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XanaSnape · 12-31-2009, 11:14 PM

A disused room next to the potions classroom has been converted into a potions laboratory. There are several large workstations available, complete with stands and burners for standard size 2 cauldrons and plenty of room to work.

Along the walls at the sides of the room are additional stations holding alembics, distillation trains, calcination equipment, Florence flasks, a large jar of clean glass stirring rods, funnels, empty jars and more -- in short, all the equipment a potioneer would need to do his or her work.

Along the back wall of the class are jars and bottles containing a host of standard potions ingredients. Each container is marked clearly with a parchment label bearing the details of its contents (including the date of expiration), written in Professor Kazimeriz's shaky but legible hand. Several of the larger jars house foul-looking ingredients: there is one jar that appears to be filled with pickled toads, another houses what appear to be large eyeballs from some creature in pale blue syrup, and still others seem to contain the visceral organs of animals - rat spleens, newt tails (which are still wriggling in the jar), and whole flobberworms. One jar of some sort of greenish sap is bubbling lazily, and another opaque bottle keeps trembling, clinking against the others.

There is also a large cabinet that has been triple-locked and charmed. Through the unbreakable glass front of the cabinet, you can see vials, jars, bottles of various size, shape and contents. These are the Professor's private stores. You must receive assistance from the professor to access these ingredients, as all the poisons, rare items like unicorn parts and truly dangerous ingredients in the lab -- including dangerous potions such as veritaserum and amortentia-- are housed in this cabinet.

There is a large chalkboard at the front of the classroom near the Professor's sturdy mahogany desk. On it reads this note:

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chalkboard in the Lab

Welcome to Open Studio Potions Laboratory!

Welcome to the open studio potions lab. This is a supervised independent studies lab, where you may work on personal projects as well as practice potions for your class assessments, OWLS and NEWTS. Please obey the following rules while in this lab:

SAFETY FIRST. Practice common sense and good safety practices at all times while in this lab. Remember that other potions are being brewed around you and exercise caution at all times.
WHEN IN DOUBT, AS: If you have any question in your mind about the safety or sanity of what you are planning, please bring your intended potion plan to the professor for assstance. The professor reserves the right to end any experiment at his discretion, especially if it is unsafe or irresponsible.
CLEAN UP AFTER YOURSELF. The house elves are not your personal slaves, and it is neither their responsibility nor mine to clean up after you. If you fail to clean up your workstation on departure, you will receive a most unpleasant detention.
HAVE A PLAN and WORK AT YOUR OWN LEVEL. Creativity is definitely encouraged in this lab, but please do not just slap ingredients together without knowing the magical theory behind what you are doing. I expect all students to work at their level and if you have questions, please ask the professor. I am always present when this lab is open.
WASTE NOT, WANT NOT. Many of the ingredients in this lab are quite costly. Use them with discretion.
DANGEROUS INGREDIENTS: Many of the more dangerous or expensive ingredients in the lab are in the professor's private stores. On approval, the professor will obtain any of the necessary dangerous ingredients from the storage cabinet for your use.
COMPOUND POTIONS: Only NEWT levels students with prior approval from the professor may work on compound potions in this lab, to ensure that you properly understand the magical theory behind them. If you are unsure if you are attempting a compound potion, please ask. Those who are found to be in violation of this or any rule will be subject to disciplinary action.

ooc notes: Come on in and get creative!

This is an independent lab, NOT potions class... this is the place to let your character practice potions, do labwork, and experiment. For the purposes of the RP please presume that Professor Kazimeriz is in the room at all times unless I specify otherwise. Obviously, I am not really here at all times, but I will be monitoring this thread closely throughout the term and will do my best to respond to posts directed toward Professor Kazimeriz quickly and efficiently.

Please RP responsibly! I'm cool OOC with potions-gone-wrong-RPs (accidentally blowing up cauldrons and such-- stuff happens in a lab!) but just make sure that you are ready to face the consequences IC for any actions you take or mistakes your charrie makes. For instance, if you have a vat of lethal poison explode all over you, it is quite possible your character WILL die, and if you are irresponsible IC, expect Kazimeriz to react accordingly. Please exercise good sense and remember to follow the site rules at all times.

Also, if your character is addressing the professor or needs attention, please put PROFESSOR KAZIMERIZ in your subject line for your post, just so I don't accidentally miss it.

If you have any questions, please PM me at XanaSnape. Oh... and most important: HAVE FUN! ~Xana~

XanaSnape · 02-28-2010, 04:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windsfreak

This was going well! "Not formal experience, sir," Matheu confessed. "My step-mother is a witch and she introduced me to potion brewing, and taught me some integrated things about plants. I've read the material of most NEWT levels as free and extended study. And, yes, sir, I'm a second year; Muggle-born.
Going back to my intention, I only want to brew one potion. Brew one potion that holds the property to fully change the DNA of plants. My step-brother told me about the Metamagi blood: It is more unstable than the blood of a Metamorphamangus because it fully changes the DNA; Metamorphamagi only change appearance. Am I right about that, sir?" He believed he was right.

Kazimeriz chuckled. "You are quite ambitious for your year... almost Slytherin, I would have thought. The work that you are attempting is extremely advanced. I am happy to help you with this project, but do not expect success to come immediately or quite possibly even during your time at Hogwarts. This is an extraordinarily advanced undertaking. Also, you would do better not to focus on muggle science such as 'altering DNA'-- yes, I am familiar with the concept -- but as you are looking to change the plant magically, you should be focusing on finding the proper quintessence to make an alchemical adaptation - well, first if I may ask, are you hoping to change the structure of a magical or mundane plant? And if magical, are you planning on using sentient plants that will be able to undergo metamorphasis at will? And what is the intention-- that is, what do you wish for the plants to be able to metamorphosize into? Before you begin, I would request that you begin by formulating a thesis statement and beginning an abstract. I would suggest you begin a journal specifically for this research project. Once you have written an in-depth hypothesis, defining your goals specifically, I would be happy to review it and offer suggestions for methodology. Also, it would be more than appropriate to visit the Herbology professor and discuss your research project with her, as you will need support and instruction in both disciplines if you are to achieve success. It may also be that she knows of similar studies that I am unaware of that may offer you additional assistance."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mrs. Weasley

"I understand sir. Sometimes we have to learn from our mistakes. The lesson may be harder, but knowledge gained is more inportant." Sidney knew well about learning lessons the hard way. She still bears the scares on her rear end where Ole Bertha's flames burned her. Sidney did learn to not go wandering in dragon's lairs alone again. She watche Tiberus for a moment and then goes looking for the curing salve.

