Kurumi squirmed uncomfortably in her seat. She had seen this part of the lesson coming since they had started brewing, but it didn't make it any less awkward given the discussion that had gone on earlier. Even the small disclaimer offered by Professor Lafay at the end of her instructions brought attention to the fact, causing the Gryffindor to swallow hard.

She folded up her parchment and looked around the room nervously, wishing that a certain someone, or was it someones, was in the lesson. Sighing, Kurumi slowly rose from her seat, hovering there as she scanned for a familiar face to pair up with.

Alyssa wasn't surprised when Sierra told her that touching the spindle wouldn't hurt at all. "I guess it'll be like a prick right. Heck! I've pricked myself so much just doing Ancient Runes alone, that another prick won't hurt. So I'll be happy to do the pricking. I'm more worried about the potion. I really hope that the Wiggenweld potion works." Alyssa told Sierra attempting a smile but failed.

"Okay here goes." Alyssa told Sierra. She leaned over the spindle and poked her finger on it. She looked at her finger as it bled and then she started feeling woozy. She quickly sat on the floor, because she didn't want to end up falling face first on the floor and before she knew it....she was out cold!!

Sierra watched the scene unfold before her eyes. Pretty soon, the Puffer was out cold. Hey! They should do this to all the Puffs! Knock 'em out cold all term! Sierra sort of liked the Puffers this way, but she had a potion to test, too. Grabbing a paintbrush, she dipped the tip of it into the potion. Then bringing the paintbrush toward Alyssa, she gently rubbed the potion onto the girl's lips.

When she was sure that she had a good amount applied, she stepped back. While she waited to see what would happen, she cleaned out the paintbrush so none of the potion would waste onto the floor.

Well maybe he shouldnt feel too much of a creeper about seeing opportunities to kiss pretty girls, specially the Professor was chuckling and not berating him. When he listened to the Historian relate the Hag's end Vickers couldnt help but give a firm nod. Say what you will, but everybody gets their just deserts at one time or another.




Vickers extinguished the flame under the cauldron and took hold of the boom berry juice. He held it close to his nose and breathed in-- he could smell the tartiness. Although it was tempting to take a scoopful, he decided that putting in the entire content into the cauldron would be better, he didnt want to affect ratio and proportions and such.



Oh no. He was afraid of this part. Testing.

Even if it was a controlled environment, it was still the Draught of Living Death. Even if they're not really dying. He was queasy about the whole thing, couldnt they find some kind of magical lab rat?

Then he looks up and sees Kurumi walking about. She needs to get her potion tested out too right? "Hey Kurumi!" he raised his hand and half stood. "I can test your potion out for you."

And before he knew it, he effectively volunteered himself for the Draught of Living Death.

Alyssa slowly woke up. 'Wait didn't I just prick myself? Why am I on the floor?' Alyssa thought to herself before remembering that she most likely must have fallen asleep immediately after pricking herself with the spindle that was laced with the potion. She looked up at Sierra and saw her holding the paintbrush. She must have rubbed the potion on her lips to counter the other potion. 'Thank goodness she didn't leave me here to lie here until next term.' Alyssa thought to herself. She first checked to make sure that she still had all her limbs before touching her face to make sure that she hadn't been drooling while she slept. Satisfied that everything was as it should be, Alyssa smiled up at Sierra.

"Thanks for waking me up. I'm so glad that your potion worked." Alyssa thanked the older girl.

Maybe...she could come up with an excuse that since everyone was already paired off that she didn't have anyone to work with and therefore could not test her potion? She knew that that wasn't going to fly with the Potions Mistress, who was probably keeping an even closer eye on her now in case of any slip ups, so Kurumi sighed heavily and was about to walk a bit further when she heard someone say her name.

"Vickers! Hey," she chirped, tucking a few strands of hair behind her ear. "I-I-If you're sure..." she said, glancing at the spindle and then back towards him before picking up a brush and holding it in her hand.

Slytherin? Yeah, Ira totally agreed with Professor Lafay that the wizard was a slytherin.

