. "Go and wash yourself, everything will be fine." Then she turned to the Slytherin bullies. "And you! Five points from each of you for disgusting behaviour. If this happens again, I will have to report you to Professor Snape! Now, everyone disperse!"
Draco and his friends glared at the Gryffindors and then left. Professor McGonagall nodded to them and left as well. Barry ran after Caitlin, and "Harry" thought that the first bell had rung. It would be nice if — provided they became friends — their friendship grew into something more. Of course, it was too early to think about that...
"After my father died, my mother decided to move to England," Barry heard the boys talking as he approached them.
"How are you?" Harry asked.
"I'm fine," replied the girl. "Thank you so much for standing up for me."
"Don't mention it," Barry smiled.
The girl ran off, and Ron, who had missed all the interesting part, came over to them.
***
It was almost Halloween. Barry had more or less settled into his new body and the new conditions of this world.
He was in the Great Hall at a festive dinner with his friends. How ironic was it that Harry Potter now spent more time with Barry Allen than with Ron Weasley? If the real Harry had remained in Harry's body, such significant changes would most likely not have occurred.
"Where's Hermione?" his doppelganger suddenly asked.
"She's been sitting in the girls' bathroom all day, crying," Neville replied.
Yes, the girl wasn't very lucky either. She tries her best to be a successful straight-A student and be kind to everyone. But sometimes her slight arrogance played a nasty trick on her. No matter how hard she tried, Hermione was constantly met with reproaches, mostly from Ron, who was "annoyed by this upstart." In this respect, everything was according to the canon. But still, Barry felt sorry for her.
Sometimes being the only adult among a bunch of children was quite difficult.
Barry got up from the table and headed for the ladies' room to pick up Hermione and try to comfort her somehow. His doppelganger hurried after him. Sometimes it annoyed him that he followed him everywhere, but nevertheless, the boy wasn't doing anything wrong, so there was no point in getting angry with him. Besides, it was even good in a way — that he was always around.
They had barely left the Great Hall when they ran into Professor Quirrell, who was rushing by at full speed and didn't even notice them.
"Troll!" they heard from afar. "Troll in the dungeon!"
Damn! He had forgotten that this was supposed to happen. A child's panicked scream rang out from afar. Barry took his doppelganger by the hand and rushed to save Hermione, once again regretting that he didn't have super speed.
They had almost reached the toilet when they heard another girl's scream. The boys ran into the toilet and saw the troll destroying everything, and Hermione hiding under the only surviving tap.
"Wingardium Leviosa!" shouted "Harry," casting a spell on the club while his friend pulled the girl out.
The troll looked puzzled at his club, which immediately fell on his head, knocking him out.
"Cool!" Barry smiled.
Three professors appeared instantly — Snape, McGonagall and Quirrell. Minerva gasped, then began to scold the children. But Hermione stood up for them, saying that she had climbed onto the troll herself and couldn't handle it, and they had just come to help. Five points to Gryffindor for amazing luck.
***
patreon.com/posts/flash-at-full-in-142099682