Potions: Lesson 3 (Years 5-7)

Down the stairs he went, knowing that today he was back on the old routine. He took advantage of the time he could to go split his time between Salem, Hogwarts, and then the Ministry. It was stressful, so much so he hadn't even bothered to plan the wedding to Teagan. Both had agreed that was on hold until they could start planning in the summer, away from school and in the haven they had built together.

His lip twitched at the thought and pushed the door open to his classroom. He was relieved to see that everything was on point. The tables were wiped of any remnants of previous classes, the scent of cleanliness everywhere. He sighed satisfied and sat down waiting for class to begin. Today would definitely be a testing point, so he could see, who had potential for success in the university.

Thana was ready for her final Potions lesson, this by far was her favourite class. She liked the way Professor Holmes taught, he was straight and direct. Leaving no room for failure. It was how Thana loved learning. At least this class was somewhat interesting to her, unlike the others she had taken this year.

Walking in she noticed she was the first person to arrive, she walked in and sat down. She pulled out a quill and a book, ready and waiting for the class to begin. She nodded to the Professor, as a sign of respect. She didn't speak, instead she just waited.

It was the last potions lesson of the year, and Tess was glad. She wanted out of the school for a while, she needed time to relax and get away from it all. She had to admit she was spread out thinly; from Quidditch practice where she did get the usual bruises, to training to become a better elemental, to being a head girl and doing double the work because the head boy was lazy, was tiring her out. Pushing the door open, she yawned despite herself. It wasn't a way to disrespect her brother, but her body telling her that perhaps sleeping had been the better option.

Seeing that Josh and Thana were there, she made a smiled slightly and sat down on her usual spot near the front. Leaning back she waited to see what Mycroft was throwing at them, and tried to stay awake.

Alyson arrived in potions and saw a few other students there, Alyson took a seat in the middle of the classroom and waited for the class to start. She was actually really glad that Professor Mycroft was back because this was both his school and class and it wasn't the same. Alyson pulled out her potions book and waited.

"Hi, I'm Gina. Are you good at this? Because I'm certainly not and I could use a decent partner!"

Thana had been busy giving a stare at the front of the class, not noticing someone had sat beside her until they spoke. She looked over and saw it was a Hufflepuff, "Well that's a first" she thought to herself. Normally she worked alone, but she was ....getting used to working with others. She quickly shut the book that she had open in front of her.

"Hi Gina, I'm Thana" she replied before continuing. "Meh, potions aren't everyone's thing. But I have a fairly good idea on what I'm doing in this class. Be warned of the Professor though, not everyone likes his style of teaching" she told her. Before going back to her book and waiting for the other girls response.

The thing Lucy loved about potions was how close the classroom was to her common room. She didn't have to rush to get there on time. She made her way casually to the room, greeting Professor Holmes warmly before she took her usual seat, taking out her equipment and getting ready for the lesson to start. She was curious as to what they would be learning today.

In all honesty, Cass was in no rush to get to potions. It wasn't her best subject, and she only took it because her parents wanted her to. So she wasn't looking forward to the lesson, nevertheless, she'd try her best. Her best was all she could do. She walked into the classroom "Professor," she gave a polite nod and then found a seat and readied herself for class.

Compared to his class in Salem, he realized that the students in his advanced potions at Hogwarts were younger. It really wasn't a goodbye as it was with his other group, and for them, well most of them, their head was already in vacation time, rather than class. He figured he was right as people began to chatter lightly, enough to signal for him that the class should begin before there it would escalate.

He moved his hand, the doors closed immediately and he cleared his throat signaling it was lesson time. He knew that he was mostly waiting for his Head Boy and apprentice to arrive, but it seemed it was another lesson the young man was missing.

"Welcome to the last lecture of the year..please try to keep back the hollers and cheering till later. I see that a lot of you are most definitely done with the year, from your chatter. I wish I could say that I could let you off the hook today, but that's not the man I am, and I don't think you'd really appreciate that in the future. Now can anyone tell me something about Draught of Living Death?"

James was officially checked out for the year. He wasn't worried about exams, he'd always done well enough in them. Information was something he just kind of absorbed, picking through it to find was was useful, and what could be forgotten. While he understood the need for potions, he didn't see a real application in his life for brewing them himself when he could buy them easily.

Resigning himself to another, last lesson, he strode through the door. Class had already started so he picked a chair at the back, mouthing a quick "Sorry" to the professor. It didn't really bother him, that he was late, but he knew what was expected if he was.

He perked up just a bit, in seeing Holmes sitting not too far away, but even that wasn't enough to lighten his mood. His plans were not going...well, as planned. And with graduation around the corner, he was looking forward to new stomping grounds. And, honestly, new play things. Holmes had become surprisingly boring in her monotony and predictability. Hardly even worth his time anymore.

Leaning back in his chair, arms folded, he watched as the class continued around him.

