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Proestigium Chapter 24: Letter 24: Arsenius Jigger to Hermione Granger, 1st April 1998
Chapters Menu
Proestigium

1: Letter 1: Severus Snape to Minerva McGonagall, 26th November 1997

2: Letter 2: Hermione Granger to Arsenius Jigger, 27th November 1997

3: Letter 3: William Heaney to Arsenius Jigger, 28th November 1997

4: Letter 4: J. Alfred Prufrock to Severus Snape, 29th November 1997

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

6: Letter 6: Minerva McGonagall to Severus Snape, 8th December 1997

7: Letter 7: Hermione Granger to her Mother, 11th December 1997

8: Letter 8: Severus Snape to J. Alfred Prufrock, 15th December 1997

9: Letter 9: Hermione Granger to Victor Krum, 20th December 1997

10: Letter 10: Hermione Granger to her Mother, 24th December 1997

11: Letter 11: Hermione Granger to Arsenius Jigger, 29th December 1997

12: Letter 12: Arsenius Jigger to Hermione Granger, 2nd January 1998

13: Letter 13: Hermione Granger to her Mother, 4th January 1998

14: Letter 14: Dr Jane Porter to her daughter, Hermione Granger, 13th January 1998

15: Letter 15: Hermione Granger to Arsenius Jigger, 20th January 1998

16: Letter 16: Victor Krum to Hermione Granger, 4th February 1998

17: Letter 17: Arsenius Jigger to Hermione Granger, 8th February 1998

18: Letter 18: Severus Snape to J. Alfred Prufrock, 15th February 1998

19: Letter 19: Dr Jane Porter to her daughter, Hermione Granger, 27th February 1998

20: Letter 20: Hermione Granger to Victor Krum, 6th Merch 1998

21: Letter 21: Hermione Granger to her Mother, 14th March 1998

22: Letter 22: Arsenius Jigger to Hermione Granger, 20th March 1998

23: Letter 23: Hermione Granger to Arsenius Jigger, 27th March 1998

24: Letter 24: Arsenius Jigger to Hermione Granger, 1st April 1998

25: Letter 25: Hermione Granger to Arsenius Jigger, 1998, 25th April 1998

26: Letter 26: Severus Snape to J. Alfred Prufrock, 5th May 1998

27: Letter 27: Severus Snape to J. Alfred Prufrock, 7th May 1998

28: Letter 28: Arsenius Jigger to Hermione Granger, 15th May 1998

29: Letter 29: Victor Krum to Hermione Granger, 30th May 1998

30: Letter 30: J. Alfred Prufrock to Severus Snape, 1st June 1998

31: Letter 31: Severus Snape to J. Alfred Prufrock, 10th June 1998

32: Letter 32: Arsenius Jigger to Hermione Granger, 17th June 1998

33: Letter 33: Albus Dumbledore to Severus Snape, 8th June 2000

34: Letter 34: Hermione Granger to Victor Krum, 31st August 2000

35: Letter 35: J. Alfred Prufrock to Severus Snape, 15th September 2000

36: Letter 36: Severus Snape to J. Alfred Prufrock, 29th September 2000

37: Letter 37: J. Alfred Prufrock to Severus Snape, 3rd October 2000

38: Letter 38: Victor Krum to Hermione Granger, 15th October 2000

39: Letter 39: J. Alfred Prufrock to Severus Snape, 28th November 2000

40: Letter 40: Severus Snape to J. Alfred Prufrock, 8th December 2000

41: Letter 41: Severus Snape to Hermione Granger, 14th December 2000

42: Letter 42: Hermione Granger to Severus Snape, 12th January 2001

Letter 24: Arsenius Jigger to Hermione Granger, 1st April 1998

Proestigium

Chapter 24 of 42

Lady Strange

Jigger replies to Hermione in less than pleasant tones, but attaches a journal article in response to her response.

Mystery/Suspense Drama Angst Romance Alternate Universe Potions Under Duress 50,343 Words 42 Chapters Complete
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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; those only have been given which appeared necessary to a complete understanding of the events in this group. 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 24: Arsenius Jigger to Hermione Granger, 1st April 1998

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.

