Scone sat on his desk allowing his legs to dangle off the edge. He surveyed the empty desks - all equipped with cauldrons and the necessary utensils. The potions classroom had been touched up with Scone's personal things - maps, golden and elaborate - burbling, frothing potions and weird trinkets. It was an interesting room although not daunting like in the time of Snape. Scone wanted to make his students feel comfortable in this environment where they would complete the potions course and get Outstanding OWLS. Anyone that didnt would not continue into NEWT.

Milo Scone rubbed his hands through his dark hair and prepared for his first ever lesson.

*Alex entered the room, looking more like he just so happened to be there than actually being there to attend the class. His hands were in his pockets and his head down as he traipsed silently over to the seat in 'the darkness', a.k.a the corner in the very back of the room, and sat down. He would've slammed his books down on his desk, but he hadn't bothered to bring them or anything for that matter. He had no intention of doing work in the class.*




~Mel

Milo's eyes followed the boy then laid into him for several minutes while he sat. Milo made no movement with his body to suggest he had been fazed by Alex's negative vibes other than his glare. He broke the silence by laughing. He shuffled off the desk in hysterics as he got a book from a shelf.

"In my second year I was just like you. An arrogant sh*t." He said the insult with so much joy and patronisation he could muster. He threw the book across the classroom, it landed perfectly on Alex's desk and opened. There was nothing on my pages.

"My potions book. I failed potions OWL first time. I took remedial classes with Harshingand got Outstanding. The extra classes were painful." He felt two scars on his neck. "Dont make me put you in the retard class. Get your book out and prepare for an exciting, brilliantly planned lesson."

Milo returned to his desk, sat and dangled his feet out with the air of triumph.

*Alex didn't look up at Milo; His gaze was fixed down, staring at the blank pages of the book on his desk.*
Alex:"I'm not arrogant." *he mumbled. There was much more he was considering saying, such as 'if you were abandoned by your entire family you'd be like this too'. He didn't speak up, though, not for fear of detention, because that didn't matter to him anymore, but because he didn't feel like talking.*



~Mel

Finn entered the class. It was the first class he attended in ages. Potions had always been one of his favorite classes. It reminded him of muggle chemistry. "G'morning Professor," Finn said, taking a seat in the front and middle of the classroom. Finn smiled, he hated kids that tried to show up the teacher.

Milo looked down a list of names and moving photographs. "Ah you must be Finn, a grand total of two. Good start to the terms work," Milo beamed sarcastically before conjuring a mug of tea. He moved around to Finn and began to make small talk while he waited for the others.

"So - been following the quidditch league?" He asked, usually a popular topic of conversation with boys at Hogwarts. Scone was an avid supporter of the Wimbourne Wasps, he had a season ticket and had only missed one match - and that was when he was in hospital having two extra arms removed.

*Alex appeared not to have noticed Finn or the fact that his professor was trying to start conversation. This wasn't like him; Normally he'd jump at the chance to talk about Quidditch and tell off the people who didn't support his team, but now...he just didn't care. He stayed as he was, stoic and still, and waited for the class to be over so he could leave.

He didn't want to even be there. Maybe he'd try for a detention or walk out of class once he got sick of it. Both were possibilities and both seemed reasonable to him.*

Finn smiled. Professors usually seemed so distant from the students, it wasn't this way with Professor Scone. "I'm a big fan of the Meteorites... They are from Canada, so I don't get to see them play that often... They aren't that good this year... Who's your team, sir?"

"Cough... traitor...cough!" Scone said as a joke, but he did not laugh - to laugh at ones own jokes was distasteful. "I'm a wasps fan. Season ticket holder. And no - Im not a glory hunter." He smirked at that one, the Wasps were doing well and loads of people jumped on the bandwagon when the Wasps did well in the league.

Rasaq walked into the Potions room with a slight sweat on his forehead. He sat down near the middle of the class room and pulled out his potions book. He wiped the sweat off his forehead, all the way to his hairline. His hand fell on top of his cornrows briefly before taking it down. He sighed and laid his head on his book. He had just been running, and hope it helped towards his weight loss. He weighed in at two hundred thirty pounds last time he checked. He sighed and sat up and propped his chin, which had some light facial hair on it, on his hand as he waited for class to start.

Finn smiled. "At least it's British Canada... Not that other part..." It was becoming clear to Finn that this potions teacher was going to be one of his favorites. Finn looked at the kid who just walked in. He apparently didn't think it polite to say good morning to the professor. Whatever...

Rasaq realized that they had been talking about Quidditch. Ras was trying to lose some weight before he joined the time. He took a deep breath and then said "My team is the Appleby Arrows. They could do with some decent Chasers though..." Rasaq smiled and thought Like me... to himself.

