Or not to un-love on Potions

Prof. Isis Carter

July 01, 2015 2:51 PM

To un-love [Years VI-VII] by Prof. Isis Carter

With the year officially in swing, Isis was finally beginning to feel situated in her new classroom. She had purchased enough extra ingredients to fill the supply room, and in her spare time, she even found herself playing potioneer, beginning with usual formulas and tweaking them as the urge struck her. She felt very official and grew more confident in her current position as, never one to go half-way, she threw herself wholeheartedly into the department.

Still, as far as work went, Isis remained a fairly lax instructor. She assigned less work than some of her contemporaries, preferring they spend their efforts in class than wasting all their time outside of it. Her assignments were only once or maybe twice a week and usually only involved reading (which she knew meant a lot of students probably skipped it, although that would come back to bite them on the tests). Only once in a while did she assign an actual written response, although the frequency did increase with the different levels.

Unfortunately for the Advanced class, today was such a day that a written assignment was to be turned in. As they entered, it was expected that they drop their work off in the “Advanced” bin on her desk. “Has everyone given me their assignments?” she reminded once it seemed everyone was seated. After allowing time for anyone who had forgotten to bring theirs up, class began.

“Today we’ll be making the love potion antidote,” Isis stated. It was a potion that she imagined could come in quite handy if someone did something stupid and desperate (as was often the way of the teenager). “There are variant forms to this potion, but for our purposes, this one is the best. You can find the instructions to the others in your books if you feel so inclined. You’ll know you’ve successfully brewed this one when it turns pink.”

As she spoke, the instructions appeared behind her on the board, outlining each step. She felt no need to add the often-uttered statements on borrowing extra ingredients or asking her questions as not only were they redundant at this point, but she liked to keep the Advanced level classes more casual. The relationship between professor and student often seemed so strained, and while she maintained a clear authority, she felt too close in age to the students to put herself on that pedestal. Hence this class (and this class alone; the others were too young) being allowed to simply call her Isis. And after a quick look across the students before her, she smiled, “Go ahead and get started.”

OOC: Like Isis, I won’t bore you with repetition; you all know the basic rules by now. Let’s see some fun, creative posts!

Your potions instructions are:

Add four Wiggentree twigs, or until the potion turns green.
Stir until the potion turns orange.
Add castor oil until the potion turns blue.
Stir until the potion turns purple.
Add extract of Gurdyroot until the potion turns red.
Add Wiggentree twigs.
Add Extract of Gurdyroot until the potion turns purple.
Leave the potion to simmer till it turns red.
Add more gurdyroot extract till it turns green.
Stir till it turns orange.
Add seven Wiggentree twigs.
Allow to simmer till it turns pink.

Have fun!

Subthreads:

If only it were that simple (tag Adam) by Francesca Wolseithcrafte, Aladren with Adam Spencer, Pecari

This is the theme of my life... by Emery Kijewski-Jareau, Aladren

Or not to un-love by Emrys Lucan, Aladren

12 Prof. Isis Carter To un-love [Years VI-VII] 31 Prof. Isis Carter 1 5

Francesca Wolseithcrafte, Aladren

July 03, 2015 3:49 AM

If only it were that simple (tag Adam) by Francesca Wolseithcrafte, Aladren

Francesca was honestly not sure she was going to survive the emotional bombardment of this year. And that wasn’t even considering possible Quidditch results and exams, both of which she was sure would weigh heavily on her as they approached. First and foremost, there was the ongoing issue of being apart from Jay. It had nagged at her last year but over the summer she had put a label on it… She had feelings for him. More than friend feelings, and it was so hard spending most of the year separated from him. From what he told her of his life, it seemed to revolve around shutting himself in his office, with minimal interaction with the world. That lessened the chances he would meet someone else before she was able to do something about her feelings but that didn’t completely stop her from worrying about the possibility. Then there was the issue of what she should do about them anyway. She didn’t think she could stand torturing herself like this for another term, worrying about whom he might meet, feeling angry with herself for not taking chances with him. But the alternative was telling him and risking being shot down and losing a friend. She should have kissed him when he was staying at the lakehouse with her. Should she have kissed him when he was staying at the lakehouse with her? She had kissed him virtually every night since, playing out the scenario in her mind, and how it might have gone differently if she’d been braver. It was a roughly equal split between success and failure - he had over a hundred different ways to reject her, to tell her he didn’t feel that way, that he was revolted, embarrassed…. Sometimes, she resolved that it would be better to just get it over with, either way, but after those images played out, she slunk back, cowardly, to wanting not to know if the news would be bad.

