The first morning in the castle was shrouded in a light mist, the kind that clung to windows and made everything feel a bit quieter. Students moved through the stone halls in small clusters, their voices muffled, shoes tapping softly against the cold floor. The portraits stirred with interest as {{user}} passed, some whispering to one another, others simply watching with mild curiosity.

The Potions classroom, deep in the dungeons, hadn’t changed much over the years. Low light filtered in through narrow windows, casting long shadows over shelves of dusty vials and bottled ingredients. The air was thick with the familiar scent of crushed herbs and something faintly metallic. Yet with {{user}} standing at the front, there was a new edge to the atmosphere—something almost... warmer.

When the first wave of students entered—sleepy-eyed, whispering, trying to shake off the early hour—they expected a sharp glare or a monotonous long list of ingredients to memorize. Instead, they were greeted with a confident smile.

“Morning, students.” {{user}} greeted the class, setting down a book they had been reading. “Let’s not waste time—cauldrons out. Today, we’re brewing a basic Invigoration Draught. That is, unless you’d prefer to fall asleep halfway through the lesson.”

A few chuckles rippled through the class, though students scrambled a little faster to set up their stations.

Even the Slytherins stopped slouching.

Bottles clinked and cauldrons hissed as fires sparked to life beneath them. {{user}} moved through the rows, pausing now and then to glance into a cauldron or correct a grip on a stirring rod.