Underestimated ((Valmer))

[Sydney Rawson H6]

It was midday and Sydney Marie Rawson was stuck in the dungeons of Hogwarts castle. She is a Hufflepuff, not a Slytherin, the dungeons did not suit her needs for space, and light, and fresh air! However, for the next twenty minutes she was stuck. It was about forty minutes into her third and final class of the day, Potions. A girl who loved learning, loved achieving different levels to test her powers, she was trying her best in one of the most difficult classes on her schedule. Professor Snape told his students to make an Blood Replenishing Potion. They have been studying the specific Potion for a few weeks now, and practiced several small potions building up knowledge to the main event. St. Mungo's seemed to have a shortage, and sought out Professor Snape to actually aid the hospital. Of course, reluctantly, Snape altered his lesson to give the hospital more potion after quite a bit of persuasion from the Headmaster. He was upset to begin with that his lessons had to be changed, so one slip up from a student would not be the best road for one to take.Everyone was separated into pairs and Sydney was partnered with her friend, also in the house of Hufflepuff. The two first set up all of their ingredients. They wanted to make sure they had everything before they began, and didn't want to make several trips to the cabinet to interfere with their specific times with the potion. Since, It was most likely to be used in a hospital, they should try to make it as perfect as it could be.

After a several minutes, Syd's wrist began to hurt from the siring. The instruction was to sir the potion by hand, because it was delicate, however, Syd's partner always claimed the role of putting the ingredients in. The heat from the fire started to prick at her knuckles as she finally had it with working the potion by hand. Taking out her wand, she decided to control the stick by magic. She was listening, somewhat, to the instruction. She wasn't going to put a spell on the spoon so, it would sir continuously; Sydney was still watching the potion, and controlled each action. Her wand was merely an extension of the spoon to her. The goal of the potion was to look like water, as if it was a clear fluid but with the thickness of blood. The two had only two more ingredients left to add, aloe vera as well as a drop of rain. The two were to be added right when the potion started changing colors from a dull grey into a white. Sydney stood over the cauldron as she rotated her wrist to control the spoon. "I suppose soon..." Syd said as she thought she noticed a slight change in color, but the grey decided to balance out before she directed her partner. "We're done Professor Snape." A girl from across the room exclaimed as she took out a ladle full to show the Professor. Feeling competitive, Syd was determined to get done soon after. "Syd, Syd, Syd!" Her partner ordered from her side as Syd's attention was brought back to her own potion. Looking down, she noticed her boiling fluid was not grey, or even white, it was fading into a deep black color. "Whoa!" she exclaimed as she looked at her partner and the cauldron. "Um... Add the Aloe and rain, and see what it does..." She guessed as an order as she noticed, her wrist wasn't stirring the potion. Jumping to the action, that she knew was a vital part of it all, her partner soon added the last two ingredients.

Watching the dark potion intently she started to sir at a More faster pace trying to incorporate all of the ingredients to see if something would change. Suddenly, her potion started to bubble large bubbles. A few started to escape the cauldron too, rising up to the low ceiling. A look of distress and urgency crossed her face as Syd stopped stirring the potion, and pointed her wand at two bubbles that flew over two near by Slytherins. As soon as the bubble popped it dropped a glob of slime on one of the Slytherins of her year. Syd's jaw dropped as her look of distress turned into a fit of laughter. "I am so sorry!" she said between giggles as she turned back to her potion. This time when she turned around, several other bubbles escaped the cauldron and the potion in front of her started to grow, and overflow. "What in bloody hell was Snape thinking, Letting a half blood work a potion." The Slytherin Syd just exploded a bubble on snorted. "Bloody dim-wit if you ask me. Doesn't even understand how to sir a potion correctly... might as well be a Squib!" he shot as Sydney clenched her wand tighter as she shot shrinking spells onto the potion exploding in front of her. "Sydney Rawson, What do you think you are doing?!" A voice shouted from across the room. A thick bolt of blue light shot from Professor Snape's wand to Syd's cauldron as she jumped back. Her cauldron started to drain into a small black-hole that appeared in the pit of the bowl. Stamping over to Syd, directly in her face, Snape pointed his wand at her chest. "An ill act of irresponsibly from a Hufflepuff no less. Instead of following the rules I most clearly described for you on the blackboard, you decided to use magic to incorporate your concoction than pure willpower. Your imbecilic act of stupidity grew into a barbaric amount of arsenic. Which in your muggle words would be Rat Poison! Oh, from what good will come such evil. And from still from such an older student comes such stupidity!" Snape shot as his dark eyes stared directly into hers.

