step one: find partner on Potions

Professor Connell

January 09, 2005 3:29 PM

Second Lesson by Professor Connell

Marian looked around at her students. She had gotten to know them well in the several weeks they had been at school, and they looked a bit bored. She herself was a bit bored, actually. There really is only so much that one can do with making potions. Which meant it was time to mix things up.

"Class, today we will be doing something different. You will be divided into pairs as usual, but, using only your textbooks, you will be forced to figure out what potion involves certain ingredients that I will be writing on the board, and you must properly create that potion. First pair to get it right will win 20 points each for their respective houses.

"However, you must partner with someone outside your house, and you must partner with someone you have never partnered with, and whom you would never pair with normally.

"Also, since I know there will be complaints, there is only one right answer. The ingredients are Wolfsbane, essence of slug, shredded frog skin, and diced scarab. You may begin."

Marian grinned to herself. Those were all common potion ingredients, and there was one in almost every potion. There were multitudes of potions with two or three, but only one with all four. Edadcambiar, a relatively easy but rather obscure aging potion. This class should be interesting.

OOC- the points will be awarded on the writings of both partners, since I already gave you the potion name. So, the pair with the most detail, the most original ideas, etc. will get 20 points each for their houses. Have fun.\n\n

Subthreads:

step one: find partner by Jenna H with Jake

A partner would be a lovely idea by Mia

always in partners... by Tally with Jennifer, Tally (Teppenpaw)

Partners, you say? by Elizabeth with Chrissy

OOC by Professor Connell

Time to split up the dream team (TY and one other!) by Ash and Sorrel Craven with Sally, Sorrel

Oi! Leann!! Over here! by Stephen Baxter

Need a partner by Zack Dill (Alderaan, er, Aladren) with Mia, Mia K.

Loner by TJ O'Riley

0 Professor Connell Second Lesson 0 Professor Connell 1 5

Jenna H

January 09, 2005 6:03 PM

step one: find partner by Jenna H

A smile formed on her face and her whole face lit up. Potions was her element, and she had remember reading something in the Howard library that jogged her memory. She figured that if she looked through the textbook she would most likely recognize it as soon as she saw the name. The only problem would be finding a partner who wasn't in Crotalus or Tally and Mia, who she had worked with before.

"Would anyone not in Crotalus house and isn't Tally or Mia like to work with me?" she asked loudly over the crowd.\n\n

0 Jenna H step one: find partner 46 Jenna H 0 5

Jake

January 10, 2005 5:27 PM

I'm a qualified candidate by Jake

Jake looked around at the person who shouted. He even chuckled a little at her outburst. Jake didn't know very many people personally here, though he knew a few faces from the parties.

He had met Elizabeth during flying and Jennifer in the library, who...had witnessed his fight with the bookbag. He knew the twins, Sally, and Tally, but he figured that it was probably best to make more friends. He stood up and made his way over to where she was sitting. Smiling, he held out his hand to her,

"Hi, I'm Jake Santoro. I am in Teppenpaw and I am neither Tally or Mia. So, can I be your partner?"\n\n

6 Jake I'm a qualified candidate 42 Jake 0 5

Jenna H

January 10, 2005 8:55 PM

Then let's begin by Jenna H

Jenna smiled at Jake, shaking his hand, "Jenna Howard, Crotalus house, but that was kind of obvious, wasn't it?"

Jenna looked around her and saw that a desk next to her was vacant, "You can sit at that desk, and I'll move mine over to it," offered Jenna. Without waiting for a response, she got up and started to push her desk

As she moved her desk over to where Jake would sit, she explained, "You see, last summer I was big on pranking my older brothers by putting potions in their goblets. I think I remember brewing a potion with these ingredients, but I don't remember what the name was. Do you have any ideas as to what it's called?" asked Jenna hopefully, sitting back down in her desk.\n\n

0 Jenna H Then let's begin 46 Jenna H 0 5

Mia

January 10, 2005 9:20 PM

A partner would be a lovely idea by Mia

Mia was looking at the personalized cover she had given her textbook as she listened to the professor's instructions. Her head shot up as Professor Connell explained what would be different. Her long, wavy hair fell over her face and she quickly pushed it behind her ears. Mia frowned at the new instructions from Professor Connell.

"A partner not in my house and someone I've never worked with and wouldn't normally work with." Mia repeated to herself as she scanned the classroom for a partner. She began to twirl her wand through her fingers as she searched patiently. This had now become a habit of hers.

Mia heard Jenna call out for a partner. She wouldn't have minded being Jenna's partner again. She did really well when they were working together and Jenna seemed to know her stuff. Mia hoped she wasn't stuck with someone who was as clueless as herself unless they could joke about how clueless they were together. A sense of humor usually gets Mia through tough situations. Usually...

"This is defintely going to be different." Mia spoke to herself again as her hazel eyes continued to peer around the room full of familiar and some still slightly unfamiliar faces. Her wand still weaving through her dainty fingers.

\n\n

0 Mia A partner would be a lovely idea 0 Mia 0 5

Tally

January 10, 2005 10:50 PM

always in partners... by Tally

Tally sat there and listened to the Professor speak about their lesson. She was nervous. Potions was not one of her better subjects. Put a wand in her hand and she was fairly good, give her a broom and she knew what to do, she could even identify an animal here or there, but potions? Nope, that one eluded her.

And this one wasn't even going to be a normal lesson. They had to find the potion that uses Wolfsbane, slug essence, frog skin (all her thoughts zoom to T.J., her beloved chubby frog), and scarab. Tally sighed, she knew that there were a lot of potions that contained those ingredients just by watching her dad.

And now they had to find partners from a different house that they hadn't partnered with or most likely never would. Tally frowned, she hated this part the most. She had a fear that if she were in gym class, she would be picked last. Except, in gym that never happened, she was good at sports and her peers knew it.

She heard Jenna call out and smiled sadly. Jenna was good at Potions. Mia even wasn't all that bad. Tally turned to her book and started to read the potion ingredients, looking for one that solved the riddle and hoping that someone would want to be her partner.\n\n

6 Tally always in partners... 0 Tally 0 5

Jennifer

January 10, 2005 11:37 PM

How else do you do it? by Jennifer

Jennifer looked around the room, frowning slightly. She wasn't usually very comfortable with going up and randomly talking to people, but that seemed to be what this lesson required. She saw Mia, but knew that Mia wouldn't probably count, since they had spent a long time talking, and could possibly be considered friends.

Then, looking over the other students, she saw a girl who looked rather nervous pull out her potions book. Jennifer thought she recognized the girl from somewhere, but she wasn't sure. Anyway, it didn't matter. All that mattered was finding a partber,

Picking up her book, she slid over next to the girl. "Would you mind partnering with me?" she asked cautiously. "I'm kinda partnerless, as you seem to be. So, have any idea what this potion could be? I'm Jennifer Zucchero, by the way," she added hastily. She hoped the girl wasn't already working with someone. SHe enjoyed potions, a lot, and this girl looked like someone hwo would be a good partner.\n\n

0 Jennifer How else do you do it? 0 Jennifer 0 5

Tally

January 11, 2005 12:20 AM

yes, but is it really necessary? by Tally

Tally turned her head slowly at the girl who sat down beside her, making sure to mark the spot she was at with her finger. Tally looked her over quickly with her eyes before smiling at her.

"Hi, I'm Tally Adams and yes, I am partnerless." Tally said, "But, I suppose now I'm not. Anyway, no, I really don't know what the potion is. I've already read through a few of them." Tally sighed as she turned back to the book infront of her, "I know that each of these ingredients happen to be in a lot of potions. Although, Wolfsbane is rather an odd one because it takes a month to come to full age and the ingredients in wolfsbane are sometimes hard to come by depending on the season." Tally paused, obvious surprise showed on her face at what she had said. Apparently she did listen to her dad when he talked.

"Anyway, they usually aren't combined because the reaction can be dangerous if not used properly. So, if this is an easy potion that contains all four, it'll be a rare potion used because of the deadly nature the four can be when combined in haste." Tally turned to Jennifer. She had said a lot and had been surprised by the knowledge she contained. Her father's favorite subject had been Potions as it had been her brother's. Both were Aurors now and only brewed potions to ease their daily pains or to heal some wounds when they didn't feel like going to the Hospital. Sometimes her father brewed dreamless drought when they became low on the stuff. But he loved to talk about it, and so, Tally had spent the last 8 years of her life listening to her father ramble on about different types of potions and their ingredients.

"So, does any of that ring a bell with you?" Tally asked with a laugh.\n\n

6 Tally yes, but is it really necessary? 0 Tally 0 5

Jake

January 11, 2005 12:30 AM

I'm stumped by Jake

Jake sat down in the desk that Jenna indicated with ease. Potions was a difficult and very anal class to have to take. Everything had to be just right. If you pour too much, you could cause death, if you pour too little, you could cause death. The whole thing gave Jake a headache, but he did everything with such precision that he would have you believe he actually enjoyed doing.

