lovepotions

Professor Jeriel nudged the Potions room door open with her foot, as her arms were loaded with boxes of new flasks, beakers, and vials for the year. They clinked against one another as she set the boxes on a desk in the back of the room, near the cabinets. Professor Snape was sitting at a back table, hunched intently over a tiny cauldron with a fragrant simmering potion.

What's that you're working on, Professor Snape? asked Professor Jeriel, and he carefully crumbled a sprig of dried lavender into the pot.

he muttered.

Calming soup, she nodded. Good for you, Professor!

It's not for me, he remarked. Professor Flitwick's requested it.

Well, that's awfully nice of you, she smiled and patted him on the shoulder, which made Snape twitch, as he was obviously unused to any sort of friendly touch. A fine thing to do for a colleague.

I wouldn't have needed to if he weren't being beleaguered by that detestable plague of students... he growled to himself.

Now, Severus, how do you know where his stress is coming from? Professor Jeriel said logically. Or if he even wanted it for himself?

Snape grumbled quietly and poured the potion into a bottle to store.

Come help me with the glasses, won't you? Professor Jeriel said cheerily, and he complied politely.

Have you read this week's Witch's Weekly, Severus? she said, making conversation as she lined beakers onto shelves by size.

he said.

You saw the article about Hermione Granger, then? She's in your class, isn't she, now?

Snape frowned, perturbed at the reminder.

A love potion? Professor Jeriel wondered. And they're banned at Hogwarts, then, are they?

said Snape thinly. Professor Jeriel was dumbfounded.

But where on earth would she have found the ingredients? she puzzled. It's not as if you have them...

Snape blinked, his hand hovering on the cabinet handle, and cleared his throat.

As a matter of fact, I do, he said reservedly.

Professor Jeriel stopped, and her eyebrows went straight up in shock.

Severus, what in the world would you do with a love potion?

He began to drop glass vials rapidly into wooden vial racks, scowling heatedly. After a moment, he looked sideways at her standing beside him, wearing the same expression of bemused disbelief.

Oh, for heaven's sake, Annabelle, I also have the makings for a death serum, they're standard alchemy tools. I don't use them.

It's... never crossed your mind? she half-smiled demurely.

I'll have you know, he said, now flustered with indignance, That crushed Monarch wing–––found in every love potion–––is also the key ingredient in a very useful pulse stabilizer!

All right, all right, Professor Jeriel smiled to herself and slipped a vial out of Snape's angry grip. I'll speak no more about love potions.

Snape took a few settling breaths and they busied themselves again shelving the beakers.

Monarch wing... Professor Jeriel muttered coyly to him. ...In every love potion, you say?

It's in the textbooks! he barked, and Professor Jeriel skittered away merrily.