Hunter A. Prodigal Solo

Hunter's paranoia was getting worse in the days that went by. He was learning more, find out more, and felt he was gaining more control of situations he had. Yet, his relationship with other students was dwindling and if not backfiring. He was forging more enemies than allies and attempted to earn favors and false trust rather than respect. He had to keep watch of everything that occurred, he couldn't let other students get the best of him. His brewing was close to perfection, and his skills were increasing with each step of the way. He became quieter but was less prone to being afraid of others. He felt he had more control than before, but sometimes such control slipped through his fingers.

This fear of enemies and losing control was a worrying thought, but Hunter considered some possible ways to get around such issues. The more enemies Hunter made, the more likely he was bound to face and meet multiple students that could potentially dislike him. He needed potions for not only protect his allies but himself as well. The befuddlement draught seemed like a good idea at first, as it would allow Hunter to manipulate situations that got out of hand if he was facing more than one student who mistrusted him. He took a breath, ready to begin his practice of another troubling potion.

Into a mortar he grinded two sprigs of skurvy grass, 1 sprig of lovage, and 1 sprig of sneezewort in a mortar and a pestle to a fine powder. A bit of powder flew into the air and reached Hunter's nose, his fear of going mad grew slightly and he knew what such a mixture was capable of doing to the mind. He held a blade and crushed two mistletoe berries with it. The crushed berries were slid into the cauldron and the heat was set to medium for 30 seconds. Four fluid ounces of water was added to the cauldron and the heat was changed to high. Three stirs in a clockwise fashion were performed, and the heat was set to low.

The next part was the most important, as the three powdered herbs were the main ingredients for such a potion. Hunter stirred 5 times in an anticlockwise fashion while slowly adding the finely mixed powder of herbs into the cauldron with each stir. He waved his wand afterward and allowed a whole hour to pass. During that hour, Hunter wondered and began to think of the many students whose nerves he currently had gotten on with. He needed to keep an eye out for each of them and figure out what their weaknesses were.

After an hour, Hunter grounded 3 measures of standard ingredients and added the powder into the cauldron. He conducted one more stir in a clockwise motion. Next were three slow anti-clockwise stirs, this time waving his wand over the cauldron during the stirs. Hunter turned off the heat and allowed the cauldron to sit for 20 minutes before waving his wand once more. The potion should be finished at that point, but in no way possible was Hunter willing to test the potion on himself. He was too cautious to consider making himself act and be reckless, who knew what mistakes he would make. He merely smiled at his accomplishment, placing a facade to the Professor to hide his fears and thoughts. Another accomplishment and potion added to his arsenal.

@Hunter Argentum, your RP for Befuddlement Draught for Prodigal Potions Learner has been approved!

Hunter had a plan brewing in his head just like his cauldron as he began to put on his protective gloves. He recently had a thought of testing some of his potions and seeing their capability and usefulness in events such as duels, or perhaps even broom racing, or sneakily for quidditch. He had a set of potions at the ready but required one more to really spice things up a bit. He had potions to heal his injuries, ones to trouble his enemy's mind, and a few for deceptive combat. Yet, what he really required was one to bring force and danger. The fire-breathing potion seemed like the perfect fit.

With that, he added 2 sprigs of peppermint and 1 Fire Seed into his cauldron and turned the heat beneath his cauldron to a low flame for about an hour. The plan Hunter had wasn't quite as devious as his previous ones, but if anything it was bound to be one many students would enjoy. To see who could use potions in the most versatile way, and also see how well Hunter had crafted his materials. Many would question why he did it, as the boy did almost nothing for just pure fun. If anything, he wanted to gain knowledge about the students that would participate. He spent the hour pondering on which students he should ask. Who he has and hasn't met, and who would be the best of test subjects that be willing to try potions in a duel.

Hunter then proceeded to chop a ginger root into small pieces, and then grind them into a fine paste inside a mortar with a pestle in hand. The grinding was almost a second-hand nature, and Hunter found ease in grinding ingredients each and every time he did it. He then added the paste to his cauldron and proceeded to turn the stirring rod 5 times in an anti-clockwise fashion. Turning up the heat to a medium flame, Hunter began to slowly add an entire jar of honey to the cauldron. His sweet tooth began to ache to wish to take a bite of the honey, but he was already too laser-focused to give in to such temptations. He then stirred 5 times again, but this time in a clockwise fashion. Waving his wand, Hunter then proceeded to wait about 15mins thanks to his cauldron being one of copper.

