sixth year double potions [OPEN TO SIXTH YEARS]

[james sirius potter]

The door to the potions classroom squeaked loudly as James pushed it open. Well, so much for sneaking in unnoticed, James thought. He was usually late to class, a habit he'd learned from his father and uncles, but since he had just come from talking to Professor Longbottom, it was pointless to go all the way to the Gryffindor Common Room just to have to turn around and go back to the dungeons so he wasn't too incredibly late for potions. It was weird being early. There were only a few other students in the room (Hufflepuffs who probably didn't have anything better to do), and they looked at him like he was sick or something. "Oh, bugger off," he said to them, before taking his customary seat in the back of the room. He set up his cauldron, took out his scales and supplies, then lit a fire with his wand. Out of boredom, he began turning it different colors, before settling on red.

James then took out his potions book, Advanced Potion Making, and flipped through it. It was a pretty old copy, his mom's, but he loved it. There were little doodles of his parents as stick figures, with hearts and other girly things surrounding them, and James always got made fun of for having a hand-me-down books when his parents could easily afford new ones. He didn't care, though. The book had character, and he had character, so they were perfect for each other. Plus, he liked the love his parents shared. Some may call it cheesy, but it wasn't everyday that a couple would last as long as his parents had.

He quickly closed the book as he would be looking at it for the next two hours anyway. He set it aside and pulled out the Marauder's Map, the one present his dad had handed down with some reluctance. "James, don't abuse your privilege with having this,"Harry said on James' first day of Hogwarts. Well, he didn't exactly abuse the privilege, but James was sure his father wouldn't be happy if he knew what he were really using the map for. Unfolding it, he tapped his wand against it. "I solemnly swear that I am up to no good," he said, and the map came to life. He looked for himself first, like he always did, and was pleased to see that he was labeled in the potions classroom. He then looked for his siblings. Lily was following some boy around, it looked like, but James didn't recognize the name. Albus was in the library, studying with their cousin Rose. James then looked for his best friend Nate, but he couldn't seem to find him on the map. Hmmm, weird," he said aloud before the fire under his cauldron went out and he heard a loud laugh next to him.

[nathan frank longbottom]

Somehow, Nate had gotten it into his mind that he was going to be late for potions, and that was the last thing he needed right now. He had already been late to the class more times than he could count on his hands, and Professor Degare laid down the law to him at the end of last weeks class. Then, on top of that, it didn't help that his father heard of this, and told Nate that if need be, he'd make sure personally that Nate get to class on time. After much too much begging, Nate got his father to give in for a few more weeks, promising that he could change his ways and that he didn't need to be escorted to class. But, Nate was sure that today his two-week plan would fly out the window.

Nate wasn't really sure where the time had gone, but he felt certain that it had passed, and too much of it. He had left his previous class, James promising he would be a few minutes behind him, having to talk to the teacher after class, and like that... it was as if he had got lost between the class and the common room. Zoned out, if you will. And when he zoned back in, looking at the stone in the walls mind you, Nate felt like he had been out for an eternity. Shaking off the weird feeling, Nate began to rush off to class.

It was much easier locating the potions class room once Nate had realized that he was still in the dungeons. Actually, once he had realized, Nate probably could of walked to the class with his eyes closed, but not only would that cause him to get there later than sooner, it would also hurt if he ran into the stone walls. Opening the creaky door to the class, Nate was shocked to realize that he was in fact early ( him, early to class... he thought he would never see the day), and, the even bigger shock, that James was already there.

Nate paused for a second before moving out of the doorway. Seizing what some would call the 'opportune moment', Nate pulled his wand out from his robes when James didn't lift his head. "Aguamenti," he spoke quietly, pointing his wand at James' fire, and watched as a jet of water shot from his wand, dousing the fire. Laughing, Nate walked over to the desk, and threw his books down on the table as he claimed his rightful chair on James' right side. " You know," Nate said, smirk on his face, You really should pay more attention to a lit fire."

[james sirius potter]

James scowled at Nate, punching him in arm as Nate sat down. "You're a complete arse, you know that?" he said, before relighting his fire and sending Nate one last death glare before looking back at the map. He pointed with his wand to his sister, now apparently talking with someone in the entrance hall. "Hey, check this out," he said, sliding the map across the table so Nate could see it. "Lily's talking to a Nott. You know how much I hate the Nott's," he added. He knew he shouldn't. His mother and father, not to mention his Aunt Hermione, had spent years and years trying to erase old prejudices from his child hood, but he couldn't help it if his Uncle Ron and other family members seemed to think that if you came from a bad family, or your parents did, then you were automatically bad by association. And having house rivalries didn't help either.

