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Post by Professor Severus Snape on Oct 10, 2006 13:23:24 GMT -5
A bubble rose to the surface of the gooey dark-brown potion and exploded. The potion was far from good-looking. Yet it was the main-component of migraine-cures. Madam Pomfrey had ran out of her supplies and just to get the woman off from her neck Severus had agreed to brew some more. But slowly stirring the thickly potion Severus felt himself relax. There was beauty to it that few saw and even rarer where the people who understood such glory. Severus could brew most anything. His potions could lengthen his life marginally and keep most all diseases away from her, he could brew potions that added glamour, brought you luck, even helped you gain knowledge and fame. It had taken years of dedication to come this far in his area of expertease, but it was fully worth it now that he looked at the simmering cauldrons before him. Reaching out his hand Severus took three branches or briarthorn and threw it into the cauldron before checking his watch and fixing the time. All that was left to do now was to let the potion simmer for 24 hours and then it was ready. Perfect by the look of it. Severus stepped to the much smaller cauldron simmering on a smaller fire and looked at it. This one had a golden hue as the courtesy of Goldshrimp and it was emitting an almost tantalizing smell that reached his nostrils. Yet he could loose himself to this wonderful work because a class was about to start.
All years and houses together. What a simply idiotic idea, but for Severus’s purpose today it would even work. Even if the bunch of the students knew next to nothing of the art of passionate potion brewing. The selected few who had taken and had been allowed to take Potions as an elective at NEWT level did show some promise however. Even if not all, but some. Severus turned from the cauldron and stepped out of his personal laboratory, closing the door securely behind himself and casting wards around the door. His potions needed coolness to keep them perfect and he would not have anyone venturing in there to ruin his potions and worse even: his privacy. Turning Severus pointed his wand to the classroom door and muttered a spell that made it unlock and soundlessly glide open as a sign for students to enter. He would not tolerate any hustle after the class had began so students would have to come in and prepare themselves quickly. Sitting down behind his desk Snape crossed his arms over his chest and turned his eyes to the clock above the classroom door as he awaited the students arrival and the start of the class.
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Post by Cleo Graas on Oct 13, 2006 12:28:53 GMT -5
Cleo glared at the mirror before her. Yes, she was happy being married; yes, she adored all the attention and love Kris showered upon her; yes, she quietly enjoyed the prospect of becoming a mother. “What I don’t enjoy is not fitting into my clothes,” Cleo told her lightly protruding stomach as she patted it quite fondly, “And the Hogwarts uniform is uncomfortable enough even without having to drag you around inside it. But I think Sevvy would throw a fit when I didn’t wear an uniform into Potions. No matter what aunt Dana will ever tell you – I’ll be glad to drop Potions next year.” Cleo sighed and turned away from the mirror, as it wasn’t telling her anything new either. Besides she had already touched her face with some light make-up and ran a brush through her hair before having the bit one-sided conversation with her still unborn child. Throwing her cloak loosely on her shoulders Cleo lifted her bag onto her shoulder and sauntered out of the dormitory the ever-present heels announcing her descent on the stairs.
Cleo walked through the hallways with ease as well. She knew the way after years of staying in the school and people didn’t tend to step in her way anymore. Ah, the perks being married to a bad-tempered Slyth. Not that Cleo had too many problems before but still. It was fun to poke fun of Kris like this in her head. Besides it made time pass quicker as the hallways leading towards the Potions classroom were quite dark and boring as opposed to the Slytherin common room with it’s minimalistic but gorgeous furniture and valuable and classy art. Ah well, it was just one lesson. Even if Kris wasn’t going to be present, but it was still just one lesson and one old bicker-tooth of a professor. Not that Cleo was going to state that description out loud before Dana who possessed an almost unhealthy affection towards the potions professor. But speaking of the old bat, here was the classroom. Dana shifted the bag on her shoulder and pushed the door opened as she entered and let her eyes sweep over the classroom. Oh goody, a tête-à-tête with Snape. Just what she had always dreamt of. And she just had to be bordering the line of flunking the subject too. “Professor Snape,” Cleo greeted quite disinterestedly, not completely managing to keep the sigh out of her voice as she chose herself a seat in the middle of the class and fished out her cauldron and supplies already placing them onto the tabletop.