"They could do with something decent. Period." Milo joked, the arrows were a second rate team, everyone knew it and their support came from the hard core fans. You had to admire their spirit. Scone grinned at this, nothing but Quidditch could stimulate male bonding.

The exchange of quidditch banter went on for a few more minutes until Scone took out his wand, waved it and his cauldron started to bubble.

"This looks like its everyone. Ok. We shall learn a simple yet useful potion this lesson, I recommend that everyone keeps a sample for themselves and carries it with them at all times. It is called "Grice's Pain Douser" - yeah, you guessed it, some genius called Grice invented it!"

He took a handful of chopped green leaves from his table and threw it into his cauldron, he stirred the ingredient in. "A handful of chopped peppercorn and lavender," he spelled the pleasant odor that burbled from the top.

"Three spoonfuls of fermented alcohol." He drissled a clear liquid from a bottle into his mixture. Potions with Scone was never precise.

"Let boil, stir up and add the magic core." He took some black powder from a tub and sprinkled it generously in. "Powdered dragon dung."

He bottled some and stowed it in his pocket. "The best pain killer around - works against any form of physical pain. But not crucio, there is no defense to crucio. Right - get going!"

Ras started up, his cauldron boiling. He looked at the ingridients that stood in front of him. He sighed. "How is dragon dung supposed to make pain go away?" he said under his breath. He sighed again and put three quarters of a handful of chopped peppercorn and lavender into the cauldron. He had slightly bigger hands, so he downsized 'a handful'. He was alright at potions, but he always seemed to fall asleep during lectures.

Finn smiled. He hoped this potion would be nearly tasteless, though, he doubted it seeing as there was dragon dung in it. Finn slowly started to mix the ingredients together. He had always loved the smell of lavender, but would never admit it. He knew that Potions was about being careful. It seemed to him that the professor wasn't about being precise. It was fine with him because he liked having eyebrows. He gave his potion a few stirs, then added the Dragon Dung. His potion turned a purple color, hopefully signifying that he had made a decent potion. He knew that when done perfectly, this potion would be close to clear. It wasn't bad for a first effort though...

The came the alcohol. Rasaq put in about three spoonfuls, but each spoonful had alcohol falling over the edge. He looked down as it bubbled slightly. He took a deep breath and went to get the next ingridient. He took the powder and sprinkled it in. It seemed to bubble even more, truing a greenish color. He felt like he did something wrong, but he had no clue what it was.

Milo was not precise because of experience. He could judge accuracies perfectly without the need of measuring equipment - usually it was right and produced a really good potion. Measuring was sonly needed in case the potion contained toxic ingredients.

He walked around and glanced at Finn's potion. "You overdid the lavender - its no biggy, the purpose of the lavender is to disguise the horrid taste of the pure alcohol and dragon dung. Bottle two phials, Ill take one to assess you and you take one for personal use. They last three months then go stale."

He peered as Rasaq's. "This is a bigger problem. Too much alcohol. Increase the heat so it evaporates away and add lavender whilst stirring to remedy the problem."

*Alex had already decided that he didn't want to make the potion after putting in the lavender. He just didn't feel like making it, and didn't really care what would happen to him because of he laziness. The pleasant smell was making him sick inside. Ugh, it was just too girly and sweet. He hoped that Professor Scone would notice his lack of movement soon so he could get the hell out of there.*



~Mel

He moved to Alex's potion and looked at him with a disappointed expression. "In my classroom I will not tolerate this poor effort - since you entered you have been in a girly hissy fit. Now this is your final warning: make the potion or receive a detention. And no, you are not allowed to walk out of mine or anyone else's lesson."

As Rasaq was heating up the cauldron even more, he heard Professor Scone telling a stundent to get to work. Ras smiled and added in the lavender as the Professor had told him to do as he sitrred. He looked down at the potion as he did so. It looked like the color was going to change soon. But to what, he did not know.

Tall, thin girl entered the room looking rather bored. Black hair was today worn slightly curled, covering the left half of her face and stretching half-way down her back. Eyes were, as always, icy and grey. The last time she'd bothered showing up in potions her ex, Flint Ashwood, had been the teacher and she had, since then, failed to show. But she had decided that she had to show at least once in a while- though she didn't need the classes. Flame was natural at potions, was probably past NEWT standard already- she had even managed to create a potion which had helped Scythe control his paranoia. But still, practice would keep up the grades.

She gave the teacher a single glance, adjusted the orange sash which was worn over her robes, and took a seat at the back of the class where she made herself comfortable without a single word.