That wasn't usually the case. Failure just wasn't in the cards for Jake. He hated the idea of such things. And so, he did everything he could to avoid it. Now turning to Jenna, squinting slightly as he looked at her.

"All I know is that three of those ingredients are easy to come by and all are used sparatically within many potions. Wolfsbane is the most difficult because it is a potion itself. Plus, I think it is difficult to make and such, which is why it's usually brewed in large cauldrons and sold in stores. Anyway, I have no idea what potion all four are in together." Jake added with an apologetic smile and a shrug of his shoulders. He was still eyeing Jenna. He couldn't help the feeling of de ja vu. Although, he got that a lot in Sonora, but he didn't like it all the same.

"You pranked your brothers?" Jake held the note of skepticism as well as being impressed by the idea. He came from an extremely large family, pranking was inevitable. "Well, what did you want to happen to them after you put the stuff in the potion? Did they change into something, or maybe changed colors, or fell asleep? I mean, what were the effects that you had wanted to occur?"\n\n

6 Jake I'm stumped 42 Jake 0 5

Elizabeth

January 11, 2005 5:10 PM

Partners, you say? by Elizabeth

Elizabeth sat, at her desk in the back of the room, a mix of sulkiness and boredom residing comfortably on her normally jovial face. Elizabeth wasn't expecting anyone to jump with excitement to be partners with her, since no one in the potions dungeon exactly liked her at the moment. She'd be surprised if she'd get anyone at all, even if she asked.

Her sapphire eyes lazily rolled themselves around in her eyes sockets. Elizabeth's pressed and specially fitted school robes were spotless, and wrinkle-less, for that matter. Her Aunt Rose's idea; she'd made sure that the servants had put adequate amounts of anti-wrinkle spells on all her clothes before she left. Elizabeth loved her aunt, but sometimes she was just too much to handle. Her aunt loved perfection, or as near as a person could get to it, and so everything she could control over Elizabeth's appearence from hairstyle to clothing was made perfect.

She figured by now that everyone she knew had already taken partners, but Elizabeth wasn't going to cut off all hopes of finding a suitable partner. She pulled out her potions book and rifled through the ingredients index, writing down all the page numbers that appeared next to the words: wolfsbane, essence of slug, shredded frog skin, and diced scarab.

Oh well, worst comes to worst, I'll have to work by myself. Okay, so maybe that wasn't the worst thing. Actually, it was much better than having to pair up with someone else that wasn't up to 'family standards', or someone she hated. Not that she hated a lot of people, only some. \n\n

0 Elizabeth Partners, you say? 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Chrissy

January 11, 2005 5:33 PM

Would you like to work together? by Chrissy

Chrissy looked through her book without much care. She knew eventually the potion would make itself known to her as long as she stayed unfocused on it. 'Tis how life usually works anyway. Try to remember something and you can't until the moment you stop thinking about it and then you remember. Chrissy sighed. Her train of thoughts were usually as obsurd as this one.

She sat up straight and allowed her brown eyes to sweep the room. Tally was already partnered up with a girl Chrissy remembered seeing in the common room, but didn't know her name. Her eyes focused then on Jenna, who was working with a boy who Chrissy knew through Tally. She sighed, these were her two friends. The only people she had really gotten to know. Then her eyes fell upon another girl who was working through the book. Chrissy allowed a small smile to pass her lips. She hadn't spoken to the girl for a few weeks. Not since they spoke on the pitch. Chrissy usually only saw her in class, but since Chrissy sat between Tally and Jenna, she hadn't much thought to Elizabeth. Which was a shame because she seemed like she could be a good friend.

Chrissy stood and made her way down the rows to where Elizabeth sat. Her blonde curls swished lightly around her head with each step the Chrissy took. As Chrissy reached the table where Elizabeth sat, she cleared her throat.

"Hi, Elizabeth. I was wondering if, maybe, you'd like to be my potions partner for this lesson?" She asked with a polite smile.\n\n

6 Chrissy Would you like to work together? 47 Chrissy 0 5

Jennifer

January 11, 2005 6:03 PM

Plot Device, Mr. Frodo, Plot Device by Jennifer

Jennifer looked at Tally, very impressed. Very few people could rattle off like that about any subject. She could do it about charms, but only because she had been learning those since before she could walk. THis girl had skill.

"Not really," Jennifer admitted. "I have to agree with everything you said, but not many things fit all of those descriptions, I fear. Although, I think sliced scarab has something to do with age. Comes from the Egyptians, I think. The wizard embalmers would put an ointment made of scarabs over the body, to keep it from aging. I lived for a while in Egypt when I was younger." she said, shrugging off the whole spouting off useless information. "Some people won't talk about anything else but the old ones."

Then she continued to think about what she knew. "Wolfsbane can be added to make things more powerful, I think." she continued, nodding slightly. "Essence of slug and frog skin are in everything, really. Although I do think it could be an age potion, based on the scarabs."

She continued to write down ideas, and then looked back at Tally. "So, does someone in your family deal with potions alot?" she asked, quite interested. "Most people can't spout off things like that. I'm really impressed."\n\n

0 Jennifer Plot Device, Mr. Frodo, Plot Device 0 Jennifer 0 5

Tally

January 11, 2005 6:55 PM

Plot device for what Samwise? by Tally

Tally smiled proudly at the fact that she actually impressed someone with what she had thought was useless information.

"Actually, my dad and brother are potion fanatics. It was both of their favorite subject in school, though I can't say that it's mine. I have the knowledge, but not the patience for it. Charms is my favorite. And I'm not bad at Defense Against the Dark Arts either. I blame my dad and brother for that as well. They are both Aurors and made sure that I knew how to protect myself when I was younger." Tally paused and laughed there. "They worry about me. And it was really the only thing they knew how to do with a girl." Tally shrugged and was eager to learn about Jennifer and her life.

"Did you know that a werewolf's transformation can age the person? It has to do with the way the body handles the curse. Wolfsbane is a way to ease the process, which is why it is a powerful potion. Because it helps the transformation, easing the pain and the body while allowing the person to keep somewhat of their human mind." Tally paused again, she was rambling, "Er-one of my dad's close friends is a werewolf, he's taught me a lot about them. Anyway, I think you might be on to something with the aging thing because that means two of the things are connected." Tally nodded and smiled before continuing as she began to sift through the book to where some of the aging potions were located.

"So, you lived in Egypt for awhile? That sounds cool. I have only ever lived in NY with my dad. Even here in Arizona seems like another world to me."\n\n

6 Tally Plot device for what Samwise? 0 Tally 0 5

Elizabeth

January 11, 2005 7:48 PM

Sure by Elizabeth

Wolfsbane... 65, 78, 150. Elizabeht read off the numbers in her head, her right hand elegantly scripting the selected numerals on her parchment roll. Atleast she retained some sort of knowledge from her years and years of tutors. The hands-on, interactive parts of her lessons were easily her strongest points academically, but Elizabeth's penmanship was unsurpassed, even by her older brother Brett.

Elizabeth looked up from her book, when she heard someone approaching her. Her blue eyes met the brown ones that belonged to Chrissy. She was very nice, and an encouraging person, from her experience on the quidditch pitch. Chrissy seemed to hold the same kind of position in life as Elizabeth did- good little rich pureblood, but somehow the main points of being that didn't at first stick. Elizabeth had met Chrissy when she was debating her own positioning on the muggleborn/pureblood division.

Elizabeth smiled, letting her lips do only a fraction of the work and her sparkling eyes do the rest. It was her own signature thing, Elizabeth was the only person she knew who really smiles with her eyes more than her lips.

"Sure," she said, moving her things aside to allow Chrissy room to seat herself at the table. "What were you thinking about Professor Connell's mystery potion? I haven't a clue." \n\n

0 Elizabeth Sure 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Jenna H

January 11, 2005 8:03 PM

when in doubt- to the index! by Jenna H

Ah, her brothers. Josh and Joey, Joey and Josh, no matter how you said it, the thought of those two always got Jenna angry. And she remembered quite well all the circumstances of that particular prank. How could she ever forget the retribution she had sought from them after she caught them cutting the tail off that poor stray cat. And for poor amusement alone. Her little sister looked to be as if she would turn out the same way.

"Well," she said, trying to remain calm and to keep down her anger, "They had told me something about 'growing up' so I decided to teach them a lesson about growing up. Actually, I decided to show them what it was like to be old by putting an aging potion in their goblets- that's it! It's aging potion," she grinned, apparently rambling did have its benefits.

She opened her book and tried to search for a name in the table of contents, only to find she still couldn't recognize the name of the potion.

