"If you are going to be sick, please abstain from doing so in the middle of the hallway" the Potions Mistress said as soon as her feet touched ground once again after using the portkey."Even if this is a hospital" she added with a little scowl, narrowing her eyes at the flurry of limbs and disgruntled noises, watching the little brats as they attempted to get back to their feet or steady themselves. Today was going to be infernal, what with double the trouble and the excitement of being out of the castle.

Clearing her throat once, she straightened some creases in her robe and glared at the students, waiting with little patience for them to compose themselves. "Is this all of you?" she asked, arching an eyebrow as she passed her eyes cursorily over the group, wishing Whitman could've been here to deal with this. "You" she tilted her chin menacingly at one of the first years. "And you" she narrowed her eyes at another student, a second year this time. "Make a headcount of your colleagues and keep it for the duration of the visit. If at any point anyone goes missing, you're to inform me immediately. Is that understood?" she asked slowly, voice steady and eyebrows raising minutely.

She straightened her back, and gestured for them to move to the side, in as orderly a fashion as possible. "As we've been discussing for the past two weeks, today you are going to be meeting Mister Flynn Hughes, Healer-In-Charge of the Spell Damage Ward here at St. Mungo's" she repeated for what must've been the dozenth time, in a bored, expressionless voice, glaring at a couple of students that were fidgeting and whispering between them. "You will be learning and seeing first hand, the use of Potions in healing. You will be getting information about healing as a career—how to prepare for it, what to expect in the job, what sort of experiences you might have and so on" she raised a hand and made a dismissive gesture, moving it to pinch the bridge of her nose.

"This is not a presentation, it's a discussion. I expect your participation in the form of appropriate questions and offering intelligent answers if questions are addressed, as well as contributing with any knowledge you might've gained in Potions so far. All that, without interrupting Mister Hughes and by adequately announcing yourself. Am I clear?" she asked lowly and menacingly, dropping her hand to clasp both of them at the front of her robes. "At the end of the discussion, you will be brewing in less than stellar conditions, call it field brewing or emergency brewing, if you want. Ingredients will be scarce, utensils even more so and there will be a time limit" she continued conversationally, eyeing the Hufflepuffs a little amused.

Her posture got even more rigid and her lips formed a tight little line, as she analyzed them in silence for a moment. "I will not remind you again. This is a hospital and you will behave with the appropriate respect for this sort of environment. We are not in class. While you are here, you are representing not only your House and your school, but also me" she underlined the last word, with a little more force to her voice, almost snarling at them. "Do not think for a second that just because we are not in the castle, point deduction, detention and abysmal grades are not a possibility" she huffed a little, shaking her head subtly. "If you embarrass me today, you will be scrubbing cauldrons, sorting out flobberworms and cleaning out bedpans for the rest of the year. Are we all in agreement?" she tipped her chin up, looking down at them with narrowed eyes.

When a figure approached from the side, Ezia turned on her heels and stiffly inclined her head in greeting. "Healer Hughes, thank you for having us this morning" she said politely, but without a trace of inflection. "I hope we are going to have a fruitful lesson together" she attempted a tight little smile, growing bored of it in less than a second and turning her head to glare at the students one last time, hoping her warnings had gotten through to their little heads and that there wouldn't be any surprises. She hated surprises.

---

* If your character was not present at the appointed time set for the travel by portkey, they will be absent from today's lesson.
* If you are a new student or if your character is not on the roster[1], please go ahead with posting and notify me via PM to modify the roster.

1.	Roster and other information on how the class will be conducted under Lucrezia may be found here.

Meanwhile, in the cluster of second years recovering from from Portkey travel...

"I wish this hadn't been right after breakfast," Obderedria moaned from where she had bounced against a wall, unused to the dizzying speed from portkey landing. In truth she had forgotten about this field trip being right after breakfast morning of, literally having to cram down breakfast earlier than usual to make the time for the meeting area. She didn't like feeling nauseated. Puking was the worst experience she could think of from childhood. Such a--no, no--no--don't think about it it'll only get worse--

"Meep" was the closest approximation to the sound she made when Professor Di Luca turned on her for the second year count. Jarring travel, a sickly feeling and sudden responsibility on a class excursion did nothing to calm what frayed nerves Obderedria regularly possessed, let alone how scary Professor Di Luca could be.. It didn't help that her surprise showed in her hair, still longer than usually and hyperactive at times. The ends curling and splitting in shock.

