Forever and Always

Potions and D.A.D.A

"Today we will be mixing a potion that often come up at Ordinary Wizarding Level; the Draught of Peace." Snape began to the class. "A potion to calm anxiety and smooth agitation. Be warned; if you are too heavy-handed with the ingredients you will put the drinker into a heavy and sometimes irreversible sleep, so you will need to pay close attention to what you are doing. The ingredients and method—" Snape flicked his wand. "—are on the blackboard, you will find everything you need—" he flicked his wand and the doors to the cupboard opened. "—in the store cupboard. You have an hour and a half ... start!"

I scanned the board and jumped to my feet. I was always good at Potions, not that Snape cared. I swear, I think he takes more points from me more than anyone else. I gathered the ingredients from the cupboard and went back to my seat with my boys.

"I think we could alter this to where the drinker could pass out for a while." Fred whispered as he was working.

I gave him a look. "What—"

"That's a good idea, Freddie."

"What? No, George!" I hissed. "That is not a good idea! You both heard Snape. If we are heavy-handed with these ingredients, we could seriously hurt someone. Plus, how would they be woken up if that did happen?"

They stayed quiet as they processed my words.

I guess that is a good thing to think about, Georgie." Fred looked up to his younger twin.

"Stop talking, and focus." Snape glared at our table. "Another word out of anyone else will earn detention."

I peered up at him through my eyelashes. We made eye contact and I swear, it's like he never blinked. I turned my attention back to my cauldron, and made sure that every ingredient was the perfect amount. Why was this such a difficult potion? I mean, all ingredients, like I said, had to be the perfect amount. I had to add them in the right order, and stirred the correct amount of time. The hat of the flames was a bit difficult, it either kept getting too cool or too hot, but I had it handled.

"A light silver vapor should now be rising from your potion." Snape said with ten minutes to go."

I smirked down in my cauldron triumphantly. This was perfect! I looked over to the boys, and saw George's potion was spitting green sparks. Fred was issuing a large amount of grey steam.

"I don't think this is right." Muttered the boy. He looked to me with wide eyes. "What did I do wrong?"

I shrugged my shoulders. "Look at the board again and see if you added everything."

"B-but what about mine?"

"Do what I told Fred, Georgie." They looked defeated. They tried so hard. I could tell what they did. I've never seen them so concentrated in their lives. Well, except for Quidditch.

"Oh, no." Fred whispered. "I forgot the hellebore."

"You should all be done now. Fill one flagon with a sample of your potion, label it clearly with your name and bring it up to my desk for testing." Snape instructed. "Homework; twelve inches of parchment on the properties of moonstone and its uses in potion making, to be handed in on Tuesday."

Twelve inches. Twelve inches! He has got to be joking. And on the first day back! We did as we were told, and went to lunch.

We sat at our table, eating. The boys have been very silent. I gazed up at them and saw them looking down.

"You two were actually trying, weren't you?" I stated more than asking.

George threw his spoon down on his plate. "Well, yeah. Mum is always comparing us to Bill, Charlie and Percy. Either Prefects or Head Boys."