"That is true, Miss Marlowe. Sometimes the hardest lessons are the ones best learned." He glanced at Pryce. Indeed.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivy Nienna

"Ah I see...vanishing.."
Raising her hand, she tried to not let her desperation show, well not too much.

"Professor, is there a particular wand movement I'm missing or...well if it's not too much trouble can you please help me with this? I'd really like to learn this..." she chuckled slightly. "It's become a bit of a personal goal sir."

Kazimeriz grinned. "Well, of course this is not charms class. Bu-ut... I do not see any reason to keep a student from learning a necessary skill." Okay, and he really missed teaching wand-work. But he would not admit that, even to himself. Also, he had just taught Upstead to charm ice... and he was in an exceptionally good mood as a result.

"Show me your motion again? And concentrate while you try to cast, keep your focus on your intent. Do not let your mind wander."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

... four hundred and eighteen, four hundred and nineteen, four hundred and twenty.

Of course, Jake had the habit of counting a little too fast, and whilst he waited for his watch to tell him the seven minutes was up, he continued stirring anti-clockwise on one hand and deftly turned on a bunsen flame with the other hand. Not the safest method, but safer than having it on for allllll the time he'd taken setting up and brewing.

When the bells rand from his watch, Jake instantly let go of the stirrer and reached for the willow bark, emptying the lot into the coooooold potion, and tapping the side of the vial to make sure it was all out. He then picked up the stirrer again and-

One. Two. Three. Four. Five.

- stirred it clockwise. As soon as the stirrer was at the exact place it had started from before the 5 stirs, Jake lifted the cauldron from the ice and, thankful the pewter was over ice so far and therefore not hot, placed it over the flame.

Then, as he checked his watch and set up a timer, he thought of something.

"Suhh-sir," Jake called over to the man, keeping an eye on the potion. "This ssssays to allow it to buhh-bbboil for fifteen mmminutes and then tttake it off the fffire. Does that muhh-mean keep it on the ffflame for fifteen mmminutes, period, or wuh-wait for it to bbboil, then start ttttiming?"

He did so want to get it right. It was PERFECT so far. Even if it was a ridiculously easy potion.

His watch was already counting down, just in case, but he could easily reset it at the right time.

"Boil for fifteen minutes means exactly that-- once the potion comes to a boil, time it for fifteen minutes then remove it from the flame." Kazimeriz offered.

Quote:

Originally Posted by live1laugh2love7

Nina nodded.

"Thank you." she said.

So she wrote in her notes:

Now to set the flame...

"Professor, could I try incendio to set the flame?? I've never done it before, but since we're out of class, I was hoping I could use it..." She hoped he said yes. She didn't want to disturb him so much, but she was very eager to try some spells.

"You may indeed, just have a care to point it directly under the cauldron. " He drew his wand out just in case she blew something up or set something on fire. It would hardly be the first time a student had blown up a potions lab... He remembered when he himself had set fire to Professor Slughorn's robes, so many, many years ago.

Ivy Nienna · 02-28-2010, 06:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

Kazimeriz grinned. "Well, of course this is not charms class. Bu-ut... I do not see any reason to keep a student from learning a necessary skill." Okay, and he really missed teaching wand-work. But he would not admit that, even to himself. Also, he had just taught Upstead to charm ice... and he was in an exceptionally good mood as a result.

"Show me your motion again? And concentrate while you try to cast, keep your focus on your intent. Do not let your mind wander."

Grinning toothily at his answer, Ivory pointed her wand at the little bowl a few times showing him her motion.

It wasn't too much of a wand movement, since the book was horribly vague. Seriously, a wand point? That could mean anything!

She was probably doing it all wrong. For all she knew a 'wand point' involved standing on one foot with one arm behind your back and squinting one eye, in a sort of 'One-eyed-Willie' move.

Sneaking a glance at Kazi, she wondered what would be his reaction if she actually attempted it...

Oh well her potion was done and bottled anyway...maybe a laugh or small chuckle was in order.

Lifting her leg she grabbed it behind her back with her left hand and balanced on one foot, a bit like a flamingo. It took a few little hops but finally she could stand with no problem, at least for now. Her eyes steadfastly on the bowl, she made a big show of closing one eye in an exaggerated wink and took aim.

Pointing her wand decisively, she pronounced the incantation as she imagined an empty bowl. Empty bowl. Empty bowl. Bowl that is empty. Bowl containing nothing.

"Evanesco!"

Not surprisingly, the liquid merely rippled again. Inside she was a mess trying to keep her face from smiling widely and pouting. She was sure, (aside from the One-eyed-Willie) that there had to be something specific about the 'point' that she was missing. Oh well, Kazi knew his stuff and hopefully if he wasn't to offended by her wand work (snicker snicker) he'd help her learn to point better.

Attempting to keep her face straight, she turn innocently back to the Professor. Her face giving off qeustion marks. What ever was she doing wrong?

XanaSnape · 02-28-2010, 07:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivy Nienna

Grinning toothily at his answer, Ivory pointed her wand at the little bowl a few times showing him her motion.

It wasn't too much of a wand movement, since the book was horribly vague. Seriously, a wand point? That could mean anything!

She was probably doing it all wrong. For all she knew a 'wand point' involved standing on one foot with one arm behind your back and squinting one eye, in a sort of 'One-eyed-Willie' move.