"Hello," he called over potion steam to the new girl. he walked over to her and began explaining the potion. "A pain killing potion, " he went through how to make it quickly before saying, "And next time, you wont be allowed in late. 10 points from slytherin."

He looked disappointed as he left her to get on with it. He sat on the desk so he had a good view of everything that was happening.

Flame gave the professor a single, dark look. "Pleasure." she said sarcastically, and totally ignored his explanation on what they were making except the name. She'd made this before many times- it was simple. She wasn't bothered about him taking points off of Slytherin either- she was used to it and she wasn't bothered about the house cup.

The making of the potion was simple to Flame and she even sped the making up a little, by taking a few shortcuts she'd learnt. When it was finished she didn't even bother to take it to the professor but once again sat back and relaxed, laughing at all those who were struggling along around her.

Milo smiled and took some of her potion once she had done. "Thank you Flame. Your prize for being the first to complete it is to write a three feet essay on how and why you did not follow the prescribed instructions and how this effected the end result. I wand diagrams, clearly labelled. I think tomorrow should be enough time to complete the essay."

He beamed at her and stored away her sample. Show offs. He hated them yet there was always one in every class. Flame would get Outstanding in her Owls and NEWTS. The way to encourage her was the theory side. Making a potion was one thing, writing about it was another.

Fawne was late, very late. Her school bag had split all over the floor just outside her common room and it had taken her a fair while to gather everything up again. She had virtually run to the potions room not wanting to get into to much trouble.

She paused just outside of the door to rearrange her gryffindor robes and place her orange sash on from left to right. She was a member of the family now, though the whole experience had scared her a little. She blinked and replaced her dreamy demeanor, though it didn't look half effective as normal since she looked rather pale and flushed. She knocked politely on the door before walking in and heading towards the front desk where she had spotted the professor.

"I apologise professor, my satchel broke on the way to class."

He snatched the satchel from her and with a big boyish grin he dropped it and booted it with all his mind out of the door and down the corridor with his foot. "Go Fetch," he said. WHen she was out he would lock the door on her. And it would serve her right.

She watched as the bag was kicked down the hall and she was half tempted to accio it, but since the contents were already smashed for a second time today she really didn't see the point. She could buy new ink wells after all. She looked at the professor like he was some sort of insect before staring at the bag again.

"No thank you, i don't like games." Her voice showed no malice. "If you wanted me to leave you could ask."

His little game had failed. Milo raised an eyebrow. "10 points from Gryffindor," he said coolly. "Latecomers will be treated badly in my classroom. Respect is a two way policy. Now go and fetch your bag by hand. You shall then knock on the door and beg that I don't send you to the new headmaster."

She looked at the bag again then her professor. Although Fawne was not confrontational she was pretty sure he wouldn't reopen the door to her and she was in no rush to be sent to the Grand. She seemed to be in a lose lose situation. With a small sigh she nodded her head and headed back towards the door.

"Yes sir. Although i did apologise upon my arrival...sir" She then turned on her heels and headed down the corridor towards her bag, shutting the door behind her.

Her suspicions were confirmed when she realised that indeed ink was smashed all over her belongings. How lovely of Mr. Scone. She frowned slightly and picked up the bag before heading back to the door. She knocked once more before preparing to 'beg.' though she wasn't going to beg not to be sent to the headmaster, no she was going to 'beg' to get into the class. How degrading.

He opened the door. "Hello there, you are late to my lesson. Have you anything to say for yourself?"

She paused slightly after he spoke; this was not something she had to do normally. She softened her voice a few notes as if to make it seemed meeker though she didn't seem too overly impressed at this begging idea. She sighed silently before breaking into speech.

"I apologise greatly Professor, it is entirely my fault for being late, Professor...I ask for your forgiveness and admittance into your class, Professor."
Again she paused stuck for what to say though adamant in emphasising his title as Professor, since after all she had generally not meant to be late to class. And kicking her things down the hall seemed a little rough.
"I can only hope that me being late will not cause me to miss too much of the delightful teachings...Professor"

A scowl worked it's way across her features and was soon stamped clearly on her face. Eyes were narrowed as she glared at the teacher with a burning annoyance and, if anything, it made her look like a spoilt brat. Like she was one of those anymore. She had been, once, when she had played into her mothers good books but those days were gone- long gone. Flame had taken to staying in this inn and that during school holidays to avoid her mother and the arguments their meeting would cause. She would have rather been on the streets than with her mother anytime.

