Making Friends and Potions

Stelle walked through the hallways with light steps, carrying her cauldron as if it were a treasure and twirling a quill between her fingers. Her mind jumped from one thought to another, excited about what the day had in store for her. Potions wasn’t exactly her favorite class: it required order, precision, focus, and memory; she only possessed the last of those skills. The precise measurements and strict instructions made her feel a bit trapped, as though the freedom to experiment slipped through her fingers. But that didn’t mean she didn’t enjoy it; on the contrary, she was determined to make every class exciting, even if it wasn’t her favorite. When she arrived at the classroom, Stelle noticed there were only a few students, which gave her a mix of relief and nervousness. She liked to observe people before deciding where to sit, but she also felt a slight pressure to find someone who would let her share her energy without being bothersome. That’s when she saw her: a girl shorter than her with long brown hair, sitting at her desk, perfectly organized, with an aura of calm and contained excitement. Bingo. Without much thought, Stelle decided that sitting with her would be fun.

—Hi!—. Stelle said with a bright smile as she approached Jade’s desk. —I hope you don’t mind if I sit with you—. Without waiting for a negative response, Stelle placed her cauldron on the desk, noticing the impeccable organization of Jade’s supplies. Her attention was momentarily drawn to the doodles in the margins of Jade’s emerald-green notebook. “What a lovely color for a Potions notebook” she thought, smiling to herself. Something about the meticulous way Jade arranged her materials seemed curious, almost charming. Stelle’s own materials were a controlled chaos: quills, parchment, and an ink bottle that seemed dangerously close to tipping over.

—Your notebook is beautiful. Emerald green, right?—. she commented, leaning in a bit to take a closer look. —I love how it matches… well, everything. Green is such a lovely color, don’t you think?—. As she spoke, Stelle began setting up her things, though her attention remained more on Jade than on her own preparation. —Do you like Potions?—. she asked, her tone a mix of curiosity and enthusiasm. —I’m not sure if I’m good at it, but I definitely have fun. I’m Stelle, by the way—. She looked at Jade with a warm smile, her fingers drumming lightly on the desk, as if her energy couldn’t be contained for even a moment longer.

@Jade O'Reilly

Jade looked up from her doodling to see a blonde-haired girl approach her desk. “Hi! I hope you don’t mind if I sit with you,” the other girl said, starting to place her belongings on the desk without waiting for a response. “Oh, sure, you can sit here,” Jade said anyway. It was the polite thing to do, after all. She seems pretty nice, Jade thought to herself, as the other girl began setting up her belongings. Jade flipped her notebook closed, showing off the emerald green cover, so that she wouldn’t get distracted by her drawings while talking.

“Your notebook is beautiful. Emerald green, right?” The girl said. “I love how it matches… well, everything. Green is such a lovely color, don’t you think?” Jade nodded, surprised that the girl had noticed the exact color.

“Yeah, emerald green,” Jade replied, smiling. “Green is such a pretty color. This particular shade is one of my favorite colors. This notebook is pretty new - my dad gave it to me for Christmas. My old one wasn’t nearly as pretty,” she said, laughing slightly. Did I say to too much? Is that going to come across as weird? Jade wondered, some anxiety slipping in.

Thankfully, the girl asked another question, giving Jade something else to focus on. “Do you like Potions? I’m not sure if I’m good at it, but I definitely have fun. I’m Stelle, by the way.”

“Yeah, I like it!” Jade answered. “It reminds me of science class, which was one of my favorite classes. Besides English, of course. I went to Muggle school,” she added, in way of explanation. She’d learned that saying things like that tended to confuse purebloods unless she added some form of explanation. “Oh, and I’m Jade,” she hurriedly added. “It’s nice to meet you.”

₊⁺⋆ Date: January 8th 2025| Number of words: 397| Dialogue: #aa5713 ⋆⁺₊

Her attention constantly returned to Jade's notebook, that emerald green so impeccable that it seemed to reflect the meticulous personality of its owner. Stelle smiled to herself as she tried to organize her belongings on the table, a stark contrast to the orderly perfection Jade had displayed. There was something almost magical about the contrast of their personalities, a natural balance that seemed to fall into place. As Jade closed the notebook, Stelle noted the details carefully: the smooth cover, the sharp edges, an object that was clearly more than just a notebook; perhaps it had the same meaning as her diary for her. There was something fascinating about the idea that such a simple object could contain an entire world inside.

Although Stelle normally didn't stay quiet for long, this time she seemed more focused on taking in the small details: how Jade moved her hands as she organized her supplies, the way she had looked up when she noticed her presence, and the way she looked up. who seemed to contain a hint of shyness behind his kind smile. For a moment, Stelle wondered if, somehow, her energy and chaos could be complemented by serenity. —Your dad…?—. she asked softly with an amazed smile. —My father also gave me a gift like that, it has been my diary for many years, so I understand how important it must be—.

