Chapter 24: Making The Wiggenweld Potion

Annie exhaled slowly and opened her eyes. Glancing at the fire burning beneath the cauldron, she felt her heartbeat increase in anticipation as she resolutely decided in her head, 'It's time!'

A FEW MINUTES AGO

After arranging the ingredients on another table beside the potions station, Annie began feeling unease and worry in her heart. She looked at herself and realized that her hands were shaking.

This meant that despite what she had repeated in her head for motivation, deep down, she was scared. Scared that she won't be able to make the potion. Or worse, make some mistake that might just blow everything up.

However, she placed her hand on her chest and smiled as she thought, 'I can do this. It doesn't matter if I don't even try.'

PRESENT

Annie carefully picked up the vial that contained scarlet red liquid and brought it over to the cauldron and poured all of the liquid inside it.

THISS

Annie heard a faint hissing sound from the cauldron as slight vapors emanated from it. Placing the empty vial aside on the table, she murmured, "Salamander blood, done!"

"You need to add more of the salamander blood.", said the wand while levitating in the air beside Annie.

"Hmm?", Annie peered inside the cauldron and when she saw that the liquid was still scarlet red, she realized that what the wand was correct.

"Of course!", Annie said as she grabbed another vial of salamander blood and poured all of it in the cauldron, "I need to add salamander blood until the liquid turns red from scarlet red."

When she saw that the liquid began turning a shade lighter, she smiled.

A few minutes later, after the potion turned red, she grabbed a wooden spatula and began stirring the liquid.

"Now, I have to stir the liquid until it turns orange."

"That's correct.", The wand replied.

After the potion turned orange, she emptied another vial of salamander blood in the cauldron and watched the liquid turn yellow.

'Stir until the potion turns green.', Annie repeated the brewing instructions in her head, afraid that she might make a mistake. She had to be extremely careful during the whole brewing process. A single mistake would cost her too much.

A COUPLE OF HOURS LATER

Annie wiped the sweat from her forehead and peered inside the cauldron carefully.

"Finally! The liquid's yellow!", Annie exclaimed happily.

She picked up the vial containing honey water and emptied it into the cauldron.

HISSSS

"Add more of it until it turns back into torquoise color.", the wand said as it brought another vial containing Honey water on top of it and gave it to Annie.

As the wand watched Annie pour the contents of the vial into the cauldron, it said, "Some people call Wiggenweld potion one of the most difficult potions because it requires you to wait and stir for quite some time."

Annie placed the empty vial in a bag which was filled with dozens of empty vials and replied to the wand, "Making this potion is taxing to your body and mind. You need to keep stirring the potion until the color changes and then you have to wait for it to heat up. If you don't have patience and the willpower to make this potion, you won't be able to do it even if are Harry Potter yourself."

"Who?", the wand asked.

"Never mind.", Annie quickly replied and thought, 'Shit! That slipped out of my mouth!'

"I am just talking jibberish. I am tired, that's all."

"You need to rest, then.", the wand replied in a somewhat concerning voice.

"Thanks for your concern but I'm fine. I will only rest after I finish brewing this potion.", Annie said and watched as a faint turquoise color began appearing in the liquid.

Annie kept watching as the liquid gradually turned turquoise in color from yellow.

"Now!", She murmured as she grabbed the bottle of boom berry juice.

"Be very careful!", the wand warned Annie.

"I know!", Annie replied anxiously, "I only have to add a few drops of it lest the potion explodes in my face."

Annie carefully let one drop of the juice fall into the liquid.

BOOM

Annie gulped as she saw a faint explosion occuring inside the liquid. Nevertheless, she poured a couple more drops and closed the bottle.

After stirring the potion, Annie placed the spatula on the table and walked back to the couch.

"Ooof!", Annie groaned out in exhaustion as she let herself fall on the couch headfirst.

SQUEAK SQUEAK

Hearing his squeaking, Annie lifted her head sideways and saw Teddy looking at her with eyes full of concern.

He placed his paw on her cheek and squeaked as if to say, "You did very well. Don't worry, your hard work would bear gold. Right now, you need to rest."

Annie smiled gratefully at Teddy and grabbed him.

SQUEAK

Teddy let out a loud squeak as Annie hugged him tightly. Maybe a bit too tight because he was trying to wiggle his way out of her grasp.

Annie kissed his head and whispered, "I love you, Teddy!"

That calmed Teddy down and he snuggled against her and purred loudly.