The Problem with Potions

Aisling reread the instructions for the Wiggenweld potion in her textbook. "Step one: Add salamander blood until the potion turns red." Aisling felt her stomach sour. And that was only the first ingredient that involved a creature's bodily fluids, let alone the flobberworm mucus she'd have to add to the concoction later. It'd be even worse once she had to include the lionfish spines, too. How could anyone have the heart to create such an elixir? Aisling was aware she wasn't a vegetarian; she wasn't even vegan! But she knew that she needed to eat, and fruits and vegetables alone just wouldn't do the trick. That's what she was taught in her Health class back in her Muggle primary school, anyway. Surely, that logic had to apply to wizards and witches, too. Maybe others would've viewed it as cherry-picking, but it was always about essentials. A creature's life being wasted on a potion wasn't the same to her as eating to have sustenance. Despite this, she read on. "Step two: Stir until the potion turns orange. Step three: Add more salamander blood until the potion turns yellow." Aisling gagged. Her already fair skin seemed to lose the rest of its color. I have to add *more* salamander blood? she thought, wasn't the first bit already enough? "Oh God," she said out loud, "there's no way I can do this."

Aisling looked over to see Rea, who had stumbled. Over what, Aisling wasn't sure. She closed her book and walked over to her. "Are you okay?" she asked her. She examined Rea to see if she was visibly hurt. From what she could find, there was nothing out of the ordinary. She grabbed Rea's hand and helped her up. Aisling paused for a moment, her heart racing. She didn't even think when she went to help Rea, not like she usually did before she interacted with others. She was already so unlike herself since she came to Hogwarts, and the first semester had just started. Aisling knew that was a good thing, but she'd be lying if she said it didn't scare her like crazy. Safe to say, it was a good thing that the Sorting Hat didn't put her in Gryffindor. Now that would've been a mistake. Oh God, Aisling thought, what do I say now? She thought back on what her mum had said on the first day, right before she got to Platform 9 & 3/4. Find something you like about them and compliment them on it. A sincere compliment can make anyone's day a little better. "Did...uh...did you, by any chance, use the um, use the repairing charm on that book a few seconds ago?" she asked, her voice shaking, "because you...you did a good job on it." She let out a breath as she scratched at her neck, hoping her nerves would calm down.

Aisling frowned. "Oh, right," she muttered. She glanced back at the potions textbook before looking back at Rea. "It... it's just..." She sighed. "It's potions. I ... I don't like it." She paused for a second. "Not ... not when they use animal parts." She swallowed. "Or animals themselves." Oh, what a bleeding heart she sounded like. How could Aisling pursue learning all about the wizarding world if she couldn't even stomach a Potions class? And to have this display of weakness in front of a Ravenclaw, someone who hailed from a house she respected, no, admired, no less. There was no way on Earth that Rea could take her seriously now, not when she was looking like a wimp just picturing the animals losing their fangs or scales, or even their mucus. Aisling's stomach dropped. "I ... I was trying to read up on some ... some potions for class. Get uh, like a headstart." She took in a deep breath. "And uh, I was looking at um, some of the potions we ... we might learn. And ..." She shook her head. "Oh, I can't." She rubbed the palms of her hands against her pale face. "How am I going to not fail this class?" she asked herself aloud.