The thing that had distracted her most from her thoughts of Jay this year had been being declared head girl. Peer approval had always been something that she craved, even though she felt a little pathetic for that, and something it had been very hard for her to believe she would really get. But there it was… She had struggled not to burst into tears as she collected her badge. The only slight thing marring it, the same thought that had caused her hand to hesitate fractionally over the ballot paper, was how Ginny was going to react. She had always worried over Francesca and Adam being a tighter unit, thanks to their Quidditch bond, and things had only recently got back to some kind of normal. She had worried that this would tip them back over the edge again, but there didn’t seem to have been a problem so far. She was glad because this year she needed Ginny more than ever. She hadn’t quite got up the nerve to talk about it yet but if anyone could help her work out what to do about liking Jay, it was going to be Ginny. Her other confidantes, Adam and Theodore, were out of the question for such a discussion.

She almost wished she had had the guts to raise it sooner though, given the graffiti in the hall. She was a prime target for rumours, if anyone still supported WAIL. Even if they didn’t, most people were happy to throw around speculation and lazy stereotypes without really thinking it through. If she’d admitted to Ginny that she liked Jay… well, it wouldn’t make her rumour-proof but at least there might be a counter-rumour to go around instead. The woes caused by Sonora’s latest prankster had not stopped there. His or her second stroke was just as bad. She didn’t believe that Adam or Ginny themselves had carved the initials so prominently into the tree in the garden but she did believe they were about them. She theoretically had told herself that she would be more than fine with the possibility of that happening. Of course, that had been when it seemed apparent that Ginny had moved on, and that the situation wasn’t something she was actually going to have to deal with.

She took a seat next to Adam in Potions. She had considered several different ways of bringing up the subject. Professor Carter even seemed to be helping her out with a thematic lesson but she had ultimately decided there was no way she could without it being incredibly awkward. She would just have to keep it to herself unless either of her friends volunteered some information on the subject for her.

She noted down the potion, only idly wondering whether it worked on real love - whether she could dose herself, Adam and Ginny up and just let everything go back to normal. But she already knew that wasn’t true. Real feelings were harder to do things with. And she wasn’t even sure she wanted her feelings for Jay to go away, unless he didn’t feel the same way of course… Anyway, voicing the sarcastic thought to Adam came far too close to ‘talking about things,’ so she pushed it down, resolving that good old fashioned denial would have to continue to suffice.

“I think I have everything,” she commented to Adam, “Though it’s not very specific for some of the amounts… Do you have any gurdyroot extract? Mine’s a little low and we need it twice.”

13 Francesca Wolseithcrafte, Aladren If only it were that simple (tag Adam) 250 Francesca Wolseithcrafte, Aladren 0 5

Emery Kijewski-Jareau, Aladren

July 03, 2015 8:27 PM

This is the theme of my life... by Emery Kijewski-Jareau, Aladren

Chloe was having a field day with Emery’s lie about having kissed a girl. At first, she was angry at him for not telling her he had kissed someone and then after stuttering and stumbling at her with an excuse as to why he hadn’t and trying to get out of it all together, Emery had admitted to her that he hadn’t actually kissed anyone. Chloe was flabbergasted that he had lied to Ava about it but after he had explained what had happened and how stupid he felt at the idea of her knowing he didn’t have experience, she had understood where he was coming from. She wasn’t impressed with the lying, but she gave him some slack on it (not that she would ever let him live it down).

Emery still had no idea why he had lied to Ava to begin with. He just didn’t want to look like a loser to her. Emrys was making his moves with Charlotte, Arnold had already declared his feelings to Ji-Eun, he was pretty sure Eleanor was dating Leo and Tristan… Everyone was moving forward with their desired person (or persons) and the girl Emery had feelings for was being kissed by someone else. Of course he felt inferior and felt like he had to lie to her about it. If she found out he was inexperienced, she would totally laugh at him.

Why was love so difficult? Life really sucked sometimes.

Emery really liked working with Professor Carter (he thought it was strange to call the staff of the school by their first names) because she was so laid back about everything. Even when she gave out assignments, they were still doable and he finished them the same evening they were given out. Walking into the classroom, Emery dropped his assignment off in the bin and made his way over the his usual table.