Hunter then started thinking of an assortment of students he knew, Bubba McGarry was a hard no as the boy would probrbaly breath fire on Hunter rather than those he was dueling. Vale Ashwood was a possibility, but her crazyiness made her such an outlier for this event. Sophia Nelson was a good possibility, but Hunter thought she'd be more helpful watching over the duel and giving thoughts rather than actually dueling. Avery Chen, Clair Fernandez, and Della Barfield seemed like good candidatess, but Hunter hadn't talked to them all since spring break. With that, Hunter began to notice how very few students he actually knew at Hogwarts. Then there was the hidden thought of Hui Ming, a boy he heard, had seen, but never really spoken with. There were a lot of candidates, but Hunter also thought that some new faces could also be helpful.

Back to his mortar, Hunter crushed 4 lavender sprigs and then added them to the cauldron. Next was 1 tablespoon of flobberworm mucus, and unlike most students, Hunter didn't feel grossed out or disgusted in wielding the slimy material as he added it to the cauldron. Another three stirs anti-clockwise, and Hunter could already feel the potion beginning to thicken from the mucus. He turned off the heat and waved his wand once more to finish the potion. Another success with little to no issues. With that, Hunter began to wonder if his family blood is what allowed him to be so good with potions, or if it was his passion for the subject. He turned his head at the new potions Professor, curious as to who they are. Young in nature, he decided to ask a question to help him in his goals, "Professor, are there any precautions for when drinking a fire-breathing potion? Like putting an ice cube in ones mouth or eating a sprig of mint before drinking?"

Your RP for the Fire-Breathing Potion for your Prodigal Potions Learner ability has been approved. @Hunter Argentum

Sorry again for the delay! And in response to Hunter's question...

Méabh was sitting on her desk, cross-legged, reading while she waited to continue her own potion. At the boy's question she looked up, then raised an eyebrow at the advanced potion he had brewed. Wasn't he a little young for that? But he seemed to have managed a solid brew, so she supposed it was fine. "No, it's part of the potion's magic, and also why the honey and mint is in there," she replied, some of her natural Irish dialect slipping into the words. "It doesn't burn your tongue or gullet. Be careful not to get the potion anywhere else, though, it will eat right through any exposed skin and flesh."

Hunter sighed, the potions room was rather dark and moody as usual. He didn't mind the feeling, but it was possible he was finally beginning to feel very lonely. He found himself spending more time in the dungeons with each passing day. His skin tone wasn't getting paler, as he did spend a lot of time by the Great Lake as well, but no matter where he went he felt alone. He had his goals, he had his studies, and he had his own ambitions. He just lacked the allies to achieve everything with, and no Gregory's unctuous unction was going to fix that. He sighed, brushed off the thoughts, and wondered how much longer it would be till he can help everyone in his own way. This next potion was the next big step in establishing how great of a Healer Potioneer he was going to be.

His cauldron, he filled it with purified water, saw his reflection barely glimmering back the sorrowful look he had from the dim light within the room. He chopped some (3) murtlap tentacles slowly, taking his time with this potion to reflect on what he has done. Just how far was Hunter willing to go to achieve his goals, and just how many people was he willing to throw under the bus to prove his family's name? He wasn't sure, but he knew he was an Argentum and he was going to become a great potioneer. He added the murtlap tentacles to the cauldron and turned up the heat to a simmer for 5 minutes. Within that time, Hunter questioned if he was doing all this because he wanted to help people or because he wanted to prove his efficiency in potions. Was he still following in his father's footsteps? To become great and knowledgeable enough to go on adventures with him, or was Hunter redirecting himself towards a new path dawned by his mother? A path filled with injury and sickness, that he would cure out of love. He wasn't sure, he couldn't be sure, and that frustrated him.

Hunter ground 3 lionfish spines into a powder and added it to the cauldron. Then a dash of 2 measures of salt before stirring 3 times in a clockwise fashion, he then proceeded to add 5 drops of Essence of Wormwood to the concoction. The next ingredient was unique and close to home. Hunter held the sprig of Dittany in his hand, looking deep into it as it held meaning in his family. It was his favorite plant but was it his favorite because he was born into his family or because he actually enjoyed the aspects the plant held? Again, Hunter didn't know and a small headache developed in his mind. He added the sprig to the cauldron and began to stir 5 times in a counter-clockwise fashion. Finally, he waved his wand to finish the potion. His wand... the item especially made Hunter question a lot of things. It barely listened to him, and he argued constantly with it. A part of him knew why, it was because he still didn't know who he was or rather what he was. Was Hunter Argentum a boy who wanted to cure the sick like his mother? Or was he a clever mischievous and devilish person willing to achieve his goals with his family-born skill like his father? He was having trouble, he admired both of his parents but it didn't seem right to act like both of them. His wand knew this, and it wouldn't listen to a master that didn't know who he was.

