Severus Snape bent roughly down to check on the cauldron bubbling on a cobalt flame.

He stirred it seven times clockwise, three counterclockwise. He added a sprig of rosemary and stirred it again clockwise, counterclockwise, clockwise.

Snape sighed, lost in his thoughts of loneliness, in his regrets, his dreams. Then, returning his stern face to the task at hand, he consulted the book for the next ingredient.

Belladonna. Stir three times.
Two drops of salamander blood.
Powdered Ginger root. Stir twice.

The cobalt flame burned bright against the cool, heavy darkness, reflected a thousand times in his deep grey eyes.