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Post by Dana Coran on Oct 18, 2006 1:03:29 GMT -5
Dana slipped the simple kneelength black dress over her head before reaching for a sweater with the Ravenclaw crest on it and pulling it over the dress as well. She didn’t want to wear pants today and the Hogwarts uniform skirt wasn’t too comfortable really. But the kneelength dress, the sweater and the robe over all of it should be suitable enough, even if Sevvy was quite a nitpicker about dress-code as well. Making sure she had everything she might and most likely would need Dana slipped into a pair of heels and stood up from her bed smirking lightly at a dormmate who was racing out of the showers with a piece of paper stuck to her leg and trailing after her. “You have about 10 minutes to get ready and et down to dungeons so breakfast won’t likely be an option,” Dana informed the dorm-mate quite merrily hearing an annoyed yelp as the girl practically dove into her trunk in search of her uniform as Dana sauntered out of the room to start her own treck down to the dungeons. She had discovered that it was always better to be present – especially in Potions – a bit earlier. It allowed you to be able to choose where you sat and gave you time to make sure you were prepared and ready for the class with everything you needed out on the desk before you. Saved Snape the trouble of his patience snapping and him docking points.
Dana reached the classroom relatively quickly, as she always sped up her step a bit in the dungeons as it was always chillier here. The classroom door was slightly cracked open but Dana still rapped her knuckles on the hard wood for a moment even as she shoved the door open and stepped in. Snape and Cleo were already present. “Good day, professor,” Dana greeted evenly and a bit lowly as she smiled at Sevvy. She was one of the few persons who actually did honestly like Snape in the school, even if perhaps his hair-care could use some help Dana mused as she walked further into the classroom. “You’re early,” Dana remarked to Cleo quite merrily, laughing as the younger girl scowled at her. Oh yes, Cleo wasn’t one of the rare persons who liked Sevvy. Taking a seat before Cleo – is they were going to have partners today, Dana would have preferred someone who wouldn’t be as hopeless as she and Cleo in the subject – and fished out some parchment, ink and quill form her bag as well as fetching her cauldron and potion supplies before settling into her seat sideways, reaching out her legs into the sidewalk between benches and leaning her elbow on Cleo’s table before engaging Cleo into some smalltalk, as Dana tried to charm Cleo to join her for shopping in the weekend. Dana needed a new half-nice dress.
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Post by Lacey Langres H7 on Oct 18, 2006 11:06:12 GMT -5
Lacey nibbled nervously on her lip as she checked once again to make sure that all of her homework was properly done and long enough and correct. Actually she always thought her homework and answers were right, but it still did not stop her from worrying. Wincing a bit upon seeing that one of her paints had leaked a bit of blue onto the paper with her essay Lacey could almost see in her mind how the professor would ruin upon this carelessness. Rubbing the paint only made it smudge more not come off so after a moment Lacey left it be. She didn’t have time to rewrite the whole essay anymore either. Packing the essay into her bag again Lacey lifted the bag onto her bad and slipped it over her shoulders before looking at the calendar and her schedule just in case and hurrying out.
It was still quite early as most people were only now returning from breakfast so Lacey didn’t hurry too much. Not that hurrying would have even been possible because of the large amounts of people in the hallways and Lacey didn’t want to smack into someone or have someone trod over her toes. Besides the calm flow of people suited her well enough, leaving her free to fiddle with her bobble as she pulled her hair back on the go. She had once had a strand of her hair fall into her cauldron and ruining her potion and it had not been a nice event. So after that quite disasterous happening in her second year Lacey always made sure that her hair was secured tightly. Even if she couldn’t do much more than try to make a small pony-tail that was usually ready to fall apart at first touch by the end of the classroom. But Lacey didn’t really want professor Snape to take points from Hufflepuff because of her.
