I don't own Disney's The Owl House. I do, however own the Main OC. Hope you all enjoy my story on this lovely show.
Chapter Fifteen
It has been a few days since training on the Knee. Heading to Hexside, Eda and Danielle walk towards the Paranoratorium and head backstage. Watching many others flunking and passing the entrance exam, Danielle patiently waits for her turn.
"Oh, a little nervous here," said Danielle, peering from behind the curtain. "Calming breaths here, calming breaths."
"Kid, you got this. Just do what we practiced!" said Eda, placing her hands on Danielle's shoulders. "I had to do the same thing when I was a witchling. It's like a rite of passage. Granted, I was a little more skilled."
"You're right, I got this," said Danielle, rubbing her mom's necklace as she walks out on stage. "Hi Principal Bump."
"Right. The human that wants to learn magic. Against my better judgement, I've allowed you to take this exam into Hexside," said Principal Bump, looking at Danielle. "But can you even do magic with all your... human parts?"
"Granted my magic is different but I believe what I discovered could be what witches used in the far past," said Danielle, pulling out the glyphs she wanted to use for the placement exam.
Setting off multiple ice glyphs, Danielle has the ice encase the whole Paranoratorium making it look like a medieval setting with the seats looking like thrones, the walls decorative with designs with a low mist covering the floor. Next Danielle set off a light glyph, having many little wisps of light not only in the mist but floating above as well. A lightning glyph was set off, trailing against the designs on the walls.
"Impressive," said Principal Bump, watching the display before handing a pamphlet to Danielle. "Welcome, Danielle, to Hexside School of Magic and Demonics!"
"Really?" said Danielle, staring at Principal Bump. "I didn't even finish my performance."
"You've already done quite enough," said Principal Bump, placing a hand on Danielle's shoulder. "Just look at what you did. I think this proofs you got what it takes to attend Hexside."
"Thanks Principal Bump," said Danielle, before walking over to Eda. "I did it. I got into Hexside."
"Good on you, kid," said Eda, ruffling Danielle's hair.
"You're still always be my first magic teacher," said Danielle, hugging Eda. "Thank you."
Days have gone by after the placement exam, as Eda flies Danielle on the first day to Hexside on her staff. Danielle is donning the Hexside uniform for unplaced track students. A short sleeve light gray tunic with fluttery cap sleeves and black strings in the chest area showing her cleavage a little bit and slits on the sides. Light gray shorts that were seen under the tunic and the cowl sporting a white cord. The belt on the tunic was ditched for comfort and still donned her boots and socks.
"First day of school," said Danielle, sighing as they approach Hexside. "A little nervous but I'll get over it eventually."
"Hey, don't worry about what everyone thinks," said Eda, looking at Danielle. "If you want my advice, walk into class and punch the first kid you see. To establish dominance."
"I won't be doing that," said Danielle, as they land. "Also, King, I know you're in my bag."
"Weh!" said King, popping his head out of her messenger bag. "How'd you know?"
"You're heavier than Skye so it was pretty noticeable," replied Danielle, looking at King as he climbed out. "Come on, you're going back with Eda."
"No way," said King, jumping into a trash can. "You're a free ride to the best buffet in town! Nyah! The trash cans here are filled with half-eaten gold!"
"Don't eat that," said Danielle, taking King out of the trash can and tossing the half-eaten doughnut back in the trash.
"Aw man," said King, sulking in Danielle's arms.
"Last chance to back out, and earn a new Bad Girl Coven patch," said Eda, holding up a patch. "Quitting: It's like trying, but easier."
"Sorry but that's not really me," said Danielle, looking at Eda.
"Hold up!" said Eda, tossing her hand on top of Danielle's head. "Just try not to be too much of a goody two shoes. You got this."
"Thanks Eda," said Danielle, watching Eda fly away. "Wait, you forgot King. Think you can walk back on your own?"
"Oh, yeah, can do," replied King, mischievously smiling as he was placed down.
"Good, be careful," said Danielle, before walking towards the entrance.
"Hey, Danielle! Congrats on getting in," said Amity, walking over to Danielle.
"Thanks Amity," said Danielle, gripping her bag strap before spotting Willow and Gus near the entrance. "Hi Willow, hi Gus."
"Hello, classmate!" said Willow, winking.
