Let's Not Blow This Up Pv Elsi Closed

Elsian loved potions.

Was he the greatest at it? No. He had a tendency to forget steps sometimes after dozing off, sometimes adding ingredients twice, but that didn’t change the fact the boy still liked potions. One could even say it was his favorite class, if only because it was the easiest when he didn’t doze off.

He liked the calmness that he felt when brewing them. The knowledge that he wouldn’t mess up, didn’t need to overthink so long as he followed the recipe. Enjoyed watching the ingredients mix and bubble and twist into something new, sometimes shiny or glittering or glowing a new vibrant shade as the magical properties took effect. But most of all-

He liked experimenting.

The unknown of it all. The science of each ingredient and its magical properties and the knowledge that there were likely countless unknowns and possible mixtures that could create new potions, slightly change effects, weaken, strengthen. All hidden behind the finicky nature of certain ingredients, the overwhelming knowledge of just how much tweaking you could do to a recipe to possibly change it…and just how little it took to ruin hours of work with a single error.

That said, he often lost interest. It was like that with most things, he was only interested when it suited him, single minded in a way. But the unknown of potions was enough to have him understand the basics at least, enough to have him coming back on his own free time outside of the normal classwork just to see if he could make something work when it popped into his head.

It was why he was here today. He wanted to try something with an ingredient he’d bought.


Of course he hadn’t expected to see June here, a certain bucket head snake. The image in his head almost made him choke on a laugh out loud as he slipped into the room with his things quietly. But,it was really seeing June that surprised him, so much as the lazy, because that’s what it had to be, way she went about making her potion. Lazy, or maybe careless? Because he didn't think those ingredients matched up or maybe…

Maybe she was trying to make something new.

Putting his own things down, cauldron and recently bought, possibly questionable, ingredients set aside, his eyes kept locking on the others cauldron. She seemed stuck in her own little bubble, focused but also not and perhaps foolishly he abandoned his own station. Wandering closer, unthinkingly as he leaned closer from behind the younger girl, looking over her shoulder as the brew began to heat and boil. “What are you making?” He asked, wand, and a single bottle clutched in his hands as he fiddled. Both tucked behind his back.

Oh, she had her book open!

Lets see…this was-

“Drowsiness Draught?”…He eyed her up and down, ignoring the pang of disappointment and grinned. “You already look dead on your feet. You sure you need one of those?”

The Gryffindor circled the table, one hand close but not quite touching her things as he went. It was perhaps close enough to be annoying though. He didn’t mention. Didn’t dare, at least not yet, that the ingredients didn’t quite look right.

Kinda depended on how little Miss Bucket Head acted.

Elsian did not pout. He didn’t! But the way his face twisted, eyes squinted in disappointed annoyance came pretty bloody close.

June was always so snappy towards him these days. And he hardly ever bothered the girl, let alone talk to her! If anything shouldn't she be at least a bit nicer? Hadn’t they bonded all those years ago with the water fight surprise? One strengthened by glitter balloons and a tasteful alligator slip n slide? Was she still sour over the bucket thing? He’d said he was sorry.

He huffed, hunching over in a tiny corner of the work space. Honestly, people could learn to lighten up. You pull a few light hearted pranks and everyones a critic…at least he didn’t steal peoples things unprovoked like a certain bludger head.

“So it’s a waste of an experiment.” He responded boredly, eyeing the potion closely. His fingers itched to grab at the ingredients simply out of spite for the others' tone. “You’re so mean to me.” He grumbled, “Is this about the cutlery? That wasn’t even aimed at you, you’re the one who sat where you weren’t supposed to.” He grumbled under his breath, slowly straightening up at the others' words because really?

Really?


Something useful? Well he had. The fact her ingredients were off being the main thing, the 2nd being the potion she was stirring seemed to be bubbling in an odd way but now he didn’t really feel like saying any of that. If anything he felt quite put out, maybe a little disappointed. For a Slytherin they didn’t seem very ambitious. Just extra practice? When she already knew…hmm, well on second thought…

He looked over the ingredients.

Maybe she really did need the practice.

…

Then again…the potion was obviously ruined anyways if the aggressive bubbling was anything to go by.

“Well…” he began slowly, “I did have something to say…but now it’s a bit too late for that isn’t it? Pretty sure lavender doesn’t go in this brew.” He smiled, plucking at the cork of the bottle in his hand as he looked down at the potion. “Definitely messed up. No fixing that. No point in wasting it though, right?”

Thoughtfully he eyed it before pulling the bottle from behind his back, the amber looking liquid sloshed gently. Explosive Fluid.

“Can’t fix it. But we can put some of that Slytherin ambition towards something new! I’ll even share my special ingredient.” He offered kindly, free and to his chest as if he was doing some grand favor as he tipped the bottle into the brew.

No sooner had a decent pour of the amber liquid hit the potion before it started to fizzle like pop rocks! Bubbles turned more aggressive with an almost violent speed as new colors started to turn in the cauldron. It all happened in a matter of seconds, the potion suddenly calming. Like dead water on the quietest, dullest nights.

“Huh.” He began, looking up towards the other. “Guess it really was a dud. Sorry it-”

Then the top started to fizz. And Elsian, was somewhat familiar with this particular ingredient having some odd, unexpected and…well explosive outcomes.

“Duck.”

That was the only warning June would receive before the Gryffindor was ducking down away from the potion. A violent, wonderful, colorful explosion rocking through the air like a colorful, rainbow, hissing cloud. It looked downright magical for the few seconds it lasted, arching up from the cauldron and covering the immediate area in a wonderful, magical layer of colorful…dye? Dust? Before starting to thin like a weak fog. Maybe like a dust storm losing its power?

Either way, Elsian thought it was amazing!

He laughed, a small cackle echoing in the room as he straightened from his duck under the table. Some of it had rained down on him like a mist cloud, staining his robes in blue and green, the tips of his fingers purple from where he gripped the edge of the table. “That was amazing!” He wheezed, a smudge of purple and green pressed to his cheek from where he’d wiped his fingers and robe against his cheek as the color slightly itched. “Imagine if we added something glittery. Or more potent colors!” He went to try and touch more of the odd colorful remains on the table before thinking better of it, looking up towards June, “I think I have some-”

A strangled snort of laughter escaped him before he was able to clap a and over his mouth. Cheeks aching with the urge to smile at the sight before him because oh…oh June hadn’t ducked had she?

…

……

“why didn’t you duck?” He asked, voice trembling with barely concealed laughter.