Professor Philpott
November 13, 2017 8:09 AM
Intermediates - Keep Calm and Carry On by Professor Philpott
Professor Philpott had arrived at Sonora the previous evening. His appointment had not been announced at the feast for it had not, by that point, been finalised. Although interested in the position, he had not seen reason to cut short a very pleasant holiday, one without the hefty price tag of travelling in the school holidays.Officially, his job was to cover certain elective subjects - principally astronomy, which was his forte - alongside supervising students engaging in extended studies of their own devising, making sure they stayed on track. However, he was also available for emergency cover, which was what saw him standing in front of the intermediate class the morning after his arrival. There was a nasty cold going around, which took multiple doses of Pepper Up Potion to shift. A professor who was both coughing and still smoking at the ears did not seem a good idea. This was how the intermediate class came to be greeted by an unfamiliar man, of average height with salt-and-pepper hair and a matching beard. He was old enough not to necessarily be the subject of schoolgirl or schoolboy crushes, although in spite of being middle aged he was well-kept and good looking. Settling down had never particularly appealed to him but nor did living the life of a celibate, and that meant looking after his appearance.
“Good afternoon,” he greeted the intermediate class. “As you know, Professor O’Malley is now on maternity leave. Whilst Professor Carter should be here, she is unwell this morning. My name is Professor Philpott, and I am the school’s new elective and extended study supervisor. As Professor Carter will have two full courses to teach this year, I am also going to be stepping in as a substitute, though rather unfortunately, my first call of duty is to substitute for her.” He slightly resented the fact that Potions was to be his first lesson, merely from the many jokes he received, along the lines of people suggesting that must be his specialty, given his name.
“Today’s subject is the Draught of Peace. You will brew it during class, and are required to write short notes answering the following questions either in class or for your homework.
“What are some appropriate uses of the Draught of Peace?
“What are some dangers of over-using it?
“What other magics alter a person’s mood?” he read out, waving his wand to bring the questions up on the blackboard, alongside the brewing instructions for the potion.
“Whilst you may begin work on these in class, please note how the brewing process for this potion requires you to take further steps when colour changes occur, rather than after set amounts of time, so do not become too distracted from your potions.
“In terms of whether to work together or separately… Do whatever Professor O’Malley would normally let you do,” he advised. Generally, he did not like to admit any lack of knowledge, or give children the chance to mess about. However, they were a captive audience. He would be here for the rest of term, and so would they. If they used this as a chance to slack off, they’d end up having to make up for it later.
OOC:
The steps:
Add powdered moonstone until the potion turns green.
Stir until the potion turns blue.
Add powdered moonstone until the potion turns purple.
Allow to simmer until the potion turns pink.
Add syrup of hellebore until the potion turns turquoise.
Allow to simmer until the potion turns purple.
Shake powdered porcupine quills vigorously until they are ready and then add until the potion turns red.
Stir until the potion turns orange.
Add more porcupine quills until the potion turns turquoise.
Allow to simmer till the potion turns purple.
Add powdered unicorn horn until the potion turns pink.
Stir until the potion turns red.
Allow to simmer until the potion turns purple.
Add more powdered moonstone until the potion turns grey.
Allow the potion to simmer until it turns orange.
Add more powdered porcupine quills until the potion turns white
As a note, you may also want to look here, which is the source of these steps, for more in-depth information. The brewing of this one can be a bit tricky, and you can say that this additional information IC comes from your textbooks. Happy posting!
