012 - Potions

Alex sat at his isolated desk in the large examination hall, the silence around him almost palpable.

Every student was separated by shimmering barriers of magic – sound-suppressing and isolation charms meant to ensure absolute focus.

The only sound in his ears was the steady scratching of quills on parchment, but even that was distant, muffled by the spells. It was an odd sensation, being so close to his peers yet utterly cut off from them.

This was the OWL Potions exam, and nothing short of perfection would suffice for him

His wand rested on the desk beside him, alongside the only other tool allowed in the hall – his self-inking quill, a gift from Beth, enchanted to never need refilling.

His hand moved fluidly across the parchment, answering each question with practiced ease as he arrived at the last question, worth nearly as much as all the questions previously combined.

"Question: Explain in detail, the complete procedure for brewing the Draught of Living Death. Also, explain how each ingredient affects the potion. Suggest improvements to the current formula."

Alex's eyes narrowed slightly. Draught of Living Death – one of the most powerful and dangerous potions in existence.

He had brewed it in practice before, but the challenge here wasn't just to regurgitate textbook knowledge. It was to innovate.

He tapped the quill lightly on the edge of the desk, a small habit of his when deep in thought, then set to work.

"First, crush the Sopophorous bean with a silver knife instead of slicing it..." Alex wrote swiftly, detailing how the silver would extract more of the bean's vital essence without introducing impurities while crushing it would make it much easier to extract the essence.

"Stir counterclockwise only two and a half times, not three times, during the initial phase. Unnecessary stirring can weaken the potion's potency...

He continued, refining each step, each instruction. He knew the book's formula inside and out, but he also knew how to improve it. The yew leaves, for instance – cutting them along the midrib instead of crushing would release more magical energy, reducing the brewing time significantly without compromising the potion's lethality.

His answers flowed effortlessly.

Occlumency, one of the many rewards from his personal missions, had given him an edge – perfect recollection. Every lesson, every word Professor Snape had said about potions was as clear as the moment it was spoken.

By the time he reached the end of the parchment, he'd shaved half an hour off the brewing time, eliminated several redundant steps, and improved the potion's stability.

Alex finished with time to spare. He glanced at the clock and then across the hall. A few students were still hunched over their desks, quills flying in a frantic race against time.

He stood, gathering his parchment and quill, and made his way to the front of the hall, where a stern Professor McGonagall collected his paper with a brisk nod.

In the Great Hall, Alex waited for his friends to catch up.

Lunch was being served, and the air buzzed with nervous energy as students swapped exam stories.

He spotted Victor first, looking pleased with himself, followed by Ben, who looked relieved to be out of the exam hall.

"Done already?" Victor grinned as he plopped down beside Alex, piling his plate high with roast beef and mashed potatoes. "What'd you think of the paper?"

"Straightforward enough," Alex replied, casually helping himself to some pumpkin juice. "Draught of Living Death. They wanted improvements, so I adjusted the stirring instructions and changed the way you handle the Sopophorous beans."

Victor raised an eyebrow. "Of course you did."

Ben joined them, looking exhausted but happy. "At least the written part is over. I don't think my hand could handle another hour of that."

Alex smirked. "There's still the practical exam this afternoon."

Ben groaned, stabbing at his food. "Don't remind me. I'm just hoping I don't get something ridiculous like Veritaserum or – God forbid – Polyjuice Potion."

Alex chuckled, knowing full well that the practical portion could throw anything at them.

Unlike subjects like History of Magic or Arithmancy, which were purely theoretical, Potions required practical skill.

Every student would be tasked with brewing one potion from a random draw – anything from a simple antidote to complex brews like the Draught of living Death

"I'll be happy with anything that doesn't explode in my face," Ben muttered.

Victor snorted. "It's potions. Something's bound to explode."

They laughed, but the underlying tension was still there. Everyone knew how critical the OWLs were. Success in these exams could shape the course of their future careers.

That afternoon, they gathered once again in the dungeon, the air thick with the smell of crushed herbs and simmering cauldrons.

Professor Snape stood at the front, his dark eyes scanning the room with his usual sharp intensity.

