17. Cauldron

“Instructions Exist For a Reason:
or Why Tutoring Ron is a Pain in the Bum”

”What happened?!”

He winces at her shriek and hunkers down, attempting to become small. The stone floor is awash with a purple, bubbling liquid, from which brown smoke rises. It’s the bottom of the cauldron – or the lack thereof – which seems to have sent her into distress. As the foul odor permeates the air, he covers his nose.

“I think I messed up,” he offers, wearing a sheepish smile.

”You think?!”

“You can fix it! You’re good at it!” He is indignant, offended by her.

She sighs. “Let’s try this once more.”

He catches a small smile on her face.