[] A stack of books and papers covered in odd symbols.
The first thing you notice is a stack off books and papers covered in odd symbols. Before you can take a page to try and determine what their purpose is you notice that the compartment is actually occupied. A you stand there like a deer in some headlights Sally-Anne pushes past you and starts the introductions. You recognize your housemates Terry and Mandy and the other occupant is introduced as Terry's older sister Olivia, a fourth year Hufflepuff.
Once introductions are complete you give in to your curiosity. "What is all this?" you ask, waving a hand at the pile of paper.
"Introductory alchemy and arithmancy." is Olivia's reply.
She explains that your friends were looking to get a head start on some of the advanced subjects available to third year students and bribed her with some rare chocolate frog cards to tutor them. While something about resorting to bribery rubs you the wrong way, you cant help but admire your classmates for their desire to learn all they can. You never even consider declining when asked if you want to join them.
The next several hours are filled with a crash course in the magical science the underlines potions and transfiguration as well as the mathematics used to explain it. You get the feeling that Olivia is surprised at how quickly you pick things up and she has to call a halt shortly after lunch to prep some more materials. As she prepares you wonder how Harry and Neville are doing. Terry, Sally-Anne and Mandy look like they could use a brief break as well.
Do you...
[] Look for Harry and Neville.
[] Stay here and wait for Olivia to prep some more materials
[] Do something else (write in)
Two updates in under a week. Woo!
For the purposes of this quest Alchemy is to potions what chemistry is to cooking. It also leads to transmutation which is the permanent version of transfiguration.