Letter 5: Arsenius Jigger to Hermione Granger, 2nd December 1997

A/N: For simplicity’s sake, titles of books, journals etc are underlined and emphases are italicised. In reviving the old tradition of epistolary novels, I understand the plot may be a little slow, laborious and difficult to follow. Some might consider it AU and a little OOC.

In order not to weary the reader’s patience, a number of letters from the series of correspondences have been suppressed; only those which are necessary to a complete understanding of the events in this group are reproduced. For the same reason, some letters from the actors in the events of this drama have also been suppressed.

Proestigium or What the Seasons may Bring

Letter 5: Arsenius Jigger to Hermione Granger, 2nd December 1997

Arsenius Jigger

c/o University of York,

School of Magical Arts,

Faculty of Alchemy,

Potions Research Centre,

York,

United Kingdom

Miss Hermione Jane Granger,

Hogwarts Castle,

Head Girl’s Room,

Gryffindor Tower,

Scotland,

United Kingdom.

2nd December 1997

Dear Miss Granger,

Thank you for interest in Magical Drafts and Potions. Kindly bear in mind that the book is a standard text meant for students such as yourself; it is NOT a great academic treatise. When I wrote it, I had planned to explain the potions that students will be encountering in an engaging and lucid manner. It is greatly unsuitable to the exposition long theories on the properties of such-and-such an agent and so on. Students of pre-university age do not usually take interest in the abstract formulations of particularly unstable brews. It is not an intentional inconsistency in the book, but I thank you for bringing it to my attention. Your argument and thesis is cogent and well thought out. It is apparent that some degree of in-depth research had been conducted. However, in your analysis of dragon blood’s reactivity to arrowroot extract, you did not consider the effects of the corrosiveness of dragon blood vis-à-vis ingredients with complex CP=K=HN2 anion. You have chosen to wilfully ignore the CCuV3TX strain in dragon blood that reacts to the HN2 base of the lacewing fly wings. The V3TX sequence of the coding ribbon in dragon blood will loosen the covalent bonds between the CP=K=HN2 thread of the delicate gossamer ingredients. Once the K compound is freed from the sequence, the HN2 becomes a degradable agent. Should this appear complex, I shall refer you to chapter 36 of my book Modern Potent Potions published by Free Ga Greine Press in Denmark. Should this be beyond your meagre comprehension, I shall simplify it further here:

Consider the CCu3TX strain in dragon blood. V3TX is joined together by a diamond like structure. The C-Cu bond is a positively charged entity, enabling it to attract 3V molecules instead of the usual 2 you see in Hippogriff or Kappa blood. V#TX is the unique univalent by-product of bile in dragon liver. This combines with the CCu structure to the nigh indestructibility of dragon blood. However, everything that lives must necessarily die. Preservation of our substances is as far as you go. However, when V#TX latches onto the easily movable HN2 molecule, you get a breakdown. Hence, unless you are a complete cretin, you should follow my chain of though with this equation: CCuV3TX + CP=K-HN2.

Carry over the VTSX over to the K bond and K will breakdown to combine with the phagocytes in dragon blood, thus leaving CP as a thickening compound to the stasis solution. After this, we have CCu + HN2[V3TX] as our equation. You should be able to solve this most basic of equations on your own. If it should prove TOO ADVANCED, let me finish it for you.

CCu + NH2[V3TX] = CUXHN2 +HV[T]

The unstable [T] will break down and be reabsorbed in the dragon blood morning dew mix of the stasis solution. CuXHN2 will be corrosive because of the coppered element in Xyabriteen, which, you may or may not know exists in stasis solution. So X reacts on the N2 to reduce the Cu which in turn renders the entire CuXHN2 to break down the wing structure of that which we want to preserve.

Despite your apparent oversight, it is clear that you have understood the basic premises in Potions. Your theory is credible at some point because dragon blood cannot be broken down into individual simpler forms such as X, N, and Cu; but it can break away and break up into chunks such as V3TX. If you succeed in your theory, you might convert it into an M.Mag.A. thesis. This is not a matter of research for pre-university students regardless of the students’ abilities. I have looked through your hypothesis on the arrowroot extract and am astounded to confess that your conclusion is half right. Only HALF right. Arrowroot extract does contain a secretion very similar to manufactured cleaning solutions. Oddly enough, its chemical makeup is similar to that of Bundimum secretion. This is despite the fact that it is of herbaceous origins. This is a matter warranting more research. I thank you for bringing it to my attention.

Do not put yourself out over your project supervisor. I am certain he has your best interests, as his student, at his heart. While I do not think he intended for you to write to me, I am thankful for his advice.

Should have any further queries, owl me through the Alchemy Department, Potions Research Centre; the department secretary will ensure that I receive my posts. Alternatively, tell your owl, “Arsenius Jigger, Semper Eadem” and it will know where to find me. Best of luck in your continued research.

Yours &ca,

Arsenius Jigger

D.Mag.A.

Footnotes

Proestigium is Latin for illusion. Ironically, the English word Prestige derives from it.

The equations and everything here is made up.

Semper Eadem is Latin for always constant or always the same. It was Elizabeth I of England’s motto. Severus uses it for a good reason at that. I leave you to devise the reason for that.

&ca is the old fashioned way of writing et cetera.

D.Mag.A. stands for Doctor Magicorum Artium. In this story, it is the wizarding equivalent of a PhD.

I’m releasing this a few days early because I’m busy with school work (3 term papers to churn out). I'll most likely not post next week because of my workload &ca. So there's this letter to keep you at bay. Exercise patience, d’accord?