As soon as he heard the assignment for the day, Emery wanted to walk right back out again.

Why is everything slapping him in the face this year about love? He couldn’t get away from it!

Emery never understood love potions. Even though he was relatively desperate for Ava to recognize him as a potential candidate for a kissing mate, but he would never go so far as to tricking her into drinking a potion that gives her a false feeling of attraction and love towards him. Why would anyone want that? It wasn’t real. It was an abuse of power and the moment the person realized they had been tricked, they would (or, at least should) hate that person for doing that to them. It was a violation. There were seriously sad people in the world for this to have even been developed and sold. From what he understood it was a popular thing for girls to buy too. He doubted that he would ever have to worry about a girl slipping that into one of his drinks, but he’d still be a little weary.

Being set on their own, Emery set up his cauldron and looked through his kit to make sure he had the things that he needed. He was so busy reviewing the directions and his kit that he failed to notice someone approach him. Looking up, his green eyes met those of another, startled, Emery jumped slightly and was immediately embarrassed with himself. “I’m sorry, I didn’t realize you were there. What can I do for you?” He asked, hoping his face wasn’t beat red.

6 Emery Kijewski-Jareau, Aladren This is the theme of my life... 0 Emery Kijewski-Jareau, Aladren 0 5

Adam Spencer, Pecari

July 08, 2015 3:56 AM

Simplicity is an illusion. by Adam Spencer, Pecari

Adam was going mad; there was no other possible explanation. After seeing those ridiculous letters on the tree out in the gardens Adam hadn’t been able to think of much else. It was always there in the back of his mind, those infuriating ‘what if’ questions that lingered behind Head duties and Quidditch rosters and RATS. He’d become very philosophical about the entire affair in the past few weeks as well as obsessed with perfecting the Quidditch roster and studying for his RATS. He hadn’t spoken a word to anyone about it, though he’d seen his sister glance at him curiously more than once the few times they studied together. She hadn’t said anything, but her eyes told him she’d seen the heart and was waiting for him to address it.

He didn’t think he’d be able to survive another day feeling miserably confused, but alas he was here in Potions again – he was even early today. Adam sank into his usual seat and heaved a deep sigh. That wasn’t a wise decision as the Potions classroom always smelt strange and he’d just inhaled a large whiff of it. Adam cleared his throat and dug out his assignment to turn into Professor Carter. After dropping it off, he returned and was soon joined by Francesca. He enjoyed Francesca’s company even more so after the brief falling out he’d had with Ginny. She had proved to be a solid friend to them both and he’d come to appreciate her immensely.

As class began, it seemed to be more than an utter coincidence that they were brewing a love antidote today. Merlin knew he needed one to rid himself of these ridiculous feelings. Adam wanted to enjoy being in love – not that he was necessarily in love – but it was impossible when the witch he fancied quite a lot was practically betrothed to someone else. He didn’t know who to talk to about these things; his sister was out of the question until he was certain of Ginny’s feelings and he wasn’t sure how Francesca would react.

“I’ve got some you could use,” he replied, taking out his ingredients and trying to forget about his lingering thoughts as he always did. “Just enough, I think. I’ll have to refill my supplies once this class is over.” He flicked the phial of castor oil that was nearly empty. “Do you have any Wiggentree twigs to spare? I don’t think I’ll have enough.” He glanced at the instructions. “This is going to be a colourful potion.” He set up his cauldron and lit the fire underneath it. “How’s your team looking this year?” he asked, glancing at her teasingly.

0 Adam Spencer, Pecari Simplicity is an illusion. 0 Adam Spencer, Pecari 0 5

Emrys Lucan, Aladren

July 10, 2015 4:31 PM

Or not to un-love by Emrys Lucan, Aladren

Love. It was all that had been on Emrys’ mind over the last few weeks. He had been walking around in the strangest haze ever since he declared his feelings to Charlotte. It was honestly the most incredible feeling. He never knew that letting it all go like that could feel so liberating. And on top of that, if something got him down (like Caelia’s endless teasing) all he had to do was think about Charlotte’s reaction to his earlier confession. The image of her blushing face…he glanced away from the front of the room and down towards his books. There was nothing about Charlotte that he didn’t like, Emrys thought. His left fingers fiddled with the cover of his book while his right hand distractedly wrote down a jumble of notes on Professor Carter’s lecture, notes which he would most likely have to clarify with someone later.