Sneaking a glance at Kazi, she wondered what would be his reaction if she actually attempted it...

Oh well her potion was done and bottled anyway...maybe a laugh or small chuckle was in order.

Lifting her leg she grabbed it behind her back with her left hand and balanced on one foot, a bit like a flamingo. It took a few little hops but finally she could stand with no problem, at least for now. Her eyes steadfastly on the bowl, she made a big show of closing one eye in an exaggerated wink and took aim.

Pointing her wand decisively, she pronounced the incantation as she imagined an empty bowl. Empty bowl. Empty bowl. Bowl that is empty. Bowl containing nothing.

"Evanesco!"

Not surprisingly, the liquid merely rippled again. Inside she was a mess trying to keep her face from smiling widely and pouting. She was sure, (aside from the One-eyed-Willie) that there had to be something specific about the 'point' that she was missing. Oh well, Kazi knew his stuff and hopefully if he wasn't to offended by her wand work (snicker snicker) he'd help her learn to point better.

Attempting to keep her face straight, she turn innocently back to the Professor. Her face giving off qeustion marks. What ever was she doing wrong?

Kazimeriz nodded, assessing her attempt. "First, you have the motion wrong. You need to use a wand point... That is, a motion like this." He demonstrated with his own wand, a kind of short thrust that stopped suddenly. "Then, add the subtractive motion, which is a light flick to the left, up and toward yourself-- very subtle, very slight." He demonstrated, drawing his wand left, flicking his wrist up just a hint as he drew his wand slightly closer to himself again. "Practice these two motions independently without considering the incantation. Then, when you are focusing-- what specifically are you focusing on? What are you thinking precisely?"

Ivy Nienna · 02-28-2010, 07:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

Kazimeriz nodded, assessing her attempt. "First, you have the motion wrong. You need to use a wand point... That is, a motion like this." He demonstrated with his own wand, a kind of short thrust that stopped suddenly. "Then, add the subtractive motion, which is a light flick to the left, up and toward yourself-- very subtle, very slight." He demonstrated, drawing his wand left, flicking his wrist up just a hint as he drew his wand slightly closer to himself again. "Practice these two motions independently without considering the incantation. Then, when you are focusing-- what specifically are you focusing on? What are you thinking precisely?"

...that you are one tough cookie who didn't even crack a smile?

Nah best not to say that.

"Aha I knew it couldn't be just a measly ol' point."

Practicing the short thrust as she answered, she tried to think of what she was thinking of-besides the One-eyed-Willie that is.

"I'm sort of visualizing that bowl," she indicated toward the small clear bowl where she'd poured some of her potion to practice on small amounts first."Empty. Imagining it without anything in it."

XanaSnape · 02-28-2010, 08:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivy Nienna

...that you are one tough cookie who didn't even crack a smile?

Nah best not to say that.

"Aha I knew it couldn't be just a measly ol' point."

Practicing the short thrust as she answered, she tried to think of what she was thinking of-besides the One-eyed-Willie that is.

"I'm sort of visualizing that bowl," she indicated toward the small clear bowl where she'd poured some of her potion to practice on small amounts first."Empty. Imagining it without anything in it."

"Ah-ha, that's your problem-- that and the wand motion. You are focusing on the bowl with nothing in it. The subject in your mind is a bowl. Practice wand motion and incantation until it is second nature. Then... Focus on the the potion -- potion there, then potion gone. Potion there, potion gone. Really focus. Then, add the motion with the incantation, but keep your mind focused on the concept- the potion, there and then gone. See it in your mind's eye, disappearing. Try it." Kazimeriz gave her an encouraging nod.

AmbiguouslyMe · 02-28-2010, 09:04 PM

Tiberius stared up at the book forlornly. Too big. Too far away. Scrunching his face, he took a few steps back, took a deep breath, and ran as fast as he could at the shelf, jumping right before he hit it, trying to swat the book down.

And failed.

Windsfreak · 02-28-2010, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

Kazimeriz chuckled. "You are quite ambitious for your year... almost Slytherin, I would have thought. The work that you are attempting is extremely advanced. I am happy to help you with this project, but do not expect success to come immediately or quite possibly even during your time at Hogwarts. This is an extraordinarily advanced undertaking. Also, you would do better not to focus on muggle science such as 'altering DNA'-- yes, I am familiar with the concept -- but as you are looking to change the plant magically, you should be focusing on finding the proper quintessence to make an alchemical adaptation - well, first if I may ask, are you hoping to change the structure of a magical or mundane plant? And if magical, are you planning on using sentient plants that will be able to undergo metamorphasis at will? And what is the intention-- that is, what do you wish for the plants to be able to metamorphosize into? Before you begin, I would request that you begin by formulating a thesis statement and beginning an abstract. I would suggest you begin a journal specifically for this research project. Once you have written an in-depth hypothesis, defining your goals specifically, I would be happy to review it and offer suggestions for methodology. Also, it would be more than appropriate to visit the Herbology professor and discuss your research project with her, as you will need support and instruction in both disciplines if you are to achieve success. It may also be that she knows of similar studies that I am unaware of that may offer you additional assistance."

Matheu smiled, and gave a small laugh. "That's great, Professor!" he said. I guess I haven't really thought this through. I'm not expecting any immediate reaction at all -- just an outcome. I really haven't decided on what type of plant to use; I guess the best to use would be mundane. But I'm not too familiar with what you mean by the quintesscence to make the alchemical adaption. I have figured out that the nitrogen within the blood is quite unstable, but I have to balance that out, and I am not too certain what to use to do that. Are there any other loose ends to my research?"

Felixir · 02-28-2010, 09:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

"Boil for fifteen minutes means exactly that-- once the potion comes to a boil, time it for fifteen minutes then remove it from the flame." Kazimeriz offered.

"Aye, aye, cap'n," Jake gave a mock salute and reset his watch again. He kept an eye on his potion, but kept becoming distracted by other things in the room. Little things. Because now he wasn't focusing on DOING something, he was quite liable to lose concentration.

