Potions: Lesson One - Herbicide Potion (Years 1-4)

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Potions… In a dungeon. A dark, musty, most likely cold dungeon. Great. Well, it could never be said that Bryant wasn’t prepared for these kinds of situations! He had on his warmest socks, his heaviest pants, his nicest long-sleeved shirt, and he had tucked a scarf underneath said shirt. He also had casually placed a hat on his head, but he was almost certain the professor would make him take it off before class began. No way was he going to freeze today! At the moment, he was standing right outside the Potions classroom, mentally preparing himself for his first class at Hogwarts ever.

Bryant wasn’t too sure what to actually think about Potions. He had read some theory, and his dad had made simple potions at home, but it didn’t seem that appealing to him. It wasn’t exactly cooking, but it did involve exact measurements and waiting and chopping and dicing and all sorts of other complicated technical terms. The waiting was fine… It was the technical terms and measuring that always tripped Bryant up. Although some of the ingredients were pretty cool, like slugs and venom. Maybe they would eventually learn how to actually collect the venom for themselves? But that seemed more like a Care of Magical Creatures activity than a Potions one. Well, you never know until you try! Bryant took a deep breath and finally entered the room.

Almost immediately, he thanked himself for wearing warm clothing. It may not be the coldest place he’s ever been, but it definitely wasn’t the warmest, either. He glanced around to take in the students already assembled. There was already a fair amount of people in the classroom, so at least he wouldn’t be awkwardly waiting for everyone else to show up. Bryant quickly smiled at the professor in the front of the room before looking for an empty seat. There were plenty of them, but Bryant didn’t want to sit by himself. This was a new school and he was going to make friends, dang it! He was about to make his way over to a fellow Hufflepuff when he suddenly stopped dead in his tracks. On the other side of the room was a girl sitting down and writing in what appeared to be a journal of some kind. She was pretty, but what caught his attention was her hair. It was long, and dark, and beautiful, just like his little sister’s. Bryant immediately knew he had to sit next to her, if only to admire it for the class period.

Bryant walked up to the girl and placed his books and supplies down. He gave the Ravenclaw a smile and wave. “Is it all right if I sit here?” Bryant tried to keep his thoughts to himself, but the next sentence just flew right by his filter. “Your hair is so beautiful!” He blushed, but didn’t back down from his statement. It was true, and he wasn’t going to take it back just because he hadn’t meant to say it!

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The first thing Stephanie did upon entering the Potions Classroom was to survey the room and see if there was anyone worthy of her time and attention. Unfortunately, none of them looked familiar to her—if there were any other purebloods amongst her classmates, they certainly did not look the part, but perhaps that was just their tragic immaturity showing.

The one who seemed most worthy of her attention was a Ravenclaw writing on her journal. She just had the look Stephanie recognised—poised, sophisticated and with expensive-looking clothes to boot. Before she could approach the girl, though, another boy took the seat beside her—a sad, pathetic muggleborn or halfblood, judging by the way he fawned over her. With a look of disgust on her face, Stephanie turned away.

Since the Ravenclaw was out of the question, there were only a few people who she figured would be tolerable as a seatmate. She was definitely avoiding the older ones. Her fellow First Years were easier to boss around, and besides, she needed to make connections. Not friends, as only purebloods were worthy of such a title, but people who could help her make her mark in Hogwarts.

Her gaze landed on a Gryffindor who was definitely a First Year. He did not seem to have the scared look muggleborns often had on their first year in Hogwarts, which meant that he was perhaps a halfblood. Knowing it was as good as she could get in this class, she took the empty seat beside him. He was engaged in a conversation with the two people on his other side, with the girl interpreting the other guy's sign language.

They weren't exactly the sort of company she sought, as they seemed to have a world of their own, but Stephanie figured it wouldn't hurt to introduce herself. She could always pretend not to know them later if they turned out to be the jokes of the school, or worse, muggleborns. She smiled sweetly at them, making eye contact yet maintaining a coolness to her tone. 'Good morning,' she said. 'I'm Stephanie Richardson.'

