"Sleeping Draft. Of the basic variety. That's what we're brewing," Alice announced decidedly as she tugged her company over to an empty lab table with a cauldron set up. Really, they were mostly deserted, because it was far too early to expect anyone else to be there. But it was best like that. No one to get in the way.

And if West got in the way, she'd make him leave. Work to do and such.

After a moment of scanning a dog eared page of the textbook she'd brought along, Alice turned to go fetch ingredients. "You want to fill the cauldron up?" Might as well make himself useful. Did he know how much water was needed?

If he didn't, it was right there. On the page.

She'd check his measurements, though, just to be sure.

"What for?" West had no idea what she'd need that for. Was she having trouble sleeping? He frowned a bit, vaguely worried. But really, why a sleeping draught?

Also.... she was bossing him. He eyed her. And then glanced briefly at the book. He knew the recipe, didn't need to check it because he remembered things and all.

In response he just filled a measuring cup with water from his wand in silence, measuring it to 500 mls. But he didn't fill the cauldron. West didn't tend to trust random equipment, and instead he stopped to scrub it out. Important step, or at least one that he'd learned as important from Lafay.

Once that was done he emptied the measured water in and returned the cauldron to heat. Slow boil and stuff. And now he'd just..... perve at his girlfriend for a bit.

"For Dora." Did West not know of her best friend's insomnia issues? As Alice went to go retrieve the ingredients, there was a slightly complacent smile on her face. She still knew more than he did about Dora. Still did. Always would.

He wasn't being trusted, though. This draft had to turn out just right or one of her favorite Ravenclaws wasn't going to get the sleep she so desperately needed, and Alice was unsure of letting him help at all. But she was being a good girlfriend and doing stuff with him.

Just.. out of the way.

The ingredients she had fetched were ones already memorized prior to arriving at the lab. A pinch of crushed lavender, and another pinch of ginger were brought back to the table before Alice left again in search of chamomile. "Make sure that's boiling?"

He could do that, too, right? Yes? Hopefully.

"Didn't know she needed it. 'snot as if I spend time in her dorm and see her sleep or not sleep y'know." West pointed out. But he was more than happy to help for a Siddie. No problems there.

"Its coming to the boil." West said, eyeing her askance. This bossing. He wasn't sure he liked it. He looked at the water as it started to bubble. "You know.... maybe you should try a batch of this with the purslane." He said casually.

The cauldron started bubbling.

"Boiling."

"It's been going on for a while. Not recent or anything." But it was rather surprising Dora hadn't thought to brew something up herself. After all, it was her best friend who was the potions whiz, not Alice.

Ignoring his looks of disapproval at the orders, she set down the handful of crushed chamomile she'd retrieved, her gloved fingers crawling around the table in search of a wooden spoon. "Why would I do that?" Alice didn't require any aid in sleeping, as far as she knew.

The sixth year dropped in the pinch of crushed lavender, beginning the counterclockwise stirring and peeking at her boyfriend every so often out of the corner of her eye.

Because looking at him was one of her favorite things to do. But also because if he messed with anything, he was getting smacked with the stirrer.

"It doesn't matter. It was just a thought." There were alternatives. West might look into them maybe... privately.

She was giving him particular looks. He didn't mind the looks, but he hadn't done anything to warrant thoughts of violence yet had he? And she had that look about her. Like she was contemplating a bite or two.

West peeked back.

It was HER potion. If she wanted him to help with more, she could ask really nicely... and pay him with kisses maybe.

After paying the ridiculous fee of eight sickles, Sophie entered the lab. She had no idea what she was going to brew, but seeing as basically her whole family was really good at this subject, she thought she should be, too. She randomly chose a work station then began setting up all her equipment.

When that was done, she began cleaning her cauldron. "Scourgify!" she said, aiming her wand toward the cauldron. She made sure to get every square inch of the cauldron clean before moving on. She placed the cauldron over a burner then pointed her wand underneath it. "Incendio!" she said, and a fire sprang to life under the cauldron.