They stood back to back with the other group he was to be judging, an easy way, the healer thought, to separate the novice potioneers from one another. Although, he supposed, he could not rightly call any of them potioneers in this place, where the title was so diligently worked towards.

Before each of the competitors sat a cauldron, the fires below yet unlit, and the directions for their first potion—a Herbicide Potion—were already scrawled upon the blackboard.

Informally, as he had done before, Charles explained how the competition would work—they had up to two hours per brew, and a bonus would be issued to the first to complete. After each round, their number would be halved, and in time their victor would be merged from that of another group at the same level.

With a bit more pomp, Charles flipped over the large hourglass that would monitor their progress.

It was time to begin.

You have 72 hours to post.
@"Helga Scamander" Yasmina Khatri Burton Beasley Porphyria Dempsey

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