Stelle settled back into her seat with a bright smile, delighted to have found someone so kind to share the class with. —Oh, that sounds amazing! You went to a Muggle school? I've always found it fascinating how those classes work.My dad wanted me to go to school, but my grandmother insisted that tutoring was better for me—. She let out a light laugh and drummed her fingers on the table, as if she was having a hard time containing the energy flowing through her. Stelle took a couple of candies out of her pocket and placed them on the table, pushing them towards Jade with a smile. —Here. I always carry some with me.. I'm Stelle, by the way—. the curly girl quickly added.

Looking at her with genuine curiosity, he added, —So, Jade, what are you most excited about in this class? Is there anything you want to learn or try?—. she asked as she toyed with the ends of her blonde curls.

@Jade O'Reilly

Mentioning: @Stelle Mims | Date: January 8th 2025 | Dialogue: #407e58 | WC: 398

Jade watched with a small smile as Stelle began to take out her materials and place them on the desk. Her approach to things was rather messy compared to how Jade set up her desk, but seeing the mess didn’t bother Jade. Instead, it seemed to almost… complement the orderly nature of Jade’s portion of the desk. “Your dad? My father also gave me a gift like that, it has been my diary for many years, so I understand how important it must be” Stelle asked. Jade nodded, a bit hesitantly. “Yeah… It was a Christmas present.” Christmas had been… complicated, this year, with her mom not around. “It’s not, like, a super special gift, but it’s a nice notebook,” she said quickly, wanting to get the conversation onto another topic. Jade wasn’t in the mood to talk about her parents at the moment. “He got me some for my other classes too.”

“You went to a Muggle school? I've always found it fascinating how those classes work. My dad wanted me to go to school, but my grandmother insisted that tutoring was better for me.” Stelle continued, giving Jade the change in conversation that she had wanted.

“Muggle school is definitely very different from Hogwarts,” Jade agreed. “The types of class we have are different, though there are a few similarities. Hogwarts is much more exciting, though! The entire school is filled with magic and that’s all we learn about every day! Even history class is about magic,” Jade smiled and laughed, her enthusiasm clear. “This place is amazing. But I suppose that Muggle school could be exciting too, for people who haven’t gone to it before.”

Jade took the candies Stelle passed her with a smile. “Oh, thank you!” She said, taking one and popping one into her mouth. “These are delicious!”

As she chewed the candy, she thought about Stelle’s question about Potions. What am I most excited about? There were so much to be excited about at Hogwarts, Jade wasn’t sure she could pick just one thing. “I guess I’m curious about the why behind everything, if that makes sense,” she eventually said. “Why the potions work the way they do, how the various ingredients we use contribute to the end effects - that sort of thing. So basically, how everything works.” Jade shrugged. “What about you? What are you excited about for this class?”

₊⁺⋆ Date: January 8th 2025 | Number of words: 429| Dialogue: #aa5713 ⋆⁺₊

Stelle looked up thoughtfully as Jade's words echoed in her mind. —What were you most excited about regarding Potions?—. It was a simple question, but she found herself without an immediate answer. Her fingers paused on the messy desk as she tried to articulate her thoughts. —Well, I guess... I don't know if excitement is the right word—. she began, letting out a small nervous laugh, —but there's something... fascinating about how you can take ingredients that, separately, don't seem like much, and then combine them to create something so powerful. It's like you're... taming chaos—. She shrugged, somewhat unsure if that made sense. But there was something deeply satisfying about the process of mixing ingredients, about following steps carefully, and sometimes the thrill of taking a chance on a small variation to see what would happen. Although, to be honest, her potions didn't always turn out like the ones in the book.

—I guess I like it to be practical, something you can see and touch. Not everything at Hogwarts is so tangible—. she added after a moment. —Magic can be very... ethereal, don't you think? But Potions... Potions is like cooking with a touch of magic, and that makes it unique—. Stelle realized she was rambling a little, so she leaned towards Jade with a mischievous smile. —Although, between us, I think my excitement also has something to do with the possibility of something exploding in class. It makes everything a little more exciting, don't you think? Or maybe a potion to shrink a little—.

As Jade laughed softly at her comment, Stelle turned her attention back to the candy in her hand. The conversation about muggle schools and Hogwarts was still on her mind. —Know?—. she said after a moment of reflection. —I think I would have enjoyed a muggle school. Maybe not so much for the subjects, but for the idea of ​​a classroom full of normal people, without wands and spells. It's... different. Less pressure, perhaps—. She looked up with a look that had some curiosity. —But I also understand what you're saying about Hogwarts. It's an impressive place, and there's something almost...intimidating about everything we can learn here. Although, to be honest, there are days when I'd love to change the history of magic for a muggle class in, I don't know, cooking or drawing—. Stelle let out a small laugh, rearranging some of her materials on the desk. She found the conversation with Jade refreshing, a reminder that, even with their differences, there was always something to connect between two people.

