Lesson 3: Fourth and Fifth Years

[Desideria Tapia]

The particular lesson prepared for the incoming group was a special one. It would likely to be an important one, at least for the fourth years. The fifth years would be doubtful to be tested on it during O.W.L.s, but nonetheless, Desideria was sure it would be appreciated. The end of year exams were in the process of being prepared by the woman, each year would have a different test of course, being the material was supposed to be more advanced each year. Even with the accumulated groups gathered into one lesson, Desideria was sure the students would learn quite well in years above their own for standard potion brewing.

And with exams not far away, she figured the lesson would be appreciated. A potion to help induce the mind to learning, clearing it of much thought and helping it to focus. While such things were not to be used in testing and other such government mandated regulatory things, there was nothing stating it could not be used for studying. The potion was one to help invigorate the mind, keep it trained on thought, and if it cleared the passageways to the brain with the flow of information required to learn and study for exams, then so be it.

This was always one of Desideria's favorite potions, because it helped to enlighten her mind. If someone had ever complained in the shop she worked in that they couldn't concentrate, this was the first potion she suggested. There were of course others, but the Wit-Sharpening Potion was usually useful.

Sitting at her desk, feeling much calmer than she did with the Second and Third years, Desideria lounged back in her chair, knitting up a spiffy sweater. True, the winter months had all but passed, but one could never be too prepared for what was to come. Much like the take-over, but this sweater was just a simple little thing to keep herself occupied while waiting for the class to enter.

As with all other classes, the tables were fashioned for three to four students per each one, the extra ingredients if needed were sitting off to the side on a counter solely designated for such, and room was impeccably clean. To make a potion correctly, one had to be sure there were no extra things that could fall into the cauldron. A spider, a bit of web, perhaps a dust ball, could all spell disaster. Therefore, cleansliness was important.

Behind where Desideria sat was the blackboard, with a simple greeting, if it could be called such:

Potions
Professor D. Tapia

[Celina Jedynak]

Celina found herself walking into yet another classroom first. For as much as she feared going into any of these classes after what had happened in the Great Hall in front of all of her peers and professors (all meaning the ones that were actually present at that time) the Raven girl was still always early and prepared to learn. The only drawback to Potions was that they usually worked in pairs or groups. Celina's stomach lurched and she felt nauseated but she knew that she couldn't miss any of her classes for fear her mind would wander and her thoughts would torment her something fierce with more nightmares of screaming and begging and crying.

As she entered the classroom, her legs quaked as she noticed that the professor was a new one. Celina could feel relief shake her body even more as if she were about to break down in tears right there. This professor...Professor Tapia would know nothing...not a thing. That was, unless she had heard. With that thought, the small smile that had appeared on the hopeful Ravenclaw's face, disappeared as fast as it had appeared and she quickly scattered to a grouping of some chairs in the back corner of the room...as per the usual seating arrangement that she had decided to give to herself. Her face down again, she sat and her heart broke with the idea that life may had actually been looking up....even if it was just in a small way.

[Matilda Wentworth]

"What it right, or left..." Matty Wentworth's' soft voice echoed faintly around the dungeon corridor as the Hufflepuff looked to either side. Even after 4 years of being at Hogwarts, the girl still managed to never get the hang of these dungeons. Well, the Potion majority of them anyway. Finally, the teenager steered off to the right, and found her way to her class. Unlike some, the girl was in a rather happy mood for this term's classes. Nothing dreadful had happened to her while the take-over was in process, besides a small cut on the right hand side of her forehead. It was healing now, but the actual injury was only the result of atty banging her head. Nothing dangerous at all.

The girl, wearing her robes, clean and fresh. A mild smile was placed on her youthful face, as the girl opening the door quietly, and passed through the door frame. Her green eyes wandered around the potions room. "Professor," the girl gave a small nod to her new Potions professor with a smile on her face, before stepping forward. The Huffle noticed Celina, a Ravenclaw girl whom she was on a good level with. Making her way to the back of the room, to the table across form her other classmate. "Hey Celina," Matty said, placing down her bag and tuning on her chair a little. These lessons were going to be interesting. It seemed that the fifth years were intertwined with the Fourths'. Also, the matter of whom was in this class, was going to be intriguing.