Even with her relaxed walking speed Lacey reached the classroom long before the bell would sound and peeked into the classroom. The professor was already here and so were Dana and Cleo. Lacey stepped in and gave a little wave to the Ravenclaw girls, having drawn them both before. But they seemed to be quite happy with their conversation so Lacey decided against going and interrupting them. Professor Snape was also looking quite intimidating so Lacey quietly sat down towards the back of the classroom and tried not to draw attention to herself. Professor Snape would be a difficult but interesting person to portraite. All those expressions, all the coldness. Could it all even be passed on through a picture? Lacey didn’t know but she wasn’t brave enough to ask professor Snape if she could draw him. She didn’t dare tojust draw him either. Professor Snape always seemed to know everything so Lacey just sat there with her head bent and her finger squeezed between her knees.
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Post by Lita Hollows R6 on Nov 4, 2006 15:52:04 GMT -5
Well, if nothing else, this would at least be interesting, Lita mused thoughtfully. True to his word, Adrian had warned her about the snarky Potions Master but all that had seemed to do was stir her curiousity. Of course, that could just be because Potions interested her. It had been one of the few subjects that had not been covered in her before-school education - mainly because her mother was absolutely awful at Potions and her father, who held at least a mild talent for Potions, had never had the time to teach her. So he said, anyway. Which meant that she was left at the mercies of Professor Snape. A place where Adrian had warned her that she did not want to be.
Ah well, Lita sighed and shrugged, grabbing her Potions textbook and then slinging her bag over her shoulder carelessly. The first year Ravenclaw girls dorm was empty, since everyone except her had left for breakfast almost an hour ago, which meant that there was no one around to pull her away from her fretting. Nevermind. Whatever would be, would be. Sure, she had read through her Potions textbook - determined to not embarrass herself through a lack of knowledge - but that didn't mean she was confident about the upcoming Potions lesson. Quite the opposite. Because, after all, Potions needed more than just knowledge. It needed a sense of timing and accuracy, and Lita wasn't sure that she had that but there was no use in worrying about it.
Lita had been walking as she thought and worried, so, when she returned to reality, she stepped through the classroom door, hesitating for only a second before choosing a seat at the very back of the classroom. Adrian would undoubtedly show up soon enough - in a few minutes probably - even if he wouldn't choose to sit by her. Honestly, it was rather irritating to be arguing with her brother over something quite so trivial as they were arguing about but that was just the way it was. Then again, if she were truly honest to herself, she had been the cause of the argument. Not that it mattered since she didn't particularly feel like having company anyway.
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Post by Darien Raymond Fletcher G5 on Nov 6, 2006 13:48:28 GMT -5
Dare whistled the tune that never left him for long as he stood before a mirror fiddling with his tie and straightening his jacket. Vain? Perhaps. But Dare didn’t see any reason to look like a Frankenstein monster. Part of taking care of yourself was, after all, making sure your mind and body were at best top shape. With a cocky grin placing a small bloom brought from the Herbology greenhouses into his buttonhole before picking up his bag and heading out. He had a class to get to and girls to smile to on the way. And there was the first one right there. Dare flashed the girl a bright smile pausing and waiting a moment so that he could hold open the door for the seventh year Gryffindor who was also exiting the common room. Dare followed the hallways merrily, easily managing to wink, smile, greet and comliment most girls passing by as well as the occasional friend he noticed hurrying this way or that in their rush to get to their class.
Speaking of class Dare had passed by a hallway he would need to take to reach the dungeons. REtracking several steps Dare turned left and began whistling again now that the hallways were becoming much sparsely filled. Only class down here was Snape’s and most people in the school didn’t overly tend to chill in the dungeons. They were the Slytherins area that wasn’t treaded upon other than going to Potions by some unwritten rule that was as old as the school itself. Glancing at a portraite of an especially horrid looking hag Dare hurried forward. He wasn’t afraid but the dungeons weren’t welcoming either besides he had to stay in Snape’s tolerable list. If he wanted to pursue his auror career he would need to get an O at OWLS this year so that Snape would teach him in NEWT years well. At least Dare usually somehow managed in Potions.
“Hello professor,” Dare stated loudly as he entered the room and took in the people present after he had politely greeted Snape. Gryffindors weren’t Snape’s favourites so it wouldn’t do good to be impolite in anyway in this class. That would just make matters worse. “Ladies,” Dare said with a pelasant smile that took in everyone else in the classroom before he chose himself a seat in the middle of the classroom and lowering her whistling to a low hum started to unpack his things from his bag.
