Slipping on her lab coat, Paige entered the potions lab with her textbook clutched to her chest while chewing nervously on her lower lip. She wasn't entirely sure WHAT potion she was going to practice brewing today - other than perhaps something with immediate practical application - but she knew she needed to keep her brewing skills focused. During her summer internship at St. Mungo's she had helped with making various burn-healing pastes and she felt confident enough that she could now brew Brann Gnister Unction in her sleep, so there was some lingering confidence.

Hoisting herself up on a stool, Paige set her cauldron up and cracked open the bindings of her Potions textbook to a random chapter in search for a brew that spoke to her. Love potions? How about nope.... The next page provided the option of Singing Suspension...which had it's appealing qualities but Brian had nonchalantly informed her that singing was not her strong suit so...perhaps not that either.

Magical Fireworks? That...hmm...that had possibility....

Harriet wasn't brilliant at potions. She wasn't bad either. But she knew that she needed to work on her potions skills. She was feeling better now, after her few days spent at St Mungos. She'd missed a few lessons, but that was okay. She'd been doing some work whilst at the hospital. So she didn't feel like she was too far behind. It was only the start of term anyway, so she should be able to catch up.

But the second year wanted to be better at potions, and so she was going to visit the potions lap. She knew studying, and practicing would make her brewing skills better. So that was why she was coming down to the student potions labs. She smiled, as she walked in, pulling on her lab coat. She looked around, noticing Paige was there too.

"Hi Paige" The second year murmured with a smile as she headed towards an empty bench.

Despite continuously flipping through various chapters, Paige's blue eyes always came back to the Magical Fireworks page. It was, well, more than a bit robust for her usual style and certainly not something she expected to be on her NEWT exam come end of term...but there was a reason she kept going back to and that meant something.

Attention still on her textbook, the seventh year only looked up when she heard her name and an instant smile of relief tugged at her pale features when she saw the second year. "Hattie! It's great to see you back."

Harriet hummed quietly to herself as she got her textbook out. She didn't know if she was going to actually brew anything, but she wanted to do some studying. She liked studying in the common room, but sometimes it was a bit distracting. She also had a tendency to fall asleep in the comfy chairs in the common room. So Hattie knew coming to the potion lab was going to be the best bet. Though meeting Paige in here might not have been in the plan. Surely having a friend here was going to be a bit distracting

"Thank you!" The second year murmured with a smile. It felt really good to be back, she had hated being in the hospital. But now she needed to catch up with her school work. "How are you?"

Potions and Noelle did NOT mix. At all. It was a fantastic thing that she had Noah there to help her with potions. No matter what Noelle did to master a potion, it never ended well. She would need to stick to dueling and charms.

Making her way to the students part of the potions room, Noelle noticed there were already two other students there. One being Harriet!!!

"Harriet!" Noelle said happily and went over to hug her. "hey! you're back! When did you get back? Are you okay? Did you get my card?" So many questions. So little time she got it out of her mouth. She had worried about Harriet when she was in the hospital. She didn't know any details though. Just that Noah had worried.

Not wanting to be rude, she turned to the other girl that was in the room. She smiled pleasantly. "Sorry to interrupt." If she had interrupted. "I'm Noelle." Introductions first.

Art was in his office with the door adjar, when he heard noises from the Potions Lab. Something that made him happy, to think that students wanted to brew some potions outside of lessons. Leaving Madame Curie in charge of his office, Art poked his head into the door of the student labs.

"Hello there Miss Skeeter, Miss Paton and Miss Summers, h-how are you all going?" He kept most of his body outside of the room because he didn't want to impose. Great Scott, imagine if they were having conversations about things Art didn't want to hear? No, safer this way. But the man wanted to check, anyway, and say a quick hello.

Smiling a bit wider as the second year approached, Paige pat the stool beside her in a silent invitation for Hattie to join her. "I'm quite well, thank you," she chirped, blue eyes glancing back towards her textbook. "Trying to figure out what to practice brewing." Fireworks were still appealing...but so did Mutatio Animalia now that she was giving the recipes another glance over.

It wasn't long before someone else entered wearing Gryffindor robes...and Paige recognized her for more regrettable reasons than pleasant ones. Her father HAD been the editor-in-chief of the Daily Prophet, after all, and thus Paige had an innate interest in keeping up with the papers. She was just thankful that both Noelle and Sabbath had come out alright in the end, even if she did not know either of them that well personally.

