They entered the classroom to find Professor Slughorn waiting for them. 

‘Welcome, welcome!’ he boomed as the students stood in the corner since there were no desks or chairs. Instead, there was a large table with many containers with all different shapes and sizes.

‘We’ll start the lesson by identifying these potions right here!’ Professor Slughorn said as he pointed at the containers. 

He told them to examine a potion which was clear, colourless and  odourless. 

‘Who can tell me what this potion is?’

Olivia, Amelia, Hermione and Isabell raised their hands almost immediately.

‘Yes Ms. Dragonheart?’

‘This potion (she pointed at the container) is called Veritaserum. It is also known as the Liquid of Truth. This potion forces the drinker to tell the absolute truth. Veritaserum takes a lunar phase, which is about twenty eight days, for it to mature.’

‘Excellent, excellent! Five points to Slytherin!’

‘I’m a Ravenclaw, sir,’ Olivia said uncomfortably.

‘Oh, sorry. Five points to Ravenclaw!’ 

Amelia and Isabell nodded at Olivia when she looked at them. 

‘Now, how about this one?’ Professor Slughorn said as the students surrounded the potion. 

It was clear and bright gold. It was bubbling slightly. Olivia, Isabell, Amelia and Hermione raised their hands again.

‘How about you?’ Professor Slughorn said as he pointed at Isabell.

‘That is Polyjuice potion. It allows the drinker to assume the form of someone else. The potion is hard to make, I believe. And it has to be stewed for a whole month until it can be used,’ Isabell explained.

‘Marvellous, marvellous. Five points to Ravenclaw!’ he boomed. 

He then waddled to another potion. It was pink in colour and had swirls. Professor Slughorn shook it slightly, and the potion turned rose gold with golden highlights. It turned bright pink after a while. 

‘This potion is quite powerful. Can anyone tell me what it is?’ 

The usual hands shot up quickly.

‘Ah, let’s choose you, Amelia Clearwater!’

‘It is called Amortentia. It is more commonly known as the Love potion. It doesn’t create true love, only deep infatuation or obsession. It also smells differently to each person, as the smell is about what you like or who or what attracts you. For example, I can smell polished wood, cranberry, frosty br-’

Amelia broke off, blushing pink slightly.

‘Indeed, five points for Ravenclaw!’ he boomed. 

‘Now, as it is double Potions, we will brew a potion to end the session! Can you all get your books? Yes, Ms. Brown, it’s called: Advanced Potion Making. Now, turn to page… two hundred and fifty. And I’d like you to brew it for me! You have only one hour, so hurry up and get your supplies!’ 

Everyone rushed to get the supplies, which were in the corner. 

Olivia surprisingly got all of the supplies for Amelia and Isabell as well as Albert.

‘Here you go,’ said Olivia, handing them out.

‘Oh! Thanks,’ muttered Isabell, looking surprised. 

Albert just stared. Olivia shoved him the ingredients and went to her cauldron. 

‘Weird,’ Amelia whispered to Albert and Isabell.

Both of them nodded. 

They opened their books and began reading the instructions. It said:

Draught of the Living Death 

The Draught of Living Death brings upon its drinker a very powerful sleep that can last indefinitely. This draught is very dangerous if not used with caution. 

Here are the steps in order to make it:

1. 
   

   Leave the water and salt to rest for five minutes.

   
   


2. 
   

   Slowly pour all the water into the cauldron.

   
   


3. 
   

   With your left hand use the graduated cylinder to obtain 40 fl.oz. of essence of wormwood.

   
   


4. 
   

   With your right hand hold the cauldron at a slight angle and pour ten drops (20 fl.oz.) of essence of wormwood.

   
   


5. 
   

   Now with your left hand hold the cauldron at a slightly different angle and pour another ten drops of wormwood essence.

   
   


6. 
   

   Chop three Valerian roots into small square pieces. After cutting, place it in a beaker with water. Leave it to settle for five minutes. Your potion should now be resembling a smooth blackcurrant-coloured liquid.

   
   


7. 
   

