The private lesson that day had been packed with intensity. Not only did it cover brewing Pepperup Potion, but under Snape's watchful eye, Vizette had tweaked the formula and reviewed the essentials of concentrating and diluting potions.
After tidying his notes, Vizette stepped out of the office. Night had fallen hard, the window revealing only inky blackness—no stars, no moon. The dreary weather had ushered in a wave of flu across Hogwarts, the chill seeping into bones like an uninvited guest.
...
In the hospital wing, the fireplace roared, its flames pushing back the damp cold as best they could.
Madam Pomfrey eyed the delivered vials with curiosity. "Three batches of Pepperup Potion?"
The flu was a familiar foe, cropping up every season, and she knew energy boosters like the back of her hand.
Following Snape's orders, Vizette gestured to one box. "This batch is for Gryffindor House, as Professor Snape specified."
Madam Pomfrey's lips quirked in a knowing half-smile. "Oh, this stuff's a hit with some of those Gryffindors. Last time the flu hit, they'd dash in for their doses and race to down them first—like it was a Quidditch drill."
Vizette stifled a laugh. "You didn't mention that to Professor Snape, did you?"
Madam Pomfrey sighed, her eyes twinkling. "Well... that boy... And these other two? This one's the standard brew, I take it? Yours?"
Vizette nodded. "Straight from the recipe. Should be solid."
"He's a prickly one, Snape, but if he's letting you handle his potions, that's high praise." She lifted a vial from the third box, tilting it to catch the orange glow. "This variant's new to me. An upgrade?"
"Yes," Vizette said. "Added sweeteners for flavor."
Madam Pomfrey raised an eyebrow, surprised. "Willing to tweak the taste? Last year's batches were... harsher. If you're at it, why not whip up some preventatives? We'd catch the flu early and spare ourselves the rush."
Vizette blinked. "A preventative version?"
"Just a thought from your school Healer," Madam Pomfrey said, waving it off. "Regular doses could keep things under control. Saves the mad scramble when half the castle's sneezing."
After a pause, Vizette nodded. "If it's mild enough for prevention, I can experiment."
Madam Pomfrey looked impressed. "Planning to run it by Snape?"
"It doesn't need to be potent," Vizette explained. "Just enough to nip symptoms in the bud." He pulled a vial from the third box, tapped it with his wand to enlarge it, then cast Aguamenti. A stream of clear water poured out. "These sweetened ones dilute easily with pure water. For preventatives, though, we want something approachable—better taste means better compliance."
His gaze drifted to the crackling fire. "No need for Incendio if we're clever."
Vizette sustained the Aguamenti, guiding the water to mingle with embers. Tiny bubbles formed and fizzed away almost too quickly.
"Too fast," she muttered. With Snape's guidance, he'd mastered the logic of Pepperup Potion, adapting it on the fly.
This tweak? Infusing the dilution with sparkling water. His ritual magic training had honed his Aguamenti, letting him infuse spells with nuance. The fizz came from blending fireplace carbon dioxide with the conjured water—a simple magical fusion.
"Madam Pomfrey, got any Lacewing Infusion?" Vizette asked. "As a stabilizer, to bind the fizz to the potion."
He laid out his reasoning plainly, inviting correction if needed.
Madam Pomfrey summoned a vial with a flick of her wand. "Lacewing Infusion!" She chuckled. "You know your potions. No wonder Snape's mentoring you."
The infusion and fizz stabilized the mix, turning it crystal-clear like water, with lazy bubbles rising like in a Muggle soda. Vizette drew inspiration from drinks like Coca-Cola and Sprite—light, refreshing preventatives.
As the brewer, he tested first. Pouring a glass, he sipped. It evoked Sprite with a cola edge—crisp, but something was off.
Madam Pomfrey tried a sip too. "Tastes like a Muggle fizzy drink. Better than the real thing, though!"
"Ever had soda?" Vizette asked, intrigued.
"Coke, wasn't it?" Madam Pomfrey reminisced. "During the last war, a Hufflepuff smuggled some in. Slughorn dissected it—full of Muggle junk, mild hallucinogens. Harmless to us, but rotten for non-wizards."
Coke... happy water.
That's what was missing: joy.
Vizette grabbed another vial. In diluting it, he'd already used Ancient Magic: Potion Balance Conversion, shifting ratios to boost the soul component. Now, he wove in mental magic, drawing pure happiness from his essence and blending it seamlessly.
Madam Pomfrey sipped again, brow furrowing, then breaking into a genuine smile. "Odd... flavor's the same, effects unchanged. But it just... hits different. Warmer."
Vizette grinned. "I infused it with a touch of soul—and happiness."
Madam Pomfrey's eyes lit up, the subtle cheer lingering. The potion wasn't just medicine anymore; it was a quiet burst of delight, packaged in every effervescent bubble.
…
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