[Felicity Hjort]

Yet another class with the Ravenclaw, but Felicity wasn't worried. They hadn't spoken since the incident, what would make them have to speak now? Absolutely nothing Felicity could think of. In fact, forgetting it was the easiest way out, she was sure of it. There were times where she couldn't not think about it, but then there were times it was easy to forget. Those were the times Felicity wasn't sitting or laying on the bathroom floor in the Gryffindor Tower. When she wasn't feeling well, it was the only place she felt she could get better at. Sometimes, she even found herself down there to sleep at night. Not even Drew's arms were always comforting, at least not like the cold floor of the loo.

Entering the class, Felicity had again caught sight of the dark haired girl, but it wasn't unusual. There were enough tables she could choose from and stay away from the girl. The not talking thing was working kind of, it didn't hurt so much when she saw her, which wasn't often. Sitting with the girl was Matty, from the paper. The girl was nice enough from the little interaction they'd had, and Felicity waved a little at her, but wasn't able to smile.

Taking up a seat in the front of the room, she busied herself with getting the materials for the class out of her bag. The class was one of her favourites, and she was going to enjoy it. A new professor who probably only knew about as much as the Headmistress gave away, which Felicity doubted she'd tell of how she played favouritism and had called out students who weren't in any real danger, or of so many other things.

[Vanessa Sanderson]

Knitting? The potions professor was knitting?! It was almost a cataclismic event to find a professor that knitted, and did so freely as she waited for the students to enter. Walking up to the professor's desk, she walked by all the girls that were already there. Her memory was still at a loss for the events that happened during the first week of being back at Hogwarts, and she feared believing what people were saying, so she just decided to avoid it. It didn't happen if she couldn't remember it....right?

Looking over the sweater, Vanessa smiled. "Are you making a sweater, Professor?" Vanessa asked her. She opened her bag to pull out her own knitting and showed the professor. The colors of the vibrant reds, orange, and yellows would make even the most blind see. It was obvious that the colors were enhanced magically. "I'm making one, too!" she said excitedly.

[Celina Jedynak]

As Matty came over to where Celina sat, she turned her head. Yes, it was true that since the scene with Felicity and Shaw in the Great Hall, there were some that had given her the benefit of the doubt. Matty was one of them. She had been one to keep speaking with her, but at the same time, Celina couldn't bring herself to be much of a social person. She closed her eyes tightly, and let out an exasperated..."hi"...but it could have easily been mistaken as a sigh at the same time. Celina wondered why some hated her, and others still liked her....when at the same time Felicity, her best friend, couldn't stand her. It was a lot to bear.....Celina just wished she hadn't made friends to begin with.

[Desideria Tapia]

The unexpectedness of a voice so close startled Desideria, but only a little. And when she listened to what was being said, she became quite excited. A fellow knitter? And a student at that? Well, that was wonderful! Seeing the vibrant colors, she immediately was sure this girl would be one to talk with at a later time about knitting. Her own sweater was made of forest green and dark brown, not the most appealing, but it was practical.

"Oh! My dear child, that is a wonderful piece, you and I need to get together and knit at some point, we can 'ave a nice talk while we're at it." There were some wonderful students in the school. "But we'll 'ave to speak about this later, I do need to start class I suppose." The woman waited a bit, but she didn't know if there would be any others attending the class, she hoped there would be, but one could never tell.

"Ladies, ladies," she called to those in the back. "Since there are only a few of us 'ere, I think it'd be best if we all gathered around the front tables for now." Pointing to the table the Gryffindor was seated at and the one next to her, she waited for everyone else to gather around and pulled up a stool so she was seated directly in front of all of them, so as to be on the same level as her students.

"I 'ave a few rules to begin. No potions leave my room unless I say so, and if I find one 'as been removed, I guarantee there will be consequences. Also, I want you all to respect one another in 'ere, no monkeying around allowed. Is that clear?" she asked sternly, looking to each of the students.