As usual Mr. Murray was the first person to answer, his eyes briefly going to his sister wondering how she didn't even bother to answer. Such a shame, still he nodded towards Mr. Murray for saying the answer he was expecting.

"Very good Mr. Murray, as usual five points to Slytherin..thank you for your running commentary of Muggle fairy tales, I suppose we needed a refresher."

As soon as he gave points the door opened, and there came the Hufflepuff entered looking unfazed by the fact he was late. He glared at the boy who even dared to look at his sister, and only try to apologize half-heartedly. Dolan was one of the students that never spoke, but his work did for him. Competent, but a waste of space sometimes.

"Mr. Dolan, I understand you are graduating, but you should know better than to be late for class. Five points from Hufflepuff" he growled out.

Going back to his class, he sighed knowing he might as well continue teaching. For his final class, he had the things in mind.

"Today will serve as not only your last lesson but as your final exam. I know, you don't want to see me again, and neither do I wish to see you...for sixth years, you have summer to mourn the fact you're going to have to return. Now. I'll present you with your exam, you will be given the ingredients and portions, but some ingredients are extra, and none have tags as to what is what. Use all your senses, and be careful to distinguish the differences."

Add powdered moonstone until the potion turns green.
Stir until the potion turns blue.
Add powdered moonstone until the potion turns purple.
Allow to simmer until the potion turns pink.
Add syrup of hellebore until the potion turns turquoise.
Allow to simmer until the potion turns purple.
Shake powdered porcupine quills vigorously until they are ready and then add until the potion turns red.
Stir until the potion turns orange.
Add more porcupine quills until the potion turns turquoise.
Allow to simmer till the potion turns purple.
Add powdered unicorn horn until the potion turns pink.
Stir until the potion turns red.
Allow to simmer until the potion turns purple.
Add more powdered moonstone until the potion turns grey.
Allow the potion to simmer until it turns orange.
Add more powdered porcupine quills until the potion turns white.

Alyson reminded herself to always stay on Professor Holmes' good side at all times. She didn't want to make him mad at all. She began to make her potion. She added some powdered moonstone and watched as her potion turned green, she stirred and watched as her potion turns blue, she added more powdered moonstone and watched her potion turn purple. Alyson allowed it to simmer until it turned pink and then she added hellbore and watched it turn turquoise and allowed it to simmer until it turned purple.

Alyson shook the powder porcupine quills until they were ready to add to the potion, when it was she added it and watched her potion turn red. She began to stir and watched it turn orange. The blonde then proceeded to add more porcupine quills and watched as her potion turned turquoise, she allowed to simmer until her potion went back to purple. Alyson added powdered unicorn horn and watched as it turned pink, she stirred until it turned red, then allowed it to simmer and turn purple. The Gryffindor added more powdered moonstone and watched as her potion turned grey, then allowed it to simmer until it turned orange, and last but not least she added more powdered porcupine quills and watched as it turned white. She was finally done.

When Josh spoke his answer, Tess wasn't surprised, it was the usual way that classes worked...that is until something happened. What the hell was Snow White? A film? She forced herself not to look at him incredulously as he spouted out things about Muggle culture. It never interested her as a child, and even now, she could surely go without it.

Next came James, who was definitely late. She smiled coyly at the boy as he entered, mouthing an apology to her brother instead of actually saying it. She knew that's where he had messed up, and sure enough, Mycroft deduced five points to Hufflepuff. Tess hid a grin and lowered her head as Mycroft began to explained things. Working alone? Well wasn't this going to be interesting?

As soon as he let them go, Tess was off. Walking over to the ingredients she could see that her brother had planned this out all too well. She was glad that she had done this potion once before, two years ago for Rhian.

Putting the base for the potion with low flame, she began to filter through all the options. She knew she needed moonstone, which was easy enough finding the powdered stone based on the pale color and gleam that was emitted from the jar. Next came the syrup of hellebore; her eyes immediately scanned for the blue. She wasn't bothering looking at any others but two. She picked up the first jar, and did the first thing that came to mind, she checked the thickness. Flipping it over, she studied how slowly it moved from one side to the other, easily enough, she realized which one was the right one and smirked to herself. He was definitely good at tricking them, the color was so perfect.

Next came the powdered porcupine quills. There were two jars both finely powdered and the color was similar. She first studied the powder, and opened the jars carefully. She doubted that Mycroft could put something dangerous when it came to powder and lowered her head and sniffed the first one. It had a musky smell, but then again that could have been anything under the rainbow. She moved towards the next brought a smile to her face: cinnamon. She mind went to the cookies that her house elves used to bake when she had cried. Tess moved towards the grey powdered jars, rather than putting it in water as Josh had done, she took out her wand and muttered lumos. Sooon enough, she saw how easily the unicorn powder still glowed with it's pure properties, and easily picked it up.