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Post by Gaenor Maydell on Dec 22, 2006 13:01:53 GMT -5
Gaenor stood before the mirror-wall fixing his tie. He took pride in looking proper and well-looked after; even if he didn’t bother to go as far as manicure his nails like some boys did. It was enough for Gaenor if he kept his nails short and clean. Finally happy with the straight lines of his tie Gaenor slipped a comb through his hair and then gave himself an once-over. The Hogwarts uniform wasn’t he most flattering outfit on him. But it wasn’t bad really either, so it would do. It would have to do, because Gaenor was expected to wear the uniform. Heaving his bag with his stuff over his shoulder Gaenor started to move to get breakfast. Meeting a sixth year he knew by the common room door, Gaenor politely held the door open for her, before falling into step next to the blond-headed snake as they chatted about the world in general on their way. Choosing his regular seat, Gaenor exchanged the obligatory greeting phrases, nods of acknowledgement and small quirks with the rest of the Slytherins, depending on someone’s “rank” in the inner-house society as he helped himself to some tea, eggs and toast, with two muffins as a desert later. It was just the regular routine. The way the owls flew in and Gaenor’s own dropped the Daily Prophet and a business newspaper before Gaenor. Giving his owl a treat, before the bird took off again, Gaenor skimmed the headlines of the newspapers briefly, not finding anything worthy of reading right now. Politicians mocking themselves as usual, aurors in shortage of young recruits, all the same old stories. This routine was dreadfully boring. Just as the following moment when Gaenor checked his watch, said his farewell and, happening to rise at the same time as the blond he had walked to the Great Hall With, headed to Potions class with the other Slytherin.
One more blond joined them on the way as they all reached the Potions classroom door just as the bell sounded. Neither of the three hurried forward anymore, knowing that Snape wouldn’t mind his own house. Holding the door open for both girls Gaenor stepped in last, closing the door behind him with a little click, knowing Snape wouldn’t allow those any more late in without a good excuse anymore. Giving a greeting nod at his head of house, Gaenor skimmed the classroom briefly. Dana and Cleo received a curt greeting nod. “Gaenor, you coming?” one of the sixth year girls asked with a slight turn of her head. “No, go on ahead without me,” Gaenor said politely and without any further ado the girls moved on as Gaenor approached Lita, who he had noticed sitting quite alone in the back of the classroom. Slipping into the seat next to him – maybe Snape wouldn’t scare Lita that badly in first lesson then – Gaenor smiled lightly to Lita, commenting in a low murmur that didn’t reach any further than Lita’s ears: “Gryffindors and Hufflepuffs hide in the shadows in this classroom.” Summoning his cauldron to himself, as Snape had allowed Ganeor to keep it in the classroom as Gaenor was good a this subject – Gaenor quietly unpacked the rest of the things he would need as Snape had began the lesson already.
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Post by Professor Severus Snape on Dec 22, 2006 14:28:55 GMT -5
Snape tapped his fingers on the table for a moment before catching himself. Such a horrid habit and it would do no good for his students to see this. Especially as he had plenty of work to do because students from previous days classes had already handed in their summer homework for grading. Taking his quill Snape pulled closer a stack of parchments starting to read the first. A Slytherin fifth year. Not the brightest in subject so Snape knew after a brief scimming of the text that Potions OWLs would be hard on that boy. Giving him Acceptable, Snape turned to the next essay. A Hufflepuff fourth year. Slow as an earth-worm and completely unimaginative so no great potions work could be expected from that girl. Scanning the text as quickly, Snape noticed the stiff sentence build of numerous rewriting and rewording. Without any further pondering Severus graded the essay with a D for Dreadful and looked up as the door opened. A Ravenclaw was the first to make an appearance and this was quite a known Ravenclaw, her being married to one of his own students the same summer. Severus hadn’t attended the wedding, even if he had been invited, but he knew of the event. This girl seemed quite the match for his student who had shown skill in Potions before turning blind that his wife completely lacked. Severus would be glad to not have to teach that girl anymore next year and by the expression on her face, the feeling was mutual. Looking coldly at the girls lightly swollen stomach Snape returned his attention to the essays. A Gryffindor received a Dreadful, two Ravenclaws got E for Exceeds Expectation and then a not completely hopeless SLytherin received an Outstanding before one more noticeable girl entered. Miss Coran. Ravenclaw prefect who had often showed complete lack of respect towards him, showering him with unwanted and unwelcomed attention. At least she was a pureblood. Snape sneered nastily at the girl’s variation of the Hogwarts uniform but after a moment decided to let it pass. Why urge the girl any more.