Sydney looked directly back, but at a loss for words as her Professor scolded her in front of the entire class. Snape turned to the Slytherin boy that had had the remains of the bubble on his cloak. "You should dispose of your cloak. It is at a loss for now." He snark spoke with precise pronunciation. "And for the rest of the class. Put your potion now, as is, in a bowl and put it on my desk. Your grading will be done by your efficiency and timeliness you were given in this shortened period of class. After you took a sample, you may go. Sydney will clean up after your mess." Snape turned on his heels and strode to his desk tapping his wand at his side with every stride. Syd turned to her partner and mouthed, "I'm sorry." as she walked away. However, the Slytherin boy decided to walk in Sydney's path as he walked to Snape's desk. "Might as well be a Squib." he said under his breath as he pushed past her. Sydney was embarrassed by her mess, but just because she was half blood, she wouldn't stand being called anything other. She was strong and excelled in many fields compared to the boy, who was in several of her classes. Twisting her wrist, she shot a quick gilt of light toward his legs. His knees locked up with his next step, as he fell to the hard, cold, cement floor with ill-grace. Snape looked up from his desk and narrowed his stony eyes at the Hufflepuff. "Ten Points Hufflepuff!" He shot as Sydney looked up at her Professor.

After being ordered to clean each cauldron, the walls, floors, and each spoon; Over an hour later Sydney was finished with her punishment. Luckily, Professor Snape left her alone for quite some time, where she could actually work in silence. Work in silence? Yeah, right. As Sydney dried the last spoon by hand, she hummed to herself a small tune passing the time. Doing chores wasn't quite a big deal. Yes, a lot of work that she originally wouldn't have but it was better than being locked in a dungeon! She laughed to herself at the thought of such a punishment. Placing the spoon in the drawer, she tossed the dry cloth over the sink. She took once glance of the room, and started toward the door since her punishment was done for the night.

[Valmer Van Ruster S7]

Valmer Van Ruster was a fan of Potions, but not of Professor Snape. Yes, he was a Slytherin, and it was obvious at times that Snape was the kind that took a liking to Slytherins, but it didn't make the class any easier, nor did being a Slytherin give him any perks with the professor in his class. During the class, he was with his friend, Jack Reid. As he and his friend worked on their potion, Valmer stole a glance over at Sydney Rawson, a Hufflepuff, and saw her using her wand, making the spoon stir the potion while they waited for it to turn the white color it was supposed to. Valmer had thought of using this spell as well, but he knew that Jack wouldn't have it. Jack was the prideful type, particularly because of his dealings with his parents and his brothers here at the school. Valmer knew Jack, but not as well as some of his other buddies. They had randomly been paired together today, and Valmer knew that he shouldn't be complaining. There were people worse than Jack Reid. He would only have to deal with it for a bit longer, and then he could go back to doing what he did best: stay on his own, for the most part.

As the class went on, a commotion began to stir over at Sydney's cauldron, and suddenly he saw their potion begin to bubble with blackness. Valmer was sure it wasn't a good sign. After all, black was the opposite of white, the color the blood potion was supposed to be. Opposites never liked each other, especially when dealing with potions. He had learned that in previous years. As he watched, large black bubbles of the liquid escaped from Sydney's cauldron and made their way over to their table. Valmer jumped off his chair and backed up, but Jack was focused on their potion's color change, and he didn't realize until the last minute, and the bubble popped, spreading the liquid all over his robes. With this, Jack got up and began yelling at the girl, disrupting the entire class and causing everyone to stare. It was a tad funny, to see Jack covered in the black potion, but at the same time, Valmer knew what would be coming. He had seen Jack get upset before, and this would be no different.

