Working out at the Black Lake or First Potions lesson

The Black Lake was a little chilly this morning dressed in shorts and a long sleeve shirt I started to run. A wizard doesn't have to be able to lift heavy weights. They need stamina and, to build stamina you need cardio. Even though there is no such thing as a magical core, Wizards can exhaust themselves using too many spells. But, it is possible to increase the amount of spells you can use through practice.

After I completed what my estimated three miles, I took a break to collect myself. When I was at home I mostly did pull-ups and push-ups. Longbottom manor was surrounded by woods so until I got my wand it wasn't the safest place. But, now that I have one I can safely wood out there. Maybe hunt to.

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With my workout done and a quick run to the common room, to shower and get my school bag I was in the Great Hall.

"Good morning." I greeted my fellow Gryffindors and sat down.

"Hey Neville." "Morning." "Sup." Came replies from Harry, Hermione and, Ron.

"Did you look at the timetable yet?" Asked Hermione. Timetable?

"What timetable?" I asked did I miss something.

"Percy handed them to us this morning."

"Oh. I wasn't in this morning I was at the Black Lake." I said.

"Black Lake? Why?" Asked a confused Hermione.

"I was exercising, Black Lake is the perfect place for it." I replied when suddenly the owl post came in along with a familar owl.

Holding out my arm I gave Clare a perch to land on. Seeing this she swooped down and landed. Luckily Clare wasn't an adult so she didn't weigh that much. But my arm still shook a little.

"That's your owl?" Came a surprised Ron.

"Yes her names Clare." I said tranfering her to my lap.

"You just wanted to visit me?" I asked Clare, to which she responded with a hoot and a head nod.

"I should've visited you yesterday my bad." I said giving her some food from my plate.

"I know what that is it's a Blakiston's Fish Owl! How did you get on their an endangered species?" Asked Hermione inquisitively.

"My uncle gave it to me for a birthday." I replied petting Clare.

"I got an owl to for my birthday her names Hedwig." Chimed in Harry.

"Hmm we should have our owls meet." I said with a smile.

"Sure. I'm sure Hedwig will like it."

Oh I forgot about the timetable.

"What's our first lesson Hermione?"

"Double Potions with the Slytherins." She repiled.

"I hear Snape the Head of Slytherin House. Always favours them." Added Ron.

Harry looked nervous at Ron's statement.

"Don't be ridiculous Ron, a professor would never show favoritism." Said Hermione in a smart alecky tone.

How wrong you are Hermione.

Turning to Harry I said. "And, you should be so nervious Harry. Your family is filled with potions talent. Your ancestor Linfred of Stinchcombe created the orginal Pepper-up potion and, Skele-gro. Your grandfather Fleamont Potter invented the Sleekeazy's hair potion. So you'll probably be fine"

"Where'd you find out about this?" Asked Harry probably not sure if he can believe me.

"It's in the more advanced potions history books, they have little sections about them. If you wanna know more about your family history go to the library and ask Madam Pince." My statement made Harry then look at me with some kind of gratitude. Which was to be expected he'd lived his entire life not knowing about his parents. Then now he learns there an entire history of them.

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Breakfast done the Gryffindor's made our way into the dungeons. With help from the portraits of course. Outside the door was a note to sit by house. The potions classroom is dark and damp, the walls have a green shimmering tint that glints from the limited above lighting. Shadows cast all over the corners of the room. The only well lit areas being right above each workbench and desk. And, above the blackboard behind Snape's ornate Slytherin themed desk. Around the room were jars of skeletons and body parts of creatures lined the shelves. 

Following instructions everyone started pairing up. While a certain bushy haired girl was already seated in the front. Walking over and sat next to her. After a while, the Slytherin to started piling in. While everyone was sitting idle I started setting up my Potions station.

My plan however was interupted by a bossy yet curious voice. "What are you doing?"

"I'm prepping my work station. Were going to brew potions so it is best to organize your work space before working." I explained. Hearing my words she copied what i'd just did and organized her own space.

A few minutes later, with a bang the door of the classroom opened, Snape, entered briskly as his dark robes trailed behind him. "You are here to learn the subtle science and exact art of potion-making," he began. He spoke in barely more than a whisper, but they caught every word. "As there is little foolish wand-waving here, many of you will hardly believe this is magic. I don't expect you will really understand the beauty of the softly simmering cauldron with its shimmering fumes, the delicate power of liquids that creep through human veins, bewitching the mind, ensnaring the senses...I can teach you how to bottle fame, brew glory, even stopper death..."

That would be a good speech if it wasn't from Snape. Even though he gave students a modified recipe which was better than the books. He didn't teach anyone I was fine with that but, the actual eleven year olds wouldn't be. His bullying could have dissuade many from liking the subject.

"Potter!" Came Snape's voice knocking me from my thoughts.

"What would I get if I added powdered root of asphodel to an infusion of wormwood?" he asked seriously. "I don't know sir." And that started a chain reaction of Snape asking questions and Harry not answering them. 

"Well why aren't you writing that down?" He asked the class.

"On the board is the recipe to the cure for boils, I expect a finished product to be turned in at the end of class." Snape said.

With the go ahead I turned on the water in my cauldron and, walked to the ingedients cabinent. I didn't really know quality when it came to potions ingredients so, I just winged it picking the one's that didn't look bad. Walking back to my station I began crushing my snake fangs.

Out the corner of my eye I saw Hermione stuggling with crushing her fangs. Without averting my attention from my work I said. "Use a smooth even motion and make them as fine as possible."

Hearing me Hermione just nodded and did as I said. With my snake fangs finished I added four measures to the bubbling water. After waiting ten seconds, I waved my wand to stabilize it. Then sat down as it had to sit thirty-minutes.

"How are you so good at this?" Asked Hermione. Curious? Confused? I couldn't tell.

"I followed the instructions also, there are potions handbooks that you can read to get better at it." The Undercroft actually had one it had all kinds of useful tips and tricks, it was actually written by Aesop Sharp. The Hogwarts Legacy potions teacher.

- Timeskip Finished Potion.

With a final wave of my wand and, a pink smoke rose from the potion, signalling a successful brew. Drawing the potion into a bottle. I signal Snape over. When Snape arrived; he smelt the potion, his face giving nothing away. "An acceptable potion." And walked away. At least he didn't take away any points.

Soon enough the class came to an end, with those who failed to brew a passing potion needing to write an essay on the potion as homework. Those who did create passing potions were allowed to take a bottle of their own brew with them. And, the potion left over would be donated to the hospital wing. And unsuccessful brews were vanished from the cauldrons by Snape. 

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