#21 Algae & Mud

She wasn't having much luck with the Mud Toadstools. Perhaps the muddy banks of the lake itself were a better option?

Kassia had tried to go relax in her dorm room after extra-curricular work, but found her mind disquiet. With exams coming so soon and having to skirt around drama in her day-to-day life, she hadn't spoken with Amelia in quite some time. She was sure she felt lonely. Eventually, Kassia gave up on resting and left the castle, heading towards the lake.

She knew Amelia was focusing on potions lately, so she'd be out looking for ingredients. Kassia looked around the shores of the laked, peeked in the boathouse, and made it to the savannah before she spotted the very familiar mop of red hair. Kassia glanced around, but it appeared they were alone. Most students preferred to be cramming in the library at this time of year, it seemed.

Kassia walked over to the Gryffindor, who was hunting by the banks for ingredients. Kassia hadn't been there that long ago, searching with another much smaller Gryffindor. She stopped, observing the filthy splendour of the lakeshore.

"You know, a decent gardener could do wonders with this mess."

Kassia supposed she wasn't surprised by Amelia's response. She'd grown up in nature while Kassia preferred the structure and careful manicuring of city gardens. Still, the fact that her friend didn't seem to be angry was a good sign. Kassia stepped forward and looked at the list. She wrinkled her nose. Two ingredients were quite filthy indeed, and the third was in the Forbidden Forest.

"All this for Snape? Well, let me help."

Kassia crouched down, wishing she hadn't worn her nice lavender cardigan. She searched the muddy banks with her gaze, looking for any signs of toadstools. As she did, she glanced at Amelia out of the corner of her eye.

"How have you been?"

Kassia selected one single mud toadstool for herself and held her hands out to Amelia to indicate she should take the other three. She would never turn down a free ingredient, although her delicate fingers and tall boots were now speckled with mud. Surely wizards could have their ingredients come to them rather than this peasant labour.

"How unfortunate that we are reduced to wading. I suppose you're planning on visiting the Forbidden Forest later today?""

Kassia looked around herself at the sea of mud. She was surprised the boarites she had cared for weren't found here, rolling to their heart's content. She waded closer to the water's edge, looking for where algae might have been washed up from the previous night. Why couldn't potion ingredients be something pleasant, like lavender petals?

"He does like to make the Gryffindors work twice as hard."

Kassia stuck her fingers into her skirt pockets, as they were beginning to get cold. It was possible that algae would be floating on the water surface, but she didn't fancy going out any deeper. She listened to Amelia as she spoke. Kassia was hardly going to begrudge anyone for having a problem with Snape. The man had issues.

"I'm well aware, dear. You know, it's unfortunate. My House has some of the most passionate and clever people, but too many think they can only get ahead by being... well, nasty." She huffed. "As you unfortunately saw for yourself."

Kassia followed her friend out of the muck, lifting her skirts to prevent them from being dirtied. Perhaps the rain had washed all the algae away. She followed her up the bank and then sat on a grassy knoll, crossing her legs in a lady-like way.

"You are correct. Slytherins are expected to act a certain way, and so many of them do. But having respect is so much better than being feared. I wonder if other magical schools have this problem."