"Head-d c-count," she muttered, quickly turning to what second years she had to count. Heliotrope, of course, and Philo, both looking a little less ruffled from the journey, and---oh--whats his name next to Philo? And her back there?

Oh no, she wasn't able to place names and faces right on the spot.

Well, good marks for not flopping about through the sand on arrival to Egypt, like the last time Philo had gone any great distance via Portkey. Though that was an international trip, making the transportation spell seem all the worse. Philo had still stumbled but his displacement wasn't off to sending him careening down the hall.

Admittedly he was pleased to not get burdened with keeping count of his classmates, though the task was far easier than how Professor Di Luca was making it sound on top of the rigamarole they would be through today in the day-out. Although Drea was looking absolutely frazzled at being selected. In more ways than one.

Because heavens to Helena Philo did not like the sound of some of Di Luca's suggested detentions for bad behavior during the trip. Clearing out bedpans? He was momentarily confused as to what bedpans there were at Hogwarts. Would they have to come back to the hospital to clean out those bedpans? What would Hogwarts use bedpans for anyways? Were there bedwetters?

Oh no, were there bed-wetters?? Just because Philo had thankfully broken the habit before school and he didn't think any of his dorm mates wet the bed what of students in other houses and grades. Or did anyone in his dorm room still do it? Because you'd think that wouldn't be able to be hidden for more than a year together, even if you had the stoic intellect of Tim Pepper at your disposal.

At the end of this spiraling logic Philo only hoped that they wouldn't have to make an emergency potion inside a bedpan, while he struggled to repress horrifying memories of the time his brother Foster pranked him with the 'Nigh Charmed Water and Shaving Cream Trick.'

Given Heliotrope's natural predilection for balance she had no problems herself landing from Portkey, or Unusual Normal Looking Object That Tingled when she had touched it.

Their year had had a lot of field trips to different locations. Leaving the giant hallways of Hogwarts Castle to the giant hallways of the (underground) Ministry of Magic to the giant hallways of Saint Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies. Maybe less giant hallways in comparison. This was one of the most profound things Heliotrope had come to understand of the land dwellers, that many of their activities needed giant hallways in order for things to make sense to them, otherwise what was with the use of long corridors everywhere.

Though she was from a great body of water the feeling didn't make her claustrophobic in the slightest. It did reinforce how limited the directions of movement were because a broomstick was needed to match the flexibility of underwater travel. You could even fly a broomstick in here it appeared.

Though luckily no broom or giant fountain nearby as Helio was paying the slightest bit of attention to the proceedings of the start of the class. Though it seemed she was paying attention as she looked to the healer they were meeting with a common underwater denizen unblinking stare. The man reminded her a bit of a bird.

Aoife had never traveled by Portkey before, and sadly, her first experience was not a pleasant one. Falling onto the floor and nearly cracking her head on the hard floor was not a good way to begin Potions class. It was bad enough that Aoife wasn't the best at potions, but did they really need to take a field trip to emphasize how bad she was?

'Take a head count...' Aoife thought as she looked around. 'Alright, I think everyone's here. When do we meet that man-wait...What do you mean, field brewing?' Aoife's stomach sank as Professor Di Luca explained the restrictions that would be placed on their practical for this class.

'This is going to suck...' Aoife groaned softly.

Ugh. Portkeys. The lowest of the low forms of travel. If Dione had a voice to mutter with, she would have as she pulled herself from the floor, checked her translation artifact, and brushed dirt off her skirt and tights. Mother would hear about this. Really, if they were to have field trips, it ought to be with proper transportation.

Once she was on her feet, Dione immediately slid off to the side, choosing a point which kept respectable distance while also allowing her to hover near their professor and her gorgeous gown. While nearly everyone else faced Professor Di Luca with apprehension, anger, or outright fear, Dione unapologetically adored their latest Potions Master. She was everything a fine lady should be, cold and regal and thoroughly disciplined. Exactly what Dione wanted in an educator.

