15:30 HIT, June 21, 2075 - G.J.E.'s Potions Tutoring

[Gabriel Eflorian]

Professor Eflorian was on potions teacher. In fact, he was quite far from it, seeing as how he spent most of his days using wand magic. But, there he stood, in front of a table covered in flasks and cauldrons and other various necessities for potion making. Now, even though he was not a potions teacher, he did know his way around some high-level stuff. Not that it had ever been his favorite subject, but he’d completed the seven year track, and had actually done some after school, too. So, in his mind, he was confident that he would make a decent potions teacher tutor.

Having heard that some students needed a bit of help with the potion making area, he’d taken it upon himself to start a study group. Unlike any student-run study group that would rely solely on books, this group would actually be doing hands-on activities since there was adult supervision. He just hoped it would be better than his actual classes, though. What a let-down they had been. Ah well, no reason dwelling on the past.

Taking out his wand from his blouse sleeve (He'd dressed down for this one, just a nice ruffled blouse and black slacks), he waved it at the armchair behind the empty desk at the front of the room and watched as it sailed towards him and set it self down gently behind him. He smiled, settling down into it and waiting. He didn't expect students to be right on time, since it was only a silly little tutoring session. Now, to see if any student actually showed up.

((OOC: Come all who will! I'm going to have little sessions in any subject people need! Owl me if you want a subject covered!))

[Avery Griffith]

Avery had seen flyers(fliers?) posted up about potions tutoring. Delightedly, she decided to go and see what they were all about. In all reality, it wouldn't really be tutoring, but real learning. She'd never done potions before. Of course, she'd signed up to take the class, well aware potions was to be on her O.W.L.s, but no one had showed up to teach the class. The irresponsiblity of some professors! After signing up for five classes and ending up with one, Charms, she had been rather put out about classes.

She galloped into the usually empty classroom to see Professor Eflorian sitting in an armchair in the room. Good, good! At least the class... ahem... tutoring session, was being taught by the only professor that actually showed up to do their job. She took a seat in the room and dropped her bag beside her chair, stocked with her books again, waiting expectantly for class to begin. This time she just hoped it would.

[Gabriel Eflorian]

Professor Eflorian had stayed seated when Ms. Griffith entered the room. He watched her take a seat and a quiet smiled creeped to his lips. She was a good student. It was good that he was going to be teaching at least one. He looked towards the door again, waiting for any other student that might show up. But, he was disappointed. No one else seemed to be showing up. So, with a sigh, he stood. "Ms. Griffith, are you ready to learn how to shrink someone?" he asked, a fake smile taking over his features. Of course, if barely anyone had shown up to classes, why would he expect any more than one to show up to a tutoring session?

He stepped around the table, fingers running through his hair. "Ms. Griffith! Can you tell me one of the ingredients for a shrinking potion?" he asked, acting as if he'd picked her at random out of an entire class. If he didn't get his classroom full of students, he could pretend, right? What was the harm in that?

[Avery Griffith]

Avery kept watch at the door to see if anyone else was coming. Alas, no one showed. Still, they might come late... She looked up as Professor Eflorian asked her if she was ready to shrink someone. "I suppose that's why I'm here," she said with a shrug. She was looking foreward to it though. However, she didn't know anything about Potions.

As the professor called on her, she dramatically looked behind her as if he had called on someone else. Even though she joked, she grimaced. "Er..." she said. "Actually, no, Professor. I don't have any idea," she said, frowning. Oh well. She supposed she would learn as time went on. Potions couldn't be any harder than Charms, could it? Right? At least... she hoped so.

[OOC: Haha, potions is Avery's worst subject =D]

[Gabriel Eflorian]

Professor Eflorian clapped his hands together, looking positively delighted that Avery didn't know the answer. "Good, is that not why you are here?" he asked, his fake smile now a full, real one. He stepped to the side to reveal the table covered in ingredients special for the shrinking potion. He turned his back on the single student for a moment so he could shift things around and clear a spot where ingredients would be cut, sliced, diced, even chopped. Turning back around, he pulled a Vanna White and displayed the area.

"Would you kindly come up and mince me some daisy roots?" he asked. He then moved to pull out the cauldron from behind a few large bottles and set it on an empty desk. Pulling out his wand again, he lit a magical blue fire underneath the cauldron, letting it heat up. That way, it would be all ready to simmer the potion when the time came.