   Carefully pour the Sopophorous bean's juice into the cauldron

   
   


8. 
   

   Add seven drops of the reduced liquid from the beaker; make sure there are no traces or fragments of Valerian root.

   
   


9. 
   

   Stir the potion ten times clockwise; your potion should now be turning a light shade of lilac.

   
   


10. 
    

    With your right hand stir the potion counterclockwise until the potion turns as clear as water; every stir should take approximately two and a half seconds.

    
    


11. 
    

    Slowly put in seven square pieces of Valerian root.

    
    


12. 
    

    Stir the potion ten times counterclockwise.

    
    


13. 
    

    Add one hundred and fifty fl.oz. of Powdered Root of Asphodel

    
    


14. 
    

    Hold the cauldron with your right hand; with your left hand gently stir the potion ten times counterclockwise and eight times clockwise.

    
    


15. 
    

    Leave the potion to settle for two and a half minutes.

    
    


16. 
    

    Add one small piece of Valerian root.

    
    


17. 
    

    Your potion should turn to a pale pink colour; the preparation is now complete.

    
    

This is an extremely dangerous potion. Execute with maximum caution. 

‘Ugh- How are we supposed to make this potion?’ asked Isabell, looking nervously at all of the steps.

‘Dunno,’ said Albert, peering at Olivia, who was already starting adding the water into the cauldron. 

After what seemed like thirty minutes, everyone had almost finished with the tenth step, which was stirring the liquid. 

Olivia’s potion was lavender and she seemed angry. She tried to stir it clockwise once, and the potion turned slightly pink. She then continued to stir it counterclockwise until it eventually became as clear as water. Albert’s potion was bright pink now, but not close to turning pale. Amelia’s potion was similar to Olivia’s, only it wasn’t so clear. So she kept stirring it. Isabell’s potion was orange…

‘How did you get it to go pink?’ asked Olivia, glaring at Albert’s potion.  

‘For the twelfth step, you have to stir it one time clockwise, it’s what I did,’ he shrugged. 

‘But it says to stir the potion 10 times counterclockwise!’ 

‘Just try it.’

Olivia shuddered and stirred it clockwise once. It started turning pink. She added the Valerian root and it became pale pink.

Amelia and Isabell both stirred it one time clockwise and it turned dark pink.

‘Time’s up!’ Professor Slughorn boomed as everyone stopped adding things to their cauldrons. 

Isabell’s hair was messy and so was Olivia’s. Amelia was humming; she looked bored and was staring at someone.

Professor Slughorn waddled to each of the cauldrons to examine them. 

‘Not bad, Maybe add just a little bit more of Valerian root there. Ah, you didn’t stir it correctly there, young man!’ 

‘Not bad… Not bad… Ah yes.’

He then approached Olivia, Isabell, Amelia and Albert.  He pointed at Albert and Olivia. 

‘Amazing job, you two. Ms. Clearwater...and… you. Not bad either! Maybe you should have added a tiny bit more of Valerian root. However, I will award you ten points for hard effort. And Ms. Dragonheart and this young man will be awarded fifteen points. Mr. Malfoy! Where are you going?’

Isabell looked furiously at Olivia and Albert. Olivia looked back, arching her eyebrows. 

Everyone then jerked their heads to see Draco leaving the classroom. 

‘Mr. Malfoy!’ Professor Slughorn boomed. 

Amelia stood up and ran after him.

‘No! Ms. Clearwater! Come back here!’ 

Amelia and Draco weren’t there. Amelia kept running after Draco until he stopped. She almost tumbled into him. 

‘Draco… where are you going?’ 

‘I don’t want you following me, it’s the secret thing I need to do. And I need to do it alone.’

His voice was dark and cold. Amelia realised that. She looked at his pale grey eyes. She felt herself being dragged into a black hole.

Not again!

She shook her head then continued walking. She saw a pale green glow. 

What? 

She walked cautiously towards the green ball and touched it. She fell on rough ground. She seemed to be in… Malfoy Manor.

‘Please my lord… Please show mercy,’ Mr. Malfoy begged. 

