Orli knew perfectly well that the textbook only provided standard instructions. To truly enhance the potion's potency, one should add a tiny bit of dittany after following the standard steps. Moreover, the nettle shouldn't be cut into one-third inch pieces as the book suggested, but rather chopped more finely.
However, at this point, doing more meant risking more mistakes. She had no desire to stand out in any way, preferring to simply survive this class quietly.
Finally, she decided that silence was golden and handed over control to Hermione, who seemed quite pleased to serve as the temporary group leader.
Unfortunately, Merlin appeared to be working against Orli, as events spiraled in precisely the direction she least wanted.
"Waters, is this what your group intends to submit? If so, you'll both receive Dreadfuls for this lesson." Snape's eyes swept over them like a snake eyeing two young mice as Hermione and Orli approached his desk to hand in their potion vial.
"Professor, I assure you, we followed the textbook instructions precisely..." Hermione, agitated by the glaring 'D' on the list, burst out in defense.
"Ah, following the textbook to the letter. Since Miss Granger is so devoted to memorizing textbooks, perhaps she'd like to demonstrate her dramatic recitation of 'One Thousand Magical Herbs and Fungi'? A proofreading position at the publishing house might suit you well." Snape cut her off with his characteristic sneer.
Hermione's face flushed crimson. She stared at the 'D' next to her name, biting her lip hard, looking as though she might burst into tears any second.
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Orli couldn't contain herself any longer. Gripping Hermione's trembling hand, she pointed at the grades on the list:
"But Malfoy got an Outstanding! Even Crabbe's rubbish got an Acceptable! How is our potion any different from Malfoy's?!"
"Do you truly not know the key to cutting nettle properly, Miss Waters?" Snape's eyes bore directly into Orli's, causing her to look away nervously.
"It seems you're not particularly enthusiastic about group work, to the point where you'd watch Miss Granger make mistakes and choose not to help, preferring to submit garbage to me, is that right?" Snape methodically rapped his knuckles against the walnut desk surface.
Hermione whirled to face Orli, large tears welling in her eyes, filled with hurt and disbelief. In the next moment, she yanked her hand free from Orli's grip, wiped her eyes with her sleeve, and fled from the classroom without looking back.
Orli felt blood rushing to her head. She could imagine how angry Hermione must be, and had a sinking feeling she might lose her first friend in the magical world.
"Professor, what exactly would it take to satisfy you? Actually, it's impossible for us to satisfy you because being in Gryffindor itself is our original sin, isn't it?!" Orli turned back, gripping the edge of the desk tightly as she glared at Snape. Her chest was so full of rage that she forgot how terrifying the person before her was.
"Perhaps you only favor Slytherin's stupid gel-slicked platinum heads, forgetting the basic fairness and dignity required of a professor. Are Gryffindors just clowns for you to mock? Everything I do is wrong, even Neville's cauldron is somehow my fault? If I don't follow the textbook's steps exactly, even if I produce a more potent potion, would you give me a Dreadful or even a Troll for non-standard procedure? In the end, you're just looking for excuses to dock our points—whether we do well or poorly doesn't matter at all!"
Her voice grew increasingly loud until she finally finished, only then realizing the classroom had fallen completely silent. All eyes were fixed on her, even Malfoy's face had frozen, as if she hadn't been speaking but had just taken two swings at Snape with an axe.