"You did it, Danielle!" said Gus, conjuring letters that read "BETTER LUCK NEXT TIME!". "Sorry, I was, uh, covering all my bases."
"So, do you know who those witches are?" asked Willow, gesturing to the nine banners.
"They're the current heads of the Main Nine," replied Danielle, pointing to each one. "Each one either attended Hexside, Glandus or St. Epiderm. I best get to Principal Bump and get placed in my tracks. Catch up with ya later."
"See you later, Danielle," said Gus, conjuring letters that read "GOODBYE FOREVER!". "You know what? I'm uh, I'ma just get rid of these."
Walking down the hallway, Danielle knocks on the principal's office door before slightly opening it. Seeing Principal Bump watching the news on a crystal ball, Danielle patiently waits as she watches the news as well.
"Ha! Take that, Glandus!" said Principal Bump, pointing at the crystal ball. "Looks like this year's grudgby match is going to be a forfeit."
"I hope everyone will be okay," said Danielle, seeing the news end.
"It's a basi… a basi… curse this stinking veil!"
"Now, today we'll be visited by the Emperor's Coven for a routine inspection," said Principal Bump, looking at Danielle. "If we want to impress them, you'll need to join a coven track before they arrive."
"I've already narrowed it down," said Danielle, pointing a finger up for each track she mentions. "Potions since Eda started me on it and I want to support Eda. Plant since Willow literally saved me life. Healing since I've always liked the concept of healing magic. Oracle…"
"Studying multiple tracks at once?" said Principal Bump, laughing. "No one does that."
"Then I guess I'll be the first," said Danielle, gripping her bag strap.
"No, you won't," said Principal Bump, holding up a rule book with the emperor's sigil on it. "According to the rules, a good witch needs to hocus-focus. You can only pick one of the nine tracks. And you do not want to embarrass me in front of the inspector."
"No, I don't," said Danielle, looking to the side. "But the tracks I've chosen are really interesting. I don't know if I can choose just one."
"Then I'll choose one for you," said Principal Bump, pointing to each banner. "Eeny, meeny, miny, moe! Ah, yes! The Potions track. You humans are filled with liquids, right?"
"Yes," replied Danielle, as the light gray of her uniform changed to yellow.
"I expect you to be on your best behavior," said Principal Bump, magically lifting Danielle and sending her out of the office. "Based on the costly repairs from recent incidents, we could really use a donation from the Emperor's Coven. Now, off to class."
"Okay, off to my first class," said Danielle, walking down the hall.
Walking towards a classroom, Danielle enters and stands behind one of the desks. Seeing a cauldron, Danielle wonders what potions she will be brewing today.
"Welcome to a new semester! Let's get stirring! Today we'll make... fog brews," said the Potion Teacher, grabbing a potion and smashing it on the floor. "Begin!"
"Well, this will be simple. I've already mastered it with Eda and made some tweaks to it," said Danielle, grabbing a silver dagger before pressing it against a bean like ingredient to release the juices easier and stirring it in the cauldron. "There we go."
"Ahem!" said the Potion Teacher, walking Danielle's way and inspecting the potion. "Hmm, this is quite nice and the color is more vibrant. Not bad human but I'll be putting you through your paces."
"Uh-oh," thought Danielle, seeing the Potion Teacher check on the other students fog brew. "Someone's prejudice against humans. I've should've known but I didn't think my first teacher would be one of them."
And true to word, the Potion Teacher put Danielle through her paces. Selecting hard brews for Danielle only and giving the other students more simpler ones. Danielle persevered and completed each potion with success with very little mistakes involved. The Potion Teacher was livid by the end as class ended.
"That was a lot of stirring. Let's see what else my schedule says for today," said Danielle, taking out her schedule and looking at it. "My arm is going to be sore by the end of the school day."
Seeing an Oracle Student place a crystal ball away in a closet, Danielle walks over and looks at the many crystal balls before her. Staring longingly at the crystal balls, Danielle sighs.
"I shouldn't… but maybe I can hear the voice in my head better this way," said Danielle, gently stroking a crystal ball. "Or maybe the spirits can help me find mom."
"Trouble, behind you."
"You will be…" said a Spirit, coming out of the crystal ball and spotting Principal Bump. "Never mind."
"Principal Bump," said Danielle, turning and facing Principal Bump. "I was just looking at the crystal balls is all."