"I don't know, I can't remember the name, but I know that it is for aging, if that helps," she muttered, fingering quickly through the pages of the book, when she stopped on one of the last pages. She mentally slapped herself, why hadn't she thought of it before? It was so simple, really she must have forgotten about it.

She figured she best clue in Jake on why she was looking so triumphant, "The index. We can look up potions that affect age in the index."\n\n

0 Jenna H when in doubt- to the index! 46 Jenna H 0 5

Chrissy

January 11, 2005 8:30 PM

I hate solving things by Chrissy

Chrissy sat down after Elizabeth made room for her. She took out her book once again and opened it to the Table of Contents, frowning slightly as she did so. She sighed at Elizabeth's question,

"I do not enjoy solving things of any kind. Jenna," Chrissy gestured to Jenna Howard who sat a few seats away, "and I ran into a ghost a week or so ago, who talked in riddles to us. It was so obnoxious." Chrissy made a sour face at the memory. Her eyes continued to scan the book metally checking off all the potions that had the ingredients within it, then crossing off the ones that didn't have all four.

"Anyway, all four of the ingredients are easily the most used. Although, Wolfsbane is one that is used only in the potions that are a bit mroe powerful. So, maybe we should look at the potions that are easily done, but are more powerful than the others. If that makes any sense." Chrissy thought for a moment. She turned her attention to Elizabeth for a moment,

"So, how have things been since are last talk?"\n\n

6 Chrissy I hate solving things 47 Chrissy 0 5

Jake

January 11, 2005 9:14 PM

It's a start, a rather good start by Jake

Jake started laughing as Jenna worked her way through all of this. He was surprised how quickly she actually sorted it all out with just a mere suggestion by him.

"Alright, well that shouldn't be so hard." Jake said when he recovered himself from laughing, "All we have to do is look though the many aging potions, cross out the ones that are far to advanced for firsties like us, which will be most. Then with what we have left over, it's just a simple process of elimination."

Jake sat straight in his chair and flipped through his book to the index, taking out a peice of paper and a quill. Turning to Jenna with a smirk,

"You ready?"\n\n

6 Jake It's a start, a rather good start 42 Jake 0 5

Jennifer

January 12, 2005 12:02 AM

For making us talk by Jennifer

Jennifer looked slightly sad at Tally's reply of Arizona being another world. "My dad's an ambassador, I use to travel with him. It really wasn't that cool, after a while. Going someplace, making friends, never knowing when you're going ot have to pick up and leave. I kind of envy you for having a steady life."

That had been her least favorite part of growing up. THe uncertainty of it all. However, she would always prefer that to what she got at her mother's house in England.

"So, you were raised by your father and brother?" she asked, hoping she didn't sound like she was prying. "It sounds like they do care about you, a lot. Enough to bother trying to connect with you," she finished, unable to keep all of the bitterness out of her voice.\n\n

0 Jennifer For making us talk 0 Jennifer 0 5

Tally

January 12, 2005 12:49 PM

Those <i>GITS</i>! How dare they! by Tally

Tally frowned a little at the bitterness in Jennifer's voice. There was obviously something there that was making her unhappy.

"Actually, it wasn't as steady as you think. Because they are Aurors they have to go on missions. When that happened, I would always stay with Chrissy and her family. Sometimes they would be gone for only a couple of days, sometimes as long as a few months. I missed them a lot during those days..." Her voice faded slightly before remembering that she was talking to Jennifer, "I couldn't write to them, but they wrote when they could." Tally smiled over at Jennifer after saying this just so she wouldn't think her odd or something.

"My mom died when I was three, I don't remember her much. Sometimes her laugh, sometimes the way she smelled, but they are just brief memories. Josh was 16 at the time and my dad had been away. I don't know what happened, no one will talk about it, so I don't ask anymore." Her smile had vanished when she spoke about her mother, but returned immediately as she started to talk about her dad and brother, "My dad and Josh were stuck with a little girl from then on. They had no idea what to do, so my dad had to get a lot of advice from Chrissy's mother, she had been my mom's best friend. After awhile, they got the hang of it." Tally chuckled lightly, "They've taught me a lot. Quidditch, baseball, defense, old movies, action movies, games. Things that a girl with a mother probably never would have learned. They are good men, but they're men all the same." She had been looking at her book when she had finshed talking, writing down all the age potions before looking them up to see which ones had all four ingredients. Now she turned to look at Jennifer,

"It's amazing that you got to see much of the world, even if you didn't have all that much fun after awhile." She paused wondering if she could go on, "So-er-your family wasn't all that-er-nice or something?" Tally couldn't think of the correct word that would have sounded nice and more appropriate.\n\n

6 Tally Those <i>GITS</i>! How dare they! 0 Tally 0 5

Jennifer

January 12, 2005 4:12 PM

Because its interesting by Jennifer

"I know the feeling of being raised by a dad only," Jennifer admitted. "My mom and dad divorced when I was about a year old, and my dad took me with him everywhere. My mom apparently didn't want to deal with a small child. SHe thought it would mess up her social life, or something."

Now there was no hiding the bitterness in her voice. She had found that letter from her mother when she was seven. SHe hadn't understood it then, but over the years, she figured it out.

"But it's obvious that your family loved you. For me, I had my dad for 9 years. We were great together. THose are some of the best times of my life.

"But then, when I turned ten, my mother decided that it was time to make me into a 'proper young lady.' SHe brought me back to England, and I spent the next year not feeling a thing. Stability may be considered conservative, but, compared to what I got there, I wanted my old unruly life."

THen she thought about Tally's last question, about her family. "And, yes, my mother's family isn't very nice. Not nice at all. They're the kind of people who believe that they are superior to all because they can trace our family back to Merlin, or something ludicrous like that."

Jennifer didn't know if she should mention all the weird things that her cousins had been doing. All the jokes about murder, all the comings and goings at midnight. SHe trusted Tally, but her brother and father were aurors, after all, and she knew she would never be forgiven by that side if she somehow got one of them in trouble.

"ANd that is the story of the poor little witch," she joked, trying not to let tears spill out of her eyes. "Quite a pair, aren't we? With our strange families, and random fact spoutings."

SHe joked, but the painful thoughts wouldn't stop coming, trickling through her defenses, waiting for them to get big enough to destroy all walls, and demolish any peace she had built up at Sonora.\n\n

0 Jennifer Because its interesting 0 Jennifer 0 5

Elizabeth

January 12, 2005 7:48 PM

Me too! by Elizabeth

Elizabeth laughed at Chrissy's re-telling of her ghostly encounter. She'd never liked ghosts at all, they were slimy, and gross, and they had the most annoying habit of turning up when you did not need pestering. Elizabeth hadn't encountered any since she was about eight, but she still remembered the planation servant she'd met. She had interesting stories to tell, but then again, Elise wouldn't let Elizabeth go to the gardens, and that was were she was headed.

"Well," she said, answering her friend's question, "I've been better in my life, but now I think that my friends outnumber my enemies. That's always a good thing, isn't it?"

She tried offering up her pearly white toothed and blue-eyed smile, but it didn't seem right to feel that way. Elizabeth remembered poigniantly that her mother and father had died at the hands of one of their enemies. As they say, you keep yout friends close, but your enemies closer. Her father had always hoped that his opposition would die down when he took a more neutral political stance, but to no avail.

Then, Elizabeth's mother had always wanted her to be happy, and her father had always wanted her to have an optimistic outlook. She smiled, remembering them, and then spoke to Chrissy.

"I think that I've got a clue as to what it this potion is. The cross-reference from the page numbers that those ingredients were mentioned in all point to Edadcambiar, a weird aging potion." Elizabeth had been rifling through the index and finding their common pages. \n\n

0 Elizabeth Me too! 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Jenna H

January 12, 2005 8:43 PM

potions geek by Jenna H

Jenna raised an eyebrow at Jake's smirk, "Don't forget, you're working with the year's biggest potions geek. There are some benefits to that, you know." Going into her schoolbag, she unearthed her potions magazine. She carried the magazine everywhere, she loved it so much the pages were worn and tattered. The way she had dropped it in Transfiguration hadn't helped its condition either.

"This is pretty close to being my bible. The 2000 new millenium edition of Potions Monthly. It is a bit outdated, but it has catalogued almost every potion item there is, which is why it's so thick. But we can probably use it later on," she carefully put the magazine on her desk, "but back to the index. I figure we could split up the ingredients. They all must have one page in common, and that is where our potion will be. What do you think?"\n\n

0 Jenna H potions geek 46 Jenna H 0 5

Chrissy

January 13, 2005 6:42 PM

Edadcambiar? by Chrissy

Chrissy found the page that Elizabeth was referring to and double checked her finding. She mentally checked off each of the four ingredients and also the fact that the potion itself was easy enough for first-years to do.

"Okay, Edadcambiar it is. I've never heard of it, but, I never knew anyone who wanted to age, so.." She shrugged in response to the end of her unfinished comment.