[Avery Griffith]

Avery looked at the different ingredients lining the table. They all looked so interesting, but it seemed impossible they could be made to compose one potion with completely different properties. She followed the professor's instructions and came up to the table.

Mince some daisy roots? How hard could that be? She walked up to inspect the roots before picking up the knife. Mince, mince. Her mother had taught her the basics of cooking. Potions wouldn't be much different, she figured. Avery held the knife paralell to her, then started to chop the roots. She lifted the knife to examine her handiwork... Or not-so-handy-work. The roots were all in rather large squarish blocks. She grimaced and continued cutting. Now the roots were miniscule threads, barely able to be seen. "Er..." she said. Nevermind, potions wasn't the same as cooking. Besides, Avery never said she was able to cook anyway.

[Gabriel Eflorian]

Professor Eflorian had been watching over Avery's shoulder. She wasn't doing that bad of a job. Mincing things was a difficult task, perhaps they should have started with peeling the shrivelfigs...He didn't mind small pieces, though. He remembered his first time making this potion, and being told that the size of the minced roots didn't matter. His had been particularly large, while Avery's were small. It would be Ok, though. "Please put them in the cauldron," he said, moving to open two different jars.

Out of one jar, he pulled a shrivelfig. This, he handed to Avery. "You can peel this, and I will slice caterpillars," he said. This time, the size of the slice actually did matter. And, since Avery didn't have a partner, he figured he would help. But, she would be putting it all in the cauldron. He took up a knife, himself, taking two caterpillars (already dead) and slicing them finely. He frowned as he did this. It was a shame that such delicate creatures had to be used in such a manner.

[Avery Griffith]

Avery was thankful the professor was slicing the caterpillars. Yuck. Avery hated all types of bugs, dead or alive. She kept her distance from the crawlers as Professor Eflorian cut them up. She worked on peeling the shrivelfigs. That part was particularly easy, she was surprised. She finished peeling the shrivelfigs, worried that the next part would make up for the easiness of peeling the shrivelfigs.

She kept watch on the door as she waited for Professor Eflorian to finish cutting the caterpillars. A few of her friends were supposed to arrive as well. She hoped they would come soon...

[Athena Parker]

"Damn it all to hell," Athena muttered under her breath as she hopped on one foot around her room, trying to put her shoe on. Athena had heard about Professor Elforian's Potion's tutoring through common room gossip and had decided to attend. So naturally, she running pretty late. Once Athena finally got her shoe on, she ran a brush through her hair, threw it up in a ponytail, and wrote a quick note to Lena to let her know where she was in case she came looking for her. Grabbing her bag with her books in it, Athena took off running out the room, ignoring the stairs of her housemates as she ran out the common room.

Athena was thoroughly irritated with herself as she ran the halls of her school looking for the place that the Potion's tutoring was supposed to be held. Of all days to sleep in, it has to be today! Professor Elforian is going to think I'm a complete flake and then I'll lose my prefect badge. I am so getting a magical alarm clock. Finally coming across the classroom that the tutoring was being held, Athena paused for a moment to smooth out the non-existent wrinkles in her jeans and then opened the door. Athena noticed that the class had already started and barely repressed a moan of embarrassment. Giving Avery a weak smile, Athena turned to Professor Elforian and offered him an apologetic one. "Am I too late to join the tutoring session Professor," Athena asked softly.

[Gabriel Eflorian]

The door opening startled Professor Eflorian, but when he saw Athena, he smiled brightly, and took the few steps over so he was standing next to her. Placing a hand on her shoulder, he said to her, "Why, Ms. Parker, you are never too late to be learning!" He lowered his voice and leaned in to whisper, "But perhaps a professor is needing to escort you in to Hogsmede to get you an alarm clock?" Shtraightening up, he took his hand off her shoulder and moved back to the table.

"We just finished with caterpillars and shrivelfigs. Now it is on to a rat spleen and dash of leech juice," he said, opening one jar and picking up a bottle. "Now, who is wanting to add which?" He waited for the girls' replies, thinking, Who was brave enough to try these ingredients in the first place?

[Athena Parker]

Athena breathed out a sigh of relief when Pro. Elforian welcomed her into the class but blushed when he mentioned a professor escorting her to Hogsmeade to get an alarm clock. "Yes Professor. I'll get right on that," Athena said with a small smile at the Professor.

