The Hepatic Hex

Chapter 9

Hermione let out a long breath before she sat down in the chair opposite Snape and began her lecture.

“Well sir, from what little I have read the Liver is the largest gland in the human body. It is located in the right hypochondriac and epigastric regions of the body underneath the diaphragm and is protected by the ribs. The liver weighs between 1.2 and 1.5 kilos in the average sized adult and it role is vital to homeostasis. Its main functions include metabolism of nutrients, protein synthesis, detoxification, storage of vitamins and minerals and the breakdown of red blood cells with the production of bile. The liver is typically referred to as having four primary lobes, the largest of which is the right lobe, which is perceptible on all the peripherals of the liver. The right lobe is separated from the left lobe by a deep fissure. The quadrate lobe which lies inferior to the left lobe, like the posterior caudate lobe is discernible in an inferior view of the liver.” Hermione paused.

“Artemis sent some diagrams to me that might make it easier to visualize what I am saying.” She shuffled through the articles until she found what she was looking for. “Here yo pro professor” she handed him the diagrams and he replied with a barely audible “Thank you.\"


‘Little chit thinks she’s the bloody professor’ Snape chuckled inwardly.

Hermione sat down and continued.

“A mesentery is a double-layered extension of the peritoneum, that supports most organs in the abdominal cavity, and the peritoneum is a serous membrane lining the interior of abdominal cavity and covers the surfaces of abdominal organs- you with me so far professor?”mionmione stopped at his blank stare.

“I assure you Miss Granger that I can indeed follow your… reasoning. If you would like to contipleaplease.” Snape said in an amused tone.

“Right Professor, sorry. Anyway, the falciform ligament is a mesentery, which separates the right and left lobes anteriorly, that is, to the front, and suspends the liver from the diaphragm and anterior abdominal wall. In fact the only area that is not enclosed by the serosa is the superiormost liver area, also known as the bare area, and this is where the liver is fused to the diaphragm. The fibrous remnant of the fetal umbilical vein runs along the free inferior edge of the falciform ligament and is referred to as the round ligament or ligamentum teres.” Hermione stopped to catch her breath and Snape used it as an opportunity to question her.

“Miss Granger when did you learn all of this?”

“I…uhhh couldn’t sleep last night Professor and I stayed up late going over everything you gave me from Madam Pomfrey.” Hermione replied honestly.

“Uhh huh.” Snape verbalized to her but inwardly he was saying ‘Brilliant, she is absolutely bloody brilliant.’

“If I might continue Professor?” Hermione asked.

“Pledo.”do.” Snape replied as he conjured up a second pot of tea, quietly hoping that she wasn’t about to finish anytime soon. He was beginning to be intoxicated, instead of being irritated by her voice. “Wel“Well,” Hermione started again, “the liver is anchored to the lesser curvature of the stomach by a dorsal mesentery called the lesser omentum. The hepatic artery and the hepatic portal vein enter the liver at the porta hepatis and the common hepatic duct, which runs inferiorly to the liver and all travel through the lesser omentum to reach their destinations. The gallbladder, by the way Professor, lies in a recess on the inferior surface of the right liver lobe.”

“Thank you for the unnecessary clarification Miss Granger” Snape sneered offended by her insinuation at he hadn’t the faintest idea of human anatomy. Despite the fact that he really didn’t know where the gallbladder was, he wasn’t about to let her know that.

‘Just when I think things are going well, I find a way to aggravate him. Genius ‘Mione. You are a true dolt, you realize this.’ Hermione thought to herself.

“I’m sorry Professor, I’ve almost finished” Hermione said a little disheartened.

“Then can I suggest you do so you might be able to get out of this room at some point today.”

Hermione’s eyes glassed over and she looked at the floor for a long minute trying to compose after Snape’s acidic comment. Slowly she lifted her eyes to meet his and failed miserably at trying to hide the hurt in her eyes.

‘Yeh good Sev, make her cry so she never comes back. You are an idiot you know that-right?’

To her credit though Hermione, took a deep breath and continued without letting a single tear fall. “There has recently been some criticism directed by some anatomy experts to the traditional format of defining the livers lobes. This is because it is based on the superficial features of the liver. Some anatomists believe that the primary lobes of the liver should be classified as two territories serviced by the left and right hepatic ducts. In this theory, the two territories are delineated by a plane drawn from the sulcus of the inferior vena cava to the gallbladder recess. So if following this train of logic, anything to the right of this plane would be the right lobe and anything to the left of it the left lobe. Further this would mean that the small quadrate and caudate lobes are part of the left lobe.”

“Obviously Miss Granger.” Snape said with less bite than he had intended.

Hermione noticed the change in Snape’s tone but chose to ignore it.

