Lesson One

by **Raven 'The Sweeney' Drake** Mon Dec 12, 2011 7:52 pm

Raven had been in her classroom some while now, the Highmaster had given her some drugs to take that would hopefully make her less crazy when teaching her lessons, safe to say, she had not taken them, where would the fun be in being sane when she was teaching ickle firsties?

Chuckling a little to herself Raven tossed the last ingredients into the cauldron and watched as the liquid turned jet black, the draught of living death, of course they wouldn't be learning this right away, she just needed a test subject.

Waiting, sitting cross legged on her desk, head tilted to one side as she watched the door Raven absent mindedly waited for her class to enter, her name, written in a suspicious red liquid on the wall.

"Sweeney's waiting..." she whispered

by Guest Tue Dec 13, 2011 3:02 am

Entering the classroom with slight more caution that was natural of him, Tarragon didn't look up whilst he took his seat at the back of the class. He took out his books, parchment and quill, placing them neatly on the desk in front of him. He opened the book to the first page of potions.

Looking up to the front of the class the horror of what was used to write the teachers name on the board dawned on him, making him feel some what queezy over the whole situation...

by **Avangeline King** Tue Dec 13, 2011 8:18 am

With her first step into the classroom Ava felt like she would be right at home. The classroom was delightfully creepy. Everything a sinister potion's lab should be... and she got to learn in it, Yay!

Walking to the front of the room she picked a desk right in front of the board. She caught sight of the red writing on the wall and wondered if the substance was real blood, and if it was whether it was human or animal.

Needless to say Ava was excited about this class, and was curious to know just how crazy this particular instructor would be, after all inhaling all those fumes had to have some kind of effect on the masters of the craft...

by **Raven 'The Sweeney' Drake** Tue Dec 13, 2011 7:32 pm

Raven smiled as the two students entered the room and she straightened her head up suddenly looking at them with unblinking eyes, with a loud bang the door slammed shut behind them and she grinned wickedly.

Getting up from the table she kicked a chair so that she was sitting directly in front of the two students, her arms resting on the back of the folded chair.

"Hello."

She whispered.

"I'm The Sweeney. And you children are?"

Raven tilted her head and looked at them intently, her coat parted and she was sure she could see the glint of one of her razors, her friends, underneath the material.

by Guest Wed Dec 14, 2011 12:19 am

As much as Tarragon would never admit it, this woman scared him to death. He hadn't liked her when she entered the Ball last night, and was much more afraid of her now. The room freaked him out when he had entered, but it seemed to him that Ava looked... comfortable. He put it to the back of his mind, telling himself that he was reading too much into it.

"I'm The Sweeney. And you children are?"

She calls herself "The Sweeney". It didn't take a genius to work out this wasn't her name, but referring to his Lehrer as "The Sweeney" just didn't seem right. He flicked through a couple of pages in his book, trying to pass some time, hoping it wasn't going to have to be him who disturbed the silence, he waits for Ava to take the lead.

by **Avangeline King** Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:02 am

Ava liked this woman immediately. The little thrill of terror ridding down her spine just added to her excitement. Ava knew her tendency to be an adrenaline junkie would get her in trouble someday, but didn't feel like she would be required to tone it down with an instructor like that!

After an extended pause where it looked like Tarragon was stalling for time, Ava realized she would need to speak first.

"My name is Avangeline King, Ms. The Sweeney," Ava started with a grin feeling that if the instructor introduced herself as such, than Ava would call her by it, what could it hurt?

Spying the cauldron of potion sitting in the room, Ava couldn't contain her curiosity anymore. "Oh wow, is that the Draught of the Living Death? It's my favorite! So many possibilities. You could totally incapacitate someone and they wouldn't remember a thing! So useful. By the way is that real blood? If it is why would you waste it on messages written on the wall? Oh well, its your classroom. Oh.. um, are those razors under your coat...?" Ava trailed off as she realized that her questions had come bursting from her mouth at a mile a minute, not giving The Sweeney any chance to answer.

Oh great. Either she was about to become some kind of potions guinea pig, or be kicked out of the classroom on her tail. Not exactly the kind of first impression she had wanted to make, she could only hope The Sweeney's reaction wasn't too harsh... or painful. This woman appeared to be capable of anything.

by Guest Wed Dec 14, 2011 8:17 am

Lukas had lots of fun last night, so much that he was dreading he was going to suffer a lot more because of it. He woke up late which resulted in him only being able to brush his teeth and change into the uniform.

He definitely wasn't going to impress anybody today.

He almost reached the classroom on time but just two steps before he could be in the door slammed shut on his face. He tried to push it open but the door wouldn't open so in frustration he banged on the door with all his strength.

by **Raven 'The Sweeney' Drake** Wed Dec 14, 2011 9:52 pm

Seeing one of the students root through his text book Raven slipped it out of his grip and slammed it loudly in front of his face, with a menacing leer she smiled, crookedly at him, as if trying to intimidate him even more than usual.

"Well now. I asked you for your name. Boy."

