look the innocent flower

“No, I just said that because I thought it sounded impressive,” Severus retorted, unable to hold back a bit of sarcasm. 

“Yes, that is really what I’m doing. It’s hard to say if I’m ‘close’ or not. I could get it on the first try; it could take a thousand tries. It could even be impossible with our current understanding of potion-making, but I figured it was worth it to try making improvements.”

He sighed. “And yes, I will need to test it. Perhaps there will be students sick enough to be willing to be test subjects.  If not, I’m certain I can find enough sick rats in the dungeons. I won’t have to go far, being a slytherin.”

“You don’t have to be so unpleasant, you know,” Narcissa stated, knowing (and yet ignoring) how hypocritical it was coming from her, the one who just told him that his hobby was boring and called him ugly (the latter being only inside her head, however.)  If there was one thing she hated, it was being talked down to as though she were stupid or a child. If there was another, it was being dismissed. At least in her mind, Severus had done both-- and it stung. 

’ Well, it’s about borrowing a book- I mean, I know since you need to study from it, I would be more than happy to join you and read for the same book?’ Alice asked, biting the inside of her cheek as she had remembered:she did not mention what book she was talking about in the first place. ‘ I need to get some information out of the fifth year Potions book if that’s alright with you? I promise  I will not be a bother.’

Her reply came in the form of an outburst of sharp laughter. “If I didn’t require it for classes I’d say you could keep the thing. I’m already having fantasies about tossing it in the fireplace on the last day of school; that’s how much I hate potions.” Narcissa shut her copy of Magical Drafts and Potions with a little more enthusiasm than the action required and slid it toward Alice. “Just get it back to me before the end of the day tomorrow.”

“I certainly do,” he said, using her words. “That’s why I usually start heading to my common room a half hour prior to curfew so I’m not out too late.” He sighed, reaching up to pinch the bridge of his nose. “Look, I’m bloody exhausted, and it’s our first week back, so I’m not going to give you a detention, but I am going to escort you back to the Slytherin dorms now, alright?” He nodded in their direction. “Come on, let’s go.”

“You really don’t have to do that,” she replied, not budging from her spot. She had no intention of trying to sneak away and get into trouble, but she didn’t want to walk to the dungeons accompanied by a babysitter-- especially as it was one of her cousin’s friends. Narcissa smiled at him sweetly, figuring politeness was more likely to get her out of this unfortunate situation than just complaining. “I don’t have to deal with any more changing staircases at this point, and as a fifth year I know where my own common room is by now. Thank you, though, for your concern.”

“I think we should start a petition,” Narcissa stated as she sat in front of a mirror, fingers nimbly working on a complicated braid at the front of her hair. “This school needs to have dances besides the Yule Ball. We shouldn’t have to have a Triwizard Tournament to get impeccably dressed and show off our skills with the waltz.” She grabbed her wand and set her newly styled hair with a quick spell, then turned to face Gilderoy. 

bella: narcissa, you do realise it's their technology

bella: our society thought we should "modernise"

bella: i'm using it. the who school's using it. professors are using it.

bella: i might severely dislike mudbloods, but muggles may or may not have a thing or two that i like.

bella: just because they're crap, doesn't mean everything they do is crap. even dumb dogs can do something right every now and then

narcissa: i thought you said the idea of these things being made by muggles was outrageous.

narcissa: seems it might be hard to get some meanings across on this device.

narcissa: another reason i don't like it.

bella: i'm surprised you're giving it a go

bella: tho it's actually somewhat helpful

bella: once you gt past the ridiculous notion that it's made by muggles.

bella: muggles, ciss!

bella: outrageous.

narcissa: to be fair, i'm sure i won't like it.

narcissa: and i've seen muggles using them.

narcissa: how do they have them if it's our technology??

narcissa: are you receiving this message?

“No, afraid not,” Severus drawled, still focused on his task. “The only notes I’ve seen are my own,” he continued. As if on cue, he finished the sentence he was writing. 

He tried not to react too visibly to her remarks on potion making. His eyes momentarily flicked up from his work, and he did his best to keep it from looking like a glare. He knew she was a member of the Black family, and thought it best to be smart. 

“I wouldn’t expect…everyone to understand.” he said, trying to choose his words carefully as to not make them sound like a personal attack. “But, quite frankly, there is more to it than that. There’s a certain…elegance to it. There’s artistry involved. To do it well, anyway.”

Narcissa considered his words, nodding along to herself as busied herself with searching the other half of the room for her notes. His explanation didn’t sound completely stupid, but she still couldn’t comprehend why anyone would want to sit and watch liquid boil long enough to appreciate the ‘elegance’ of which he spoke. 

“I do appreciate artistry,” she told him, “it’s one of the reasons I love Transfiguration so much. To take something worn-out or unattractive,” she paused, not meaning to look over at Severus as she spoke the word, but doing so anyway. “And make it beautiful.” 

Sirius: i will pay you cold hard cash for any sugar quill in general

Sirius: but if you have purple ones i will grant you one wish

Narcissa: can my wish be that you leave me alone forever?

Narcissa: that was mean.