The Dead Potions Society

Charlie and Neil walked down one of the corridors, holding their books to their chests. “Any plans for Valentine’s Day?”

“No Neil,” Charlie sighed. “Nothing big or grand in the sense.”

“Me either.”

“Did you know that stupid McAllister is basically refusing to let me do any potions until I redo like three of my papers?” Charlie frowned.

“What? Is he allowed to do that?” Neil asked, opening the door to the Herbology greenhouse.

“Apparently he can do whatever he wants.”

“But why do you have to rewrite your papers?”

“Because I told him that I wanted a job that I get to make potions and he laughed. He told me to rewrite all my papers.” Charlie shrugged, clearly pissed off.

“What’s going on?” Cameron asked once the pair took their seats. The boys had an enjoyment of sitting in the greenhouse during their free time and the Herbology professor loved having them there.

“Just McAllister being a horrible professor.” Neil watched as Cameron gave a small reassuring smile to Charlie. He watched as the two reached for each other's hand under the table but Cameron just put both of his hands back on top.

“Yeah, he’s harsh.” Pitts agreed.

“I asked a question about one of the ingredients and he marked a point off of my paper.” Meeks mentioned.

“He’s just upset and taking it out on everyone.” Todd said quietly. He tapped his pencil alongside the edge of his book.

“Upset about what?” Knox asked.

“His wife is leaving him.” Todd shrugged like it was common knowledge.

“Um excuse me?” Charlie nearly shouted, jumping up off of his seat.

“How do you know this?” Neil shouted, equally as excited as Charlie. If the school had two people who like gossip, it was Neil and Charlie. They just never figured anything out on their own.

“His wife and my mom are friends.”

“What else do you know?” Knox asked, a little too suspiciously for anyone’s liking. “Just curious.”

“I don’t know,.” Todd glanced up at the group, earning a small, very small shake of the head from Cameron. “That Loraine Beasley has a crush on at least three people in this group, no, I’m not saying who.”

“Why not?”

“Because your feelings will be hurt.” Todd told Charlie.

“So?”

“She also doesn’t say who she likes specifically.”

“Liar.” Charlie mumbled and Todd rolled his eyes. Even if was true, which it may or may not be, but Ms. Beasley has a certain thing for redheads.

“How do you know all this?” Neil bounced with excitement.

“Half the school’s population thinks I’m mute, and the other half doesn’t care what they say in front of me, thinking I wouldn’t mention it to anyone.” Todd looked around the group.

“Oh you little gossip!” Neil laughed. Todd’s cheeks turned bright red.

“So, what I’m hearing is, you know a lot.” Charlie slammed a big book onto the table. “This, my friends, is a yearbook from years ago and guess who I found.” Charlie smiled deviously as he opened a page to where Professor Keating was smiling.

“What is the dead potions society?” Neil asked, taking a closer look at the small moving picture.

“I don’t know, there’s no other mention of it.” Meeks shrugged.

“This means Keating can help me with my potions!” Charlie shouted.

“We should go ask!” Neil shouted while he and Charlie were already halfway out the door with the rest of the boys following.

“Move it!” Knox shouted at the two more rowdy wizards as they ran outside near the black lake, where Keating was walking along the side, holding a book and whistling a tune.

“Professor Keating.” Neil shouted out, the rest of the group following behind him, letting out a few laughs. “Professor.”

But Keating did not answer and kept walking. “Hurry!”

“Oh Captain, my Captain!” Neil called out. It was from a muggle poem that Keating was obsessed with and had told his classes that it would be an interesting nickname for himself. However, Keating had yet to find anyone daring enough to use it.

“Boys.” He quickly turned around with a huge smile on his face. “How are we doing this fine day?”

“We found your yearbook.” Charlie blurted out with a huge smile.

“What’s the dead potions society?” Neil asked.

“Oh lord.” Keating let out a loud laugh, crouched down and flipping through the pages. “The dead potions society was a group dedicated to learning about magic the way that wasn’t taught in classrooms.”

“So just a bunch of guys messing around with magic?” Knox asked.

“No, Mr. Overstreet, we weren’t just guys messing around with magic, we were learning it, becoming the best we could be. I know tons of potions and spells that they don’t teach.” Mr. Keating smiled. “It was for students who wanted to learn more than what they were being taught. It was about going out of your way to gain the knowledge and experiences that we were being withheld from. And most importantly it was doing something for ourselves that made us feel in control of our education.”

“Wow.”

“Thank you boys for the stroll down memory lane but burn that, especially my picture.” Keating let out a small laugh before turning on his heel and walking away, picking back up the whistling.