Raven turned and smiled even more crookedly at the student who was interacting with her, she bowed as if stating the fact that she was welcome in her classroom and she smiled quite normally this time.

"Just call me Sweeney."

As the girl launched off into a very long series of questions she raised her eyebrow high and waited until the girl had stopped, when she had done so Raven took a deep breath and formulated answers to all of the questions that she had asked.

"Yes. Yes. Because I can always get more. Yes, yes they are but don't touch them."

Raven was about to say something else but the frantic knocking on the door interrupted her train of thoughts. A student was late. Well wasn't this going to be fun. Looking at the two students who were already here Raven barked out.

"What's the password little piggy?"

by Guest Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:03 am

"What's the password little piggy?"

Lukas stopped the banging the instant he herd the Sweeney. He didn't know there were supposed to be any passwords. He had a chance to run away but knowing what his father has told him she will just know about it and find me. When she does find him he wasn't going to be a happy place so he ruled out running away.

If he gives a wrong answer the worst possible thing would be a few cuts and no potions for the rest of the year but what if he gives the correct answer? He could get a few cuts all year around...

As for the password he thought hard as to what a crazy woman can keep. Could she be referring to the muggle children's tale of the pigs and wolf? It was highly possible as not many students here would know it and well she was pretty much unpredictable.

Gathering all his courage he firmly replied, "Bricks... Bricks of blood."

by Guest Thu Dec 15, 2011 5:20 am

Jumping when she stole his book and slammed it in her face, Tarragon felt more terrified than he could ever remember. He could feel his spine shudder every time she spoke. The woman made him feel sick with nerves, no one had ever managed such a thing with him. He'd been scared of his Father, granted, but no where near as much as he was scared of the prospect of a year with The Sweeney!

"Uh, it's... Tarragon, Tarragon Zeverai." he finally managed to stutter to his teacher.

by **Avangeline King** Thu Dec 15, 2011 12:34 pm

When Sweeney did nothing but answer her questions, and warn her away from the pretty, sharp, pointy objects Ava breathed a sigh of relief, fear she could handle, rejection she couldn't. She wondered if the Sweeney gave out tips on how to inspire that much fear, that had to be useful, oh well, she would just have to watch her and see.

When Sweeney asked for a password calling the rude boy little piggy, well, Ava couldn't take it. She burst out in giggles, wondering if the others thought she might have a few sanity issues of her own. She didn't like bullys, but hey if you were going to be rude, than it made sense you would get what's coming to you.

She almost wished the Sweeney would just open the door. Mr. My-Ego-Is-So-Much-More-Than-Yours needed a bit of a scare. Ava wondered if any first years had ever screamed, cried, or passed out when they first walked in the room, maybe even all three?

by **Raven 'The Sweeney' Drake** Thu Dec 15, 2011 7:44 pm

Raven raised her eyebrow and chuckled with the girl in the class, she totally did not expect someone as like minded as she to be in her classroom and she wandered over to the door and she stepped just behind it, opening it with a flick of her hand and grabbing the boy by the scruff of the neck and pulling him inside the classroom.

"Wrong answer!!" she growled and pulled him to the front of the classroom

She grinned manically at the two other students and pointed to the boy, and to her delight, it was the boy that was also serving detention with her pretty soon. This should be a nice warm up for him.

"Now kiddies, can anyone remind our new student here what this potion in my cauldron is? Draught of Living Death is it not?"

Raven grinned again and she used a small spoon to pick some up.

"Caesar. Tell them if they are right. Drink it."

Of course the potion was NOT the draught of living death, but it was cloaked by a spell to merely look like it, in fact, it was a potion made to give the drinker boils, which the other students would then cure or the boy would be stuck with them until they went.

by Guest Fri Dec 16, 2011 2:59 am

He was scared shitless, as simple as that. Draught of the Living Dead. He couldn't proceed his thoughts. Sweeney looked completely serious so he had no choice but to drink it. He couldn't let her see through him so what he did next was not only completely desperate but also a great chance to show that he was different. So without thinking too much he said with a smile on his face, "Sure Sweeney, whatever you say!"

He snatched the spoon from her hand and with one big gulp drank the potion. The instant he swallowed it intense pain and heat started developing everywhere the potion went. He dropped the spoon, fell on his knees and clinched his stomach. Seconds later boils started erupting all over his body. His reaction to the agony was most surprising, to some it may even seem scary, as he screamed and laughed at the same time. It seemed that he was enjoying his pain. Lukas rolled and tossed on the floor, lost in his pain looking like a laughing lunatic.

by **Avangeline King** Fri Dec 16, 2011 8:13 am

'Well,' Ava thought as she watched the boy roll around on the floor, 'At least I'm not the only student with sanity issues.'

Peeling her eyes away from the now boiled covered boy, Ava made a guess. "Either you were trying to prove a point about assuming something is definitely what it looks like, or you want us to try to brew the cure for boils. I'm gonna say you probably meant to do both." She spoke loud enough to be heard, but not so loud if she was wrong she would bring too much attention to herself.

