Keith's Potions Mixing, 9/7

By the time Keith had decided which recipe to use, he could already hear people behind him getting started. Shaking off their distraction, he continued to read each recipe and each set of directions. It's better to learn it the normal way first. he decided.

Keith copied down the directions and found the first two ingredients indicated on Potion List A. He stole a glance at Lina to see which one she picked. It probably didn't matter, but he hoped that in either case that he would do well in front of her. This was exciting, like a magical science project.

1. Mix .5 liters each of Liquid 1 and 2 together. Bring to a simmer and leave for approximately 10 minutes. A blue froth should form along the edges of the cauldron.

Rereading the first step reminded him of his dad in Hawaii. Fortunately for Keith, the term "simmering" was familiar enough due to what little his dad taught him about cooking. He added the first liquids to his cauldron and got it to the right temperature, admiring his handiwork so far.

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Nothing happened after ten minutes, but he did hear another student mutter, "Got it." Keith turned toward his classmate to see the blue froth accumulating on the rim of his cauldron. What? he thought to himself, adjusting temperature of his own cauldron up to compensate. A few bubbles floated to the surface of the mixture and floated to the side, but the froth they accumulated as was a bit more grayish than the other student's.

Now is not the time to feel self-conscious. I'm following the directions as best I can. Keith resolved as he continued. This should be like following the directions for making a peanut butter and jelly sandwich. He remembered a summer camp exercise where campers had to explain how to make a PB&J as specifically as possible, pass it to the right in a circle, and act out the directions as literally as they could.

2. Add 200 grams of Herb 3 to the mix by sprinkling it across the liquid and slowly stirring it in. Allow to simmer another 5 minutes, letting the froth dissipate. The mixture should have a bluish-green tint when done.

Keith thought that was specific enough. After measuring the amount of Herb 3 and slowly stirring it in, he waited.
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Once in the second grade, Keith had seen a crayon box full of colors with strange names like "daffodil yellow." After five minutes, his mixture was now "gunmetal blue." He wasn't sure if that was the right color, but as he told himself before, he had to keep going and following the directions anyway.

3. Take 450 grams of Herb 4 and, with mortar and pestle, grind it into a coarse powder. Bring cauldron mixture to a boil and add all of Herb 4 into mixture. This will produce a gray smoke that will dissipate over the next minute or two. Stir mixture while boiling for 5 minutes then reduce back to a simmer. After 15-20 minutes mixture should turn to a dark green color.

Using the tools provided as he heated his cauldron to boil, Keith crushed up the Mandragora Offininarum and measured it. Does this stuff really kill you when it screams? he wondered, remembering what it did and not what it was for. Some of the other students added theirs in ahead of him, getting puffs, wisps, and bursts of grey and white smoke. Here it goes.
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Poof. Smoke erupted into Keith's face when he added in the herbs, obscuring his vision. Waving through it so he could see the cauldron while he was stirring it, the smoke slowly cleared. After a few more minutes of stirring, he turned the heat down and continued for minutes that seemed to drag on. The mixture was dark, but he wasn't sure if it was as green as it was supposed to be. Keep going. he admonished. This was kind of fun for him, anyway.

4. Pour .125 liters of Liquid 5 into mixture while simmering. Remove from heat and cool to room temperature. Color will remain the same.

Keith measured and poured Liquid 5 in, taking off the heat.
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The color did not remain the same. "Uh, oops." Keith said under his breath.

Oh well. "Finish what you started," as the adults say.

5. Sprinkle flakes of Herb 6 to the mixture and stir, mixing thoroughly.

He did so, observing that nothing changed. Best thing to happen so far! he thought, smiling to himself. He was almost done.

6. Return to heat and bring to boil. Pour .125 liters of Liquid 7 into mixture and keep on boil for 10 minutes, then remove from heat and cool to room temperature, mixing every few minutes. After 20 minutes mixture should take on emerald green color. Mixture is now ready to be administered and/or bottled.

After adding the final liquid and bringing it to boil for the allotted time, he again removed it from the heat and waited, occasionally mixing it. The mixture in the cauldron slowly changed color as he did.

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Oh my!

The potion turns a dark green, then goes even darker, then turns an inky black--

Smoke pours out of the cauldron; thick, dark clouds that scream towards the ceiling.

The cauldron shakes as part of the potion literally jumps up about 6 inches above the rim, then settles down.

There is a light rumble, then a flash, and a final puff of black smoke.

When you look inside, the potion looks more like sludge than something liquid.