Shadows || A Severus Snape Fanfiction

Chapter 12 - The Potential of Potions

A/N: I personally love this chapter :)) I hope you do too!

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By the time Asha awoke the next day, the sun was already high in the sky. She had that sensation of sinking regret one often feels after a drunken night out. Dreading the inevitable prospect of looking Snape in the eye in the daylight, she tentatively poked her head out the bedroom door. Fortunately, there was no sign of the professor. Bundling up a towel and fresh clothes she headed to the bathroom, deciding she was in need of a long, scalding shower to cleanse herself of the feeling of her exposed dirty secrets plastered on her skin.

It was mid-afternoon by the time Snape arrived home. Asha was sitting at the dining table gnawing at day-old bread roll she'd found in the pantry. He threw his cloak across the living room armchair and strode into the kitchen, dumping a stack of tattered textbooks in front of Asha.

"What's this?" Asha asked. Clearly in no hurry to answer, Snape waved his wand at the kettle which instantly began to boil, and levitated a mug out of the cupboard.

"You seem to do rather well academically," Snape drawled, eyeing her shrewdly, "with the exception of Potions."

Asha gave him a sheepish look before replying, "Yeah, well that's because I don't..." Snape was giving her a cold look. "... Potions isn't... I just don't find it as, er, interesting as other subjects," Asha finished. Snape seemed to swell with annoyance. He plucked his newly brewed cup of tea from the air in front of him and glowered at her.

"Potions can provide effects far more potent, be it beneficial or dangerous, than that of any spell," he said coldly. "The art is complex and anyone who develops advanced skill has exceedingly more power and opportunity than those who lack the talent or discipline required. I know, Winters, that you are sharp enough to recognise the potential and precedence of potion brewing. Your disinterest in the subject simply stems from a lack of patience, focus, and willingness to apply yourself."

"Yes exactly! I'm glad you understand," Asha replied cheerfully. Snape had brought his cup of tea to his lips but paused at these words before lowering the cup once more.

"Excuse me?" said Snape, an eyebrow raised threateningly.

"Well, you're right. Of course I understand the potential of potion brewing," Asha explained earnestly, "and my lack of enthusiasm to learn about it is totally illogical. But I can't help it. It's not the same as casting magic." She felt a familiar buzz of excitement. "Real magic; the kind you can feel coursing through your veins, the feeling of power and control in that buzz of potential energy when you hold your wand. The results are instantaneous and thrilling."

Asha was getting carried away. Magic was her passion and she couldn't help but get excited at the opportunity to talk about it with someone who would probably be more interested and at least understanding than her friends had ever been. Whenever she had tried to have this conversation with her fellow third years, she'd been met with mild interest at best.

"The power of a potion lies within the substance itself," she continued, "but magic... magic comes from within you. It makes you feel alive, makes you feel connected with the world around you. I know I'd be a better witch if I put more effort into your class but I just can't bring myself to invest. I mean, sure, the results are fascinating and exciting, but the brewing itself is so boring."

At this, Snape set down his tea and folded his arms across his chest. His eyes narrowed warningly. It was a move that would've made any other student stop dead in their tracks, but Asha was unfazed. She shrugged her arms at him.

"Okay, okay, maybe some people don't find it boring," she said placatingly, "but I just can't stay focussed. Patience is definitely not a strength of mine. Plus, I don't like precision or following strict rules - I like the guessing and gut instinct and imagination that you need in Defence Against the Dark Arts. So, in conclusion, I just think Potions isn't for me."