Avangeline was just glad she hadn't been the guinea pig for this particular class, though having the motivation of painful boils on your skin might have sped up her brewing, mistakes happen when brewers get distracted.

by Guest Fri Dec 16, 2011 9:05 am

After a little while the pain subsided a bit. Lukas got up on his feet but it took a good amount of effort and energy. He coughed up a little blood but kept on grinning. He was obviously in pain and imagined he must be looking like a huge mess but somehow the feeling of being alive gave him enough strength to manage the pain and have a wide grin.

He looked at the Sweeney, successfully not wincing he said, "Wrong! It's not Draught of Living Death!"

Just saying that much made him pant. The next thing he managed to say way and this time with less excitement but a bigger smile, "May I be part of the class now Sweeney?"

by **Raven 'The Sweeney' Drake** Fri Dec 16, 2011 6:19 pm

Raven blinked at the boy on the floor, either, she hadn't brewed this potion right and it was making him laugh, which was impossible, or he was allergic to something, or he was just a complete raving lunatic. She didn't think it was the second one.

Standing there. Simply watching him. Raven frowned when he stood up as if this has never happened. This boy was an obvious kiss ass.

"You are right, girl, you will be brewing the potion for curing boils today, and if you are right he might be cured, if not, he'll have to wait for his detention with me tonight." Raven chuckled menacingly

With that Raven bowed slightly and extended her arm towards a cauldron as if saying that the boy could sir down and begin his brewing, she then turned to the class and grinned crookedly. This was going to be a very fun job.

"Begin. Pages 8-9 in your textbooks which you should have brought with you. Ingredients are on this front row of desks."

by Guest Sat Dec 17, 2011 8:10 pm

Lukas was happy he wasn't going to die anytime soon. Taking his time he made way towards his cauldron. This was obviously going to be a very long class and unless he wanted it to be this was the whole day he had to brew the antidote correctly. Not that he didn't trust Avangeline's ability it was just a simple issue of her intentions. He didn't want more agony and with that thought in his mind he opened his text book. Carefully reading and following the instructions while managing the pain.

by Guest Mon Dec 19, 2011 9:44 am

Tarragon tried his best not to laugh, he really did, but he couldn't help it. Lukas looked awful, if only Alys was here to see it. He would be sure to let her know of the situation. He turned to page 8 and began to read. He could see that he was going to struggle with potions, even on the first day.

Getting up from his seat, he went to the front of the room and grabbed the things he needed, making sure to steer clear of The Sweeney. He got back to his seat and decided to read through the instructions once more before continuing. Concluding that he understood what was expected of him, Tarragon got to work, cutting the necessary ingredients.

by **Raven 'The Sweeney' Drake** Mon Dec 19, 2011 6:29 pm

Raven sighed and waited until the allotted time for the lesson was over, five minutes from the end she had asked the students to begin packing away and finishing their potions, it was judgement time for Caesar, if it didn't work he would get cured, tonight, in detention.

"Right! You miserable lot. Class is over, feed your potions to the boy and see if they work, if any of them do, I'll give you some housepoints, or a special surprise, your choice."

With that Raven sat back and waited to see if any of the students were going to actually be able to cure the boy. A part of her hoped she would have one student in her class with some sort of promise. If she was to remain calm that is.

"Oh and Caesar, don't forget your detention with me tonight."

Raven grinned unnervingly and she spun her razor around in her hands, winking at the boy as she waited for the class to leave once the potions had been administered, none of which had worked, fortunately for her.

by Guest Tue Dec 20, 2011 1:21 am

He hadn't forgotten the detention but the only thing right now in his mind was that none of those students mess it up more for him. Of course there was no reason for me to drink and see if it takes of the affects of Sweeney's potion. She could just easily tell if the potion was correct or not by looking and smelling it, however it was his punishment and he had no choice in this matter.

He had made the potion himself as well in case none of the other students were able to cure him and he was pretty confident that his potion had been brewed correctly.

Lukas, full of doubt, waited for the students to come up and give him a spoonful of their anti-dote.

by Guest Fri Dec 23, 2011 7:11 am

Tarragon noted Lukas' potion sat next to his cauldron. Taking his own to Lukas, knowing it wouldn't work as he hadn't quite finished, he lifted the spoon to his mouth and waited for him to take it. Lukas' mouth closed around the spoon, and he swallowed. Nothing happened, just as he had suspected.

On his way back, he slyly pocketed Lukas' potion, making sure nobody saw. He didn't care what The Sweeney said about his potion, he had really tried to do the potion, but it was to no avail. Maybe in the next lesson he would get lucky!

by Guest Sat Dec 24, 2011 7:25 am

He quizzically looked at Tarragon, Lukas couldn't understand what he was doing but killing his curiousness he took the spoon and instead of drinking it he filled in the empty vial with his potion.

Seeing as nobody else was going to come up and assuming he was not going to be allowed to drink his own brewed potion. He left the class and hurried to the nearest bathroom.