What were they actually going to be poisoned? Ira groaned slightly. No, she didn't want this activity. She didn't wanna partner up. But she had no choice.

And then she totally cracked up when Lafay said no kissing! Hehe... Ira couldn't control her giggles so she just covered her mouth and looked sideways and behind, to avoid Professor's gaze.

"Does anyone want to partner up with me?" Ira asked, no one in particular.

As she desperately waited to hear that they weren't going to have to test their potions, Stella resisted rolling her eyes at the comment that Professor Lafay had made to Professor Scabior. Not all Slytherins are that unfeeling, you know, she settled on thinking. Keeping things quiet were better when dealing with these professors, that was for sure. Of course, then the professor had gone on to say that in fact they were going to have to test their potions. She hadn't really thought they would get out of that, although she sent a bit of a worried glance toward the spinning wheel at the front of the room. It would have been worse if she'd known it was laced with Draught of Living Death at the beginning of the lesson, but it certainly didn't make her feel any better knowing that now. Even if she was fairly certain her Wiggenweld Potion was brewed correctly.

Glancing at the promise ring on her finger, she tried to convince herself that she was going to get out of this safely. Even if her potion wasn't perfect, the professors wouldn't let her stay under the effects of the other potion forever. The headmaster wouldn't allow it. She would have felt safer if matt had been there, in any case, and she'd finally looked up to see that people were already pairing off. Alyssa and Sierra, Vickers had gone over to Kurumi... that was half the people in the lesson she really knew, right there. She knew she wouldn't get out of the lesson without testing her potion, though, so she started looking around again seconds before hearing someone ask for a partner.

Noticing the little Gryffindor holding back giggles at something or another, she stood up and went over to her quietly. "I need a partner too," she said with the slightest of smiles. Hopefully it came across as reassuring, or at least not terrified that she was going to end up on the wrong side of one of Professor Lafay's evil potions. She did take a deep breath as she waited for a response, though. Staying calm was better. At least, she thought it was. If she stayed calm, she'd just fall victim, and get cured without any problems. Panicking wouldn't help her at all, and she wasn't going to show either one of the professors that she was scared.

Glenn glanced desperately around the classroom and saw that everyone else had managed to make their potion fairly easy. Sigh. She stopped trying to cover the green fumes and stood slightly away from her cauldron, fixing her hair clips back into her curly mess of hair.

The professor's comment about Slytherin's, Glenn frowned. She had many friends in Slytherin and she was a Hufflepuff. However, the comment about no kissing made her let out a giggle.

"Does anyone want to be my partner?" She asked, no one in particular that she had in mind.

Ira saw an older Claw coming towards her.. She didn't know the girl very well, though she had just seen her around school sometimes. The girl seemed a bit serious-looking and nervous maybe??

Ira took a deep breath to calm herself first. Because she wasn't still comfortable talking to the older students. They all seemed too big and sometimes dominating for the little second year. So she just nodded her head at the girl and replied, "O-Okay... Um.. I'm Ira..."

And now for the activity. Who would be the victim? "Err... so will you prick your finger?" Ira hoped that the older girl would say yes. Ira was confident enough of her potion-making abilities to know that she had brewed the Wiggenweld Potion correctly.

Stella felt the slightest bit better as she saw the Gryffindor take a deep breath before responding. At least she wasn't the only one not entirely comfortable with what Professor Lafay had asked of them. Although, she had a fleeting wonder if it was more a matter of the girl being nervous at a sixth year approaching her, but then she knew she wasn't that scary. In fact, she gave the girl another smile as she'd spoken, this time certain it had no awkwardness behind it. Just friendliness. Even if she was semi-calling on her acting ability to push the fear away. "I'm Stella. It's nice to make your acquaintance, Ira," she replied. At least she could be polite, if they were going to be putting each other's lives into their hands.

