Potions Lesson Two - First to Fourth Years

Naomi was relieved when the professor interrupted, inching away from the weird Slytherin girl. It was probably mean of her to think, but she didn't really care for over the top conspiracy theories like the ones the girl was spouting off about aliens. She hurried to take her seat as Professor Balan started the lesson.

The subject was almost boring, as they'd covered it last year, but that's what came of having combined years, she supposed. Naomi raised her hand, answering when she was called on. "The Shrinking Solution not only has the ability to make things smaller, but also de-age them, transforming the object into a younger form," she replied. "It's most evident in living animals." Most likely why they'd be practicing on a dog, so it would be evident if they'd succeeded, she thought to herself. She just hoped nobody accidentally poisoned the dog.

Oops. He was late. Ivan had heard that the professor was a hard ass, but he wanted to test it out to be on the safe side. Ivan took his time from the Gryffindor tower, and he kept thinking of the pranks he could pull. Maybe he could get some instant darkness powder from his stash and throw it in the class room and make it look like he was there the entire time! Na. that would give him a bad rep, and he didn't need that. He was already going to loose Gryffindor points and he was pretty sure people would be mad. Hufflepuff and Ravenclaw were tied for first the last time he checked, and he thought about not even showing up, but that would look bad on his marks. He had already gotten yelled at by Bella for not showing up to the first lessons of his classes, so he didn't think this would slide.

That was when he reached the door, and he could hear the professor already starting to give the instructions for the potion they would be brewing. He took a deep breath and without the instant darkness powder, he stepped in the room and tried to slip in one of the back seats. That didn't go very successfully as planned, because he tripped over a pile of cauldron's making a horrible clanging and crashing noise. His plan of being incognito didn't go so well. He looked up wide eyed in fear. He had never had this professor before, and didn't know what would happen.

Sumire had not been having the best of days. In fact it had been one of the worst weekends so far, and her spirit was a little damp. The only good thing was that she was able to see her father and her best friend (only friend somedays it was starting to feel like) more often. During the plane ride to Kolkatta to see her family, Felix wrapped an arm around her shoulders and let her curl into him. She felt a bit more at ease as her father typed furiously away at something on his laptop. After pulling her out of school for Friday and the weekend and greeting her with love and adoration, worry set into his eyes as he led her to the airport. She asked him twice what was wrong but each times he passive aggressively batted them off leaving her frustrated. However it was rude to pry more than necessary and she didn’t want to pressure her father.

The good news was Felix was there and he kept her mind off the distress that was filling the cabin. He told her stories of his mates, his joker friends, and she was hypnotized by his accent and pretty words. She loved the way his eyes were lit up with such passion for the things he adored. He was thinking about going to a magical university in America and she heartily approved. Except that was in the weekend past. She hadn’t been able to eat since she arrived and spent the whole morning composing herself and organizing herself out. 

However apparently she hadn’t been fully prepared and ended up emptying her small snack in the bathrooms and going to the Hospital Ward for a Potion to calm herself. She sat there with tea staring out the window, batting off the questions of the nurse before heading to her class.

As she entered the classroom shyly, with her hands behind her back she gave him a small nod. “Good morning Professor Balan, I apologize for my tardiness, I had difficulties this morning after traveling this weekend,” she told him as confidently as she could. She was preparing herself to be sent to detention but was praying she’d just be able to do the lesson.

Alberi didn't even hear when the professeur asked them a question about today's potion. No, he was too busy watching the dog. He hates them. And his fear for them was just as big. He hoped that the teacher wouldn't let it lose. He might as well flee from the room if that happened. Or at least be the furthest he could be from it. He suddenly wished he knew a spell which would drives dogs away, if such a spell even existed, that is. If there was, Alberi most likely would preform that spell every day just to protect himself.

The boy remembered he was in fact in class and not just him and the dog when the teacher had moved to show them the board. He almost face palmed himself. How could he be so foolish! Getting distracted like that in class... Alberi was done with dogs. They might as well cost him his education sooner or later if they continue to show up in other classes as well. He should definitely search for some spell or charm against dogs. Perphaps a good rune would work... And there he was again! Concentrate, Woodston... Don't let the dog get the best of you!


Finally considering it time to, in fact, do potions and not think about creatures coming from wolves, he began to brew, closely following the instructions. Half of him hoped to have succeeded in the potion, as it would've been great to have it well made and impress the teacher. The other part wanted to do bad and poison the dog. But he guessed that someone else could do that, so he mostly wanted to do good. He only wasn't sure if he was stirring the Potion too slowly but he supposed that if it was faster, he might do it too fast. He finished with the wave of his wand and waited, not wanting to come near the four legged creature.

Naomi and Finley had just started their potion, with Naomi filling the cauldron and Finley grabbing the ingredients, as had become their habit, when a young Gryffindor student walked in late, knocking over a stack of cauldrons, Naomi winced in sympathy. Her eyes widened at how angry the professor got and she ducked her head to stare at her desk, even though his anger wasn't directed at her.

When the second student came in late, Naomi was relieved to see that she was treated a little more calmly, most likely because she wasn't trying to sneak in. Either way, both students were sent to the back of the room and Naomi started in on the potion again.

Working in tandem with Finley, cutting and adding the ingredients, the potion was quickly ready. Although it wasn't quiet the appropriate acid green color, it was a respectable chartreuse and she was reasonably certain that it wouldn't harm the dog.