Jack hurled insult after insult at Sydney, until Snape came over and calmed him down, along with showing his frustration with Sydney to the entire class. Clearly bent on embarrassing her, he told the entire class that she would be cleaning up everyone's tables, and Valmer was sure that the girl was humiliated. It was just a mistake, why did Snape have to be so harsh sometimes? He wanted to perk up and say something, but he didn't want to get on Snape's bad side. As the class began to file out, Jack and Valmer walked past Sydney as she was cleaning up her own set of cauldrons and tools, and Jack snorted at her, calling her a Squib. She retaliated, as Valmer likely would have as well, and Snape didn't miss a beat. "Ten Points Hufflepuff!" he yelled, and with that, Valmer and Jack snuck out the door, leaving Sydney to clean up the mess.

Valmer didn't have any classes left that day, so he hung around the dungeons, avoiding Snape when he left and waiting for Sydney to get done with her cleaning. It took nearly an hour or more for her to clean everything, and then she was on her way out. Valmer caught her as she walked out of the classroom. "Sydney," he said, almost sheepishly. "Hi. I'm Valmer, Jack's partner for just today. Hopefully it'll never happen again. I just wanted to apologize for his outburst and his cutting words. He doesn't ever care who he talks to like that, he just lets his mouth fly. I wanted to wait for you and make sure you were okay. I know how Snape can be quite rough on people sometimes, and I wanted to make sure Jack didn't upset you, or at least not too much." He hoped he wasn't coming off too strong, but he was just concerned about her, and didn't want her to be upset.

(Jack Reid G-Moding allowed, of course)

[Sydney Rawson H6]

As Sydney left the dungeons she yawned from the job well done. She would have much rather spent her after noon without classes out on the courtyard, or at least goofing off in her Common Room. But, she did make a mess of the room, so it was all within regulation. However, the worst part of the job wasn't the actual cleaning part, It was being around such a dangerous form. Arsenic wasn't something to be toyed with. Luckily, Snape had to feed Sydney a pill before she began her cleaning escapade so she wouldn't be infected by the element. Maybe that was why he left the room. Since arsenic is odorless, and in most cases colorless, he didn't know if he was getting infected or not. Well, either way, it was nice for him to leave her alone, it didn't feel much like a punishment to her then.

Pushing the Dungeon door open, it's creek from the old wore hinges echoed through the corridors. Giving a light smile, she slammed it shut behind her, making even more noise. Shaking her head she walked off down the only hall she ever explored, because she had to, the main hallway to go back up to the first floor. Turning left, up the hall, she noticed a few Slytherins chatting in a corner. She didn't understand why they stayed so secluded. Yes, some of them grew up with families that despised blood that was concentrated. However, there were plenty of other students that roamed the castle that were just as pure as they were! A house derived from a man who believed he was 'Almighty' was set in punishment, in solitude in the dungeons. So, why would someone stay, when now these students could roam free in the halls? Of course, Salazar believed that there were tunnels through the castle that were to find different treasures, per-say, but who in their right mind would hide something in such an obvious place like a secluded dungeon? Only a scholar would understand, someone like Sydney... Sydney laughed slightly to herself as she passed the group, since the last few minutes of the class she was in, she was degraded to such a degree to seem utterly worthless. Of course, she was absolutely anything but!

At last, Syd noticed the stairs a few feet in front of her. But, as soon as the stairs became apparent to her, a voice called out to her. Not sure if she heard her own name, or mistaken it for someone else, Syd turned her head slightly to the side to see if someone was near. Catching a glimpse of a Slytherin Student who looked quite familiar, she stopped as he continued to speak. The boy went on to introduce himself, and the next part was where Sydney knew why he was familiar. He was partner's with the boy who couldn't keep his mouth shut. Crossing her arms at her chest, she listened with ease, and not a will to interrupt as he went on with an apology. She watched as Valmer went on, but Sydney didn't care. "What? Did Jack, or whoever put you up to this?" Syd exclaimed as she started using her hands to aid her speech. "He pretty much shoved me down in the dirt in class today, you were there, everyone was there.." Syd motioned toward Valmer as well as the group standing a few corridors down. "And now, Since a poor little Huffle retaliated back, he wants to get in the last word... I'm sorry I don't believe this bloody bull! You are just one of his zombies trying to catch me off guard so I will be vulnerable for whatever you guys had planned." Syd went off as if it was an American's Fourth of July. She knew almost all of Slytherins now-a-days were stuck in some egotistical mindset, that they were obviously better than anyone and Sydney wasn't going to stand for it. She was smarter than that Jack kid would ever be. He just had brawn, however Syd had the brains. "Snape didn't hurt me. I'm stronger than that. Some of us in the castle are used to Snape's anger. Six years of it, right here." she said as she pointed to herself. "Just because you are a Slytherin and don't know his ripe anger doesn't mean we're in the same boat." Syd took a step forward toward Valmer and shot a short. "I'm fine."

