Cast Aside

Potions and More Work

A/N So I should have uploaded this chapter almost a week ago. I have been busy and stressed and just haven't had time to sit down at my computer. Currently plucking away at chapter 27. This little story is making slow progress. I hope you like this chapter! 

Chapter 24

Severus Snape observed the moon. Or rather, the dim shadow of the new moon. Satisfied, he turned back to his cauldron. The potion, as complex as any he'd ever made, was finally ready, the lunar phase correct. Ladling some of the dark, iridescent potion into a shallow dish, Severus picked up a quill and gave the handwritten instructions a final studied glance. Certain he had done everything correct, he began marking out a complicated pattern of Cyrillic words and runes onto his work surface.

A thick, cloying scent filled the air, tugging at the back of his throat—he endeavored to ignore it as he worked, glancing back at his notes occasionally as he did so.

His wrist began to ache. "Bloody complicated Russians," he muttered under his breath. Realizing he'd made an error, he swore and wiped the offending section away. He paused, pushing his hair from his face and glared down at the notes again.

He could do this. He definitely wasn't in over his head. Granger had been generous with her memories of his future. He was Severus Snape, a potions master and genius. At least... the man in her future was. Just then, he was experiencing a rare bout of self doubt. At eighteen, Severus knew he was more than good, a natural talent—the best in his generation even. But Granger's foreign wizards... this complex spell, the potion, the arithmancy was...

It was a humbling experience to say the least.

Sighing heavily, he got back to work.

After nearly a week of unusual silence—and in the middle of a meeting with the Dark Lord no less—Granger's blasted charmed galleon had nearly burned a hole through his trousers. Enduring until he'd been dismissed, Severus had apparated to the noted meeting place without bothering to change out of his Death Eater robes. A muggle repelling charm disguised him just as easily in his haste.

It was with supreme irritation that he had thrown himself into the dingy corner booth, both of his partners looking much too eager and refreshed for his liking. They admitted to having been out of the country. France. How nice for them.

They were in the middle of a god's damned war. Who did they think they were, taking a bloody holiday. A mild taste of jealousy had only worsened his mood. If anyone deserved a bloody holiday... He felt like shouting at them for their stupidity.

Then Granger passed him a stack of parchment covered in hastily written, broken English and runic diagrams. He'd scanned it once, and then read it closely a second time. By the third go he was nearly out of his seat.

Apparently all of them had been lax with security, even the Dark Lord himself. He very much wanted to know how Granger's Russian wizards had spied on them all without being noticed. However that curiosity would have to be shelved for the time being in favor of said wizard's parting gift.

A spell to locate horcruxes.

Once the idea had been presented, Severus was stunned none of them had thought of it. It was so simple. Tracking spells were nothing new so they should have at least entertained the idea of modifying one.

Then again, this spell itself was anything but simple. Complex arithmancy, elaborate diagrams of runes drawn with a tedious potion. And of course, a specific lunar phase.

It was brilliant, but not so amazing that another equally skilled witch or wizard couldn't have come up with something similar if they needed it badly enough. When Severus had said as much out loud, Granger had grown temporarily quiet before erupting in a red-faced tirade about calculating old bastards and obnoxiously flamboyant dress robes.