[OPEN] The Pain of Potions

[Lily L. Potter]

The library, the place of silence and security. It was home to shelves and shelves of books as well as endless information. Safe house to bullied kids and bookworms alike. And above all, it was the best place for procrastinators to go to concentrate on last minute projects and essays. With no interruptions, deafening silence, and knowledge just feet away… it was the optimal place to actually get things accomplished. Although the common room was Lily Potter’s place of choice to get her homework and projects finished, it had become clear that she had no choice but to disappear into the stacks in order to get things done.

Not surrounded by her normal gaggle of friends and acquaintances, Lily sat at the back of the room. Papers, books, quills, and other assorted things had haphazardly been strewn across the table’s surface, giving it a chaotic appearance and making it even more of a colossal mess. Crumpled balls of parchment rested in any open space the table had to offer, as her discarded quill lay unmoving in a nearly empty ink bottle. Head rested on a blank sheet of parchment, a look of indignation across her features, Lily heaved a sigh. Even the library couldn’t help her understand Potions. She should have known.

For the last few weeks, Slughorn, had spoken about the next potion they were going to attempt, the Strengthening Solution. He spoke highly of it and the rewards it had if done correctly. It all seemed well and good, even fascinating as he gave lectures about it. That was, until he gave the class their latest assignment. Obviously just talking about potions, and how this certain one affected people wasn’t enough. He had wanted the class to research the two main ingredients used in the Solution, but also write an essay concerning the importance of them. But if that wasn’t enough… he wanted them to also include the history of the ingredients and the affect each one would not only have in the potion, but on the human body as well. Yeah… right… Not happening. At least in this lifetime.

Potions… the class was such a joke. Sure, it was a core class that she was required to take until after O.W.L.s, but that didn’t have to mean it had to be impossibly hard and incredibly boring! She didn’t understand how some people found enjoyment in it. Not to mention, it was incredibly frustrating when Slughorn put so much responsibility on her shoulders that she couldn’t even breathe in that classroom let alone manage to get her work done properly. Yes, she was the product of one Harry Potter and Ginny Weasley (both members of his infamous Slug Club), granddaughter to his star pupil who she was named after… but that didn’t mean she was going to be any good! He had expected so much from her on their first day of class, first year, and she failed to live up to that. And even five years later, he still was giving her impossibly high expectations as if something in her mind would just click. YEAH RIGHT! It wasn’t going to happen. Potions and Lily Luna Potter did not mix. Not. At. All. The sooner he realized the better. But that didn’t change her current position.

“Why won’t you just do yourself…” Lily complained quietly to the empty parchment, running fingers through her side ponytail. Although she was never too big on the idea of homework, she always managed to get her work done on time. Lateness was unacceptable. It was like failing… but without the consequences of a bad mark. Even on the tougher assignments, like her DADA essays, she managed to get them done as best she could. However, for once it looked like she would have to face the music. Failing this assignment looked to be her only option.

Growling in anger, the redhead forcefully balled up the unmarred sheet and tossed it as hard and as far as she could. Although her pent up rage was due to her unfinished assignment, there was no way to channel it other than on the innocent objects she had placed around her work space. Sending a glare that could kill to her potions book, she leaned back into her chair and folded her arms across her chest. There would be no completion of this assignment… not for her… not tonight. And as much as that was eating away at her, the idea of failing an assignment just because she was unable to complete it, she was at peace with the decision. The hours she had spent tucked away in the library desperately trying to make sense of something she had no chance of understanding, were wasted hours she spent frustrated and angry. As far as she was concerned, this essay was done. She wasn’t going to stress over it another minute. Not no way… not no how. And yet, as she sat back in her chair, relishing in her decision to just give up, she sighed. Potter’s weren’t quiters. Especially her. Dinner… and anything else would just have to wait.

this thread was written for OPEN and it's 853 words long. your character name is wearing this outfit! now my inspiration for this post was music. now i have a couple more things to say so just hold on tight. notes! the template was made by the template was made by gabbyy of psyence fiction and gabs of a different color of caution 2.0. the music is credit to carly rae jepsen! don't you dare takethis credit off or steal anything! gabby will come and hunt you down with a chainsaw, don't try her.