xxxii. potions 101
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CHAPTER THIRTY TWO. POTIONS 101
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Hermione and Evangeline walked down the crowded Hogwarts corridors to their Potions class, Evangeline's textbook clutched tightly to her chest as they walked. The two were discussing the upcoming school year. Well, Hermione was discussing it. Evangeline was only listening to her friend's words, speaking when she felt it was right.
The two entered the class a few minutes earlier than some of the other students and greeted Professor Slughorn. Initially, Evangeline hadn't planned on taking this class. However, after scoring so well on her Potions O.W.L. exam, she decided that she might as well. She didn't have anything else to do and didn't want too many free periods, fearing that she would have nothing to do to fill the time.
So, she took this class. She quite liked Potions, so it wasn't as though being here was a drag. Evangeline noticed the girl from Fred and George's shop enter the classroom and her eyes narrowed. She was wearing a Gryffindor robe, which must have been why she had seemed familiar to Evangeline the other day at the store. Evangeline still had no idea who she was.
She leaned closer to Hermione, about to ask her who the girl was, seeing as Hermione knew everyone, before realizing that she didn't really care. "Yes?" Hermione asked, noticing her move closer and then away. Evangeline shook her head, "Nothing. Nevermind." The unknown girl caught Evangeline's eye and her face dropped into a glare. Evangeline scowled at her, turning away and impatiently waiting for the class to start.
It finally did and Professor Slughorn began his introductions. He then got into teaching his lesson. "Paying attention to detail in the preparation is the prerequisite of all plan," he was saying. Footsteps could be heard and he stopped speaking, turning to the door. Harry and Ron walked into the room and Evangeline's eyes narrowed at them, wondering what they were doing there. She distinctly remembered Ron talking about having a free period that morning and that he would use it to practice for Quidditch tryouts.
"Ah, Harry my boy. I've been beginning to worry. You brought someone with us, I see," Professor Slughorn said. "Ron Weasley, sir," Ron introduced himself. The unknown girl, who was now standing next to Hermione, began smiling at Ron. Hermione, who had taken notice of this, scowled at the girl. She knew that look and she did not like it one bit. And she knew for a fact that Evangeline would not like it as well. She turned to her friend who was still staring at Harry and Ron in confusion, feeling relieved when she didn't notice Lavender Brown staring at her boyfriend. Hermione was sure that the Caspian girl would skin Lavender alive if she had noticed.
"But I'm dead awful at Potions. A menace, actually so. I'm probably just gonna—" Ron tried to back out of the classroom but Harry stopped him. Evangeline rolled her eyes at the boys, a small smile coming to her face. "Nonsense, we'll sort you out. Any friend of Harry's is a friend of mine. Get your books out," Professor Slughorn replied before turning back to the class.
"I'm sorry, sir, I haven't actually got my book yet and nor has Ron," Harry said. "Not to worry, get what you want from the cupboard." Professor Slughorn returned his attention back to the class. "Now as I was saying, I prepared some concoctions this morning. Any ideas what these might be?" Professor Slughorn said. Hermione's hand, unsurprisingly, shot up into the air. Evangeline slowly raised her own hand, not nearly as quickly as her friend.
Professor Slughorn pointed to Hermione. "Yes, Miss..." Hermione spoke, "Granger, sir." She walked up to the table that held the different cauldrons of potions. From the corner of her eye, Evangeline could see Aldon Carlisle smiling at Hermione. She raised her eyebrow at the boy. Somebody had a crush.
"That one there is Veritaserum. It's a truth-telling serum. This is Amortentia. The most powerful love potion in the world. It's rumored to smell differently to each person according to what attracts them. For example, I smell... Pine and fresh rain and, warm cinnamon," Hermione stopped, turning around and walking back to Evangeline's side, but not before sending Aldon a quick glance. The boy's smile had widened considerably after hearing her words.
Evangeline nudged Hermione's side, raising her eyebrows in question. Hermione just looked down in embarrassment. Evangeline turned her head to Ron, who was now standing beside her. "What are you doing here?" She whispered to him. "McGonagall is making us take this class," he answered back just as quietly, his eyes rolling in annoyance. He did not want to be in this class. She focused her attention back on Slughorn.
"Now Amortentia doesn't create actual love. That would be impossible, but it does cause—" Evangeline cut him off, "Powerful infatuation and obsession." Everyone turned to look at her. "Sorry, sir," she apologized for interrupting. "It's quite all right Miss..." Evangeline looked up, "Caspian," He nodded, "Miss Caspian is correct. It does cause powerful infatuation and obsession. And for that reason, it is probably the most dangerous potion in this room," Slughorn said.
