Chapter 23 — The Delivery
The dungeons of Hogwarts were quiet that evening, still and cold, the faint dripping of water from the stone ceiling the only sound. Severus Snape sat alone at his desk, the dim fire in the grate casting flickering shadows across jars of preserved roots, scales, and things too gruesome for most students to look at without blanching. His quill moved briskly over a parchment filled with notes on next week's lessons, though his attention was already fraying.
A heavy thump broke the silence. Snape's head snapped toward the window, wand flicking instinctively, until he saw the silhouette of an owl — and not just any owl.
It was a massive, amber-feathered eagle owl with faint fiery tips to its plumage, golden eyes glowing faintly in the gloom. The bird ruffled its wings with a low, melodic hum as it landed gracefully on the sill.
Snape's expression hardened. "A Weasley bird," he muttered, lip curling. "What mischief is this?"
The owl extended its leg with deliberate dignity, as though affronted by his tone. A sealed package, carefully bound with twine, dangled from its talons. Snape untied it and the bird gave a soft trill before hopping to the back of a chair, fixing him with an unnervingly intelligent stare.
Snape set the parcel on his desk, noting the neat but still boyish handwriting on the outer slip of parchment.
Professor Snape,
Please find enclosed a work I have been compiling over the past months. It is meant as a foundational text on potion-brewing for beginners, organized with clarity for those who wish to avoid mistakes I have read too often in accident records.
I am still learning, and I expect flaws — but I would greatly value your professional evaluation.
Sincerely,
Ronald B. Weasley
Snape's eyes narrowed. A first-year boy — no, not even yet a first-year, he corrected himself with a scoff — sending him a "foundational text"? The very idea bordered on insolence.
He turned the package over in his hands, debating whether to consign it directly to the fire. Yet curiosity, unwelcome and sharp, pressed against his irritation. He slit the twine and opened the bundle.
Inside was a thick sheaf of parchment, neatly bound with a crude but functional leather cord. The title page was penned in careful ink:
"Principles of Potion-Brewing: A Complete Guide for the Apprentice
By Ronald Bilius Weasley
1989 Edition"
Snape's eyebrow arched. He leaned back in his chair, arms folded, staring at the title. "The arrogance…" he whispered, though his fingers betrayed him by opening to the first page.
The Preface awaited him. He read.
Preface
Potion-brewing is as much an art as it is a science. Too often beginners approach the craft with reckless enthusiasm, careless imprecision, or blind imitation of instructions without comprehension. The result is not only failure but danger — explosions, burns, and long-term damage to health.
This text is written with the apprentice in mind: the young student who wishes to understand why as well as how. Each chapter provides foundational knowledge, exercises, warnings, and notes to guide the learner step by step. It does not presume genius but demands diligence.
I have drawn upon accident records, older texts, and careful observation of patterns within potion recipes. This book is not exhaustive — it is meant as a reliable starting point. Progress will require practice, patience, and further study under a qualified Potions Master.
Remember always: precision saves lives.
— Ronald B. Weasley
Snape's lips pressed into a thin line. The tone was stiff, earnest, but undeniably serious. He found himself rereading one sentence: "It does not presume genius but demands diligence."
That was not the voice of the twins, nor the lazy bluster of the youngest boys.
"Hmph," he muttered. "We shall see."
He turned the page to Chapter One.
Chapter 1: The Foundation of Potion-Brewing
A potion is not a stew. It is a structured magical reaction between ingredients, activated and guided by the witch or wizard's intent and precision.
The three pillars of potion-brewing are:
• Ingredients — selected for their magical properties, freshness, and compatibility.
• Method — the sequence of preparation, stirring, heating, and incantation.
• Intent — the focused magical will of the brewer, which shapes the reaction.
Beginners often err in treating ingredients as interchangeable. They are not. A bezoar from a goat grazed in the Highlands will differ subtly from one found in Eastern Europe, and these differences magnify in complex brews. Even water matters: spring water retains natural purity better than well water.
Stirring is not busywork. The clockwise or counter-clockwise motion directs the magical polarity of the mixture. A careless reversal can invert the brew's effects.
Lastly, intent is often underestimated. Magic follows thought. A distracted or fearful brewer may unwittingly infuse instability into the cauldron. Discipline of mind is as essential as clean equipment.
Exercise 1: Boil plain water in a cauldron. Add a pinch of crushed peppermint. Stir clockwise seven times, focusing on clarity of thought. Then taste. Repeat while deliberately allowing your mind to wander. Compare the difference.
Warning: Never attempt complex brews without supervision until you can consistently maintain focus and precision with simple mixtures.
Case Study: In 1976, a first-year student attempted a Cure for Boils while gossiping with classmates. Their laughter caused a mis-stirring, and the resulting eruption scarred two students and melted three cauldrons.
Snape paused, fingertips pressed against the edge of the parchment. His nostrils flared. The case study was correct. He remembered it vividly. Three melted cauldrons, indeed.
His eyes flicked toward the owl, still perched in silence. "So, Weasley digs through accident records, does he?" Snape murmured. "Not entirely foolish."
Yet his pride bristled. A child, writing of pillars of potion-brewing as though discovering eternal truths. And yet… the structure, the tone — it was not parody. It was earnest.
Snape leaned forward again, candlelight catching the sharp angles of his face, and turned the page to continue.
The eagle owl shifted, as if watching to see what judgment he would render.