Once they were allowed to start working on their potions, Emrys looked down at his parchment. These were likely the worst set of notes he had ever taken before in his entire life. He used to tease Ava about her meticulous yet doodled over notes that only she could really understand, but these, these were worse than her margin filled pages of practically every word the professors said in class surrounded by mermaids, cats, and waves. He guiltily glanced in her direction, glad she was too far away to see the mess he had created. Emrys didn’t even understand why he was thinking about Charlotte still. Before, in other classes, when they had just been friends it had been easy to put aside his feelings and concentrate on his school work. Now, however, now that he had told her how he felt and she had responded with similar feelings it was as if every little thing reminded him of her, even when she wasn’t around.

He opened his book sulkily. What was this madness that was keeping him from being able to study and do his work? He hoped his grades weren’t slipping—for the most part he had been receiving similar marks, but sometimes he worried that the quality of his work was going down since he had been having such a hard time paying attention in class. Emrys skimmed over the ingredients in the book and brought out his potions kit. Normally before class he would have had his book open to the correct page so that he might make notes on it as Professor Carter was speaking, and normally he would have already had his potions kit on the table. But today wasn’t normally, it seemed because normally he would have been able to pay attention in class.

OOC: The purpose of this author's note is to make my post look longer because it looked longer in microsoft word, I promise! That being said, hope who ever is reading this is having an awesome day! :)

10 Emrys Lucan, Aladren Or not to un-love 260 Emrys Lucan, Aladren 0 5

Francesca

July 20, 2015 6:46 AM

Or maybe just a myth by Francesca

“Thanks,” she smiled, as she added his gurdyroot extract to the growing pile of ingredients on the table. “And yes, I’ve plenty of those,” she replied to his enquiry about Wiggentree twigs, nodding to the pile of odd, knobbly sticks she had prepared. “Quite the team, aren’t we?” she smiled.

Speaking of which, Adam brought up the faithful old subject of Quidditch, one which had served them well throughout their friendship, at times when it was just the two of them. She tried to keep from getting too into it with Ginny around, although she’d mention important things - Ginny had always been good about showing an interest in what they were doing and supporting them both. Therefore, she didn’t want to leave her out of the subject entirely, but she didn’t want to bore her with the finer points of broom maintenance, so she saved those kinds of conversations for Adam. Her thoughts on manoeuvres, she kept to herself, or ran past Theodore. Adam, after all, was still the enemy, and it wouldn’t do to prep him too thoroughly on what they were working on.

“Shaping up quite well,” she nodded, “Got seven people and seven spots, so that was easy math for my first go at organising a team. There’s this annoying little kid called Spencer though - I think he’s going to cause me trouble,” she teased, “How about yours?”

She had been tossing Wiggentree twigs into the cauldron as she spoke, though apparently her selection was somewhat on the spindly side, as it took until the fifth one for it to turn green.

13 Francesca Or maybe just a myth 250 Francesca 0 5

Adam

August 09, 2015 2:44 PM

Or a pleasant dream. by Adam

"Always have been," replied Adam as he picked out four of the twigs. He couldn't remember if he and Francesca had ever had a fight or argued in the years they'd known each other. She was easy to get on with and he liked that about her very much.

The little jab at his kin made Adam grin. "Let me know if he causes any trouble and I'll aim the Quaffle at his head next time I throw it." Adam was a very gentle brother, something anyone could tell from the way he treated them at school; it was unlikely he would throw a Quaffle at anyone's head, much less his brother's.

"We have more than a full team this year, but Pecari's never really been short of members. I've been training a little witch with a ridiculously long surname, Wolsei-something. She's brilliant, maybe enough to overthrow your team," he teased. He very much enjoyed that both he and Francesca had practically swapped siblings at Sonora.

The potion he'd mindlessly been stirring turned orange and he picked up the castor oil he had left to drip it into the potion until the solution turned blue. "How're things with you and Ginny?" he asked after doing a quick glance around to make sure she wasn't within hearing distance. "I haven't spoken to her recently, though at least she'll talk to me now." It had gone sort of unspoken how Adam had felt; at least he hadn't outright told Francesca how hurt he'd been by the ordeal. But now that it was over it was a bit easier to talk about the missing piece of their trio.

0 Adam Or a pleasant dream. 0 Adam 0 5