"Friends? That's good that you've made friends, they make things easier to do in life." Chrissy looked curiously over at her, "Meet anyone interesting? Well, besides me of course." Chrissy smiled wickedly and threw her spiral curls behind her for effect.\n\n

6 Chrissy Edadcambiar? 47 Chrissy 0 5

Tally

January 13, 2005 6:59 PM

socializing is like punishment to the weak by Tally

Tally chuckled lightly at Jennifer's joking. It was true that their lives were somewhat similar, yet so very different. They each held hidden pains, deep secrets, unanswered questions. They were the type of people that didn't talk about any of it. Not a word.

"My mom was a Pureblood, but I never met her family. They threw her out the moment she agreed to marry my dad. When she chose her heart over their ideals." Tally smiled sadly for a moment, "All I know is that she had a younger sister, a year or two, I'm not really sure. My dad said they had been close and when my mom was thrown out, her sister wanted to go too, but my mom refused to allow her to give up their family. I think her name was Abigal, Abigal Hawthorne, unless she's married now. My dad doesn't talk about them either." Tally finished writing down the last of the aging potions and looked over her list.

"Well, enough of that serious stuff. I usually don't talk about that stuff, it always makes me remember things I'd rather not. So, I think I narrowed it down to three potions, Heckler potion, Nenomolian potion, or Edadcambiar potion. They are the three easiest aging potions and each have at least three of the ingredients. I'm leaning towards Edadcambiar because I think it has all four, but I'm not completely sure."\n\n

6 Tally socializing is like punishment to the weak 0 Tally 0 5

Jake

January 13, 2005 7:32 PM

well that's an understatement by Jake

Jake couldn't help the look of surprise that overcame his dark face. The magazine she placed in front of them was huge, beyond huge. And it was out of date, which meant the newest one was even larger than the one she had with her now. Shaking his head slightly and smiling lopsidedly to Jenna,

"Sounds like a plan. Which ones do you want to cover?"

OOC: Which page do you want them all to be on, that way when they cross-check, we'll have a match?\n\n

6 Jake well that's an understatement 42 Jake 0 5

Jennifer

January 13, 2005 7:55 PM

Exactly by Jennifer

Jennifer nodded, deep in thought. Tally seemed to understand how she felt. It also seemed like she kinda saw beyond what Jennifer wsa saying, but decided not to remark on it. She guessed because it was the same with her as with Jennifer. If you didn't talk about it, then you could pretend like it wasn't true. If you didn't tell others of it, they couldn't use it against you. It was hard being a pureblood. There was always someone trying to get ahead, and usually they didn't care who they hurt.

"I don't think I've heard of that one." Jennifer replied, "But we could check, and look up the potion in the index. How do you spell it?"

She respected Tally's decision to change the subject, but wheels were rolling in her mind. Abigal Hawthorne. She had heard that name before, she knew it. She couldn't remember where, but it had been recent.

OOC- Sorry if I seem to be writing for your character with the knowing Abigal stuff, and all that jazz. It's just that all purebloods seem to know each other.\n\n

0 Jennifer Exactly 0 Jennifer 0 5

Professor Connell

January 13, 2005 8:03 PM

OOC by Professor Connell

Since there seems to be a bit of confusion, Wolfsbane is not just a potion. It is also a potion ingrediant that is also called aconite and monkshood. So it's not adding a potion to another one, it's just a simple ingredient\n\n

0 Professor Connell OOC 0 Professor Connell 0 5

Jenna H

January 14, 2005 9:38 PM

beginning the search by Jenna H

OOC: pg 333! I don't know, it was the first number that came to my head.

IC: Jenna looked at the ingredients, then back at Jake, "I'll take the essence of slug, and the wolfsbane. You can take the shredded frog skin and diced scarab," answered Jenna.

Going through the pages, she went first for the essence of slug. She found it under slug, then went to essence, which was on pages 57, 68, 234, 333, 457, and 667. Next she went for wolfsbane. Looking at it, she frowned; there was only one page of reference, and that would have to be the potion for Wolfsbane. But how could that be if it was also in the potion they were searching for? She looked at the page again to make sure she had seen in correctly. She smiled as she saw that the page said for wolfsbane, look for aconite and monkshood. How dense had she been to forget that wolfsbane was not just a potion, but an ingredient in itself.

Laughing at herself, she went to look under aconite, and found pages 4, 56, 333, 456, 572, and 583. Then she went to monkshood and found pages 32, 68, 455, 678, and 700. Looking at her paper she searched for any similarities, and found in her list pages 68 and 333 were both mentioned twice.

Circling them Jenna turned to Jake, "I've got pages sixty-eight and three-hundred-thirty-three. Do you have either of them?\n\n

0 Jenna H beginning the search 46 Jenna H 0 5

Elizabeth

January 14, 2005 11:52 PM

Yep by Elizabeth

Elizabeth laughed, trying to suppress her giggles with her hand, but that didn't help. The memories she had of her sixteen-year-old brother Javon slipping his own concoction of edadcambiar into her other brother Brett's glass.

"My brother Javon spent a while looking for that potion, Edadcambiar, and I helped him in secret search through the extensive library at home. I found it in a old an decrepit book called Wise-Crack Potions for Wise-Cracks", which looked like it was nearly hundreds of years old, which was entirely possible. But all that was years ago, and I was 9, my brothers being 14 and 19. Not that it made it any less funny though. Brett's dinner glass was spiked with the potion. He grew a beard and was in desperate need of a cane before we'd finished dinner!" she smiled, this time truly happy.

"A few interesting people. There's Ty Boyd, a very nice girl, don't know her well; Jake Santoro, a great quidditch player, nice guy too; Jennifer Zucherro, nice girl, but don't know a lot about her; TJ O'Riley, he's been... mysterious, to say the least. I think that's everyone, but I could be leaving some out. What about you?" Elizabeth's ice blue eyes glittered playfully, awaiting her response. \n\n

0 Elizabeth Yep 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Chrissy (Crotalus)

January 15, 2005 12:24 AM

Alright, finished with this project by Chrissy (Crotalus)

Chrissy couldn't help but laugh as Elizabeth talked about her brothers. Chrissy, herself, was an only child and didn't get to do things like that. She had a cousin elsewhere, but he was older than her and a boy.

"I've met T.J. and, you're right, he is rather mysterious. So is Arixios Jackel, but is well-mannered too. Jake Santoro I've heard about because Tally had him for a partner before and they are in the same house. I don't know Ty, but she's a Boyd and they are well-known and I don't know any Jennifer's but I think she's in the same house as me." Chrissy paused as she thought about everyone she's met, which happened to be quite a few,

"Let's see...Mia Kerova, Flora-er-something, and Sally Porter I met at the feast a few weeks back, but haven't spoken to them since. Jenna Howard is a good friend of mine, but that's because she's cool and shares a dorm with me. There's also Jenna Foster who shares a dorm and she seems nice. Danielle Johanson or whatever her last name is, she seems a bit full of herself, but I've only talked to her once. Zoey Welsh, nice girl, bit shy and really tall. Layla something. She was nice and was going to help us with the prank thing when it was still going on. And, of course, Tally, but I've known her for...well, forever. Our moms' were best friends back in school." Chrissy paused, she was surprised by just how many people she had actually met. It never occurred to her that she knew so many people, mainly because she only hung out with a couple of them.

"Oh, and the ghost, but I don't know her name. So, now that we know the answer, what do we do?"\n\n

6 Chrissy (Crotalus) Alright, finished with this project 47 Chrissy (Crotalus) 0 5

Tally (Teppenpaw)

January 15, 2005 12:39 AM

glad to see we share the same brain by Tally (Teppenpaw)

OOC: Tally is a Feeler or an Empath, which ever you'd like to call it. The Headmistress knows this, but you should know so you don't think her weird. Oh, and it's okay. BIC:

Tally could sense Jennifer's feelings. Her bitterness and resentment had filled her when she thought of her mother. Tally didn't know what it was like to have those feelings when it came to her family. Instead, she felt empty or sad. Tally's resentment came from thinking of her mother's family and the way they had treated her and her father.

"Edadcambiar. E-d-a-d-c-a-m-b-i-a-r." She carefully spelled out the word. Suddenly a memory flickered into her mind and she practically smacked herself on the head, "Wolfsbane is also called aconite or monkshood. Not that it matters because it's still in Wolfsbane and we still managed to figure out that it's an aging potion, so nevermind anything I just said." Tally chuckled slightly at her rambling.

