The Secrets of The Sighted (Golden Trio Era) {3}

Pre-Prepared Potions

Mikayla was brought out of her thoughts when the bell rang for the afternoon's double Potions and the foursome made their way down the familiar path to the dungeon classroom that had, that has recently fallen into Slughorn's ownership. Mikayla admitted to herself that it was strange that Snape wasn't teaching potions, but she still dreaded the class, knowing Slughorn for being a name dropper and unbelievably nosy on her and Harry's endeavours. When they arrived in the corridor, they saw that there were only a 16 people progressing to N.E.W.T. level; Draco Malfoy, Blaise Zabini, Theodore Nott, Avery Carra, Daphne Greengrass, Tracey Davis, Ernie Macmillan, Hannah Abbott, Michael Corner, Padma Patil, Sue Li, Parvati Patil, Hermione Granger, Ronald Weasley, Harry Potter and Mikayla Black.

"Harry," Ernie beamed portentously, holding out his hand as Harry approached him, "didn't get a chance to speak in Defence Against The Dark Arts this morning. Good lesson, I thought, but Shield Charms are old hat, of course, for us old D.A. lags..." Ernie pauses briefly, turning towards Mikayla, Ron and Hermione, "and how are you, Mikayla, Ron, Hermione?" Mikayla smiled politely at the Hufflepuff, "good thanks, and you Ernie?" Mikayla counter asked as Hermione and Ron just told him that they were 'fine'. Before Ernie could answer her the dungeon door opened and Slughorn's belly preceded him out of the door. As they filed into the room, Slughorn made sure to greet Mikayla, Harry and Blaise with particular enthusiasm.

The dungeon was, most unusually, already full of vapours and odd smells. The foursome sniffed interestedly as they passed large, bubbling cauldrons, and claimed a table for the four of them to share where a gold coloured cauldron sat in the middle, emitting their favourite smells. Harry found that he was breathing very slowly and deeply and that the potion's fumes seemed to be filling him up like drink. A great contentment stole over him, he grinned across at Ron, who grinned lazily back. Mikayla and Hermione share a knowing look, chuckle silently to themselves at the boys expressions.

"Now then..." Slughorn began, his shape quivered as Mikayla looked at him through the shimmering vapours leaving the potion in front of her. "Scales out, everyone, and potion kits, and don't forget your copies of Advanced Potion-Making..." Harry raised his hand informing Slughorn how he and Ron didn't have supplies because they weren't aware that they would be able to do potions for N.E.W.Ts. "Ah yes, Professor McGonagall did mention... Not to worry, get what you want from the cupboard." Mikayla saw Ron and Harry wrestle for something in the cupboard, she chuckled lightly seeing Harry has a book that was barely held together, whilst Ron's book looked perfectly new.

"Now then, I've prepared a few potions for you to have a look at, just out of interest, you know. These are the kind of thing you ought to be able to make after completing your N.E.W.Ts. You ought to have heard of 'em, even if you haven't made 'em yet. Anyone tell me what this one is?" He indicated the cauldron on Malfoy, Nott, Zabini and Greengrass table. Mikayla raised herself slightly in her seat and saw what looked like plain water boiling away inside it. Her hand shot up, Hermione's hand soon following, Slughorn smiled at the two Gryffindor girls who were almost bouncing on their stools to be picked, he gestures to Hermione, "Miss...?" He asks her to tell him her name, "Granger, sir. It's Veritaserum, a colourless, odourless potion that forces the drinker to tell the truth." Hermione informs him, "very good!" Slughorn beamed happily. "Who knows this one?" Slughorn asked pointing at the cauldron on Carra, Patil, Davis and Patil's table, "It's Polyjuice, sir." Mikayla had recognised the slow-bubbling, mud-like substance in the second cauldron, but she didn't mind Hermione getting the credit for answering the question, since she was the one who had succeeded in making it, back in their second year.