“Will you stop that racket, Fletcher,” Snape said with some irritation to the Gryffindor who had entered, looking coldly down on him, “One point from Gryffindor.” Continuing to grade the stack of essays, Snape finally gave a Troll to a Gryffindor to start the class on a good note and looked up just as three more students from his house entered. Nodding in greeting to all three Snape watched with some curiousity as Maydell sat in the back next to some first year girl, but began the lesson with his usual tone, that didn’t need to be raised for everyone to pay attention. “Potions is a subtle and delicate art that requires patience, grace, wisdom. Most of you lack all those traits, so for today we’ll do a simple revision potion.” Snape’s black eyes swept over the room as he picked up his wand and pointed it towards the blackboard, revealing the instructions there. “First, second and third years. The Allegvina potion. Fourth and fifth years Magevoile Potion that lulls the mind into complete tranquility and removes all understandings of what’s going on around one. Sixth and seventh years get to test their skill with Immole Elixir, which, as you should all know, improves ones resilence to fire damage. Come and gather grounded Firebloom petals from my table. When a first, second or third year finishes their potion bring it up to me for checking before sixth and seventh years may use it in their potions.” Snape stopped speaking and responded to the numerous eyes keeping a close watch on him with a cold look, “What are you waiting for? Get to work!” This caused a rustle to go through the class but Snape observed that people started to measure out their ingredients.
Allegvina potion Fill the cauldron half-way with water Add 3 chopped ash roots Add one and a half spoonfuls of lemon-acid Heat up to 100 degrees Celsius and let boil for 6 minutes Fill 2 flobberworms with sweet-grass and add to potion Ground young nettle-leaves until you have 25 grams of it and add to potion while stirring it clockwise Let the potion simmer for 5 minutes. The potion should be light-red and bubbling
Magevoile potion Place 300 ml of fern juice into cauldron. Add 10 grams of grounded Sargus leaves Stir 12 times clockwise. Add lukewarm water so that ¾ quarters of the cauldron is filled Add half an inch of incence Add half a spoonful of coral salt Let it simmer for 10 minutes Lower the temperature to 10 degrees Celsius and stir continuously while you add 15 drops of jasmine oil and 100ml of pure mandeloil Reheat up to 60 degrees Celsius Add 150 grams of grounded Rosmarine leaves Add cinnamon while stirring clockwise until the potion turns to clear beige
Immole Elixir Fill the cauldron half-way with water and make sure the water boils Add 100 grams of grounded basilica Add 7 drops of boraks Let it simmer for 3 and a half minutes. Add 50 grams of Chermyl Powder Add 4 salvei-leaves Add half a gram of destilled snail-slime Let it simmer for 9 minutes Stir clockwise while you add 500ml of Allegvina potion Heat the water to 130 degrees Celsius Add 3 grams for grounded Firebloom petals Stir for 30 seconds. The potion should be bubbling and covered with white foam, under the foam the potion should be dark-red.
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Post by Nadine Whitaker on Dec 22, 2006 15:04:58 GMT -5
"Bloody Potions, bloody Snape, bloody roommates, but, most of all, bloody life!" Nadine grumbled to her reflection, her scowl deepening as she noticed her scowl in the mirror. If this day got any worse then she would seriously consider throwing herself in the lake. Nevermind that it was only the start of the day. Waking up late and discovering that your roommates had hidden your Potions textbook was enough to push anyone toward homicidal thoughts. Especially since Nadine was quite sure that Snape hated her and would quite happily push her into the lake himself. On the other hand, Snape hated every Gryffindor so she wasn't singled out. Okay, so she sometimes drifted off into her own world but she always returned to reality in time to salvage her potion and she hadn't melted a cauldron since first year, when she hadn't been so adept in fixing her timing errors. So she made a few hundred mistakes four years ago. The fire hadn't been that big and it hadn't given his precious Slytherins more than a few minor burns, why was he still holding it against her?
