Three table spoons of salt, 4 ounces of powdered spiders....
Severus Snape, Potions Master of Hogwarts School of witchcraft and wizardry, leaned over the humongous book.
"Four slices of pig liver.... And a teaspoon of Grounded Unicorn Horn," he muttered, reaching out idly to a pot on the self. He tipped it and shook it...nothing came out. He peered into it and sighed. "Out already."
This potion was needed for tomorrow's class...now he had no main ingredient, there was nothing for it, he'd have to go out and get some. He grabbed his cloak and wandered out.
* * *
Three table spoons of salt, 4 ounces of Flour....
Hazel Coll, mother of three children attending Newtown Primary school, leaned over the recipe book.
"Four ounces of Marge...and a teaspoon of Baking powder," she muttered, reaching out idly to a pot on the shelf. She tipped it and shook it...nothing came out. She peered into it and sighed. "Out already."
This cake was for tomorrow's school fete...now she had no main ingredient, there was nothing for it, she'd have to go out and get some. She grabbed her coat and wandered out.
* * *
Severus stood outside Hogsmeade and shivered in the cold; he disappeared from the small village.
* * *
Hazel stood outside her home and shivered in the cold; a taxi slowed and picked her up.
* * *
Severus knew that the only place he could find grounded Unicorn Horn at this time of night was at the One Stop in Alverstoke, a village in the South. He strolled to the door and met the gaze of a woman.
* * *
Hazel knew that the only place she could find baking soda at this time of night was at the One Stop in Alverstoke, a village near her home. She strolled to the door and met the gaze of a man.
* * *
Severus stood aside and let her pass. Hazel smiled and walked in. Severus began to look around, amused by the bizarre Muggle products, while Hazel went off in search of the baking powder, amused by the strange clothes of the man.
Severus walked over to the chocolate section. He could do with something to put the potion on. He looked at a deep brown packet. Minstrels? There was no indication of a musician, or music in general.
Hazel walked over to the chocolate section. She could do with something to decorate the cake with. She looked at a deep brown packet. Minstrels? They looked so nice, small brown, crisp shell, smooth chocolate center.
"Are these any good?" came a voice as rich, dark and tempting as the chocolate.
She looked up with a smile so innocent, easy and as foreign as the Muggle food.
"Well, it's a matter of taste. They're much more...grown up, I guess." She put the packet down. The children would prefer Smarties.
Severus watched the exchange. "You don't like them?"
"Me? Oh, I love them, but it's for a cake.... the kids would prefer Smarties."
"Smarties?" He picked up a bag. "And children prefer these?"
She nodded and gave him a childish grin. "You're not really a chocolate expert are you?"
He gave her a superior look. "I'm not from around here."
"Where the hell are you from to never have heard of these?"
He looked away and studied the other packets.
"What's it for?" she asked.
"Children."
"Smarties," she said in a final tone. "They never fail, no matter what age."
She looked at the Minstrels longingly.
Severus watched curiously.
"I shouldn't," she muttered.
"There are many thing we shouldn't do but tend to do all the same," he helped.
"Such as?"
Severus looked down at the Smarties and smiled menacingly. Testing potions out on children was one of the things.
She watched curiously.
"There are many things," he muttered.
"Like getting sweets for the children? I'm sure they'll appreciate it," she helped.
"Really?"
They looked down at the sweet rack and each took a packet of Smarties and a packet of Minstrels.
Severus ordered the Unicorn Horn quietly from the Squib behind the counter as Hazel inspected some cake decorations.
They pilled their things on the counter and paid separately, leaving each other once they were outside the shop.
* * *
Severus watched as the class rolled about sick, frothing at the mouths. What had he done wrong? He looked over to the shelves, and to his horror saw, not grounded Unicorn Horn, but Baking Soda! He'd picked up the wrong ingredient!
* * *
Hazel watched as the children rolled about sick, frothing at the mouths. What had she done wrong? She looked in the bag and, to her horror saw, not Baking Soda, but grounded Unicorn Horn!? She'd picked up the wrong ingredient!
* * *
The children, both at Hogwarts and Newton had calmed down within five minutes.
Hazel and Severus were each sat in their rooms
dropping the crispy shelled, smooth centred chocolates into their mouths;
The music of the Minstrels playing through their taste buds and minds...Delicious.