It was hours before Harry had finished scribbling corrections on his first draft. The task was a welcome distraction from the nightmare and Harry grabbed it with both hands. By the time he was aware of the bustling sounds around him, he had paged through two library books and found twelve mandrake properties, sixteen potions it could be used in, three ingredients that could counter its effects, and one that would make it acidic. Harry realised with dismay that his original essay was ruined, and he had to rewrite it all over again. He glumly started writing it on a fresh parchment, his earlier peace destroyed. Still, all the information was gathered and the essay was completed within a quarter of an hour, well above the foot and a half required.