"If it's just the plant and not the refined itching powder from it's leaves getting it fixed isn't hard. You just need an antidote to the toxin and a spell to get the needle-like bits out of your skin. The cure for boils potion is also an acceptable alternative to treating it." I said with a shrug.
"How? That potion is only for boils right?" Mike asked confused.
"You haven't read the book very carefully have you? It's HOW the potion works that makes it useful here. Most boils are from something being in the skin causing pus and swelling. The potion works to draw these things out and get rid of them. The plants needle-like bits are a problem because they get stuck in the skin hence the potion works on them." I said seriously.
"What about itching powder then?" Terry asked curiosity sparked.
I shook my head. "Itching powder is different as it fuses into the skin rather than piercing it. This means treating someone hit by it requires flat out removing the skin affected. Technically there is four ways to solve this. The first is to wait a few days for that layer of skin to come off on it's own as is natural. The second is to basically fully sunburn every part hit with the itching powder causing it to peel off within a day. The third is to use a potion to dissolve the powder fused into the skin so it simply vanishes harmlessly. Finally is just taking off the skin directly." I explained frankly.
"Yeah I think I won't ever touch that stuff now, that all sounds bloody dreadful." Mike said with a shiver.
"Probably for the best." I nodded in agreement.
"So what do you guys have going for the rest of the day?" Terry asked changing the subject.
"I was going to tidy up the homework before reading the book I checked out of the library. Might get some practice in too if I finish it fast enough." I said calmly.
"I suppose I'll also tidy up the homework before maybe playing chess for a bit." Mike said with a shrug.
"You know the homework is not due for a few days right?" Terry asked exasperated.
"Yeah but if I do it now I can just relax until it's due, procrastinating is a bad habit that rarely ends well." I said seriously.
"What he said." Mike said.
"Fiiine, I guess I can do the homework too. No fun at all." Terry complained.
The trip to the common room was uneventful and even after we got to work on our homework there wasn't much to talk about. I double checked my own homework as the ink dried on the paper and satisfied with it I put it away and brought out the charms book I checked out. I finished that too about an hour before dinner and chose to practice an illusion spell in it.-
"A canary? Seriously?" Mike asked incredulously as a small yellow bird chirped and flew around the common room.
I held out my wand as the illusory bird landed on it.
"Don't underestimate a canary. There's even a tale where a god won a bet with one." I said with a smile.
"Really? What is it?" Terry asked intrigued and a few others who overheard me leaned in to listen as well.
"The tale goes that a couple of mortals had an argument about who was superior between the god of madness and the god of the hunt. The gods themselves came to hear of this argument and naturally decided to compete. The terms of the challenge were that both had a year to create and train up a champion and at the end of the year these champions would meet in a fight to the death. The last one standings patron would be declared the superior god." I said before pausing for drama.
"What happened next?" Mike urged impatiently.
"The god of the hunt summoned a great reptilian demon beast that he then empowered with claws sharp enough to rend steel, fangs dripping with poison and skin harder than stone. He then cursed the beast with insatiable maddening bloodlust and lycanthropy. This monster stood toweringly and was greatly feared by all who beheld it for it's savagery and stature." I said before pausing again.
"The god of madness must have had a canary then right?" one of the upper years said in disbelief.
"Indeed. When the year was up the two gods met with their champions. The god of the hunt with his great monster and the mad god with but a small colorful bird singing cheerfully on his finger. The god of the hunt scoffed at this and even loudly admonished himself for expecting the mad one to truly take this seriously. Still a battle to the death was the terms and a battle there was." I paused again dramatically as they all sat at the edge of their seats in interest.
"The great monster ravenously and without mercy swung it's claws at the small bird but missed as the bird was nimble and hopped about still singing cheerfully though on it's shoulders and head. This caused the great monster to grow enraged and ruthlessly slash it's stone skin and tear apart it's flesh to try and kill this small cheerful annoyance. Soon enough the god of the hunt could only grow sour as his great beast destroyed itself until it perished and on it's ravaged corpse stood the small cheerful bird still singing as though it was never in danger." I said with a smile as the illusory bird on my wand chirped cheerfully drawing all eyes to it in wonder.