"As you know," Snape began, his voice as smooth and cold as ever, "today you will be tested on your practical potion-making abilities. Each of you will draw a potion at random from the bowl. You will have three hours to complete the brew. As always, perfection is expected."

Alex watched as Snape moved down the rows of desks, presenting each student with a small wooden bowl containing slips of parchment. One by one, students reached in and pulled out their assigned potion. Some faces paled; others looked confident.

When the box reached Alex, he took a deep breath and reached inside. His fingers closed around a parchment slip, and he unfolded it with a steady hand.

Polyjuice Potion.

He blinked.

Of all the potions… this was one of the most complex brews in existence, requiring several rare ingredients and a brewing process that took over a month in normal conditions.

But Alex wasn't worried. The high-level equipment provided for the exam, along with magically enhanced ingredients, would allow him to finish it within the allotted time.

If and only if each and every step of his is absolutely perfect.

Other than that, he wouldn't be able to do it in time.

"Lucky you," Victor whispered from the desk beside him. "Better you than me."

Alex gave a small smile and began gathering his materials.

As the exam commenced, the dungeon was filled with the quiet clinks and clatters of potion-making.

Alex worked with precise efficiency, each movement smooth and deliberate. His cauldron bubbled gently as he added lacewing flies and leeches, watching the mixture carefully.

Timing was everything with Polyjuice Potion – one misstep, and the brew could become useless or worse, dangerous.

The Stinging Bud bean was next. He retrieved a silver knife and sliced the bean expertly, extracting its juices in one smooth motion.

The potion began to shift in color, darkening just slightly as he stirred – exactly four and a half times, no more, no less.

As he worked, Alex was acutely aware of Professor Snape's presence.

The Potions Master hovered near the back of the room, his eyes sharp as ever, watching every student intently.

But Alex noticed that Snape's gaze lingering on him more than once, his expression unreadable but... focused.

Alex felt a flicker of curiosity. Snape had never been one to show favoritism or even much emotion, but today there was something in his eyes – a hint of something that Alex couldn't quite place.

He continued working, adding the final ingredient – the powdered bicorn horn – and stirring the potion one last time. The liquid in his cauldron turned a perfect clear, odorless state – the mark of a flawless Polyjuice Potion.

He glanced up just in time to catch Snape watching him again, his face as impassive as ever, but his eyes... his eyes held something new.

Across the room, Snape observed Alex's work with a rare sense of admiration. The boy had talent – more than Snape had initially expected.

His movements were confident, precise, every decision made with a kind of quiet brilliance. He was exceeding expectations, not just following instructions but improving them in ways that only a handful of students could.

As Snape watched, his mind wandered briefly to a dark figure from his past, a figure that had once embodied great potential and promise before turning to darkness. For a moment, Snape's heart tightened in his chest.

But this was different. Alex was different. There was something in the boy worth nurturing, worth protecting. Snape couldn't say why, but he felt an inexplicable need to ensure that Alex didn't stray down the same dangerous path.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of Snape's mouth – an expression no one in the room would ever notice.

Alex finished his potion with a final flick of his wand, bottling the clear liquid into a small vial and placing it neatly on the examination table.

As he glanced up again, he caught Snape's eye one last time. There was something in the professor's gaze that made Alex pause, but before he could think further on it, Snape turned away, his robes billowing behind him as he moved on to inspect the next student.

Alex frowned slightly, unsure what to make of the look in Snape's eyes. Approval? Curiosity? Surprise? Whatever it was, it left him feeling uneasy, as if there was more beneath the surface than he understood. But for now, he had other things to focus on.

As the clock ticked down and the exam neared its end, Alex felt a quiet satisfaction settle over him. He had completed his potion flawlessly.

One exam down, many more to go.

And as always, the mission was far from over.

- - - - - - - - -

A/N : Those who give power stones be blessed with big PP.

Updates will be a little slow, 2-3 chapters a week at most, and for those who want to read up ahead, I have a Patreon for those who want to support me, there will be 7 early chapters there. Updates will be same up there, 2-3 chapters a week.

Patreon.com/Imperial_Writing

Peace.