Subthreads: I mean, I guess I'll try to stay calm by Isaac Song - Pecari with Natalie Atwater, Pecari
seeking to partner the right sort by Winston Pierce, Crotalus
Seeking a motivated partner. by Lily Spencer, Pecari with Jozua Sparks, Teppenpaw
And don't forget to put the kettle on. by Joe Umland, Teppenpaw
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Professor Philpott
Intermediates - Keep Calm and Carry On
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Professor Philpott
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Isaac Song - Pecari
November 14, 2017 2:07 AM
I mean, I guess I'll try to stay calm by Isaac Song - Pecari
Ever since Isaac had started dabbling in cooking at home, his interest in Potions class had grown. It was a lot of the same things: mixing, measuring out ingredients, making sure you stirred it or chopped things up correctly. Only potions used a lot more disgusting things he'd never heard of (like hellebore--what was that?). Then again, his friends didn't believe unicorns existed, so there was a lot to learn from the magical way of doing things. His mom was kind of in this realm too, in a muggle sense, since she was a pharmacist and dealt with all sorts of chemicals and medicines. She had been super interested in potions too when she'd gone to school. Isaac thought it was kind of cool learning something so similar to the muggle world.He walked into the classroom and looked around briefly at the open seats. Isaac opted for the middle row and sat down, shifting a little uncomfortably. His clothes had been feeling a little tight lately and he knew he was growing faster than usual. He brought out all of his materials, assuming they would be doing practical work today. Intermediate classes were hard, but he liked being the younger one in the group. There were so many pretty older girls and he didn't like taking care of his younger classmates as much as being one of the younger years himself.
Seeing yet another new professor at the front of the class wasn't surprising; magical schools seemed to go through them super quick. They probably had better things to do anyway in real life. Isaac didn't really mind it, but he was sad when good teachers had to go for whatever reason.
Once the new prof had said his part and set them off to work, Isaac poured the water into his cauldron and lit the fire underneath. He pulled out a piece of paper as he waited for his cauldron to warm up a little. The homework questions were pretty easy and for now he could just jot down his thoughts before turning it into a nicer-looking assignment to turn in later.
1. calm people down, make angry or anxious people calm, probably give it to people who've gone through hard times or really hard events
2. they get too calm and super tired, maybe they could go into a coma??
3. charms, like a cheering charm
Isaac looked up and noticed someone looking at him. "Oh, shoot, my fire's too high," he exclaimed, dropping his pencil to turn it down. "I probably should've kept an eye on it instead of doing the homework. Multitasking just isn't something I'm good at, I guess." Isaac pulled out an old vial of leftover moonstone he'd crushed and measured it out. "Luckily I think I have enough for this potion. Do you need some? I also have some syrupy hellebore. Syrup of hellebore." Isaac poured out what he needed into the cauldron until the mixture turned green, then held out the vial to his classmate with a friendly grin as he stirred with his other hand.
19
Isaac Song - Pecari
I mean, I guess I'll try to stay calm
375
Isaac Song - Pecari
0
5
Natalie Atwater, Pecari
November 18, 2017 7:35 PM
Probably a good idea by Natalie Atwater, Pecari
Natalie was looking forward to this half of the term, or more accurately, the end of it. This was her sister's last semester at Sonora and the Pecari was possibly looking forward to it even more than Kelsey was. Kelsey's graduation didn't just represent freedom for Kelsey, it represented freedom for Natalie . No more annoyingly perfect older sister breathing down her neck. Okay, yes,the Pecari would still be compared to Kelsey her entire life and a small part of her did want to outdo her but as that was futile, so Natalie preferred to think about doing what made her happy. What she wanted long term-not that she thought about it much as she was only a third year-was to find someone who accepted her for who she was. If Kira could maybe have found that, so could Natalie. She was a much more confident than her cousin. Of course, the only person she knew less confident than Kira was Ryan. Maybe Chaslyn and understandably so. Aunt Pearl and Aunt Jillian were the sorts that sucked the life out of their children. Amity put on a better front than her sister or Ryan but Natalie could tell that Aunt Jillian had done a number on her too. People didn't run away from home because it was a happy situation.Kira, on the other hand, didn't have abusive parents, not really. They never told her she was worthless or anything. Kira's issues stemmed from the same place as Natalie's-Kelsey. If Kelsey wasn't so blasted perfect all the time, then neither Natalie nor Kira would have to worry about measuring up. The third year mainly found it irritating as her sister had a tendency to be a bossy nag but with Kira it seemed to be taken to heart that she would never measure up, would never be good enough. Of course, now the sixth year had met Ned Davison over midterm which Natalie read between the lines and listened to the hints dropped that maybe...Kira liked him and possibly, just possibly he liked her too.