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James waited for the classroom to fill up for as long as he possibly could. He paid no mind to those who greeted him, because he really didn't care for mindless chatter. The students sat, and he could hear some of the talking, but again, he didn't care to listen, or stop it. No, the time would come for silence, he would allow them a moment, but Merlin help those who did not conform to his wishes.

He noted the girl who had failed his class last term, and a smirk touched his lips. That one was obviously a fighter, but he was not going to go easy on someone who could not be bothered to submit the tests he set them.

Standing up as the last of the students arrived, James moved around to the front of the desk, and leant against it. "Morning." James started the class bluntly, eyes scanning the room. There were a few new faces, but those students would soon understand the dos and don'ts of his class. "Today we will be looking at the Herbicide Potion. Can anyone tell me what that is?" James asked, though his eyes fell on one person in the room.

The Ravenclaw who had failed, daring her to risk the answer.

Guest

James Balan had put her on a spotlight. Unfortunately for him, what he didn't know was that he had put her right where she belonged.

There was no Luke to pull her down in this class, no audience expecting her to fall. Just Balan, looking at her like a director who saw no talent in his dancers. And while most students would have had the urge to crawl underneath their desks, Lyra looked back at Balan with her head held high and a hint of a smile on her lips. Though she knew she need not have bothered, she raised her hand before speaking. 'It is a potion concocted to kill unwanted plants, especially weeds, Professor.'

The Troll she had received had not stopped her from doing advance reading. She may never be able to follow Potions instructions, but she always made sure to know what certain Potions are for. It was a product of being constantly on medications, and now that she knew what Luke truly felt about her, she supposed the knowledge would also help her protect herself. Just in case he felt like slipping a Draught of Living Death into her drinks.

Without breaking away from Balan's gaze, she waited to see how he would react to her answer. She would not give him the satisfaction of looking away first.

Guest

The answer had come from the one witch in the roo that James had not placed to know the answer. As she spoke, James' jaw set with mild irritation. That had backfired on him quite promptly and James was not best impressed.

Though, James was slightly amused with the fact she had missed something. Okay, he was nitpicking. It was one of those 'no really?' kind of additions to an answer that he would usually not invite, but today, he needed to regain control of the situation.

"Three house points, seeing as you didn't quite give a full answer. James replied, smirking as he said as much. "You wouldn't want to drink the potion yourself. The Herbicide potion has known to be as deadly to humans as it is to plants. Or, in less extreme cases, simply giving the drink poor health for a short period of time." James finished the answer, giving the Ravenclaw one look that said 'nice try' before continuing.

"So, for those of you who haven't quite caught on, please don't drink today's potion out of curiosity. I might not be too willing to get you to the Healer in any haste because of your stupidity." He explained, flicking his wand towards the board. "Today, you will be making the potion, and I will take a sample for marking. This will go towards your final grade, so don't think that you're result doesn't matter.

"You have two hours. Begin."

Spoiler:

Guest

Elleon turned his attention to the professor as Jelena signaled that class was starting. His gaze bounced between the man and Jelena, looking towards him to read his lips and looking towards her for confirmation on what he'd said. Just as he was about to raise his hand to attempt the question, Jelena shook her head and pointed to someone behind him. He turned in his seat and saw the Ravenclaw girl. He just barely managed to read her lips and had to fill in a few blanks on the words he missed but he caught the gist of what she said and nodded his head, turning his attention back to Jelena when she waved at him.

"Professor speaking."

This time, he had to look at his sister for the interpretation. The professor's smirk got in the way of the shape of the lips. But he glanced up in time to see the look he threw the Ravenclaw girl. He had no time to comment on that as the professor went on and they had to begin the potion.

He gathered all the ingredients they would need and started on the first part, crushing the four lionfish spine and pausing while Jelena added the Standard Ingredient before continuing. He carefully added three measures to the cauldron and waved his wand before sitting back down. He had time while waiting for the concoction to brew and he turned to Jelena.

"What's his problem?" he signed to Jelena, referencing the professor.

"Dunno. It's like he's on a constant PMS or something," she replied with a nonchalant shrug.