"Paige Skeeter," she greeted, hand extended for a handshake. "And you're not interrupting at all." Honestly. Maybe she could even help the Hufflepuff narrow down what to brew.

Glancing over her shoulder towards the door when she heard the stuttering voice of Professor Newton, the seventh year smiled at the man before speaking. "Going well, professor." Well and unproductive thus far...but still well in the general sense of the word.

Harriet was about to go sit next to Paige, when she heard another voice, and turned to beam at Noelle. She'd not seen Noelle since she'd returned to school, and seeing her friend made her smile. "Noelle!" The second year beam, hugging her back tight. She last few days had been pretty stressful, so she was glad to be back at school, and able to see her friends again. She was still feeling a little tired, but she was getting used to being back, and doing lessons now. She could really begin her second year now, and she was excited.

"I got back a few days ago, and I'm feeling a lot better" She still got tired easily but she put that down to the fact that she'd slept a lot at the hospital. Now she was doing a lot more, so was probably using more energy. She was just using it as an excuse to eat more, which she didn't mind at all. "I did get your card! Thank you so much! It was nice to know you were thinking of me" It meant a lot to her actually.

Se smiled, finally taking that seat by Paige. She didn't know if the girl would mind her watching her brew. But she'd invited her over, so she figured it was okay. "Can I watch you brew?" She asked, looking at the older year. She thought that watching someone else brew, someone older, could only be good. It would let her get more used to potions, which was always useful.

She looked up again, and over at the door. Oh. It was the Professor! "Hi Professor!" The second year beamed. "It's going good...." And she was excited to practice more potions, even if she was only watching Paige.

Hugs all around.
Noelle squeezed Hattie, but not too tightly since she just got out of the hospital. She still wanted to know all the things but she didnt want to seem to nosey. Predicament.

Deciding to quench her thirst for information, Noelle pulled back to look her friend over. "What happened? Are you okay? Why were you in the hospital?" She heard something about Hattie hitting her head. Her eyes glanced at her head.

Noelle's attention turned back to Paige. The girl seemed to recognize her. Noelle tried to figure out how she would know her.... and seemed to get an idea. The Dungeon Days... well not exclusively from there. But Sabbath adn her had been in the Daily Phrophet. Not that Noelle had read it, she lived it.

Noelle blushed though, embarrassed. It was a dark thing that had transformed her into the person she was becoming, but it was still something you didnt want to be known for. She had been called stupid multiple times and didnt like that. "Nice to meet you Paige." Noelle took her hand and gave it a good shake. Not too strong but not too soft. Just to show that she wasnt stupid or damaged from the Dungeon Days. She was strong.

Oh yay! Professor Newton. Noelle beamed at her HoH. "Good day professor! Im going well. Just came to work on a potion." Which she should probably be getting to.

Art nodded when the three students replied that they were all going well. He was quite happy to see them all working together, from second year to seventh year. It was nice to see. Very nice. "What are you thinking of brewing?" he asked, out of curiosity.

Clearly Hattie was the common link here, besides an interest in potions, and Paige just say by quietly admiring the friendship reunion between the pair until Hattie spoke to her again. "Oh, of course," she smile. "I'm not all that fluid with my brewing...so try not to look at me as someone to aspire to when it comes to potions." Seriously. Barely passed her OWL with an A type of student sharing a work station with you right now, Hattie Paton.

There were no judgement being passed by the seventh year, not before nor during nor after shaking Noelle's hand. "Pleasure," she beamed.

"I'm still debating actually, professor," she confessed, flipping through the pages of her text a bit more. Debating...procrastinating getting started...to sides of the same galleon really. "At first I was considering Magical Fireworks...but Mutatio Animalia is also quite appealing..." Especially since Transfiguration was by far one of her weakest subjects and human transfiguration of any sort something that the Hufflepuff was year and years away from achieving. Animagus entirely out of the question.

Harriet didn't really want to talk about the hospital too much. She had hated being there, though she was back at school now, which was a lot better. She just needed to remember to take her medication, and then she would be just fine. If she forgot, then she'd probably end up back in the hospital, and that would just not be done. "I had a seizure. They found out I was epileptic. But as long as I take my medication I'll be fine" She murmured, smiling at Noelle. it was brief, but she didn't really want the entire school knowing. Noelle was a friend, but they weren't that close. She kind of hoped that might change though. She wanted to know the girl better.

