incantation ━━☆ a stucky au

Chapter Eight: Potions

A/N: I'm so sorry y'all, sometimes I get too hard on myself and put off posting for ages because I'm convinced my writing is shit. I also battled a sinus infection as I was trying to smash chapters out like crazy and I couldn't get out of bed for at least a week. My brain felt like it was on fire and it was the worst pain I have ever felt in my life. Please if you have sinus headaches that won't go away, go to the doctor. Please don't make the same mistake that I did. OK, with all that said, I hope you enjoy my birthday gift to you all (I'm 21 today)! Enjoy the chapter and there are more to come.

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The following day was filled with blossoming friendships and an abundance of magic. Though, Steve considered his new group of friends to be magic alone; friends were a rare commodity during his childhood. The group had earned the name Fantastic Four, the name conjured up by Rocket. He and Steve decided to sit together through their first class, and were quickly joined by Bucky and Shuri. To Steve's surprise, they all got along splendidly, and he was grateful to see the other two again.

The previous day had been a whirlwind for Steve; leaving his old life behind, becoming a wizard, and seeing his birth parents. He told Shuri and Bucky all about them; what their names were, what they looked like, their reputation at Hogwarts left behind for Steve to follow. They'd seen their entire schooling at Hogwarts, even earning some big awards for their participation in the process. Steve's mother, Sarah, was a significant and memorable Quiddich player.

Rocket had explained the bare minimum rules of the game to Steve. "It's like soccer, but in the air," Rocket explained with a shrug. Steve asked how it could possibly be played in the air. "Well, broomsticks of course!"

Their teams' sports photos were proudly displayed inside a display cabinet in the Slytherin Common Room, Steve had found. What made Steve feel at ease was that just like him, his own parents were sorted into Slytherin. Steve kept hearing the saying repeated around him, 'not all Slytherin's are bad', but what about Lord Voldemort, he thought. The subject even being too taboo to think about since the incident years ago, but someone has to be bound to say it. Just the mention of his name in the slightest sent wizards and witches into a panic and a frenzy.

Not once did Steve want to be associated with such a monster. He'd rather be in the same house as that of the brave wizard who fought against and conquered Voldemort. The boy so valiant and brave to stand up against someone so malicious and destructive. Instead of being associated with heroes, he was associated with villains.

Hogwarts had never been the same from that moment forward; major security measures were put in place to prevent something of the sort from ever happening again. Though, Steve wondered if it was enough. The world of magic was too powerful and complex for him to wrap his mind around, Steve knew there was bound to be a greater power out in the seemingly infinite world that's yet to be explored.

As Steve wandered off into the depths of his imagination, Bucky nudged him lightly, rousing Steve from his thoughts. Professor Banner liked to talk with his hands, the Fantastic Four had noticed quite early on. The professor had almost knocked over a row of test tubes full of multicoloured liquids as he outlined the lesson, cussing in the process. Steve allowed himself to relax a little, since the professor was very laid back, his shoulders falling forward with a soft sigh.

"This potion is very useful I'm sure, as most of you are feeling quite overwhelmed at this time. Please don't abuse the power of potions, everyone. Especially this one," the professor warned. "Today, we will be brewing a potion that relieves agitation and anxiety; the Draught of Peace. You will find every ingredient that you will need on your tables, and I trust that you have found groups to carry out this lesson with," Banner said as his eyes scanned the room.

Chatter broke out amongst the students as the professor quietened down and the lesson further commenced. Rocket read a list aloud to the group, the instructions very specific and precise. Shuri was nervous that they would mess up the process, with there being such ridiculous ingredients and all. Powdered moonstone? None of them had heard of it. As well as powdered unicorn horn (which the students had no idea were not at all a myth), syrup of hellebore, and powdered porcupine quills.

The moment the instructions were finished, they all looked into the cauldron to find a dazzling blue liquid. Bucky was getting his test tubes ready, eager to gather as much of the serum as possible. They allowed the mixture to simmer as other students caught up, losing themselves in conversation in the meantime. Rocket spoke more of Quiddich; flying brooms and golden snitches were too much information for Steve's brain to handle after the couple of days he'd had. He was still trying to process the discovery of his parents photos. Steve watched intently as Shuri and Bucky distributed the potion evenly between eight test tubes, two for each of them. 

Bucky sighed with relief, as the last of the potion dripped from the ladle. "Wouldn't it be funny if I'd dropped it?" he chuckled. Bucky's chuckle was followed by a loud metallic clatter. With a cuss, he swiped the blue liquid up off the tabletop with his fingers, and brought them to his mouth. Bucky didn't want to be wasteful; the ingredients probably being more expensive than their school supplies combined. The other three watched as he lapped up the potion, licking his fingers clean and smacking his lips together comically. Moments later, Steve bolted to his side, catching Bucky as he lifelessly fell from his lab stool. 

"Everyone, pay attention here," Professor Banner's voice startled them. He gestured to the Fantastic Four's table. "Let this serve as a reminder to pay close attention to the instructions."

Shuri skimmed over the sheet they had been given, her brows furrowing. Steve heard her whisper that they'd done everything right. She shook her head in disbelief, a glimmer of guilt in her eyes as she glanced at Bucky slumped over in Steve's arms. 

"Kid, please take your friend up to his room," the professor guided Steve to the door. "Let your friends know to take it easy on the potion."

Steve nodded before spinning on his heel, heading for the dynamic and animated staircase. It was a mission getting Bucky to his Ravenclaw Common Room, his weight on his left shoulder being the lesser problem. Bucky's fellow housemates' eyes were trained on Steve as he plodded through the shared area; he felt out of place and judged. Nobody came to help, which Steve thought was very out of character. Though, there weren't very many students around, being lesson hours and all. So, Steve decided to knock on each and every single door until eventually, a sick student emerged from a room further down the hall.

"Do you mind?" the student said with a nasal voice, his nose a light shade of red and eyes puffy. His robe was two sizes too big, engulfing his tiny frame, making him look frailer. "Are you looking for Bucky's room? It's right down the end of the hall."

Steve strode past the student, eager to rid the weight from his shoulder. "Hey, thanks," he gave the boy a genuine smile. He stopped and glanced at the student behind him. "You should talk to the potions professor, Banner. He might be able to help with that cold of yours."

At the end of the hall, Steve was met with a closed door directly in the center of the hall. He swung the door open, which revealed a room smaller than his and Rocket's. There was only one bed (the same as Steve's), a trunk which was being used as a nightstand, a wardrobe, and a bay window with a seat built in beneath it. Steve grew sad at the thought of Bucky being alone every night, nobody to share the events of his day with. Laying in silence as the other kids giggled late into the night with each other, sharing jokes and making memories. Bucky wouldn't have that; he was alone. Though, sometimes, loneliness could have its perks. 

Steve carefully placed Bucky down on his bed, pulling the blankets up over him after he'd curled up on his side. Steve couldn't bear to leave his friend alone; he'd wake up alone and confused, so Steve grabbed spare bedding from the bed and settled down on the seat beneath the bay window. Soon enough, he was dreaming of magic and his friends.