"Follow me," said Principal Bump, gesturing Danielle to follow him.
"Yes sir," said Danielle, following Principal Bump down the hall. "I'm sorry."
"Mixing magic is forbidden," said Principal Bump, arms behind his back. "It goes against everything the Titan stands for."
"All I did was just touch the crystal ball," said Danielle, holding her arms close to her. "And maybe ask the spirits questions about the whereabouts about my mom. Or see if I could communicate better with the voice in my head."
"Voice in your head?" said Principal Bump, staring at Danielle.
"Yeah, it's been very helpful since I got here," said Danielle, looking at Principal Bump. "But it's also weird that it knows what's going to happen on certain days. It's very cryptish to me."
"Hmm, maybe I should have placed you in the Oracle track instead of potions for today," said Principal Bump, coming upon a door. "However…"
"Um, what is this?" asked Danielle, staring at the mostly empty room with only three students in dark gray uniforms and a teacher.
"The detention track," replied Principal Bump, changing the color of Danielle's uniform to dark gray.
"There's a track for that," said Danielle, looking at Principal Bump. "I've never even been in detention before."
"Yes. Actual detention still needs... repairs," said Principal Bump, looking at Danielle. "In the meantime, I am keeping all troublemakers far away from the eyes of the inspector. You may try for a new track next year."
"But there's a chance I'll be back home with my mom by then," said Danielle, watching Principal Bump leave the classroom.
"Maybe you'll do better in human school," said Principal Bump, walking away.
"If I behave myself here, will you give me a second chance?" asked Danielle, looking at Principal Bump. "Principal Bump… mmm."
Walking over to the desk, Danielle slumps in her chair before resting her head in her arms. Looking out the window, Danielle wonders how her mom and dad are doing.
"Fine mess I got myself in," said Danielle, speaking to herself.
"Hey! You all better be quiet," said the Detention Teacher, pointing at Danielle and the other three students. "Unless you want to scrub the classroom again."
"Sorry sir," said Danielle, straightening up. "Don't put the blame on the others because of me. I was the one talking."
"Oh, hurray. A hero," said the Detention Teacher, magicking a bucket and mop in Danielle's hands.
"All right," said Danielle, glumly standing up and walking towards the nearest window.
The only other Female Student looks Danielle's way and smiles. Cleaning down the windows, Danielle sees a kindergarten class pass by before resuming her cleaning.
"Danielle!" shouted Willow, running over with Gus.
"Hey guys," said Danielle, staring at Willow and Gus. "How's your day going?"
"What's going on?" asked Gus, staring at Danielle. "We didn't see you in any classes."
"Principal Bump caught me touching one of the crystal balls," replied Danielle, wiping the windowsill as she talked. "I'm in the detention track for the time being."
"The detention track?" said Willow, looking at Danielle. "You can't do anything in there."
"You'll learn less in there," said Gus, staring at Danielle.
"I'll be fine," said Danielle, looking at Willow and Gus.
"Don't worry. We'll get you out, dead or alive!" said Gus, only for Willow to shake her head "No". "Okay. Alive."
"That's nice but…" said Danielle, seeing Willow and Gus run off before turning around and facing the Female Student. "Uh… hi."
"Shh," said the Female Student, hushing Danielle.
The Female Student points to the snoring Detention Teacher, then gestures for Danielle to follow her. The Female Student draws a square on the chalkboard with a keyhole in the center, then turns the chalk in the hole like a key. The square glows and swings open, revealing a passageway.
"What the…" said Danielle, in a low voice before taking the Female Student's offered hand and climbing in the hole. "This is amazing. This place is…"
"This is the last room you'll ever see alive," said the Female Student, glaring at Danielle before smiling. "Nah, just messing with ya. I'm Viney."
"Ya had me scared there," said Danielle, releasing a breath. "Danielle Hopkins, nice to mee'cha."
"Thanks for standing up for us back there. Not many people would do that. Follow me! I wanna show you something," said Viney, gesturing to follow her while opening a door. "You're one of us troublemakers now, so you'll get special access to the Secret Room of Shortcuts!"
"Whoa," said Danielle, looking around the room before looking at Viney. "Are you sure?"
"Uh, yeah," replied Viney, before speaking up. "Hey, Jerbo! Barcus! You can stop hiding now!"
