Order Only Private Message to Poppy Pomfrey

[alt_severus]

For your reference and edification: I found Minerva quite indisposed when I arrived in her office at her summons; I had suspected as such, and brought a dose of Sobrietus with me. After much persuasion that she would need her wits about her tonight, I convinced her it was in her best interests to take it.

It is my own formulation and therefore less harsh on the system than the standard recipe, and I have discovered a way to add the principal ingredients of a Restoration Draught as well, but if you are able to convince her to take particular care tonight without causing her to withdraw from you entirely, please do: there is only so much I might do.

While I am well aware of your opinion of me, we should speak as soon as possible. You are an adequate healer and have demonstrated concern for Minerva in the past, and so I must assume you have considered the Contravinum in the past and been stymied by not having anyone to brew the potions in confidence and without error. I believe it is time to volunteer my services as the brewer, although I do not know how we will convince her to attempt the therapy.

Comments

[alt_poppy]

Severus.

You have such a winning way of asking a favour. And of insinuating yourself between a Healer and her patient.

What is your experience with the Contravinum draught? Was it something you turned your mind to contemplating during your dozen years keeping house with the Dementors in Azkaban?

[alt_severus]

If you had rather preferred Minerva appear at tonight's meeting barely able to stand, I will certainly register your objection for future decisionmaking.

I have brewed the Contravinum before. I will not disclose the identity of the patient.

[alt_poppy]

Actually, I think it's a fine thing that you've persuaded Minerva to sober up for tonight's meeting. Well done. I've had to learn to select my battles on that on score, and in any case, have been too tied up here today to have attempted reasoning with her.

I gather you've discovered that there are limits to one's effectiveness with her. She becomes resistant just as one thinks one's making headway.

I am loathe to share details of any patient's history. But I admit that if I thought there were a chance that together we could achieve what I've not been able to accomplish alone, I would be willing to work together with her restored health as our goal.

As for Contravinum, I take it that the patient whose identity you will not share did not die of your treatment--or I presume you would not have made the suggestion. If I'm wrong in that assumption, please say so and we will drop the matter here. I will not risk Minerva's life in an effort to extend it.

[alt_severus]

The patient in question did not die of an incorrectly brewed course of Contravinum. I would not have suggested treating Minerva with it otherwise: though I am aware you believe me incapable of human emotion, I would not risk Minerva's health if I did not believe my skill sufficient to the challenge. We cannot afford her loss, any more than we might afford her incapacity.

The question of course becomes twofold: how one might persuade Minerva of the necessity (and yes, your observations there are much in accordance with mine), and how one might obtain the ingredients for the brewing -- I have not seen potions-grade cardamom on apothecaries' availability sheets for quite some time, nor calamus, and myrrh only infrequently. I do, however, suspect the former to be a greater difficulty than the latter.

I will not ask you to divulge confidential matters. But it has become clear to me that we must do something, even should that something require cooperation that neither of us were inclined towards otherwise.