Chapter I.

Daphne couldn't believe it! Her parents gave up hope to cure her sister Astoria from her blood curse. She paced back and forth in her dorm, her head buzzing with worry and frustration. She knew she had to do something to help Astoria, but it felt like hitting a brick wall. As she looked out the window, a spark of determination ignited within her. "I won't give up," she whispered to herself. "I'll find a way to save Astoria, no matter what it takes." Money was the big issue, and she needed it pronto. A regular job wouldn't bring in enough cash in time, and borrowing from mates or family was a no-go. Desperation gripped her as she faced up to the harsh reality of their situation. Daphne mulled over her options, each one more desperate than the last. Selling stuff was an idea, but dealing in dodgy potions, especially the illegal ones, made her feel sick. The thought of stooping so low filled her with disgust. But with their backs against the wall, she couldn't shake off the pull of temptation. Could she really go down that road to save her sister?

Daphne chewed on her lip. If she were to keep the idea of brewing potions, she'd need ingredients, and getting hold of them without raising suspicion would be a challenge. She couldn't simply walk into a potion supplier shop and purchase everything she needed or steal from Snape's storage without drawing attention to herself. The risk of being caught was high. She knew she had to tread carefully, but the urgency of her sister's condition pushed her to consider every option, no matter how desperate.

Daphne's mind latched onto the faint memory of muggle brewing methods she had stumbled upon in passing. It was a distant thought, one she hadn't given much consideration to before. Unlike potions, however, she had zero expertise in that field. Still, the possibility lingered. She thought of reaching out to the person she vaguely recalled mentioning muggle brewing, but hesitation gripped her. What could she possibly offer him to make him commit a crime on her behalf? It was a daunting prospect, and the risk of rejection or betrayal weighed heavily on her mind. Yet, as she looked at the photo of her and Astoria on her bedside table, determination surged within her once more. She couldn't afford to let fear hold her back, not when her sister's life was dependent on it. With a determined nod, she made up her mind to pursue this idea, ready to do whatever it took to save Astoria.

Daphne's heart pounded in her chest as she approached the dark-haired boy, her palms sweating despite the chill in the air. She had been stealing glances at him throughout the lesson, waiting for the perfect opportunity to approach him alone. Now, with him alone in a hallway and his two close friends nowhere in sight, she used the opportunity.

"Potter," she called out, her voice trembling slightly. The boy turned to look at her, his emerald green eyes narrowing. Daphne could feel herself being slightly intimidated, but she refused to back down. This was her chance, and she wasn't about to let it slip away.

"Greengrass, isn't it?" The boy, Harry, replied, his tone cautious but not unfriendly.

Daphne nodded, trying to steady her nerves. "Yeah. Look, I know this might sound strange, but I need your help with something."

Harry's eyebrows lifted in surprise, but he gestured for her to continue. "It's about... well, it's personal," Daphne began, choosing her words carefully. "But it's really important. I've heard you might know something about... um, muggle brewing?"

Harry's expression shifted to one of confusion. "Muggle brewing? Do you mean chemistry?"

Daphne hesitated for a moment, then nodded quickly. "Yeah, whatever. Do you know anything about it?"

Harry regarded her for a moment, a thoughtful look crossing his face. "Yeah, I know a bit. Why do you ask?"

Daphne breathed a sigh of relief. "I, uh, I need some help with it. Could you... teach me?"

Harry's curiosity seemed to deepen, but he nodded slowly. "I suppose I could. But why do you need to know about chemistry all of a sudden?"

Daphne hesitated, unsure how much to reveal. But then she remembered Astoria's pale face and the desperate situation they were in. "It's complicated," she said finally. "But I really need your help, Potter."

Harry furrowed his brow. "Complicated how?" he pressed. "And why do you need my help specifically?"

Daphne hesitated, her mind racing as she tried to come up with a plausible explanation. She knew she couldn't reveal the true reason behind her sudden interest in chemistry. But she also couldn't afford to lose his support.

"It's... it's for a project," she lied, her voice barely above a whisper. "A school project. And I heard you were really good at chemistry, so I thought... I thought maybe you could give me some pointers."