"How do we know she's cool, man? How do we know she won't turn us in?" asked a Male Student, opening a door before looking at a Dog-like Student. "What do you think? Barcus says your aura is strong and bright, like a star. Welcome!"
"So many doors. Do you know where each one opens to?" asked Danielle, opening a door slightly and seeing Amity.
"So, you two go to the same school now, that doesn't change anything," said Amity, sighing before hearing a door close. "Huh?"
"I shouldn't have seen that," said Danielle, letting go of the doorknob.
"This place connects the different parts of the school. We found it after being thrown in the detention track. The witch who made it is known as..." said Viney, gesturing to a defaced portrait. "Lord Calamity."
"Hehehaha!"
"They started this troublemaker wall and we added our names in their honor," said Jerbo, walking over with Barcus.
"You can easily get from one class to the next this way," said Danielle, looking at Viney.
"Sure, we can, but we can also do so much more," said Viney, pointing to Barcus listening in on an Oracle class.
"Remember, seeing the end of a life is the beginning of reading a fortune. We have to work backwards from it to see the truth," said the Oracle Teacher, making a fortune teller.
"We aren't allowed to study any kind of magic, so we study every kind of magic in secret," said Viney, looking at Danielle.
"It's nice to find others that like going to school," said Danielle, gripping her bag strap.
"Yeah, we might have liked it too much," said Viney, slightly smiling.
"I tried mixing plant magic with abominations," said Jerbo, recounting a certain memory. "Bump was not thrilled. Barcus makes potions with oracle magic."
"Mixing healing and beast keeping was slightly unconventional," said Viney, recounting a memory as well. "But Puddles was a great assistant, dang it!"
"Puddles?" said Danielle, looking at Viney.
"My griffin," said Viney, looking at Danielle. "We all want to be in more than one coven track! But Bump just says we need to focus."
"Sounds like Principal Bump's priorities are a little out of whack," said Danielle, deeply sighing.
"I'm glad you're one of us. You've made a great first impression," said Viney, taking out a marker. "Would you like to add your name to the troublemaker wall?"
"Thanks," said Danielle, pushing the marker back to Viney. "But I'm not much of a troublemaker."
"Danielle!" said Willow, gaining Danielle's attention. "We're here to get you out of this horrible class."
"Willow?" said Danielle, walking towards the door that led to the Detention room.
"Maybe she already booked it," said Gus, looking around. "She is better than this place."
"I'm not a dog Willow," thought Danielle, hearing Willow whistle for her in such a manner.
"Oh. You think you're better than us?" asked Viney, staring at Danielle.
"Wait a minute," said Danielle, looking at Viney. "I think you misinterpreted it."
"J'accuse!" said Jerbo, pointing at Danielle. "I should've known you'd look down on us. Everyone else does."
"I'm not," said Danielle, looking at all three of them.
"It's fine, I just... I thought someone finally understood us," said Viney, before pointing at the door. "But, maybe you should just leave."
"Okay, I understand," said Danielle, walking towards the door and opening it. "Hey Willow, hey Gus."
"Thank you, walls!" said Willow, before helping Danielle out. "We found a way to get you out to talk to Principal Bump."
"We have an expert disguise!" said Gus, grabbing a trashcan. "Hop in! It's got holes for your teenage legs."
"I'm not getting in that," said Danielle, looking at Gus.
"But this way the inspector won't see you either," said Gus, looking at Danielle.
"I'm not getting in there," said Danielle, glaring at Gus.
Walking down the hallway with Willow and Gus, Danielle tries to figure out how to make amends with Viney and the other two. Rounding a corner, the three see a giant serpent demon sucking the magic from a teacher. Danielle and Willow scream, holding each other.
"What the heck is that?!" shouted Gus, pointing at the giant serpent demon.
"Don't let Willow and Gus use magic, they'll end up like the teacher!"
"More cute morsels!" said the Giant Snake Demon, slithering their way.
"Use the glyphs! Use the glyphs!"
"We may be cute," said Willow, only for Danielle to toss a notepad of activated glyphs at the Giant Snake Demon. "Danielle, what are you…"
"It burns, it burns!" shouted the Giant Snake Demon, writhing in pain after swallowing the activated glyphs.
"Chodźmy!" said Danielle, grabbing Willow's and Gus's hands and running down the hall. "Nienawidzę węży!"
