His Obsession

Potions Class, the last class of the day. Hermione could honestly say she was looking forward to the class as it would be relatively low impact. All it should require from her was her attention, taking some notes, and brewing. It was just what she wanted as her body was still exhausted over her duel with Harry earlier in the afternoon. Her body may have ached physically, but her mind was still in top form, eager for the mental stimulation the class would bring.

Hermione had just settled at her desk with her book, quill, and parchment when Snape made his grand entrance into the room, slamming the door behind him with a flick of his wand.

"Good afternoon, class. We shall waste no time in getting down to business... As this is Advanced Potions, I have decided to present you each with your own potion to brew that will test your skills and abilities to the utmost. The potion to brew plays to your strengths, but doubly so to your weaknesses. Potions is not just a skill, but a true art, and I believe that this project will make your soft little skulls realize that."

With a swish and a flick, Snape sent a roll of parchment flying to land in front of each student in the room. He watched with a concealed smirk as they opened their assignments, noting the horror on some of their faces.

Hermione looked over what must have been, at the very least, a metre of ingredients and instructions. Looking around the room she couldn't help but notice that her assignment was double the length that everyone else had been given. It looked to be, by far, one of the most complicated potions she had ever seen. There were at least 100 ingredients and the potion would take three weeks to complete. Sure it took less time to brew than the polyjuice potion she had concocted in her second year, but the brewing methods and ingredient preparation was the most intricate she had ever seen.

"Do note that some of the ingredients needed in your potions are not contained in the store cabinet. In your previous years I have spent time teaching you all how to gather and prepare ingredients. I expect you to find the items you need on your own. It is one of the great challenges of working in Potions, that of gathering your needed ingredients.

If you lot think for one minute that Potions is something you will consider as a career after your time here, you had better not foul this assignment up, mark my words," Snape said harshly, feeling it imperative that he get his point across firmly. He couldn't help but feel a small surge of pleasure as he watched a few of his students shift uncomfortably as the thought of failing this assignment undoubtedly crossed their minds.

"Now, the items you need are accessible here at the school. You will have to seek them out, by searching the grounds or the greenhouses. You have but two days to collected your needed ingredients. I do not wish, under any circumstance, to hear that you have simply purchased your items from the apothecary in Diagon Alley. I would be most... displeased. I can assure you that your marks for this particular assignment would reflect it, greatly," he said with a dark smirk.

"As much as I loathe saying this... If you have questions, see me. It will not do to have you kill yourself or classmates over your stupidity. As much as I would love to say, "Die and learn." I am afraid that the Headmaster would be decidedly annoyed. As I said, if you have questions, see me. But mark my words, DO NOT waste my time, for you will most certainly regret it."

"Now, you are free to go about gathering your ingredients that are needed in two days time, or you may work out your process of how to brew your potions. Get to work."

Nearly every student, Harry included, grabbed their bookbags and belongings and dashed for the door. Snape was quite certain that the majority of them were going to do just about anything aside from gathering their items. But it was no skin off his back. He would be just as happy to fail them as he would to give them a passing grade.

Surveying the room he noted that only one student had stayed behind, and it didn't surprise him in the least. Miss Granger... He held back a smirk as he thought about the assignment he had given her. He hadn't been lying when he said that it would test her mettle. Though he had absolutely no doubt the girl would succeed brilliantly, he knew it would give her the challenge she needed.

There was, of course, the added bonus of having someone capable do the work that he hadn't had time for. And of course, he knew that his Lord would be most pleased with the results of having the young witch brew this particular potion.

Hermione looked over the parchment a few times, reading and rereading. She scribbled down notes on her own parchment, her brow furrowed. After compiling a small list of questions she looked up, finally noticing that she was the only one left in the room.

"Professor, may I speak with you about my assignment, please?" she asked firmly.

"If you must, Miss Granger," Snape said, giving her a darkly intimidating look.

"Sir, first of all, I've noticed that this particular potion has no title. It's not one I recognize at all. The ingredients and procedures, they're so very complex... Looking at the ingredients I made an educated guess, but aside from that..." She looked at Snape curiously, her quill at the ready.

"And just what is your 'educated' guess, Miss Granger?" he said, as if issuing a challenge to her.

"Well, Sir. The best conclusion I can come to is that this is a healing restorative of some sort."

"And just how did you arrive at that conclusion?" he asked, his voice giving away nothing.