"Good Day, Sir." Sydney ended as she shook her head and turned on her heels. At this moment, she took out her wand and held it at her side as she strode off to the stairs. She knew better than to duel out of classroom, and she always had cost her house ten points by not being able to control her temper, so she had no intention of casting the first stone, but she wasn't going to allow some two bit wanna be Voldermort believe he has the upper hand. And if Valmer was partner's with Jack, he obviously was one of his cronies because no one in their right mind would partner with such a fool if they didn't believe in their actions.

[Valmer Van Ruster S7]

As Sydney walked through the halls of the dungeons, Valmer knew he would have to catch up with her. He walked quickly to get to her, said her name, and she turned around. He explained his apology, and how he wanted to make sure she was okay. Valmer knew that Jack had been a bloody idiot, and he intended on trying to mend some of the damage that had been done. Some things had been said that you just don’t say to some stranger, especially in the middle of a class. Suddenly, Sydney nearly exploded at him, accusing him of being Jack’s puppet, and trying to make her fall for some kind of prank they had planned. “What? That’s not—“, but it was all he got out before she continued on in her rant. She went on to complain about Jack’s comment, and he frowned. All of this frustration was from Jack’s stupid comment. Why did he have to be so stupid sometimes? Valmer shook it off and continued to listen to Sydney complain. Maybe he could come up with some kind of comeback for her that would show that he was just trying to help.

She finished, and quickly turned to leave. “Sydney.” Valmer said, quite calmly, given how he was feeling due to her little outburst. Without waiting for her to turn back around to face him, he began. “Look, I know what a jerk Jack was today. He said some things today that shouldn’t even be said to, really, anyone. Much less in the middle of a classroom where everyone can hear. First of all, I’m not one of his “zombies” as you call it. I came solely on my own to make sure things were okay. I know you’re strong enough to take care of yourself. I wasn’t asking if Snape hurt you. If he did that, he’d get kicked out of Hogwarts, no matter how much he begged. You saw what happened when Professor Umbridge was here, and she tortured students. I am simply here on my own merit, as a friend. I saw what happened, obviously. I wanted to make sure you were okay, that’s all. Jack is a jerk. I got paired up with him because Snape just put us together. Maybe he wants me to more like Jack.” Valmer thought about that for a second, and nearly threw up in his mouth. “I’m nothing like that. I’m not the typical Slytherin, as I like to tell people. Sometimes I don’t even know why I’m in the house, sometimes.” Valmer looked at Sydney, hoping for some response, but didn’t get any right away. “Well I told my side. If you don’t want to believe it, fine. I’ll just go back to my schoolwork and such. Maybe sulk for a while, like us Slytherins supposedly do.”

Valmer wished Sydney would listen to him. Yet he also understood how she was feeling. Jack had completely up and embarrassed her in front of the whole class, and when she had tried to retaliate, she got in trouble, and the Slytherin that had caused it all walked free, or at least that’s what the muggles said. Sydney also seemed like a very smart and great individual, and he hoped she would let this go and at least give him a chance. After all, he hadn’t done anything wrong. It was Jack’s stupid actions, and he had been in the line of fire. Sydney was just acting on her instincts. He couldn’t blame her for that. She had to be strong around those who wanted nothing more than to bring her down. Valmer admired that.