"Now to begin, we're going to learn 'ow to brew the Wit-Sharpening Potion. Anyone know what it does?" Her question was open to all in attendance.

(Class has officially begun, you may post as being already present, but do read as I called all of you to the front therefore you will not be sitting in the back, and those who wish to be tardy may write in so, but remember there are consequences to be faced if so)

[Vanessa Sanderson]

Vanessa's shy smile as she put away her knitting only grew as the professor said that they'd be able to sit, knit, and chat later about it. It was something that Vanessa and her grandmother used to do when her grandmother was still alive and well. It was something that Vanessa had enjoyed doing very much. She nodded her head in agreement. Yes, another time would be excellent, not to mention getting to know a professor would be very nice as well.

Vanessa took a seat next to a blond girl that she knew she should have at least known the name of, but for the life of her could not remember. Something about her face, seemed familiar but at the same time very distant to Vanessa. "Hi," she said lightly to the girl, but nothing more for the class was about to begin and she had to think about the question that was placed before them. Tit-sharpening potion? Did it sharpen.....Vanessa's eyes grew wide. She'd heard something wrong for sure...Vanessa's face grew red, and she looked down at her desk. What was going on?

[Celina Jedynak]

Hearing the call to move forward, Celina just remained where she sat, to frozen in fear of what to do in order to move. It was true that there were not many people in the class, but did she really have to move forward and join the group? Could she not work alone if that was what it took? Celina wasn't having a good day, and just the fact that they had to move closer together was proof of it.

The memory flashed of being brought before Shaw passed through her mind. It was probably the closest she had been to Felicity since she could remember. And then Shaw's words as he closed the gap between the two of them, whispering into her ear about what he'd do if she didn't.....Celina didn't want to be close to anyone...or closed in by any means...

She shook her head, as if she had a choice in the matter. Twas true that her authority was telling her to do something, but Celina forced it from her mind. It wasn't an order, rather a suggestion....right? Celina knew better and as much as she tried to resist, she found herself getting up slowly....and yet, not moving any further closer to the front of the room yet, than she had been.

[Felicity Hjort]

The stupor she put herself in was wakened when a girl went running up to the professor and pulled the most colourful thing out of her bag she thought she'd ever seen. Not only was it colourful, but it was bright. The colours were almost hard to look at and Felicity wouldn't be able to thank the professor enough for starting the class to make the girl put it away. As the Hufflepuff greeted her and took a seat, she nodded in return. She seemed nice enough, just like all of the other Hufflepuffs, but she had some strange tastes when it came to colour schemes.

When the professor called everyone to move into a smaller area, Felicity turned to see exactly how many were in the class, not many at all and her eyes stuck on the Eagle in the back. She wasn't moving. At first, Felicity wondered if there was something wrong, and then she noticed the girl forcing herself up from where she was, but not actually moving. Sighing, she turned her attention back to the front of the room. This was bound to happen, it wasn't like they could avoid each other all the time, not when they were in the same year.

"It sharpens the mind Professor, right?" she asked, putting her hand up. Even if Celina wasn't moving yet, it didn't matter, there was no reason for her not to answer the question.

[Desideria Tapia]

"Exactly that, exactly that deary," Desideria answered. "Five points to Gryffindor. The Wit-Sharpening Potion allows for the mind to accept and unlock all sorts of knowledge. This potion, like many others, it not to be used during exams or and government mandated assessments of any sort. This potion, 'owever, can be used to study and the person can retain the information even if the potion is used.

"'Owever, it can be a tricky one." The woman's eyes caught the hesitation on the part of the Ravenclaw, though this one had been pointed out to her by another during talk of what happened with the takeover. Desideria was willing to let it slip if the girl didn't sit up front this time around, it just meant fewer places for seating in the next class. The only way she was going to get over anything was by way of getting over it.

"I'm willing to let you know now, that there is a prize at the end of this lesson waiting for the one with the brewed potion closest to 'ow the Wit-Sharpening one is."

Turning and waving her wand, the board was covered in instructions.

