Potions and Items, Desperately Needed [Open]

[jointheclub]

[The Itemcrafting classroom looks like something out of The Sword in the Stone today, with beakers, cauldrons, tubes, liquids, chests, and sundry supplies all floating around in midair, almost but not quite bumping into each other. On one side of the classroom, knives furiously chop away at roots, stalks, and bulbs; on another, large tongs stir boiling cauldrons. In the midst of all this, Slughorn directs traffic with his wand, hurrying here and there to check this process or temper this reaction.]

[Truth be told, Slughorn is running himself raw, between days of gathering up students on the Island and nights of making items and potions to repair the damage they've done to themselves. A very uncharacteristic scowl seems to have landed permanently on his face, and he is constantly mopping at the shine on his increasingly-mottled forehead. In fact, one might almost say he's showing his age...]

Don't even know why I came out of retirement. What am I, a Healer?

[He flicks his wand irritably, sending two completed sleeping draughts and a half-dozen Potions flying into a box.]

Comments

[jointheclub]

I wouldn't call my little gatherings strenuous. But I'd be delighted to attend.

[earthlychild]

They're not! I'll just be adding pillows and blankets, as we're likely to be especially tired.

[jointheclub]

And weary. And pained. Bad back. Ulcers and rheumatism. What they expect of a broken-down old man like me I wouldn't ask of a dog.

[He's fairly obviously showboating in a way, given the tasks he's otherwise undertaken, which probably ought to be well beyond a man as decrepit as Slughorn is painting himself.]

[earthlychild]

Chin up, Professor Slughorn. You'll make it through. We all will.

[jointheclub]

Of course we will! This is nothing. I've been through much worse. Though it involved fewer potions and more fighting Dark wizards. Compared to that I'm on holiday here.