Walking quickly, Athena slipped into the seat next to her and gave her a smile. "Hey Vee. How are you," Athena said as she pulled out her stuff. Athena looked up at the Pro. Elforian when he mentioned being done with caterpillars and shrivelfigs and that they were moving on to rat spleen and leech juice. Athena couldn't help but shrivel up her nose at the thought of rat spleen but decided that since she was late, she could take one for the team.

"Don't worry Vee. I'll do the rat spleen," Athena whispered to Avery. Raising her hand slightly, Athena called out to Professor Elforian. "Professor, I'll do the, um...rat spleen," Athena said while eying the rat spleens warily.

[Avery Griffith]

Avery grinned at Athena, glad that she wouldn't be alone in her class again. "Good," she said. Still, her smile promptly turned into a grimace as Professor Eflorian said the next step was either rat spleen or leech juice. Ewww... Avery glanced at Athena quickly, making a face. Inside her head she was simply saying, eenie, meenie, minie, moe...

"Er... yeah, leech juice please," she said, her features twisting in disgust. Now that was something she never thought she'd say. Ever. She looked over at Athena to make sure she would be fine with handling the rat spleen. Or at least be able to bear it enough to get the potion finished.

[Gabriel Eflorian]

"So cooperative!" Professor Eflorian said, obviously pleased. He handed the bottle of Leech Juice to Avery then set the jar of rat spleen in front of Athena. At least neither of the really disgusting ingredients smelled all too bad. "Now, just be adding them to the mix and we will be letting it simmer." He pointed his wand at the fire, causing it to flare up again since it had died down. The contents of the cauldron bubbled quietly, ready for the last ingredients.

Professor Eflorian leaned back against the table, his arms crossing over his chest. "While it simmers, Ms. Griffith, would you kindly tell Ms. Parker the ingredients she has missed?" He would have done the review himself, but he figured it would be better if Avery repeated the ingredients, herself.

[Avery Griffith]

Avery gagged as the ingredients were set in front of them. The smell made her nostrils flare and burned her nose. She stumbled backwards, eyes wide with her hand covering her nose. Didn't they smell that? she wondered incredulously. She then remembered that they couldn't. Of course they can't. she thought. Stupid elf genes. she thought angrily.

Still a good few feet away from the rat spleen and leech juice, she said to Athena in a nasal tone, "Minced daisy roots and peeled shrivelfigs," she counted off. "Geez, that stuff is putrid," she muttered, fanning a hand in front of her face as her eyes began to water. Taking a deep breath, she grabbed the leech juice, ignoring her burning eyes, and poured it into the cauldron. She stepped back as a swirl of navy smoke drifted up from the mixture, not wanting to smell that, too.

[Henry Cruiser]

Henry threw the quill inside his bag and gave the finished letter to his owl, Bane. Once he saw the bird fly off, he immediately threw his backpack over his shoulder and ran full speed to the empty classroom where potions tutoring would take place. He had heard this from Avery when they hade their picnic by the hut. He quickly turned a sharp corner and finally arrived at the correct door.

He took a deep breath, opened the door and enetered. "Sorry i'm so late professor, i hope i didn't miss too much." he said as he slowly started walking towards the table where professor Eflorian, Avery, and Athena were putting ingrediants into the cauldron. He took a spot and slumped his backpack next to him, he looked at the table; there was a variety of strange looking objects.

[Avery Griffith]

Avery waved to Henry, one hand still covering her nose. "Thanks for joining us," she said, raising an eyebrow. She backed up to let Athena finish her part of the potion, the rat spleen. "We've almost finished our first potion," she said, nodding towards it.

"It's a shrinking potion," she said, glancing towards the professor for confirmation. "Professor, by the way, who are we shrinking?" she asked with a grin. "Because I'll volunteer," she said, completely seriously.

[Athena Parker]

Athena took a deep breath and opened the jar of livers that sat in front of her. At least they don't smell too bad, although they don't smell too good either. Athena nodded when Avery told her what all they missed and reached her hand into the jar. Grabbing the liver, Athena shuddered at how slimy it felt in her hand. As Athena watched Avery place her ingredient in the cauldron, the door opened and in stepped her fellow housemate Henry.

"Hey Henry," Athena said as she dropped the spleen into the potion. Athena stepped away from it quickly so she wouldn't have to smell any of the fumes coming from the cauldron. Athena raised an eyebrow when Avery volunteered to be shrunk by the shrinking potion. "I so want to go next," Athena said with smile towards Avery. "Being super small would be kinda cool," Athena whispered in Avery's ear. Athena looked at Henry and gave him a smile. "You can put in the next icky ingredient," Athena said with a small laugh.