There was a man in front of him. He had very pale skin, a chalk-white, skull-like face, snake-like slits for nostrils, red eyes and cat-like slits for pupils, a skeletally thin body and long, thin hands with unnaturally long fingers. 

‘I beg you!’ 

A woman was on the floor, tears were streaming down her face and she was very pale. Mrs. Malfoy. 

‘Lord Voldemort doesn’t show mercy. You have failed to get me the Prophecy, Lucius. Even you almost killing two children didn’t get me a prophecy. Your son will have to do the job. If he fails… I’ll kill him. I terribly regret this Lucius. You are one of my most loyal followers.’

His voice was cold, and no sound of regret was in his voice. 

‘I’ll do it,’ said a voice.

‘Draco, no!’ 

‘Ah, Draco. That’s the spirit I need. You have a plan to kill him, I assume?’

‘Y-yes, I mean, yes.’ 

‘Good,’ said Voldemort. ‘See here Lucius, your son is not afraid.’ 

Mr. and Mrs. Malfoy were speechless. Voldemort vanished. Amelia was dragged up, up, up. She was facing Draco. She was sweating.

‘Is there something wrong?’ asked Draco, looking at her pale face.

‘No. Everything’s fine. I’ll let you continue with your mission.’

Amelia was running away from Draco. She rushed to the Common Room. She found Olivia, Isabell and Albert sitting by the fire. She grabbed Olivia and Isabell and went to their Dormitory. They rushed to their room and Amelia locked the door. 

‘Amelia... Why in the worl-’ began Isabell.

‘Shush! I have something very important to tell you. I have to tell you right now!’ she said as she saw their expression. 

‘You want to tell me as well?’ asked Olivia, surprised.

‘Yes… Well, it’s about Draco.’

Isabell and Olivia looked at each other. 

‘Go ahead…’

Amelia told them how she went into Draco’s deepest secrets. 

She then told them all about what happened in Malfoy Manor and that Voldemort had made Draco go on a mission to kill someone.

‘WHAT?’ yelled Isabell. ‘I know I said he isn’t like his father but like… C’mon!’ 

‘I told you! I told you he’s evil! So Voldemort (Isabell winced) made Draco Malfoy go on a mission to kill someone?’ Olivia said, looking worried.

‘Please don’t go around with him anymore!’ said Isabell. 

‘I won’t. Now that we know the truth. His mission is definitely for evil if Voldemort made him do it!’

‘You say he’s being punished for what his father did?’ asked Olivia.

Amelia nodded.

‘Well, not to be rude, but serves him right. But, who does Voldemort want to kill?’ 

‘That, I don’t know,’ Amelia said sadly.  

‘I think Draco can close his mind,’ said Olivia, thinking.

‘What do you mean “close his mind”?

‘Didn’t we find out that Voldemort is Legimences? He can read minds to see if that person is speaking the truth! Well, maybe someone taught Draco Occlumency! It means being able to close your mind so nobody can read your thoughts.’

‘Makes sense!’ said Isabell, grinning.

‘But I’m still wondering who Voldemort wants to kill so badly.’

‘Well. The first person he would want to kill is Harry Potter,’ Isabell said, thinking. 

‘But Dumbledore is far more powerful and Voldemort fears him… Maybe he wants to kill… Dumbledore?’ Amelia said. ‘Remember in our first year when I told you that vision I saw about my father, stepmother, your parents and Mr. Malfoy was discussing? They tried to kill Dumbledore so that nobody could stand in the way of Voldemort. And Voldemort is fully alive now. What if Voldemort is making Draco kill Dumbledore?’

‘But it’s impossible for a teenager to kill a powerful wizard,’ Olivia said.

‘What if he is getting help?’ Isabell suggested. 

‘Help from who?’

‘I dunno…’

They stayed silent for a while.

‘Should we tell Dumbledore about this?’ Olivia asked, breaking the silence.

‘No! I mean we don’t know if he is trying to kill Dumbledore,’ said Amelia.

‘It’s time for lunch…’ Isabell said as they exited the room.