When the potion finally began bubbling, Jake pressed the timer on his watch. For the next fifteen minutes he sat staring at the watch, glancing up every fifteen seconds to make sure the potion was okay.

Those fifteen minutes.

Took.

FOREVER.

Probably something about that phrase, a watch kettle never boils... but this was a cauldron, so that didn't really make sense. Ah well.

FINALLY, his watch made those bell noises, and straight away Jake moved the cauldron from the flame and quickly turned off the bunsen burner. He stalled here, having forgotten the next step, but it came back him soon enough. He put the stirrer back in and attempted to count out seventy seconds for stirring the potion clockwise (he was in a bit of a rush to set his watch again), then held it still.

Finally, in went the porcupine quill aaaaand-

One, two, three, four, five.

-he was done! It just had to cool now.

Beginning the process of tidying up his equipment, Jake hesitantly called for the man in charge. "Ssssir... would you mmmind telling me if I buhh-brewed this good?" Okay, bad grammar, but he was distracted. "It's mmmeant to be an easy ppppotion... I just wwwant to make sure I did it ggggood."

Quote:

Fever-reducing Potion

Ingredients:
2 g willow bark (dried, crushed)
0.4 g snake fangs (crushed)
2 g horned toads (bowels)
1 porcupine quill

Instructions:

*note: portions of this potion are brewed on ice

1) place the bowels of horned toads in 500 mL ice water

2) add snake fangs and stir counter-clockwise for 7 minutes on ice

3) add willow bark and stir clockwise 5 times before placing over flame

4) allow mixture to boil for fifteen minutes then, remove from fire

5) stir clockwise for seventy seconds then, add porcupine quills and stir five times clockwise

6) allow potion to cool

live1laugh2love7 · 02-28-2010, 09:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

"You may indeed, just have a care to point it directly under the cauldron. " He drew his wand out just in case she blew something up or set something on fire. It would hardly be the first time a student had blown up a potions lab... He remembered when he himself had set fire to Professor Slughorn's robes, so many, many years ago.

Great. He took his want out. THAT made Nina nervous. But she tried to do just what she did with every other spell she's used. She just concentrated hard underneath the cauldron, where the fire should be.

She pointed her want and gave it a small flick and said, "Incendio!"

ooc: please let me know what happens. because if it were up to me, I obviously would rp perfect results... but Nina can't be perfect, can she? I don't know, so I'll leave it up to you. (:

Ivy Nienna · 03-01-2010, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

"Ah-ha, that's your problem-- that and the wand motion. You are focusing on the bowl with nothing in it. The subject in your mind is a bowl. Practice wand motion and incantation until it is second nature. Then... Focus on the the potion -- potion there, then potion gone. Potion there, potion gone. Really focus. Then, add the motion with the incantation, but keep your mind focused on the concept- the potion, there and then gone. See it in your mind's eye, disappearing. Try it." Kazimeriz gave her an encouraging nod.

Ivory's eyes widened in realization and she almost gasped.
It was as if she'd been blind up until that moment but now she could see. So simple an idea but so profound its implication. Never in her life would she have come to that conclusion on her own...yet here he was...this man....this teacher...from seemingly another time, another world. Nay! From heaven itself! Bringing her a sacred fruit from the tree of knowledge.
She visualized herself metaphorically taking a bite out of the fruit and reeling in wonder at glorious taste of realization....

".....well that makes sense." she nodded affirmatively. "I'll give it a shot..."

Following his advice, she practiced the short thrusting of her wand a few times before slowly practicing retracting her wand by first flicking her wrist to the left then up slightly towards her.
Thrust-stop-left-up. Thrust-stop-left-up. Thrust-stop-left-up.

At first her movements were large and exaggerated so that she would get each motion right but eventually as she practiced them again and again eventually they grew smaller. The thrust and flick more subtle until it was all a fluid motion. By any means still not graceful and flawless like the Professor's, but it was something.

Adding the incantation to her movements, she repeated it all again and again. Until she was positive that she would never associate any other word with that motion, nor any other motion with that word.

Now for the concentrating part....

Glaring at the bowl, she tried to look past it to zero in on the liquid. The potion. The potion that was there now but hopefully wouldn't be there.

Bringing up her thumb in front of her vision, she used it a few times to block her view of the liquid in the bowl. Potion there. Insert thumb. Potion gone.Potion there. Insert thumb. Potion gone. Moving on, she visualized it all in her mind, the incantation, the wand movement, the potion just disappearing. Just gone.

Pointing her wand at the bowl, she squinted her eyes and glared at its contents, willing them to disappear. "Evanesco!" Thrust-stop-left-up went her wand in time with her words.

The liquid shuddered and then seemed to suddenly deplete a little bit. Oh for the love of Merlin's fluffy bathrobe! Well at least some had vanished.

Sighing, she tried a few more times...and then a few more until only half of the original contents of the bowl were left.

Her face a grimace of concentration (potion there potion gone), she took aim at the remaining liquid. This was it! It was all going to be gone gone! Potion was going to vanish. Every drop!
"Evanesco!" Her wand shot forward in a short thrust that quickly stopped and flicked lightly to the left and up towards her all in one solid fluid motion.

Her eyes on her target, she watched in fascination as the liquid contents of the bowl just vanished. Just poof gone into thin air.

Almost squealing in excitement, Ivory rushed forward and tipped the liquid-less bowl this way and that. It'd worked! Oh joy! "Look Professor it worked. It worked!"

Practically bouncing she could not resist giving the Professor an impromptu little hug before going back and examining the bowl again. As if she couldn't believe what she'd just done and the potion was going to come back any second.