Hunter filled a vial with the new potion he's understood well, the revive potion. Was the potion going to help revive the old Hunter who was shy, innocent, and caring? Or was it too late, and it would only grant rebirth to a meticulous and paranoid individual? Hunter... just didn't know.

Your RP for the Revive Potion for your Prodigal Potions Learner ability has been approved. @Hunter Argentum

Reducio

Ingredients: 1 Leaping Toadstool, 3 Frog Brains, 1 fl. Oz. Armadillo Bile, 1 Ginger, 4 Chamomile Petals

Finely dice one Leaping Toadstool (taking care that none of the pieces fall off the table as they sometimes continue to move) and add it to the cauldron
Place on a medium flame
Leave to simmer for 20 minutes
Meanwhile, mince 3 Frog Brains and put them to the side for later use
Add one fluid ounce of Armadillo Bile to the cauldron
Turn off the heat
Stir 5 times, clockwise
Leave to sit for an additional 10 minutes, then turn the heat back on to medium
Add the minced Frog Brains to the cauldron
Stir 3 times, anti-clockwise
Leave to brew for 20 minutes
Finely chop a ginger root and grind it to a paste in a mortar
Add 3 tablespoons of the paste to the cauldron
Stir once, clockwise
Set to high heat and leave to boil for 5 minutes
Turn off the heat
Add 4 whole, undamaged Chamomile Petals to the cauldron and wait for them to incorporate
Wave your wand over the cauldron to complete the potion
Store only in crystal vials (as glass might react poorly with the Armadillo Bile)

"Scillination Solution?" Hunter held a slightly questionable tone in his voice. He never heard of such a potion, and reading its description made him feel more confused rather than guaranteed. He couldn't tell if the potion actually increased someone's "wit" or if it made them believe they were smarter than everyone else. There was a difference between feeling smart and actually being smart, and at this point of reading its description, it felt more like it made you feel it rather than be it. Perhaps the potion increased one's overconfidence making them cocky instead. Knowledge couldn't be gained, but he supposed increasing neural activity could be the cause of this increase of 'wit.' Well, there was only one way to find out.

Hunter held the leaping toadstool tightly to the table, preventing any movements it would attempt in jumping around. Finely dicing it before adding it to his cauldron. A few pieces almost escaped, and as such, he had to grab and make sure none were missing. He increased the flame beneath his cauldron to a medium temperature and allowed it to simmer for 20 minutes. During those 20 minutes, he began mincing three frog brains. The usage of strange ingredients was one of Hunter's favorite aspects of brewing. Who thought of these potions, how did they come up with them and used such bizarre ingredients? He never knew the answer, but it became part of the reason why he was always intrigued by collecting them along with following in his father's footsteps.

After 20 minutes, Hunter added 1 fl. oz of Armadillo Bile to the cauldron and turned off the heat, stirring 5 times in a clockwise motion and leaving the cauldron alone for another 10 minutes to homogenize. He turned the heat back on to a medium flame, adding the minced frog brains to the cauldron and then stirring 3 times, but this time in an anti-clockwise fashion; leaving to brew for about 20 minutes. Hunter then had to chop and grind a ginger root into a paste, luckily something he was finding more ease with each passing day. He added 3 tablespoons of the pasted ginger root to the cauldron with a single clockwise stir afterward. Then Hunter turned up the heat to a high allowing the cauldron to reach a boil and continue boiling for a whole 5 minutes; turning the heat off right after.

The final ingredient, chamomile petals, was required to be undamaged. Hunter held a pile of them with a couple being damaged, plucking out the ones that weren't required. He waved his wand to finish the potion... but the last final step threw him off. He hadn't noticed at the very end the recipe states to use crystal viles rather than glass vials. The boy only had glass ones, but he technically had finished the potion. All he could do was request a question from the Professor about where he could buy some crystal vials and the original question on whether the Scillination solution made someone smarter or made them think they were smarter than others.

Your RP for the Scintillation Solution for your Prodigal Potions Learner ability has been approved. @Hunter Argentum

Méabh looked up from where she definitely hadn't been dozing off over some student's essay, then laughed. She was used by now to Hunter brewing potions beyond his class, and having the odd inquiry along the way. Better he ask, really. "Oh, no, Scintillation Solution doesn't make you smarter, per se. If that's what you want, you should look into getting some Wit-Sharpening Potion instead, which makes you think faster and lets you make connections you usually wouldn't. Scintillation Solution makes you more witty, you know, in the sense of banter and smart retorts." She narrowed her eyes at Hunter. "Not sure if you have any need of that. Anyway..." A few steps carried her over to a shelf, and a bit of rummaging produced a few crystal vials. "You should be able to get these in any well-stocked apothecary shop, but you can use these for the moment." [There's no OOC item for this as far as I'm aware.]