Emilla Potter

The Master of Potions

Dark, cold stone walls. Around the classroom the shelves had books, boxes, jars and bottles full of different potion ingredients. The glasses had different shapes, and the ingredients had different colours. Few of the bottles had seeds, leafs and flowers. Jess looked around and had fear and disgust on her face.
- This whole room looks evil... - Emma whispered. - What is that? - She pointed at a jar, which had yellowish green something in it. She was looking around constantly, looking for the potions professor.
- By the color it could be armadillo bile... - Evelynn tried to examine the jar but it was a bit far from her and it was too dark for her. Emma looked terrified by the answer.
The Ravenclaw and Hufflepuff students acted almost the same way. With fear and excitment.
- Where is the profes... - Cho got interrupted.
- There will be no foolish wand-waving or silly incantations in this class. - the door opened with rush and closed with a thud. Professor Snape came in with his bat-likely robe floating after him. Then he stood in front of the class - As such, I don't expect many of you to appreciate the subtle science and exact art that is potion-making. However, for those select few... - he looked around the class slowly - Who possess, the predisposition... - he looked at Evelynn with cutting glance - I can teach you how to bewitch the mind and ensnare the senses. I can tell you how to bottle fame, brew glory, and even put a stopper in death.
Cho and Marietta were whispering to each other on Evelynn's left. Snape walked closer to that line.
- Then again, maybe some of you have come to Hogwarts in possession of abilities so formidable that you feel confident enough to not pay attention! - he stopped in front of the two Ravenclaws.
- Miss Chang if I'm right. - Snape looked down at the girl. She was terrified. She nodded.
- Tell me Miss Chang, where would you try to find a bezoar? - he asked. She mumbled something.
- Then tell me what is a bezoar? - He looked at her then turned to Marietta. - Miss Edgecomb, you can try to help her out. - Marietta didn't say a word.
- What do you use a bezoar for? - He went on without mercy.  Cho amost cried.
- Anyone else? - the professor walked back to the front of the classroom. Nobody dared to say a word. Evelynn had one thing in mind... but it wasn't the answer Snape wants to hear...
She raised her hand, as she grinned.
- Miss Prince?
- The easiest way to find one, is to look around in the classroom - few students had the courage to smile and a Roger Davies from Ravenclaw even laughed. But in a second he was quiet again. Severus Snape looked furious. Evelynn did not react. She had to go with it now, so she continued - By logic I would put it in... - she walked to a shelf on the left side of the class - ...this drawer - she said as she opened it. She looked around the boxes and pulled out the stone in question. Then she walked up to the professor and gave it to him. After that she turned around and walked back to her cauldron. Her feet felt like jelly. She started to be afraid of Snape. He acted nothing like normally.
- Miss Prince, do you think this class is a joke? - the professor asked her quietly. This quiet voice was way worse then shouting. She shook her head. As she opened her mouth to answer the professor continued.
- I wouldn't try if...
- The bezoar is a grayish-green stone from the stomach of a goat - she spluttered finally the real answer with her arms shaking - I-It't usefull as an antidote for all the known poisons, and a few potions use it as an ingredient.
She was really scared. What will Snape say to this? His face was unreadable.
- The answer is right. And for that I give Hufflepuff 5 points - surprising turn of events. - ...but for the first answer I take away 10 points.
Evelynn groand quietly. He only took 5 points away... sooo dramaticly... he is indeed her stepfather.
- Now if you may pay attention. In the first lesson everyone of you will work alone and your task is ot brew cure for boils. This is not a hard potion to make, but you can have trouble if you don't follow the instructions precisely - the man walked up to the board and knocked on it once with his wand - The recipe is on the board - then he sat down behind his desk. As he was sitting he looked around in the classroom.
The students read the board and started to do... or more likely just try to do what it said.
"Add crushed snake fangs to your cauldron and stir."
A ravenclaw boy dropped a fang. Then bent down for it and hurt his head with the table. As a consequence, two other fang fell off. The boy looked at him, he did not turn away. He got scared and looked away.
"Slice your Pungous Onions finely and place in cauldron, then heat the mixture." The two hufflepuff girls next to Evelynn didn't read carefully. They touched the onion bare hand and started to cut it. The blonde one started to scream as the onion hurt her hand. Snape stood up.
- This could have never happen if you learn to read Miss Runcorn - he said in his monoton tone. - Miss Chang, take Miss Runcorn to the hospital wing.
As the duo left he walked around to see, how bad will this group be. The other was a stable middle. They weren't good, but they could be worse. This was a bit worse... he cleaned up after the Runcorn girl and the Chang girl but the potions were far from what those should have look like. Corner from Hufflepuff was a disaster.

"Add dried nettles."
Evelynn took off her gloves to put dried nettles into her cauldron. As she sprinkled it the potion turned from moth brown to bright yellow.
The color is good... what's next?
"Add a dash of Flobberworm Mucus and stir vigorously."
Be... quick
She picked up the wooden spoon and picked up the bottle. While she poured the mucus she quickly stirred the potion and wished:
Please be orange, please be orange, please be orange.... it turned bright orange. Phew!
"Add a sprinkle of powdered ginger root and stir vigorously again."
Evelynn got the roots and a mortar. After powdering the roots she pinched and sprinkled like it was salt. She repeated it three times, until the potion turned dark turquise.
"Add pickled Shrake spines."
I hate this fishes smell...
She murgeoned in digust. She picked up a little spoon and trew the spines into the potion.
"Stir gently, so as not to overexcite the Shrake spines."
As if I care about those spines... yuck...
She carefully stirred the mixture. Slowly it turned brighter and brighter but it wasn't perfect.
What is not good? Maybe stirring it both ways. Five to the left and one to the right.
It worked. Glowing turqoise.
"Add a glug of stewed horned slugs."
It gave a bit of silverly sparkle.
"Add porcupine quills."
It looked like, the potion melted the quills into it self.
"Finally, wave your wand over the cauldron to finish the potion."
The movement was drew on the board.
Turn it then... stab!
The potion turned dark red.

15:37, in front of the number one Green House. Evelynn waited for Katie to get out of the class. Their group was coming out. She was usually the last one to come out. As the Gryffindore girl walked out she looked at her with a smile.
- Hey! How was your class? - Evelynn waved. The girl shrugged her shoulders.
- It was okay. I already knew what's the homework gonna be thanks to a kind Hufflepuff so, I'm already done with a half of it - they walked to the castle's door - Where should we go? We could have a bit of break before jumping on the homeworks.
- I like this suggestion - Evelynn nodded - I wanted to ask you to come and see Jess with me, she hurt her hand on potions.
- With the onion?
- Yes, who was it in...?
- It was Valerie. Spinnetts - she saw that the name didn't tell anything to her. - she's kind, but didn't read those tiny letters on the board, or tried to look after the ingredients.
Jess was just coming out of the Hospital wing as they arrived.
- Hey! Is your hand okay? - Katie asked
- Yes, thank you - Jess said and was already leaving.
- What's the matter Jess? - Evelynn caught her wrist. Jess just pulled it away.
- Nothing. I just want to leave.
Evelynn was confused. What happened? She looked at Katie, who looked just as surprised as she was. Then they walked down to the lake and talked a bit of their first week and planned a few thing for the weekend.