XanaSnape · 03-02-2010, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windsfreak

Matheu smiled, and gave a small laugh. "That's great, Professor!" he said. I guess I haven't really thought this through. I'm not expecting any immediate reaction at all -- just an outcome. I really haven't decided on what type of plant to use; I guess the best to use would be mundane. But I'm not too familiar with what you mean by the quintesscence to make the alchemical adaption. I have figured out that the nitrogen within the blood is quite unstable, but I have to balance that out, and I am not too certain what to use to do that. Are there any other loose ends to my research?"

The boy wasn't familiar with quintessence? Ah, it appeared he had not completely comprehended the N.E.W.T. level books he claimed to have read. Still, he showed promise... "There are many loose ends to your research, in that your research has barely begun. Your first step will be to write up a potions proposal- a treatment or essay explaining in detail what you hope to accomplish. Once you have done that, I would ask that you take it to the Herbology Professor and ask her what sort of plant would best suit your needs -- magical, mundane, sentient -- that's a plant which can think independently and make decisions, such as a tentacula or snare -- or purely reactionary. Ask that she give you at least three different plant specimens to experiment on, and perhaps a control specimen as well... She will be able to direct you to what is appropriate depending on what you hope to create in your outcome. Once that is complete, you should bring your seedlings back to this lab and we can proceed more appropriately with her information in hand. You will then draft a complete thesis and we can evaluate it... After which time, if it seems well defined, I shall place you with a promising N.E.W.T. level student as a research partner and we can start to work out the process." Kazimeriz nodded to the boy once.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

"Aye, aye, cap'n," Jake gave a mock salute and reset his watch again. He kept an eye on his potion, but kept becoming distracted by other things in the room. Little things. Because now he wasn't focusing on DOING something, he was quite liable to lose concentration.

When the potion finally began bubbling, Jake pressed the timer on his watch. For the next fifteen minutes he sat staring at the watch, glancing up every fifteen seconds to make sure the potion was okay.

Those fifteen minutes.

Took.

FOREVER.

Probably something about that phrase, a watch kettle never boils... but this was a cauldron, so that didn't really make sense. Ah well.

FINALLY, his watch made those bell noises, and straight away Jake moved the cauldron from the flame and quickly turned off the bunsen burner. He stalled here, having forgotten the next step, but it came back him soon enough. He put the stirrer back in and attempted to count out seventy seconds for stirring the potion clockwise (he was in a bit of a rush to set his watch again), then held it still.

Finally, in went the porcupine quill aaaaand-

One, two, three, four, five.

-he was done! It just had to cool now.

Beginning the process of tidying up his equipment, Jake hesitantly called for the man in charge. "Ssssir... would you mmmind telling me if I buhh-brewed this good?" Okay, bad grammar, but he was distracted. "It's mmmeant to be an easy ppppotion... I just wwwant to make sure I did it ggggood."

Kazimeriz shuffled over to the boy and took a look. "It looks correct, but the only way to know is to test it." He raised an eyebrow and looked at the boy.

Quote:

Originally Posted by AmbiguouslyMe

Tiberius stared up at the book forlornly. Too big. Too far away. Scrunching his face, he took a few steps back, took a deep breath, and ran as fast as he could at the shelf, jumping right before he hit it, trying to swat the book down.

And failed.

Kazimeriz smirked. "Keep trying, Pryce. Pity you cannot levitate it down..."

Quote:

Originally Posted by live1laugh2love7

Great. He took his want out. THAT made Nina nervous. But she tried to do just what she did with every other spell she's used. She just concentrated hard underneath the cauldron, where the fire should be.

She pointed her want and gave it a small flick and said, "Incendio!"

ooc: please let me know what happens. because if it were up to me, I obviously would rp perfect results... but Nina can't be perfect, can she? I don't know, so I'll leave it up to you. (:

Kazimeriz watched as sparks shot from the wand. "Good, good try. A little more of a flick and you should have a decent flame."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivy Nienna

Ivory's eyes widened in realization and she almost gasped.
It was as if she'd been blind up until that moment but now she could see. So simple an idea but so profound its implication. Never in her life would she have come to that conclusion on her own...yet here he was...this man....this teacher...from seemingly another time, another world. Nay! From heaven itself! Bringing her a sacred fruit from the tree of knowledge.
She visualized herself metaphorically taking a bite out of the fruit and reeling in wonder at glorious taste of realization....

".....well that makes sense." she nodded affirmatively. "I'll give it a shot..."

Following his advice, she practiced the short thrusting of her wand a few times before slowly practicing retracting her wand by first flicking her wrist to the left then up slightly towards her.
Thrust-stop-left-up. Thrust-stop-left-up. Thrust-stop-left-up.

At first her movements were large and exaggerated so that she would get each motion right but eventually as she practiced them again and again eventually they grew smaller. The thrust and flick more subtle until it was all a fluid motion. By any means still not graceful and flawless like the Professor's, but it was something.

Adding the incantation to her movements, she repeated it all again and again. Until she was positive that she would never associate any other word with that motion, nor any other motion with that word.

Now for the concentrating part....

Glaring at the bowl, she tried to look past it to zero in on the liquid. The potion. The potion that was there now but hopefully wouldn't be there.

Bringing up her thumb in front of her vision, she used it a few times to block her view of the liquid in the bowl. Potion there. Insert thumb. Potion gone.Potion there. Insert thumb. Potion gone. Moving on, she visualized it all in her mind, the incantation, the wand movement, the potion just disappearing. Just gone.

Pointing her wand at the bowl, she squinted her eyes and glared at its contents, willing them to disappear. "Evanesco!" Thrust-stop-left-up went her wand in time with her words.

The liquid shuddered and then seemed to suddenly deplete a little bit. Oh for the love of Merlin's fluffy bathrobe! Well at least some had vanished.

Sighing, she tried a few more times...and then a few more until only half of the original contents of the bowl were left.

Her face a grimace of concentration (potion there potion gone), she took aim at the remaining liquid. This was it! It was all going to be gone gone! Potion was going to vanish. Every drop!
"Evanesco!" Her wand shot forward in a short thrust that quickly stopped and flicked lightly to the left and up towards her all in one solid fluid motion.

