Potions: Lesson Three - Cure for Boils

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Finally the last lesson of the year was here.

Though even that small merit of fortune couldn't put James in a good mood with his students. They were all lazy. None of them seemed to want to push themselves in any way. Which was precisely why his previous lesson had been a complete flop.

Disgruntled with this notion, James had not bothered to write a lesson plan. Instead he had simply come in to the room, wrote up the instructions for the day, and left once again. They could each blow themselves up in a potions accident for all he cared. Yes, James was very much in a sour mood, but the children had not made his life any easier.

Slamming the piece of chalk back in to place, James grabbed his jacket and left the room.

Instructions:

Finally, beneath all of that, James left one single piece of information.

Leave all attempts in a vial with your name.
No points will be awarded for team work, and you will be ungraded in your end of year assessment.
You have been warned.

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Lux strolled to class, taking her own sweet time since she knew she would be early. It would be the last class for the term or semester or whatever the fish balls they called it. She didn't care. Potions was one class she didn't really mind because the professor was unlike the others. In fact, it was fun to watch him get upset.

Pushing the door open, Lux's eyebrows raised the tiniest bit when she saw that it was empty. Just as she was about to exit, her eye caught the writing on the board and she walked in, reading what was there. Her eyes skimmed over the instructions. Nothing that couldn't wait until later to take a better read. It was what as at the bottom that caught her attention.

She grinned, fighting back violent laughter. Oh this professor was hilarious! Well, aren't we just two scoops of grumpy in a bowl of bitchy this morning. An idea popped into her mind. It might get her in trouble but this was the last day of class anyway. She picked up the abused piece of chalk and made her way to the board.

Leaving a space after the professor's last sentence, Lux scribbled (Some people just need a hug around their neck with a rope). She made sure her handwriting was different than her normal one but was also smart enough to make sure the fake handwriting was standard. She'd forged signatures countless times and had a variety of handwriting styles mastered. But she couldn't give a rat's ass in the off chance she got caught.

Sauntering back to her seat, she read through the instructions properly again. She made a mental list of the ingredients she needed and busied herself gathering them and arranging them in order on her table before beginning. She worked efficiently, occasionally humming to herself but double checking her work to make sure she was on the right track. When she was done with the instructions according to Magical Drafts and Potions, Lux glanced up at the clock. She still had time to try out the second method.

Once again, she gathered everything she would need and started working steadily. Since they wouldn't be awarded points for teamwork, Lux figured that she could work alone - which was the best way to work. She did think it was rather unfair that the whole class would be ungraded. It wasn't fair to the ones who really worked an were serious about their studies - like her.

When she had completed the method according to the Book of Potions, she labelled the two vials she had and left the classroom. To be honest with herself, Lux loved this professor's style of teaching. It left her much more freedom to do what she liked and she loved that.

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Potions was such a waste of time. It was a sentiment that grew stronger every time Stephen went to this particular class, and today it wasn't just a sentiment anymore—it was a sad, actual fact. The Potions professor, who seemed as if teaching was the last thing he wanted to do, was nowhere to be found, and in his place was a set of instructions on the board.

Stephen used to make excuses for Professor Balan, defending him from the Hufflepuffs who thought he was a lazy good-for-nothing who looked down on all of his students. He's probably going through something, Stephen had said, maybe a divorce or something like that. Though the professor disappointed him in a lot of ways, he didn't bully his students, which was something Stephen used to see as a positive thing. Lately, though, Stephen was starting to wonder if that was less due to the professor's inner goodness as much as it was due to just plain old apathy.

He noted down the instructions and read them carefully over and over again. Potions wasn't a difficult class for him, since being an aspiring artist had taught him all about patience, but it wasn't a class he could say he enjoyed, either. He worked slowly but steadily, ignoring what was going on in the classroom. Eventually, he was able to finish the activity and label the vials with his name. With a sigh, he left the classroom, saddened by the realisations he had earlier. Perhaps his friends were right about Professor Balan, after all... but Stephen continued to hope that he had a perfectly good reason for abandoning his students.

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Most students probably didn't care whether Professor Balan was in class or not, but for Gabrielle, an absent Professor Balan was a sad day. Her face immediately fell upon seeing the empty seat, her disappointment mostly due to beng unable to impress him for today. Not that she had ever impressed him. Professor Balan seemed to look at his students as lazy idiots, which was why she was so eager to stand out and please him. Unfortunately, his absence meant that Professor Balan wouldn't be able to see her work, and that her classmates would probably make a lot of noise since their intimidating professor wasn't around. With a frown, Gabrielle got to work after memorising the instructions and ingredients.

