POTIONS DISASTER

Never take away someone's happy ending.

***

I was walking down a hallway with my books in hand and bag slung on my shoulder. A familiar girl smiled when she saw me. She was the one from my Charms class yesterday.

"Hey, Aza right?"

I stopped and nodded. Honestly, I don't know what I should expect. She seems like a skillful witch and it makes my stomach churn. My eyes landed on her house badge. Strayhound.

I was taken aback when she outstretched her hand to me.

"I'm Alie Parker. I haven't had the chance to introduce myself yesterday."

Momentarily awed by her warm greeting, I shook Alie's hand and returned the smile. Someday, you'll get past your trust issues, Aza. I told myself. "Yeah. Um.. It's nice meeting you."

Alie grinned charmingly. If I were a boy, I'd definitely have a crush on her.

"Don't be tensed. I won't bite." She joked and we started walking down the stone path towards one of the castle's hidden rooms. People started whispering things again, but bothering about what they say will be  the last on my list. I don't expect everyone to welcome me here, anyway.

"You're having Potions class, too? Great!" Alie exclaimed.

We finally reached the entrance. Alie fetched out her wand and whispered something that made the bricks move aside.

"Woah.." I absentmindedly gaped at what she did. Alie Parker motioned us inside. The class room was divided into two parts: The lecture area that had the typical wooden chairs and tables, and an area that looked more like a medieval-style laboratory.

Students were already crowding in, and I almost groaned when I saw a glimpse of Matt Clintwood's blonde hair. He was in a conversation with some Chisslewings. The moment our eyes met, I immediately avoided his gaze. Getting involve with him will have me kicked out of Liondalle. And I don't want that to happen anytime soon.

"Good day, class!"

No way.

My eyes widened at the sight of Aunt Ruella in wizard robes. She even had a matching witch hat! Alie smiled when she saw my reaction. "Professor Vine's our potions teacher. Haven't she told you?" I shook my head and involuntarily walked towards my aunt.

"Auntie?"

Aunt Ruella's eyes twinkled when she saw me. "Ah! Aza, my dear.. It's nice to see you again. We'll discuss some matters after class, okay?" She patted my head and then turned to the others, "Today, we'll be making some Evanium liquid. Can anyone tell me what that is?"

I was left with no choice but to sit back down. Seriously, my aunt is a potions professor at some magical wizarding school and no one told about it? Wait 'til Dina hears about this! It would be really nice to see her freak out again.

Hands shot up in the air. Aunt Ruella scanned the room until it fell on Matt, who was busy scribbling down on his parchment.

"Mattheus, can you tell me what does the Evanium liquid do?"

All eyes fell on him. Matt seems bored with all the attention he's getting though and stood up with his head held high. An arrogant smirk crossed his lips.

"Professor, an Evanium liquid has similarities with an animal's pheromone. It is used to attract the opposite sex for mating purposes. In 500 BC ministers prohibited the use of this potion because females abused it to deceive males. Until now, Evanium liquid is strictly monitored under the Wizard's Act of 1648. Though, it was rumored that Evanium liquid be used as an alternative for hypnotics."

Matt sat down after his explanation. Aunt Ruella laughed heartily. "Exactly! And now, kids.. You all know the danger of using this potion. It is also hypothesized to have a side effect to the user. But it's still good to learn the forbidden things, it helps you be prepared."

Alie started murmuring her disapproval, "I don't think Evanium liquid can be that dangerous. I mean, it can never be a substitute for hypnotics! Hyperia serum's way different from that!" I blinked at her. "Uh... What?" And as if she was pulled back to her right mind, Alie smiled apologetically at me. "Oh, right. Sorry. Anyway, Hyperia serum is the best known potion used in hypnotizing people. It's on the 'Most Dangerous Potions Wizards Ever Made' list last year! I strongly believe that a pheromone potion as weak as Evanium can't possibly be that hazardous."

I nodded my head. "I've missed out a lot, haven't I?" Now I kinda regret not coming with the headmaster last spring for my first year in Liondalle. But to be frank, I wouldn't have believed him anyway. So, nevermind about having regrets.

After auntie's brief reminders, we started making the potion. She was instructing us all throughout the process.

"Three portions of Devila roots..there, just cut those into smaller bits, Mr. Frents. Then, mix it all up with the talc. Remember, a handful will be enough! Oh, and add the minced frog legs."

My work station is a mess! I can't help but be frantic with everything auntie says. I can't even remember what Devila roots look like! Earlier, Aunt Ruella was assisting me on my work, but that irritating Clintwood just had to interrupt and complain about his frog legs!

Professor Vine! These frog legs are too fat. Shouldn't it be slim like the others? Oh, take a look!

I mentally cursed him. I can still recall the evil smirk he had when Aunt Ruella's back was turned on me. He freaking did that on purpose! That jerk!

An hour passed by and auntie began inspectioning the Evanium liquids. She had a grading sheet and a quill.

"Miss Parker, it seems that you have made the potion correctly! Now, kindly demonstrate it's effect and let's see if it's worth a hundred points." Auntie smiled as Alie stood up and drank a spoonful of her potion.

Soon enough, a foul smell errupted from her. Me and the girls sitting beside me covered our noses. "Dammit! That's worth a negative grade, Professor Vine!" One girl complained with a disgusted look on her face.

"Hah! That smell suits you Parker!" Another added.

But Aunt Ruella was grinning. Moments later, we noticed the boys having dreamy looks on their faces. They were all staring at Alie as if she was some kind of goddess sent down from then heavens. They're not even covering their noses!

Auntie nodded, wrote something on her grading sheet, and made Alie drink the counter potion. The smell faded and the boys snapped out of their trance. I have to admit though, that was pretty cool!

"Aza, let me see your potion."

Oh, no..

I gulped, thinking of running away. But before I could do something that will save me from the embarrassment, Aunt Ruella appeared right next to me and inspected my potion's bottle.

"Very good! It seems that you've made it perfectly, Aza."

WHAT? But instead, I nodded. Well, I won't tell her that before it became a peach color, that potion of mine kept bubbling and swirling. It even turned red. But that's a normal thing, right?

Yet auntie didn't got me off the hook that easily.

"Try it, dear. Let's see."

I felt sweat dripping down the sides of my face. With shaking hands, I drank a spoonful of my Evanium liquid. It burned in my throat. I waited for the boys' dreamy looks, but all they gave me were savage glares. What the heck? I turned towards the girls but they did the same. To say I'm nervous and frustrated would be an understatement right now!

"A-Auntie... Why are they..?"

"Armacria!!"

I jolted when a guy in front of me casted the attack spell. I fumbled with my wand but Aunt Ruella already deflected it for me. She then thrusted the counter serum but because I was in shock, it slipped through my fingers.

"AZA, RUN!" Auntie yelled as the others cornered her. I turned on my heels but several witches blocked my way. They were all glaring at me. One of them cursed, "Electrosaprikus!" And bolts of electricity came flying at me. I closed my eyes and waited for the shearing pain, but it never came. Instead, I felt two lean arms pull me away.

When I opened my eyes, I saw Matt staring at me from afar. I smiled and murmured, "thanks." But he only gave me a weirded look. Wait, shouldn't he be attacking me too?

I searched under the tables and finally found the counter potion's bottle. I instantly drank all of it in one gulp and a few seconds more, the chaos around me stopped.

When I popped my head from under the table, they were all clutching their heads. Aunt Ruella tried to catch her breath. She turned to me and slightly frowned.

"What was that?"

I shook my head because honestly,

"I don't know."

***