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sweetpinkpixie · 10-01-2025, 02:32 AM

Ancient Runes & Potions
L E S S O N

The Potions classroom holds its usual cool hush, lit not by daylight but by the steady gleam of sconces enchanted to burn without smoke or soot. Shadows pool in the corners between shelves of carefully labeled ingredients, while the stone floor carries the faint, lingering scent of ash, bitter herbs, and something acridly metallic. Every workstation has been carefully prepared for its student. As promised, each cauldron rests upon its burner, flanked by a neatly arranged set of mortar and pestle, a silver knife, brass scales, and a single crystal phial whose label is intentionally left blank. At the front of the room, Professor Cox stands beside a small brazier flickering with well warmed coals and the occasional quiet POP as moisture in the black porous structures escaped the only way it knew how to. Nothing out of the ordinary to see here as the brazier has been a constant companion all term, but the symbol on the blackboard written in chalk is a new addition:

Quote:

Originally Posted by blackboard

ᚲ

File in quietly and take your seats. If you wish to chat with your peers, do so - but be prepared to shift into focus mode the moment the lesson begins. And that moment will be soon.

lesson index
QUESTION | In what ways has fire been wielded as both a destructive force and a tool of progress within wizarding society?

ACTIVITY | Brewing the Fire Protection Potion
CHECKING IN | Mr. Grunt (Fearleadleader19) & Miss Webb (squidnie)

CHECKING IN | Miss Bay (WhittyBitty), Miss Webb (squidnie), Mr. Grunt (Charely Potter), & Mr. Prince (Felixir)

CHECKING IN | Mr. Grunt (Fearlessleader19)

ACTIVITY | testing the Fire Protection Potion
CHECKING IN | Miss García Massey (Samia), Miss Webb (squidnie), Miss Montmorency (PhoenixRising), Mr. Grunt (Fearlessleader19)

ACTVITY (?) | moving down the ladder into the classroom's basement

ACTIVITY | playing with fire, literally
CHECKING IN | there's no baseball in Kenaz

CHECKING IN | a clue, a clue!

CHECKING IN | this isn't dueling club or a quidditch match

CHECKING IN | a clue!

CLASS DISMISSED | cryptic food for thought

▶▼◀▲▶▼◀▲▶▼◀▲▶▼◀▲▶▼◀▲▶▼◀▲

OOC: Hello and welcome to the Ancient Runes & Potions lesson thread! A reminder to please check out Professor Cox's rules for both subjects for important IC tone and reminders, as well as a general guide to OOC conduct

This lesson has not yet begun, but will do so in approximately 24 hours from the time of this post.

I am looking forward to exploring Ancient Runes, Potions, and their relationship to one another together in this lesson! As always, if there are any questions or things that need clarifying OOC, please feel free to reach out to me via VM or PM and I will be happy to help out!

*squidnie* · 10-11-2025, 04:54 PM

Did he just laugh??

Cat, distracted by the previously-assumed impossible event happening right in front of her eyes, momentarily forgot about the rules of the game. It wasn’t until she saw another student pick up one of the sashes that she darted forward and grabbed the other. ~~Can’t have someone else doing better than her, even if they’re older.~~

She read the clue over once (not understanding it in the slightest) before catching movement from Cox in her periphery. And flame. She jumped, twisting to one side as if to dodge it, but caught the full blast on her left side. She squeaked, expecting imminent death, but (of course) she felt nothing. NOTHING. The potion! It worked!

She BEAMED. Then sent another blast from her rune stone in Professor Cox’s direction, clue temporarily forgotten in her other hand.

WhittyBitty · 10-11-2025, 09:30 PM

As a team they had managed to hit two of the sashes. Aurora grinned, pleased with how much they had managed to get accomplished in a short amount of time. Granted, Professor Cox had been distracted and the last sash would be harder to catch. But that just made the game more fun. She wasn’t even a competitive person, she just wanted to know what all the sashes said and to figure out what the messages meant.

Idris and Cat each snatched a sash, but before she could ask them to share what was written on them, they were under sudden attack. Aurora moved quickly on instinct, trying to put as much distance from her and the professor as possible. Had he managed to hit her? If so she hadn’t felt it.

