Chapter 16

Without the help of the Half-Blood Prince, Alistair returned to his usual failing grades in Potions class that Friday. Snape seemed to harbor a deep resentment toward him, perhaps because he had been forced to brew potions for Alistair, perhaps because Alistair had used his youthful textbook, or perhaps because Alistair had argued with him. In short, the tall man in black had been so thoroughly provoked that Alistair won Gryffindor the prestigious "five points from Gryffindor" award during class, earning him long, glare-filled looks from his fellow Gryffindors.