Potions: Lesson Two - Elixir to Induce Euphoria (All Years)

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OOC: This class is set before the attack.

Christmas was nearly upon them, which meant a layer of snow had settled on the ground at Hogwarts. The Christmas trees had gone up all around the school. And the dungeons were more icily cold than normal. James' room held a little heat from the cauldrons that simmered in each lessons, just enough to take the bite off of the room.

James pre-baby jitters were much more alive. Less than two months now, and he would be a father. It was scary to think about it, truthfully, but James was doing the exact opposite. Not thinking about it so that he could keep his emotions in check. Turning to the board, James wrote up four words, 'Elixir to Induce Euphoria'. That was the subject for the day, because what better than feeding kids up on a potion that would, essentially, make them hyperactive for the rest of the day.

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When Prim heard that Max wasn't good with Potion's she knew that it meant more then just blowing up Potions and that Max had probably done more then just blow up his own potion. Letting out a soft sigh, the girl made her way towards Potion, casting a look over her shoulder to make sure that Max was following her.

"I wonder what Professor Balan's reaction will be to you coming to Potions." She said dryly with an amused snort; she had heard from more than one person that Max's first lesson with Professor Balan had gone horribly wrong and while she had no idea just how bad it went she hoped that at least this time with her quick reflexes she would be able to stop a catastrophe happening, like Max blowing up the whole classroom.

"Afternoon Professor!" Prim said with a wide smile on her face as she stepped into the classroom, blinking her eyes at being the first one there. "You doing alright today?" She questioned while moving through the desks towards her own place where she normally sat, making sure to tug Max into the space next to her. No way was she letting him out of her sight, at least not now when they were doing the Potion to Induce Euphoria. It was a bit too volatile for Max to do on his own without any supervision.

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Descending in to the dungeons was not a nice experience at this time of year, which was one of the reasons that Max had thought - for only a mere second - about not attending. Those thoughts had been cut off by the fact Prim had caught up with him and all but frog marched him down to the class of Professor Balan's.

"He'll probably send me straight back out, if I'm honest..." Max mused, shrugging his shoulders a little. "If he even notices me at all." He added, mostly thinking out loud, not too bothered about whether this was true or not. Professor Balan probably didn't remember him - or so Max hoped, so maybe he could get away with working on the down low.

Max simply skipped past the professor as they arrived, letting Prim do the talking as he followed her to a seat and took the one beside her. He wondered if Elyah would be coming to this lesson - though if she did, she'd likely sit as far away from him as possible so that he couldn't ruin her potions again. Slouching on the desk, Max waited (im)patiently for the class to begin.

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Potions were okay lesson for Cassie and it was the reason why she had decided to go it today. It was one of the lessons she managed to pass if she worked on it. She might not be brightest in it but she at least tries. She doesn't give up that easily even when she messes up, she will try it again.

Fourth Year Hufflepuff walked into the classroom and smiled. "Hello," she said there and took a seat middle of the classroom, where she usually sits when there are available seats. She looked up the board and noticed today's subject. It was one of potion names she couldn't recall really what it was for.

She knew only pretty simple ones. She did take her things for the class out of her back and now she needed to wait until lesson will start. She hoped it would happen soon. She looked around the classroom and noticed smiled at those who were here. To be honest she didn't know them that well. Just names basically because she has heard them here in the lessons.

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Another day, another lesson. Arthur managed to pull himself out of bed that morning without too much of a problem and followed his usual morning routine of washing, dressing and heading up for breakfast before lessons. There were no distractions to this morning's routine, which put Arthur in a very good mood as he descended back down to the dungeons.

Heading in to the classroom, Arthur took in the other kids in the room, and the professor, before moving to his own chair off in a bit of space. This way no one could try to sabotage his potions. Not that anyone probably would, but Arthur was not about to take that risk.

Settling down, Arthur pulled out his potions book and scanned through to the pages necessary for today's lesson that was clearly written up on the board. The Slytherin had no interest in conversation, and he was not about to change that now.

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Potions was one of the classes Elleon liked only because it was the one he excelled in. It didn't require a lot of talking like DADA did and there wasn't much to do except follow the recipe. Sure, he had to do his homework and read the textbook ahead of the class but it wasn't as daunting as some of the other classes were.

Entering the classroom and giving a wave to the professor, Elleon took his usual seat in the front and read what was written on the board. He knew the potion and how to make it, having read about it the previous week, but he wondered why they were learning it. It wasn't particularly useful, was it? Except maybe for really sad people.

Pushing aside the thoughts, he took out his sketchbook and began doodling with his pen, glancing up every now and then to check and see if the class started.

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The first two students in to his classroom were not a welcome sight. The first was much too cheery for his lesson, in James' opinion, and the second was completely useless at Potions, and a liability to say the least. Forcing a smile to his lips, James didn't both to answer the witch's question as to how he was doing, instead taking in the next few students who arrived in the room.