“The only other thing I can tell you from the readings I did last night Professor is that bile leaves the liver through several bile ducts that ultimately fuse to form the large common hepatic bile duct, which travels downward towards the duodenum. Along its course, that duct fuses with the cystic duct draining the gall bladder to form the bile duct.” Hermione finished.

“Miss Granger,” Snape started,” as fascinating as that little presentation was” Hermione flinched at the emphasis he placed on fascinating, \"I don’t know if any of what you have shared with me is actually going to help our cause.” Snape stopped and noticed the tears form once again in Hermione’s eyes. ‘You really don’t know how to talk to women do you Sev?… No it’s not you who is the problem, it’s her. She is far to emotional….Shut-up will you... Sev, do you want her to come back or not? If so I suggest that you use some of that Slytherin charm you fancy yourself so good at for damage control.’

Snape cleahis his throat and continued. “However, I think it may be prudent for you to continue your research tonight using the texts that your friend sent you. I am confident that your diligence when it comes to study will only aid in our search and your grasp on anatomy will be beneficial at some point in our work. I look forward to another lecture tomorrow on what you have managed to come up with” ‘There that wasn’t too hard now was it Sev? Not too over the top, and still the truth.’

Hermione’s face lit up dramatically at what Snape had said to her and her confidence grew enough to ask him the question that had been burning in her thoughts since she had seen the failure of the diagnostic potions.

“P-Professor Snape, I…” Hermione started but was once again silenced by a wave of his hand, which was followed by an audible sigh.

“Miss Granger, since we are going to be working together for some length of time I believe that maybe it would make things more comfortable between us if we dropped formalities while in private.”

“Sir?” Hermione asked baffled.

“While we are working in private, Miss Granger, you may address me by my given name- I stress only in private though.”

\'What on earth possessed you do say THAT Sev? Too late now you old fool.’

Hermione stared at him wide eyed for a fleeting moment before quickly recovering and nodding. “Yes Pro-…Severus. Thank you. It would please me then if you were to also call me by my given name.” ‘WOW’ Hermione thought inwardly, not capable of composing anything more articulate in her mind.

‘God’s how long have I waited to hear my name roll off her tongue like that’ Snape thought to himself. He nodded his silent approval of his name coming off her lips. ‘Those beautiful full, round, rosy lips- No too far Sev, save it for later.’ He cleared his throat again. “Well… Hermione, I believe that you were about to ask me a question.”

Hermione thought for a moment before remembering what it was that she wanted to say. “I was wondering what tests you actually ran on yourself,” she said hoping that he didn’t think she was being to forward.

Snape stared at her for a moment astonished at that she actually had the courage to make such an inquiry, which was in effect questioning his judgment as a Potions Master. He was ready to bite back a nasty comment before he realized that her curiosity was merely born out of the need to understand the predicament they were in, rather than inquiring his motives. The rational part of his brain decided that it was necessary for everyone if she was indeed involved in and informed of every development if their working partnership was going to progress.

“I ran the normal tests that are done when trying to determine an ailment.” Snape said casually with a shrug of his shoulders.

“That kind of test merely results in the diagnosis of a specific illness though.”

“Yes, well that is all that we as wizarave ave ever needed. Are you questioning the effectiveness of centuries old methods Miss…Hermione?”

“Yes, actually I am Severus.” Hermione said with confidence.

“How very interesting that you think you are above accepting processes that have existed within our world since the birth of magic.” Snape said with a painful amount of venom. Hermione was unaffected though.

“My point is that within the Muggle world, pathological tests are done on every element within the body to diae ane an illness rather than searching for the direct ailment. This is done through techniques such as blood screening and urinalysis. Maybe we should try that approach rather than searching to find a defined illness”

“Well how you suggest we go about it Hermione? No one in our world has needed that kind of knowledge or process.” Snape skeptically but inwardly intrigued at the possibilities.

“I think I will consult Artemis again. She may have some ideas for us.” Hermione said.

“That may be a good idea and give us a new starting point.” Snape conceded, once again astounded by her thought processes. “I don’t think that we’ll get much else done today. It is almost dinner time, you- we missed lunch so perhaps it would be best if we continue after we both have eaten and had some rest.”

“Yes, I m quite exhausted. Shall I meet you at the same time tomorrow” Hermione replied rising from her chair.

“Yes.” said Snape escorting her to the door.

She turned around to look at him leaning against the doorway and smiled. “Good evening, Severus” she said.

“Good evening Hermione” came his reply before he stepped back and closed his chamber door.

Hermione finally allowed herself the blush she had been suppressing for most of the afternoon to flood through her cheeks before she practically skipped out of the dungeons and headed for the Great Hall.

Snape on the other hand sank back against the door and ran his hands through his hair hoping that he would be able to control himself around her brilliance the next day.