"Sorry, didn't mean to ramble. So, how are you liking it here at Sonora? Or did I ask you that already?" Tally frowned in thought, she could remember stupid little things that were of no importance, or things that happened long ago in her life, but she couldn't remember the last half hour of small talk with Jennifer. Except the conversation on their families, Tally would remember that because of the feelings she received from Jennifer. They were strong, very strong.\n\n

6 Tally (Teppenpaw) glad to see we share the same brain 0 Tally (Teppenpaw) 0 5

Jake

January 15, 2005 12:51 AM

we have a match! by Jake

Jake began searching the index for shredded frog skin and diced scarab. He wasn't at all surprised that there had been many pages each were on because they were such overly used ingredients.

Shredded frog skin ended up being on pages 15, 23, 28, 34, 40, 49, 57, 68, 82, 95, 100, 108, 115, 127, 139, 145, 152, 168, 171, 177, 185, 196, 208, 229, 254, 280, 300, 333, 391, 410, 420, 467, 500, 555, 598, 635, 667, and 700.

Diced scarab was on almost as much, but matched the frog skin on pages 15, 40, 95, 115, 139, 177, 229, 300, 333, 420, 500, 598, 667, and 700.

Jake looked over at Jenna's list of numbers when she had finshed and made her anouncement. Jake looked over his matching list to see if there were any matches with her two numbers. He smiled brightly when his eyes landed on 333 and looked over at hers to see that 333 was a match for her as well.

"Jenna, you're brillant! Three-hundred-and-thirty-three it is!"\n\n

6 Jake we have a match! 42 Jake 0 5

Elizabeth

January 15, 2005 11:32 AM

Hmm... by Elizabeth

Elizabeth listened to Chrissy's list of people, mentally making off people she should meet, and others she should avoid completely. Names like Mia and Sally came up with "x"s, and others like Layla she'd met, only momentarily. Elizabeth smiled at Chrissy and Tally's beginning as friends. It was pretty sweet, if she thought about it, having friends literaly from birth.

Elizabeth shrugged slightly at Chrissy's question, but then, she rasied her hand, trying to get the professor's attention. Her plan of action would probably go through well as Professor Connell was the head of her own house. Elizabeth thought that she would be best for asking the question since she was a Pecari, and couldn't get in that much trouble with her Head.

"Professor Connell," she said, "Chrissy and I have an answer to your question!"\n\n

0 Elizabeth Hmm... 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Elizabeth

January 15, 2005 11:47 AM

Wait... by Elizabeth

(ooc: aaaah sorry forget I said anything about raising my hand, etc. I just read the prof post, so aaah sory!)

bic:
Elizabeth listened to Chrissy's list of people, mentally making off people she should meet, and others she should avoid completely. Names like Mia and Sally came up with "x"s, and others like Layla she'd met, only momentarily. Elizabeth smiled at Chrissy and Tally's beginning as friends. It was pretty sweet, if she thought about it, having friends literaly from birth.

Elizabeth shrugged slightly at Chrissy's question, but then, she remembered that they were supposed to be making the potion after they'd discovered it.

"Well, i think we're supposed to start making it, after we've figured it all out." Elizabeth looked down at the caludron sitting next to the desk. "Do you want to go get the ingredients, so should I?"\n\n

0 Elizabeth Wait... 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Jenna H

January 15, 2005 7:42 PM

edad cambiar- it's spanish! by Jenna H

OOC: All hail me and my knowledge of spanish- hehe

BIC: Eagerly Jenna turned to page 333, and she could have died when she saw the name of the potion, "Edadcambiar! How stupid am I to forget the name? My favorite alchemist discovered it, Eduardo Del Alquima! He had a tendency to name his potions in Spanish, so this must be in Spanish too! I know a little Spanish, just from his other works. Cambiar is common in them, so Cambiar means to change. Edad most probably means age. So it's the "Age Change" potion," ranted Jenna, then blushed. She never told anyone how much she really loved and knew of potions before.

"But now, you see the beauty of the magazine. They only came out with five copies of this exact volume, and I went through a lot to get it. Watch and you'll see why there are only five," taking out her wand, she tapped the magazine three times, then made a more complicated pattern on the cover of the magazine, whispering an old chant over and over again, until the cover glowed, "Shredded frog skin, please."

The pages began to turn themselves, until finally they got to the desired page. But instead of text, there was a jar of shredded frog skin, sitting on the page. She pulled out a white handkerchief with her initials in silver, sewn by house elves. With the handkerchief she picked up the jar and set it on the table, turning back to Jake, "It only lasts for one month, then it disappears. But by then it will be graded. So, let's get the other three ingredients and we can get the potion started. Be careful though, you can't touch the jar with bare hands."\n\n

0 Jenna H edad cambiar- it's spanish! 46 Jenna H 0 5

Chrissy

January 15, 2005 9:28 PM

they work us like house-elves! by Chrissy

Chrissy frowned. They had to actually make the potion too? Figures...Chrissy turned to Elizabeth with a shrug,

"No, I'll get them." She stood and went to the supplies closet and picked out the ingredients used to make the aging potion. She then carried them back to the table. She couldn't wait to use the leviation charm, that way, she could just levitate the ingredients to the table.

Once she was there and had everything laid out infront of them, she turned back to Elizabeth,

"Alright, what do we need to do?"\n\n

6 Chrissy they work us like house-elves! 47 Chrissy 0 5

Jake

January 15, 2005 9:37 PM

Really? I know spanish! by Jake

Jake couldn't help the feeling of awe as he watched Jenna. She was a brilliant little witch, but he would never tell her that. She was a girl after all.

"Yes, I know spanish fluently. I lived in Spain as well as Mexico for part of my life. Though, I don't know who that alchemist was, but I was never interested in potions like you." He took out his own handkerchief of his own, every respectable male would carry one. His was a dark navy blue with silver letters of his last name, Santoro. It was his favorite color. His mother allowed each of her children to choose the color they wanted, but they all had their last name embroided into it with their family emblem. He opened the jar and shook some of the shredded frog skins from it.

"So, do you want to do that weird chanting to get the rest of the ingredients or would you rather have me go to the supply cupboard and get them?" Jake asked with his lopsided smile and a slight chuckle.\n\n

6 Jake Really? I know spanish! 42 Jake 0 5

Jenna H

January 15, 2005 10:22 PM

you can get them if you say "please" by Jenna H

Jenna was shocked that anyone could not know Eduardo Del Aquima! Well, her siblings didn't know of him, but Jenna had always assumed that it was because they were stupid, ignorant fools.

"You lived in Spain and Mexico? Now that's really interesting. I lived my whole life in northern California, which is quite boring, at least to me," exclaimed Jenna, "and I don't need to say the chant again. You can just tap the book with your wand once, and ask for it. But remember to say please, or it might get moody," she warned, then answered what he was probably thinking, and what she also agreed on, "Yes, it sounds very stupid, but you don't want to see the magazine when it gets moody. It's quite creepy."\n\n

0 Jenna H you can get them if you say "please" 46 Jenna H 0 5

Elizabeth

January 16, 2005 8:48 AM

I know! by Elizabeth

She turned her attention to the potions book where the Edadcambiar potion's instructions lay open. Elizabeth scanned through the potion description, ingredients and whatnot, until she found the directions. Mix wolfsbane and skin together in cauldron full of boiling water.
Sounded simple enough to Elizabeth, but then again, this was only step one.

"Well," she said, looking up at Chrissy, "It says to 'mix wolfsbane and skin together... in boiling water' Okay, lets get started."

(ooc: you can make up the other directions, if you want :D) \n\n

0 Elizabeth I know! 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Jennifer

January 16, 2005 3:49 PM

It's all because we're specialest by Jennifer

"No, you haven't asked me that yet, and it's all been going well. Haven't met too many people yet, but the ones i have seem very nice. And the school itself is very nice, too. Vwery different from all the other places I've been before, but in a good way."

She looked in her index, and saw that the potion was on page 333. SHe turned to that page, and saw a suprisingly simple set of ingrediants.

"So, do you want to stir the potion, or do all the stuff to the ingrediants. We do have to make it now, don't we?" she asked Tally, but her mind wasn't really on the potions. She kept thinking of Abigal. She had heard that name somewhere, and recently. She would write her dad and ask him, because she knew that she wouldn't be able to forget any of this. She could never let go of a mystery, and this one had dropped into her lap.\n\n

0 Jennifer It's all because we're specialest 0 Jennifer 0 5

Jake

January 16, 2005 5:57 PM

alright then, Please! by Jake

Jake laughed as Jenna explained her magazine. He understood where she was coming from, he had a garbage can in his room back at home that, if you weren't nice to him, he would spit all the garbage back in your face. It really did make quite a mess of things.