It wasn't long before Gabrielle was finished concocting the two potions. The first one was the only one that required her to wait for 45 minutes, so by the time she was done with the second potion, she still had enough time to make a third one. She knew that it wasn't necessary, but she wanted to make something to cheer up Professor Balan, who seemed kind of grumpy in his letter. Not that she could blame him. After all, not a lot of students attended the last lesson, and she wasn't even sure how many of them did well. She didn't want him to think that none of his students appreciated his work, so she decided to create a potion she had invented.

'Draught of Hope' was the product of months of experimentation and an intensive study of neurology. Bothered by her own developing depression, Gabrielle decided to study the chemicals that needed increasing in order for a human to feel happy and stable. She then had to study the most suitable ingredients for such a potion, and the ingredients were quite difficult to find. Luckily, Gabrielle had some extra ingredients from the last potion she created, and she was glad to have had the foresight to bring them to class. When she was done, she labelled the three vials then left a note with the 'Draught of Hope':

Dear Professor Balan,

Good day, I hope it isn't too much of a bother if I ask for your opinions on this draught that I invented. It took me months of meticulous experimentation and study to come up with a recipe that alleviates depression. I had to study both Muggle science and the effects of various Potions ingredients, and it would help me if you can comment on my work so that I can improve the draught. I have included the ingredients, recipe, and some notes on the potion in this letter.

Looking forward to hearing from you.

Sincerely,
Gabrielle Fontaine

With a smug smile, Gabrielle left the classroom, excited to know what Professor Balan would think of her creation.

Subject: Re: Potions: Lesson Three - Cure for Boils Sun Mar 06, 2016 12:43 pm

Potions was something that was easy enough. Follow a set of instructions to a tea and you got full marks. The professor was not to Elenore's liking - but that was life. It was why she kept coming back to the classroom. Easy marks, and you didn't have to have a personality. Professor Balan hated everyone, so you didn't have to work to get the teacher to like or appreciate you.

Though, of course, that had it's advantages too.

Slipping in to the classroom, Elenore noted the lack of Professor Balan's presence and then the fact that they had instructions to get on. That much Elenore could do. Sitting herself at an empty desk, she checked the recipes that had been given and moved to collect the ingredients she would need. Pausing only to tie her hair back, Elenore set to work on the potion, by adding crushed snake fangs to the base potion they always used and stirring it in carefully.

The pungous onions made Elenore wrinkle her nose slightly, cutting them carefully in hope that they wouldn't affect her eyes, but, of course, that was useless hope. The effect of the onion had Elenore's eyes watering slightly, and slightly damp cheeks by the time she had cut it all up. After placing it in to the cauldron, Elenore took out her handkerchief and dabbed her cheeks and eyes to get rid of the moisture, though they still stung slightly.

Turning the heat on to the cauldron, Elenore checked the recipe on the board once more and slowly added in the dried nettles as advised. Flobberworm mucus (yuck!) followed after the nettles, and Elenore stirred the mixture vigorously. Next, a sprinkle of powdered ginger root and some more vigorous stirring saw the next few steps completed.

Sprinkling the Shrake spines over the top of the potion, Elenore stirred it very gently to make sure the spines didn't get overexcited. Honestly, the witch thought, how could spines get excited, the thought was ridiculous. The glug of horned slugs that had previously been stewed were next, followed by quills of porcupines.

One last glance at the board to check her progress, and Elenore pulled out her wand and waved it over the cauldron to finish. Opening her book, Elenore checked the colouring of that in the book to her potion and smiled to herself. "Perfect." She murmured, filling a vial with the potion and labeling it as her own. Tidying up her station, Elenore moved to the front, and deposited the vial with her name on it before leaving the classroom.

That was an easy end to her first year.

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Tristan had realized that had been dealing with much in his life which had been the main reason for why he has not attended his classes, and he had realized that today he had to get back into attending his classes.

Than soon with his sadness he decided to walk over to his Potions classroom and he had entered the classroom. Than he had entered the classroom and he saw there was instructions to make an potion and Tristan nodded.

He soon decided to take a sit in back of the classroom and he went up and gotten the Potion ingredients. Than now he realized that it seemed that the Professor was not interested in the students.

Which did not surprise him, but soon he looked and decided to get on making his potion hoping that he would not get in trouble. Since the teacher did not bother saying hi to the students.

Than soon Tristan decided to be quiet and contiuning working on his potion and he looked around than after a little he had finally managed to get his potion made.

Soon he had put his name on his vile and went up as other children went up and put his Potion in and was happy he could finally leave and realized he went to one class.

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Ryder had hated going to classes since he felt that there was honestly no need for school that life revolved around sports and having fun and taking chances. That school really had no need in the world of Ryder, but his uncle had wanted him to be more like his twin sister Rowan who boring and read too much.