As the last few students took their seats in the class, James flicked his wand towards the door which closed sharply to announce the start of the lesson.

"We're not going to peter around the subject today. You can read in your own time. Turn to page one hundred and six. The Elixir to Induce Euphoria. You have until the end of the lesson to complete the potion. As always, you will be marked for your efforts. You will work individually. There's no need for chatter." James told them, motioning them off to the store cupboards to get everything they needed.

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He'd just finished adding the last line to his sketchbook when a movement in his peripheral vision caught his eye. Looking up just in time, he caught sight of the door slamming shut. Looked like they were about to begin. He closed his sketchbook and opened his notebook instead, keeping his eyes on the professor.

To his relief, he managed to catch most of the words coming out of his mouth and it wasn't too difficult to fill in the blanks he'd missed. He flipped his textbook to the page indicated and read through the recipe, glad that the professor wasn't going to speak much and left them to their own devices. Though he didn't think that was the correct way for them to learn, he was glad that it wasn't as stressful as his other classes.

Tearing a page off his notebook, he wrote down the ingredients he would need and headed to the cupboards to get them, grabbing a tray to put them all in. Once he had gathered all the necessary items, he set them down and read through the instructions again before taking out the cauldron. The first two steps were easy and he added the Shrivelfig and porcupine quills to the cauldron. Next, he stirred it four times anti-clockwise, counting the numbers as he stirred.

That done, he reached over and added a sprig of peppermint as well as the Sonophorous beans and Wormwood, stirring six time anti-clockwise. He knew his potion succeeded when he detected a sweet smell and the thing gave out a rainbow. With a satisfied smile, he ladled some of the bright yellow liquid into a tube and labelled it with his name, year, and House.

He packed up his things and left the room, waving a goodbye to the professor. Perhaps the potion would make him happy.

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The moment Prim had pretty much pulled Max into the classroom the woman had a feeling that Professor Balan wouldn't be happy about it but she was adamant about having Max attend the lesson if only so that he would be able to pass with at least an Acceptable at the end of their OWL's next year. She knew he wasn't that good and she knew that should she help him James would have her head but she was willing to work on this somehow.

As she pulled Max to the store cupboard to grab their ingredients she quietly and quickly whispered to him. "Follow my lead and do what I'm doing. Don't mess it up. I can't personally help you but you can watch me do it." She grabbed her ingredients and sighed softly. "Also open the book so that Professor Balan will see you using it."

She made her way back to the desk and waited for Max to join in the seat next to her before she opened up her book and started the potion; first, she added the shrivelfig and then the porcupine quills. Slowly she stirred the potion four times anti-clockwise which she then followed by adding the Peppermint, Sopophorous beans and Wormwood. Out of the corner of her eye, she watched Max to make sure he was following her lead before she stirred the potion six times anti-clockwise, the colour turning a soft sunshine yellow before a rainbow emitted from it, making the girl breath a sigh of relief.

She was glad for her aptitude in Potions at this moment in time and she was quick to bottle the potion up in some phials with her name, year and house written on the labels before she moved to hand it over to the Professor with a slight bow of her head.

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Being dragged to the store cupboard, Max nodded his understanding of Primrose's instructions to just follow her lead, and not mess it up. "It's not like I do it on purpose!" Max replied in a whisper back. He really did try, but he didn't have the eye for potions like so many other people did. Max knew, though, that Prim was just trying to help, and wasn't lecturing him about this.

Taking the tray of ingredients back to the desk, Max put them down carefully, and fumbled with his book until he found the page. It was quite obvious from the condition of the book that Max had barely opened it, but he managed to prop it open in front of him to try to fool the Potions Master in to thinking he was using the book.

Glancing over at Prim, Max took up the Shrivelfig as she did (slightly belatedly because he didn't know which one he was really looking for) and added it to his cauldron in the same manner as Prim. Next, he dropped the quills in, leaning up on tip toes to check his potion - not that he knew what he was looking for - and then dropping back down on to his heels.

Max somewhat sloshed the mixture - possibly three times... possibly four - like Prim did anti-clockwise before adding the rest of the ingredients in the same manner. Max's eyes were wandering around the class, trying to gauge how well everyone else was doing, before catching himself and concentrating on his own. Stirring once more - as Prim took hers to the professor - Max checked the remainder of Prims to see it was yellow, and looked in his to find it somewhat green.

Cringing, Max stirred it a few more times - because he didn't know what else to do - to which his potion gave a puff of unenthusiastic response to Max's internal willing for this to go right, before it turned black.

Ruined. Max knew that at a glance, and set the ladle down with a sigh. Prim wouldn't be able to help him, he knew, but he wasn't sure why his hadn't worked. It hasn't exploded, though, that's always a plus! He thought to himself, closing his book and putting it in his bag.

Hurrying after Prim, Max didn't mention that he hadn't handed something in, just all too happy to get out of the lesson.

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