After a few moments she was back on the attack, sending more flames his way in hopes of hitting that last sash.

Charely Potter · 10-12-2025, 12:26 AM

Ah, the Library! "That sounds about right." Jan commented, where else would pages turn outside the classrooms? But look, they weren't getting it that easily. Jan aimed his rune right away to press and deflect the incoming flames but something happened instead. Something magical... Jan was stunned for a moment. Not from the flames but the defense.

Oh dear... They weren't supposed to be using their wands. Especially when the potion they drank kept them chill already. Jan couldn't imagine the Professor taking this act well, especially after the cleaning spell and Emma throwing the stone risking a combusion. His little brother didn't mean any harm of course, the excitment of it all, had his brotherly instincts take over once again.

"Our erm... we were also taught constant vigilance! And to keep our hair protected from too much heat." Well, Jan tried. If Idris had attempted wordless magic, he could've claimed the spell as his own.

sweetpinkpixie · 10-12-2025, 12:57 AM

No, there certainly would not be another sash joining the rest. At least not at this point.

There would, however, be another reckoning. Were students at Hogwarts stuffing cotton in their ears, or were they really this obtuse?

Mr. Grunt, for a second time, had shown complete disregard for classroom standards. If the boy wished to keep his OWL seat, he would need to do better. Much better.

Cox turned toward the elder Grunt first with a look that hovered somewhere between skepticism and unenthusiastic amusement. "Constant vigilance," he echoed dryly. "A noble phrase, Mr. Grunt, but a poor shield when wielded selectively. True vigilance is not about reacting without thought. It’s about trusting your preparation and respecting the parameters you’ve been given." He took a few measured steps closer, gaze sharp and just teetering on unkind - the man was trying and applying copious amounts of pressure to his forearm with his fist. "The potion, I assure you and as you too know, would have kept your hair perfectly intact. What it cannot protect you from," his tone dipped slightly, "is the consequence of misplaced cleverness. Five points from Slytherin for excusing a peer’s mistake rather than encouraging him to learn from it. Accountability is the mark of progress. Deflection?" He tapped the side of his head once, a spark of humor breaking through. "That’s just good Quidditch form with an approaching bludger."

...he was on the quidditch team, right? If not, what a waste of a perfectly good analogy.

Pivoting with a sharp half spin to avoid another burst of Kenaz flame, Cox stared at the Gryffindor with much more severity than his brother, complete and utter disbelief beyond apparent. "Mr. Grunt," he spoke, voice dripping with restraint. "Your Shield Charm will be another ten points from Gryffindor for your utter disregard of the purpose of this exercise and for your blatant disrespect. To your peers, to the classroom materials, and to yourself. You too will be reporting for detention after supper along with Miss Montmorency." His eyes narrowed a bit further as they took in the scene properly, at the sight of the Gryffindor standing smugly behind a glimmering dome of magic. The Grunt Brothers’ Magical Travelling Circus strikes again. First was the elaborate sprinkling of ingredients by the older, the one where he could almost feel the over the top sound effects during the performance, and now this. "You've negated the entire point of the exercise and your Potions craftsmanship. I do not want to see your wand again this lesson, is that clear?"

A flare of orange cut past him, followed by another... closer than the last. Cox pivoted sharply, ducking low instead of turning his back to the field as he had earlier while discussing, rather unfortunately, the difference between a Quaffle and a rune stone with the seventh-year Hufflepuff. Lesson learned. A second burst skimmed the edge of his shoulder, flaring briefly before dissipating as expected, the harmless potion still doing its job.

"Effective," he grumbled over the commotion, brushing an imaginary fleck of soot from his robes. Despite the irritation threading his tone, there was a glint of reluctant pride in his eyes. The majority had, against all odds, managed to maintain both enthusiasm and embracing the soul of the activity. It was enough to keep him from cutting the exercise short on account of his temper.

Their fire (figurative and literal) deserved to burn a little longer.