@Jade O'Reilly

Jade listened curiously as Stelle talked about her thoughts on potions. “It's like you're... taming chaos,” the other girl eventually finished, with a shrug. That’s an… interesting way to put it, Jade thought to herself. But it does make a certain kind of sense. In many ways, Potions was like science - you created something orderly out of materials and elements you found out in the world. You took what the world had provided, and made something of it. Jade found it to be one of the more grounded aspects of magic - everything else they learned at Hogwarts was so fantastical. Which was nice, of course - Jade absolutely loved learning about magic. But it was nice, sometimes, to have a class that was more familiar to her than anything else. Stelle was still talking, Jade realized, so she tucked her thoughts to the back of her mind for the time being.

Jade laughed despite herself when Stelle mentioned explosions. “That would certainly make class more interesting,” she said. “I agree with what you were saying, though - Potions does feel more hands-on than the other classes do,” Jade continued, taking the opportunity to express her thoughts on what Stelle had said about Potions class. “I wonder if we’ll ever learn why certain spells and charms work the way they do, instead of simply learning them. Maybe we will in Charms class, when things begin to get more advanced?” Jade wondered aloud. She didn’t fully understand how the classes would change as their time at Hogwarts went on. Maybe Stelle will know, she thought. She seems like she’s a pureblood, or at least has some wizard heritage. “Either way, it would be something interesting to learn about.”

“Honestly, speaking from experience… Muggle school was probably harder,” Jade said, once Stelle had finished speaking again. “There was more work, more big tests, lots of writing… I suppose people could say the same of Hogwarts, but I don’t see it that way. Maybe I’m just too enamored with the school to notice the heavy workload,” Jade said with a laugh. “I don’t really miss Muggle school, but… I guess I get what it feels like to want something different - a fresh experience. Maybe in a few years, I’ll be tired of Hogwarts and be wishing for Muggle classes instead. Who knows,” she said, smiling.

The rest of the students had entered the classroom, and the chatter was beginning to die down. Jade looked up towards the front of the room to see that the lesson was beginning. “I think class is starting,” she said to Stelle, lowering her voice to a whisper.

₊⁺⋆ Date: January 8th 2025 | Number of words: 511| Dialogue: #aa5713 ⋆⁺

As Jade spoke, Stelle maintained a serene expression, tilting her head slightly to catch each word carefully. Discussions about Potions always sparked something in her: a mix of fascination and fear. For her, that was an accurate description, and perhaps therein lay the reason for her almost fearful respect for the subject. It was like walking a tightrope, where any mistake could unleash unpredictable consequences. And although she liked the idea of creating something extraordinary from ordinary ingredients, the possibility of failure kept her on her toes. she let out a small laugh and stopped immediately, a slight and somewhat nervous smile forming on her lips. —I'm sorry… you sounded very Ravenclaw, Jade—. she responded quietly, her tone intended to be light but betraying her unease. However, when Jade mentioned the possibility of learning the fundamentals behind spells and incantations, she felt a spark of interest. It was something she had never reflected on, although she always assumed that those explanations were beyond what the teachers would share. —Maybe Charms will get deeper as we go—. she whispered, a slight glint of curiosity in her eyes. —Understanding the why behind magic... I don't think my brain could process so many detailed explanations—. she joked

The conversation took an unexpected turn when Jade talked about the Muggle school, a world so foreign to Stelle that it almost seemed like a fantastic story. As Jade described the long hours, big exams, and constant writing, Stelle found herself trying to imagine it. For someone who had grown up surrounded by magic, the idea of relying solely on non-magical abilities seemed almost unthinkable. —It must have been... exhausting—. she finally commented, her tone reflective. —Although I suppose each world has its own challenges. You don't have to write as much here, but it's not easy either—. Although she didn't mention it out loud, part of her envied Jade. The experience of having lived in both worlds seemed invaluable to her, a perspective she herself would never fully have. However, I understood what Jade was saying about looking for something different. —Sometimes, even in the wizarding world, I wish for something different. I don't know exactly what, but... something—. her voice trailed off as she pondered her own words.

The sound of students taking their seats interrupted her thoughts, and Stelle noticed that the professor was already in front. With a slight gesture towards Jade, she began to smooth out her robes, a habit that usually calmed her before concentrating. she carefully placed her Potions book on the table, smoothing out the corner of the pages. Although the chaos scared her, she couldn't deny that there was something exciting about facing the unknown. Maybe, she thought to herself, magic and life were the same in that sense: they both involved taking risks to create something wonderful. Although when I look at her work table, I envy another thing about Jade: her order. she began to try to arrange her things on the desk with a slight frown as she realized that he was a hopeless case.

