Hello everyone!

I'm so so sorry for my unannounced hiatus. I had a lot going on. Going back to work, saving for some stuff, restarting my resin printer, doing stuff for Dungeons and Dragons, and fixing up my car. It has been an eventful few weeks.

That being said, I should have posted a note for you all, explaining that this chapter would be delayed. Unfortunately, I did not. So, in order to deal with that, I have decided to include snapshots of DnD homebrew that I have been working on for my players. Now, the world that I have made is not strictly Harry Potter-based. While there are some calls to the series, that is not the main call of the entire world. Since I am almost completely done with my world sourcebook, I will attempt to make some Harry Potter-centered homebrew for each of you to enjoy.

So, Potter-centered homebrews will be linked in the end notes on Ao3, mainly because FFN doesn't allow links on works. Seriously, I had to type out a Discord link with spaces in it so the site didn't delete it once when I helped format another author's page.

So now for the chapter. We'll be tackling Potions this time, with some spotlight on the Hufflepuffs and Slytherins. Potionmaking is an art that doesn't get properly described until the sixth book in canon Harry Potter, so I will be doing my best to make the class enjoyable.

With that, we will also have some moments from Merlot and Draco. I'm going to have some fun with these.

So let's continue, shall we?

—0—

Merlot sighed as she sat cross-legged on her bed. Even after completing the exercises in chapter one of 'The Arte of the Minde', she was no closer to organizing her mind. Her thoughts were a messy jumble of memories, both belonging to herm and belonging to the horcrux.

With a deep breath, Merlot concentrated, letting the world around her fall away, until she was in a storm of emotions and noise.

'My daughter could have died today!'

'When I finish my countdown, run. Run as fast as you can. I w-will take c-care of the t-t-troll.'

Quirrells face flashed through her mind, and suddenly, she was drawn into the mans eyes as they shifted from their normal brown color to a hue of scarlet red.

'I shall never visit hell, for I am immortal…'

Objects flashed through her mind. A golden locket, a brilliant goblet, a tiara inset with emeralds, a black leatherbound book, a ring set with a black stone… Merlot's head snapped back as her eyes opened wide, glazed over, they remained unseeing as her mind focused upon the ring.

"Morfin…"

She stood before a hunchback, who crooned as he stroked a finger across the head of an exotic viper. "Sweet sweet snakey…"

She drew her wand, the pale white length stark in contrast to the dirty room around her. "Where is the ring?"

The man- Morfin- looked up, his dirty and unkempt face splitting open into a grin that made her stomach churn. His teeth… were they filed down into points?

A split tongue flitted out as the man hissed, speaking in the language of snakes. The way he spoke was stilted, as if he had never known a human tongue, and so it sounded so much closer to the true language that it was almost scary.

"You… You sssssspeak. That meansssss…"

She smiled, pointing to the viper and turning it to ash with naught but a flick. "Come now Morfin, certainly you are excited to meet your nephew?"

The man's eyes widened, his grin turning to a snarl. "Filthy MUDBLOOD!"

He was in her face in an instant. Her body reacted on its own, a pale hand grabbing the man by his scalp as her wand flicked to his throat.

"Where is the ring, Morfin?"

The man struggled against her grip, thrashing and kicking. "No filthy mudblood will take it. Nonono… it's MINE!"

She smiled as she saw the glint on his hand. There it was.

"For what it's worth this could have been a lot easier if you had just given me the ring." With a flick of the wand, the mans body stopped moving, yet his eyes remained open and his mouth quivered in horror.

"N-no… f-father…"

"I hope you enjoy being the reason that the Gaunts have gone extinct. Now, by your own hand, a mudblood is the last descendant."

"You FILTHY-"

"Goodbye Morfin. AVADA KEDAVRA!"

A flash of green light lit the room, and suddenly, Merlot was being shaken by Hannah.

"Merlot! Merlot!"

She could barely hear Hannah over the sound of someone… it was quite awful, actually… loud and panicked…

Oh wait. She was screaming.

Merlot's hands flew to her face as she collapsed into her friend's arms. Her body shook as she realized that she had been remembering one of Voldemorts memories.

But that one wasn't from his childhood…

"M-merlot… your scar…"

She felt at her face and winced when her hand came away, slick with blood. "That's probably not good…"

Hannah pulled her to her feet. "We need to get you to Madam Pomfrey."

"But Potions!"

"No! Merlot, you just started screaming bloody murder, and now your face is bleeding. Like bleeding a lot. We need to get you to the hospital wing, now!"

Merlot bit the inside of her cheek. Hannah was right. Hopefully, Professor Snape would understand.

