30 March 1894 — The Great Hall; Potion Brewing Competition

Public speaking wasn't something Cal shied away from, however it wasn't every day that he found himself speaking in front of children rather than colleagues. As he watched everyone get set up he wondered vaguely if that was how small his class had looked when they were at Hogwarts. “Your task today is to produce a Hair-Raising Potion.” He announced once he stood at the podium. “Nice and simple, and it should take you approximately one hour.” Reaching out, he tapped the hourglass next to him. “Your time starts now.”

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You have 72 hrs to respond!
Callum Finnigan Charity Lloyd Honoria Rookwood James Callum Lucy Tatting Morgan Valenduris Nathaniel Gallivan II Philippa Rowle

  

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James wasn't any more fussed about Potions than he was about any other subject--which was to say, he was just fussed enough to do his best and not worry too much about it otherwise--but he was, as ever, just happy to participate. The spirit of competition, and all of that. So he gathered up his ingredients and set about brewing the required potion. When he was reasonably satisfied with the result, he stepped back from his cauldron to wait for judgement.

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On the one hand, Lucy had no expectations of needing to know anything more than basic potioneering skills in her life. On the other, she thought that if she ever did anything that wasn't perfect, she might die. So. No pressure.

Lucy set to work brewing her potion, and didn't so much stop when she was satisfied as she did stop fussing over it when time ran out. Hopefully, it was good enough.

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Woo, a potions competition! What Nat potentially lacked in skill, he sure made up for in enthusiasm, throwing things into his cauldron with wild abandon and just barely following the instructions of the potion. When the time was up, he stood back.

  

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To date, Philippa Rowle had been less... gifted in her practical courses than she might have hoped. Indeed, since signing up for the potion brewing competion, the first year had been rather plagued with a lack of confidence that was, she thought, rather unbecoming. However, the only thing more shameful than losing would be actually running away, and so here the Gryffindor stood, acting for all the world as if her heart was not beating a million miles a minute.

It was fortunate, Pippa thought, that the recipe and instructions were provided for them, for she had no recollection of the steps and directions for a Hair-Raising Potion. She could, however, read, which was more than could be said of some of her less affluent peers.

Diligently, the first year worked away at her concoction. When she finished, she was pleased to note she was not the last—but also saw that she was certainly not the first, either.

  

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As Potions so far was one of the few classes that Morgan was in any way confident with she had quite looked forward to the upcoming competition - afterall it would be her chance to truly show the eyes that watched her everywhere waiting for mistakes that she wasn't just a pretty face and an embarassment to her papa's name. She might be terrible at Charms, and Transfiguration (she still couldn't figure out where on earth she went wrong or why her wand was so fond of explosions or fire) but Potions she could and she could do well.

She tried very diligently to keep her eyes on her task - distraction afterall was the enemy to perfection but- What was Gallivan doing? Attempting to be strict on herself she attempted to focus again - she wanted to be the best afterall however... in the corner of her eye she watched him. She bit her lip. It was a competition afterall however... was he even reading the instructions? It seemed as if he was attacking the task with what another would describe as wild abandon. She knew he was usually quite enthusiastic but - what was he doing now?

She forced herself again to attend to her own potion. He was not to distract her - and he was not her problem. It was not her duty to judge somebody - afterall the moment she did that she opened herself to judgements about the subjects she was clearly terrible at. Obviously Nathaniel Gallivan was there to test her and her ability to create under both pressure and distraction.

She finished her potion and anxiously awaited for Mister Rookwoods decision.

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   Millie Potts

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Honoria liked potions, not as much as some of her subjects but there was something mysterious about potions she enjoyed. She listened to the instructions and when instructed she began to work on her potion. When she was done she raised her hand indicating she was ready for her work to be judged

  

To think that Callum Finnigan had willingly volunteered for a public competition of any academic sort would be misguided. No, he'd been coerced into it (read:lost a bet to Mirren) and, as a man of his word, determined to fulfill his rightful duty. It was just as intimidating as he'd imagined before signing up. Standing up here on stage in front of peers, and professors, and all sorts of professional sorts made his head spin. He tried to spot Kitty through the crowd, or any of his other friends, but all their faces seemed to blur together into a heap of dizziness.

Cal dropped his gaze to the instructions sheet nearest his cauldron as Mr. Rookwood told them to prepare. At least things were neatly organized in their proper place so it's not like he could accidentally confuse his ingredients that badly... Time began and he wondered idly to himself if it really would take an hour to brew this... hair-raising potion, was it? Definitely not. In went one thing then the next. If there was anything about potions that appealed to Callum it was the meticulousness necessary to measure, evaluate, and stir in proper order. Eventually the redhead felt himself calm as he settled into the routine of it. He chopped ingredients slowly, carefully, and an hour passed before he even had a chance to realize.

Upon completion, Callum took a deliberate step back from his work station and laced his fingers nervously behind his back to wait for judging. Well, he'd done his best. Now it was up to the professionals.