Her eyes on her target, she watched in fascination as the liquid contents of the bowl just vanished. Just poof gone into thin air.

Almost squealing in excitement, Ivory rushed forward and tipped the liquid-less bowl this way and that. It'd worked! Oh joy! "Look Professor it worked. It worked!"

Practically bouncing she could not resist giving the Professor an impromptu little hug before going back and examining the bowl again. As if she couldn't believe what she'd just done and the potion was going to come back any second.

He looked momentarily shocked as she hugged-- HUGGED -- the old man. Completely ruffled, he smoothed his robes, clearly jarred by the experience. "Indeed, it did. I recommend practicing it regularly; it will soon be second nature." He flushed a little; it always pleased him as an educator to see a student excited over their own success.

Windsfreak · 03-02-2010, 06:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

The boy wasn't familiar with quintessence? Ah, it appeared he had not completely comprehended the N.E.W.T. level books he claimed to have read. Still, he showed promise... "There are many loose ends to your research, in that your research has barely begun. Your first step will be to write up a potions proposal- a treatment or essay explaining in detail what you hope to accomplish. Once you have done that, I would ask that you take it to the Herbology Professor and ask her what sort of plant would best suit your needs -- magical, mundane, sentient -- that's a plant which can think independently and make decisions, such as a tentacula or snare -- or purely reactionary. Ask that she give you at least three different plant specimens to experiment on, and perhaps a control specimen as well... She will be able to direct you to what is appropriate depending on what you hope to create in your outcome. Once that is complete, you should bring your seedlings back to this lab and we can proceed more appropriately with her information in hand. You will then draft a complete thesis and we can evaluate it... After which time, if it seems well defined, I shall place you with a promising N.E.W.T. level student as a research partner and we can start to work out the process." Kazimeriz nodded to the boy once.

"Fantastic! Matheu said. "Okay, I'll get right on that! Thank so much, Professor!"

Ivy Nienna · 03-03-2010, 12:03 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

He looked momentarily shocked as she hugged-- HUGGED -- the old man. Completely ruffled, he smoothed his robes, clearly jarred by the experience. "Indeed, it did. I recommend practicing it regularly; it will soon be second nature." He flushed a little; it always pleased him as an educator to a student excited over their own success.

Ivory completely ignored the fact that Kazimeriz had been ruffled by her hug. In her young overactive imagination, not only had he returned the hug but also given her a grandfatherly pat on the head for good measure.

"Oh I will Professor....ooooh I know I'll practice on the mess in my room! But first..." she turned back to her cauldron now, and glaring at it purposefully."the cauldron"

Pointing her wand at her cauldron, she concentrated its potion contents, imagining the liquid just disappearing.
"Evanesco!" She pronounced excitedly as she thrust her wand forward with a smooth left and upward subtle retract.

Voila!

Sure there were a few drops sticking to the side but that she could just clean off herself. Grabbing the little bottle of Mrs. Scower's All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover and a little rag from her potion's kit, she made short work of the interior of her cauldron, and then took it to the back to scrub it all once more. Drying it carefully she remembered something about having to cure your cauldron...

Opening her mouth about to ask the Professor, she suddenly remembered that she'd head him explain it earlier to the other first year in the room.

After she dropped off her cauldron on her workstation, she made a detour to the storage to retrieve the bottle of Cure-All.

Hmm.Staring at the shelf of cleaning supplies she saw there was quite a variety of them. In the end though, she ended up choosing Mrs. Scowers Cauldron Cure All simply because it had a nice purple bottle.

Dabbing some on a clean little rag, she took her time rubbing it all over the inside of her cauldron. By the time she was finished, the young girl had to admit she was exhausted. What with the vigorous stirring, learning the vanishing charm, and now all this cleaning...well suffice to say she was going to love a nice hot bath and warm bed later.

A sigh escaping her lips, Ivory placed the cauldron back on its stand and cast her familiar fire kindling charm.

"Succendo!" She pronounced the incantation as effectively as she could and watched with a tired smile as a low small flame blossomed beneath the cauldron, almost cradling it.

Using the time to place all her equipment safely in it's proper casings, she kept one eye on the cauldron...waiting until steam stopped rising.

It didn't take too long at least not really but by the end Ivory felt like weeks had passed in that time alone.

Casting Finite on the fire, she let it cool to room temperature (another month in her time) and then finally placed it into it's dragonhide satchel.

Pressing the fiery tip of her wand against her mokeskin belt, she carefully placed all her equipment back into the bag that billowed out, and then retracted back to a simple patch when she was finished.

Holstering her wand, she grabbed her labeled phial and made her way to Professor Kazimeriz's desk.

SPOILER!!: Label

Holding it out triumphantly, she smiled.

"Here you are sir, one aging potion."

Felixir · 03-03-2010, 12:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

Kazimeriz shuffled over to the boy and took a look. "It looks correct, but the only way to know is to test it." He raised an eyebrow and looked at the boy.

Jake just... stared at Kazi as he let his potion cool. Yes... testing it would be a good idea, but there was one teeeeeny tiny problem.

"I d-d-don't hhhave a fever, sssir," the boy pointed out, clearly nonplussed. "I c-c-can't tttest it."

Shame he didn't have pneumonia anymore.

...

Well, actually, no... no it wasn't a shame.

Jake bit on his lip and stared at his potion, glancing to the first year who had brewed an aging potion and wanting to blurt out that he wanted to know why Kazi would need it. Unless he wanted to be dust, or something.

"Hmmm."

Hmmm indeed. Quite a conundrum.

Mrs. Weasley · 03-04-2010, 04:39 AM

Sidney skips back to her work station. She is very proud of herself. Let's see. I wrote the instructions down. She looks through her potion journal and finds the instructions for curing her cauldron.

Quote:

Wash Cauldron and dry thoroughly

Inspect your cauldron for cracks and other imperfections

Rub the interior with a curing salve: Mrs. Scowers Cauldron Cure all works fine

When interior is coved with salve, place cauldron over a low flame

Steam should form and rise out of the cauldron

When the steam subsides, the cure all has been totally absorbed into the cauldron surface.