Now that she had everything picked out, she knew it was time for her to get into the mode. Luckily enough, the base had just began to boil as she began to work through the potion without overthinking it. Grabbing the powdered moonstone, she measured it perfectly, removing some moonstone once the scale was shaking. Once satisfied she threw the powder in the potion and began to stir seven times clockwise. Once satisfied, she knew the bright blue would work, and moved towards the next step. The moonstone was measured once more, and she repeated her movements, but stirring counter-clockwise, seven once again, before it turned pink. Garish pink at that.

Shaking her head, she moved towards hellebore. Gloves on, she opened the jar of the blue liquid and brought out the scooper. She wasn't getting any of the syrup on her, that much was true. She drizzled it over, in a circular motion, from the center outwards already knowing that once it was evenly at the bottom of the cauldron, she could stir it better. Despite the struggle, she began to stir, seven times clockwise and the potion turned turquoise. Once satisfied with the richness, she lowered the flame waiting for it to simmer. Turning purple, she moved towards the powdered porcupine quills. Picking up the measured amount, she moved the powder to the smaller jar and began to shake vigorously. She always liked separating the weighed powder from the main jar because it would be lighter and would make the potion taste less earthy. It was a preference, but it would have a richer color.

Throwing the measured amount, she went through the routine once more until it turned a vibrant red. Once more she let it simmer. She had forgotten how annoying it was to do the routine when it came to this potion. Sighing, she was relieved when it turned purple and put the already measured unicorn powder into the potion. She liked to sprinkle in the powder because it would lighten the feel of the overwhelming shine to her eyes, and slowly did the color change, even before she stirred it. Stirring, it began to turn grey, and she lowered the flame all the more, paying close attention to the temperature. Once the potion turned orange, she added the rest of the aired out porcupine quills and stirred until satisfied with the white color.

Once done, she immediately put the concoction into the phials needed. She liked filling as many as possible, knowing the hospital wing always needed it. Then she began to clean her station satisfied and knowing that the upcoming O.W.L.s were going to be a walk in the park.

Thana sighed as the Professor told the class of the Test. She moved and got her ingredients, carefully preparing them before she added them to the cauldron. She noticed the girl next to her struggling, she was about to help when she noticed the girl sorted it on her own.

Getting all of the non listed ingredients she would need, Thana started making the potion. She worked quietly and efficiently, watching as each colour went. She had made this potions several times, so she knew what was needed.

As she added the final ingredient, Thana watched satisfied. She had liked this class this year, it had been interesting, more so than the others. Finally finishing the potion, she watched as it went how it was supposed to. The potion was completed and perfect. Thana sat and waited for the rest of the class to finish.

"How did you go?" Thana asked the Hufflepuff next to her, Gina.

'Yay, a test' Cass thought sarcastically as she went to gather the ingredients needed, hoping desperately that her judgement was correct. She was terrible at potions, and hated the difficulty of the test. But she would try, she always did try her hardest at things.

She readied her cauldron, adding what looked like what she remembered to be moonstone until it was green, and stirred until she saw blue. As she moved through the stages, she carefully considered each ingredient, making a mental note of which ingredient she decided was what as she used them. A few times, she noted that the colours were off, but nothing too drastic, so she hoped for at least an Exceeds Expectations, but then again, small mistakes add up.

She finished with a sort of orangish-white potion, and stirred for a while to try and make it a pure white, but it seemed nothing would change it. She sighed a little to herself in disappointment, dreading her mark.

Lucy was confident for the test. When given the go-ahead, she immediately went and found quickly and efficiently the ingredients needed for the potion. She found identifying the substances to be the easiest part, as all were, in her opinion quite district. Though that may have been due to her extensive preparation for potions. It was one of her best subjects. She prepped her cauldron, adding the moonstone, and stirring, until the potion was the correct shades of colours. She was extremely precise in her measurements, and wasn't about to let her grade drop for trivial things like adding a pinch too much of moonstone, or not shaking the porcupine quills enough before adding them to the potion.

She finished with her perfect white potion, proud of her efforts.

Dolan, James: 20 pts (attendance) - 5 pts (tardiness) = 15
Holmes, Tess: 20 pts (attendance) +10 (well-written post following direction) = 30
Montez, Alyson: 20 pts (attendance) + 5 (participation but not following directions) =25
Murray, Josh: 20 pts (attendance) + 10 (well-written post following direction) = 30
Semele, Thana : 20 pts (attendance) + 5 (participation but not following directions) = 25
Vise, Georgina: 20 pts (attendance) +10 (well-written post following direction) = 30
Waters, Lucy : 20 pts (attendance) +10 (well-written post following direction) = 30
Young, Cassidy : 20 pts (attendance) +10 (well-written post following direction) = 30

TOTAL:
Hufflepuff: 45
Gryffindor: 55
Ravenclaw: 25
Slytherin: 90