Harry returns home at two o’clock in the morning but cannot sleep. His apartment is in the basement of an old house, and he also has access to a sub-basement that he has turned into a magic workroom. Now, he goes to the workroom to make potions. He wakes Bob the Skull, an ancient air spirit who exists in a skull and has been bound to Harry’s service. Bob has worked with many wizards over the years and has a vast and encyclopedic knowledge of magic. He is also a lecherous spirit who reads romance novels and likes to spy on women’s locker rooms whenever Harry rewards him with an evening free.

Harry asks Bob to help him make an escape potion. Bob only agrees to help on the condition that Harry also makes a love potion for fun. The two spend the night mixing ingredients. Potions require a liquid base, one ingredient for each of the five senses, and something for the mind and the spirit. They make the escape potion first and then the love potion. Harry places each potion into a different sports bottle and labels them.