"Once I had read through the ingredient list I began to think of what properties each would hold. There is a large amount of ingredients that hold specifically healing powers. The Adder's tongue, mandrake, and tear grass, for instance. There is also bark from the Tree of Death, which is said to promote healing and longevity, ironically.

I came to the conclusion that it was more than a healing draught when I noted items used for protection, restoration of abilities both psychic and not, beauty, fertility or perhaps sexual potency," she finished with a slight blush. She doubted very few people could use the term 'sexual potency' in front of Snape and not blush.

"I am quite surprised, Miss Granger. It is indeed a healing restorative. The reason it lacks a proper title is because I have yet to award it one. I created this potion myself after a few years of work and research. It is my hope that this potion will be able to aid curse victims in these... dangerous times," he said smoothly, watching as the girl softened, obviously thinking of it's humanitarian possibilities.

"Unfortunately I do not have the time to gather it's ingredients, or brew it. And I believe that there is an item that you would have an easier time procuring that I would."

Hermione gave him a curious look before going back to pursue the large list of ingredients, marking down just which ones she knew she would have to find herself. Neatly she penned a list of the items, writing out where she believed she could find them.

Ingredients I Must Find
2 Adder's Tongues (Greenhouse 3 or 4)
Death Angel (in the grass near the lake)
Capers (the kitchens)
Mortification Root (Greenhouse 9?)
Boxwood Sap (trees near the forbidden forest)
Alligator Pear (the kitchens)
Elf Leaf (Greenhouse 2)
1 bean Ricinus communes (Greenhouse 11, wear dragon hide gloves... just in case)
Tree of Death, 2 strips of bark (evergreen trees near school entrance)
Lucky Hand (odd orchids, Greenhouse 4)
Winterweed (Greenhouse 4)
Mandrake (Greenhouse 3)

She stopped writing abruptly. Each item he listed on the parchment had given an exact amount and how it was to be prepared... Everyone except the last. Hermione looked at the last item to procure and her stomach turned a little bit as she thought about possible ways she would have to collect it.

"Sir... You've listed proportions for every ingredient but the last. How much is to be added?"

Snape looked up from the work on his desk. "I have left that up to the discretion of the brewer. If you read further down, Miss Granger, you will notice that when you add it you must verbally intone the amount as well as the specific reason for said amount. It can not be done randomly, but with purpose. I would like to see your plans for the amount before you add it, of course."

"How I am to procure it, exactly?" Hermione asked softly.

"A blade to the wrist, a needle to the finger, it is of no concern to me as long as it is done properly. Whether it comes from yourself or a volunteer, I don't care. But you will have to find a way," he said with a little smirk as he watched her nibble on her bottom lip nervously.

Hermione looked back down at her parchment and decided to give it a little thought. She knew there would be no problem in getting the ingredient, at least theoretically. She could simply prick her finger and add in the amount of blood she would need. It was the first time she had ever felt fortunate she had never been with a man as she knew she would have a hard time finding someone else to lend some of their own blood.

Hmmm... He had said the amount was up to her... Perhaps a little arithmancy was in order to aid the potion. It didn't take her to come up with the most simple solution. She smiled and held back a laugh as she looked a the answer, surprised that it looked so much like muggle mathematics.

1+7+3=11

Hermione stood, taking her parchment with her solution up to Professor Snape's desk. Taking a deep breath she slid it across his desk. "My solution, Sir, to the amount of blood needed for the potion."

Snape narrowed his eyes as he looked at the simple solution. "Dare I ask why you choose to use 11 drops of blood, Miss Granger?"

"I figure I will simply prick my finger and add the blood in, though the blood is to be added in three portions, totaling eleven, not added all in one go. First adding one drop, as one is the number of power, passion, and high ambition. Then adding three drops. Three being symbolic of the Goddess and her three forms, the maiden, mother, and crone. I would ask for Her blessing whilst creating this potion. And lastly seven drops. Seven being the number of perfection. I hope to achieve both perfection in the brewing, as well as in how it would work when it is administered. A perfect restorative... They all total eleven. Eleven denoting someone of superior spiritual progress, which I believe it may impart to the drinker, or possibly the brewer. Of that I am not quite sure," she said, finally taking a breath and falling quiet.

"I approve, Miss Granger. Go about collecting your items."

Snape watched as Hermione quickly and carefully gathered her belongings and left. He would not admit it to the girl, but her solution, though quite simple, was delightfully brilliant. The arithmantic reasoning behind the numbers was wonderful. Oh yes, his Lord would be most pleased...

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