Let cauldron cool at Room Tempature

I've already washed my cauldron and dried it thoroughly. I need to check the interior. Sidney looks the inside over closely and runs her hands over the interior. Smooth as glass. I should be able to apply the salve now. Sidney opens the jar of curing salve Sidney grabs a small sponge from her potion kit, and smears the salve all over the interior of her cauldron. She then places it on its stand and starts a low fire over it. Sidney watches the steam that rises from it. It takes about fifteen minutes for the them to stop rising. Sidney checks the interior of her cauldron. The white salve has disappeard. The interior is as dark as the exterior. She puts on her dragon hide gloves and removes the hot caldron from its stand. Sidney lets it sit to one side an cool while she cleans up her station.

XanaSnape · 03-05-2010, 06:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Windsfreak

"Fantastic! Matheu said. "Okay, I'll get right on that! Thank so much, Professor!"

Kazimeriz nodded. "Get to writing, then, so that you may go to the Herbology professor. I confess I am curious to hear what she has to say on the matter."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ivy Nienna

Ivory completely ignored the fact that Kazimeriz had been ruffled by her hug. In her young overactive imagination, not only had he returned the hug but also given her a grandfatherly pat on the head for good measure.

"Oh I will Professor....ooooh I know I'll practice on the mess in my room! But first..." she turned back to her cauldron now, and glaring at it purposefully."the cauldron"

Pointing her wand at her cauldron, she concentrated its potion contents, imagining the liquid just disappearing.
"Evanesco!" She pronounced excitedly as she thrust her wand forward with a smooth left and upward subtle retract.

Voila!

Sure there were a few drops sticking to the side but that she could just clean off herself. Grabbing the little bottle of Mrs. Scower's All-Purpose Magical Mess Remover and a little rag from her potion's kit, she made short work of the interior of her cauldron, and then took it to the back to scrub it all once more. Drying it carefully she remembered something about having to cure your cauldron...

Opening her mouth about to ask the Professor, she suddenly remembered that she'd head him explain it earlier to the other first year in the room.

After she dropped off her cauldron on her workstation, she made a detour to the storage to retrieve the bottle of Cure-All.

Hmm.Staring at the shelf of cleaning supplies she saw there was quite a variety of them. In the end though, she ended up choosing Mrs. Scowers Cauldron Cure All simply because it had a nice purple bottle.

Dabbing some on a clean little rag, she took her time rubbing it all over the inside of her cauldron. By the time she was finished, the young girl had to admit she was exhausted. What with the vigorous stirring, learning the vanishing charm, and now all this cleaning...well suffice to say she was going to love a nice hot bath and warm bed later.

A sigh escaping her lips, Ivory placed the cauldron back on its stand and cast her familiar fire kindling charm.

"Succendo!" She pronounced the incantation as effectively as she could and watched with a tired smile as a low small flame blossomed beneath the cauldron, almost cradling it.

Using the time to place all her equipment safely in it's proper casings, she kept one eye on the cauldron...waiting until steam stopped rising.

It didn't take too long at least not really but by the end Ivory felt like weeks had passed in that time alone.

Casting Finite on the fire, she let it cool to room temperature (another month in her time) and then finally placed it into it's dragonhide satchel.

Pressing the fiery tip of her wand against her mokeskin belt, she carefully placed all her equipment back into the bag that billowed out, and then retracted back to a simple patch when she was finished.

Holstering her wand, she grabbed her labeled phial and made her way to Professor Kazimeriz's desk.

SPOILER!!: Label

Holding it out triumphantly, she smiled.

"Here you are sir, one aging potion."

"Very good, Miss Erised. If you would like to test it -- and you should -- I would recommend trying a drop of it on a fresh leaf off one of the mundane plants in the room. A single drop on one of the seedlings should cause it to go to seed as it advances a season... in which case you will know you succeeded." Kazimeriz nodded to her, gesturing to a sampling of potted plants on the counter in the corner of the room. "But please do not use the blooming daisies, if you please. They are a particular favorite of mine."

Quote:

Originally Posted by Zoerawrr

Jake just... stared at Kazi as he let his potion cool. Yes... testing it would be a good idea, but there was one teeeeeny tiny problem.

"I d-d-don't hhhave a fever, sssir," the boy pointed out, clearly nonplussed. "I c-c-can't tttest it."

Shame he didn't have pneumonia anymore.

...

Well, actually, no... no it wasn't a shame.

Jake bit on his lip and stared at his potion, glancing to the first year who had brewed an aging potion and wanting to blurt out that he wanted to know why Kazi would need it. Unless he wanted to be dust, or something.

"Hmmm."

Hmmm indeed. Quite a conundrum.

"You can still test it, Mr. Upstead. You have permission to take a sample of fever fudge - it is in the sealed, marked container on the Complete Potions shelf, under F for -- well, that is obvious. Only take a small sample, however, and then once you feel your temperature rising, you may sample your potion."

Zellanna · 03-05-2010, 11:29 PM

Lina dashed into the potions lab, it having been the first place she could think of to find a professor. She was very careful to stop just in the doorway, however, not wanting to disturb the other students. Lithely she darted over to Kazimeriz, speaking quietly but urgently. "Professor! There's two girls fighting down in the kitchen! They've drawn wands."

XanaSnape · 03-05-2010, 11:39 PM

Kazimeriz raised and eyebrow. He looked to the students in the lab. "Upstead, as senior student in this lab I ask that you watch over your fellow students in my absence. No one is to attempt anything dangerous until I return." He looked particularly at Pryce as he said that. "Lead the way, Miss Materia." Grasping his silver and obsidian cane, he gestured for the girl to show him to the quarrel.

ooc- lead the way, the prof will follow!