Eager to live up to Di Luca's expectations, Dione kept her head high and her shoulders set, nodding in key points to show that she understood every instruction. The standards were harsh, no doubt, but Dione would rise to meet them. This was potions, after all. Her handicap couldn't hold her back here. She would shine. With a click of her heels, she turned her attention to Healer Hughes, waiting to commit to memory all the man would offer.

Teaching was a profession that Flynn had always been fascinated by—in fact, he had considered pursing the path of educating young minds. But, healing was where he belonged, and while teaching was a nice idea, he got plenty of that satisfied whenever there were new trainees. Recently, he had gotten an owl about aiding in a potions class with some hands-on healing potions.  Needless to say, excited wouldn’t even begin to cover how he was feeling.  Flynn Hughes had spent the majority of his morning asking himself hypothetical questions and answering them.

However, he felt like most of the questions would’ve been directed towards their very capable professor, Lucrezia Di Luca. At least, he assumed she was capable—his nephew had mentioned in letters how Di Luca was demon spawn, but Linus was prone to overreactions, especially towards authority figures that didn’t let him goof off in inappropriate settings.

He entered the room set aside for the lesson and positively beamed at the students. How adorable! He remembered when he was their age, curious and rather roly-poly.

"Healer Hughes, thank you for having us this morning. I hope we are going to have a fruitful lesson together"
“You’re welcome.” He nodded politely, and he turned to face the students.

“I assume, this will be your first time making some emergency potions for most of you?” The question was directed at the students, though he looked at Lucrezia through the corner of his eye for confirmation. “Exciting. Quite exciting. I’m Flynn Hughes, master healer—potioneer extraordinaire.” He cleared his throat, “To start, have you got any questions for me, specific to healing, or my career?”

Aoife blinked. She was expecting Professor-

'Wait, he's not a professor. Mr. Hughes? Healer Hughes? Whatever.' Aoife thought.

-Hughes would be as bad as Professor Di Luca. After all, she most likely had asked for his help with the field trip. Aoife wondered if they knew each other well. Wait, he wanted people to ask questions. Aoife wasn't the best at making potions, but maybe she could learn from this man, even if it was just while the class was on this field trip.

"Do you have to be really good at potions to do field potion-ing?" Aoife finally asked Hughes.

'If that's the case, I'm not gonna do good at all...Why can't potions be more like cooking?' Aoife thought, a small frown coming to her face.

The Potions Mistress nodded tightly at Hughes' question for her students, without actually gracing him with the focus of her glare, which was still directed towards the children. Especially the second years. By Morgana they were a strange bunch. It was at the healer's self-introduction that she turned her head slowly, so slowly, to eye him with an arched eyebrow and her lips pursed. Was that so? Master healer? Potioneer extraordinaire? Well, she'll see about that, won't she?

At Moffet's question, Ezia tsk-ed softly under her breath, and raised her eyes to the ceiling shaking her head slightly.  "If you'll allow me, Healer Hughes" she said in a clipped voice, eyes drilling holes into the Hufflepuff's head. "Emergency brewing requires composure, tenacity, quick-thinking and above all well-set fundamental knowledge on potion-brewing. Now... What do you think Miss Moffet, do you have to be really good at Potions or not?" she asked in a level-voice, eyebrows raised in question. Had she not mentioned appropriate questions just a few minutes ago? Or, perhaps—

"Thank you, Miss Moffet" she smiled tightly, in a way that said she was not at all satisfied. "Perhaps a more competent question this time? Hmm?" she tilted her head to watch the students with narrowed eyes. "Why don't you tell the students what subjects one must excel in if they are planning to train as a healer, Mister Hughes?" she added after a few moments, turning her head to watch the man with an impassive expression.

After triple checking her second year headcount--which she kept having to restart from miscounting--Obderedria turned back to the rest of the class's focus with their hospital guide healer. Her brow lined a moment--did she recognize this Healer--? Was she even sure she had been to St. Mungo's before? There was something familiar about the surroundings and yet--

"How do you use potions here? I mean, with your job, specific to--" Not only was Obderedria not remembering all the terms for specific doctors that usually ended in ---cologist, did wizard doctors use the same terms? How about the witch doctors--wait a minute, witchdoctors--?