Harry's brow furrowed even further. "A school project?" he said. "Greengrass, there aren't any chemistry classes at Hogwarts. And even if there were, you wouldn't need my help for a project."

Daphne felt her cheeks flush with embarrassment, knowing her lie had been obvious from the start. She cursed herself for not coming up with a better excuse, but desperation had clouded her judgment. "I..." she stammered, struggling to come up with a response. But Harry's penetrating gaze left her feeling exposed, and she knew she couldn't keep up the facade any longer.

"Okay, you caught me," she admitted, her voice barely audible. "The truth is... I need your help with something, something serious. But I can't tell you what it is, not yet. Please, Potter, just trust me."

"I can't just blindly trust you without knowing what's going on," Harry said. "How do I know this isn't some trick set up by Malfoy or the Slytherins as a whole?"

Daphne couldn't blame Harry for his suspicions. But she also knew that she couldn't let Astoria suffer because of her housemates' misdeeds. "I understand your concern," she said. "But I promise you, this has nothing to do with Malfoy or anyone else from Slytherin. This is about my sister, Astoria. She's sick, Potter, really sick, and I don't know what else to do. Please, just give me a chance to explain."

Harry nodded slowly. "I'll listen."

Taking a deep breath, Daphne launched into her explanation, her words tumbling out in a rush as she recounted Astoria's worsening condition and the desperate measures her family had taken to find a cure. She spoke of her parents giving up and the financial burden she is facing and the crushing weight of helplessness that had consumed her in recent weeks.

"And that's why I came to you," she concluded. "I don't know what else to do, Potter. I can't bear to see Astoria suffer like this, and I'll do anything to help her. Even if it means... even if it means breaking the rules. I asked you for help, because I want to cook drugs. And sell them."

Harry's eyes widened in shock at Daphne's admission. He let out a curse under his breath. For a moment, silence hung heavy between them, broken only by the faint sound of footsteps echoing in the hallway. Finally, Harry spoke.. "Greengrass, I can't condone what you're suggesting," he said firmly. "But... I understand why you feel this way. And I can't ignore the fact that your sister's life is at stake."

Daphne held her breath, her heart pounding in her chest as she waited for Harry's response. "After everything that's happened, I know I can't change your mind," Harry continued. "But if you're serious about this, then I'll help you. We'll find another way to get the money your sister needs."

Relief flooded through Daphne at Harry's words, gratitude swelling in her chest. "Thank you, Potter," she whispered, her voice trembling. "Thank you for understanding."

Harry hesitated for a moment before continuing. "There's something I need to tell you, Greengrass," he began slowly. "Near my house, there's... well, there was a meth lab. I knew about it through my cousin Dudley. He's somehow involved with it, though I'm not sure to what extent."

"So, since I only know about that," Harry continued, "and I doubt you have a plan, I suppose we'll just have to cook methamphetamine."

Daphne's stomach churned at the thought of doing it. But as she looked into Harry's eyes, she saw a glimmer of resolve mirrored in his gaze. Together, they would do whatever it took to save Astoria. And if that meant cooking drugs, then so be it.

"Alright," she said, her voice steady despite the turmoil swirling within her. "Let's do it."

Harry nodded. "First, we need to get supplies," he said, his voice low. "Chemicals, equipment, everything we'll need to cook meth. Then, we'll need a place to do it."

He paused, considering their options. "The Room of Requirement could work," he suggested. "It can provide us with whatever we need. But..."

His voice trailed off, a hint of uncertainty in his eyes. "I have no idea how to get the supplies," he admitted, his tone tinged with frustration. "I've never done anything like this before."

Daphne chewed on her lip, her mind racing as she tried to come up with a solution. They were in deep waters now, and they needed to tread carefully if they were going to pull this off without getting caught. "You might be onto something," she replied. "If the Room of Requirement can provide us with whatever we need, then perhaps it can conjure up the chemicals too."

Harry's eyes lit up at the idea. "You're right," he said. "The room might be able to provide everything we need to cook."

"But," he added. "We need to be careful. We can't afford to take any risks. If we're caught, it's game over for both of us."