"No, I don't think I would like to see a magazine such as this upset or moody." He commented, "You're from California? I'm from L.A. It's rather exciting though. I mean, for me it is. And yeah, Spain and Mexico were nice. We were visiting relatives that live there. The Wizarding communites there are amazing!" Jake said with a note of awe in his voice as he remembered them. "Anyway, how do I do it? Tap my wand and say please?"\n\n

6 Jake alright then, Please! 42 Jake 0 5

Tally

January 16, 2005 6:06 PM

Ooo, I've always wanted to be one of those by Tally

Tally looked over at Jennifer. She personally hadn't met anyone particuliarly interesting, fun, but not overtly strange. Except Arixios, he had been weird. She had to agree with Jennifer about Sonora. It was a beautiful place. Tally had only ever been to the Ministry, beautiful, but cluttered and busy, and Chrissy mansion, huge and empty feeling. Tally herself was raised in a muggle three-bedroom home. It was comfortable and homey.

"I have some shredded frog skin in my bag. I'll go get the rest in the cupboard. You set everything up, okay?" Tally asked as she stood and walked up to the supply cabinet.

Returning, she set everything down and took the shredded frog skin from her bag, her mind zoomed to her frog in her dorm briefly, and then placed the small jar on the table.

"ALriht, let's get started."\n\n

6 Tally Ooo, I've always wanted to be one of those 0 Tally 0 5

Chrissy

January 16, 2005 6:11 PM

All this work, what do they do with it all? by Chrissy

Chrissy sat and looked over the book with Elizabeth. The first few steps were easy and once the water was boiling, they placed the first two ingredients together. Chrissy then read the next few instructions outloud,

"Let boil until the mixture turns silver. Once silver, place seven diced scarab into the cauldron. Turn down heat and let simmer." Chrissy did as the instructions said and waited for any sort of reaction.

OOC: Your turn!\n\n

6 Chrissy All this work, what do they do with it all? 47 Chrissy 0 5

Jennifer

January 16, 2005 7:15 PM

Well done then by Jennifer

Jennifer raised an eyebrow slightly. "Do I want to know hwy you have shredded frog skin in your bag?" she asked, sarcastically.

She set up the small cauldren, being careful not to spill any of the boiling water on herself. Then, she turned to the book, and began reading hte instructions to herself.

step one: put essence of snail and shredded frog skin together and grind into a thick paste, being careful to add in a tablespoon of sliced scarabs.

Jennifer turned slightly green. She had never been a fan of slugs, bu decided, since Tally had gotten out the indgrediants, she could do the first step. So she grabbed the three vials, being careful to not actually tough the slug essence, and began to grind mercilessly.\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

0 Jennifer Well done then 0 Jennifer 0 5

Jenna H

January 16, 2005 8:48 PM

you're welcome by Jenna H

"I don't live in a town, really, I live with my family; which is to say my immediate family, cousins, second cousins, grandparents, great aunts and great uncles on a large estate. I harldy ever saw anyone but them before Sonora. That is why I found living there so boring," explained Jenna, "and you get the ingredients just like this. Diced scarab, please," said Jenna, tapping her wand.

Another jar appeared, this one with diced scarab in it. Picking it up with her handkerchief, she set it on the table and turned to Jake, "Now you try."\n\n

0 Jenna H you're welcome 46 Jenna H 0 5

Tally

January 17, 2005 3:10 AM

Why thank you bows by Tally

Tally gave Jennifer a mocked diginifed look on her remark for having shredded frog skins,

"It's not as wicked as you think!"

Tally smirked over at Jennifer. She watched her try to avoid the slug essence, but couldn't stifle her laughter.

"You know, I can always do that. I've done stuff like this at home a lot. It doesn't really bother me. And, I had the frog skin because my dad had some left over and gave it to me. I have a lot of left over potion ingredients with me from him. I have some more jars in my bag, but we don't need them today." Tally shrugged. She had assumed everything had ingredients that they carried with them to class.\n\n

6 Tally Why thank you *bows* 0 Tally 0 5

Jake

January 17, 2005 3:18 AM

Alright, I will by Jake

Jake reached his wand over to her magazine and tapped it lightly,

"Wolfsbane please." He watched as it opened to the page where Wolfsbane was located and picked up the jar with his handkerchief and placing it on the table.

"That's really cool." He commented politely, "You didn't live in town? That's rather boring. We lived in downtown LA. Cities of the Angels. Although, from what I saw, it wasn't very angelic if you know what I mean." Jake said, his voice held a somewhat note of pity when he said that.

"Usually the muggles would amuse us or we would go to the magical park and see other witches and wizards, but sometimes it was chaos and destruction and our parents wouldn't let us out of our manor. It was never pretty to witness death. Even smell it." Jake sighed at his memories of living in the presence of muggles, though they had been unaware of it. He shook his head of those thoughts and smiled over at Jenna, "Anyway, it's good to get away from that. So, what's our next step Miss Potions-know-it-all?" He said teasingly.\n\n

6 Jake Alright, I will 42 Jake 0 5

Jenna H

January 18, 2005 7:04 PM

Thinking out of the box by Jenna H

Jenna raised her eyebrows at his name for her, "You think I'm a know-it-all? Obviously you've never met my cousin Cornelia, she memorizes books for fun, and is quite arrogant about it besides that. Her family also lives on the estate- it's pretty large, so I'm going to have to put up with her over Christmas," Jenna rolled her eyes.You would think that the two would be the best of friends, but these two cousins were definitely far from it.

Jenna looked over the potion instructions, making a tut-tu sound with her tongue as she read over it, "Del Alquima was well-known for making basic potions harder than they seemed. For instance, following these instructions word-for-word would get you a decent potion. But if you prepare the scarab and slug in cauldron A than the frog skin and wolfsbane in cauldron B, doing steps 1 & 3 in cauldron A synchronized with steps 2 & 4 in cauldron B- and put them together before step five you will get a much better outcome. What do you think?"\n\n

0 Jenna H Thinking out of the box 46 Jenna H 0 5

Elizabeth

January 18, 2005 8:02 PM

Beats me... by Elizabeth

Elizabeth gazed into the potion, and, like her brother's had, it slowly turned silvery and misty when Chrissy had put in the scarabs. One... Two... Three... Elizabeth counted slowly in her head, until a *bang!* resounded through the mildly quiet potions dungeon. It was to be expected, actually, Elizabeth had been counting the moments between the scarab's entrance and the point at which they reacted with the skin. The result of such a meeting was, as their cauldron had just demonstrated, a loud bang.

"Well, that's good, at least this is what the potion did when my brother and I did it." she sais, reading the next line, which seemed a little silly at this point- "The result of the skin and diced scarabs reaction should be a mild explosion of gasses, which should in effect, turn the potion a lime green."

Elizabeth glanced at the potion- it was a sweet-sour lime green coloration. \n\n

0 Elizabeth Beats me... 0 Elizabeth 0 5

Jennifer

January 19, 2005 10:48 PM

Right, sure it is by Jennifer

Jennifer gave Tally a mock hurt glance. Then, she triumphantly put the nasty paste into the bowl without getting a smidge on herself. She grinned up at the other girl. "Nah, it's all good. I've just never liked slugs since some boy dropped one down the back of my shirt when I was five. I think I broke the loudest scream record."

She grinned again at Tally's excuse. "Sure, your dad gave it to you. It is somewhat worrisome, though. Ramdomly having potion ingrediants in your bag. What's next, an owl in your cereal box?" She chuckled slightly, and then added, "But you can do the next ingrediant. We can probably rotate off like that, to keep from one person bieng overworked."\n\n

0 Jennifer Right, sure it is 0 Jennifer 0 5

Chrissy

January 20, 2005 12:03 AM

Seems like a waste, doesn't it? by Chrissy

Chrissy nearly jumped as there was a loud bang from their potion, but she somehow contained herself. Though she was sure her face had the jaw-dropped, surprised look upon it.

Shaking her head quickly to regain control of herself, she read the lines in the book and found that this was a normal reaction, to which Elizabeth agreed, and that the potion would be an ugly lime-green. Which it was. The next lines had them smushing the essence of snail into a sort of paste substance.

"Okay, so we are suppose to mash the slug until it's pastey. Do you want to do that or do you want me to do that?" Chrissy asked with slightly raised eyebrows.\n\n

6 Chrissy Seems like a waste, doesn't it? 47 Chrissy 0 5

Tally

January 20, 2005 12:12 AM

I never tell a lie! I'm honest Abe. by Tally

Tally shot Jennifer a mocked impressed look as she placed the paste into the cauldron. Then she laughed as Jennifer told her story about the boy and a slug. It reminded her of the boys in her muggle school who would place worms down girls dresses. Tally always joined them.

"He did! He always made healing potions or dreamless-sleep draught whenever he comes home from missions. I usually let me help. Er-before he realized I was rather pathetic when it comes to that sort of thing. I usually would make something explode." Tally said, giving Jennifer a sorry sort of look before continuing, "Anyway, an owl in my cereal box would be cool, but I don't think my owl, Rufus would enjoy it too much. He's rather touchy with that sort of thing. I always have to keep him from eating T.J. Rather bothersome if you ask me." Tally said with a smile as she thought of her lazy owl and her loveable frog.