Nadine stalked down to the dungeons, for once foregoing her hat in her anger. Snape wouldn't appreciate it anyway, and would probably complain about the possibility of it falling in whatever potion they were being forced to make today. When she reached the classroom, Nadine grudgingly sat in a spot in the middle of the room, behind the idiot-boy she vaguely recognized as Taire's crush. His humming was irritatingly distracting but the even rhythm slowly cooled her temper until her hand stopped itching to reach for her wand. Nadine listened as Snape talked before reading over the instructions on the blackboard intently. The fern juice was added without event, as were the Sargus leaves. She even managed to stir the correct amount of times without drifting off. The incense actually smelled rather nice, but Nadine was still relieved to know that she had passed the half-way stage without blowing something up. Though, she only lasted two minutes of the ten minutes simmering time before being immersed in her thoughts, and completely forgetting that she had a potion to tend to within the next five minutes.
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Post by Gaenor Maydell on Jan 9, 2007 5:21:03 GMT -5
Immole elixir. Gaenor had heard of it before but not brewed it himself. Ah well, it would be a fun experiment. He hadn’t had a chance to brew much during summer so his skills might be a bit rusty. But they had done more difficult potions in the end of last year Gaenor decided as he read over the instructions on board. Snape snapped for everyone to get to work, but after 7 years of being in Snape’s good side Gaenor was in no hurry. Filling his cauldron half-way Gaenor left it to start boiling as he fished out a parchment and copied the instructions on board quickly and precisely. It always paid off to have Snape’s recipes copied down. And just when Ganeor finished copying his water started boiling. Picking up his measuring scale Gaenor measured out the grounded basilica and dropped it into the cauldron. Next came the 7 drops of boraks and then Gaenor left the potion to simmer. Glancing towards Lita Gaenor wondered how she was doing with her own potion, but after a moment of debate decided not to ask. If Lita needed help she would ask herself. Besides she would have to learn how to get by herself in the class.
The small sand-watch Gaenor had conjured up to measure the time was about to run out so Gaenor reached into the small box with salvei leaves in it. That and destilled snail-slime also entered the potion before Gaenor stood up. The potion had to simmer so he had time to fetch the two materials form Snape’s table. Measuring out the grounded mass of firebloom petals Gaenor glanced at the example Allegvina potions on Snape’s table. Picking one that seemed to be quite correct Gaenor returned to his seat. Snape wouldn’t have had the potion ready for someone to take if it wasn’t done correctly. Or at least he wouldn’t have let one of his Slytherins take a wrongly made potion. Gaenor still had 6 more minutes to wait after returning to his seat, but he was patient. Not the first time Gaenor brew a potion. And he had learned from first hand experience that rushing a potion never gave good results.
The Allegvina potion went in and hen it was time Ganeor bosoted the fire to burn higher and added the grounded Firebloom. Blowing lightly onto his potion Gaenor picked up the ladle and keeping one eye on his watch started stirring with measured and even circles for 30 seconds. Well, the outcome potion was bubbling and foamy. Perhaps not the strongest town of red under the foam but it was definitely Immole elixir. Giving a small satisfied smirk Gaenor settled back in his chair to wait for Snape’s evaluation.
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Post by Cleo Graas on Jan 9, 2007 5:49:37 GMT -5
And joy. The class began. Actually that thought wasn’t even as sarcastic as Cleo had expected it to be. Because if class had now began, it meant that she could start counting time until the class was over which was definitely a positive matter. And to be very truthful now, it was good that Snape didn’t drone along for endless lectures. Maybe Cleo’s mark would have been slightly better had Snape given them lectures, but then she would have had to listen to the voice of the greasy-haired git. Ah well. She would try what would come out of the-the-the… the whatever potion she was supposed to brew today. Magevoile Cleo discovered as she glanced towards the blackboard while in the middle of the process of starting up the cauldron and fire. Fern juice and Sargus leaves. Scratcing her nose absent-mindedly Cleo mentally counted along with the stirs she made before glancing up to the blackboard again to see what she was supposed to do next. Lukewarm water. What was lukewarm to Snape? After a it of a hesitation Cleo merely dropped some water into the cauldron. It wasn’t icy so it could be classified as lukewarm. It could! Really. And well, the cauldron was mostly full now.