OOC: you all

the unexpected chaos of it all! There’s just about 12-ish hours left before this activity - and the lesson overall - officially wraps up. Still plenty of time to grab that last sash and uncover the final clue, so make it count!

FearlessLeader19 · 10-12-2025, 03:10 AM

Idris had not been expecting… THAT!

He got all starry eyed at the wonderful music to his ears, and stood there with his mouth agape for a moment. What brought him back to his senses was Jan mentioned constant vigilance. That’s right! Their four parents always reminded him, Jan and Zen of such. And their hair, yes. Their hair was one of their most important features! Wait… what was Jan on about again? Id shook his head in an attempt to clear his mind of the sound that had been made earlier.

Maybe it was something about a Runes and Potions lesson rolled into one but Id certainly had never gotten into any trouble, much less this much, in any lesson. But… first time for everything, right? OH. That’s why Jan had been rambling about constant vigilance and hair: he was getting a talking to from Cox. Idris frowned as he noted the look on the man's face, so close to being… menacing? If he had trouble controlling his anger and frustration around students, then he shouldn’t be teaching because students were going to be students. “Jan encourages me just fine, professor,’’ he said mildly and truthfully, taking a step closer to his brother. He disliked that Cox was eyeing Jan like that. Idris could be protective too, it was just himself that he didn’t care about getting into trouble. In any case he was quite sure the Slytherin was going to give him a gentle talking to afterwards.

When the professor turned to him and started speaking, the fifth year scrunched up his face slightly. Not in disrespect but because he was doing some quick thinking back to earlier in the lesson. “It was Hufflepuff that lost ten points before, Professor,’’ he said helpfully in case Cox’s memory had been affected by Potion fumes. “Gryffindor lost five, gained one back.” See? He could help set any confusion aside without being sarcastic. But he had been right earlier about nothing stealing the moment from him!

Oooh,

Detention! Another first for him! History was being made today!

“Yes, professor,’’ Id said, nodding. "My sincere apologies to you and everyone else for ~~letting my protective instincts kick in~~ ruining the lesson." Again, there was no sarcasm and he did mean the words. He glanced over at Emma and resisted the urge to grin. Perhaps he’d eat at the Hufflepuff table that evening with Paul then he and Emma could depart for their detention. “Everything’s crystal.” He holstered his Silver Lime wand. That was when he looked over at the other Grunt and his lips twitched.

THEY HAD LOST HOUSE POINTS TOGETHER!!!

Neither of them couldn’t say they weren’t making exciting memories for Jan’s final year!

Also, was this lesson just about done? Id wanted nothing better than to scoot off to find his Dad D and tell them all about his adventures during the lesson; yes, ‘calamity’ with losing House points and all. Oh, and he would need to apologise to Dad E for losing 19 14 points. Even if it meant both of them would give him a lecture. He just couldn't help be super excited about his Shield Charm and its 'sparkly' sound.

*PhoenixRising* · 10-12-2025, 04:45 AM

Hearing her name in that tone was something that had caught Emma off-guard. She was on the verge of tears in his next words because of how deeply they stung. What had she been thinking? Perhaps the thing was that she wasn't. Had it been another professor, she might have let the tears flow, but she already was feeling so behind that emotional outbursts would do her little good. She doubted Professor Cox would give much in the way of sympathy to a woman's tears.

Be strong, be strong. Not the emotionally sensitive Hufflepuff that you are, but pull on your big girl trousers. "I'm .... I didn't mean..." she reclaimed the Kenaz stone from the air and turned it over a few times to see if it was unharmed. It seemed testing its aerodynamics didn't effect it too greatly. Detention. Well she suppose she could check that off her imaginary Hogwarts bingo card; it wasn't something she thought she'd see and yet.

Apparently not going to be at it alone. Since she would be joined in detention with the younger Grunt brother.