She glanced at the spinning wheel again as Ira continued, though. "I guess I can," she said slowly. "Don't we both have to test our antidotes?," she couldn't help but ask, curious, even as she stepped closer to the poisoned spindle and deliberately perched on the bench surrounding it. If she was going to be falling unconscious, she didn't want to fall far. At least if she was seated, she could hope she'd just slump over or something. Might as well just get it over with, too, and she gave Ira another reassuring smile as she reached out with her right hand and lightly pricked her finger on the spindle. Here goes, she thought quickly, before even that faded into the fog as she slumped backward onto the bench.

Ira was glad because the sixth year certainly seemed friendly. Ira relaxed her shoulders and smiled back. Stella? "Thats a nice name.. " Ira said. Yep, really, Ira liked the name. And besides, Ira wanted to free herself, so that they could do this activity nicely.

And now back to business. Oh no. She totally wasn't ready for it. But she had to, right? "Yes, we both have to test..." Ira nodded, "B-But I meant that maybe you could go first." Why was she still stuttering, Ira wondered to herself. It wasn't like her. Not at all.

Anyways she brushed off all her doubts and watched as Stella perched on the bench near the spinning wheel and pricked herself. And yes, she fell asleep almost immediately.

Ira hurried to take a paintbrush and dipped it quickly into the Wiggenwald potion she had prepared. Then bringing the paintbrush toward Stella, she gently rubbed the potion onto the older girl's lips. She applied a little more than what was maybe required, because she wanted the sixth year to be awake again fast.

She desperately hoped that her potion had been brewed correctly! "Come on, Stella, wake up!" she muttered softly, with her fingers crossed.

If Daichi kept this up he would have gotten none mistakes in the difficult potion they were making now. He was actually enjoying making this potion for some reason. Maybe it was because they were not in the damp cold dungeons for a change? As he noticed the way Professor Lafay was nodding he knew they were doing it right. He grabbed the cup with brain Mucus with a look on his face that said disgust by only thinking about the *brain* and quickly added it in to the cauldron. Adding 2 moondew drops in the cauldron, Daichi stirred one time counter clockwise and one clockwise and snapped his gum... Eeeh.. wait.. he didn't have gum. The Slytherin then used his indexfinger and thumb to grab a pinch of the powdered root of asphodel and sprinkled it inside the cauldron. Picking up the cup with brain mucus that was now empty , Daichi cleaned it with Scourgify and added two cups of shredded Dittany together and then took his ruler to measure two inches of wiggentree Bark before adding those in as well.

"Wiggenweld Potion" he said without really paying attention to the Professor. He was more concentrated on the potion he was making.



But then his attention was snapped away by a loud clear of the throat. He looked up as Professor Scabior spoke and listened. Again, he did not know the answer to this. Maybe he should have paid attention at the begginning of the class? But Daichi had more eyes and ears to making the Potion than the history of ...some girl and...see he was already lost here!

Still, he WANTED to answer and after listening to one of the students he raised a hand slowly in the air. "Maybe because of the money?" Atleast HE would save a stranger when money was involved. He just refused to kiss however...yuck.




Ah, so it was a Wiggenweld Potion? Kudos to Kurumi for the first answer hehe. Daichi watched and waited as Lafay turned away and he saw her waving her hand. He picked seven moly petals and floated them on the water. Then he added the cup of Salamander blood quickly followed by ten lionfish spines which he had to count and added it to the water. Picking up his grate from the corner of his working station, Daichi cleaned it just to be sure with Scourgify and grated the unicorn horn over the cauldron and added that and wolfsbane inside. Placing the grade down, Daichi began to stir and counted. 1..2...3..4...5...12...13..His stomach began to growl and the Slytherin rubbed his stomach as he began to think about the food in the great hall after this class was over...wait...where was he again? O___O uhm..uh...17?...no he just stirred 11 times right? or...

This was NOT supposed to happen.




