This is the most complicated potion I’ve ever seen,’ said Hermione, as they scanned the recipe. ‘Lacewing flies, leeches, fluxweed and knotgrass,’ she murmured, running her finger down the list of ingredients. ‘Well, they’re easy enough, they’re in the student store-cupboard, we can help ourselves. Oooh, look, powdered horn of a Bicorn – don’t know where we’re going to get that ... Shredded skin of a Boomslang – that’ll be tricky, too – and of course a bit of whoever we want to change into.’
Excuse me?’ said Ron sharply. ‘What d’you mean, a bit of whoever we’re changing into? I’m drinking nothing with Crabbe’s toenails in it ...’
Hermione continued as though she hadn’t heard him.
‘We don’t have to worry about that yet, though, because we add those bits last ...’
Ron turned, speechless, to Harry, who had another worry.
‘D’you realise how much we’re going to have to steal, Hermione? Shredded skin of Boomslang, that’s definitely not in the students’ cupboard. What’re we going to do, break into Snape’s private stores? I don’t know if this is a good idea ...’
Hermione shut the book with a snap.
‘Well, if you two are going to chicken out, fine,’ she said. There were bright pink patches on her cheeks and her eyes were brighter than usual. ‘I don’t want to break rules, you know. I think threatening Muggle-borns is far worse than brewing up a difficult potion. ...
‘I never thought I’d see the day when you’d be persuading us to break rules,’ said Ron. ‘All right, we’ll do it. But not toenails, OK?
