"Glad you could join us, Miss River, Mister Sallow."

Professor Sharp, or who I assumed to be Professor Sharp, greeted both me and Sebastian in a sarcastic tone as we entered the potions class room.

Sarcasm.

I had always heard of it. Woodlyn had mentioned it to me once... that was long ago.

But to see, or I suppose hear, sarcasm used for the first time was fascinating. I liked it. I would be adapting this for me to use later, probably with Sebastian as I hadn't been talking to many other people.

"Today we are brewing memory potions. Though I doubt any of you will need it for anything more serious then cramming for an exam,"

A few giggles from around the room,

"it is an important potion to have within your arsenal. So, take out your copies of Advanced Potion Making and turn to page three hundred and sixty four."

Sebastian, whom I had taken the liberty to sit next to withdrew his book from his bag. On the bottom corner I could still see flecks of Imelda's blood. He must had tried to clean it some but was unsuccessful to remove it all completely. A trophy of my work would be stained into his book forever.

I got my own book out, thankful now more than ever for my aunt who had retrieved all of these supplies for me. I turned to the page he instructed and followed the instructions in the book. Potion brewing seemed odd to me though it did vaguely remind me of cooking, which I had to learn to do on my own.

Do you know how difficult that was for a five year old who didn't even know how to make fire? I ate a lot of cold fish and raw carrots from an old garden my mother had started before her untimely demise.

This was infinitely easier than that. I had instructions to follow. I never had that before. This would be much easier than the cooking I had done on my own time on the island.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

"Garreth I believe you have effectively brewed a potion with the complete opposite affects of a memory potion."

Professor sharp said to a student to my right with exceedingly red hair. He frowned.

"But I thought if I doubled the amount of knot grass it would be twice as effective!" He complained.

"Garreth until you are a potions master you should always follow the instructions of your book."

Sharp continued as he made his way around the classroom. Sebastian's eyes seemed to glow as he heard the exchange between Garreth and Sharp and it seemed like he had some sort of idea. Whatever it was, it didn't seem good. He grabbed the rest of his knot grass, three handfuls of it, and dumped it in his potion.

"Mister Sallow just what do you think you are doing?!"

Sharp caught this out of the corner of his eye and raced over to Sebastian's cauldron which began to bubble violently. Sharp took out his wand and waved it over the rim of Sebastian's cauldron and the entire potion vanished.

"Had I not stopped you in time that potion would have had fumes powerful enough to wipe the memory of everyone in this room. Did you not just hear me warn Mister Weasley of doing the same thing? How could you be so careless."

Sebastian shrugged, a sly grin on his lips.

"I was just curious to see what would happen."

"You curiosity- or ignorance I think would be a better name for it, would have been highly costly. You know better. Detention. See Professor Weasley this evening."

Sharp walked away to go inspect the potions of other students. Sebastian didn't seem entirely upset though. He grinned softly to himself and turned to me.

"Looks like I'll be joining you tonight."

He said with a smile and there was that familiar warm feeling in my chest. It didn't completely take hold of me, it was like it was bubbling just beneath the surface. I couldn't quite feel it.

I would like to though, I would like to have felt anything.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

What exactly is a mermaid?

I mean, obviously it's an aquatic humanoid creature with a fish tail but everyone knows that.

The mermaid didn't exactly appear in literature until medieval times. Some medieval scholars even denoted the sirens of ancient greece to be mermaids, though as you will later see, that is not correct.

Sirens are their own beings and mermaids are something entirely different.

However, throughout history, mermaids and sirens have been confused for one another. Most of this mistaking has been done by muggles, unfortunately.

Mermaids however, are dangerous. They are carnivorous creatures that will feed on anything available to them, even if that so happens to be another mermaid or, gods forbid, a human.

Mermaids are cunning creatures who will do anything they can to survive. As far as traits go, mermaids lean more towards animalistic. Mermaids think more like sharks or eels do, they don't have much of a conscious to tell them not to do something.

There are two breads of mermaids, however. Fresh water mermaids seem to be more mellow and tamed than salt water mermaids.

Fresh water mermaids have been know to even study humans and try to copy their habits, their thinking. They can be violent and harsh if provoked but do not go out and seak violence.

Salt water mermaids, however, are much different.

Salt water mermaids will go out and seak violence as a bit of fun. It's a game to them. And woe to a man who stumbles upon a board mermaid. They will abuse you just for the fun of it. As I said, mermaids are a dangerous creature and should not be tampered with.

𓆝 𓆟 𓆞

"Reading again?"

Sebastian asked as he joined me, Ominis was at his side.

"Again? Hasn't that book caused enough trouble?"

Ominis asked with a groan and the boys both joined me in the great hall at dinner.

"Don't listen to him. He's just bitter." "Why? Because I can't read?"

Ominis snapped at his friend.

"I didn't say that." Sebastian replied. "No but it's what you meant." "you sound like a woman." "What? Because I'm actually concerned? The arcane is not something to be tampered with, tell me you're being careful at least, Sereia."

"I am."

I said, my voice sounded so different compared to theirs. Even when I spoke just a few words, the difference was there and it was clear.

Ominis sighed, I think it was in relief. I'm not sure.

"I'll have to take your word for it but I hope that you are being truthful. The dark arts are dangerous and they take many forms. They seem so promising to those ignorant enough to trust them- ow! Sebastian!"

Sebastian had swatted at Ominis' arm, smacking him. There was something they weren't telling me. A history. I wanted to know but I wasn't going to just outright ask them. I would prefer to do what I do best when presented with the strange habits of unknown creatures, study them.

I would learn their secrets but I would unravel them myself and study them over time.

"Ready for your first detention?"

Sebastian asked. He was trying to change the subject. I shrugged.

"It's not so bad, especially since we'll have Weasley. We'll probably just be organizing some of her paperwork." "Wait a moment, we?"

Ominis spoke up again.

"Sebastian you got detention? Again?"

Sebastian chuckled nervously.

"What could you have done this time?" "I almost turned my memory potion into a memory loss potion strong enough to wipe the memory of our entire potions class." "Honestly, Sebastian, it's like you don't even think."