"Excellent, excellent! Now, this one here..." Slughorn gestured to the foursome's table, Mikayla's shot in the air, "yes Mikayla?" The blonde smiles at the professor as she says, "it's Amortentia, it's the most powerful love potion in the world..." Slughorn beamed at my words, "quite right! You recognised it, I suppose, by its distinctive mother-of-pearl sheen?" Mikayla nodded, "and the steam rising in characteristic spirals, and it's supposed to smell differently to each of us, according to what attracts us." Slughorn nods before asking her what she smells, "I smell mint leaves, sulphuric smoke and chocolate strawberries..." Mikayla smiles after see leans closer to the cauldron to identify the smells that filled her nose. "And what about you Miss Granger?" Slughorn questions, obviously wanted to prove that it smelled different to everyone, "I smell... freshly mown grass and new parchment and... spearmint toothpaste." Hermione turned slightly pink at her answer.

"Granger?... Are you related to Hector Dagworth-Granger, who founded the Most Extraordinary Society of Potioneers?" Slughorn asks her, fishing for more people to collect, "no, I don't think so, sir. I'm Muggle-born, you see." Hermione blushes more at her admittance, Mikayla and Harry saw Malfoy lean close to Nott and whisper something. The two snakes sniggered, but Slughorn showed no dismay, on the contrary, he beamed and looked from Hermione to Harry, who was sitting next to her. "Oho! "One of my best friends is Muggle-born and she's the best in our year!" I'm assuming this is the very friend of whom you spoke, Harry?" Hermione's face couldn't possibly go any more red at the professor's words, which Harry had clearly spoken to him.

"Yes, sir," Harry answered instantly, "well, take twenty well-earned points for Gryffindor, Miss Granger, and you too Miss Black.' Slughorn announced, Mikayla and Hermione shared a discreet high five when Slughorn turned away from them. Malfoy looked like he had been punched by Hermione in the face once again. Hermione turned to Harry with a radiant expression and whispered, "did you really tell him I'm the best in the year? Oh, Harry!" Mikayla stopped herself from laughing when Ron's expression twisted in annoyance, asking Hermione what the big deal was, that if he was asked, he would've said the same thing.

"Amortentia doesn't really create love , of course. It is impossible to manufacture or imitate love. No, this will simply cause a powerful infatuation or obsession. It is probably the most dangerous and powerful potion in this room – oh yes," he said, nodding gravely at Malfoy and Nott, both of whom were smirking sceptically. "When you have seen as much of life as I have, you will not underestimate the power of obsessive love..." The two Slytherin's stopped smirking, not wanted to cause problems with them and Slughorn.

"Sir, you haven't told us what's in this one," said Ernie Macmillan, pointing at a small black cauldron standing on the table he shared with Abbott, Li, and Corner. The potion within was splashing about merrily. It was the colour of molten gold, and large drops were leaping like goldfish above the surface, but not a drop fell onto the table below. "Oh!" Slughorn acted surprised, Mikayla and Harry were sure that Slughorn had not forgotten the potion at all, but had waited to be asked for dramatic effect. "Oh yes. What you see before you, ladies and gentlemen, is a curious little potion, known as Felix Felicis. But it is more commonly known referred to as--" Mikayla and Hermione cut in off as they both said, "Liquid Luck." Slughorn smile looking over in our direction. "Yes, ladies. Liquid luck. Desperately tricky to make, disastrous should you get it wrong. One sip and you'll find that all of your endeavours succeed."

The whole class seemed to sit up a little straighter. Now all Harry could see of Malfoy was the back of his sleek blond head, because he was at last giving Slughorn his full and undivided attention. "At least until the effects wear off." Slughorn pauses to chuckle lightly, "so this is what I offer each of you today. One tiny vial of liquid luck to the student who in the hour that remains, manages to brew an acceptable Draught of Living Dead. Recipes for which can be found on page 10 of your books. Issue one doubt, however. Only one set of student manage to brew a potion of sufficient quality to claim this prize. Nevertheless, good luck to you all. Let the brewing commence."