1st April 1998

Miss Granger,

I did not mean to affront your sensibilities or slander your character. Do not ever say 'adieu' when academic discussions are left hanging and incomplete. It is bad form and in poor taste. If you were truly serious about making your mark in academia, you would not be so quick to anger. You must acquaint yourself with the harsh words that other academics will throw at you. They will attempt to discredit you, insult you and challenge you publicly in the journals, forcing you to defend your beliefs and knowledge. Are you going to cower away when they do so? You have better manners than that, young lady! The other academics and your detractors will be crueller than I have been. If you do not hardened yourself to it now, you will be a paper academic despised by everyone in your field. Could you abide by it? Would you stand for such treatment? Surely, by now, you would have known that education is an admirable thing, but nothing that is worth knowing can be taught. There are some things that you must necessarily learn on your own. I am training you, you impossible, insupportable creature, hapless and ignorant though you may be!

I attribute your supervisor's silence to your inadequate exploration on the properties of mallowsweet. In my own experiments, I discovered that the putrification of mallowsweet in ayeletropine (which you may or may not know, is a medieval potion meant to strip the then known compounds into their simplest forms) created 99 by-products. One of these is azurinetic. Azurinetic will aid the restructuring of mammal's DNA. I have successfully tried this on rats and ravens. Azurinetic binds very easily to the wolfsbane. I am sure your Professor Snape has notes on the same. You might like to read up on the subject and discuss it with him. If you wish to discuss the matter with me, you can take the matter up with me at Nomos, unless you deem it beneath you.

Voodoo love potions are a matter of weighty consideration, which I have again addressed in the attached paper from the latest edition of Ars Chemica. That would be a matter for your own deliberation. You may chuse to respond to it in the same journal as I have responded to your criticisms in this article. Therefore, Miss Granger, let us not say 'adieu' but 'au revoir', for I predict, we shall be hotly debating this topic for some time yet.

Yrs.,

A. Jigger.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Journal Article

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Arsenius Jigger, "Voodoo Love Potions: New Thoughts on an Old Theory – Response to Hermione Granger's Critique," Ars Chemica, Vol. 1204, no. 4.

Fundamental to an understanding on voodoo love potions on the autonomic nervous system is the property of mutual antagonism in the reciprocal activation of subsystems known as sympathetic and parasympathetic, respectively. While Miss Granger of Hogwarts has acknowledged these matters in her study (brought to the author's attention through private correspondence), she does not fully comprehend the difficulties of taking the Hypatia voodoo potion en soi, because it is the quintessential voodoo love potion. Emotional responses attributed to the potion do not necessarily trigger the same neurological responses. Granted that there are occasions when the love potion will bond two genuinely loving hearts together, such cases are rare. Most users of voodoo potions, especially users of the Hypatia potion, only wish to pursue their private gratifications with the object of their desires. The uses in such cases differ little from some muggles' use so-called 'date rape drugs'. However, as Miss Granger pointed out, there are times when a couple are secretly enthralled by each other to the ignorance of the other. In such cases, the deployment of the voodoo love potion would bind them together for all eternity in mind, body, soul and in all. There would be no escape from its effects.

Yet, it is not the East Indies that originated the art of Voodoo love potions. Certainly, Voodoo was the name given by these peoples to this art form. But the potions themselves hail from ancient China. Earliest records on this can be traced in the teachings of Confucius, who wrote in the period of the Warring States. Like Miss Granger, Confucius was aware of the untoward applications of love potions. Being the victim of such a potion, he and his mistress were rent asunder because she did not really feel much affection for him. He also witnessed the unhappiness of his daughter who was bound to a man who despite his affection for her, ill-treated her. This unfortunate witch was bound to suffer with her wizard because they were bound in mind, body, soul and in all.

The Hypatia voodoo love potion, known to the ancient Chinese as the Affections of Li and Ren potion, could be used to the advantage of many. This usage is not well known as most abusers of these potions only wish to satiate lust. The Affections of Li and Ren potion when correctly brewed under tightly controlled circumstances and used correctly in the right situation would facilitate friendship, familial love and all manner of noble affection. The trappings of modernity have meant that Miss Granger, and many of you, will consider love as something that exists between oneself and one's sexual partner or beloved. The ancient Chinese, like the ancient Greeks believed in the separation of the many typologies of love. There is a kind of love for everything. I beseech my readers not to forget that. The Great Learning states that the Affections of Li and Ren potion is used to bring out the Confucian teaching of self cultivation through moral basis, viz. , to cultivate the self, one has to regulate the family; to regulate the family, you have to order the state; to order the state, you have to contribute to universal peace. These four things are to be accumulated. In other words, you cannot bring about universal peace if you do not do something about ordering the state, you cannot order the state; you cannot order the state if you do not regulate the family; you cannot regulate the family unless individuals within the family cultivate themselves. When the Affections of Li and Ren potion is used by those for the noble intent of preserving peace (as the Mongolians did with Pax Mongolia under the Great Khan), the practitioner and his subject will be granted much wisdom. In sort, they will further foment the development of self-cultivation that is within themselves. Self-cultivation consists of four things: (i) investigation of things (ii) extension of knowledge (iii) the sincerity of will (iv) rectification of will. So doing, will foster better philosophical understanding and good governance.

