Unity & Perseverance

Kindling Love

For once, Sunday was spent partly relaxing. It seemed the teachers were finally giving them a bit of a homework break, which the fifth years were grateful for.

At breakfast, Harry told his friends that he was going to brew some potions in Dungeon Five with Blaise and Theo, and invited them to join him. Dorea and Amelia gladly accepted to come along, whilst Hermione said she was going to the library with Sue and Padma, and Ron had already planned to finally play Ernie at wizard chess. As much as he would have liked to see that game, Harry left the great hall with his twin and godsister, and met up with the two Slytherin boys near the staircase.

When they got to Dungeon Five, Harry felt relieved that Snape wasn't there. In fact, the only other people in the room were some seventh years, brewing what looked to be very complicated concoctions. Amelia and Dorea grabbed a bench for themselves whilst Harry, Theo and Blaise set up at a bench nearby.

"I'm going to get started on Bruisewort Balm," Harry said as he got his cauldron and scales out.

"I definitely need to brush up on the Invigoration Draught, when we brewed it in class mine only got an A." Theo said, getting up to fetch his ingredients presumably.
"How come you're brewing Bruisewort, Potter? It's not even in the curriculum." Blaise eyed him.

Harry fumbled for an excuse - he didn't quite want Blaise to find out about his detentions with Umbridge, though he did like and trust him. "I think it's handy to have on you, especially after you trip or something."

Blaise smirked. "Nice try. You're not clumsy in the slightest." He paused. "But you don't have to say if you don't want to."

He was grateful for that, at least. He got his notebook out, which contained the instructions and his own notes for the Bruise Balm he had written back at Black Manor, when he was a regular in the Potions Lab. Since it needed fifteen minutes to simmer, a thought came to him: He could probably brew a Befuddlement Draught alongside it, seeming as his one had gotten tampered with when he brewed it in class. Even though he'd brewed it a few times back at the Manor, he wanted to refresh his memory of it.

Being mindful that he now had two potions on the go (Blaise kept eyeing them nervously), he was extremely careful to get his timings right. Harry also had to keep his ingredients separate and not mix them up. No incidents occurred, however his Bruise Balm was done simmering a bit earlier than expected as it changed colour after only ten minutes, but put that down to his cauldron heat being one setting higher. He made a note in his book that it could save time and noted the heat number for future reference.

Bruise Balm done (it had to cool for twenty-five minutes before it could be bottled), all his attention was on his Befuddlement Draught. He'd now reached the stage he'd gotten to in Thursday's class when Crabbe had sabotaged it. He instinctively tensed up when Theo walked right behind where he was sitting, even though he was only passing to get to his seat. Just as he turned the cauldron off so that the potion could cool down did he finally speak again. "Feels good to finally get that ticked off."

"I was nervous when you started brewing two potions at the same time, not gonna lie, but you had them so under control. You'll soon overtake Granger at being the best in the class." Blaise remarked, impressed, as he was finishing off his Draught of Peace.

"You're definitely one of the best in the class, Blaise." Harry added. Blaise was about to respond (likely with disbelief) when Theo let out a noise of distress.

"Oh my word, I'm such a dunce, I added the wrong ingredient!" Theo Nott looked stressed. A foul smell was soon wafting through the air in Dungeon Five, and dark grey bubbles were soon being omitted from the cauldron.

Harry fumbled to get his wand out as Blaise said that he had no clue what to do. He realised he didn't actually know the wand movement for the spell, but spoke it anyway. " Laxo!"