Part 1 | Ch. 13 - Potion Brewing

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I spent the days leading up to Sebastian and I's first official program meeting continuing to prepare for the school year and organizing my classroom. It was a nice distraction to dive into my work and get ahead of schedule.

Now that it was Wednesday, I needed to spend some composing myself before what would likely be an insufferable time tonight. With the way our conversations had been going, I used the afternoon to clear my head. I longed for a break outside in the nice weather.

The view of the castle across the Black Lake was magnificent. Sun shining on the old stone walls, the soaring towers creating long shadows on the water below. Soon enough, first year students would be rowing over the dark waters, dim lanterns leading the way. They'd stop in the boathouse, nervously climb out of their boats, and make their trek up those winding stairs.

I walked along the sandy shore collecting smooth rocks and shells for my office. I picked up a sparkly marbled stone, turning it over in my palm before adding it to my bag. An oval rock caught my eye. I grabbed it off the sand, readying it for skipping across the water. Winding up, I released the stone, watching as it skipped four times before plopping into the middle of the lake. It reminded me of what was a happy memory, now turned sour because of Sebastian.

It was the summer before our seventh year and Sebastian, Ominis, and I met up in Hogsmeade before the school year started. We had all learned to Apparate at the end of our sixth year, making it easier to see each other over the holiday.

"Wait you really don't know how to skip rocks!?" I exclaimed to Ominis who had just hurled a handful of pebbles into the lake, landing in a splash.

"No, I don't. I think that's a muggle thing, Gianna." He chuckled, sitting down on the grass.
We were right outside of town, relaxing in the hot summer air by a calm and cool pond filled with dewy lily pads and patches of cattails.

"It's not just a muggle thing! Sebastian, you know how to skip rocks, right?" I asked turning to him. He was tossing a small smooth rock back and fourth between each hand.

"Uh yeah, definitely," he said, kicking another, more rough rock on the ground.

"Show me," I teased, motioning to the glistening still water with an open palm.

"Well, there's not really enough space, I don't want to waste a good rock..." he trailed off, pretending to take in the scenery around us.

"You don't know either!" I shouted in surprise, "I'll show you, come here." I took his freckled hand in mine and opened his fingers, placing the rock on the tips and thumb. I turned his hand so his palm was inward and the back of his hand was outward.

"And I just throw it?" He asked softly, my hand still lingering on his.

"No, it's like a flick of the wrist." I showed him the movement a few times and he mimicked slowly still holding on to the rock.

"I'm going to grab a table at the Three Broomsticks while you two figure that out," Ominis interrupted, pulling out his wand and allowing the red blinking light to guide him there. We had forgotten he was even with us, that was starting to happen more and more these days.

Sebastian continued to practice the motion with his wrist before seeking my approval. His chestnut colored eyes locking with mine.

"Try it!" I urged, pointing at the pond.

He walked closer to the shore, a thin sandy patch surrounding the small body of water. Repositioning his legs, he sunk his feet into the ground, trying to gain leverage. He looked back at me, smiling with determination. It was adorable how seriously he was taking it.

Sebastian wound his wrist up and flicked the rock. It sailed through the air, hitting the water with one skip before plopping into the pond. I was about to tell him we could try again before he started jumping up and down like he just won the House Cup.

"I did it!" He exclaimed as he ran over, scooping me up in his arms and spinning me around. "I skipped the rock!"

"I'm so proud of you!" I beamed as he spun me around a few more times before returning me to the ground. Something so small like skipping a rock made him feel accomplished and I relished every second of it.

"You should be a professor someday, you're a great teacher." His arms enveloped me in a hug, my head resting on his thumping chest.

I pulled back, catching another glimpse at the excitement plastered all over his face. "You're a great student...when you want to be." I joked, holding both of his arms with my hands.

"If you're the teacher, I'll always be a good student." He placed his finger and thumb on my chin, gently tilting my head until our lips met for a brief moment. "I know I have so much to learn from you, G."

As I finished my walk, I observed Madame Kogawa whizzing around on her broom, dressed in Quidditch gear. While it was banned when I attended Hogwarts, the sport would be in full swing this year. I couldn't wait to cheer on Slytherin in the stands for the first time.

The sun started to set behind the clouds and a breeze whistled through the trees nearby. I took the long way to Sebastian's Potions classroom, a place I spent a lot of time in as a student. Since he studied the subject vigorously in our seventh year to prepare for N.E.W.Ts, we always found ourselves dropping by, experimenting with ingredients. Professor Sharp would assist with his ideas and trusted him to brew potions without supervision. We even hooked up in his storeroom a few times when he wasn't around. I still have no idea how we didn't get caught.

Entering Central Hall, I instinctively steered towards the stairs leading down to the dungeons. As a Slytherin, I became very familiar with the twists and turns of the underground hallways. Each corridor slinking in every direction like a snake. The ornate stone walls were illuminated by torches, carefully hitched to the mortar and creating a soft glow.

The dim light flickered as I passed each one, guiding me to Sebastian. Dread bubbled in my stomach and as each step brought me closer, I found myself slowing down to prolong the inevitable. As I reached the Potions classroom, I picked up on a strong scent of dittany and horklump juice, the earthy tang filling my nostrils.

I found Sebastian racing around the room, moving cauldron to cauldron, stirring a liquid mixture for a second at each station.

"What in Merlin's name are you doing?" I asked, setting my books down on an empty desk.

He didn't notice me come in, startling at the sound of my voice and gasping as I broke his concentration. "With the Wiggenweld investigation, I've been helping the Ministry by brewing some batches that aren't tainted." He sprinkled chopped dittany into an empty cauldron.

"Do you want some help?" I offered, hoping that if I assisted, we wouldn't have to talk, just chop, stir, boil, and pour. I'd still have to be in close proximity but at least the silence would keep us civil.

"I don't need your help." He said curtly, focusing on the chaotic operation he set up all over the room, his eyes darting to each station.

"All right fine, I guess I'll just wait until you're done. I have some work I can do anyway." I sat in the corner of the classroom in the absolute furthest spot from him. Pulling out my books, I regretted not telling him we'd just meet another time instead of waiting. But at least now we could get it over with and then I could go another week without seeing or speaking to him.

After ten minutes of more potion making, he opened two wooden crates with hundreds of tiny glass bottles. Pointing his wand and muttering an incantation, the bottles floated through the air, filling with freshly brewed Wiggenweld. They corked themselves and then gently laid back in the crate, the high pitch clink of the glass interrupting the silence.

Sebastian must have been working furiously for hours. Sweat beaded on hairline and he wiped it with his forearm. His brows furrowed as he watched the cauldrons empty. "Ugh that's it? I must've miscalculated." He scoffed under his breath.

Disappointed and clearly in a rotten mood, he sauntered over to me where I was working quietly. "So I guess we're paired up now, huh?" He began narrowing his eyes at me. I really wasn't ready his bad attitude once a week.

"Can't say I'm thrilled about it either." I retorted.

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