Reaching in his bag, James pulled out a couple of ropes of Red Vines, the muggle candy that Nate had gotten him hooked on. He offered one to his best friend before putting one in his mouth. "You know," he thought aloud as he chewed, "I could make that boy's life a living hell if he tried to get with Lily." He smirked and leaned back on his stool. Maybe his little sister's love life, though really none of his concern, was going to be more drama filled then any fourteen year old's first relationship should be.

Glancing at his watch, James noted just how early the two of them really were. It was weird. Normally he never saw the room this empty before, and it was a little strange. He looked toward Professor Degare's door that led to her office, wondering if she'd have a heart attack when she came out and saw her two most tardy students in their seats with their equipment ready. He also wondered what others who had yet to arrive thought of him and Nate beating them to class.

[amari iyana degare]

One, two, three. Her hand hovered above her cauldron, moving in a circular motion, as she peered over her book. The potion bubbled as it stirred itself, and soon her office was filled with the strange aroma of peppermint and stewed crocodile heart. The potion she was working on wasn't exactly one she was going to teach to her class, at least not until she was sure of it's outcome. It wouldn't be ready for another week, as it had to congeal and then be boiled once again. Glancing over the rim of the cauldron, Amari took her first real look at the concoction. It was a bronze color with the consistency of unicorn blood. She smiled, satisfied with the outcome, and made a note in the margin of her book.

Extinguishing the flame beneath her cauldron, she looked up at the clock on the wall, the pendulum swinging back and forth in a gentle motion with a small tick, tock, tick, tock. Her sixth year double potions class would begin shortly. Amari couldn't help but wonder what sort of nonsense her students would put her through today. It wasn't that she didn't enjoy the sixth years, she did, it was just some of the things they came up with sometimes... And Potter and Longbottom, constantly late... Amari had already had to pull Neville aside and have a word with him. She didn't particularly like giving detentions, but it had come down to the point where she simply couldn't let them get away with simple warnings any longer. Deducting House points was not enough, and she didn't exactly need Professor Morgan breathing down her neck for taking all of Gryffindor's points.

Amari gathered the materials she'd need for today's lesson and dropped them in an empty cauldron. Today would be a tough lesson, one time sensitive. She had to have her students ready to take their N.E.W.T. exams by the time they were ready. If they couldn't do this potion properly, she wasn't sure if they would be able to take the test in the time allotted. They had to be quick and listen carefully. And some of her more... distracted students my not be giving her their full attention.

With a flick of her wand, the cauldron of supplies rose into the air, and she opened her office door, allowing it to flow out on to her table at the front of the room. She followed it, closing the door behind her, and nearly lost her concentration when she saw James Potter and Nathan Longbottom already in their seats and ready to start class. She let the cauldron set on her table, storing her wand in her robes, and headed toward the back of the room. Without so much as a glance at them, she addressed the two who were usually tardy. "Extinguish the flame, Mr. Potter. I'll not have you setting your papers ablaze." She kept her attention focused on the cabinets in the back of the room, opening the door full of the books the students would need for the day, before she went back to her supplies. "If you could, take a textbook from the back. You'll not be needing Advanced Potion-Making today."

[nathan frank longbottom]

Nate couldn't help but continue to laugh as he sat on his stool. Who knew that James would be to touchy about his fire. "Fire safety, dude," Nate said to him, through his laughing, before being shot a glare which got Nate to quiet up. Sorting through his books, trying to find the right one to take out for the next two hours, Nate's attention soon turned to the Marauder's Map. Looking at it, and getting a commentary from James, Nate say that Lily, the youngest Potter, was talking to a boy, not to mention a Slytherin. "A Nott?" Nate said, looking from the map to James, "You'd think she'd have better taste than a Nott."

Nate knew that stereotyping by house, or even by old associations, was wrong, but it was something that was near impossible to avoid at Hogwarts. He had lived with these prejudices for the majority of the year, there was no way around them. When James pulled out the ropes of Red Vines, Nate took one quicker than he could say 'Voldemort's nipple'. Taking a bite of the licorice, Nate nodded with what James was saying. "It would make for harmless fun," He spoke, still chewing the candy.

Finishing the candy was a bit depressing, but just two hours, and it would be meal time. Yes. That would be the thought that would get Nate through the class. Well, that, and that James' bag of Red Vines. Degare didn't have eyes in the back of her head to catch them sneaking food... Hopefully. No sooner did Nate think that thought, the office doors opened, with a floating cauldron set coming out soon after. That was sort of cool, Nate thought, as Professor Degare followed.

Being in class this early was well worth it just to see her reaction to James and himself already being in the room, even if she did conceal her expressions well. It didn't take her long to start on them though. When she told James to rid of his fire, Nate couldn't help but grin, and look at his friend. "You should of listened to me. Fire safety," Nate said cheekily before getting up to take a text book from the back as Prof. Degare instructed.