"Hold on, I can cast an illusion," said Gus, casting an illusionary wall to slow down the Giant Snake Demon.
"Gus, wait!" shouted Danielle, seeing the illusionary wall being absorbed.
"I feel... so weak," said Gus, trying to draw another spell circle.
"Gus!" shouted Willow, only for a bunch of vines to pass her and block the Giant Snake Demon. "Danielle."
"Grab Gus," said Danielle, setting off another plant glyph to tangle the Giant Snake Demon before running alongside Willow.
"Where to now?" asked Willow, looking at Danielle while carrying Gus.
"Here," said Danielle, opening a door and ushering Willow in.
"Oh. You're back," said Viney, seeing Danielle enter their secret room before seeing Willow place Gus down. "What happened to him?"
"Big problem! Really big problem!" said Danielle, opening the door slightly for Viney to see.
"Don't let it see us!" said Viney, recognizing the Giant Snake Demon before closing the door. "I think that's a greater basilisk. I heard about them in a class. My cousin at St. Epiderm said she saw one, but those things should be extinct."
"Bazyliszek!" said Danielle, shocked. "Jak to możliwe, że jeszcze nie umarłem?"
"What?" asked Viney, staring at Danielle, confused.
"Sorry, Grampa's language," said Danielle, failing to calm down and pacing about. "Okay, basilisks are basically serpents. Serpents are warm blooded, they can't stand… lód!"
"I didn't get that last part," said Viney, looking at Danielle.
"Want to add another type of magic to your arsenal?" asked Danielle, showing her notebook of glyphs. "It can absorb your guy's magic but when it ingested these, it was writhing in pain."
"But if Bump catches us mixing magic again…" said Jerbo, looking at Danielle.
"He'd kick us outta school," said Viney, looking towards the floor.
"Screw Principal Bump right now. Sometimes you have to break the rules to do the right thing," said Danielle, looking at Viney and the others. "And our school needs us right now. Oh my gosh, I can't believe I said that about an authority figure."
"You are right, about the basilisk that is," said Viney, putting her hand on Danielle's shoulder. "They're warm blooded but… I didn't catch what you said at the end."
"Ice," said Danielle, holding out the glyph. "We can freeze that walking snake-skin purse."
"And these other glyphs?" asked Viney, looking at the various glyphs in the notebook.
"I will give to everyone to set our plan into action," replied Danielle, ripping out certain glyphs.
Explaining each glyph and how to get the results they wanted, everyone scrambled to their positions in Hexside. Setting off a light glyph, Danielle sends the little bird towards the Basilisk. Spotting the Light Bird, the Basilisk gives chase. Seeing the Basilisk come her way, Viney rides Puddles through the hall catching the Basilisk's attention. Utilizing two illusion glyphs, Viney creates a double of herself and Puddles going down another hall while setting up an illusionary sphere around herself and Puddles making them blend in with the hall. Jerbo had set off a plant glyph, crafting a large flower with an abomination face in the center. The moment the Basilisk passed their way, the flower slurped up the Basilisk before spitting it towards the central atrium. Willow and Barcus, both set off a lightning glyph, paralyzing the Basilisk in mid-flight before it landed. Walking forward towards the Basilisk, Danielle steps on a large ice glyph, which encased the Basilisk in a towering entanglement of thorning vines with flowers. Setting off another ice glyph, Danielle has the icy vines squeeze the heck out of the Basilisk. All the magic the Basilisk ate is released, returning back to their owners.
"Oh, my goodness," said Danielle, slumping to the floor. "Even more reasons to hate snakes."
"We did it!" shouted Willow, hugging Danielle alongside Viney.
"We should go see if everyone in the school is alright," said Danielle, cuddling into the hug. "But… I want to stay like this for a while."
"Um, guys," said Jerbo, getting everyone's attention as he sees Principal Bump leave the Paranoratorium and looking their way. "We're caught."
"Is this what I think it is?" asked Principal Bump, walking their way.
"Yes, but try to understand," said Danielle, getting up. "Everyone's lives were at stake here. Magic had to be mixed to get the end result you see before you."