“That’s what we need to do!” Charlie shouted. “We need to take matters into our own hands and learn for ourselves.”

“We can’t! We would get in so much trouble and there’s nowhere private to hide this at-“

“The prefect’s bathroom, when everyone goes to sleep. It’ll be fine.” Neil cut Cameron off. “I know where.”

“Uh, I don’t know-“

“I’m in.” Charlie smiled proudly because of course he would.

“Pittsie?”

“I don’t know Neil.” Pitts began walking away and the group followed. “I’m already behind as it is.”

“This will help you get further ahead.” Charlie called out from behind the group.

“Meeks, you’re in too.” Neil smiled. “You can help Pittsie.”

“I’ll try anything once.” Meeks shrugged.

“Except sex.” Charlie laughed as the rest of the guys walked ahead.

“I don’t know about this Charlie.”

“Babe, come on. I’ll make sure nothing bad happens.” Charlie said quietly enough just for Cameron to hear. The two of them walked slowly behind the group, giving themselves some space to talk about this in private. “I got you, okay?”

“I’ll think about it, okay?” Cameron asked.

“That’s all I ask for.” Charlie admitted. By this time, the rest of the group left the two alone and walked further ahead, Neil looked like he was trying to convince Todd. “Cam this is a chance to broaden your horizons and learn some new skills. We all know you’re skilled at transfiguration but wouldn’t it be so cool if you were the best at potions and could help me?”

Cam could never resist the puppy eyes that Charlie had perfected at the age of eleven. Cam let out a small sigh. “Okay, as long as I don’t get into any trouble, I’m willing to try it out.”

“Yes!” Charlie shouted. “You’re the best.”

“It’ll be fun.”

~~~

“Alright, settle down.” Neil told the group as they began situating themselves in the bathroom. He stood in front of the small group with a book.

“What’s that Perry?”

“This is a potions book, figured we take things slow and do one skill at a time. I found this book in the bottom of the drawer and it has notes all over the place.” Neil raised a quizzical brow but quickly smiled.

“Good idea.” Cameron smiled brightly at his friend.

“Thanks.” Neil smiled just as brightly back. Charlie glanced over at the quiet blonde, whose face was nearly hidden behind his hands. Charlie was half tempted to do it himself but there was no reason to.

Cameron was his and he was Cameron’s. Nothing would change that and even if Cameron thought there was something, Charlie wouldn’t let this relationship fizzle out and die. He worked too damn hard for too damn long.

That’s what she said, he thought. But was quickly brought out of his stupid thoughts when Neil began reading something.

“So, I suggest we make Befuddlement Draught. It would be a great prank.” Neil looked directly at Charlie. The two were very well known for causing mayhem and chaos throughout Hogwarts with their pranks. Everyone is always on edge around those two.

“Perfect.” Charlie smiled.

“What about Blemish Blitzer?” Knox suggested. “I’ve been breaking out and I don’t know how else to get rid of it.”

“Boring.”

“Shut up Charlie!”

“What about a fire breathing potion?” Pitts piped up.

“No.” Meeks glared.

“But babe-“

“That’s so dangerous.” Meeks replied calmly and the conversation died down.

“I say we continue with our prank.” Neil mumbled.

“Fine but you two are the ones who make it, clean the mess up, and take the blame if anything happens-“

“Fine Meeks! Jesus!”

“You got it, Meeks.” Neil smiled. “So we’re going to need some frog brains..” Neil continued reading the ingredients.

“Yeah, can’t help with this one. I’m allergic to scurvy grass.” Cam reminded the group.

During first year potions, Cameron had a terrible allergic reaction to some scurvy grass. Along with all the non magic stuff he was allergic to, his doctor prescribed him an epi pen and he had to have it with him at all times, not that he does. His lab partner, who was an understanding housemate, did most of the ingredient adding and Cam happily read the notes. Cam has somehow gotten lucky with another understanding lab partner this year.

Charlie however, was not a huge fan of Cameron not keeping his epi pen on himself. Over the summer, he watched Cameron break out into hives and struggled with some breathing over some peanuts that accidentally dropped into their ice cream. It wasn’t a huge deal to Cameron, he just took some allergy medicine and was fine.

Cameron wasn’t a huge fan of starting with potions in their little secret study group but he did like that everything was going to be broken up into sections. He was hoping to start with transfigurations. Not that any of the group would admit but they all hoped to become Animagises, Charlie and Neil more than any of them. Knox wasn’t a huge fan of keeping a mandrake leaf in his mouth for a month.

Not that he was a fan of keeping a leaf in his mouth either but it was something he was going to look more into. But for now, there was potion recipes to listen to and an eager boyfriend to help.