Now, the basis of good government – here we're slowly moving to the virtues of li and ren. So in 1.2 of The Analects, we're told that a good son would make a good subject. And what are the hallmarks of a good son? A good son must be exemplary in his conduct towards his parents. And what does it means to be exemplary in your conduct towards your parents? It means that when you are dealing with your parents, you always comply with the rites. That is what 8.2 and 1.9 are about. Being a good son is to always to act in accordance to li and to possess the virtue of filial piety. You see, when the gentleman meets the ruler (because the gentleman is an official), and feels profound affection for his parents, then he is being a good son, and the people will be stirred by his benevolence. So the root of good government which is the role that the gentleman plays by ensuring just rule, that gentleman must show profound affection for his parents. He must be an example of the good son in other words. That example according to this passage, 8.2, will help to stir the people to benevolence. And 1.9, this is interesting because the Confucians put a lot of emphasis on not just rites but funeral rights, they have very demanding funeral rights, "conduct the funeral of your parents with meticulous care and let not sacrifices to your remote ancestors be forgotten, and the virtue of the common people will incline towards fullness." So there's a sense in which, good government ensures that the people will be reformed by the exemplary conducts of the officials. This can be further impounded when the Affections of Li and Ren potion is given to the people. The Tang dynasty later successfully did so and brought much peace to its people. However, there are some ethical considerations in such methods, which clearly go against the teachings and Confucius's specific instructions as to the uses of the Affections of Li and Ren potions

The Confucian Affections of Li and Ren potion exists because of certain ways of perceiving the institution of the family. It will regulate rites. Not just ordinary rites, but rites that will never change. Rites are these supposedly objective descriptions of behaviour, and it regulates not just the behaviour of human beings, but because these rites also take place in the temple, it also regulates the way you deal with your dead ancestors – the spiritual realm. What is so remarkable about rites as sanctioned and elicited by the Affections of Li and Ren potion, is that these rites are objective prescriptions of our behaviour and as such they are different from law.

It would be clearer in the writings of Mo Tzu, especially in his chapter entitled 'Impartial Love'. He elucidates the usage of the Affections of Li and Ren potion in political situations and governance.

Perhaps, after considering this, Miss Granger and others of her mindset will come to be a better understanding and appreciation for the theory behind such love potions.

Footnotes

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

For the confused, note that in the previous letter, HG says she wrote a response to AJ's article on love potions but is too pissed to (1) share her ideas with him, (2) attach the journal article for him. In this letter, AJ says he has read her response and this article (attached with the letter) here is a reply to her response.

It's my story and I do what I want with it. In this story, Voodoo love potions (and only voodoo love potions) is based on a multi-purpose Chinese love potion, which in turn is based on the Confucian ideas of Li and Ren. The Confucian ideas are based on a lecture series that I am presently giving on Ancient Chinese political thought. The Affectations of Ren and Li potion is made up.

The numbers in parenthesis in the journal article are section references to Confucius's Analects. It is an academic article; as such, it has to look like one. The words in parenthesis in the journal article are transliteration of Mandarin words.

The Voodoo babble is made-up rubbish; the rest is drawn from a lecture series that I am presently giving in Ancient Chinese Political Thought.

Thank you for bearing with me and this plot. I know that it may be a little difficult to follow and a little absurd at this point. Your kind words of encouragement and forbearance are appreciated.

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Latest 25 Reviews for Proestigium

60 Reviews  |  9.27/10 Average

0/10

Javoher

Hello. I know it has been 10 years since you published this story, and you perhaps have left this fandom. But I want to tell you that I am re-reading this for the third or fourth time, and I enjoy it more each time. This time I read this chapter with my chemistry and academic brain instead if my fan fic brain. I had not fully appreciated how audacious Hermione is here until now! Thanks for a smart and funny story that gets better with time.

