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[alt_severus]

Having been back at Hogwarts for two hours, I would like to recant anything I may have muttered about the annoyance of tutoring teenagers; I would gladly spend another month cleaning up cauldron explosions and correcting chopping techniques if it meant I did not have to deal with that woman. (She is infuriated today: from listening to her ranting at supper, she appealed to Selwyn's department for authorisation to read all private messages coming into or out of Hogwarts, and was resoundingly denied.)

Poppy: I leave further tutoring in your hands. We concentrated this week on the Draught of Peace and the Wit-Sharpening Potion. For the remainder of the holiday I suggest you concentrate on the medicinals that are on the curriculum; I left those for your supervision. I suggest you attempt to hold Mr Weasley accountable for his lax attitude towards his studies, as I clearly have not succeeded in impressing upon him the seriousness of his study.

Black: I do not know if you are aware that several of the children have got into your library. You may wish to ensure none of the books walk away with them.

Minerva: I will contact you as soon as I am aware of a time that Dolores will be out of the castle for an extended period so that we might enter your office to check the book.

Comments

[alt_sirius]

I don't have to ensure anything, Snape: Any book they shouldn't take with them would let them know it before it reached the Floo. Some of them before they reach the stairs.

[alt_severus]

Apropos of same, I did not have sufficient time to examine the stacks between juggling lessons and my work at Moddey. Do you possess a copy of Euterpia Omnilarkos' Seven Potions Principles? I have been unable to secure a copy as Omnilarkos was both Muggleborn and branded as Dark Witch, and therefore persona non grata from both sides.

[alt_sirius]

Sorry, I'm too busy laughing at the idea of my father ever obtaining a book written by a Muggleborn.

But it seems that someone either had a sense of humour or thought that he'd be amused because there's a copy, after all.

[alt_severus]

As I recall there was quite the fashion for ignoring her parentage before the Dark Lord came to power; the tome is exceedingly useful, and if I recall correctly, her Third Sequence may be useful in my analysis of the Sleeper potion.

As I do not think it wise to bring it back to Hogwarts with me, if you could forward it on to McGivern at Moddey, he would be able to pass along the pertinent pieces.

[alt_sirius]

That'll be difficult. It's one of those protected texts. But we might be able to copy out the sequence.

[alt_severus]

Blast.

If the Third Sequence is the one of which I am thinking, it will contain references partway through to a method for infusing decoctum papaveris with essence of starlight via distillation through skin and hair. If you would be so kind as to copy out that preparation and owl to Stephen it would be appreciated.

It is not, I might caution, a suitable manuscript to set the children to copying.

Private Message to Black

[alt_severus]

I suppose I must also add that your provision of laboratory space over this past week has been appreciated, little though we might both like the experience of a week under the same roof.

Re: Private Message to Black

[alt_sirius]

Don't strain yourself, there, now.

Re: Private Message to Black

[alt_severus]

If you persist in slapping away every olive branch I extend I will cease to listen to Alice when she suggests

Quite.

[alt_poppy]

Thank you, Severus.

I'm rather looking forward to my time with them.

I shall attempt to hold the youngest Mr Weasley's feet to the fire. Assuming he does not take the opportunity to shift subjects with the new week. Are there others who seem particularly in need of attention with respect to their brewing skills?

[alt_severus]

Mr Weasley is most frustrating, as he has the instincts of timing and sequence most children of his age lack coupled with an utter indifference towards the detail of preparation. Watch him closely.

Miss Perks, on the other hand, is eminently diligent in preparation, but second-guesses herself too often when it comes to timing. Having watched her most closely, I do not believe it to be an inherent flaw in her ability, but the result of Horace having, paradoxically enough, helped her too often: she does not trust her own abilities to determine when the critical moment is. When the children return to the castle I plan on offering her some drills to reinforce those lessons, but if you are observing her, I would suggest encouraging her to make her own decisions about timing, for good or for ill.

Mr Longbottom will never be a rapid thinker in the laboratory and his mistakes arise from an over-methodical and over-cautious nature; he should be given the opportunity to drill each potion likely to be on the exam until it is second nature.

Miss Lovegood, should she be in attendance under your supervision, must be cautioned to keep her experimentation to her own time, whether her advances are beneficial or no.

[alt_poppy]

Thank you, yes, I shall pay close attention to Miss Perks, but I shall be careful not to prompt her when what she needs is to rely on her own decisiveness.

As for Miss Lovegood... that bears watching. You know what became of her mother, do you not? Experimentation ran to disaster there.

[alt_severus]

I do, yes.

The girl's instincts are sound, if occasionally explosive, and were this any other world I would encourage her to a more methodical exploration of her fancies -- after all, that is how advances in the field happen.

As this is the world we are living in, however, I must suggest frequent exhortations to stick to the reciept.

Private Message to Stephen McGivern

[alt_severus]

One never remembers what one wished to convey until one has left.

prep № 2: try ℥⅞ aa hlsbore, chrysanth; dil q f℥viii morning dew (must be gathered before sun is fully risen and never allowed to touch metal)

prep № 5: try ℥v arusseus masis -- if violent reaction persists, combine with leaves of aconitum napellus

prep № 8: try f℥iii to f℥x limonum oleum per f℥⅕ q.¼°..q.½°, s.a. -- on second consideration fault was almost certainly adding too quickly, not too slowly as I'd originally thought.

I will await your detailed notes on each attempt.