Potions Lesson Three (All Years)

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Sumire was smart yes, but her intelligence wasn't what she took pride most in. She took pride the most from her theatrical abilities (this included public speaking, singing, dancing, etc.). However, Potions was a subject she really wanted to excel in. She'd decided that if she wasn't going to pursue a career in Broadway (and who knows she very well might, but being a Veela and surrounded by hundreds would cause certain diffulties for a young actress) she wanted to be a Healer. She wasn't adverse to the idea, but she did love acting. She was still trying to figure how she'd deal with the problem that being a Veela created, but she'd do it. She was determined to do so.

At the announcement that they could brew whatever they so pleased as long as it pushed their own personal limits, Sumire was relieved. She'd picked a Strengthening Solution from Fourth Year; not too hard for a Third Year as herself. With an armful of the necessary ingredients she began to brew efficiently and correctly. The final product was off a bit in color and the texture proved to be too soft, but it functioned. Sumire figured that an Acceptable wouldn't hurt this time.

"Professor Balan," she began politely, 45 minutes after their class started, "I've finished."

Guest

Aiden listened to his Professor and blinked his eyes. That was very surprising to hear but something that Aiden had expected of their professor to say for their last lesson. He tilted his head to the side and thought of what Potion to make. A sixth year one would be preferable. He closed his eyes and thought back on the sixth year Potions that his sister taught him. There weren't a lot but there was one he could do. The Draught of the Living Dead.

It wasn't a potion that he had perfected doing but it was one he could do. He was pretty good at it and it was one that would test all of his potioneering skills.

Grabbing all of the correct ingredients Aiden pursed his lips and narrowed his eyes before starting on making the Potion.

1. Add water to the cauldron, and place over fire, to simmer. Add the powdered root of Asphodel. Allow to boil before completing the next step.

Aiden added the water and let it simmer in the cauldron before adding the powdered root of Asphodel and watching it before reading the second step.

2. Add the daisy roots whole, to the mixture, and stir with the wooden paddle, until the solution hisses and turns yellow. That is a sign that all of the magical powers have been drained from the daisy roots.

Aiden added the four daisy roots and then stirred it with the wooden paddle before watching it with a small smile and then focusing on the third step.

3. Add the ginger roots, and stir further at a rapid pace for ten minutes. Because of the exhaustion of stirring for long periods of time, it is suggested to use a stirring spell on the paddle.

4. Let simmer for twenty minutes, before taking off the fire and let the potion cool down. After it is cool, strain all the roots from the potion, and bottle after completely cool.

Aiden added the ginger roots and then set a stirring spell on the paddle before sitting back and let the paddle stir for ten minutes before letting the potion simmer for twenty minutes before doing the last bit which was to strain the roots from the potion.

He bottled it and then eyed it for a few seconds. It was off by a shade or two but it would quite probably get him an Exceed Exception. He sighed and stood up, taking his bottled potion to his Professor.

Subject: Re: Potions Lesson Three (All Years) Sun Jul 19, 2015 12:37 pm

Victoria had listened to the professor's explanation of what they would be doing today and waited for a moment once he'd finished to have a good think about what to do for this lesson. Opening her book, Victoria turned to the back scanning the index for ideas until her finger found a potion she knew was not easy to brew. It would be a challenge, but Victoria thrived under the pressure of challenges.

Amortentia.

Moving to the store cupboard, Victoria picked out the ingredients very carefully, making sure to get the freshest ingredients she could find. After all, that was part of the road to success when brewing any potion, wasn't it? Moving back to her station, Victoria took a moment to tie her hair back from her face before starting.

Turning the heat on low for her cauldron, Victoria carefully poured half a litre of water in to the cauldron, allowing it to start to boil before checking her book. Taking the rose head she'd picked from the store, Victoria carefully took the soft, thin petals one by one and added them in to the boiling water, watching them float for a moment, before disintegrating in to the water, adding a light red colouration to the mixture. Also adding in the thorns from the stem too, for extra potency.

Taking out her pipette, Victoria took out some of the peppermint essence, dropping five of them gently in to the mixture. The water was already turning a shade of green before she started to stir anti-clockwise, twelve times as was advised. Looking up to the clock, Victoria checked to see that there was time, and there was, of course, plenty.