Elleon grinned. "I think that girl answered well though. Professor's being unfair. It almost seemed like he had a grudge against her for something."

"Ya. He's being a grumpy cat."

Elleon chuckled and took out his sketch book and his set of carbon pencils to pass time. Art came naturally to him and it was his way of expressing his feelings. A picture spoke a thousand words after all and he had a whole stack of paintings and drawings that told his story. They were for his eyes only though, almost like a personal diary of art instead of words.

He put the finishing touches on the scene he’d drawn just as Jelena called his attention back to the potion. He quickly kept his art utensils as she added the Horklump juice to the cauldron. He adjusted the temperature, counted to ten then added the Flobberworm mucus. He stirred four times and let Jelena wave her wand to complete the thing.

He took out a vial of the potion and labelled it with his name hoping that he would get a good grade for it. He'd been rather disappointed at the grade he received last year and was determined to get a better grade this time around.

Guest

Ryder had walked to his Potions lesson and he had liked Potion he guessed he could say since mixing things would have it's benefits and he also loved playing Quidditch as he soon walked down to his class and he he thought the Dungeon was okay as he entered it and soon went to the Potions classroom and entered it.

The twelve year old had soon wondered what they would be mixing as he entered and wondered and soon he looked to see that class was just starting as he soon entered and quickly took a seat and he wondered what would be going on in the class.

Soon watching as he watched students answer questions and he shook his head and sighed he did not answer questions he more just found ways to bend the rules to his advantage as he soon watched as the Professor told them they had two hours to make a Potion and he soon looked to see what it was as he began making his Potions.

Guest

Tristan had soon realized that he had Potions as he soon decided to get up from his bed and go and change, and try to get to Potions as he soon rushed getting dressed as he soon ran out of his common room and down the hall to Potions as he soon realized upon entering it that he was late.

It sure was an occurrence he should have expected as he entered and decided to take a seat and hoping Professor Balan would not notice since he felt like he did not like Professor Balan, well he felt like some Professors did not care about teaching.

Which was sad, since why sign up for a job you have no interest in, and then he thought of money and how some were due to the fact that some just did it for the money.

Then soon he listened as he heard they had to hours to make a Potion as he saw the instructions on the board and soon Tristan ruffled through his stuff to get his ingredients which he lacked as he soon took a seat and began making his Potion.

Guest

James paid little and less attention to his students. He had two hours to kill, and he did so by opening his work book and going over the notes on a number of potions he'd been working on himself. Not anything for the eyes of his students, that much was for sure, but James didn't care if he used school time to do such things.

The two hours zoomed by quite quickly, and as the bell sounded, James packed his things away. "Leave the room tidy, and don't think about taking any of the potions with you. I expect an essay on the potion you have just brewed to be on my desk in the next lesson, there is no excuse that will work on me - not even a stay at the Hospital Wing will help you, I know Nurse Mayer is very good at keeping all of you from not handing in work.

"Class dismissed." James insisted, waving them all out of his sight.

Class Now Closed.

House Points:
Alberi Woodston = 10 points for attendance
Nico Cassan = 10 points for attendance
Ryder Yates = 10 points for attendance
Bryant Anderson = 10 points for attendance
Elleon Caverly = 10 points for attendance + 10 points for participation = 20 points.
Humphrey Williams = 10 points for attendance
Lyra Browne = 10 points for attendance + 5 points for answer = 15 points.
Mina Kim = 10 points for attendance
Brooklyn Rae = 10 points for attendance
Stephanie Richardson = 10 points for attendance
Tristan Grant = 10 points for attendance

TOTAL:
Gryffindor: 30
Hufflepuff: 40
Ravenclaw: 25
Slytherin: 30

» Potions: Lesson One - Herbicide Potion (All Years)
» Potions: Lesson One - Wit Sharpening Potion (Years 1-4)
» Potions: Lesson Two - Polyjuice Potion (All Years)
» Potions: Lesson Two - Wiggenweld Potion (Years 1-4)
» Potions: Lesson Three - The Practicality of Potions (All Years)