"Three feet?" her tones were cold and questioning of his judgement. "By tommorrow?" she shook her head, muttering something about 'stupid teachers' beneath her breath. But, knowing she would not get out of this, retired to take a piece of parchement, a quill and some ink to write with. She dipped the quill in the ink, which though when she wrote looked black turned emerald green in 24hours, and poised it over the parchment.

But she was then distracted as Fawne walked in. The professor was not being nice and it was, in her mind, not because they were late but because they were of the family. This was obviously his bias against them showing. Teeth ground and she shook her head, focusing once again on the page.

Pain killing potions Flame stopped writing and sighed at the gamed this teacher was playing. "Sir, just let her come in." She growled.

Rasaq's jaw almost seemed to drop the moment Professor Scone booted the bag out the door. he was disgusted by such bias. Being of African descent he had seen some bias before but this was too much. In a learning environment everything should be unbiased, but it was sickening how people treated developing minds like this. Rasaq pushed back from his table after bottling up the potion and said "Ya. Just let 'er in sir. What you doin' is straight iggnorant." Rasaq wasn't one to normally speak out against his Professors, but he hated when people were biased. His face had gone from blank to upset in a matter of seconds.

Milo looked at his class and raised an eye browe. "Quieten down class, I'll do what I like in my own lesson. You all have work to do." Scone nodded and motioned to a seat for Fawne to sit in. he had had his fun and now he explained everything to Fawne and gave her instructions on how to follow the potion. In a second her bag was repaired.

"10 Points from hufflepuff," he was annoyed at Rasaq for spoiling his fun. Did he not understand the terror of the Family?

"Thank you Professor." her words were hollow, though covered by her dreamy tone.

Fawne sat in the seat he motioned to her, although she would have preferred sitting next to Flame. She listened to the instructions carefully and she was mildly shocked when he fixed her bag. She glanced at the Hufflepuff boy that had also asked the Professor just to let her in the class. She wasn't sure if he was looking but she mouthed the words 'Thank You' since shouting across the classroom wouldn't have done her any favours.

She gave him a second glance to see if he noticed before paying attention to mixing her ingredients. She would thank Flame for her input later. After hastily scriblling down the procedure with her newly fixed quill. She grabbed a handful of the chopped leaves, probably a few more than needed and sprinkled them into the cauldron rather than tipped. She then carefully measured the alcohol, she was trying very hard to be precise. She allowed the potion to boil, and sprinkled in the dragon dung, tough she wasn't quite sure of the measurement she went for just under a handful. She stirred it liberally before peering slightly into the cauldron hoping that the potion was the right colour. But with the morning she'd been having it was probably not.

A Hufflepuff also stood up for Fawne and Flame smirked. It wasn't just her who hated Milo for being so cruel then, eh? When finally Fawne was allowed in and to sit down Flame walked across the classroom to talk to the boy.

"So- you don't like him either?" she laughed, looking at the boys potion. "Don't let that over-heat." she warned, turning to stare at the professor before turning attention back onto the boy.

"So, what's your name?"

Rasaq saw the girl go to her seat. Fawne was her name right? He smiled as she mouthed thank you. He grinned and mouthed back 'No prob.' Next thing he knew though, there came a voice from over his shoulder. It was the Slytherin. He grinned and as he let his cauldron cool down he said "Rasaq Jones. You can just call me Ras if you wanna though." He grinned and ran a hand over his cornrows. "I don't like that he's bein' straight iggnorant. Just not the place."

Flame smirked as the boy introduced himself and glanced over her shoudler once again. "Nice to meet you, Ras- I'm Flame, by the way." she told him, eyeing the potion he was making.

She sighed as he pointed out the way the professor was being. "He's like that, from what i can see. There is no time or place he should be like that to a student. He thinks he's great, but he isn't. He could get himself sacked."

He started pouring out the potion into two seperate bottles as he said "Personally, I have no affiliation with the Family or the Resistance, but I have a feeling it'll only be a matter of weeks before I'm invloved." He grinned at her, his dark brown eyes looking deep into hers, as if he was looking for some deep secret.

Deciding that she had followed the instructions as best as she could and not wanting to risk over brewing the potion she doused the heat under the cauldron and filled the two vials on her desk. She didn't bother to empty her cauldron since she was not sure if she should. Fawne carefully and tightly placed a stopped in both bottles and sat them on her desk, next to her notes on the potions.

She looked around the class and wondered if it was worth venturing a few seats forward to talk to Flame and the Hufflepuff boy. She wasn't quite sure if the teacher would like a mini gathering in the middle of he classroom. Fawne normally wouldn't think on things and just ask but she had after all only recently been allowed in the class. Instead she just leaned forward a little and spoke in her normal tones to the pair.

"Are we meant to vanish our left over potion?"