Next, the Head Girl added four cloves to the mixture, whole and untouched. Turning the heat down to a simmer, Victoria checked the clock once more, and waited three minutes. Stirring the mixture clockwise three times, Victoria repeated this step four times before turning the heat back up.

Another seven minutes were allowed whilst the mixture boiled, and Victoria checked once again that her timings were right.

Next, two ashwinder eggs were added to the mixture, careful not to splash up the side of the cauldron. Again, they floated on the surface before dropping in to the mixture. Turning the heat down once more, Victoria reached up to brush the sweat from her brow, giving a quick glance to the rest of the room before concentrating back on her own work.

Lastly, Victoria added three spoonfuls of moonstone powder, stirring clockwise once to make sure the potion was complete. After that, she removed the cauldron from the heat.

The liquid had now changed to have the mother of pearl glow, kind of blue, but mostly white in nature, and steam (not from the heat) rose from the liquid. Victoria leant over, taking in the aroma of the potion.

The smell of new books was the first scent to touch Victoria's senses, and then the familiar smell of her mother's cooking at Christmas. But there... in the background was something Victoria hadn't experienced before, a smell she couldn't quite place...

Taking another deep breath, Victoria picked out the hints of cinnamon, and... cologne... Stepping back from the cauldron for a moment, Victoria could feel her cheeks going red. This... was interesting.

Ladling some of the potion in to a vial, Victoria took it up to the professor, very happy with her potion. She was, almost, certain that she had achieved the highest grade, but only time would tell.

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Guest

Naomi cast a worried glance at Finley when the professor said they'd been working separately. The two Ravenclaws had been working together as long as they'd had Potions together, which had been as long as Naomi had been taking Potions. She'd had yet to make one by herself, so she supposed it was good that Professor Balan was asking them to step out of their comfort zones.

Scanning the table of contents on her Potions book, she decided on the Swelling Solution, a solidly second year potion, but nothing to scoff at. She flipped to the correct page, then made her way to the ingredients cabinet to grab what she didn't have.

Working quickly, she ground up her nettles and puffer-fish eyes before adding them to the cauldron to heat. Naomi moved carefully, slicing and adding ingredients before stirring the cauldron as instructed. Once, she accidentally stirred a half turn too far, but she caught herself and moved on to the next step, hoping that it wouldn't affect her potion.

When Naomi waved her wand for the final time, the Swelling Solution was even closer to the perfect consistency and color than she normally got. Naomi looked at it in awe, then carefully wrote "add an extra half stir" where she had thought she'd messed up. Apparently, it was a happy accident and she turned in a vial of her completed potion.

Guest

The news that they would be working on their own, under something of a pressure from the professor to impress, Finley couldn't help but feel a little deflated. He enjoyed potions for the simple fact that he always had Naomi to help him if he made a mistake. He put a lot of faith in her helping him, and he knew that, but Finley felt much more relaxed with his best friend.

She's going to be right next to you, Finley scolded himself as he sent Naomi a small smile, flicking through his book to try and find a potion that he could make that wouldn't be too hard, not too easy. His fingers stopped on the Confusing Concoction which wasn't too hard, and he decided to try that one.

Opening to the page stated, Finley noted the ingredients and moved off to the store room to collect them before moving back to his desk and setting them out ready.

The first step of his potion was to grind the Lovage, Scurvy-grass and Sneezewort in to powder, which Finley usually handled in the potions. Without too much worry, the Ravenclaw cracked on with that part of the potion, making sure to keep each ingredient separate and cleaning (by hand) the mortar each time. Once that was done, he checked his book again.

Adding the base potion in to the cauldron carefully so that it didn't splash, Finley pulled his lower lip between his teeth as he concentrated on adding in the powdered Scurvy-grass. The potion turned a dark blue almost instantly from the powder, but as Finley turned the heat up, it slowly began to fade in to the dark red that he was expecting, along with a small amount of black smoke. Checking the instructions that this was right, Finley let out a soft sigh when he saw it was.

Picking up the Sneezlewort, Finley carefully added the next of the powder in to the mixture, before picking up the ladle and carefully stirring the concoction as the book stated.

Allowing a quick glance to his best friend, Finley could see she was doing well, and thus turned back to his own potion to concentrate.

