autumn | severus snape

forty two

The glass walls of the greenhouse glowed softly in the fading light of the day. The rows of plants cast long shadows across the floor as Teddy stood at a workbench, carefully measuring ingredients into a small cauldron. His movements were deliberate but tinged with frustration.

The soft sound of the door creaking open made him glance up. Ophelia entered, her cloak pulled tightly around her, her determined expression cutting through the chill in the air.

"I've thought about it," she said without preamble, her voice firm as she set her bag down on the bench. "I think Unicorn's Bloodroot extract will stabilize the potion."

Teddy raised an eyebrow, straightening up. "Unicorn's Bloodroot?" He repeated. "Isn't that notoriously... delicate?"

"Exactly," Ophelia replied, unwrapping her scarf. "It's delicate, but its essence is known for balancing powerful reactions. If we use just the right amount, it could bind the opposing properties of the Moly and Frostshade without overpowering the mixture."

Teddy sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I don't know, Ophelia. We tried everything we could think of with the first batch, and it didn't even make a dent in the test bond."

Ophelia crossed her arms, her jaw tightening. "Because the first batch was incomplete," she said. "We were missing something to balance the disruption and protection. Unicorn's Bloodroot could be that missing piece."

Teddy glanced at the small cauldron, which still bore traces of their failed experiment. "And if it's not?"

"Then we try again," Ophelia said firmly. "We're not giving up just because it didn't work the first time."

Teddy studied her for a moment, then nodded. "All right," he said, stepping aside to make room for her. "Let's do it your way."

Ophelia rolled up her sleeves, her focus sharpening as she began preparing the ingredients. She carefully extracted a few drops of the shimmering Unicorn's Bloodroot essence from a small vial, her movements precise.

As the essence dripped into the cauldron, the potion began to shift, its previously dull surface glowing faintly with a soft silver hue.

Teddy leaned over, watching closely. "It's reacting," he murmured.

Ophelia nodded, her heart racing. "Now we let it simmer," she said, stepping back.

They waited in tense silence as the potion bubbled gently, the silver glow pulsing faintly like a heartbeat. When the time came, Ophelia carefully ladled a small amount into a vial.

"All right," she said, her voice steady but laced with nervous energy. "Let's test it."

Teddy set up the enchanted bracelet and ring. He poured a drop of the potion onto the bracelet and stepped back.

For a moment, nothing happened. Then, the faint glow of the bond flickered... but it didn't break. Instead, the glow returned stronger, almost as if the potion had strengthened it.

"Great," Teddy muttered. "Now we've made it worse."

Ophelia exhaled sharply, her shoulders slumping. "We're still missing something," she said quietly, her voice thick with frustration.

Teddy placed a hand on her shoulder, offering a small smile. "We're getting closer," he said. "At least it reacted this time."

Ophelia nodded reluctantly, her mind already racing with possibilities. "We'll figure it out," she said, more to herself than to him.

𖠇

Ophelia carefully added a drop of Moly essence to the bubbling potion. Teddy stirred it clockwise, his brow furrowed.