But For A Stone (A Matou Shinji Series AU)

[Haunter]

[x] Natsumi, who looks over him shyly (and seemed very excited about the possible prize)


Side note: Alf, how much did no Harry Potter affect the Nash verse?

[alfheimwanderer]

Side note: Alf, how much did no Harry Potter affect the Nash verse?

Not very much. The loss of Potter has its most profound effects in Wizarding Britain, really.

[fallacies]

[x] The dusky-skinned foreigner

[alfheimwanderer]

[x] Natsumi, who looks over him shyly.

---

Natsumi looks relieved as Shinji approaches her, asking if she wants to work together for this assignment. With her face a bit red, she explains that its a little embarrassing, but she forgot to bring the potions book because she mixed up the schedule and thought they were going to take DADA and History today instead.

"I don't mind sharing..." Shinji offers, but before he can push his book over to her, Slughorn happens to walk by, a sympathetic expression on his face.

"Mister Matou, and...ah, Miss...Suzuki, was it?" the Potions Master asked genially. "You two will be working together for this week's project?"

"Y-yes!" Natsumi responded, a little nervous at the attention.

"Excellent," the man noted, jotting down something in the notebook he carried. "For future reference, I do expect my students to come to class prepared, with each person having a textbook of their own. Especially since, when we work on week-long assignments like this one, it is often useful to be looking both at a recipe and at the appendix of ingredients."

"Ah...sorry, Professor," the brown-haired girl said meekly, lowering her head.

"No worries, Miss Suzuki - I am not inclined to be so harsh on the first day, especially not...you are a Muggleborn, yes?"

Natsumi nodded.

"Especially not to a Muggleborn, as you no doubt didn't know any better," he continued. "For today, you may use one of the books from the cupboard, so long as you make sure to put it back before you leave."

Natsumi nods once more.

"Thank you, Professor."

"No need. Just work hard, you two."

"Y-yes!"

The man continues his rounds, briefly checking in with each group as Natsumi goes to retrieve one of the used books. It takes a bit of time, but eventually everyone is paired off, at which point, he moves back to the front of the class and explains what the groupwork assignment will be. Each group will be required to write a short essay on the Cure for Boils, explaining what each ingredient used to brew it does, as well as brewing a sample by end of class on Friday.

For the remainder of today, students are asked to look over the recipe in the book, note down questions they have, and otherwise get started on their written assignment.

Natsumi seems excited at first, as she opens the book, only for her face to fall as she examines the contents.

"Auu...someone scribbled all over the pages..."

Looking over, Shinji can see that someone has indeed done so, with the recipes and explanations of the used book thoroughly marked up. There are suggestions in the margins, ingredients that have been crossed out, and comments about how the inventor of the recipe must have been an addled dunderhead. This is even the case for the Cure for Boils, where the scribbler suggests using Pungous Onions and Ginger root in place of snake fangs and porcupine quills, something that on the face of it makes little sense.

"Strange...who would do this to a book?" Shinji wondered, thinking that whoever was responsible either really liked potions, hated potions, or was simply bored out of their minds.

Flipping to the first page, he could see that the past user called himself a prince or something like that. 'Of Halfbloods at that, whatever a halfblood is.'

"...I guess we'll have to share, after all?" Natsumi said glumly. "Sorry, Matou-kun."

Does Shinji...

[ ] Say that he doesn't mind sharing with Natsumi
[ ] Suggest she swap this book for another one in the cupboard
[ ] Report the book to Slughorn, so it can be taken out of circulation
[ ] Suggest trying out the revised recipe in the book, since everyone else will probably be using the standard one provided
[ ] (Write-in)

[fallacies]

[x] Agree, he doesn't mind sharing his book with Natsumi

[skulkidcachi90]

[x] Suggest trying out the revised recipe in the book, since everyone else will probably be using the one provided

Come on guys is the half blood prince book let keep this one for us.

[skulkidcachi90]

In canon the book helped Harry to improve his potion level.
I don't see the problem in use the book if that mean fast learning in potions, specially if that mean than Shinji have to do extra hard work to undestand the book.
Also please remember how good was Hermione in Potions thanks to the book of Potions, she put of her part and work harder to get that knowledge.
I don't see a problem with have an advance text of Potions from the begining, we already have the book of oclumnency and that not stop shinji to work harder to learn from that book.

[Daiki]

No, it didn't help him improve.

It's actually a point in the book that he took everything in it at face value rather than think for himself. Hence why he didn't even think twice about casting spells on sleeping Gryffs. Same with his confrontation with Draco where he gutted him like a fish.