Hattie turned back to Paige. This was the whole reason she was here, so that she could learn how to brew her potions better. "You gotta know more than me though..." She pointed out with a little grin. Surely Paige, being a seventh year knew more than she did, considering that she was a second year.

She kind of spied on the conversation that Paige was having with the Professor. "You can make magical fireworks with a potion? That is sooo cool!"

Oh
Em
Gee!

A seizure?!
Noelle was instantly concerned. She knew a little bit about seizures but she knew they were something not to be messed around with. Her eyes, went to Hattie's forehead looking for signs of.... something. She didnt know what. It was probably silly to look.
"But... are you okay?" She said, keeping a hand on Hattie. For support. It was true, they didnt know each other that well but they were getting closer every day. Or, it seemed so anyways.

Professor Art was kind of intimidating.... Probably because he reminded Noelle of her grandfather, and her grandfather did NOT play. Tough bag of bones, he was.

Fireworks? What? Noelle's eye ventured on Paige again. She could really use that potion. "I was thinking of trying out that Magical Fireworks potion myself." Noelle said. It was an almost lie. She had come to make something else but since there were other people here, she really needed to do that on her own. But the fireworks potion.... she could use!

Olly would love to know that she could make a fireworks potion.... Noelle's mind was turning.

Daxton had worked hard to determine a time during which the student potion labs would be empty. Ideally, he could avoid Newton as well, because Daxton preferred working in total solitude. Then again, this was not always possible.

With his notebook and potions kit in hand, Daxton entered the lab, where there was not another student in sight, and immediately located he most far-removed workstation - not that there were many differences between each of the workstations in the room. He sat down on a stool, set his potions kit in front of him, and began flipping through his notebook until he arrived the page detailing his notes from the recent Potions lesson about the modified Babbling Beverage. Daxton had had his own theories that day, and had since developed some of those ideas into possible recipes for his Babbling Veritaserum potion, and today was all about testing those. Before doing anything else, before getting himself a cauldron, or sorting through his potions kit, he reviewed the notes - and the additions he had since made - one more time.

No doubt he looked like he was up to no good - it seemed to be something of a default setting for Daxton Prince.

"Ahh Magical Fireworks are most fun! Especially on an almost moonless night. And Mutatio Animalia is quite a fun one. Are you interested in human transfiguration?" he asked Miss Skeeter. Perhaps she, too, was interested in becoming an animagi.

Art smiled at the excitement of Miss Paton, finding out about Magical Fireworks. "Indeed you can. They're very safe, actually." He had seen a lot of those muggle fireworks displays, but always had a lot of fun with the magical fireworks too.

Miss Summers also seemed to be keen to try the Magical Fireworks. "Well we have plenty of-of ingredients here to brew both, anyway. And a long term ahead of us," he said to the girls. There was always time and supply to do both.

Paige tried her best not to react to Hattie's news, especially since it felt like the second year would rather not dwell on what had happened, but it was HARD...especially as an aspiring student in the healing field. A simple distraction came soon enough with the younger Hufflepuff's exaggerated praise. At least it was to her. Although she rather DID hope that as a seventh year she knew more than a second year. "I suppose you have a point," she laughed softly, but not with all that much confidence.

Well...it seemed like her choice between brews was being made for her now, wasn't it? "Yes, the recipe is right here," Paige nodded to Hattie, pushing her textbook towards her so she could see before turning her attention to Noelle. "Maybe we should all just brew that together then...since there seems to be a mutual interest."

She could always come back and try the other one at another time.

"Oh...um..." she replied in response to the Potions Master, idly chewing on the inside of her cheek. Interested? She supposed she was on some level... "I...have no real aspirations with regards to it myself...just a passing curiosity, I suppose." And that potion would be the closest she would ever come to human transfiguration. Successful human transfiguration that is. Botched up and failed attempts were completely within her wheelhouse.

Miranda made her way down into the dungeons and found the potions lab. Stepping through the doorway slowly.. Hoping Natalia was already there....

Boo!No such luck... No matter.. She'd just busy herself with setting up her potions set and readying herself for what was sure to be an interesting afternoon..

When she had finished she hopped up on a stool she had found and dragged over. Her legs swinging free as she waited.

Harriet didn't really want to talk about what had happened. It had been scary, but she understood that her friends would want to know what had happened. So she would talk about it, but just not in much detail. She didn't want everyone knowing what had been going on. But she considered Noelle a close friend, so she didn't mind telling her too much. "I'm fine!" She murmured with a smile. "They wouldn't have let me home if I wasn't" Or back to school anyway. So she was fine. She felt good now. She just needed to remember to take her medication, then she was sure that she would feel fine.