Daphne nodded in agreement. "Alright," Harry said, his voice serious. "Here's the plan. Meet me in front of the Room of Requirement after curfew tonight. We'll go in together and see what we can conjure up. But remember, we can't let ourselves be caught. If anyone sees us, it's over."

"I'll be there," she said. "And I won't let us get caught."

With a final nod, Harry turned and disappeared down the hallway, leaving Daphne alone with her thoughts.

Time passed slowly as Daphne waited anxiously in front of the Room of Requirement. Every minute felt like an eternity. She nervously looked around, but Potter was nowhere to be seen. Finally, after what felt like hours, she heard footsteps approaching. She turned to see Harry walking towards her.

"Potter," she said. "I was starting to worry you wouldn't show."

Harry offered her a reassuring smile. "I wouldn't leave you hanging," he replied, his voice steady. "Now, let's see what the Room of Requirement has in store for us."

Together, they approached the blank stretch of wall where the room was hidden. Daphne focused on their desperate need for supplies, hoping that the room would answer their call. The door to the Room of Requirement materialized before them, revealing a dimly lit interior filled with shelves stocked with an array of chemicals and equipment.

Harry walked into the Room of Requirements and Daphne followed closely behind him, her eyes scanning the shelves filled with an assortment of supplies. Harry wasted no time in taking items from the shelves. He grabbed a plastic container and placed it on a nearby table, followed by several glass containers and more plastic containers of various sizes. Daphne watched in silence as he worked. Finally, unable to contain her curiosity any longer, she spoke up. "Potter, what are you getting?"

Harry paused in his task, turning to face Daphne. "These are the chemicals we'll need," he explained, his voice low. "Ephedrine, Red Phosphorus, Iodine, and a few other things."

Daphne's eyes widened in surprise at Harry's words. She had heard of some of these chemicals before, but she never imagined she would be involved in obtaining them for such a dangerous purpose. "Ephedrine?" she repeated. "Isn't that... isn't that used in medicine?"

Harry nodded. "Yes, it is," he confirmed. "But it's also a key ingredient in the production of methamphetamine. And unfortunately, that's what we need right now."

"So, how does this work exactly?" Daphne asked. Harry took a deep breath, preparing to walk her through the steps. "We'll start by making Hydroiodic Acid," he began. "This is made by mixing iodine and red phosphorus. When making hydroiodic acid from iodine and red phosphorus, the acid is prepared first and allowed to come to a complete reaction for 20 minutes before adding the ephedrine to it."

He paused, letting the information sink in before continuing. "The way around the roadblock here is to just boil off some more of the water from the ephedrine extract," Harry explained. "Then, we'll make the acid mixture in fresh pure water. Since the production of HI from iodine and red phosphorus gives off a good deal of heat, it's wise to chill the mixture in ice and slowly add the iodine crystals to the red phosphorus-water mixture." Daphne nodded. She watched closely as Harry meticulously took the necessary ingredients and placed them in front of him. Together, they prepared a 5000 ml round bottom flask, carefully measuring out 150 grams of red phosphorus and 300 milliliters of water, adding it to the flask. Daphne fetched the iodine, pouring 150 grams of it into the flask with utmost care. Her heart was pounding as she carefully poured the iodine crystals into the mixture. As the crystals dissolved, the mixture began to take on a deep red hue, signaling that the reaction was underway. Together, they watched as the mixture bubbled and fizzed, the heat of the reaction causing the flask to warm in their hands. Harry carefully monitored the temperature, ensuring that it didn't get too hot and cause the mixture to boil over.

After 20 minutes had passed, Harry gave a nod of approval. "The acid mixture is ready," he declared. With the acid mixture ready, Harry and Daphne moved on to the next step of their plan: making methamphetamine. They carefully prepared another 5000 ml round bottom flask, gathering the necessary ingredients.

Daphne watched as Harry measured out a few grams of ephedrine. She fetched the hydroiodic acid, pouring it into the flask with utmost care. Next, Harry added red phosphorus to the flask. Together, they watched as the mixture began to heat up and the reaction taking hold before their eyes.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Harry gave a satisfied smile. "It's done," he declared, relief evident in his voice. Once the boiling process was complete, Harry and Daphne carefully allowed the flask to cool before proceeding to the next step. They diluted the mixture with an equal amount of water. Next, they set about filtering out the red phosphorus using filter paper. As they worked, Daphne couldn't help but feel a sense of satisfaction at seeing their efforts come to fruition.