"I don't care to know the ins and outs of rascality," said Principal Bump, pulling out the rule book. "But if the Emperor's Coven can send an actual inspector this time…"
"I understand the school needs money to keep going," said Danielle, staring at Principal Bump. "But it also needs its students to keep coming back wanting to learn. Back home, we're free to choose our own classes come middle school to some extent. It's important for them to make their own decisions to help them develop lifelong skills to make good decisions. It's important for them to choose a class where they can cultivate an interest of their own. Learning to navigate their own path is part of the process. While you can guide and provide input, it's beneficial for them to have a say in the final decision. Please make the right decision here Principal Bump."
"Alright, I'm smart enough to know when I've made a mistake," said Principal Bump, looking at Danielle then the others. "Which tracks would you like to be in?"
"Healing and Beast Keeping!" replied Viney, excited.
"Plants and Abomination!" replied Jerbo, before Barcus barked his reply.
"Then so be it. But if any of you cause more property damage, I'm feeding you to the choosy hat," said Principal Bump, changing their uniforms to their specific track colors before looking at Danielle. "And you?"
"You already heard the ones I really wanted to do when I came into your office earlier," said Danielle, before the light gray of her uniform changed with both the sleeves and shorts starting as yellow at the top, gradiented to green then blue and finally purple at the bottom while the cord on her cowl gained all four colors. "Thanks Principal Bump."
"You know, only one other student wanted to study every track," said Principal Bump, summoning forth the defaced portrait and wiping off the paint. "Unfortunately, she was never given the opportunity."
"Eda?" said Danielle, looking at the picture of a young Eda. "Now that that escapade is over and talking back against an authority figure, I'm gonna pass out. Dobranoc!"
And just like that, Danielle passed out in the central atrium. Giggling a little, Willow and Viney place Danielle on top of Puddles before heading out of the central atrium with Jerbo and Barcus by their side, heading towards their secret room.
Note: Danielle's uniform is slightly modified from the one in my first story A Light to Guide
Translations
Chodźmy!- polish for Let's go!
Nienawidzę węży- polish for I hate snakes!
Bazyliszek!- polish for Basilisk!
Jak to możliwe, że jeszcze nie umarłem?- polish for How come I'm not dead yet?
Lód- polish for Ice
Dobranoc!- polish for Good night!
Owl Pellet #10
(Set after Ch 11 but before this chapter)
"Hey Prim," said Eda, entering a thread store with Danielle. "You there?"
"Right here Eda," said Prim, walking out from behind a curtain. "What do you need?"
"My student here needs a uniform for Hexside," said Eda, staring at Prim.
"Hi there," said Danielle, waving at Prim.
"Why come here?" asked Prim, staring at Eda. "You should already know who does the uniforms for Hexside."
"Yeah, I know, but there's wool when done there," said Eda, placing her hands on Danielle's shoulders. "Which she is highly allergic to. That's why I came here."
"An allergy to wool?" said Prim, looking at Danielle. "Is that common in the Human Realm?"
"Actually, it's pretty rare," said Danielle, looking at Prim. "There have been cases where it's confused with wool sensitivity but I have an actual allergy to it much like my dad."
"I see," said Prim, eyeing Danielle from different angles. "Well, let's get you measured."
"Fair warning: I may giggle at points," said Danielle, slightly blushing.
"Over here and I'll be there in a second," said Prim, gesturing Danielle to a room. "Got yourself a cute little apprentice there."
"Who wants to learn magic," said Eda, looking at Prim. "But not be a witch."
"Peculiar human. Come," said Prim, gesturing Eda to a spool of thread. "I'm assuming you'll give her a cloak eventually. Might I suggest this Sorcerer's Silk for when you're ready?"
Owl Pellet #11
(Set during this chapter after Danielle regains consciousness)
"All of these glyphs you've discovered are pretty interesting," said Viney, looking at each glyph.
"Yup, whether I saw them in nature or in a dream or in a spell circle," said Danielle, pointing to specific glyphs. "Some of them are combinations, mixing different elements together to get another, hence…"
"We're mixing magic!" said Viney, surprised as Jerbo and Barcus. "But if our spell circles are like that then how is this against the Titan's Will?"
"I don't know," replied Danielle, staring at the glyphs. "But I think the emperor is up to something, and it can't be good."
Allusions
Hamster and Gretel- when saying "Sometimes you have to break the rules to do the right thing" Danielle is quoting Abuelita
Harry Potter- when Danielle used a silver dagger on an ingredient is much like Harry when making the Draught of Living Death potion in Slughorn's class
