Adrian Abbot was given nightshade, and Lily was handed a bottle of ashwinder
eggs, leaving Snape, Mia, and Damocles Belby.
"Mr Snape," Slughorn said the name proudly. "A phial of moondew."
Snape looked smug as he reached for the ingredient.
Mia rolled her eyes, knowing that he was already predictably planning on brewing a
Draught of Living Death.
"Miss Potter." Slughorn smiled and handed her a container of lacewing flies.
She grinned at the sight of the main ingredient in the first advanced potion she had
ever brewed: Polyjuice Potion. "Thank you, sir."
"And finally, Mr Belby." Slughorn set a bottle down in front of Damocles.
"Aconite." Damocles inclined his head curiously, and Mia's eyes widened.
"Also called monkshood," Snape chimed in.
Slughorn grinned. "Yes indeed, Mr Snape, five points to Slytherin!"
"Also called wolfsbane," Mia added.
The professor chortled, looping his thumbs in his suspenders and leaning back
proudly as though every correct word out of the mouths of his students was a direct
reflection on him. "It is! Though rarely known as such. Ten points to Gryffindor!"
Mia turned and grinned smugly at Snape, who glared at her in response. She shifted
her attention back to Damocles with a kind smile. There were few Slytherins who could
carry on a conversation without sneering or spitting slurs, and Damocles was one of them.
"I'm excited to see what you come up with. I've read a lot about it."
"You have?" Damocles asked. "It's usually used as a pain reliever or a poison. I can't
help but wonder the properties it exudes when the stem, leaves, and flowers are brewed or
stewed separately."
"The sprigs are an ingredient in Wideye Potion. Perhaps it could be used as a mind
sharpening ingredient?" she proposed, smiling when Damocles nodded thoughtfully at her
suggestion.
An hour into class, everyone was working silently while Slughorn was asleep in the
fluffy armchair, which sat behind his desk instead of a proper seat.