Chapter 21: Detention (1)

The dungeons were even colder and damper at night than during daylight hours.

In the Potions professor's office, silence reigned supreme, broken only by the scratching of quill on parchment and the occasional soft "squish" of toad ovaries being extracted.

After Orli's knock, Snape had uttered just three sentences:

"Two barrels of toads. Extract the eyes and eggs separately and store them properly."

"Be precise. Don't waste my potion ingredients."

"No slacking off. You'll leave when you're finished."

He then returned to his desk and began grading fourth-year essays, acting as if Orli didn't exist.

Orli collected two glass vials from the shelf, considered for a moment, then took a third. Rolling up her sleeves, she perched on the small stool and began methodically dispatching the unfortunate toads.

The two wooden barrels, nearly shoulder-height, were filled with writhing toads—though some spell must have silenced them completely.

One cut to end life, another to split the belly, then squeeze out the eggs and extract the eyes. Finally, she cut away a small piece of poison sac skin from the back—not part of Snape's instructions, but something she'd learned from her family's potions texts.

Toad poison sac skin was once a common potion ingredient, though it had fallen into disuse after alternatives were discovered. Still, the original had stronger potency.

In their previous Potions class, she'd worried that doing too much would lead to more mistakes, yet still earned a D. Now, Orli had abandoned all hope of avoiding Snape's caustic criticism.

Hermione had been right—better to follow her own instincts. Even if accused of showing off or doing unnecessary work, at least she could be true to herself.

Before long, the mechanical process became second nature. After the first few specimens' prolonged departures, she achieved clean, swift operations.

Having finally finished an entire barrel, Orli peeled off her gloves and massaged her aching shoulders.

Despite working as efficiently as possible, completing both barrels would take until dawn, promising another headache tomorrow...

"Miss Waters seems quite satisfied with her progress, enough to take a break? Perhaps I should order you some midnight refreshments?"

Snape looked up from behind his imposing desk, fixing Orli with a cold stare before examining her completed work.

His eyes caught the vial of poison sac skin, but surprisingly, instead of his usual mockery, he changed tack:

"Make the Scabies Potion again. I want to observe."

Orli quietly cleared her workspace, selected a cauldron from the cabinet, gathered fresh ingredients, and began brewing with careful precision.

This time, she followed her instincts, chopping the Dryncorpse more finely and adding a touch of dittany after extinguishing the flame. Finally, she placed a vial of silvery-green potion, threaded with delicate strands, on Snape's desk with trepidation.

Though uncertain, she felt confident about this brew. It represented her absolute best work, and she doubted any first-year could surpass it.

But Snape merely lifted the vial, gave it a cursory glance, and tossed it among a stack of student assignments.

"Do it again."

The words fell flat and emotionless.

Beneath her voluminous sleeves, Orli's fists clenched tight, fighting back the urge to retort.

She returned to her cauldron and began grinding the next batch of snake fangs, imagining the fang as that insufferable bat. The thought renewed strength in her weary hands.

"Light the fire first. Cauldron temperature affects ingredient potency."

Snape's sudden instruction made Orli start.

She glanced back, but he appeared absorbed in grading essays, showing no sign of watching her.

Orli cautiously lit the fire, allowing the cold cauldron to preheat. When she added the crushed snake fangs and Dryncorpse together, she noticed the potion's color became remarkably clearer.

"Raise your cauldron higher. The flame's too close to the bottom. You need to feel the temperature changes."

At Snape's second instruction, Orli immediately complied. The bubbling subsided noticeably, and the acidic fumes dissipated.

She proceeded methodically, adding porcupine quills and boiled horned slugs after extinguishing the flame. When she finally bottled the potion, she was amazed to find it superior to any she'd previously brewed. Holding the crystalline vial to the wall sconce, she admired the shimmering liquid within, a smile unconsciously spreading across her face.

But Snape swiftly crushed her moment of pride.

"Stop standing there gloating. This is merely the most basic of potions. Need I remind Miss Waters that she still has an entire barrel of toads awaiting her attention?"