10th November, 1888 — The Great Hall

Three first years and a fourth year didn't seem like the fairest match up Connie had ever seen but she was sure they would all do their best regardless. She had high hopes for Miss Mulciber at the very least - how could she feel anything other than biased towards the lone Slytherin in the group?

"Today we'd like you to make a cure for boils. The ingredients you will need are just over here," Connie said clearly, making sure they saw where she was indicating and didn't begin their competition running around like headless chickens.

"Please begin."

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You have 72 hours to post your character completing their potion. First to post gets a +1 to their score!
Abraxas Crabbe Flora Mulciber Aleksei Nichols Tansy Tatting

  

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MJ made me beautiful

Had it been reckless to enter himself, Rex wondered? After all, his first ever proper quidditch match was but a fortnight away. Why wasn't he using this time to practice, knowing uncles Orlando, Beckett, and Andren would likely be in the crowd. The answer, though, was as plain as the nose upon his face: Abraxas Crabbe wanted to be good at everything in order to make his whole family proud. He hoped that would not bite him in the behind.

Miss Sykes, the Slytherin matron, seemed rather imposing—in part, he supposed, because she was a stranger to him. Still, the young Hufflepuff listened diligently before setting into his task, working away on his cure for boils before finally raising his hand. Looking around, the first year could see that he was the first one complete—a good sign, or bad?

He looked to cousin Flora in an effort to ascertain how far along his kinswoman was, but didn't know enough to judge.

  

Tansy still wasn't entirely sure of her decision to have entered the potions competition. She felt as if she was doing well enough in the class and found she did quite enjoy it but would that truly be enough? She wasn't sure and she couldn't help her nervous fidgeting as she listened to Miss Sykes give the instructions.

Once the Slytherin matron had finished, Tansy set to work one the cure for boils. Once confident with her work, she did back and raised her hand. She noticed she wasn't the first done but at least she wasn't the last as she offered Mr. Crabbe a small smile and nod for his achievement of being the first done.

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#MagicalMJSet

Eager to participate in whatever activities Hogwarts had to offer, Flora had thrown herself into the potion-brewing competition without a second thought. It was only upon her arrival did she begin to doubt herself. Potions was a subject she'd continued to struggle with as the year progressed; she'd managed to brew every potion Professor Valenduris assigned, but only after numerous attempts—and numerous failures. On top of that, she was surrounded by Hufflepuffs—Rex and an older student included—as she stood in front of the Slytherin matron, leaving her awfully pressured to prove herself a worthy member of her house.

Her mother might be convinced that she could do no wrong, but Flora felt differently; this could only go very, very wrong. Potion-making was not a matter or instinct for Flora, but rather a matter of searching through the depths of her memory for instructions she's failed to memorized. In the end, it became a matter of watching the other participants to judge her own efforts.

She had finished last among the first years, but not the group as a whole, which only left her more nervous. She exchanged glances with Rex and Miss Tatting, unable to mask her anxiousness.

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Because Kit is an idiot, Aleksei was pitted up against a bunch of younger years. Yeah, awkward. Anyway, Aleksei had found that they were actually okay at potions a couple years ago and had decided to see how they might fare in this competition. Besides, it was something to fill their time which was excruciatingly empty with Zak still not speaking to them. Aleksei brewed the potion to the best of their ability before signaling that they were done.

  

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aleksei is non-binary. in ooc narrative, aleksei goes by they/them, IC people would percive them as he/him

Connie took a step towards the finished potions and promptly took a clumsy step back when Miss Mulciber's erupted and narrowly avoided hitting her square in the face. She waved her wand quickly to contain it and offered her Slytherin charge a rueful look as she moved on.

Miss Tatting's fizzled and oozed over the top of the cauldron; marginally less dramatic but still, unfortunately, a disaster.

Meanwhile the young men had produced perfect potions. "Better luck next time ladies. Gentlemen," she smiled gently at them both. "We'd like you to brew a swelling solution. Please begin."

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You have 72 hours to post your character completing their potion. First to post gets a +1 to their score!
Abraxas Crabbe Aleksei Nichols

  

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MJ made me beautiful

Poor cousin Flora the young wizard thought as his cousin's concoction turned into something of a volcanic eruption. It was enough to—for the moment—make the Hufflepuff forget his misgivings about the contest; by the time he remembered, Rex had been progressed to the next stage!

With Mr. Nichols so much older, the first year doubted he had much of a hope in hell, but the precocious youngster did his best as he worked away on his swelling solution, eventually raising his hand to signify completion.

  

Aleksei worked methodically and carefully like Mister Mohr had taught them to do. When they finished their own potion, they raised their hand to signal that they were finished. Aleksei hoped that they had performed reasonably well.

  

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aleksei is non-binary. in ooc narrative, aleksei goes by they/them, IC people would percive them as he/him

Given the differences in their ages it was with a degree of surprises that Connie tested both of their potions and found the younger boy to be the winner. Perhaps Mr Nichols was having a bad day? Still, it boded well for the future of potion making amongst the first year Hufflepuffs.

“Mr Crabbe wins,” she said with an encouraging smile for the lad. “Five points will be awarded to Hufflepuff. Well done both of you.”

  

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MJ made me beautiful