—0—

Today we will discuss the history of the wolfsbane potion, a brew which- despite what the history books will tell you- has been in development for several centuries. Now, those of you who have done the proper reading will understand that I am part of this potion's history. Bear in mind that this lesson is not about reminiscing my achievements, but rather making sure that you are accomplished enough to keep up with my standard of learning. Is. That. Understood?"

The class answered back in tandem, causing the professor to nod.

"Good. Now, wolfsbane is as old as the problem of human werewolves. Yes, human werewolves. Lycanthropy is a magical illness, and can therefore infect any number of creatures. In those times, human werewolves were a rarity, and yet one werewolf back then was infinitely more deadly than a single werewolf today. As wizards and witches united to defend their homes from these afflicted individuals, the first wolf packs were made."

Snape conjured a piece of chalk with a wave of his hand and began writing notes down on the board.

"This posed a great threat to the denizens of Europe, especially Britain, where the pack formed. So, a job was presented to all wizards and witches. Atop brewing their own stores of potions, they were tasked with creating a brew that would nullify the threat that werewolves posed. After three attacks, a young witch found the first key to what would one day become the wolfsbane potion."

Snape stepped away from the board, revealing a sketch of a sprig of Aconite.

"Aconite, a deadly poison. Muggles had been observed leaving scraps of meat out, laced with the poison, in order to kill off normal wolves that surrounded their villages. Upon recreating the trap, we learned that werewolves are particularly susceptible to the poison."

The potion master smirked as he saw the scribbling of quills on parchment. Good, they still knew how to take notes.

"As more werewolves were infected, a new problem arose. Werewolves were human, just like you and I. Yet, because of their sickness, they were prosecuted, and killed. There were some that wished not to deal with their curse, taking their own lives, while others pleaded with the magical governments to please give them some way to be freed of their suffering. Thus, the first version of Wolfsbane was born."

Severus flicked his wand, summoning his cauldron. "One leaf of Aconite, one sprig of mallowsweet. The crushed claw of a gryphon, molten gold- at least five galleons worth, the hair of the werewolf themselves, and one measure of Basilisk venom."

Throwing each of the ingredients into the cauldron, Snape mixed, watching as the brew became a shimmering pool of bone-white liquid.

"This… is what Wolfsbane once was. This potion, when brewed on the night of a new moon, would be charged with its energies, and allow a werewolf to be freed from one single night of their curse."

With a flick of his wand, the potion vanished, and the cauldron began to clean itself.

"However, the cost of the potion was much too great. Not only were the components nigh impossible to source, but in the beginning stages of consumption, the werewolf would have to fight the curse mentally. If they were not of sound enough mind, they would lose themselves to the wolf, forever."

Severus sat down as the scribbling continued.

"Eventually, the recipe was abandoned, and Wolfsbane faded into memory, Until… one day. A young boy found himself face-to-face with a werewolf. One who also happened to be a student at a magical school that he attended. After being saved from the beast, he decided that he would find a way to stop the curse of Lycanthropy."

Severus procured a small journal from the depths of his robes. "The product of my life's work, in these very pages, became the wolfsbane potion we know today. Thanks to these notes, I made a very very good friend, even if his friends would misbehave and get on my last nerve… he was always… thankful."

Severus stood, once again flicking his wand and summoning the ingredients he needed.

"Wolfsbane… mandrake leaves… dragon blood… heat… moonstone to soothe the wolf as it was poisoned. Hellebore. Murtlap, phosphorous beans, and finally, the silver eggshell of an occamy."

After mixing the potion together, Severus stepped back from the cauldron. "Infinitely easier to brew. What, without the necessity of basilisk venom. Occamy eggs are tradeable goods, and their silver helps to make the wolf more docile."

With a flourish of his wand, the potion was drained into several glass vials and set on his desk.

"Now… we have the wolfsbane potion. A way for Werewolves to escape their curse. A massive leap forward for the global magical community."

Severus gave the students a moment to finish writing before he nodded.

"We are now at the end of our classtime. Next class, we will be focusing on the brewing of the potion itself. Before then, I want a paper selecting one of the ingredients of the wolfsbane potion, and how it aids in the potion's effects. Assignments should be roughly three handsworths of parchment. You are dismissed."

—0—

Ron sat in the library, tapping his fingers on a tabletop as he flipped another page in the book he was reading.

Throughout the wizarding world, no arachnid is more feared than the Acromantula-

'Flip.'

Aerop-Enap was responsible for the creation of the-

'Flip'

Anansi are well known for their spider-like appearance-

'Flip'

"What are you reading?"

Ron's body gave a jolt as he was caught off guard. Behind him was a young boy, who had been sorted into Gryffindor that year.

