Hogwarts Journeys; Ch. 9-25, To be written! Options

[evlpez]

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[evlpez]

Chapter X
The Bulgarian Seeker

(Not yet Beta'd)

The boys spent the weekend enjoying the last of the warmer autumn weather and studying outside. Lily and Freddy had told them that no one ever thought Binns actually read their work, so efforts to complete their History of Magic papers were half-hearted. They spent more time reading up on the next few chapters in Charms, Philip leading the group since they'd unanimously appointed him their unofficial Charms professor. Serena looked almost popular with her dorm mates as they sat near her and Penelope on the grass to preview drying and Leviosa charms with the rest of the Gryffindors. She made a special effort to pay attention and be quieter than usual, which James appreciated more than anyone.

Monday morning, Gryffindor first years produced the most successful demonstrations in Charms class, frustrating the Slytherins. Philip was nearly the victim of a banana peel hex, avoided only by his stopping to pick up a runaway puffskein and return it to Lockhart, who slipped and landed on his backside on the way to the door. Lockhart, in a moment of fleeting clarity, gritted his teeth and politely asked Duke Dursley to stay behind. James knew that Duke wasn't responsible for the hex, but decided not to get involved. If Duke got detention, perhaps Lily would be free and they could finally sneak out and explore Jacobson's wardrobe.

After lunch was double Potions with Ravenclaw, and they'd find out their marks for their Aconite essays. James rushed through the meal, wanting to get to the dungeons early. When he took his seat near the front, Professor Krum was already there, charming the blackboard with the recipe and instructions for a Forgetfulness Potion. James pulled some parchment from his bag as the other students arrived, and the professor turned to greet them.

"Good afternoon. Today ve'll be brewing Forgetfulness Potion. First, I haff your papers from last veek here," he said as he picked up a bundle of rolled parchment papers and began handing them out. "Mr. Smith, I expect you to address the notes I made in the margin and to return the corrected paper to me by next class, preferably with fewer bits of your dinner on it."

Allan blushed as he took his paper. "Yes, sir."

Krum addressed the class. "Most off you did well on this, though I am a little surprised that most off you focused on the Volfsbane Potion. Aconite is used in no less than 23 popular formulae and at least 16 illegal potions, though only one off you named any off them. Vy is it so important to be precise when vorking with aconite, Mr. McKenzie?"

"Er… because it's poisonous to the central nervous system, sir? It prevents respiration and if you overdose, you get heart failure."

"Yes. Five more points to Gryffindor. Your mark vould have been better if you'd included that in your own paper, everyone. Vy do ve use aconite then, if it is so dangerous?"

James raised his hand, and Krum nodded to him. "When combined properly with other ingredients, it tricks the body into allowing other effects of the potion to work instead of fighting against them. It's like in herbology, when we pruned the Amazonius Reticulous. We had to flatter them and lull them to sleep sort of, before they'd let us prune the dying bits."

"Exactly. Five more points. In Volfsbane Potion, aconite is a main ingredient, used to sedate the volf and subdue its natural instinct to hunt and kill. In some cases, the human mind is able to function despite the volf's presence. Vithout the potion, the human has no control over the volf whatsoever. In most other potions however, aconite is only a supportive ingredient which readies the body to accept the effects off the other ingredients combined rather than reject them." Krum smiled at James, bending to hand him his paper and in a low voice he said, "Top of the class, Mr. Potter. Vell done. Please see me after class."

James paid close attention to his preparations and notes and produced what he felt was a flawless Forgetfulness Potion in exactly the time Professor Krum told them it would take. Philip, as James' partner, followed his lead and the two were labeling vials and filling them for marking a full fifteen minutes before the rest of the class. While Philip cleaned their work table and cauldron, James took the vials up to Professor Krum at his desk, where he was marking some other papers.

"So soon?" Krum asked, checking his watch. "May I see your notes?"

James turned and collected them from the desk and showed the professor, who stood and led him out into the corridor and closed the classroom door.

"Yes," Krum nodded as he read. "Correct, Mr. Potter. I'm impressed. I vill test your potion off course, but I can tell you understood the lesson. Was this easy for you?"

"Well, sort of, sir. I really like this class, so it all comes pretty easy to me I guess. Some of it's hard, but that's mostly the preparation part. It's kind of nerve wracking when you've just learned about things like aconite and you're asked to measure out an eighth of a gram of it on your own and not have your potion turn out lethal or something."

"You're very careful. That's important. It's good to be cautious when you're brewing something that is to be ingested."

"No doubt, sir." James nodded, agreeing.

"Madam Pomfrey has asked me to brew a stockpile off the Draught off Peace and I am looking for a bright and able student to assist me. I was going to ask a third or fourth year student, but I think that you vould enjoy the extra practical experience."

James was stunned. "R-really, professor? Me?"

"Yes, James. You're keen without letting it distract you from the vork itself. Your notes and papers tell me that you're a perfectionist, at least in my class. And you show understanding of not only the science, but also more complex aspects, such as ethics. Unusual for someone your age. Off course I'll be able to find someone else if you don't vant the extra vork. I'll understand."

"No sir!" James blurted, grinning. "I'd love to!"

"Good. I vould like to start on the first batch tomorrow evening after dinner. Please meet me here at seven and we'll start preparing ingredients and going over the brewing process. If ve haff time, you vill brew a small amount for me to evaluate. If it passes, we'll begin larger batches later in the veek. Vill that be all right?"

James just nodded, grinning. Krum smiled and they returned to class.