Hot Wax
Lucius peered curiously past Severus at the pentagram forming on the stone floor, brilliant green wax lending high contrast to the symbol.
"A ritual of banishment?" Lucius said, curious as to Severus' purpose.
Severus barely controlled a startled jump, hissing in pain as the next line of wax he had intended to drip on the floor splashed over his fingers, instead.
"Sorry." Lucius winced, taking a step further into the room.
"No matter." Severus shook his head. "It didn't mar the design. And yes. Banishment. An experimental application."
Lucius cocked his head as Severus rose.
"It's still gotten to your fingers, though." Lucius pointed out, taking the candle and setting it aside for a moment as he examined Severus' reddened fingers.
Severus barely protested, his fingers stinging enough to still his tongue.
"Coloured wax keeps a hotter temperature than, and doesn't cool as swiftly as, uncoloured or whitened." Lucius reminded him.
Severus nodded, more fascinated by the small charm Lucius used, stroking the burns away.
"So. . . An experimental application of a banishment ritual?" Lucius prompted, examining his work before turning Severus' hand loose. "What might that be?"
"I'd prefer not to say, until I see how this works." Severus evaded.
~Fin~
I have heard that this hot wax guideline has been disproven. I have also read and seen a few experiments, with proper controls, that bore it up, as well as my highly unscientific personal experience of spilling wax over my fingers and hands and such over the years. I dithered on this one, and finally just said 'meh, I'll go with it'. My best guess would be that for some types of wax it is true and for others it makes less of, if any, difference. (and this has been an excursion into 'Kali's weirdly thorough research and thoughts on writing!')