Cleo chewed off an inch of incence from the stick and dropped that and coral salt into the potion before sitting back and glancing at the clock. 10 minutes to simmer. Now that was something Cleo could do easily. SHaing her head Cleo combed the thick and fiery mane with her spread fingers, letting her mind wander off. Tonight would bea bout pampering herself. A bubble-bath, manicure the whole deal. AH, she was already looking forward to it. Loosing herself in her thoughts Cleo woke only to discover that her potion had bene simmering for 12 minutes so she hurried to lower the fire and stirred while counting out jasmine drops before dumping the whole of 100 ml of mandeloil into the potion. And then to raise the heat again. What was the point of lowering it for dropping in two things? Ah wel, Snape had lawyas been a weirdo.
Next came the rosmarine and then Cleo started stirring. Well, her potion didn’t turn clear beige. It was quite clear but it was yellow. A quite bright and a very-very ugly tone of yellow. Cleo wondered quietly how much of Fern juice she had actually poured into the potion. But it didn’t matter. Her potion was done as good or bad as it was.
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Post by Lita Hollows R6 on Jan 9, 2007 15:08:41 GMT -5
Lita offered a slight smile as Gaenor sat beside her, even if he really deserved no less than a smack for comparing her to a Gryffindor, but let the comment slide with only a disgruntled half-glare. If he had to insult her then he should at least wait until she stopped wondering whether Snape was going to eat her. Which, judging by the malevolence that Lita swore she could detect in his tone, was extremely likely. Damn it but this wasn't fair. McGonagall hadn't looked like she was going to digest any of the students and neither had Flitwick, Binns or any of the other professors - though, admittedly, it would be downright impossible for a ghost to eat anyone. What gave Snape the right to look so intimidating while making his subject sound so fascinating? Who in their right mind could enjoy Potions, let alone learn anything, when the professor gave the impression that he would rather cut them up for potion ingredients rather than teach them?
Her apparently, Lita noted with surprise. Without her even noticing, Snape had stopped talking and she had automatically followed the instructions written on the board. That was creepy, Lita decided as she counted down the six minutes boiling time silently. She enjoyed being in control of her movements, thank you very much, and finding that her subconscious had given her hands permission to follow orders without consulting her mind first was irritating, although fortunate when it came to Potions. Lita measured her ground nettle-leaves and added them to the potion with her left hand while stirring with her right hand. What people were supposed to do if they hadn't trained themselves to use both hands equally well, Lita didn't know but she was glad she'd gone through a phase when she was determined to become ambidextrous a few years ago.
As the last period of waiting passed, Lita was relieved to notice that it was bubbling and it was red - not, perhaps, the strongest shade of red that it could have been, but good for a first try, ne? Oh great, now for Snape to mark it. As she approached the desk and set it in front of Snape for marking and any comments, Lita was sure that she heard an unenthusiastic, sarcastic cheer in her mind. Well, if it was her mental voice then it was far too much like her to make it shut up. After waiting for Snapes comments and accepting them with a slight incline of her head, Lita returned to her seat, proud that, at the very least, she hadn't needed to ask for help. Though, even if she would never admit it, it was a comfort to have Gaenor sitting next to her. Well, it never hurt to have a reliable source of help at the ready.
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Post by Darien Raymond Fletcher G5 on Jan 10, 2007 2:43:43 GMT -5
Noticing a girl sitting behind him Dare turned halfway and gave the girl a bright smile in greeting. It was an other fellow Gryffindor and fifth year too. But Snape was telling him to stop the whistling before beginning the class straight afterwards. He really should and pay attention seeing that Snape had already taken a point from the few Gryffindor had because of his humming. Luckily Dare wasn’t a completely hopeless case in Potions unlike Snape would like to believe of everyone from his house. Trying to keep an eye on himself to avoid humming even if that song was still stuck in his head Dare concentrated on the potion he was supposed to brew. Magevoile. Sounded interesting by it’s name. Mages were associated with magic by many muggle fairy-tales as Darien had heard. Especially such tales that spoke of times long gone past. But now it was time to leaves tales and start making a potion. After all he was a wizard, a mage of sorts, too.