Than soon Ryder had began walking to his Potion classroom and he had sometimes wondered if he had his troublemaking personaility from his real parents. Even though his uncle had said that his father would love Ryder since he had been somewhat like him.

The Gryffindor had soon entered his Potions classroom and he looked around the classroom and he saw that there were instructions to make a Potion which had Ryder let out a sigh. Since the eleven year old had disliked when the class involved just doing assignment instead of actually learning something.

The eleven year old shook his head and he took a seat and he gotten the potion ingredients out and had wished that he could be home playing video games or in his common room reading comic books or even annoying his twin sister.

Than soon Ryder had got his cauldron and began making his potion not really caring if he got it right and if he got a bad grade oh well, not like he really needed it. Than soon he knew if his sister was in class with him she would be hiding him with something saying he should actually pay attention instead of getting in trouble which was his specialty.

Soon Ryder looked and after a little whole he finally managed to complete his potion not really caring the outcome since he lacked actually caring about the outcome of his consequences since he believed the only thing that matters is how much fun you had and not caring about what happens.

Than soon he put his name on the potion and had brought it up to the crate, and he had left the class going to whatever the misery was.

Subject: Re: Potions: Lesson Three - Cure for Boils Mon Mar 07, 2016 8:28 pm

Jacques liked potions simply because the professor didn't bother with anyone. Didn't try to be his friend, or push him for more. It was one of those relationships that he liked from other people, one he didn't have to try with.

Entering the classroom, Jacques took in the lack of professor, and then the board with the instructions. He had not bothered to move to a seat, instead clicking his fingers once. Another crack sounded a moment later, and a terrified house elf appeared beside the French boy.

"The potion, elf. Do it, do not mess it up, label it with my name, and hand it in. And, you better achieve an outstanding, or I will personally make sure you're freed of your position in our house." Jacques told the creature in a low hiss. The elf nodded and hurried off with murmurs of 'yes master' and Jacques looked satisfied. Turning on his heel, the Slytherin left the room once again, not bothering to waste his time with menial activities.

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It was finally the last Potions class of the year. Until the next school year, she wouldn't have to deal with mucus and slugs and all those sorts of things. She didn't care much for the professor, either, but the professor was nowhere to be found, so he barely crossed her mind. If only they had been allowed to work with a partner, then maybe Lyra would be happier. Though Lyra was the last person to be lazy, she would have gladly stepped aside and cheered her more competent partner on.

That wasn't how life worked, though, and Lyra had to deal with what she had. Reluctantly, she chose an empty station and began to work on the potions.

Whether she was actually incompetent in Potions or just uninterested, Lyra wasn't sure, but what she was certain about was that she was doing terribly. She didn't crush the snake fangs well enough, and she forgot to take the cauldron off the fire before she added a porcupine quill. Deciding it was too much work to do it all over again, Lyra made do with her attempt, and moved on to the next potion.

The second one was even worse. Having never worked in a kitchen before entering Hogwarts, Lyra's slicing skills were atrocious, and it showed in the pieces of Pungous Onions she added to the mixture. She then forgot to heat the mixture before adding dried nettles, and she stirred the mixture a bit too gently after adding Shrake spines. She bit her tongue as she worked. It was all she could do to stop herself from cursing, a habit she avoided especially around her peers. She was glad to have had the sense to tie her hair up in a bun, otherwise she wouldn't even have just an ounce of self-control.

She soon finished the second potion, and hastily labelled the vials with her name in cursive then left them with all the other potions. She didn't bother with a permanent sticking charm—no one would attempt to swap her potion, and besides, if they did, they'd probably get a worse grade than her. Before she could lose her dignity altogether and act upon the idea herself, she held her chin high and left the room, hoping she could still get an Acceptable.

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Nirek had come in to Potions late, and upon seeing others getting on and no professor present, Nirek had wondered for a moment why they were all still here. But, as the Gryffindor sat down and read the board, he realised why they were all still here. Balan had set them a test, and he did not wish to upset the already moody professor.

So, Nirek settled down to the work, following the instructions like a well trained animal could do. But, not wishing to fail the year, Nirek followed them as closely as he could, not looking around the room because the quicker he got done, the quicker he could leave and go to do something much more interesting than sitting in the classroom.

Half an hour later, Nirek was done. His potion was average, much like him. Scrawling his name on a label, Nirek took his vial of potion to the front of the class and left it there for Professor Balan to mark before grabbing his bag and heading off for the Gryffindor Common Room.

» Potions: Lesson Three - The Practicality of Potions (All Years)
» Potions: Lesson 1 (Years 1-4)
» Potions - Lesson Two (First to Fifth Years)
» Potions Lesson 1 - Grades 5-7
» Potions: Lesson Three (All Years)