Panic was evident in his dark brown eyes as he looked around the classroom. Had someone noticed? He hoped not. But even a blind person would see the smoke coming up from his cauldron. He just hoped it did not explode... But in his panic state of mind he could still hear Lafay's voice saying the next instructions. Right..taste the berry juice and added it to the cauldron. He took a spoonful of the boom berry juice and tasted it. It was nice.. really sweet... one more taste couldn't hurt right? he had already blown up the potion anyways. Not literally of course. Daichi then proceeded to turn the burner off and added the juice.



Looking up from his smoking cauldron, Daichi's face began to sweat with the heat and he had to wipe it off with his robe sleeve every few seconds. His usually styled hair was beginning to look frizzy as well. If ANYONE ruffled his hair RIGHT NOW... he would glare at them!

He quickly took some notes that Scabior was saying before snapping his notebook shut.



O__________o

p-p-partner up?! Did that mean they had to use THEIR potions to revive someone? Daichi looked at his cauldron and ran a hand through his frizzy looking hair. But... maybe it wasn't so bad? He had only counted wrong so...yeah... Feeling daring , Daichi raised his hand and waved it "Anyone daring to partner up with me?" he asked through out the class and bit his lip.

After a few moments, Stella's mind started to work again, even as she'd remained lying unconscious on the bench. Thinking about how she probably should have given Ira more responses before she'd just gone for the spindle, how Matt would take hearing that she'd been given Draught of the Living Death if she wasn't brought back... wondering who would take care of Lyra and Nuage, how she would have failed in her promise to Professor Williamson to take good care of the pygmy puff. The thoughts kept coming, faster and faster, until a part of her realized she could faintly hear her name being said. And, as soon as she sifted through the thoughts still piling up and remembered she'd been asleep, she realized that she had the ability to wake up.

Opening her eyes slowly, she simply lifted a hand to touch her lips, feeling potion still lingering there, then pulled her hand back to look at the still slightly bleeding prick on her finger. Sitting up carefully, she leaned back against the wall as she felt a bit of vertigo, then looked over at Ira. "Thank you," she said simply, not really having much energy to say much more. She felt it slowly coming back, though, and she finally gave the girl a smile. She definitely didn't want to experience that again.

Ira wondered what Stella would be feeling right now... Or if she was actually feeling and thinking anything or not? Ira nervously gulped down, chewing on her bottom lip. Seeing that Stella wasn't yet moving, she was about to go and ask for the Professor's potion, when she heard a little rustling.

Ah! Finally! Stella was regaining consciousness. Thank Merlins! "A-Are you okay? I mean, you feel fine, right?" Ira asked. "And err...how was it?" Ira asked curiously. Meaning, how was the experience of falling asleep because of the potion and again waking up?

And thank you? Ira cocked her head to a side and replied, "Thank you? For what? No!" Ira shook her head sideways, "Thank you that you trusted me and my potion making ability.." Saying so, Ira grinned slightly, mainly to reassure the sixth year.

And now it was Ira's turn. Smiling nervously at Stella, she went ahead, and then, taking a deep breath, touched the spinning wheel. Stella would wake me up... I know that she can..... And whoosh! It felt like she was spiraling into unconsciousness. And then, feeling all numb, she too slumped on the nearest bench.

Wait what?! O_O They were actually going to do this...was that even safe? At least the Professor had said her potion was available in case of emergency. She did seem amused by this though, making Ella feel slightly uncomfortable. "Anyone want to partner?" She asked as loud as she dared, looking around the room nervously.

Testing the glass of the juice gingerly, she felt the warmness. It wasn't hot, so she swirled it around in the glass for a moment before turning off her burner and adding the juice. Slosh.



Nodding, she scribbled down the stuff he was talking about. Moral of the story, being a muggle had to suck. And always save rich people. Well, you could be nice to everyone, but nothing much'd be in it for you.


Turning towards Professor Lafay, she wiped the sweat off her forehead. So... they had to partner up. Unfortunately, Elise realized this a little late, so she was left with virtually noone. Turning around frantically, she spotted a familliar face.