Dare measured everything he would needed out in exact proportions and set them in a strict order on his table before taking the cauldron. Checking the instructions on board every now and then Dare set to work with surprising patience for him but a while later his potion was ready. Dare stirred it slowly clockwise raising osme of the potion now and then as he tried to decide if the colour was an exact beige. It was clear enough and it was beige in Dare’s opinion. But he wasn’t sure if he and Snape defined beige the same way.
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Post by Lacey Langres H7 on Jan 20, 2007 13:41:16 GMT -5
Lacey wasn’t the bets of students really. She wasn’t that bright to grasp everything from air nor was she quick or naturally very talented in scholary subjects. Besides she tended to loose herself in inspiration and scribbles far too often for teacher’s liking. But Potions was one of the few classes Lacey was slightly better at. Or maybe not that surprisingly perhaps. Lacey was too scared of professor Snape to let her thoughts wander off. And she was good at following instructions which was pretty much all one had to do in Potions. And potions was a bit like cooking. Adding ingredients was just like adding flour to pancakes dough. And the stirring was almost calming. Lacey inhaled the pleasant scent of jasmine oil deeply smiling lightly at the tender and almost fragile smell. IT calmed her and made a bit happier. Peeking around from under her lashes Lacey could see that it didn’t have the same effect on everyone though. A lot of people seemed flushed beucase their potion might not have turned out the way they wanted it to be. Only a few seemed not shaken or anxious.
Noticing that it was time to add Rosmarine leaves Lacey quickly did so, before sitting more forward on the edge of her chair as she picked up the ladle and started stirring clockwise. Catching her lower lip between her teeth Lacey felt her shoulders shagging in obvious relief when the potion slowly changed colour and took on a clear crème-ish, beige-ish tint. She had managed to brew the potion! Lacey smiled and left the potion to stay until Snape would come to check it. Settling back again Lacey absently started sketching on a bit of spare paper. A bubbling cauldron and three witches, the stereotypical ones muggles liked to imagine with warts and hunched backs – around it.
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Post by Dana Coran on Jan 20, 2007 14:05:29 GMT -5
And so it began again. A new year in Potions. One of the classes Dana had to seriously work in to maintain a passable grade. Not to mention the countless hours of reading and writing out potions and theories she did to keep her grades up. And yet even with all that she didn’t manage Outstandings in the subject. But in Potions Dana was willing to accept an E for Exceeds Expectations very willingly. But now she had a potion to brew. Dana fetched the ingredients she needed from Snape’s table before setting to work. Boiling the water was easy and Dana congratulated herself for managing to successfully complete the first step out of many others. A bit rueful smirk directed to herself as Dana mentally added that she still had many possibilities to screw up still. But that wasn’t an encouraging thought so Dana brushed it from her mind and concentrated on brewing her potion. It seemed to be going nice enough so far after all Dana decided as she needed to let the potion simmer. Leaning back in her chair Dana observed her nails, noticing the slightly rabbed polish on the edges and making a mental note to either see Cleo or a cosmetician in Hogsmeade about it later now.
Then it was time to continue the potion. Powdered stuff, leaves, snail-slime that luckily didn’t smell as obnoxiously as Dana had expected and more simmering. Waiting for a potion to simmer was usually the worst part. You felt so helpless. You knew you had to do more but couldn’t just yet and all the while you were nervous as well because you didn’t know how your potion would turn up and therefore didn’t know how to prepare for Snape’s comments. But the 9 minutes the potion had left to simmer passed too and Dana finished her potion. It was bubbling – spitting white foam up quite high and quite abruptly really – and under the foam it seemed to be reddish as well. Dana herself deemed it acceptable. Snape most likely would find some fault in it but he always managed that for those out of Slytherin.
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