#outofelixir

[vialsofvenom]

[And this is why I wish I could draw. I imagine Bart looking excited as he's hunched over a cauldron, eager to see the results of his experiment, and Loki above him, a restrained smirk on his lips but a ghost-like child-version of him hunched over the other side of the cauldron just as excited. X3 ]

((That is honestly the most adorable, accurate image. And I know that feel... it's so frustrating to have images trapped in your head that you don't have the art skill to put on paper. >.<))

[vialsofvenom]

Wyrmtongue's School Years: A Summary

Dementors. Dementors everywhere. Oh god why! Is this how it normally is? What is this place? (Bear in mind: he's lived with Muggles all his life). On top of that: bullies, escaped murderers, and his first DAtDA professor turns out to be a werewolf.

Yay! There are people here who don't care about the fact that he's in Slytherin! Bullying drops by about 40%! Except oops, now he's gone and learned that they teach the Dark Arts at Durmstrang, and the twelve-year-old Loki is very intrigued. Also... that Potter kid must've hit his head on something, because no way Voldemort is back.

UMBRIDGE. FUCKING DOLORES UMBRIDGE. WHAT THE EVER-LOVING FUCK. And whatever the pink abomination thinks, Loki is inclined to think the opposite. So he believes Harry's story (mostly out of spite), but doesn't join the DA, choosing instead a more subtly subversive route (Snape becomes an excellent resource).

Woo! Snape is teaching DAtDA, and Slughorn is teaching Potions! Finally, what looks like a normal year, with professors he actually likes. Except fuck... Snape's killed Dumbledore and is on the run, and Loki can smell the ensuing shitstorm twenty miles off.

Carrows. Carrows. Carrows. Stay under the radar, don't get hurt. Don't say anything, unless they'll approve. Turn sixteen, get the hell out of dodge. Looks like Voldemort's on the winning side this time, so better join him. And learn now what it feels like to kill. Tell self it's not enjoyable... because it is, but you're not a psychopath. Kill, kill, and betray. Betray a traitor father, betray a cruel monster, and know that whatever happened, you did the right thing. Take pride in wounds, and try to get at least a few hours of sleep each night. Beg for mercy, and lie. Survive at all costs. With skin intact, preferably.

Stay under the radar -- that's all that matters. Don't show anyone the Mark, don't show anyone the scars. Don't wear green except when you have to. Pretend to be a hero (they all saw you kill the Death Eater), but don't pretend too much, or they'll call your bluff. Spend every waking moment not spent in class or with Emma in the dungeons or in the library -- except to eat. Because that's important, but not very. Schoolwork is everything, and life is secondary. Make friends with teachers. Take refuge in Emma. 

Study. Schoolwork is everything (almost). Smile kindly, speak when spoken to. Be humble, be courteous, be quiet. DON'T SHARE OPINIONS. Study. Take refuge in Emma -- the only friend you have. This will all be over soon enough. Be the best, but don't let anyone know. Earn house points, but don't let anyone know. Smile quietly to yourself when Slytherin wins the House Cup for the first time in years. Leave Hogwarts with head held high, and scars dutifully covered.

[vialsofvenom]

Headcanon

The fact that the Potions professor plays favorites isn't really a secret, since he makes only enough effort to conceal it that he can't be told off for it by his superiors.

But the students he favors are not necessarily the ones you might imagine -- that is to say, not necessarily Slytherin, not necessarily best in his class, and not necessarily possessing of what has come to be regarded as a typical Slytherin disposition (think Draco Malfoy, Tom Riddle, Severus Snape). 

The common denominators are wit, intelligence, and passion.

Daine Sadgrove, for example, is a favorite because of her resourcefulness, and he is intrigued by the fact that she is clearly breaking rules but no one has ever been able to prove it. Iris McDougal is a scrappy little Ravenclaw who is awful at Potions, but she has a sharp wit, and was able to establish a rapport with him on that alone (which in itself he finds intriguing).

His favorites are very clearly favored... he almost never docks points or disciplines them, even for disruptions, and he would rather speak to them after class than punish them. The highest number of points he has ever taken from a favorite was 10. 

Those he doesn't favor he treats as one would expect from a young teacher -- with as much fairness as he can. His temper is somewhat legendary, but he does usually make an effort to contain it. Students he is apathetic toward generally get docked between 5-20 points, depending on the infraction.

Those he actively dislikes he will punish for the smallest thing. If someone like Tiran McQuillan twitches suspiciously in his presence, it's over -- they get detention, lose points, are sometimes threatened with expulsion... the whole nine yards. And he doesn't half-ass his punishments. Detentions are notoriously brutal, and students he dislikes generally get docked between 10-100 points, depending on the infraction.

[vialsofvenom]

Headcanon

Professor Wyrmtongue does not confiscate objects from students unless these objects are disruptive to him personally, or put other students in immediate mortal danger. He also doesn't dole out punishment for rule breaking unless, again, the breaking of a rule inconveniences or irritates him. 

So if you interrupt his class with a prank, for example, he will confiscate whatever you used to pull the prank (including your wand, if he wants to make a point), dock points, give detentions, etc. 

But if he finds you with something you got from the restricted section of the library in the middle of the night, chances are he'll leave you be. And if you find yourself with questions about said book, he's the one to go to if you want them answered. Because he tends not to mind students breaking rules, as long as it doesn't affect him directly.