[Sydney Rawson H6]

Sydney stood at the top of the stair-well in the corridoor facing the Main hall. The marbel was cushion to the many students that pranced across the floor toward the Great hall for dinner. Plates, silverware, and chatter rang through the Main hall and filtered down to Sydney which stood at the far end. Nevertheless, Valmer's voice still was hard through her ears. She turned slightly back around, and nearly invisibly pocketing her wand. She looked at with through narrowed eyes. Syd was quite perplexed to the fact, why was a Slytherin being so nice? Did he seriously believe he was not like Jack, or was he really nothing like his once partner? Sydney's whole family was always sorted on Gryffindor, However, unlike everyone else, Syd was sorted into a complete different house. She believes that she, personally could have characteristics from every house if you put her personality under a microscope. However, when it came to Slytherin's they always seemed so cut and dry, but what makes Valmer so different? He seemed absolutely sickened by the idea. As the words excaped his lips, "Sometimes I don’t even know why I’m in the house, sometimes.” Sydney's eyes widened as she felt the same way. Hufflepuff wasn't a horrible house, but she sometimes felt like she belonged else where, no idea where, but somewhere else. Looking down to her feet, then up to Valmer again. As she began to shake her head at him, she spoke. "I don't know why in bloody hell I'm telling you this but,...... I understand how you feel." She paused as she softly spoke the last phrase. Looking at Valmer for a moment, she turned her head and looked back up into the Main hall. "Well." she spoke shortly. "If we intend to continue this conversation, can we go somewhere else? This dungeon is too eerie and wicked for me." Syd said with a short, uncomfortable grin as she stepped up the last stair onto the vast marbel floor.

Student's voices echoed the hall as dinner was under way. Sydney was not too hungry due to the ill feeling that dung in the pit of her stomach, after drinking the potion Snape gave to her before she began to clean the class room. Walking across the floor Syd made her way to the Grand staircase. It was moving from the third floor to the fourth as Syd stepped onto the jinxed stairs. She turned around to Valmer who was near by. "Excuse me for being abrupt, but why do you think you deserve to be in a different house?" Syd questioned with a skeptical look about her. "So, you're saying the sorting hat made a mistake?" she added as the stairs sceased to move, and Syd continued on her way up the stairs.

(( I am very sorry for the lack of responce as well as the long wait. I will be timely now since I am situated at school. Hope school is going well for you, as well. ))

[Valmer Van Ruster S7]

Valmer finished what he wanted to say to Sydney, and wondered what she was thinking. He hoped she would believe him. After all, he wasn’t the average Slytherin, and she knew that from what he had been talking about. He did wonder sometimes why the sorting hat put him in the house, anyway. He also wondered some days if other people at the school felt the same way he did, and that was something that surprised him, as Syndey looked down to her feet. She confessed that she felt the same way he did. She wanted to go somewhere else to talk, so apparently she partially trusted him, which was a start. She was quite stubborn, it seemed. That wasn’t a usual characteristic of Huffles, but still. He didn’t mind it. He wanted a friend, and he didn’t want her thinking he was just another Slytherin out to destroy everyone who wasn’t like him. Valmer was definitely not the average Slyth, and he didn’t care who knew it, just as long as they knew it.

“Alright, I’m up for somewhere else too,” Valmer told Sydney. He followed her up the Grand Staircase, watching it move up to the fourth floor. Sydney then asked him pointedly about his statement about the houses. She implied that he thought the sorting hat had made a mistake. “No,” he began. “I don’t think the sorting hat makes mistakes. It take the most common tendencies and makes a decision based on the person. I guess my tendency to get angry quickly came out the most, and that threw me into Slytherin. I’m definitely not your average Slytherin.” He paused, wondering how to phrase what he wanted to say. “I tend to be nicer than most of the rest of my house, and that’s just my personality.” It sounded so simple, but he knew it was a bit hard to understand. “I also don’t think I deserve to be in a different house. I’m happy with the house I’m in. It gives me a chance to show how nice a Slytherin can be.” Valmer looked around as they ascended the stairs, watching some of the photographs moving on the walls. He saw one that perked his interest, but turned back to Sydney. “So, if you don’t mind me asking, why do you think you should be in a different house? Was your family in a different house?” He didn’t want to offend her, but he didn’t see the harm in asking her. “By the way, where are we going?” He wanted to know just for his satisfaction of knowing their ending place. He hated wandering around aimlessly. It wasn’t something he enjoyed at all. He had to have a destination in mind.