They settled into a silent rhythm of adding ingredients, mixing and stirring, handing each other the next item on the list without needing to confer. It seemed to be going more as less according to what William remembered, although a few times they had to sort of shake something in until it looked right, rather than follow any sort of strict measurement. That was how potions were developed, though, right? He felt closer to Gabe by doing it this way.
He really hoped Gabe still had a head for him to hold this over.
They were five steps from the cooling process when William's mind completely blanked. He couldn't remember whether it was three turns clockwise or four-and-a-half counterclockwise, and he had to make up his mind in just a few seconds, because the mixture inside the cauldron was starting to turn from blue to red.
"Go slowly," he advised, aware that he didn't sound particularly confident. "If it starts to feel wrong, just...stop."
He pulled his wand out just in case. If they made a bubbling, angry potions-creature rather than a ready-to-be-bottled explosive potion, he wanted to be ready.