Potions: Lesson 1 (Years 1-5)

It was the beginning of another year, and Mycroft was already exhausted. His summer consisted of helping Teagan to rebuild Salem's walls and try to cope with the death of students. It was a daunting experience, one that tired him out in all aspects of his life. Now it was time to look forward, to try and forget the negative and try to continue the task.

At least the potions room looked back to normal. It had caved in after the attack, the bombing attack really did lift debris everywhere. His room was half destroyed. Not it was all remodeled, the Ministry unhappy with the costs that Salem took, but had to admit it was better to spend money on something permanent, than have the Black Widows roaming.

Putting the potions in order, he wondered exactly what to teach today. He figured based on the number, the decision would be made. For now, it was all a waiting game.

Sierra walked into her first class of her fifth year at Salem. She was still shaken up over the attack they had received the previous year, but I think everyone was still shaken up by that. She took a deep breath and realized she was the only student to arrive so far. She smiled at her professor, "Good morning, Professor Holmes." She took a seat in the middle of the classroom and took out her textbook. She had started reading the night before so she would know a thing or two before class started

Aphrodite walked into the Potions classroom with her head held up high, she didn't like to think about all the bad stuff that had happened and tried to focus on what was in front of her. When she had gotten the memo that Apollo had been injured at the war when the Black Widows attacked. Aphrodite saw Sierra Logan in the classroom when she entered and sent her a smile. She sat down and waited for the class to begin.

Ciara walked towards the Potions classroom. It was one of the classes she really did like. She liked to make different potions actually. Girl soon walked into the classroom. "Hello, professor," she said with smile and took a seat somewhere middle of the classroom then now. She didn't know these two other girls well, she have seen them around just so far.

Seeing that only three students arrived, he figured he could start the class and let the others come in, depending on the time they wouldn't lose points. Clearing his throat he got up and walked over to his students.

"Good afternoon students, I'd first like to have a small talk with all of you. Since the attack that we've had in the castle, we've lost several of our own, we wish to give them a moment of silence to those that have lost their lives in bravery"

Taking a moment of silence, he knew it was time to really start. Moving to his blackboard, he wrote out the words Burn-Healing Paste and turned to face the students.

"Can anyone tell me what the potion is? Next someone please tell me what use it could do. Who would like to start?"

Sierra was sad that her friend, Apollo had gotten hurt in the battle. She missed him. She missed seeing him in the halls and in classes. After the moment of silence she listened to professor Holmes talk about the assignment. Sierra raised her hand and spoke, "While the Burn-healing paste is not exactly a potion, it is a thick orange paste used to heal burns." She smiled at her professor and hoped she was right, secretly crossing her fingers under the table. Ever since the attack, she had been a bit scatter minded.

A Belladonna was the first to raise her hand and once he called her she gave him the answer, it was a bit too textbook for his taste, but he nodded.

"Five points for Belladonna. Now, today you will be making the paste, but not exactly the one in your book, rather my own interpretation of the paste that is known to be more potent. I ask that you take out the gloves from the drawer of your desk, and partner up if you'd like, while I put up the ingredients. Make sure to follow them perfectly, and avoid getting anything on your clothes."

Burn Healing Paste

1. Put one liter of a base liquid, I suggest goat milk.
2. Add one cup of Ptolemy, careful it stains.
3. Let it simmer until it becomes a pale orange color, remember to try and not make the milk curdle.
4. Half an Ashwinder egg, please accommodate amongst one another and give the other half to another member making the potion to not make waste.
5. Immediately after cover the cauldron and let it thicken for 5 minutes.
6. Meanwhile, get 1/4 cup of mint, three orange peels, and get one potted Aloe vera. Carefully cut three large leaves and peel off the skin, taking out the sticky paste. Place in mortar and mix all together.
7. After the five minutes have passed, take off cover and put all the ingredients in the cauldron. Add a cup of honey and begin to mix. The potion should begin to thicken considerably. Once it becomes too hard to keep mixing, lower the flames and let it cool, never once stopping to mix. Once done, place them in the containers before you and you may leave.

"Any questions? If not you may begin."

Sierra was slightly shocked that they were not doing the assignment as described in the book. But she did not say anything. She grabbed a pair of gloves and walked over to Aphrodite. "Hey. Want to partner up?" She knew Aphrodite because she was Apollos sister. She hoped her friend was ok. She also wanted to make sure Aphrodite was ok. After all, Apollo was her brother. She smiled at the girl and waited for an answer to her request to partner up

Aphrodite listened to her Professor and when Sierra came over to her and asked her if she wanted to be partners. The Belladonna shrugged her shoulders, she didn't mind the girl, the girl was a nice person to get to know. "Sure we can" Aphrodite agreed to her. Aphrodite got the ingredients that her and Sierra would need for their potion. The blonde put on her gloves and began.

Aphrodite grabbed the goat milk and put one liter of the base liquid into her cauldron before adding one cup of Ptolemy and made sure it didn't stain her. She let what was in her cauldron so far simmer until it turned orange and put half of an Ashwinder egg in her cauldron to mix with her potion and put the other half down for whoever else would need it. When she finished she turned to Sierra. "You can do the other three steps if you'd like."

Sierra smiled at Aphrodite and covered the cauldron after she put in the egg an let it simmer for about 5 minutes. She grabbed the mint and measured out 1/4 cup, grabbed 3 orange peels and an aloe vera. She cut off 3 large leaves, skinned them and mixed it all together as the directions instructed her to do. After about 5 minutes, she added the ingredients and a up of honey and began to stir. She hoped she had done the potion right, she was rather scared when it came to potions. She lowered the flame while still mixing. "Aphrodite, am I doing this right?"

This class is officially closed. Thank you all, for attending. Points are as follows:

House, A = 20 pts (attendance) = 20 pts
Logan, S = 20 pts (attendance) + 5 pts (answer) + 5 pts (participation) = 30 pts
McGee, C = 20 pts (attendance) = 20 pts
Oxton, A = 20 pts (attendance) + 5 pts (participation) = 25 pts

Total:
Belladonna: 55 pts
Wormwood: 40 pts