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

I don't have as much leisure time as I did ten years ago. The chemistry jargon in this story is made up, bear that in mind. As such, I hope your chemistry and academic brain will not explode from my playing fast and loose with chemistry in this story.

9/10

reets67

Thanks for a great story. Your scholarship leaves mine in the shade. While it could be that my recollection of chemistry, history, mythology is shaky - and you have just made it up, I deem that you have at least a passing aquaintence in the subjects  (yes?)and consequently write those passages exceedingly well. Therefore a rather inelegant 'WOW!' to you and a polite curtsey. Has Snape let his guard slip and written in his own voice intead of AJ?'...could be brewed in our present wolfsbane formula.'He He! Off to read more!Cheers.

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

Thank you for the compliments. I do have some knowledge of chemistry and all that but most of the things are made up.Ah, the slip. You caught it, eh?

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

Thank you for the compliments. I do have some knowledge of chemistry and all that but most of the things are made up.Ah, the slip. You caught it, eh?

0/10

timestep

I ended up reading this story when the "Random selector" popped it on my screen.I truely enjoyed it - and look forward to reading more of your stories.

This was quite creative (and Ron is still a little thick!)

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

Thank you.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

I have read quite alot of stories fanfiction and well just about anything I can get my hands on actually and your style of writing is truly amazing.  It shows how very smart you are.  It makes me wonder if you are a professor or something truly grander than the usual authors I have read.  It had been a pleasure to read your story, until next time.  Tamara aka

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

I was working on becoming a professor but politics and my lack of skill in that resulted in a quietus est. I write because I want to. Simple as that. I'm on LJ if you want to add me. But leave a message because I screen who adds me and why. Thank you for the review.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

The poem was indeed beautiful.  Why would he leave his schedule if he wants to meet her at 8?  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

That is for the readers to decide on their own. I like my readers to think. Although I have notes which spoonfeed readers to a certain degree, I only give at most 2 corners of the square. readers are expected to find the remaining 2 corners themselves and join the dots on their own.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

I think it brilliant that not only do they send messages through these articles but make the articles work around their messages.  Yes, now to plan a wedding.  Now there is one long article.  lol  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

I can't stand weddings, so I never write them. The messages of course have a deeper meaning. What is that deeper meaning? Readers must think on their own.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

How forward of her.  He won't answer her letters but she thinks he will marry her.  That takes guts.  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

Hermione is nothing but gutsy. heh

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

Promises, Promises.  I believe he already has.  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

Well.. read on to find out.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

Well now, that pretty much says it all.  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

indeed, it does.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

Oh this is bloody brilliant.  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

i think so too.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

Oh clever. Very ingenius of you.  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

i like to think so, but others have disagreed. thank you for reading.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

Oh what will she have to say.  I don't think I would give it away to him and just play along until you can catch him at it.  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

this is fic is already complete. just read on and find out.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

Running away never solves anything.  Your problem will still be there no matter where you go.  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

but then if i didnt make him do that, thre would be no plot.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

I'm not sure anger is what she will feel, more like sadness, disappointment, maybe even longing.  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

that is up to the reader's interpretation. i'm glad you're enjoying yourself.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

Watch your step Prufrock, Snape doesn't take kindly to people questioning his ways.  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

you know that and i know that, but some people just like to toe the line.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

Wow got his knickers in a bunch, didn't he?  LOL  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

That's Severus for you. *smirks*

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

good ol' Krumski always the protector  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

he does his best. read on.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

The articles between the two remind me of love letters.  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

that is open to interpretation. thank you for reading and thinking.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

Ok now I can't wait to see where this goes.  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

read on and you'll find out.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

OH come on she is your other half.  Take her on, it will be worth it.  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

yes, well snapey does have problems with those kinds of facts rammed down his throat. but we know he'll turn in the end.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

Don't soften now girlie.  You almost had him.  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

lots more to go. this thing does last 40+ chapters.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

Oh my it is like watching tennis.  Brilliant.  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

Tennis? interesting. I just like the verbal repartee for its own sake.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

So there. lol  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

vindication for you and me, but the chracters are still willy-washy over the issue.

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

He is trying to get a rise out of her, so she will show a little spirit in this sad time.  I belief anyway.  Tamara

Response from Lady Strange (Author of Proestigium)

we'll see. read on...

10/10

Arabella Bloodgood

Yes over but what of Voldie's followers.  Were they killed or rounded up or on the run or a littel of all?  Just wondered.  Tamara

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