However, as they examined the filtered solution, they noticed that it had a reddish hue, indicating that not all of the red phosphorus had been completely removed. Harry frowned slightly. "If the solution still appears red, it means there's still some red phosphorus left," Harry explained. "We'll need to filter it again to ensure that it's completely removed."

Thus they repeated the filtering process, carefully removing any remaining traces of red phosphorus from the solution. Finally, after several attempts, they achieved a golden color, indicating that the solution was now free from impurities.

As they surveyed their product, Harry couldn't help but feel a sense of pride at their success. "Well done," he said, offering Daphne a smile of approval. "Now, all that's left is to remove any remaining iodine floating around the solution."

Together, they added a few dashes of a white crystalline chemical, watching as the solution cleared and the remaining iodine dissolved. With a sense of satisfaction, they knew that they were one step closer to achieving their goal.

With their solution free from impurities, Harry and Daphne moved on to the next step in processing the batch. Harry carefully prepared a strong lye solution, mixing it up before adding it to the batch. He shook the mixture vigorously, ensuring that the lye solution thoroughly neutralized the acid. Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Harry gave a nod of satisfaction. "The batch is strongly basic," he declared, after checking the pH of the solution with pH-paper. "Now, we just need to shake it vigorously to ensure that all the meth has been converted."

Finally, after shaking it for a long time, they stopped, their breaths coming in ragged gasps as they surveyed their handiwork. The golden solution now was done and floating on top of the water. Harry turned to Daphne. "You now have a few options," he began. "You can sell the free base for injection, or with the free base meth now obtained, you can proceed to the next step, which is to form the crystalline hydrochloride salt of meth."

"We'll make crystal meth," she said. "It's the next step in our plan, and we'll see it through to the end." With determination, Harry and Daphne moved on to the next step in their process. A few hundred milliliters of a clear, colorless liquid with a sweet, pungent odor were carefully added to the batch, and the meth free base was extracted out. Their cooking had been careful, and the color of the extract was clear to pale yellow, indicating that the product was sufficiently pure.

This was the moment they had been working towards, the culmination of their efforts. With steady hands, they bubbled a dry colorless gas with a sharp, suffocating odor through the extract, watching as the transformation took place before their eyes.

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Harry and Daphne looked at each other, a shared sense of satisfaction evident in their expressions. They had done it. They had successfully formed the crystalline hydrochloride salt of meth, the final step in their cooking. The yield of methamphetamine hydrochloride was 110 grams. Their crystals were clear to white to even a little yellowish. With a sense of pride and accomplishment, Harry and Daphne celebrated their success, knowing that they had achieved what they set out to do.

As they basked in the glow of their accomplishment, Harry turned to Daphne with a curious expression. "So, how do you plan to sell it?" he asked. Daphne considered his question for a moment before responding. "I might know someone who'd be interested," she admitted. "There's a black market at Hogwarts, and I've heard whispers of people buying and reselling items there."

Harry raised an eyebrow, clearly intrigued by the idea. "Do you think it's safe?" he asked, concern evident in his tone. Daphne shrugged, a wry smile playing at the corners of her lips. "It's risky, but desperate times call for desperate measures," she replied. "And right now, we need all the help we can get."

Harry and Daphne set about cleaning up the lab. Daphne carefully bagged the crystals. After using a shrinking charm to make the package more discreet, she tucked it safely into her pocket.

Together, they left the Room of Requirement, their footsteps echoing softly in the empty corridor. As they bid each other good night, they exchanged a glance filled with unspoken understanding. They both knew that their cooking was far from over, but for now, they needed rest. Making their way back to the dorms, they walked in silence, lost in their own thoughts.

Honestly, I'm unsure if I will continue this. It was just a spontaneous idea.

Also, for anyone wondering: yes, that is the way methamphetamine is cooked, but for legal reasons I left some chemicals unnamed. Seriously though: don't do drugs.