For what it's worth, it's worth a lot.

Research seems a lot better when you've got friends along. 

It doesn't really seem to matter what you do---no matter how much halls you run through, teachers to talk to, or people to beg, it seems to be better when there are two people to laugh with.

True enough, the stress runs high. However, so does the stress relief. Extraction from plants can be boring. When you have mercury thermometers for wands, pistachios for spells, and conversations about childhoods, though, you're not just a bunch of groupmates anymore, you're friends. (Hopefully.)

Not to mention all that, and you learn to heat things up.

"The best way to see if it's hot, is to touch it."

It's the best way to get burned, too. Though, what's a little cooking without a little heat? Sure, you're scorched, but you get something out of it.

At the end of the day, what's happiness worth without a little work?