Elise bounced over towards Glenn. She'd partnered the girl in something before. Herbology, if she wasn't mistaken. So tapping her on the shoulder, she beamed. "Mind partnering up with me?" she asked.

Jory recognised that familiar voice. He laughed at what Daichi said. "I'm willing to take the risk Daichi,'' he called. The Slytherin was always fun to work with even though something wrong almost always happened.

Daichi didn't have to wait long before someone was willing to take the risk. He smiled a little but then his smile dropped when he saw it was Jory. Not because he didn't like the guy but because he didn't want to hurt a friend. He looked over to his failed potion.Yes he knew he had failed and back to Jory. "Ehm...can ..can we use YOUR potion?" he said feeling awkward. It didn't matter which potion they used right? Wait, he didn't even know if Jory had made the potion right!!

Jory saw Daich's smile falter and he couldn't help wondering if the boy didn't want to partner up with him. But the Puff just shrugged it away and answered the question. "Sure. I think I've done everything right. It looks like the others potions,'' he replied. "What's wrong with yours? Slipped the wrong ingredient in?'' he asked jokingly. "And who should touch the spindle?''

"I lost count.." Daichi whispered softly so that hopefully none of the Professors would hear him. But loud enough for Jory to hear the words. He scratched the back of his neck and gave an awkward smile. Ah, so he was saying that his potion turned out to be okay? Good, they will use his potion then~

"I'll touch the spindle... cause i don't trust my potion" The Slytherin eyed the spindle just in time when Stella had touched it. He gasped in shock when the ravenclaw fell backwards on the bench and the Slytherin gulped. He turned to look at Jory. Praying that Jory had made his potion right, Daichi walked up to the spindle and took a few deep breaths. This was crazy! Even for Lafay this was crazy! and joining with Scabior...he knew something sadistic would come out of it. One last look at his surrounding, Daichi touched the tip of the spindle and dropped down on the floor beside it, face down looking at the ground and in a deep sleep.

Jory had to lean closer to Daichi as the Slytherin whispered something. He'd miscounted, it seems. "Not to worry, Daichi. It happens,'' Jory reassured his friend.

"Alrightey, go ahead when you're ready.'' Jory could see Daichi was nervous. He guess it was because he was worried about whether or nor Jory had made the potion correctly. But Jory was confident he had made it right. He'd done all the instruction to the letter.

The Puff hoped Daichi hadn't banged his head on the way to the floor. He fell face down when the Living Death Potion took effect so Jory hurried over and set him on his back instead.

Getting up again, Jory grabbed a paint brush and dipped it into his cauldron. Trying to black any negative thought about his potion from his head, he carefully brushed the potion over his Slytherin friend's mouth. "Come on...Let it work,'' he thought.

Partnering up? Was Lafay out of her mind. What if people had terrible potion making abilities and their potions poisoned their partners like Selina had a tendency to do? Oh Merlin, partnering up in potions always made Selina want to break out into hives. The whole thought of someone being subjected to Selina's potion made her feel terrible, but she wanted credit for the class. So she awkwardly looked around the room and said, "erm... anyone need a partner?"

He gulped quietly as he stood and walked near her, his eyes shifting towards the needle. How bad can it be really? He was confident Kurumi did her potions correctly, and if something really does go wrong they have two Professors there that could save him right?

His hand hovered over the needle for one agonizing second before he let it fall gently. He didnt know if the needle was extra sharp or the Draught was particularly vicious but he felt a sharp pain on his finger. He drew it back to take a look but before he knew it he felt overwhelmingly lethargic, his knees buckling from under him as he slid against the chairs. Then its like his limbs has turned to jello that refused to move at his command, his head flopping back with a soft thud against the seat. And the last thing he saw was Kurumi holding her potion and the brush before blacking out.

Ella heard an older girl also asking if anyone wanted to partner and she walked over, smiling nervously at the girl. "I'll be your partner. I'm Ella, by the way...do you want to get pricked or do you want to use your potion?" Truth be told, Ella would rather stick herself and fall asleep than be unable to wake up her partner!