Vizette had a sudden grasp of what it meant to "forge your dreams with your own hands." As a potions master, Snape was as skilled at infusing brews with sharp, bitter herbs as he was with their sweeter counterparts. Once he divined Vizette's intentions, Snape flicked his wand, summoning the recipe for the Pepperup Potion.
"If you insist on adding these superfluous herbs without sabotaging the potion's core effect, you'll need to overhaul the fundamentals," he said curtly.
True to form, Snape prepared the ingredients himself while Vizette observed intently. When the herb processing concluded, it was Vizette's turn to probe.
With the aid of his Magic Eye, Vizette deciphered most of Snape's techniques, leaving few queries. "Professor, must the kavapepper seeds be removed entirely? Leaving them would amplify the potency, wouldn't it?"
Snape, arms crossed, delivered his response in a clipped, resonant tone. "Planning to brew a fruit salad with raw kavapepper? Spare yourself the trip to the hospital wing—unless that's your goal."
He paused, then elaborated: "Uncapped and unseeded, then heated with the other components, it turns toxic. Hence..."
Vizette seized the thread. "The pumpkin seeds! Their milder profile substitutes for the kavapepper seeds, stabilizing the mix!"
This back-and-forth resembled a hunter laying snares, biding time for the quarry. The roles blurred—who was prey to whom?—but the yield mattered more. Some reaped emotional validation; Vizette chased intellectual clarity.
Doubts dispelled, he reviewed his notes, voicing conclusions from the prep. "Beech leaves must be pulverized to an ultrafine powder for seamless integration into the cauldron..."
Snape nodded silently if correct.
"Tender leaves are preferable—their invigorating kick avoids excess irritation..."
Another nod.
"The Billywig stings require grinding, as we'll infuse honeysuckle and echinacea later. A prolonged simmer demands even heat to prevent scorching at the base..."
Nod.
The rhythm built, a subtle hunt. Vizette snapped her notebook shut. "Professor, we're ready for the next phase."
Snape's dark eyes lingered on her. He sensed the shift—like prey spotting the trap—but pressed on. "Proportions of the herbs, then. With the method altered, the ratios follow suit. Experiment yourself... and test them in the hospital wing if needed."
His barbs flew sharp, yet laced with guidance. Vizette parried effortlessly, accustomed now.
Arms still folded, Snape critiqued his initial ratios. "Pumpkin seeds to mint leaves inm that measure? Did Merlin whisper in your sleep?"
"Kavapepper berries to beech leaves, one-to-one? Gryffindor recklessness, or Quidditch bravado? Bold... and foolish."
"A dosage of Lycoris radiata that high? Discovered some miracle in spider lilies for mental stimulation? Perhaps a visit to St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries is in order—I'm concerned for your sanity."
Vizette adjusted, explaining his rationale each time. When logic held, Snape fell quiet, his silence a thunderous approval.
The loop closed: prey ensnared, hunt fulfilled. Snape uncrossed his arms, demonstrating the brewing. Vizette absorbed it all, nodding and jotting furiously.
Satisfied, he added insight. "Potions hinge not on tools, but mindset. Master that, and the rest fades in importance."
Vizette concurred, stepping to the cauldron with a spark of eagerness. As flames danced beneath, he invoked Ancient Magic: Potion Balance Conversion, subtly enhancing the brew's potency.
Snape's eyes narrowed. He'd detected the anomaly at once but held his tongue, watching the completion. To his eye, the process was flawless—some arcane force wove through the mixture, yielding a hyper-concentrated Pepperup Potion brimming with efficacy.
"How many wizards have witnessed this... talent?" he probed once the brew settled.
Vizette met his gaze. "Only Mr. Ollivander."
Snape arched a brow. "Ollivander? Him alone?"
He nodded. "It's unconventional. I keep it under wraps."
"A shred more discretion than your typical Gryffindor," he sneered. "Daring to tweak an Animagus form—you've gleaned much from him."
"Mr. Ollivander's guidance has been invaluable," Vizette replied, eyeing the cauldron. "Professor, how do I dilute this?"
Snape stirred with a ladle. "Pure water suffices. You grasp the concentration level, yes?"
"Just water?" It was his first hesitant query in these sessions.
"Precisely," Snape affirmed. "Your variant responds uniquely—dilute proportionally, and it regains full potency."
He continued: "Standard concentrations demand Flobberworm slime, at minimum, depending on the potion. Dilution requires leech tincture, soapwort infusion, and fresh, uncontaminated dew..."
Vizette absorbed the nuances, his mind racing. The lesson wasn't merely about the Pepperup Potion; it was a dance of intellects, where every question baited a deeper revelation. Snape, ever the master hunter, had yielded his secrets—not out of softness, but because he'd earned the trap's release. As steam rose from the cauldron, Vizette felt the thrill of the chase: in this alchemy of mentor and student, both emerged transformed.
…
100 Powerstones = 1 Bonus Chapter Tomorrow!
Help us reach the goal!
Too slow? We upload 10 Chapters/Day on P@treon!
The book is likely Already Finished there. Don't wait for daily updates—read the complete story + R-18 scenes right now!
[email protected]/Ren Saga