She beamed at the Professor. "Then I must learn how to brew them. Eventually anyway. I'm sticking to easy potions for now" She was only a second year after all. So she needed to work her way up. But she was going to spend a lot of time down here, so that she could become really good at potions. She enjoyed the subject, and she wanted to be good at it. So she needed to practice a lot.


She nodded at Paige's suggestion. "That sounds like fun" And they might do it better when they all brewed together. "What ingredients do we need?" And then she'd go and find them.

Nat had left Miranda after they exited the courtyard to run to her room and get the potions. Lucky for her her dorm was in the dungeons right near the potion lab. Grabbing the potions she headed towards the lab.

Coming into the room she looked around. Seeing Miranda Nat smiled and gave a wave. "You weren't waiting long? " She wouldn't have thought so, but anything was possible. "Okay so I have two different vials. One is the normal recipe for the babbling potion the second is with the added ingredients that Professor Newton has us put in. What we are looking for is if the taste is different or if it is the same."

Now with the first one they would have to take the exact amount allowed since it didn't have the ingredients of being able to take as much as they wanted.

Miranda smiled as she saw Nat come in... Thankful for only having been waiting for a few short minutes.. She slid from the stool and stood up.

" No.. Only a couple minutes... I only just got my things set up.", Randa smiled as she approached Natalia who was showing her a couple vials.


" So... then the first one is the original.. and the other one is the one from class?", asked Miranda was following some of what Nat was explaining.. This being the root of her problem with potions... None of it really made much sense to her... Hence why she was here and not with Brady... Even though he should come and practice too.

Ugh!..She needed to focus on what was in front of her... And that was being a guinea pig for her friend and maybe learn something useful....

Again, potions wasnt Noelles strong suit.
But that's why she was here, to practice. Because practice made perfect. The professor being here, just made Noelle want to try harder.

She could see that Hattie didnt want to talk about the hospital and she would respect that. They could just concentrate on the potions then.

Opening her own book when Paige pushed her book to Hattie, Noelle found the potion. "Are you sure you want to brew this one? We can do any other." Sure, Noelle wanted to do the fireworks one. But she could practice that one on her own. It might be better that way.

Giving Miranda a smile and nod she picked up the first vial, "Now during class Professor Newton talked about why we added the extra ingredients so that someone couldn't take too much of the potion. It's a harmless potion, but all potions can be harmful if the wrong dosage was given." Nat knew all too well about these type of things. "So before adding the extra ingredients I put a bit in a vial so I could compare the two. He couldn't remember if it changed the taste at all and if so how."


So that meant they were going to figure that out today. She opened the book for dosages of potions and looked at Miranda. "Now I'm not trying to be nosy, but I really need to know your height and weight so that I don't give you too much of the potion. I'll be taking it too so I will make sure to do the right as well." Couldn't be to careful especially when working with someone else.

Art was happy about Miss Skeeter using her curiosity to get in some Potions practice. He smiled at her. "Curiosity is our best friend, I think." Although it was sometimes his worst enemy, but he tried to think positively.

Art let out a soft chuckle at Miss Paton's response. "Well there's plenty of beginner's books and beginner's technique books in the cupboard. You're welcome to use them."

He saw that they were all getting ready, and he said "I'll leave you to it. Just knock at the office if you need anything." Although he had great confidence in all of them.



The Thursday after his meeting with Miss Denaker, Art had arranged a table for the two of them to practice. He had some textbooks on him, so that they could choose a potion to brew, but he was waiting to see what equipment the young Ravenclaw brought. Of course he had a lot of things to use, but perhaps she wanted to use her own things.

"Sorry," Hadley panted, finally entering the lab. "Sorry." She was quite late, and out of breath from having jogged all the way from the Ravenclaw tower. So many stairs.

She made her way to the workstation that Professor Newton was at and put her cauldron on the table. "I was in an argument with my ferret about why he couldn't come along." There were quite a few reasons why he couldn't actually. Hads started to remove her supplies from her cauldron, setting them up on the table in order. It was automatic for her now; second nature. "It didn't go over well. He was determined to come along." And to be honest, Hads spent too much time debating whether or not to bring him. It was better that she didn't, but at the same time she wanted to spend more time with him.

When she was finished setting up her station, Hads turned to Professor Newton. "So what are we brewing today?"