Zellanna · 03-05-2010, 11:41 PM

Jake was being left in charge of the lab? Oh boy... Well, it didn't matter right now. She nodded to the professor and darted back out of the lab, doing her best not to run too far ahead. Raiden could handle himself, right?

Felixir · 03-06-2010, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

"You can still test it, Mr. Upstead. You have permission to take a sample of fever fudge - it is in the sealed, marked container on the Complete Potions shelf, under F for -- well, that is obvious. Only take a small sample, however, and then once you feel your temperature rising, you may sample your potion."

Jake nodded, but warily. He was very... opposed to feeling unwell.

Still, it was worth it... Jake was pretty sure he'd managed the potion correctly. And so, with another quick glance at his potion, Jake nodded to himself and headed straight for this 'Complete Potions' shelf. Once there, he had to concentrate and read the letters; he got the E and F confused at first, but soon managed. Up there he saw the familiar words that were on the top of the sheaf of parchment he was referring to for his potion, so... logic dictated that it would be the one closest on the left.

"Fev... ur Fud-gee," Jake read out, and shrugged. Close enough.

Taking a liiiiiiittle bit, Jake replaced the container and returned to his potion.

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

Kazimeriz raised and eyebrow. He looked to the students in the lab. "Upstead, as senior student in this lab I ask that you watch over your fellow students in my absence. No one is to attempt anything dangerous until I return." He looked particularly at Pryce as he said that. "Lead the way, Miss Materia." Grasping his silver and obsidian cane, he gestured for the girl to show him to the quarrel.

O_O

Jake stared. He was the senior student here?

That could NOT be good.

Still, he nodded his head and watched as the man left. "Yessir."

And waited for the potion to cool.

And no WAY was he testing it before Kazi got back. No. He'd wait and just be all *senior student* in the meantime.

XanaSnape · 03-06-2010, 03:44 PM

Professor Kazimeriz returned to the potions lab, obviously annoyed. He scanned the room with a sour expression.

"I am glad to see that my lab is still intact, at the very least. Upstead! Did I not instruct you to consume the fever fudge so you could test your potion? What in Merlin's pinstriped pajamas are you waiting for?" He glared at the boy.

He waited impatiently for the students who were in trouble to enter the room.

EllaKins! · 03-06-2010, 03:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

Professor Kazimeriz returned to the potions lab, obviously annoyed. He scanned the room with a sour expression.

"I am glad to see that my lab is still intact, at the very least. Upstead! Did I not instruct you to consume the fever fudge so you could test your potion? What in Merlin's pinstriped pajamas are you waiting for?" He glared at the boy.

He waited impatiently for the students who were in trouble to enter the room.

Violet walked into the Potions Lab with her arms crossed she rolled her eyes. "Where do you want me to sit or do you prefer standing?" she asked in a completely bored tone.

BluePhyre · 03-06-2010, 04:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by XanaSnape

Professor Kazimeriz returned to the potions lab, obviously annoyed. He scanned the room with a sour expression.

"I am glad to see that my lab is still intact, at the very least. Upstead! Did I not instruct you to consume the fever fudge so you could test your potion? What in Merlin's pinstriped pajamas are you waiting for?" He glared at the boy.

He waited impatiently for the students who were in trouble to enter the room.

Sapphyre walked into the Potions Lab, head down as if on death row. Really, she was vaguely plotting to murde Violet slowly and painfully, but it wasn't going to happen anyway. Just a nice little distraction for her seething anger, which wouldn't be the best to let through to her exterior.

She glanced around; other students were there, and she blushed. She didn't want to be labeled as a trouble-maker... She had only defended herself. So, looking away to hide her face, she came to a stop beside Violet.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Draco21

Violet walked into the Potions Lab with her arms crossed she rolled her eyes. "Where do you want me to sit or do you prefer standing?" she asked in a completely bored tone.

Sapphyre rolled her eyes; Violet was too full of gall for her own good. How stupid could she be? She already lost two points for their House, and was still acting like a snotty brat towards the Professor. Eyes narrowed, she turned back to her.

"Please attempt to keep your mouth shut," she said evenly and under her breath. "Every time you open it we seem to lose more House Points, and we're only barely leading above Gryffindor as it is. At this rate, we'll be in last place instead of the prestigous third that we're in, and I'm sure you wouldn't want to sabotage your noble family."

Felixir · 03-06-2010, 04:38 PM

At the sound of his name being called out, Jake started, flinch!jumping and accidentally letting go of the fudge when his arms flew up. After a panicky fumble, he eventually recaught the fudge and looked at Kazi.

And the students behind him, who were obviously the reason for Kazi's wonderful mood.

Ruh-roh.

"I wuhh-was wwwaiting to mmmake sure there wwas sssomeone here who c-c-could hhhelp if it wwwent wrong. Me bbbeing the sssenior student and all," the boy explained nervously. "It suhh-seemed like the ssssmart thing to d-d-do at the tttime."

Especially given Jake's magical history.

EllaKins! · 03-06-2010, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BluePhyre

Sapphyre walked into the Potions Lab, head down as if on death row. Really, she was vaguely plotting to murde Violet slowly and painfully, but it wasn't going to happen anyway. Just a nice little distraction for her seething anger, which wouldn't be the best to let through to her exterior.

She glanced around; other students were there, and she blushed. She didn't want to be labeled as a trouble-maker... She had only defended herself. So, looking away to hide her face, she came to a stop beside Violet.

Sapphyre rolled her eyes; Violet was too full of gall for her own good. How stupid could she be? She already lost two points for their House, and was still acting like a snotty brat towards the Professor. Eyes narrowed, she turned back to her.

"Please attempt to keep your mouth shut," she said evenly and under her breath. "Every time you open it we seem to lose more House Points, and we're only barely leading above Gryffindor as it is. At this rate, we'll be in last place instead of the prestigous third that we're in, and I'm sure you wouldn't want to sabotage your noble family."

"Shut up Sapphyre its all your fault." said Violet under her breath. She glared at the stuttering boy who apparently was left in charge as Kaz was gone.

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