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Charity had spent a year and a half telling herself that it was okay not to be good at everything. She wasn't great in Transfiguration, she wasn't great in Charms, and she wasn't great in Potions. But she was competent! And competence—especially her brand of it, which was slow and patience and infinitely determined—could win a competition, right?

She followed the directions carefully, keeping a much slower pace than the other students. Finally, when everyone else had finished and Charity had no steps left to follow, she stepped back to be judged.

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Well, that was a...revealing round. Cal stood there and watched as the young Hufflepuff boy threw things into his cauldron with a vigor. His expression stayed in its neutral position as he watched. Glancing down at his watch, he eyed Gallivan, not blinking as the cauldron went up with a smoky blast. With a sigh, the healer took out his wand and waved it towards the young boy. Once the smoke cleared it was clear the student was unharmed save for his eyebrows which had disappeared completely.

Unfortunately a few others followed suit; Miss Lloyd’s cauldron began to emit an awful smelling puce-colored vapor which Cal immediately dispatched lest it impede with the other contestants’ work; Miss Rowle’s, while not exploding or emitting any sort of foul-smelling vapor, just….turned into a custard-like consistency; Miss Tatting’s was the worst of them all, starting to bubble at a delightful roil before seemingly doubling in volume and overflowing onto the table and the floor, eating away at everything it touched with a high-pitched squealing sound. With another wave of his wand, Cal cleared her station as well.

“That’s our time, ladies and gentlemen. The next ones to advance are Misters Finnigan and Callum, and Misses Rookwood and Valenduris.” He gave the remaining group a nod. “Your next task will be to complete a Swelling Potion. You may begin once your stations have been put to rights.” They would all be good to go at the same time, of course, and so Cal took his stance at the podium, watching the next round unfold.

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You have 72 hrs to respond!
Callum Finnigan: 7 | Honoria Rookwood: 6.25 | James Callum: 4.25 | Morgan Valenduris: 7.75

Charity Lloyd: 3 | Lucy Tatting: 2 | Nathaniel Gallivan II: 3 | Philippa Rowle: 2.25

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   Basil Foxwood

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James honestly hadn't expected to make it past the first round, but he was pleased with his progress regardless. Pleased as punch, he set about brewing the next potion--being perhaps a little more comfortable after seeing what failure could look like from his classmates. Oof. When he was finished, he stepped back from his cauldron to await judgment.

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Pleased Honouria kept her head down to hide her pride but managed to flash small supportive smiles to those who hadn’t made it. She waited to be instructed and for the order to start beore setting about her work next to mr Callum. When she was done she raised her hand

  

Morgan practically danced as she set her station to rights. She'd passed the first round! She had! She really had! She felt the excitement well up inside her at at least having past the first test in proving herself as her fathers child and giving the watching eyes something more pleasant to gossip about. She hoped Amarantha, and Hyacinth would be proud of her! And Sobie! And all the others. She knew she probably ought to hope that the twins would be as well but as they could be so unpredictable sometimes she wasn't sure - and she still felt some guilt of Penelope leaving school.

It wasn't as if she could've done anything but perhaps?

She stopped herself because in the middle of a Potions competition was not the time to think of such things. It was her against the second years as well - and though her father was the Potions Master she was not her father, and though she had spent her childhood surrounded by potions and discussions of advanced magics she still was only twleve and untried. She had afterall not even had her wand yet for a full twelve months or the chance to work any magics beyond those that came with childhood for that length of time either.

She needed to concerntrate and put her all into what she was doing.

And, when she was content with her concoction she stepped back and met Mr. Rookwood's gaze.

  

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Callum was frankly impressed by how terribly some of the other student’s attempts had gone. He’d never considered himself particularly gifted at potions, having had his own fair share of cauldron meltdowns over the past two years, but perhaps his meticulous nature was useful for something. He watched as the various contestants were judged and straightened just a bit taller when Mr. Rookwood approached his station.

The announcement came for those selected to proceed and he couldn’t help the shocked look that crossed his face. Gold hues darted once again through the crowd looking for Mirren or Kitty. (He had a look to give the former and a grin to share with the latter.)

As time came to start the second round, Callum began with the same meticulous preparation he’d had the first time. He focused on the ingredients and took great care as he followed his instructions. Maybe Professor Valenduris would be proud of him. Just, maybe.

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This was less promising than the first round in that most if not all contestants’ results left much to be desired. With that, Cal evaluated and then adjusted accordingly. “Mr. Finnegan and Miss Valenduris will proceed to our final round to determine the victor,” He announced after a while before waving his wand to clear the effects of the last round (most of the potions had either begun to bubble over or start to smoke), before they could do any real damage. “Your task this time is to make a Fire Protection Potion.”

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You have 72 hrs to respond!
Callum Finnigan: 3.25 | Morgan Valenduris: 4.75

Honoria Rookwood: 2.25 | James Callum: 2.25

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   Callum Finnigan, Morgan Valenduris

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Less than pleased with the results of her attempt at the Swelling Potion she made a mental note to practice it and perfect it later. The next time she attempted it she hoped it would be less disappointing.

Putting her failure, and her victory (and excitement at having made it so far) out of her mind she set to work on the Protection Potion.

  

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