[Avery Griffith]

"Of course it would!" she replied to Athena with a laugh. She imagined all the things she could do being super small. It would give her the world from a new perspective, that was for sure. She wondered if the professor would let them test the potion on themselves. He had been supervising after all. He wouldn't let them poison themselves, right?

However, Avery certainly wasn't looking forward to drinking a mixture of rat spleen and leech juice. That was sure to be disgusting. But the results would be interesting enough. Perhaps he would let them try it out. There should be enough for the three of them and more.

[Gabriel Eflorian]

"Mister Cruiser, you are late!" Professor Eflorian stated, though there was an obvious joking tone in his voice. As with Athena, he was just glad the boy had shown up. He smiled to the boy as a seat was taken. He listened to the cauldron bubble until he heard Avery's question, then smiled with a chuckle. "Oh, I would love to be shrinking you, Avery, but it is better that it is not used upon a student. Today we will be turning Natchu into a kitten again."

Natchu was his cat. He'd had the thing since he was in school, so naturally it was an old cat. But, if they'd done the potion correctly, and from the looks of the cauldron, they had, it would shrink the animal back to it's early stages of life. "You see," he explained. "The Shrinking Potion is not shrinking size, it is shrinking time! It is marvelous, but can be dangerous. If done wrong, it can even become a poison!"

[Henry Cruiser]

Henry smiled at the professor, and looked down at the bubbling liquid inside the cauldron. This was all so interesting, a shrinking potion made up of rat spleen and leech juice, even if it was just a wee bit gross. Henry laughed at Avery's volunteered suggestion, and then looked back at professor Eflorian as he explained it would be dangerous to experiment with a student.

He was intrigued as professor Eflorian told them on the Shrinking Potion's use. Henry always thought it was the other way around, but that's why the Gryffindor was he in the first place.

[Avery Griffith]

Avery was a bit disappointed that they wouldn't be able to shrink themselves. However, she'd rather be two inches tall than a baby again anyway, so it all worked out well, she supposed. At the thought of changing the professor's cat back into a kitten, her own cat, Indigo, popped into her mind.

"Professor," she said, "My kitten, Indigo, we've had for as long as I can remember. But she's never aged," she said. "We always thought she was charmed that way, or it was a result of her being half Kneazle. Could it have been a powerful shrinking potion?" she wondered.

[Gabriel Eflorian]

Professor Eflorian looked down at the potion again. It had turned the wonderful Acid Green that it needed to, and so he flicked his wand to put out the fire beneath it. "That, Ms. Griffith, sounds like a combination of two reasons. One is being that your cat is half the Kneazle. The other is a charm," he explained, taking a saucer and dipping it into the potion. "But if you would like, some day, I can be looking at it." He set this on a desk where all three students could see. He didn't want anyone to miss anything more.

He swished his wand, saying "Accio Natchu the Cat." He then winked to the students and added, "I will be teaching that charm under a tree by the lake soon." Luckily, he was a master at the summoning charm, and so Natchu did not come flying through the wall as was normal for a summoning charm to cause during the first stages of learning. Instead, the door to the classroom opened and the cat came flying into his arms. He cooed to it for a moment then set it down on the desk, urging it to drink.

Natchu was reluctant, but had done this before, and so knew it wouldn't do harm. The cat drank down the contents of the saucer, then started licking it's paw. There were a few moments of waiting time, but eventually the cat shrank down to a kitten, chasing it's tail 'round and 'round on the desk.

[Avery Griffith]

Avery nodded at the professor's explanation. All the while she was getting more and more impatient to see the shrinking potion do... er... its magic. She looked as Professor Eflorian's cat floated into the classroom with a spell that sounded like 'achoo' or something. She was about to ask when they would learn the skill, but her question was soon answered. It seemed entirely too useful for someone like herself.

Avery grinned as the kitten ate the contents of the bowl and anticipated the outcome that seemed to take forever. But soon the kitten did begin to shrink. Avery was confused at first, as it looked as if the kitten had simply shrunken in size, but soon the gray whiskers turned black and the cat- now kitten's- fur went back to a fluffy shiny coat. "Wow," she said, standing there wide-eyed as the kitten began to chase its tail.