Above the stuff

9 p.m. The abandoned study room.

Wally typically did not arrive early for these deals of hers. She liked to get them over and done with as soon as possible. She set the time and location, and when she would arrive, she did the transaction as quickly as possible before moving on.

But something about this case was different. Vivianna was smart. She was top of the class in Potions and Wally, being the great potioneer she secretly was, could respect that. And for whatever reason, it bothered her that the redheaded girl wanted some drugs. She and Keith stayed away from the stuff because they both knew it decreased certain waves of brain activity.

Wally thought she had to at least explain that to Vivianna. One potioneer to the other.

At 8:59pm, Vivianna Varnes found herself standing right outside the closed door of the abandoned study room. When Sugar and Spice had first become the big new thing around Hogwarts, the witch couldn't help but be a little disgusted. Nicking some of the stuff from her roommate at the first chance that she got, the teenager did a little research and found that the stuff was easily just as bad for a person as any muggle drug.

It wasn't just the long-term effects of the stuff that kept the Slytherin away though. There was a reason why the teenager had never even considered using the stuff. Vivianna never felt comfortable unless she was aware and analyzing her surroundings. That put any sort of drug far out of the question. Of course, the witch was very careful about pretending with her housemates. As far as she knew not a being was the wiser. It was a bit pathetic, most people who didn't use did so because of self-respect. Or simply because it was the good thing to do. Vivianna however, stayed away because she was scared. No matter what lies she came up with, that would remain the truth.

Yet, here she was, about to purchase some of the blasted stuff. Not for herself, Salazar no! But what type of Slytherin would the girl be if she didn't take advantage of such a brilliant product when it was practically handed to her on a silver platter? Fingertips drumming against her thigh, the student opened the door, and entered.

Wally had been inspecting an old desk that had been shoved in the corner, trying to make out the strange graffiti that had been scratched across its surface when she heard a noise at the door. She spur around as the door opened and Vivianna Varnes made her way into the room, right on time.

"Close the door," Wally said, her Australian accent making its way through her words successfully.

She approached, chewing on her lip thoughtfully, though the rest of her face was the usual mask of indifference. "I typically jump right into these things but, I need to ask - what are your plans for this product?"

Following the other girl's orders, the older student shut the door behind her. When the blonde admitted to breaking tradition and asked what Vivianna planned to use the drugs for, the teenager became a mite confused.

"Well that depends," the redhead admitted slowly, and it really did depend. She might use the stuff as a prop, offer it to someone to gain trust or information, perhaps even slip the drugs to another student.

Analytical mind automatically jumping to a conclusion, Vivianna let out a soft chuckle. "If you're worried that I intend to study or replicate your recipe you needn't worry," the witch reassured Wally. Vivianna figured that such was the most probable reason for the Ravenclaw to fret. The two of them were both fully aware of the other's potions abilities, and if the Slytherin really tried, she'd likely be able to create the drugs herself.

Wally reached up, plucking a strand of her own hair and carefully working it into the high ponytail she had pulled her hair into. This was strange, very, very strange for her. Wally typically couldn't give a rat's ass what anyone else did with their lives. Especially her clients - she couldn't be bothered.

But somewhere, deep within her unfeeling heart, she felt a shade of worry for the elder Slytherin girl. "That's not it. The original maker of our recipe has put clever little blocks in for that." She had helped Keith throw in some ingredients that cancelled each other out to confuse anyone trying to analyze the concoction.

"I was just a bit worried you were intending on using. I usually don't care but you're not like the other fruit loops around here. And we need more potioneers around here who know what the hell they're doing. This stuff doesn't help the mind of a potion maker."

Well, this was odd. The Ravenclaw didn't want her to use and get addicted to the other girl's money-making drugs. Why would Wally care if Vivianna destroyed her mind with such substances? Better yet, did Wally honestly think that the elder girl was oblivious to the identity of the original maker of her recipe?

"Don't worry," the Slytherin said slowly, "I'm not getting it for my usage." That much was true, no matter what happened, Vivianna sure as hell would never use the stuff. If the teenager had just so happened to word the statement to sound like she was purchasing for someone else, then that was just as well.

Not long ago the redheaded girl had been offered some sugar by Oliver Krum, she'd given a perfectly good reason for handing the stuff back. Now though, she needed to be prepared incase word of that got back to the wrong people.

Wally was a bit confused - she didn't know of anyone willing to drop some much money on the stuff unless they were getting the benefit of it themselves. She'd have to tell Keith about it sometime. He handled all of the potential threats ever since she punched the kid that had told her he was going to release her identity - turns out, the boy had only been flirting with her. Ooops.

His nose almost looked back to normal.

Oh well. That was good enough for her. "Right then." She approached a desk and dropped her heavy bag on it, beginning to rifle through. "How do you want to do this? Do you have a certain amount you want to spend, or a specific quantity you'd like?"

Right finger tapping a slow rhythm on the outside of the thigh, the girl had to admit to herself that she didn't know the first thing about the amount of drugs needed per usage, or the pricing involved. The teenager doubted that money would be a problem, she had plenty due to her job, but other than that the Slytherin was lost. Well, at least her obliviousness would probably help convince Wally that she wasn't a druggie.

"I know that I want some sugar and some spice, but I don't know anything else. So, if you could give me a quick run-down on ammountage and prices that would be great," Vivianna told the other girl, refusing to let her tone show too much of her complete lack of knowledge in this area. Not that her words didn't already make it obvious.

Wally nodded. Most people came in with no clue how much they wanted, or how much they wanted to spend. It was typical - their minds were so distracted by the dilemma of whether to buy or not to buy that few ever got far enough to actually think of the logistics of the actual purchase itself.

Best to give a basic run down. "Basic quality of Sugar is four galleons for an eighth of an ounce. The higher quality stuff is six galleons for an eighth. Spice is sold in only one quantity, and it's eleven galleons for the ounce."

That had been helpful, but Vivianna now had a new question. The teenager hadn't even known that there were two different qualities of Sugar. "Right, thanks. But what exactly is the difference between the two qualities of Sugar?" the Slytherin found herself asking before she could help herself, "and how well does all of this keep?"

The last question wasn't something Vivianna had previously thought of, but was certainly important. There wouldn't be a point in buying a large quantity of the drugs if it needed to be used within a relatively short amount of time. Sitting down upon one of the old desks, the redhead mindlessly played with the ring that never left her hand.