@Jade O'Reilly

Mentioning: @Stelle Mims | Date: Jan 8th 2025 | Dialogue: #407e58 | WC: 453

Jade nodded in agreement with Stelle’s observations, though she didn’t respond verbally out of fear of disrupting the class. Logically, she knew no one would notice if she chose to continue the conversation, but the habit was hard to get rid of. I am rather Ravenclaw, in that respect, she thought, coming back to Stelle’s joking comment. Upon reflection, the other girl exemplified her house values as well. Friendly and sweet, Stelle seemed like a typical Hufflepuff. Though Jade still didn’t quite understand why there was such an emphasis placed on the various houses. Even for a magical school like Hogwarts, it seemed… odd.

Up near the board, the professor had begun introducing the day’s lesson: healing. This will be interesting, Jade thought as the professor started to introduce the potions they would be making during class. She was curious to see how magical healing worked. She thought she understood the basics, of course - it healed your wounds and injuries faster than they would if left to their own devices. But what did the process actually look like? Jade was excited to find out. As the professor spoke, Jade opened her notebook and began the day’s notes. She took careful note of everything the professor mentioned in neat handwriting, keeping her notes as organized as her desk.

It seemed they would be making two potions this class: the Bruise Removal Paste
and the Burn Healing Paste. After introducing the potions, the professor began writing the brewing instructions up on the board. Jade began to copy down the instructions, occasionally having to lean to the side to see around the students sitting in front of her. I wish I had brought multiple colors of ink, she thought as she wrote. That way, I could color-code some of these instructions. One color for ingredients, one for the steps… She would have to remember to bring some tomorrow, or whenever she had her next potion class.

Once she was finished copying down the instructions, Jade looked over them with a small, satisfied smile. Up by the board, the teacher was instructing them to begin collecting the materials for the potions. She placed her notebook in the middle of the table, so that she and Stelle could read the instructions. “We should start collecting the materials,” Jade said to Stelle. “Do you want to get the supplies for the Bruise Removal Paste, and I can get the supplies for the Burn Healing Paste?” Jade paused, then added, “Do you think you’ll be able to remember the ingredients? Or do you want to copy them down first?” She didn’t want to cause Stelle any unneeded stress, since it was clear the other girl wasn’t super fond of Potions.

OOC Note: The potions were taken from the Year 1 Potions Syllabus in the forum.

₊⁺⋆ Date: January 8th 2025| Number of words: 499| Dialogue: #aa5713 ⋆⁺₊

Stelle watched Jade intently as her classmate meticulously organized her materials. There was something almost hypnotic about the way she arranged each jar and bottle with precision, as if each ingredient had a specific place assigned in her mental scheme. From the beginning of the course, she had realized that her classmate had a clear method for everything she did: her notes were always impeccable, her approach to classes was meticulous, and even the way she spoke, without rushing or hesitating too much, reflected that tendency toward order. In contrast, Stelle let herself be guided more by intuition, trusting in her ability to adapt to the situation. Maybe that was why she found potions harder than other subjects. In comparison, Stelle felt much more improvised in her approach to class. She knew she was not disorganized, but she also did not have that structure that seemed to come naturally to Jade.

—You have a pretty orderly system—. she commented in a curious tone, resting her elbows on the table and her chin on her hands. Are you always like this with everything? There was something fascinating about seeing the differences between them. Jade seemed so structured and meticulous, while Stelle tended to move with more spontaneity. Still, she liked working with her. They complemented each other somehow. As they waited for the teacher’s signal to begin, Stelle let her gaze momentarily wander around the classroom. There were murmurs of students discussing ingredients, the occasional sound of jars clinking, and a faint bubbling from the cauldrons at the front.

Stelle looked at Jade with an expression of slight concentration before letting out a small sigh. She knew potions weren’t her forte, and while her classmate’s offer to copy the ingredients was tempting, she didn’t want to delay them any longer than necessary. —I think I’ll remember them—. she replied with a small smile, though in her mind she was quickly going over the ingredients, as if trying to make sure she wouldn’t really forget them as soon as she left the table. She stood up and walked over to the shelves with jars and small pots filled with ingredients. The scent of dried herbs and strange liquids permeated the air, and Stelle tried not to wrinkle her nose as she scanned the labels, looking for the right items. Beside her, other students also rushed to pick up what they needed, some more confidently than others. —It’s not that hard—. Stelle thought as she mentally went through the ingredients. She picked each one up carefully: arnica powder, dittany sap, marigold petals… what else was it? She tilted her head slightly and then remembered: comfrey root. She found it on one of the lower shelves and took it in both hands before returning to the table she shared with Jade. —Here they are—. she said, carefully placing the ingredients on the table in a somewhat messy manner to be honest. She sat back down and glanced at Jade. —Do you have yours?—.

@Jade O'Reilly