He closed the lid of the cauldron that the Amortentia resided in. The four girls who were slowly making their way toward it, entranced by whatever they were smelling, stopped. They looked down in embarrassment and stepped backward and to their original spots. "Sir, you haven't told us what's in that one," a girl, Katie Bell, had pointed out. Slughorn moved to a small vial. "Ah, yes. What you see before you, ladies and gentlemen, is a curious little potion, known as Felix Felicis. But it is more commonly referred to as—"
"Liquid luck," Hermione and Evangeline said at the same time. Professor Slughorn smiled and nodded. "Yes, ladies. Liquid luck. Desperately tricky to make, disastrous should you get it wrong. One sip and you'll find that all of your endeavours succeed," he said. He looked around the classroom.
"At least until the effects wear off. So this is what I offer each of you today. One tiny vial of liquid luck to the student who in the hour that remains, manages to brew an acceptable Draught of Living Dead. Recipes for which can be found on page 10 of your books. I should point out, however. Only one set of student
managed to brew a potion of sufficient quality
to claim this prize. Nevertheless, good luck to you all. Let the brewing commence," Professor Slughorn said.
Evangeline walked to the nearest empty table and opened up her textbook. Ron, Harry, and Hermione joined her at the table. Evangeline opened her book to page 10 and began reading the instructions. 01) Cut open one Sopophorus bean.
Evangeline grabbed one of the beans and picked up her knife. She carefully brought the knife down onto the bean, which immediately slipped out from under it. She grabbed the bean and tried again, only for it to slip again. She huffed and tried again, the same thing happening. She was quickly growing annoyed and looked at the instructions again, reading over the first part.
She sighed and picked up the bean, carefully examining it. She then placed it back down and tried cutting again. Around the room, other students were also struggling to cut open their Sopophororus beans. "How did you do that?" Hermione questioned and Evangeline looked up to see Harry squeezing his bean into his cauldron. Her eyebrows furrowed.
"Crush it, don't cut it," he answered. "No, the instructions specifically say to cut," Hermione protested. "No, really," Harry said. Evangeline looked down at her bean and picked up her knife again. She turned the knife onto its side and used the blade to crush it. She then picked it up and squeezed it into her cauldron before moving on to the next part of the potion.
Throughout the class, the girl had struggled with making the potion. It was not turning out the way that it was supposed to. By the end of the class, she was beyond frustrated and annoyed. Harry was the only one to have correctly made the potion and was the one to obtain the Felix Felicis. Evangeline was upset, but only because she wasn't successful in making the potion. She couldn't care less about the Felix Felicis.
The majority of the class was disgruntled. All around Evangeline people were stood with messy hair or dirt on them. It was quite the sight. "Here we are then, as promised. One vial of Felix Felicis. Congratulations. Use it well," Slughorn said before beginning to clap. The students in the class reluctantly clapped as well. They obviously weren't too pleased with the fact that Harry was the one to obtain the potion.
Soon after, the class was over and the four friends began to exit. "Miss Caspian, a word?" Professor Slughorn called. Evangeline stopped and turned to him before turning back to the three. "I'll see you guys later," she said. She turned around and made her way over to the man. "It is my understanding that you made an Outstanding on your Potions O.W.L. examination. Is this correct?" Professor Slughorn said when she was stood in front of him.
Evangeline nodded, "Yes, sir." He nodded as well, "And you almost didn't take this class, correct?" She nodded again. "Why is that?" He asked. "I just, wasn't sure if I wanted to continue on with Potions. Although, I do enjoy the class and have done well in it, it just wasn't something that I saw myself taking my sixth year. I thought I'd focus on some of my other classes. Ones I was more interested in," she explained.
"I see. Well, a talent like yours shouldn't have gone to waste. I'm glad that you changed your mind," he said. She nodded and smiled. "Well, I won't hold you any longer. Off to your next class. Don't be late and have a nice day," he said. "Thank you, you too sir," Evangeline replied before turning away and walking to the door.
She hardly considered herself to be talented when it came to Potions. She was just able to memorize them and their ingredients fairly easily. It wasn't as difficult to her as say, Arithmancy, which she had stupidly decided to take again and this time at the N.E.W.T. level. She continued on her way to her next class, smiling to herself at Professor Slughorn's compliment.
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Here's a short little chapter. I'm surprised people are still reading this book but very grateful. I hope you all enjoyed. Be sure to vote and comment. DO NOT COMMENT FOR ME TO UPDATE!
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