Hermione's situation is special since she would follow instructions but only if the author is a certified potioneer. Some unknown students scribbling here and there certainly won't inspire trust. The Book of Potions is different since you can interact with the one who wrote it anyway.

If Shinji keeps it, he will not improve just because it's half-blood's former possession. He would have to think and process what's required to end up with such a result. If he only keeps following instructions in the books, what is he going to do when its content doesn't extend to the potion he will work on next? Cheating is instant profit, but doesn't make up for experience and knowledge itself. Potions requires dedication and experimentation. If you're not willing to get in the dirt, you'll end up as someone who can only follow recipes.

[Skull Leader]

My issue with the book at the moment is that the class's assignment for that day is to explain the ingredients that are used in the potion. If Shinji uses the 'alternative' recipe, that might result in a better potion, but Shinji would then have to explain why he used these ingredients. The answer of because some pass student decided to write the instructions in the merges is not a good reason. Shinji would have figure out why these changes are worth doing, a task that I think Shinji is not up to on his first day of potions.

Blindly following other peoples work and then declaring it your work is dangerous and is not the mark of a good potion brewer. However if Shinji were to work hard and understanding this mysterious Prince's ideas to kick start his own learning all the better.

[X] Share with Natsumi, but at the end of class, turn in Shinji's textbook instead, keeping this potion book for later use.

That is a Slytherin move that Slughorn can be proud of as long as Shinji puts in the hardwork in to understand the book changes and not just copy off of it blindly to profit from.

Why we being doing him a favor by taking that book out of circulation...

[alfheimwanderer]

I think you're misunderstanding. They're supposed to get started today, but the assignment itself isn't due till the end of the week.

[Skull Leader]

I think you're misunderstanding. They're supposed to get started today, but the assignment itself isn't due till the end of the week.

I don't think I misunderstanding the actual potion is end of week, but today's task is explain why the ingredients you are going to use work. If one uses the new recipe for the later part he can not explain it for his paper for today.


If we go with the use the new recipe from this book, is Shinji going to put the effort in to understanding it or does he simply copy it and claim it as their own original work?

[alfheimwanderer]

The essay is also due by end of week. Today's take is just to get started on the week long assignment

[Skull Leader]

Oh then, change vote to

[X] Suggest trying out the revised recipe in the book, since everyone else will probably be using the standard one provided

Hufflepuff Shinji is likely to put in the hard work then to understand the changes in that time frame, especially since he spending time at the library. As well as likely to brew both the potion using both recipes to see their outcomes. Shinji is a genius at some level.

Edit: Shinji might have to stop at Miyuki's consultation room for guidance to be pointed a direction to better understand these changes. But that is what sempai are for. That and for an easy source of high quality level tea.

[Daiki]

I'll revert back one last time and call it a day.

[x] Use it as a reference and make up your own recipe.

Swap Shinji's textbook and work with Natsumi at the library.

[Cassius]

[X] Suggest trying out the revised recipe in the book, since everyone else will probably be using the standard one provided

[neophyte]

[x] Suggest trying out the revised recipe in the book, since everyone else will probably be using the standard one provided

Checking Pungous Onions and Ginger root in library/from sempai beforehand.

[alfheimwanderer]

[X] Suggest trying out the revised recipe in the book, since everyone else will probably be using the standard one provided

---

Natsumi seems a little uncertain about following the dubious instructions of the "half-blood prince", but giving a look at the vial of potion that Slughorn had promised to the team that made the best potion, she nods and seems to resolve herself. It is true that if they do the same as what everyone else is doing, then they have little chance of beating out everyone else. However, the reasoning for the substitutions are unclear, as whoever scribbled in the book did not lay out why they had been made, and the glossary of ingredients offers little insight.

As such, a visit to the library is probably in order, so you can do some research on what was written, and try to find out why the substitutions were made - and how effective the other potion will be. Alternatively, you could check to see if another student - an older one - would have some idea, or check with Professor Sprout, who knows much related to magical plants.

What's do you do before going to the library? (choose one)

[ ] Consult Miyuki-senpai, who is holding "office hours" in the Common Room
[ ] Visit Professor Sprout's office
[ ] Ask Slughorn if he has some books he recommends
[ ] Look over the Herbology textbook
[ ] Nothing; it would be more productive to just see what's there

[skulkidcachi90]

[x] Nothing; it would be more productive to just see what's there

Come on guys lets go full hard work bere.

[neophyte]

[x] Consult Miyuki-senpai, who is holding "office hours" in the Common Room

Asking Slughorn wouldn't be fair - the man is judging the competition; and while we need Head of the House points, internal chain of command directs us to sempai first.

[Daiki]

[x] Consult Miyuki-senpai, who is holding "office hours" in the Common Room.