She wanted this for her cousin. She wanted Kira to realize that she did have things about her that someone would find attractive, and if she had to push it along in some way, she would. Ned's cousin Jane was about the Pecari's age and they were acquainted.
Anyway, with Kelsey gone, Natalie could relax . Her behavior wouldn't be under such scrutiny. No more being told she should do certain things a certain "better" way that nobody but Kelsey did. Well, okay, some girls did. Her sister had a certain amount of syncophantic followers that liked to be shown said ways. The difference was that they volunteered for such tutelage whereas Natalie-and Kira and to a much lesser extent Ivy-had it thrust upon them.
Next year was going to be her year. She was going to let herself be herself, not that she wasn't doing a lot of that anyway. It was just that it would be without Kelsey around telling her what she should do instead. Sometimes having her sister around was so.... suffocating . Next year, Natalie would wander around unemcumbered by her sister's views. She couldn't wait.
Right now though, she had to go to Potions which was....also decidedly not her. The third year was just glad Kelsey wasn't some Potions prodigy too. Actually, if Natalie had to look at it objectively, she personally was probably better at being a proper lady than she was at Potions. Still, she didn't really have the patience for either. Pecaris, after all, desired quick and effective results from their actions. Which was a nice way of saying they were impatient.
Anyway, after next year, she could at least drop this class too. She could never truly drop being a proper lady. She just didn't have to do it her sister's way, since her sister's way was not the norm. Unless it became the norm. Natalie shuddered involuntarily at the thought.
Apparently, Professor Carter wasn't here today. Maybe she'd finally had a nervous breakdown from overwork like the one Chaslyn had always seemed to be on the verge of before she got married. Oh, maybe she'd eloped with the Herbology professor! Still, nervous breakdown seemed more likely.
The new guy, whom Natalie didn't recognize, pointed out that Professor Carter was "unwell". So, point for the nervous breakdown theory. The fact that they were going to be making the Draught of Peace could be another.
She looked over at the person next to her, Isaac Song. The third year preferred to partner in potions and she wanted to be on good terms with the other Pecaris in her year. This looked like an opportunity. Unfortunately, he seemed to get involved with his homework right off. Natalie usually preferred to procrastinate on it. Finally he noticed her though. "Um, thanks, but actually I was wondering if we could work together?"
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Natalie Atwater, Pecari
Probably a good idea
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Natalie Atwater, Pecari
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Isaac
November 18, 2017 10:15 PM
It doesn't really come naturally by Isaac
Isaac didn't really know much about Natalie personally, but she seemed friendly and smart. "Of course! It'll go a lot faster with the two of us. Well, as fast as potions go." Isaac looked closely at the mixture with his jar of powdered moonstone still in hand. "Is that blue enough? Looks kind of like a faded blue. Maybe I'll mix it until it gets a little brighter." A few stirs in the mixture did become a darker blue, so Isaac handed the jar to Natalie. "Could you pour this in till the potion turns purple? I think after that we're supposed to let it simmer."Now that he didn't have to stir anymore, Isaac sat down again. "The worst part about potions is waiting around for them to bubble or change color or do whatever they're supposed to," he said. "I started learning how to cook from my uncle during our winter break, so I feel like I get potions a little bit better. Even when you're cooking you have to wait for what feels like hours to get some stuff done."
Isaac loved his uncle Derek. He came over a lot and used to babysit them when his mom was at work. Derek was his mom's half-brother and way younger than her, so Isaac liked it when he came over and spent time with them instead of doing his cool young adult things. He had all sorts of stories to tell them all the time about his life and Isaac looked up to him a lot. He dressed well, was a good cook, popular, and rode a motorcycle. His mom hated it, but Isaac really wanted to have one of his own when he was older.
