“Blaise! Hurry up~ We don’t want to be late for potions!” Truth was, Dazai couldn’t care less about punctuality, he just wanted to meet the new Potions teacher, Professor Slughorn.
Though it was a relief that they finally had a decent Defence Against the Dark Arts teacher.
“Since when did you care about being late?” Blaise murmured, shaking his head as he opened the door to the potions classroom; the overwhelming stench of potions entered Dazai’s nose. It felt strange, not seeing the usual cranky Snape towering over the classroom.
“... to detail in the preparation is the prerequisite of all- Ah! Mr. Dazai and Mr. Zabini, you’ve finally arrived. Now, take a book from the cupboard and join the rest of us, please.” Professor Slughorn made a vague hand signal to a half-open cupboard behind the desk.
Dazai and Blaise eyed each other. There was an old, battered book and a freshly-bought one.
After a scramble to get the clean book, Dazai ended up giving in and taking the more than slightly beaten-up one.
“Continuing with what I was saying, can anyone name these concoctions that I have here on the table? Miss Granger?”
“That one there is Veritaserum. It’s a truth telling serum.”
Dazai recognised this one. He had seen it in Snape’s office before.
“And this is Amortentia, the most powerful love potion in the world.”
Now that was interesting.
“Now, now, Amortentia doesn't actually create love, that’d be impossible, however, it does cause powerful obsession.”
Blaise nudged him in the elbow.
“Bet you like the sound of that one, right ‘Zai?”
Blaise knew him far too well.
“And for that reason, it is probably the most dangerous potion in this room. Ah- and in this little one,” he winked, turning to pick up the small, clear vial, “Is Felix Felicis. More commonly known as…”
“Liquid luck.”
“Yes Miss Granger! Liquid luck, terribly difficult to make, disastrous should you get it wrong. One tiny vial of liquid luck to the student who, in the hour that remains, manages to brew an acceptable draft of Living Death.”
Dazai almost chuckled to himself. This potion sounded right up his street. Surely the professor wouldn’t notice if he took some for personal use? After all, death by potion definitely sounded enchanting.
“And you wonder why Snape didn’t want you in further potions.” Blaise sighed, tutting at Dazai’s quiet chuckles.
They made their way over to their cauldrons; Draco seemed to have not taken further potions, so he and Blaise decided to sit with Hermione, who had her nose in the Advanced Potion-Making book already.
As Dazai opened the book, he noticed dozens of little notes and scribbles in the margins, some even crossing out the original instructions. The handwriting seemed familiar, though he couldn’t quite pinpoint where he’d seen it before.
“How did you do that?” Hermione spluttered, peering over at Dazai’s near-perfect potion.
“To be honest, I thought you were incapable of putting together anything non-lethal.” Blaise commented, also leaning over to watch Dazai read through his book.
“It is lethal, so I tried extra hard.” Dazai smirked, and Hermione looked horrified, “But seriously, crush the berries, don’t cut them.”
Hermione looked almost angry as she spoke, “B–but the instructions say–”
“Hermione, when have Dazai’s decisions ever failed us?”
Hermione stayed silent, crushing the berries with the side of her blade as she frowned bitterly, glancing at Dazai’s potion.
“Merlin’s beard. It’s perfect,” Professor Slughorn exclaimed, leaning over Dazai’s cauldron, “So perfect I dare say one drop would kill us all.”
“Really? I’ll be taking some home then!” Dazai grinned at the worried expression on his professor's face.
“D-don’t mind him, he’s ah– joking.” Hermione forced a thin smile, kicking Dazai’s shins under the table.
“Here we are then, as promised, one vial of Felix Felicis. Use it well.” He turned to his desk and began reordering his potion ingredients.
Slughorn swiftly turned back, “And– uh– be careful with that Living Death potion, okay?”
“Bet you’re happy.” Blaise smirked as Dazai tucked the vial into his jacket pocket.
“This will be very useful.”