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*PhoenixRising* · #1 (**permalink**) 12-22-2023, 09:48 PM

A scientist in his laboratory is not a mere technician:
he is also a child confronting natural phenomena that impress him as though they were fairy tales
~Marie Curie

Within the laboratory, there are sixteen tables all pushed together to create two rows of eight. Each seating area is equipped with two stands and burners that adjust to fit your cauldron no matter what size it may be. This is where students can practice brewing any potions they wish. Along the walls there are shelves stocked with various potion equipments including flasks, funnels, phials, stirring rods. The Potions Storeroom down the corridor includes many common potions ingredients, along with extra cauldrons, textbooks, dragonhide gloves, protective goggles.

On the chalkboard at the front of the room are some general guidelines for you to observe while using this room:

Clean up your own mess. Your mother does NOT live here.

Be safe. If you don't know what to use a stirring rod for, then you probably shouldn't be brewing a potion unattended. Please refrain from causing any fires or explosions.

Do NOT use your schoolmates as your test subjects

Clean up after yourself. As I stated already, I am NOT your mother.

If you need assistance, please ask

Don't waste ingredients.

OOC: this isn't a class. This is an additional thread for freestyle RPing opportunities related to potion brewing. Feel free to PM/VM me if you'll require Professor Adara's assistance in the laboratory, otherwise we'll just assume you want independent potion brewing time.

Zoe · 02-11-2025, 03:25 AM

Leeches, boomslang skin, bicorn horns, frozen lacewing flies, fluxweed, and fur were all laid out before him on the table he had claimed as his workstation. Ousmane's eyes flicked back and forth from the recipe to the meticulously arranged ingredients, ensuring he had collected the right amount of everything necessary to brew successfully. Margins were filled with notes in French—translations, small reminders, and clarifications to the instructions that he had jotted down for himself. Though a novice with this particular potion, he knew that precision was key and was acutely aware that one wrong measurement could lead to disastrous results.

Potions was one of his stronger subjects, fortunately, so the Hufflepuff was by no means intimidated by the complexity of the recipe. He viewed potion-making as a practical extension of problem-solving, a skill he had developed during his time at Uagadou and carried proudly to Hogwarts. With all the required paperwork and essays meticulously completed and approved, this brewing session felt like the culmination of weeks of study. He was eager to develop his mastery of Mutatio Animalia and progress another step further in his training.

Satisfied that he had the exact quantity of ingredients needed, he carefully filled his pewter cauldron with precisely 700 millilitres of water. He leaned over to double-check the French notes he had written alongside the English instructions, murmuring softly to himself in his native tongue. His hand steady, Ousmane started the low fire beneath the cauldron.

*Kolyander* · 02-14-2025, 12:01 AM

On the first Wednesday afternoon back from holiday break at a little after two, Bryony made her way towards the potions lab. Now this wasn't her first time in here this term... It was.. well let's just say she had been here a couple of times. Each time not quite getting the result she had wanted in brewing this particular potion. Those failures only meant that she needed to keep working at it. Focus more. Don't allow herself to get discouraged.

Which is why today had to be the day. She felt it. It was a fantastic day. Perhaps she was still living off the mood she had been in during the holidays and her sixteenth birthday. Either way, the fifth year was ready to try again. Entering the potions lab, Bry glanced around for Professor Adara but didn't immediately see her. Chances were she would walk in soon like normal. Who she did see though was a fellow Animagi trainee! "Heeeeyyyy, how was your holidays?" Bry greeted with a bright smile and her signature finger wave.

Blue eyes scanned Ousmane's work table taking note of all the ingredients. Sure enough he was getting started on the exact potion she had been working on. "Is this your first time?" she nodded her head at his table as she began to set up the work station near his with her own things.

Zoe · 02-22-2025, 08:05 PM

About a minute into the fire being lit, Ousmane glanced up at the Slytherin girl who had suddenly appeared and addressed him. Since they had been introduced before, he recognised her, but her name was lost with all of the words in English he was meant to have mastered by now. He straightened slightly, a small, reserved smile appearing on his face, his hands resting on the edge of the table as he considered her first question.

"Ah... les vacances..." He nodded once, then gave a small shrug, as if searching for the right words. There was much he wanted to say about visiting other family members and old friends in Côte d'Ivoire, but the words in French were not translating over to English quickly enough. "Eh, how you say—bon? Oui, good! Was good." He watched Bryony with quiet curiosity as she began setting up her own station. "Et toi? You had... fun, yes?"

