Assignment: Now that we have all been introduced, I want to start us off with a lesson on Medicinal Potions. I don't know how many of you want to follow the Medi-witch/wizard career, but you need to have a thorough knowledge of potions. You have to write (a minimum of 1000 words) about a medicinal potion saving someone's life.
Required Prompts: light, minutes and life.
Character to Incorporate: Neville Longbottom
In His Hands
As usual, the loudest and most boisterous table in the Great Hall belongs to the Gryffindors. While most of the table occupants are socializing without a care in the world, the soon to be Third Years are having a serious discussion about which electives to take in addition to their core subjects.
"I don't know what to take," Neville Longbottom says to his friends. To be honest, none of the electives offered interests me and I am already taking all the courses necessary for my chosen career. "
"You've already decided what your career is going to be, Neville? I thought Hermione was the only one who's that prepared," Lavender Brown states, temporarily looking up from her list of offered electives.
"There's nothing wrong with being prepared, Lavender," Hermione says heatedly, taking offense.
"So what have you decided," Harry asks, partly because he's interested and mostly to prevent Lavender and Hermione from sniping at each other.
"I want to either be a healer or a medi-wizard," Neville says, to the utter surprise to his classmates.
"A medi-wizard," Ron Weasley sneers in obvious distaste. "That's no career for a Gryffindor! It's a career a Hufflepuff would choose!"
Neville rolls his eyes in annoyance, not agreeing with Ron's statement.
"Although Grams would love for me to follow in the family's footsteps and become and Auror, I don't want to. As one, I would eventually come across a situation where I will have to kill someone. As a healer or medi-wizard, I will have a chance to save a life."
"I for one think that is admirable, Neville," Hermione says in an encouraging voice.
"Well, I don't. You don't know when You-Know-Who will rear his ugly head. The Ministry will need all the wands they can get to fight against him."
"Who will patch the fighters up if there's no healers or medi-wizards or medi-witches, Ronald," Ginny asks.
"How much did you hear," Ron asks, instead of answering her question.
"I heard everything – from Neville saying he wishes to be a healer or medi-wizard to your asinine response. Really Ron, 'a career a Hufflepuff would choose?'"
Turning her back to her brother, she looks over Hermione shoulder and chats with her about the varying processes her elder brothers , Percy, Fred, and George, used when picking their electives.
"So, Neville, a healer or a medi-wizard. Tell me, what sparked your interest in the medical field," Harry asks his friend.
"Well, it's because both of my parents are Aurors. They left on what should have been a routine case and both Mom and Dad were injured, Dad more so. Healer Johnson, the person in charge of his case performed all sorts of spells and . . ."
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". . . knowing the different properties of some ingredients allow you to be able to deviate from a standard recipe. By being able to deviate from a recipe you will be able to find a shortcut to completing a potion when a shorter brewing time is important.
The first answer Neville gave as a student at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry resounds in his head the days when his studies seem overwhelming. He often uses it as a personal mantra, as motivation as of why he has chosen the medical profession. Despite receiving an offer to study at St. Mungo's and therefore, the chance to stay close to home, Neville chose an unorthodox program that combines muggle and wizarding healing techniques after speaking with his mentor, Professor Severus Snape.
"Mr. Longbottom, you are one of most talented potions makers that I have had the pleasure of teaching. Based on the N.E.W.T. scores you have earned in my classroom, combined with those you have earned in Charms, Herbology, and Defense Against the Dark Arts - you have the solid foundation needed to become a Healer. I recommend the Healer's program in Italy. You might have to wait a year or two before entering, as there are some Muggle courses you need to take first, but I know you will do well."
Ron Weasley's dire outlook on the future to come echoes in Neville's head also –
" . . . You don't know when You-Know-Who will rear his ugly head. The Ministry will need all the wands they can get to fight against him."
Despite the truthfulness behind Ron's statement of the Ministry needing fighters, Neville knows when open war happens, healers, medi-wizards/witches will be in high demand. While hospitals and clinics are not usually targeted, He-Who-Shall-Not-Be-Named and his followers have fought dirty in the past. They might not target St. Mungo's per-say, but collateral damage is always a factor when fighting any kind of war. With this in mind, Neville studies, seconds becoming minutes, minutes becoming hours, hours becoming days, days becoming weeks and weeks becoming years. The need to be prepared motivates him.