Tally read from the book at what she was suppose to do next. She had to measure out the Wolfsbane to exactly 3/4 cup. She placed the measuring cup down and stood so that she could look directly at the fractions, bending down to do so. After she measured it, the book said to place the ingredients slowly into the cauldron, being sure to stir it as they did so.

"Can you stir it while I pour?"\n\n

6 Tally I never tell a lie! I'm honest Abe. 0 Tally 0 5

Jake

January 20, 2005 12:17 AM

Obviously, I'm still in the box... by Jake

Jake sat there blinking at Jenna before shaking his head with a laugh.

"We'll do whatever you want to do because that was a total foreign language for me. I didn't understand a single thing you said. A + B = C or something like that." Jake said with a shrug.

"Don't like your family, eh?" He said sympathetically, "My immediate family is really cool. We're close and I can't wait to see my sister, Bella and the twins. As for the rest of my family, well, they're a whole different matter of opinion. I'm not looking forward to seeing them during the holidays." Jake said with an expression to show exactly how he felt about them.

"So, is Cornelia our age or older or younger? And as a potions geek, I would assume you'd make allies where ever you could. Er-no offense." Jake added with a sheepish smile.\n\n

6 Jake Obviously, I'm still in the box... 42 Jake 0 5

Jenna H

January 22, 2005 8:23 PM

step 1 by Jenna H

"Cornelia is a year older than us, however, her parents held her back a year because she was born in late December and she's very... delicate. And in my family, allies are very apt to sell you out, it's better I don't have them. Although one cousin of mine was very nice before she moved out and was disowned..." Jenna thought aloud. Yes, Raven had been very nice, it was a pity nice people weren't very well-like in the family.

"Okay, back to the potion, it's easier done than explained. My cauldron will be cauldron A, and yours will be B. I'll do steps 1& 3 using the scarab and slug, and in your cauldron you can do steps 2 & 4 using the wolfsbane and frog skin."

She looked at step one. It stated 'Take seven scarabs and slice them thinly. Put all of them in the cauldron.' She opened the jar, and put on her dragon hide gloves on. She didn't want to touch the insects, as much as she loved potions. She took off a small knife and began to cut.

"When you're ready with step two, we'll put them in the cauldrons at the same time," said Jenna, after cutting up one bug.\n\n

0 Jenna H step 1 46 Jenna H 0 5

Ash and Sorrel Craven

January 30, 2005 12:28 PM

Time to split up the dream team (TY and one other!) by Ash and Sorrel Craven

Sorrel liked Potions. Ash was willing to go along with it. They entered the classroom, Sorrel's interest only being sparked more by the challenge the Professor set them. If there was one thing both twins adored, it was challenge. It even had Ash interested. Normally it was against each other, but they now shared a grin that said ‘we are going to whoop every person in this class.'

‘However, you must partner with someone outside your house, and you must partner with someone you have never partnered with, and whom you would never pair with normally.'

Each tried to not let their grin visibly fade.

"Cool. I can kick your ass rather than everyone else's," said Sorrel.

"Yeah," agreed Ash, knowing she was better at Potions than him. "Unless my partner's an ace at this...." That really made him think. Who was he going to ask? Partnering had never been an issue in class. He went with Sorrel. It was taken as given. He scouted around. Most guys seemed taken, which sucked, because he didn't want to work with an icky girl. Working with ‘someone you would never pair normally' was a dumb instruction, cos that would land you with someone you'd hate, then all you'd do would be squabble (ok, that sounded like working with Sorrel, but theirs was constructive bickering). He glanced around for a girl he knew wasn't an icky girly girl.

"Yo, Squirrel-girl?" he called, catching sight of Ty, and not recalling her name properly. Ok, so she had a weird girly obsession with her pet, but he knew she was ok, and objected to frilly parties. "You'd never normally partner a loud mouth git who can't remember your name properly, would you?" he grinned, making his way over.

*What?!* screeched Sorrel silently. Ok, so they didn't have a choice but... She looked around. Ok, Ash was out on the three counts of having worked with him, normally working with him and being in the same house as him. Stephen and Elizabeth were in her house. She glanced around again. Jake had a partner. Shoot... She knew entirely too few people in this school. Ok, it was mainly cos she didn't want to know all the icky girly girls... There was that oatmeal guy.... If she could find him.

Putting her fingers in her mouth, she let out a shrill whistle.

"Any non-Pecaris, who aren't total whimps?" she called loudly. \n\n

0 Ash and Sorrel Craven Time to split up the dream team (TY and one other!) 0 Ash and Sorrel Craven 0 5

Jake

January 30, 2005 10:52 PM

Alright then... by Jake

Jake just stared at Jenna for a moment. He didn't hide his surprise. Even after she explained her self, he still had no idea to what she was talking about. Shaking his head, Jake pulled open his book to the page where the potion was located and read what he was suppose to do.

Take frog skin and shred as thinly as one is allowed. The end result should give you exactly one cup of shredded skin

Alright, seems simple enough. Jake, using his handkerchief, tapped out some of the skin on the cuttingboard he had placed beside him. He then picked up his knife and gently cut the skins as thinly as he could. He surprised himself by not cutting any of his fingers. He placed the shredded skin into the measuring cup and measured out exactly one cup.

Once that was done, he read the next line of the potion, When using the Wolfsbane in this complex concotion, be sure to cru... into a fine powder. Otherwise, the potion will be useless to the potionmaker.

Jake pulled the Wolfsbane closer to him and began to crush the Wolfsbane. Jake was lucky to be in such good shape, otherwise he might have been at this for hours. It had only taken him about 10 minutes before the wolfsbane was nothing more than a soft fine powder. Feeling rather proud of himself, Jake looked over at Jenna,

"Okay, my ingredients are prepared. What are we suppose to do now?"\n\n

6 Jake Alright then... 42 Jake 0 5

Sally

February 03, 2005 10:10 PM

It's sad, so sad, it's a sad sad situation by Sally

Sally became very skeptical as Leann suddenly realized that they were in teh same house, and walked off. That girl really needed to get it together. But, alas, she was partnerless, again.

Suddenly, she heard someone whistle quite shrilly, and ask for any non-pecaris who weren't total wimps. Sally raised her eyebrows in appreciation. There was someone who had no qualms about going after what she wanted.

"I don't think of myself as a wimp," she replied simply, walking over to the girl. "And I'm in Aladren, and currently parnerless. Do you want to pair up? My name's Sally Porter, by the way. I don't think that we've met yet."

The girl, whoever she was, looked interested. She certainly didn't look as bland as some of the people in this school, and she didn't look quite as cocky and prissy like, persay, Elizabeth. She did look a bit upset about something, although it was very difficult to tell. SHe seemed to be good at hiding her emotions.\n\n

0 Sally It's sad, so sad, it's a sad sad situation 0 Sally 0 5

Sorrel

February 05, 2005 12:49 PM

I get that song in my head every time I see that now! by Sorrel

OOC - hey, I'm assuming it was just a typo that you said that Sorrel 'looked interested'. From the context of what you wrote, I'm guessing you meant 'interesting', but try proof reading (more carefully), cos one of those - interesting - is good, cos it shows your character's feelings and opinions, whereas the other - interested - breaks site rules, as it would count as writing for my character.

BIC
"Whatever," shrugged Sorrel. She didn't want to pair up with this girl. She wanted to be allowed to spend some time with her twin. Or at least be allowed to partner her friend. But she supposed this girl would do, even if she seemed to have some memory issues (having met Sorrel and Ash together on the first day of term). Provided she really wasn't a wimp...

"I'll get the stuff. You can start trying to figure it out if you want..." she shrugged, using a completely noncommittal tone of voice. She liked Potions. It was her favourite subject. But now it was spoilt. She and Ash did things independently. She ditched him frequently, they teased and hid from each other. But then it was by her choice (or his). No one had ever split her up from Ash and not been punished back.

She swung the door of the supply cupboard to, having collected the things they needed for the mystery potion, making doubly sure her face was devoid of emotion. She was almost positive it was, but it never hurt to take a moment to make sure. She balanced her ingredients, making her way back to Ash's bench. It was the row behind her and Sally's. She rested most of the ingredients down on it, eyes locking with her twin's for a moment. Not so much as a smile passed between them to alert Ash's partner to the fact they might actually like one another, but it was enough for both of them.

After a moment's deliberation, Sorrel grabbed the essence of slug. The frog skins were too dry, whereas this... It was a little too liquidy, but it was slimy with it. She crept back to their desk, raising the container and dripping a small amount of the liquid onto the back Sally's neck. It was quality control. Sally's word that she was not a wimp wasn't good enough. \n\n

0 Sorrel I get that song in my head every time I see that now! 0 Sorrel 0 5

Sally

February 05, 2005 1:56 PM

It's getting more and more absurd by Sally

OOC- Yeah, it was a typo. And I do have a really bad memory. I feel like an idiot now. So sorry.