“With jobs specific to healers you mean?” Flynn offered up the proper term with a wide smile and raised eyebrows, “We use potions in everything, though they might not show up in a watery form. We use lots of pastes on certain wounds, infections, magical skin ailments…” He brought his hand to his chin, “Many of our patients drink the potions themselves when they have illnesses… Honestly—we use potions on every floor. I’d argue that potions are just as important—if not more important—than magical charms. Creative potions can cure what simple charms cannot.”

He gazed down at the speckle-haired girl. “Did that answer your question?”  Flynn looked at Di Luca out of the corner of his eye, wondering when it was time to move on to the hands-on portion of the lesson.

Aoife frowned even further at Professor Di Luca's response to her question.

"Thank you, Miss Moffet" Aoife thought Professor Di Luca was going to rip her face apart with the way she was smiling.  "Perhaps a more competent question this time? Hmm?"

Aoife fought hard to resist the urge to do something rude. Luckily for her, what willpower she had won out over the urges. She listened as Pienas asked a question that Aoife admitted was much better than her own.

'Maybe you learn to ask better questions in Second Year, I don't know.' Aoife thought, only slightly paying attention to the answer Healer Flynn was giving. She didn't hear any advice on how to do the practical part, which was what Aoife was worried about.

Having never traveled by portkey before, Michael was clearly disorientated. Everything moved around so fast. Even now things were spinning. He fell against the wall in the hallway, drooping to the ground as his head cleared. He knew that magic was different. But, portkeys were different in another way. Magic itself was good different, while portkeys were bad different. They caused disorientation, which wasn't good at all.

After standing up on his feet once his mind cleared, Michael was thankful that he wasn't tasked with keeping a first year head count. He didn't think that he could even count correctly at that moment.

Professor Di Luca listed off the restrictions for the groups of first and second years. They were at St. Mungo's to learn after all. Typically, field trips were meant to be fun, right? But, he highly doubted that any field trip designed by Professor Di Luca would be fun. Did she even know what [i[fun[/i] was?

Apparently, they were going to be field brewing today. At the very least, they wouldn't need to guess which ingredients to use in a potion again. Hopefully. Mike directed his attention at Healer Hughes as he greeted the group of students. If any of them were planning on asking a question that Professor Di Luca thought was incompetent, she would essentially embarrass them. Just as she did with Aoife's question.

"What was the most complex potion you have brewed?" Mike asked, after considering a question to ask.

It took all of Dio's self-control not to fidget. How she hated question-and-answer lessons. Nothing substantial was ever asked, and it was far too much trouble for her to try and get attention without a voice. So now, as always, she wound up flexing her fingers behind her back and praying for the ordeal to end.

She rolled her eyes at Moffett's fumbling and shot Labell a sour glare when he continued the fiasco ever further. For Merlin's sake! She wanted to get to the lesson already, the brewing. That would be the interesting part, and she'd mop the floor with the entire class.

With a silent sigh, Dione turned her eyes to Professor Di Luca, praying that the fine lady would step in now to put them back on track.

What a ride! It was exactly as her grandmother had described: nauseating, terrifying, and yet Faye found it absolutely exhilarating! Unfortunately, she had not been prepared for the landing and wound up on the ground. Quickly the petite Gryffindor stood up and brushed herself off to try and keep her threadbare, hand-me-down uniform as presentable as possible. Faye had been on bad terms with the Potions Mistress since Day 1 for her unkempt look and while she was not intending on making up for it like certain other Ravenclaw students did when they had fallen short of the Perfect mark, the girl also didn't care to draw unnecessary attention from her professor. Miss Duca? Didi? Diluge? Delusional, that's what her name should be for having high expectations of any member of the Ruggles lineage. Faye smiled to herself at her mental joke and swiftly joined the other first years.

Field brewing? This was not going to be one of her better days. While she was sufficient at memorizing previously brewed potions and their ingredients, she was not proficient at brewing them on the spot. Indeed, this potions mistress was absolutely horrid with her expectations of what the first years could do. There may have been some certain Ravenclaws that were talented at everything, but Faye was neither in Ravenclaw nor was she among those talented classmates. She decided to simply stand within the crowd of all her little classmates, camouflaged by the sameness of the uniforms, and try to hide from participating at all. This way, she couldn't irritate the potions professor just by being looked at.