FIRST THROUGH THIRD YEARS POTIONS I

[Rowena Ravenclaw]

SHE COULD SMELL the freshely brewed potions mixing in with the new smells of all the students coming back to Hogwarts for another exciting year. It was bound to be a good one-- well, Row hoped for the best, as she usually did, but with a child under her belt, it may be a bit different... she'd never really given much thought to things of the sort, but her girl-- her baby girl-- was certainly coming. Rowena combined with her other trusted Founder's strength, could put the baby off for a while, with complex spells and potions, but nothing to stop it completely. And Rowena didn't want to stop it completely, she wanted the girl, and she already had a name: Helena. Shortly influenced by Helga; dear Helga.

Hopefully the students would not know anything of the baby until is was obscenely necessary-- Rowena had a mask of wardrobe pieces that would hide her inflating belly, robes of magical quantity and abilities, robes of unicorn hairs and of sphinx's tears. All good in the long run, right?

She smiled at some of the old faces and much more at the newer faces entering her classroom. It was refreshing to have new students, especially younger students, because they were jsut beginning their magical journey at Hogwarts. Her and her other Founders kknew this would be a success, they put so much faith in Hogwarts.

"Please find a seat in the designated area, and see if you can guess what potions I have brewed for our afternoon together," she said majestically, pointing to the cauldrons filled with bubbling, boiling, colorful potions.

[/color][/size]

[Jane Watson]

Jane walked into the potions classroom with the rest of the students. Potions was not one of her best subjects Jane was better at classes that involved a wand than anything. Sighing she sat in a chair next to the window a couple of the first years were having flying classes. Despite being muggle born Jane could handle a broom well enough though not enough to make Jane want to try quidditch just enough to make her want to do free flying though. Shaking the distracting thoughts away Jane opened up her text book ready to at least attempt a passing potions grade.

[Rowena Ravenclaw]

ROWENA SMILED AS

the students filed in, one after another, left, right, left right, some of them looking down at their shoes, others loking up at the ceiling, others looking directly at her. She smiled wider, and her white teeth shone as she motioned to the seats. There were tables upon tables upon table to accommodate the enormous amount of students they had. Finally, when everyone was seated (or most everyone, at least) Rowena picked up her starry blue robes and spun, a dash of cinnamon scent in the air as she duplicated herself: one of her appearing at the front of the room, the other of her appearing at the back. She walked herselves towards each other and they shook hands. The first years usually freaked out a little bit, but the older students were used to it by now.

"Please do not be alarmed. This is normal, this is how classes are accomodated for the lareg number of students we have here at Hogwarts!" She paced both of herselves up and down the rows and rows of students, looking at them with kindness in her eyes. She recognized little Jane Watson whom she'd spoken to about Potions earlier that week. And so she smiled again. "Can anyone guess what is in this cauldron?" she asked as she pointed to a bubbling, gurgling, potion that would take the essence of the person who's hair was put into it. It could be taken by a person and they would have an hour in which they were to be that person. She looked around, ready to give out points to the person who got the first answer.

[/size]

[Jane Watson]

Jane smiled shaking the hand of Professor Ravenclaw. She had talked to the professor earlier in the week but that was it though Jane tried to surpress a giggle at the shocked first years Jane was used to it by now. Though Jane took a look at the potion the professor was teaching about and decided to take a lucky guess. "Is it a Polyjuice potion professor?" Jane asked hand raised.

[Morrigan Kildare]

Morrigan Kildare tried not to bounce through the door, so excited was she that she could barely reign in her enthusiasm. Her black and yellow robes seemed to swim on her tiny frame as they were hand-me-downs from one of her older siblings, modified though to fit the Hufflepuff colors. The dark cloth seemed to intensify the paleness of her skin which, coupled with her loose, flaming red curls, screamed her descent at just about everyone she passed. It had been hard enough, without her appearance and accent to withstand the teasing from the other students. She felt like she stood out and she had wondered if any of her siblings had felt the same way.

Happily enough for her, Helga had been so wonderful and welcoming, it was like her Mam had come to help her settle in. Then there were her sisters and brother whom she could count on if she needed. Yes, despite being one of the few Irish among the school's population, she loved being here. Aíne had assured her over and over that, with time, her English would improve and soon she'd be able to hold a decently intelligent conversation with some of the older students. She came trough the door at a half-trot, her nose seeking the smells in the air, reminded of home as her mother brewed up her magic draughts that cured the ails of her family and the nearby village.

She smiled inwardly as she located one of the few remaining seats (which incidentaly was at the front of the room and closest to the professor, Aíne's head of house whom she looked up to immensely) and sat right before class started. She peered around, searching for someone she knew, and thinking she recognized Jane Watson, the Muggleborn girl from the big fight in the cafeteria over a week and a half ago. Jane answered as question and Morrigan turned her attention back to the front as she focused on the cauldrons in front of her. One was a foul color and smell, probably the Polyjuice potion, but the others, she was trying to name. One she thought she'd seen her mother using right before leaving Ireland for Hogwarts, but the name escaped her. Mori remembered Mam explaining how it soothed fever and was especially effective for children and the elderly.

[Rowena Ravenclaw]

ROWENA WAS GLAD to see her work as a teacher would be paying off to the students quite soon. Little Jane Watson had answered correct, and she was very pleased at least some of her students were paying attention. The rest of them would learn in time, Rowena was sure of that as she was sure as the sun would come up tomorrow, even if obscured by the clouds or even the thick British fog.

"Excellent, five points to Gryffindor, Miss Watson! Now, if you would please turn your attention to this potion here," she said as she pointed to the next potion, wondering if any of the students could guess what it was for.

"I don't expect anyone in here to get the name, but can anyone tell me what it is used for?"

[/size]

[Morrigan Kildare]

Mori peered around, waiting for someone to answer the question. She thought she knew the answer, but wasn't sure and didn't want to risk making herself look like an idiot in front of her classmates if she happened to be wrong. She was pretty sure though, Mam always had a knack for healing potions and whatnot, and considering that Mori had seven siblings aside from herself, it was a pretty common brew around the house when cold and influenza season struck the Irish countryside, even in the village, it was common for someone to come beg her mother for a dose of the draught for a child or elderly parent.

Gambling, Mori decided to raise her hand and speak up. She was almost fully positive but one could never know. "It's to soothe a fever," she said, her voice sounding odd, though it was probably because her attempts at English weren't always perfect, "It's for children and old people. It cannae be used for adults, because it isn't strong enough. It has a chalky, bitter flavor, so healers usually use honey to persuade small children to drink it." She quieted down after that, feeling a little shy and awkward. She wasn't as smart as her older sister, but Mori was a fair hand better at potions than she.