Lifting a jug of water, Finley slowly poured the liquid in to the cauldron, again making sure it didn't splash, before picking up the ladle. Fifteen minutes of stirring later, Finley left the potion alone, letting it brew for a further fifteen minutes as he checked his book once more.

Finally came the Lovage, which Finley new was the last part of the potion. His hands were still a little nervous, but with concentration, Finley managed to only spill a little down the side of the cauldron. A small enough amount he was sure wouldn't matter in the end. Stirring for the final time, Finley could feel the liquid grow thicker.

A little thicker than necessary, perhaps, Finley wasn't sure as he peered over the top of the cauldron to see a dark maroon colour. With a smile growing on his lips, Finley looked to his best friend and gave her the thumbs up before putting some of his potion in a vial for the professor to test. Hopefully, he had done well, but Finley wasn't completely sure on the consistency.

Guest

As soon as the teacher told them to pick a potion, Alberi was quick to begin his search. He obviously didn't want something too easy, meaning nothing from the first year. He opened his book further in to look for something to use. He stopped on something interesting. The Sleeping Draught. He smiled slightly. That was what he'll do. Maybe he could have a use of it, who knows. One day anything could happen. He read the instructions:

Code:: [b]Brewing instructions[/b]
1. Add 4 sprigs of Lavender to the mortar
2. Add 2 measures of Standard Ingredient to the mortar
3.Crush into a creamy paste using the pestle
4. Add 2 blobs of Flobberworm Mucus to your cauldron
5. Add 2 measures of Standard Ingredient to your cauldron
6. Gently heat for 30 seconds
7. Add 3 measures of the crushed mixture to your cauldron
8. Wave your wand
9. Leave to brew and return in 70 minutes (time depends on cauldron)
10. Add 2 measures of Standard Ingredient to your cauldron
11. Heat on a high temperature for 1 minute
12. Add 4 Valerian Sprigs to your cauldron
13. Stir 7 times, clockwise
14. Wave your wand to complete the potion

Alberi was very careful to do everything exactly as it was written while also trying not to accidentally drop something in it. This would be the Professor's last impression and it was important. Very important even. He might not care what anyone else thinks but the professor... Now that was important.

After he had made the final wave, he hoped it went well. Just breathing from the sent did make he more tired so he took that as a good sign. Carefully putting it in a vial, he walked up and neatly placed it on the desk. He didn't want anything to be messed up. Call him a perfectionist, he was exactly that. He hoped that his over surveillance today would leave him finishing well.

Guest

James had watched from his desk with interest as the students began to work. He wasn't going to interfere, which could end in many ways, but he watched them no less. No one seemed to need help, and some of the faces were verging on comical in that moment as they concentrated on impressing him. Of course, James kept a straight face, it wouldn't do well to laugh at his students after all.

Looking over the first to complete, James made his way to the boy's side, looking in to the contents of the cauldron. "The Elixir to Induce Euphoria?" James asked, though he already knew. Giving a single nod, he could tell the boy had done well, perhaps not perfect, but well. "Put a vial on my desk with your name, your results will be given in due course.

And James continued in much the same manner, identifying the potion and telling those involved to put a vial on his desk. The hour went quickly but it was good. "Okay, everyone, vial of what you have made on my desk, completed or not, and you may leave. Have a good summer." He told them, though he didn't really care if they did have a good summer really.

Class now closed.

House Points
Alberi Woodston = 10 points for attendance + 10 points for participation = 20 points.
Sumire Sidhir = 10 points for attendance + 10 points for participation = 20 points.
Venus McFall = 10 points for attendance
Victoria Newbury = 10 points for attendance + 15 points for participation = 25 points.
Aaron Tate = 10 points for attendance
Finley Allen = 10 points for attendance + 15 points for participation = 25 points.
Naomi O'Hare = 10 points for attendance + 10 points for participation = 20 points.
Silas Everett = 10 points for attendance + 15 points for participation = 25 points.
Aiden Harvey = 10 points for attendance + 15 points for participation = 25 points.

TOTAL:
Gryffindor: 20
Hufflepuff: 55
Ravenclaw: 80
Slytherin: 25

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» Potions Lesson 2: Years 1-4