When she asked about his experience with the potion, he let out a thoughtful hum and tapped a finger lightly against the recipe. "First time, oui. Mais—eh, but—I study much before. I read, I... ah, make notes." He gestured at the margins filled with tiny French scrawls before offering a small, knowing grin. With a careful hand, he then reached for the jar of leeches, inspecting them before opening the lid with an approving nod. His attention returned to Bryony as he tilted his head slightly. "And you? First time aussi? Or... many try?"

*Kolyander* · 02-26-2025, 05:58 PM

Whether he knew her name or not was lost on her. The fact of the matter was the two of them had the same goal in mind. Right now she didn't have anyone else here at Hogwarts that knew exactly what she was towards besides him. Sure, those she spoke to about it understand buuuuuut it was different to explain her struggles and good moments with someone that may be having them as well.

That was right. He was a transfer. One that didn't speak English very well. Oops. But also, not oops. This could be a good chance for him to work on that and maybe she'd even learn a little French. Bryony offered a small gentle smile trying to give Ousmane the time he needed to say what he wanted to say. "That's good! Did you celebrate with family?" She couldn't imagine not being around all her family during the holidays. The blonde nodded, a huge smile taking over her face. "Loads! My birthday is also over the holidays so lots of celebrating." Nope, she wasn't going to gush about turning sixteen and how she had gotten the BEST gift this year.

A very knowing and understanding nod was given as he explained about all the studying and not taking he had done previously. She had done the same, every book she could get her hands on had been read. "Same. I've been studying for ages and ages." Becoming an Animagi was something she dreamed about since she was a small girl. Like becoming a Ninja Warrior. Bright blue eyes glimpsed his paper and she showed him that she had a very similar one of her own that she now set out on her workstation. A brief pause in speaking was taken so she could focus on magically lighting the flame beneath her caldron and measured out exactly 700 milliliters of water which was added into the cauldron. "Many... I messed up a few times and didn't get the results I wanted to get." It was her own doing honestly. Somehow no matter how many times she checked her notes, she somehow had always done something wrong. She needed to slow down and focus. Or maybe... That was the problem? She was trying too hard?

Zoe · 03-11-2025, 11:55 PM

Ousmane listened carefully, his dark eyes flicking between Bryony and the bubbling surface of his water as it slowly heated. He understood most of what she said, even if his brain took an extra moment to process the English. His head nodded at her question about spending the holidays with family, and then it tilted slightly at the mention of her birthday. A small spark of recognition lit up his expression.

"Ah! Anniversaire!" He gave a quick nod, his smile widening just a touch. "Sixteen, oui? C'est... eh, big number, no?" He chuckled softly, pausing to pick up the boomslang skin, running his fingers over its delicate, papery texture before setting it back down. "What was your—eh—" Le cadeau? "—gift? Something special?"

He hummed in thought as Bryony admitted to multiple failed attempts. His brow furrowed, lips pressing into a thin line as he considered this. "I think... maybe not mistake big, oui? Just... small thing? Maybe... tempo? Ah—speed? You do... too quick?" He gestured with his hands as if slowing the air around them.

After opening the jar of leeches, he steadily let eight drop into the cauldron one at a time. "I learn... before," he said after a moment, voice thoughtful, as he proceeded to gently lay dried boomslang skin on the water surface. "At Uagadou. Magic, it listen. If mind is—eh—too... how you say... bruyant? Loud? It make mistake." He tapped his temple, then gave a small, knowing grin. "If brain too busy, hands make trouble."

*Kolyander* · 03-14-2025, 04:27 PM

It wasn't at all unusual for Bry to ramble on and on when she was talking to someone. So to some others it may have been a surprise that she had been able to slow herself down and give the slightly younger boy a chance to figure out all that she had said. Despite their being a small language barrier between them, nodding was something she understood as well! Spending time with family over the holidays was what made it all so special.

Anniversarie? No, she had said birt- Oh! To him birthday was and anniversary. That's actually made lots of sense. "Yes, sixteen. It's a pretty big birthday." She smiled nodding at his words. Now, she had been trying not to brag about receiving the BEST gift ever (besides when she had got Bacon her Jarvey and Moon Child her Hippogriff. But Ousmane had asked. So she couldn't be rude and NOT tell him. With a big ole bright smile, she quickly glanced from the water in the cauldron and the timer she had set back to him. "Yes, very very special. I was given a baby dragon from my boyfriend. I've wanted one for ages and ages.. it's only a baby though so it's still with it's mum and he lives on their family's dragon reserve." So while it was HER dragon, Falkor was also theirs and would be safe where he was.