Wit-Sharpening Potion
Prepare:
5 oz ground Scarab Beetles
1/2 cup cut-up Ginger Root
1/4 cup Armadillo Bile
3 sliced Daisy Roots
1 pinch Billywig Stings
2 Lacewing Flies
1 tsp Peppermint

Bring to a boil the Scarab Beetles and Ginger Root, stir clockwise 3 times. Add Armadillo Bile and Daisy Roots, let boil and stir clockwise 5 times every 2 minutes for 18 minutes. Bring to a boil and add Billywig Stings. Reduce heat and add Lacewing Flies, stir 4 times counter-clockwise for 10 minutes. Simmer and add Peppermint.

"You may begin, if you 'ave questions, don't 'esitate to ask."

(5 points to Gryffindor)

[Felicity Hjort]

Glancing back at the board, Felicity thought it looked fairly simple. With as many potions as she helped her mum brew from time to time, she didn't think too many potions would be difficult, and so far she was proven correct. Setting up her cauldron over the fire, Felicity scrounged through her kit to find the necessary items, which she wasn't sure if she'd have enough armadillo bile for. There'd been quite a few potions that required it, and she thought she might've spilled a bit last time she used it. All she could hope was there would be enough.

Taking out her things she began to ground the scarab beetles into a fine powder. Ginger roots were easy enough to slice, as were daisy roots. With everything else set out in front of her, she measured the bile, coming up just a tad short on it. This wouldn't do, not when there was a potion to be brewed for a class.

"Professor?" she called out tentatively, hoping she would have some in store she could use. "I don't mean to be a bother, but I'm afraid I don't have enough armadillo bile for the potion."

[Celina Jedynak]

Celina sat back down from where she had gotten up, unable to really make herself move any further to the front of the room than she already positioned herself. Granted, it was in the back of the room, but even hearing Felicity's voice reminded her of that night and Celina couldn't focus well enough as it was on what they were required to do, let alone get nearer to her former friend to work anywhere near her. Celina slowly took out her supplies, noticing that she had enough of everything to make the potion and so she started.

Without a word, she started the fire and got everything ready and started the potion. Her mind wandered, however, as she did so, for the blond in the front of the room would not be quiet. Celina almost wished she could throw the armadillo bile at her just to make her stop talking. The memories were too much to even focus on the potion at hand.

[Vanessa Sanderson]

Vanessa smiled and squinted at the board. She wasn't hard of seeing, but the professor's wand writing was like chicken scratch in Vanessa's opinion and she really just couldn't read what was written on the board. Unfortunately, she didn't want to speak up about it and look like a complete idiot, so she began the potion any ways.

"Bring to a boil the Scarab Beetles and all the root, stir in clock ties 3 times," Vanessa muttered to herself, not really thinking any of it was right but still doing as she thought she was told. Boiling the water in her cauldron, she added the scarab beetles and all the roots she could find in her potions kit. After a few minutes she added the clock....ties? Vanessa looked through her potions kit and the closes thing she found to clock ties were bats eyes, so she threw them in there as well. The potion already started to do something, and so Vanessa looked at the board again to see what was next.

"An Armapillow pile?" Vanessa wondered out loud. Now she knew that didn't sound right. Though, before she could ask she realized that the potion she had just created was boiling over. "Oh! Oh, no!" she said as she backed up from it and looked around the room, wondering if anyone had seen and if there was any way she could pick it up before anyone did see.

[aleeza]

She was late and she knew it. Professor Tapia was not going to be happy, but once again she had gotten lost in a world all her own writing and so she'd had to run to the dungeons from the Ravenclaw Commons as fast as she could. Now all that was left was sneaking into the room without being noticed, which wasn't at all easy to do.

The door was almost shut when she finally reached the potions room and she took that as a sign that maybe just maybe she could get away with walking in late. With a gentle hand on the door she pushed it open slowly, praying to whatever god listening that she would not be noticed.

Just as the door was almost wide enough for her to slip inside she heard a rather loud squeak and she jumped, pushing the door open all the way so that it slammed up against the back wall.

So much for that. She thought, smiling around the room nervously.