"My uncle's a really good cook and he was a good teacher too. I think the hardest thing I helped him make was the turkey for Christmas. It took so long, but was so worth it. I hope my cooking lessons continue during the summer." The only drawback was that his uncle wasn't magical and didn't really like talking about magic stuff cause he didn't believe in it. Isaac didn't really know how to feel about that, but it didn't matter that much right now. After all, even without magic Uncle Derek was the coolest guy he knew. His mom liked to worry about him, but Isaac thought it was just her way of showing that she cared about him. "Do you know how to cook at all? Or bake?"
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Isaac
It doesn't really come naturally
375
Isaac
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Natalie
December 08, 2017 11:25 PM
Calmness is easier than patience by Natalie
Natalie smiled as she took the potion from Isaac and mixed in the powdered moonstone. "Agreed." She replied. The third year had never cared for waiting. That why Potions was such a pain. Well one of the reasons. The other being all the steps that had be done in a precise order. Precision was not necessarily one of her strengths."That's really cool." Natalie responded when Isaac mentioned learning to cook. "I have no idea how. I'm not sure anyone in my family does. We have house elves doing that." She wasn't being snobby, that was just how it was. "But it's really great that you enjoy it and it will help with potions. Though I would think the waiting would be worse if you're cooking. Because, like, you're probably getting hungry and are in a hurry to eat what you're making."
"But when we're working on a potion, we have to stay here. And it's not like either of us is super anxious and in need of the Draught of Peace. Or have someone in a hurry to get it from us." Though maybe if she pretended there was, she'd care more. Not that she didn't care at all, she did want to pass but she just....didn't have the interest to make it really great. Maybe it was a good thing she'd chosen to do this with Isaac. "
She was impressed,however, that he'd helped with the turkey. "Wow. That's amazing. Do you think you'll join the baking club? "
Natalie continued. "Sounds like you really enjoy spending time with your uncle too."
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Natalie
Calmness is easier than patience
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Natalie
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Isaac
December 09, 2017 4:27 PM
I agree wholeheartedly by Isaac
Isaac didn't think he'd ever know what it was like to live with house elves. They sounded cool, but also like modern-day slavery and he wasn't a big proponent of that. Having house elves would still probably be cool though. Since Natalie had grown up with house elves taking care of her house, she probably didn't do too many chores either. "That must be super nice," he said, thinking of all the things he wouldn't have to do if he had servants."Yeah, you're totally right. I usually try not to cook like that on an empty stomach. At least during this break when my uncle was teaching me, we were mostly just doing it for fun. My sister and my mom ate most of whatever things we made." He liked seeing how smiley his mom and sister got when they ate his food; at least when it was good.
"Truth." Natalie had some good points about the difference between brewing potions and cooking. That was why cooking was more fun, but potions was interesting cause their ingredients were so weird. It was fun in a different way.
Isaac grinned when he saw that Natalie seemed impressed by his turkey-accomplishment. "Thanks. Nah, I don't know about baking club. I'm not really into baking." He saw baking as more of a girl thing. He had helped his mom make Christmas desserts in past years, but he wasn't as into it. "It does look cool though, I guess." He wanted to ask if Natalie was in any clubs because he definitely wasn't, but then she made a comment about his uncle that he was more than happy to talk about.
"Yeah, I love spending time with him, he's...well, he's kinda old to be like my older brother, but he's like a younger version of my dad, I guess. I only live with my sisters and my mom cause my dad lives in Korea, so it's cool to not be the only guy in the house. He teaches me a lot too about different things and he's really cool. I like to think he pays more attention to me cause I'm the only boy." Isaac grinned. Not that he was complaining at all.
"Anyway, what about you? What'd you do over winter break?" Isaac hoped she had some interesting stories; his mind was still on clubs at school. He only knew of Dueling Club because of it stood out from the rest and he had just learned about Baking Club. Maybe it would be cool to check and see if they had a sports club or something. He could use some extra flying practice so he could join the Quidditch team one day if he was brave enough. Even though he was thinking about something totally different, he was still listening as Natalie had the chance to talk. Brewing a potion, thinking, and listening; he thought he was pretty good at multitasking like this.
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Isaac
I agree wholeheartedly
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Isaac
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5