Blue eyes once more returned to the cauldron and then the leeches she had waiting to be placed into it when the time was right. "Erm..." Bryony chewed at her bottom lip, holding back a deep knowing sigh. He was correct and they both knew it. "Most likely, yeah." She was trying so hard to correct this, to slow down and perfect this potion. Maybe she would get lucky this time around.

Eyes now on Ousmane, Bry watched him add the leeches and boomslang into his cauldron. It was nearly time for her to do the same and while she did so, adding in the leeches first and then exactly 1.5 cm of boomslang, her mind let in what he had just told her sink in. Once again, he was right. Magic did listen. This was more than likely why she struggled quite often with getting a spell to work. Pronunciations were an issue and so were wand movements. If anyone had a racing mind, it was this blonde right here. It was loud and chaotic inside her head. "That.. is a problem for me. Just like all of me, my mind is constantly on the move. I can't slow it down a lot of the time.. no matter how much I try." This wasn't any secret, and yet, it was a little difficult to admit. "Is there a secret to calming down the mind and focusing solely on brewing potions?" Because if he knew of something, she would LOVE to know! Also
.. "Uagadou? Don't the students there learn to become Animagi really early? Are you upset that you have to learn more slowly being here at Hogwarts?" If it was her, she'd be heartbroken to have to take years longer when she could already have finished learning this.

Zoe · 03-14-2025, 07:37 PM

His eyes widened slightly at Bryony's mention of a baby dragon, his hands pausing mid-motion as the boomslang skin began to dissolve. "Un dragon?" His voice carried a mix of surprise and admiration, his accent thick as he repeated the word. "Your boyfriend—he give you baby dragon?" A quiet chuckle rumbled in his throat, shaking his head as if trying to process the idea. "C'est incroyable... fantastique." He had questions about the entire dragon thing, but the words just weren't coming to him. Plus, the time had come to make use of the metal stick that was sitting nearby.

As Bryony confirmed that her speed was likely the issue, Ousmane gave a slow nod of understanding. "Mmm." He watched as she carefully dropped in her own ingredients, then exhaled through his nose before he began stirring counter-clockwise. "Is like... rhythm, non? You dance?" He wiggled his fingers in the air, mimicking a smooth, controlled movement. "Potion is like that. Not—eh—too fast, not too slow. Just... feeling." He then demonstrated as much with graceful, almost swanlike, stirs.

Once six full stirs had been made, Ousmane lit his fire to a maximum and, after briefing the recipe and his French annotations, he noted that he had seven minutes to grate two bicorn horns. "Oui, Uagadou," he replied softly, feeling a wave of nostalgia flow through him. "At Uagadou, we learn Animagus young. I might have transform by now... But here, there is... beaucoup de paperasse—ah, much paperwork—before even starting. Many discussion with professors and parents." He smiled, small but genuine. "Not upset. Only... different way, but same objectif."

*Kolyander* · 03-19-2025, 05:21 PM

That surprise, the admiration, Bryony wasn't at all surprised by it. How often did anyone hear that someone was GIFTED a baby dragon for their birthday? Especially a sixteen year old someone. Not often. "Uh-Huh. Yes." She giggled, nodding her head. On that day she had been just amazed. Nearly all of her dreams have come true. "He's simply spectacular." Oh, he could ask her anything he wanted and she would be thrilled to tell him everything! Talking about the things that she loved might have them here all day.

Dance? Her? Nope. "No, dancing isn't my thing unless it's for fun." And no, she wasn't very good at it. A small grin formed on her lips as she saw Ousmane 'dance' near her. "Do you dance then?" As she picked up her stirrer and began to count SIX counterclockwise rotations as she stirred what was in the cauldron. "Ninja Warrior stuff is what I'm good at. Do you know what that is?" She didn't expect him to, not everyone did.

Nod nod. There was a LOT to get approved before starting training here at Hogwarts. "It's so .. cool that the students there can learn something so difficult, so early on. We can't even began here until fourth year and then... All we really do is read everything we can and write essays on everything." She understood why it was this way but it was crazy to think that if she was at Uagadou that she could already be an Animagi! A quick glance over her notes once she had finished with the stirring told her that she needed to turn the fire beneath the cauldron up. Which she did, to maximum. "I get that, you'll still be completely your goal in the end." Ousmane had a nice way of looking at things. "What do you think you might became once you finish?" She was always curious about these things!

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