Chapter 10: Blood Red Potion

- Clare's POV -

***FLASHBACK***

Clare Jones. Short and simple.

I was an 18-year-old girl who dreamt of a peaceful future; not much else.

Potions class wasn't exactly my choice, more my last chance. So I wasn't very enthusiastic about it.

I walked into class, sighing in annoyance. The people around me waiting outside the classroom looked boring; skinny, glasses and agonisingly neat. There were a few exceptions, like the boy with the messy brown hair and navy eyes. And the girl with the pretty face and eyes as blue as the ocean.

But other than that, not much else noticeable enough to mention.

The instructor, Mr Ranger, looked just as boring as the majority of the students. He had a partly-bald head and black rimmed spectacles which hung on the end of his pointed nose. His eyes were a hard brown, but had a kind tinge to it. Just the average look of an average teacher.

He took us into the room which contained dozens of brewing stands and cauldrons. He sat down on a large oak desk with had a flower pot and a chest on top; what the chest was for, I had no idea.

"Alright, class. I'm Mr Ranger, your Potions teacher for this semester. I'd first like to take names, so I can hopefully remember them as soon as possible." He spoke in a rugged tone, like sandpaper.

He pulled a book out of his chest (Ah, that's what it was for) and coughed before taking the roll.

"Nya Analove?" He called, scanning over the class. Hmm, Nya. Strange name.

The girls with the blue eyes raised her hand. She was young and pretty, with a smile I'm sure every boy would fall in love with. But she looked like a generally nice person. "Here, Sir," she said, voice sweet. "Nice to meet you."

The role continued, and I heard many new names; Matt Freeman, Lilian August, Jose Hardy, Emily Day.

I sat next to two of the girls; Nya and Emily. Emily wasn't particularly girly, but she wore down her long brown hair. Nya was even more beautiful close up; she was too much like a Mary Sue for my liking.

"So, what are you studying?" Nya asked, the question directed to Emily and I.

"Social Studies and Potions." I say, then go back to my cauldron, which I filled with water. I barely noticed Emily's reply.

"Law, and Potions is kinda just something to make my resume look better."

Mr Ranger clapped, wanting to gain out attention. Then he continued what he was saying; "So, first I shall teach you all how to create basic potions, like Speed and Strength, then extend with experimentations. Experimentations, you say?" He says as though we were interested. "Experimentation, as the name suggests, is when you add and combine different ingredients to come up with a whole new solution. Today, I shall do a display of one; of course, this experimentation has already been tried, so we know it's safe."

He gathered us around a table near his desk, which already had a brewing stand and cauldron set out on top. He grabbed several random things (making sure we couldn't see them all and copy, thus probably ending in disaster). "Now, we have to be careful to add ingredients in the correct order and with correct quantities."

He continued to put the ingredients in glass bottles and combining liquids with complicated methods. Of course, I was able to keep up with the fast hand movements; I was good with things like that.

As the final result lay on the brewing stand, finishing up, Mr Ranger started lecturing us. "Experimental Brewing is very dangerous, and only those with licences are able to actually use it. Ending results must be tested before any human usage; just a priority of safety. I hope you all become masters at it." He finished, picking up the glass bottle which now held creepy blood red potion inside.

"This potion's use is actually unknown. It hasn't been proven to work in Medical Science, or Psychology, or any area of knowledge. It's a complete mystery." As he spoke, he twirled the liquid in the bottle around in hypnotic, circular motions.

I could hear Nya's heart racing a million miles an hour. Turning to her, I realised her face was abnormally pale and her eyes were wide and scared. She looked like she was gonna pass out.

She stumbled to the nearest desk to hold herself up. By this time, she had caught everyone's attention, including Mr Ranger's.

"Miss Analove, is something the matter?" He asked the girl, worry lacing his tone.

"Nothing... Nothing really, Sir. Um, excuse me, but can I ask you something?"

Mr Ranger looked concerned. "Go ahead, Nya."

"Who actually created that potion? Like, first invented it?" Nya's voice was shaking, and she was still hunched over the desk, her back to the rest of us.

I read Mr Ranger's expression carefully - for a split second, he looked afraid, but it was quickly covered by a look of worry. But looking into his eyes, I realised there was a deep, yet frighteningly interested look; like he was afraid she knew something she shouldn't.

"Well, records don't actually say anything about the original inventor, Miss Analove." Mr Ranger answered. "You should probably go to the nurse, Nya. Let's see... Miss Jones? Miss Day? Could you please escort Nya to the Nurse's Office?"

I agreed, and the three of us exited the class, Nya still shaking.

"What's wrong, Nya?" Emily asked, her voiced a mix of confusion and curiosity. "What happened in there?"

Nya closed her eyes, then opened them again. "Nothing especially... Just an old memory coming back to haunt me." She shivered, as if something really were haunting her.

"Oh, well... Get better soon." Emily said as we arrived at the Nurses's Office. The three of us laughed, and Nya's eyes seemed to lighten.

"I'll see you guys tomorrow, then." Nya waved and walked into the office, shutting the door behind her. Emily and I talked all the way back to the classroom.

And that's how I made my first Uni friends.

***END OF FLASHBACK***

A week later, and not much has changed. I hang out with Nya and Emily a lot. I'm really starting to like them.

Nya spends much more time in the Library than anyone else from the class (including the major nerds, which is surprising). Most people would see her as some dumb beauty; but the people who really know her see her as a hard-working, stubborn, down-to-earth, dense little girl.

She wasn't as much as a Mary Sue as I had originally thought. Which was a good thing.

She was quick to do things, and doesn't really think about consequences of those actions all that much. Her stubbornness could be viewed as either a bad or good point. And her little problem about guys...

You see, Nya was definitely the densest girl I had ever met. Even Gemma and Emily noticed it. One time, Nya had introduced her 'guy-friend' Jordan Glass. Oh Notch, it was so obvious he was crushing on her. Nya didn't even notice a thing. Afterwards, Gemma had whispered to me, "I'm surprised that oatfish girl has a boyfriend."

I had nodded in agreement. Truth was, we both really liked Nya. She was a pretty cool person, even if she was a little bit of a try-hard. She was a good friend.

We hadn't mentioned her incident involving the potion Experimentation. I figured she'd still be sensitive about it.

Well, now I was feeding my dog Lightning and preparing for bed in my two-roomed apartment. It was liveable life; and I intended for it to stay that way. At least for a little while.

As I said, Clare Jones. Short and simple.

---------------------------------------------------

Did you like it? This chapter was a little different, since it was entirely Clare's POV (Clare by mcskaterchick; Emily by Sarahmml. Thanks guys :D)

So, the questions. How did Nya's potions teacher know about the Vial?? Oooooh I get shivers thinking about it (since I'm the only one who knows... Hehe)

Oh, if you guys haven't read the prequel, Minecraft: Herobrine's Legend, you'd have no idea what the red potion is. So please read it. It will definitely help you to understand things.

ALRIGHT, YOU KNOW THE DRILL!!! VOTE VOTE VOTE COMMENT VOTE!!!

- Jazz

Oh, btw, someone said I should enter for the Watty awards (as in, M: HL, not this one). Any ideas? (of course, I'd edit beforehand)