[lorcan aeron scamander]

Lorcan sat on his bed in Ravenclaw Tower, turning the pages to Advanced Potion Making carefully. He'd already read the book three times since the beginning of the term to get himself familiar with the material. However, today, as he read over it, something jumped out at him. Lorcan was usually good at spotting mistakes in books or other forms of print, and he smirked as he found something that could be improved upon. He marked his spot in his book before getting off the bed and slipping his robe on over his uniform.

Normally Lorcan and his twin brother Lysander would walk to classes together, but since Lysander was still apparently in the Great Hall finishing up his meal, so Lorcan took out a spare piece of parchment and wrote a quick note to his brother. Sander, went to Potions. Had to show Prof. Degare something. See you in class. Lorc. He set it on Lysander's pillow, knowing he'd see it, and headed out the door.

Stepping out of the common room, Lorcan made his way down to the dungeon. While it felt foreboding and scary to most, Lorc liked spending extra time down in the dark hallways. He felt safe and secure down there, like no one could hurt him, yet he didn't know why. He made it to the potions room, pushing open the squeaky door and finding that not only was Professor Dagare not using Advanced Potion Making for her lesson today, but those two Gryffindor clowns, James Potter and Nate Longbottom, were already there and ready for class. Lorcan stared at them before passing, setting his stuff on his normal seat and grabbing his book, walking up to Professor Dagare's desk.

"Um, Professor," he started, opening his book to the page he'd marked earlier. "I was looking over the directions for the Draught of Protection, and knowing what I know about the properties of dragon scales, wouldn't it make more sense to use two less and to double the amount of newt eyes? That'd allow for the potion to spend less time simmering but still be as powerful, if not more," he explained, getting more animated. He could feels the eyes from other students in the room on the back of his head, but he didn't care. He was in his element at the moment.

[victoire gisele weasley]

Victoire was really regretting going to potions early. Yes, early was better than late, but she had a homework question that she would rather go without asking. Her and Professor Degare weren't on the best of terms, so Victoire hoped that there was somebody in the class she was confidant asking. Maybe Lorcan Scamander, he seemed like he understood the course work. Yes, that would work, and hopefully he'd be in class early to, that way, she wouldn't have to spend the next ten minutes or so sitting awkwardly in class alone.

Once Victoire got to the dungeons, it wasn't long until she found her way into the class room. Walking in, she was excited to see, who she assumed to be Lorcan at the front of the room talking to Degare. Or maybe it was his brother. Maybe he was as confidant with the potions work as Lorcan. It wasn't until Victoire headed for her normal chair did she notice her cousin James, and his friend Nate Longbottom, already sitting in their normal chair, the bench behind hers.

Shocked, Victoire placed her books on the table and turned around to talk to her cousin. "What are you doing here already? Are you sick or something?!" She asked, very confused. "And why do you have that book? That's not the one we normally use," Victoire added, sounding quite thrown back, most likely to the sight of her normally tardy cousin in the room.

[james sirius potter]

As Nate laughed at James again before looking at the map, James noticed the side door open and a floating cauldron coming out. Seen it before. Not impressed, he thought as Professor Dagare followed, scolding him for having his fire already lit. He shook his head, then waved his wand to make the flames disappear as Nate got up to get a book that Dagare had told them to grab moments before. As his friend walked back and sat down, James summoned the book toward him, then smirked. "Looks like you're going to have to get another book," he said, laughing.

James then cleared the map since more people were coming into the dungeon, and he'd promised his father he wouldn't let too many people see the secrets of the old piece of parchment. He quickly shoved it back into his bag, looking around the room fill up before his eyes. He noticed Lorcan Scamander (or was it his brother, Lysander? James could never tell) walk into the room, look at him and Nate, then continue to the front of the room to talk to Dagare. James had known Lorcan and the rest of his family for a long time since Lorcan's mother helped his father out during the war. She was also the namesake of his sister Lily's middle name. Though he'd grown up a lot around the Scamander's, James still thought they were weird, and hardly talked to Lorcan and Lysander at school. None of them seemed to mind though, and James was okay with that.

The door opened again, and in walked Victoire, James' favorite cousin. She walked through the classroom, and most of the males in the class seemed to stop what they were doing and stare at her. James chuckled. The Veela blood in her made her noticable toward guys, but since James was used to it, he never noticed her in that way. That would of been gross, anyway. She hadn't noticed either James or Nate yet; instead, she walked to her desk in front of them before setting her books down, then looking behind her.

The look on her face was priceless. James laughed as she told her disbelief of them being in class before her. "We're just full of surprises," he said, shaking his head at her question. "And we're not sick. Just model students," he added. As Victoire seemed frazzled by the different book in front of him, James nodded to the open cabinet in the back of the room. "I guess we're using a different book today," he said, shrugging.