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". . . knowing the different properties of some ingredients allow you to be able to deviate from a standard recipe. By being able to deviate from a recipe you will be able to find a shortcut to completing a potion when a shorter brewing time is important."
Neville can hear his eleven year old self give this answer to Professor Snape as he directs the volunteers in the basement rooms that he has commandeered to serve as makeshift potions labs. His personal mantra is one that the motley crew he commands is familiar with. Rich, poor, pureblood, muggle-born and squib - they all work towards a common goal. Death is the great equalizer after all, and those who gather the ingredients, prepares them and then toil over the cauldrons so someone can live knows this. They are the light in an otherwise dark world. Suddenly, the alarm in the lab goes off, signaling an emergency.
"What's going on," Neville asks the nearest person after hurrying to the rooms that are designated as the field hospital.
"It's Master Snape! He's arrived suffering various hexes and curses, plus he's bleeding profusely."
"Does anyone knows how it happened," someone asks frantically.
"Does it matter," Neville snarls. "Get out of my way!"
"You're not a certified Healer," Healer McKinnon exclaims, attempting to keep Neville out of the way.
"I feel safer in his hands than you so-called qualified dunderheads," Severus exclaims weakly, the bite and fight still present. "I taught him myself and I'm well aware what he's capable of. Get out of his way."
Healer McKinnon walks away, muttering the whole time that he would have Neville's head if 'the greatest potions master in Britain' was to die because of Neville's inexperience.
"Don't pay attention to him, Longbottom," Severus rasps. "He's been taking care of me since I've graduated from Hogwarts. I trust you to do your very best . . ."
Severus ' voice fades as he finally gives in to his exhaustion.
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Neville springs into action, waving his wand in order to get a diagnosis and barking orders to the healers that have remained in the room. He blanches when he sees the results.
"Get a curse breaker in here, quickly," he exclaims.
"There's none here," one of the healers says frantically.
As Neville deals with the lesser injuries and sends someone to get the potions from the list he has provided, Narcissa Malfoy walks in the room.
"You can't be here, Mrs. Malfoy!"
"He's my son's godfather and one of my best friends since Hogwarts. Get. Out. Of. My. Way."
Needless to say, the healer who attempts to throw Narcissa out cowers, but relief is evident in his face when Neville turns towards her.
"Do you recognize the curse," he asks without preamble and Narcissa gives a firm nod. Without a word, she draws her wand and makes small, precise movements to counter the curse. During the tense moment, a figure comes in the room, hand carrying the potions that were requested.
"We had all of the necessary potions and just finished brewing the last, Neville."
"Thanks Sally-Anne, for bringing these."
After countering the curse, Narcissa signals that it is okay for Neville to proceed with administering the potions.
"All we can do is wait . . ."
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A tap on the shoulder wakes Neville from his slumber and as he enters the recovery room, he notices that Narcissa sits by Severus' bed.
"He is two years younger than me, did you know that," Narcissa asks, her voice soft so she doesn't disturb the still sleeping man. Not expecting an answer, she continues to watch over Severus, waiting for him to awaken.
"Don't tell me you are worried, Cissy," Severus rasps, bringing everyone's attention to him. Looking at Neville he says seriously –
"I knew I made the right call when I put myself in your hands."
Narcissa sobs in obvious relief and Neville exclaims –
"Thank Merlin! We thought we had lost you at one point, sir."
The word passes around the medical wing quickly and Healer McKinnon comes to check on his long time patient. Satisfied that Severus is well and will recover in time, he asks Neville about the treatments he used. Recounting step by step his methodology, Healer McKinnon gasps in surprise when Neville states that one of the potions used was a blood-clotting potion.
"But that particular brew takes six hours to make! Also, the shelf life isn't very long either – it can only sit for only two hours before it starts to become unstable."
"Using Master Snape's notes as a guide, I was able to cut the time almost in half," Neville relates modestly. "Also, Mrs. Malfoy was a huge help - she broke the curse that prevented the wounds from healing.
"Deviating from a standard recipe, Mr. Longbottom," Severus drawls in amusement.
"The need for a shorter brewing time was important," Neville replies.
Wow! I didn't see the length of this one coming.
I got the idea of the potion that promotes blood clotting from Alethea27.
I also like to credit Alethea27 and evil-minded for the page break style.