Sally remembered suddenly that she had met this girl before, and her twin, on the first day of school. She felt like a complete idiot, but decided not to say anything, since Sorrel, as she remembered the girl's name to be, seemed to be in a horrible mood.

Then, she jumped a tiny bit, feeling something rather slimy drip down the back of her neck. After the shock left, she raised a hand to the area, and pulled it away. She couldn't tell what it was at first, but suddenly remembered that Sorrel had gone to get the ingredients. In all honesty, that was enough to clue Sally in.

"It's times like these," she said softly, void of emotion, still examining her book for any possible answer to the puzzle, "That makes me glad that slugs usually don't have an exceedingly strong odor." And this really wasn't the first time she had been thankful for that. There were several times in the past when she had placed slugs in her sisters' beds, and there was no smell to alert them to this fact before they got in.

"So, any idea what this potion might be? I'm pretty much clueless, really," she finished, after wiping the last of the liquid off her neck and onto the edge of her bag.\n\n

0 Sally It's getting more and more absurd 0 Sally 0 5

Stephen Baxter

February 05, 2005 2:48 PM

Oi! Leann!! Over here! by Stephen Baxter

Stephen directed a puzzled expression at his head of house. Although the lesson itself seemed fun - a challenge! - there had been an odd addition to the test.

"However, you must partner with someone outside your house, and you must partner with someone you have never partnered with, and whom you would never pair with normally."

Stephen was completely flumoxed. He looked around. He didn't think there was anyone here that he wouldn't work with, if given the chance. People around him didn't seem to be having trouble finding partners though, so perhaps it was just him. In any case he needed one. A partner that was. He looked around. It'd be good to work with Sorrel, and he reckoned he probably could, what with him not being able to work with anyone if he took the guidelines entirely seriously.

But even as he prepared to answer her call for a partner (ignoring the bit about the partner having to not be Pecari... although if need be he was quite prepared to pretend to not be Pecari for the class) another girl seemed to have a bit of a spat with her partner and headed up to work with Sorrie instead.

Stephen frowned.

Well who was he supposed to partner then?

Remembering that spat girl had had a partner, he looked around to find the other girl rushing around as though it was important. Shaking his head, he climbed up onto his chair and jumped onto his desk.

"Hey! Hey you -yeah, you. The - ah - running girl. C'mere. You can be my partner." He made large beckoning gestures while hopping a couple of times in an effort to make sure he was noticed. "Hurry up - we've got work to do!"\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n

39 Stephen Baxter Oi! Leann!! Over here! 49 Stephen Baxter 0 5

Zack Dill (Alderaan, er, Aladren)

February 07, 2005 3:16 PM

Need a partner by Zack Dill (Alderaan, er, Aladren)

Zack wasn't too worried about finding a partner from another House that he hadn't partnered with before. He figured someone would find him. He was, after all, an Aladren and therefore from one of the more bookish houses. In addition, he already had his potions text out and was using the index to cross reference which potion used all of the ingredients mentioned. This made him a Smart Guy, and therefore someone that anyone with common sense would want to partner.

He discovered that Wolfsbane was used on page 12, 29, 43, 86, 120-123 and 141. He wrote those number down on a sheet of looseleaf paper.

Slug, Essense of was used on page 16, 22, 43, 82, 102 and 141. He wrote those down as well on the next line, then circled the overlapping numbers, 43 and 141.

Frog Skin, Shredded could be found on pages 12, 19, 43, 67, 82, and 102. These were added on a third line. The only common number between all three was 43, so he turned to that page.

Edadcambiar, an aging potion. He double checked that all of the ingredients were there - Wolfsbane, Essense of Slug, shredded frog skin, and diced scarab. All there. He sat back in his chair, feeling very pleased with himself already.

Now he just needed a partner smart enough to realize Zack had already done part of the assignment for them.\n\n

1 Zack Dill (Alderaan, er, Aladren) Need a partner 40 Zack Dill (Alderaan, er, Aladren) 0 5

Mia

February 11, 2005 5:22 PM

So do I by Mia

Mia looked around hopefully for a partner and continued to twirl her wand through her fingers. It seemed like everyone could grab someone from a different house except her. She saw some of her friends quickly get partners but Mia was never much of a person to run up to people she didn't know too well. She was starting to get a little nervous and began to twist the tips of her dark hair. She really didn't want to be forced with a partner by the professor or to do this alone.

Mia looked about another time and saw a boy she recognized as Zack. She had talked to him a while ago. At least she was pretty sure she had. She breathed a sigh of relief to see someone else lacking a partner and quickly stood up, pocketing her wand. She had to put her nerves behind her though that was easier said than done. She walked over, instinctively putting some of her hair behind her ears and stood by the seat next to him. Mia noticed he seemed pretty organized and ready to go. That could only be a plus. She quickly found her resolve and spoke.

"Hey." she started casually but inwardly cringed at her high pitched voice

'Boys don't like high voiced girly girls, dummy!' Mia scolded herself

"You look like you could use a partner too. Do you mind?" Mia asked hopefully.\n\n

0 Mia So do I 0 Mia 0 5

Zack Dill

February 14, 2005 9:06 AM

Oh, good, I was starting to worry by Zack Dill

Zack looked up, and gave the girl (he was pretty sure he'd met her before, but he was awful with names) a small smile that was meant to encourage her to sit down. "Hey," he returned, "take a seat. I've figured out the potion we're doing already." He pointed to the text he had open on his desk. "If the teacher asks, we figured it out using the index," he breifly lifted the scrap paper with the lists of numbers on it.

"I've read over the instructions," he added, feeling far more confident about this class than any other in this school. It was pretty much chemistry with weird reagents. "It looks straightforward. Do want to set up the cauldron while I get the ingredients?"

He would have already done that, but he wasn't convinced he could lift the heavy iron mixing bowl of the middle ages up onto the desk without either hurting himself, embarrassing himself, or both.\n\n

1 Zack Dill Oh, good, I was starting to worry 40 Zack Dill 0 5

Mia K.

February 14, 2005 3:16 PM

Nope, no need to worry. by Mia K.

Mia gladly took a seat next to Zack while he explained all that he had done already. She had to admit, he really seemed to know what he was doing. He was organized and she was impressed. She looked at the open text book on the desk to see what potion they would be making. As she looked over it, it did look pretty straightforward. While glancing over the instructions to the 'Edadcambiar' potion Mia nearly missed being asked to set up the cauldron.

"Oh sure. I'll do that." Mia said casually, hoping she hadn't left a long pause between his question and her answer.

She frowned at the cauldron and bent down next to it. She bent her knees and began to lift it. She remembered being told to do that when lifting heavy objects or one could really hurt his/her back. She had avoided the Hospital Wing so far and didn't plan on staining the record.

The cauldron was a bit heavy for her dainty frame but she wasn't about to say anything. It nearly slipped out of her grip and she quickly set it down again with a thud. Mia looked up and smiled apologetically.

"Sorry about that. I got it."

Mia brushed her hands on her clothing and attempted the lift again. After a little bit of effort, she managed to get the cauldron onto the edge of the desk and slid it forward towards the center. She plopped back in her seat and brushed her hands together.

'His cauldron must be made of something different then mine cause I don't remember having that much trouble with my own.' Mia added in her mind as a side thought.

She sat and ran her fingers through her hair absentmindedly while she waited for Zack before getting started.\n\n

0 Mia K. Nope, no need to worry. 0 Mia K. 0 5

TJ O'Riley

February 14, 2005 3:58 PM

Loner by TJ O'Riley

TJ stared at the teacher in profound astonishment. Why would he choose to work with someone, with whom he didn't want to work? It didn't make sense. The former respect he'd had for his potions teacher fell dramatically, right back even with the charms professor.

Scowling as prospective classmates paired of in two's TJ dumped his school supplies on the table and put his own cauldron up in the middle of the room. He refused to let some idiot teacher force him to work with someone beneath his blood line- and if the teacher had a problem with it, so be it, his mind would not be changed.

As he cut the ingredients, the knife jabbed the table hard and TJ breathed, forcing a tense breath out of his lungs. His composure was trash. Ther anger bubbling to the surface was uncalled for, and unprofessional. Shaking his head in disbelief at his own behavior, he reviewed in his mind the temper tantrum.

It wasn't the teachers fault. It was the other students.

This mudhole was already influencing him.

Wiping his face clean of whatever nasty expression inhabiting it, TJ sat back down and looked around the classroom again. If someone didn't come in five minutes he would do the work by himself, but he certainly wasn't going to go looking for some loner who couldn't find his own partner.

No. That loner was on his or her own. \n\n

0 TJ O'Riley Loner 0 TJ O'Riley 0 5