Lesson 1, 7th Year

[Horace Slughorn]

Horace made his way through the huge castle. He hated that the potions class room was in the dungeons. Not because it wasn’t a good place to have potions, but because it was such a long way from his office to the class room. He was looking forwards to this lesson. It was the first that year with the seventh year class. He was very fond of that class, as there were various good potioneeres in that class.

Humming a tune he entered the potions classroom a few minutes later. He dumped his bag on to the desk and walked to the blackboard. He picked up a chalk and wrote with big letters onto the board:
N.E.W.T Level: The Skele-Grow potion
The class would try to brew a Skele-Grow potion in todays class. It was a tricky potion but most of them would manage it. Most probably not a very strong one, but strong enough to regrow a finger or two. Smiling as the memory of last years class brewing this potion, he sat down. A Hufflepuff boy had muddled up his potion completely.

Checking his watch he noticed that class would not be starting for another ten minutes. He heaved a sigh and pulled out a bar of chocolate.

[Matt Roberts]

Matt was off to the Potions lab, in more of a hurry than usual. He normally liked to get to class early but today was his first lesson of Potions, he always liked to make a good impression even though he had already known the professor for all of his six previous years at Hogwarts. He was good at Potions, it was one of his best classes. Most of his best classes were the classes that he had to take to become an Auror, which was extremely convenient. He shifted his heavy bag up his shoulder, trying to ease the weight he had been feeling so heavily on his right shoulder. He always insisted on carrying all of his books with him, he believed that any one of them could be handy at anytime, so he might as well just have them all. His mum told him that he was going to get a bad back from that much strain but he thought his back was normal, he'd been doing it for six years no reason to stop now because of some slight health hazard. He wondered if Alana would already be there, she was even better at Potions than he was, though he hated to admit it. He liked to pretend he was better at her than everything, it just irritated her and he loved it, she was always very good about taking his jokes though.

He found himself in front of the door leading to Potions, he straightened his robes and stood up straight before walking into the classroom. He smiled and nodded his head in greeting at the professor, "Good afternoon Professor Slughorn," he greeted, sitting in one of the front seats in the middle. He dropped his bag beside him gently, grabbing out the necessary things he would be needing for the class. He glanced up at the board to see what they would be doing, Skele-grow Potion, well that should be interesting enough. He opened his book to the page about Skele-grow and read over it, just to make sure he would be ready for class when ever everyone else showed up.

[Alana Starbeck]

Alana looked over at the clock on the wall in the common room and practically jumped out of her chair. If she didn't hurry she was going to be late for potions! She had had a free period after her Transfiguration class and had gone back to the Common Room to relax and read for a bit. Apparently, she had lost track of the time. Alana shoved her books into her bag and haphazardly slung it over her shoulder as she rushed through the portrait hole and into the hall. Potions was her absolute favorite class, and her best one on top of it, it wouldn't do to be late on the first day! She sped up her pace as she rounded a corner in the dungeon. Thank goodness the classroom wasn't too far away from the Slytherin Common Room, or else she'd really be late! In all actuality, Alana had another 10 minutes till class started, but she enjoyed getting to class early enough to get all of her things laid out properly and perhaps chat with Slughorn about this potion or that potion.

When she had finally reached the classroom, she pushed the door open and walked through, the picture of calm. She spotted her professor immediately. "Good Afternoon Professor Slughorn." she greeted, smiling. Her eyes took in the classroom and she frowned to herself to see that Matt had beaten her to class. Stupid prat was always trying to best her at everything. She shook her head at her best mate, he was the epitome of over-achiever, if there ever was one, but she wouldn't have him any other way. She walked over and dropped her bag on the desk next to him. "Someone's early for class today Mr. Roberts." she smirked, her voice slightly teasing. Matt was always early for class. She looked up at the board and saw that they were going to be brewing Skele-Grow today. Alana sat down and pulled out her own things, spreading her supplies out on the desk. When she was done, she turned to face Matt, only to see him with his nose stuck in a book, per usual. Alana cleared her throat to get his attention, "So, think he will let us be partners, or do you think he will pair people up by house this year?" she asked Matt, her hazel eyes twinkling in mischievous delight. They had been partners on a few potions before and they had managed to brew the best potions in the class, Slughorn had said so himself.

[Horace Slughorn]

He ate the bar of chocolate and was just going to take another one, when the door opened and somebody entered. Smiling Horace looked up, when Matthew Roberts entered. That Matt was always the first to arrive in his class. Smiling he waited for Matt to greet him before he greeted Matt. “Matthew, ma’ boy! Early as always I see!” He beamed at him. He was pleased with Matt; he was rather good in potions.

Shortly after the door opened again and a girl entered. It was Alana Starbeck a seventh year in his house. Somebody he could be very proud of and probably the best Slytherin potionere next to Severus Snape. Smiling broadly he greeted her. “Why Miss Starbeck! How pleasant to see you again.” Like he could have predicted Alana sat down next to Matt. Together they made a perfect couple, concerning Potions. Only one group could beat them, Lily and Severus, the best Potioneres in this class. But as they didn’t partner each other all the time, the best group was often the two sitting in front of him.