Things didn't improve for the Gryffindors as the Potions lesson continued. Snape put them all into pairs and set them to mixing up a simple potion to cure boils. Harry had been placed with Hermione, Draco with Luna, Daphne and Pansy, and Theo with Blaise. Over with the Gryffindor's; Henry was with Ron who Draco had nicknamed the Weasel. Lavender Brown was with an Indian girl who was called Parvati if Harry remembered correctly. Neville was in a group of three with Finnegan and Thomas. Severus swept around in his long black cloak looking much like the dungeon bat he was nicknamed for, watching them weigh dried nettles and crush snake fangs. Criticizing almost everyone except Harry, Hermione and Draco, all of which had a natural talent for brewing. Halfway through the class, Neville had somehow managed to melt his cauldron so it dripped over the table, and seeped across the stone floor, burning holes in people's shoes. Within seconds, the whole class was standing on their stools while Neville, who had been drenched in the potion when the cauldron collapsed, moaned in pain as angry red boils sprang up all over his arms and legs.