Colin… something or other.

"Sorry to startle you…"

Ron felt his cheeks flush at his own response. "Yes… well. I was rather focused. You're Colin, correct?"

The boy nodded, the response rigid under Ron's gaze. His heart melted a bit.

'He's so nervous.'

"What can I do for you?"

"Oh! Erm… well. It's a bit embarrassing. I sort of, maybe, kind of forgot the password for the common room?"

Ron smiled. "It's okay. I forget it all the time as well, which is why I'm a bit confused as to why you would ask me."

"Oh. well, the other Gryffindors are in classes, or they're not in a place where I can find them."

Ron nodded. "Alright. I'm done here anyway, so I can let you into the common room."

"Oh! Thank you so much!"

Ron smiled and waved his hand. "Don't mention it. Nib, could your siblings take this book back for me?"

The boy's face paled a bit as Ron spoke. He assumed that the language of spiders probably sounded pretty creepy.

It was not helped by the fact that around forty adult spiders crawled out of the bookcases and took Ron's book for him.

"Thank you."

"H-how did you do that?"

Ron turned to the first year and smiled. "Just a special kind of magic. It doesn't really matter."

"If you say so…"

Ron led the boy out of the library and up to Gryffindor Tower, making pleasant conversation as they walked.

"So, how are your classes?"

"They're okay er… I guess. I'm not used to a lot of this kind of thing…"

Ron nodded. "You're a muggleborn, right? I know quite a few people who had a tough time. Just ask around our common room, I'm sure you'll find someone."

Colin nodded. "I just… I mean, I have tried to talk to them. They don't really like me so much. Not when I show them what I like doing."

"Oh?" Ron raised an eyebrow. "And what would that be?"

Colin slumped. "I like photography. Go ahead, you can laugh…"

Ron patted the slightly shorter boy on the shoulder. "I think that's great!"

Colin blinked, looking into Ron's eyes. "You do?"

"Oh yeah!" Ron grinned. "My dad always loved muggle things. The first thing he ever showed me from your world was a camera. They're so different from the ones we have!"

Colin's eyes lit up. "The ones that take moving pictures?"

Ron tilted his head back and forth. "Kind of. That's actually done with a special potion. A few Hufflepuffs used a lot of it last year for some Quidditch posters. I find it fascinating."

Colin nodded. "I know a lot of people were freaked out when I showed them pictures that didn't move. A lot of people don't understand it, but I'm glad to know that it's because I don't have a potion."

Ron smiled. "I think if you work hard in your potions class, Professor Snape will teach you what you need to know."

"Really?"

"Really." Ron nodded. "That camera is special. It's part of who you are. It's nice to have something like that."

Colin nudged his shoulder at Nib, who was currently enjoying a fly atop Ron's shoulder. "You have s-spiders…"

Ron sighed. "Yeah… but, I dunno…"

Colin, sensing the somber mood that had been brought about, shook his head. "No! I always wanted a pet tarantula, but my mum said I couldn't, because if it got out she'd burn the house down! I think your magic is super good for that kind of thing! You can have the spiders do what you want!"

Ron smiled sadly. "Well, you've got a decent enough grasp on it. Hey, here we are."

The two stood before the portrait of the fat lady, who regarded them with a hint of distaste.

"Deep Treble" Ron spoke.

"Sound like what you get up to." The painting replied snobbily.

"Hey, that's the password. Open up." Ron frowned.

"I don't open for ingrates like you."

Colin frowned and walked up to the painting. "Deep Treble!"

"Is where you'll be when you're out past curfew! I don't let that one's friends in either!"

Colin felt anger bubble in his stomach and was about to yell when Ron put a hand on his shoulder.

"I'm sorry you feel like this today. Say… is that a spider on your wall?"

"WHERE?" The fat lady shrieked, jumping and looking about. The motions were enough to open the painting, and the two stepped into the common room.

"That was brilliant!" Colin beamed.

"I'm glad you think so." Ron smiled. "If you ever need help with anything, I'm around. I'll be headed to the pitch now."

"Okay, bye Mr. Weasley!"

Ron ruffled the smaller boy's hair. "It's Ron. I'll see you, Colin."

And with that, he left the room, a smile on his face for the first time in a while.

Ron had made a new friend. And it was someone who seemed to look up to him at that."

—0—

I wrote everything but the last 3rd of this chapter one month ago…

I am so sorry. My life has been super hectic lately and my schedule is out of whack, BUT!
I plan to finish this book before the new year comes.

I hate to say sorry and scurry, but I have a lot more writing to do. I'll fill you all in in the coming chapters. I promise you will most likely be disappointed.

Adios!