44 Chapter 44: Peace Filter Development
Potions class, one of the classes William held most dear in his entire education, even though many others dismissed potions it was mainly due to his short train of thought.
At Hogwarts the classes were taught by Severus Snape and therefore had less popularity but many did not understand that that professor was a genius in the art of potions. In Castelobruxo the story was not very different and although it was not Snape who taught the classes, it was the teacher from Peru, Eliana Mamani. The potions classes were strict because in the preparation of each potion there is a great risk for the wizard.
As an exchange student William was positioned at the front of the classroom writing as much as he could with his right hand while listening and watching the witch's explanation.
"Add more cooked mandrake until the potion turns yellow" dictated the teacher near a tan skinned student who was holding mandrake in his hands "now don't stop stirring the potion until it is red".
The classroom was mostly silent and only the words of the witch in charge could be heard, but there were barely audible whispers and of course, an explosion of a cauldron in the distance which ended up burning the robes of those involved.
For the white-haired boy things were different, taking into account the teacher's instructions, the instructions in the books and the observations made to his classmates he was able to understand the potion up to forty percent.
1. Add powdered opal until the potion turns green.
2. Stir until the potion turns blue.
3. Add more powdered opal until the potion turns purple.
4. Heat until the potion turns pink.
5. Add hellebore syrup until the potion turns turquoise.
6. Heat until the potion turns purple.
7. Vigorously shake the cooked mandrake and then add until the potion turns red.
8. Stir until the potion turns orange.
9. Add more cooked mandrake until the potion becomes yellow.
10. Stir until the potion turns green.
11. Add more cooked mandrake until the potion turns turquoise.
12. Heat until the potion turns purple.
13. Add powdered unicorn horn until the potion turns pink.
14. Stir until the potion turns red.
15. Heat until the potion turns purple.
16. Add more powdered opal until the potion turns pink.
17. Heat until the potion turns orange.
18. Add porcupine quills until the potion turns white.
The instructions for making the potion are very detailed. The ingredients must be added in the exact order and amounts specified, and the potion must be stirred seven times, both clockwise and counterclockwise. Before the final ingredient, hellebore, is added, the temperature of the flames must be reduced and the potion allowed to simmer for seven minutes.
"I need a little more, something is missing" William closed his eyes and concentrated on the mind's eye to spread it around the classroom, he was now able to see all the cauldrons as well as every detail.
One of the advantages of working with many people was the fact that he had several samples for learning, all students have different paces and different decisions which becomes a large bowl of information to manage.
The surrounding students had several mistakes, potions emitting dark silver vapor, green sparks, sulfurous smells, others ended up with a cement-like consistency and several more exploded for different reasons.
"Got it!" exclaimed William, opening his eyes with a start and taking in his hands two small cauldrons, the necessary ingredients in the instructions and five dyctamus plants.
[The comprehension of the Peace Filter rose to 60%].
The first cauldron had the potion instructed by Eliana, opal was added and a mild incantation William instructed to stir what was necessary for the potion to turn blue, then add the opal and so on until the potion reached the pink color.
While in the second cauldron a different story was happening, the mandrake was added to be cooked but in addition powdered unicorn horn and whole dyctamus were added.
"what is he doing?" asked a young wizard close to William, surprised at what the Hogwarts student was doing.
"Maybe she learned it at Hogwarts" muttered a girl.
The second cauldron now had opal inside it, while the potion in the first cauldron was added with hellebore syrup and porcupine quills at the same time, the potion turned a deep red color.
"Now" muttered William taking the second cauldron in his hands and pouring its contents into the first cauldron.
The students standing near William were surprised by the white-haired man's sudden action, even the witch in charge was surprised and ran to William's table.
"What are you doing?" asked the teacher but William didn't stop to answer her and continued with his preparation, his attention was focused on the potion and the messages in front of his eyes.
[Peace Filter comprehension rose to 72%.]
It was the longest two minutes ever but at the end the potion spread silver colored steam indicating it was ready.
"ready" said William dropping his body into the chair, his face was full of sweat and his breathing was agitated "my peace filter is ready."
"what was that?" asked the teacher.
"an innovative method professor" William wanted to explain but in some moments he felt short of breath "but it's the peace filter you all know, only I used an alternate route, now it only takes twenty minutes"
"twenty minutes?!" exclaimed the witch surprised "this is.... is, amazing" she looked at the potion fixedly "have you ever prepared a peace filter before?" William shook his head "at Hogwarts this filter is taught in fifth year, besides you were very attentive in class..... I need a little time to check that everything was correct, someone take William to rest, the rest of you finish with your potion."