There was still time for redemption in this lesson and as much as she really wanted to just curl up in the corner and wait for the lesson to be dismissed, she had to at least make an attempt to prove she wasn't completely hopeless. She had zero clue what she was doing, but somehow she hoped the rune would guide her as she turned it over, aiming at the Professor's remaining sashes (hopefully).

sweetpinkpixie · 10-12-2025, 11:45 AM

A humorless sound left him. Something that may have been a scoff if he had completely let go of decorum - thankfully he had enough sense about him not to allow that. It was a puzzling scene, the boy looking as though Cox had kicked an entire herd of cruppies right in front of him upon the initial point deduction now looking bright-eyed and buoyant as if they were discussing Quidditch scores rather than a breach of conduct and more severe consequences. As a result, the apology rang hollow not for its words, but for the cheer in which it was wrapped. Merlin help the boy quickly grasp that good intentions were not an antidote for recklessness. He certainly would not be arguing semantics with a student - he was perfectly aware which house had lost what, and when. 'Another ten' meant precisely what it sounded like: in addition to the earlier five deducted, save for the single point regained for honesty. "We will discuss this further during your detention, Mr. Grunt,” he said at last, voice level but cool. Internally, though, his patience was wearing thin. OWL students, ones preparing for mastery and furthering their academics to meet greater ambitions, should know better.

He turned away then, eager to resume his instruction and to see whether he could truly dodge flames for the remaining minutes of the lesson. A pity it would be if students failed to uncover the prize he had so carefully hidden - all that preparation and the satisfaction of the reveal would go to waste.

Time was indeed running low and he had calculated a comfortable cushion of time for students' potions to still be in effect even with the conclusion of the lesson to ensure no one was at any risk of being burned. Still, it was plenty of time indeed for Miss Montmorency to find that redemption she sought. The Kenaz flame struck true, licking across one of his remaining sashes until it curled and fell away to ground - another fragment of the hidden message revealed.

Quote:

Beneath the craft of Jigger’s lore,
Your prize lies bound within its core

OOC: This clue must be discovered in-character to become IC knowledge. Once found, the information belongs solely to that character until they choose to share it

.

Cox allowed himself the briefest concession to pride. The seventh year had suffered a complete lapse in judgment earlier—apparently unintentional, though Merlin only knew what had gone through her head when she’d thrown the rune stone—but this, at least, was deliberate. Purposeful. Controlled. Her perseverance and precision this time were enough to ease the edge of his irritation, if only for a moment, before the next burst of orange fire came streaking toward him and he on the move once again.

- - - - - -

Glancing at his knuckles, Cox came to a sudden stop and drew a steady breath before reaching for the remaining sashes still attached to him. With a quiet double tap of his index and middle finger, he released them from his robes and they fluttered to the ground. "That will do," he announced, tone even but carrying easily across the space. "Two taps of the finger will release your remaining sashes as well. Go on. You may leave them on the floor."

He watched for a moment, mostly so he could catch his breath, and slowly strolled forward. "Carefully climb the letter back up to the classroom and leave your kenaz rune stone on my desk," he continued, clasping his hands behind his back. "Once you've poured the remains of your cauldron out and left it in the washing station, you are free to leave and free "

Well, almost.

"Before you go, remember this," his gaze swept the room, sharp but thoughtful, "protection is never perfect and invincibility is a lovely illusion. Your potion allowed you to play recklessly - some of you, too recklessly - consider what that means as you go about the rest of your day. What do we lose, or gain, when we believe ourselves untouchable?"

He let the question hang a moment before continuing. "As for the riddles... Kenaz speaks to illumination, to knowledge brought to light. Whether you keep what you uncovered to yourselves or share it is your choice." Though he did personally believe that hoarded knowledged was knowledged easily snuffed out.

He motioned toward the ladder for the students to ascend first while he remained behind to bring up the rear. A small mercy, he supposed, that no one had been physically burned this lesson.

OOC: That’s a wrap! Thank you so much for all your participation and for bringing such unique character dynamics to play off this grumpy dude! It was definitely a memorable experience for me.

There IS a prize out there in the castle waiting to be discovered, so best of luck on the hunt! I randomized the order of how the clues were delivered, so they are not necessarily posted in the correct order.

Can't wait to see what the rest of the term holds with all of you

I will leave this thread open for another 24 ish hours for you to post your character leaving if you wish to do so.

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