Chapter One: A Birthday at the Burrow
Chapter 2 of 4
a_bees_buzzSometimes, you just have to get away and catch up with old friends, even if things at work are getting a little bit strange.
ReviewedA/N: Beta work by the wise and wondrous Bambu345 and the insightful and stunning sshg316. Art work by the incredibly talented moonjameskitten. Each of them, in their own distinct way, inspires and improves my work beyond measure.
"Hermione! You made it!"
"It was a close thing, but I haven't missed one yet. Happy twenty-fourth, Harry." She struggled her way through the Burrow's crowded sitting room to give him a hug. "Where's the birthday girl?"
Having birthdays a mere twelve days apart, Harry and Ginny held joint celebrations, which Molly always insisted on hosting. Not that Harry resisted; he enjoyed the familiarity of the first real home he'd ever known, even if the sofas and carpet were a bit shabby and the space a bit tight. At least it was summer, so half the guests were outside in the garden where the buffet had been set up under a swarm of floating candles.
Harry grimaced. "She left early. Apparently the baby doesn't like parties."
"Poor Harry," Hermione replied mockingly. "It's only the first trimester, and it's already ruining your life."
"Hermione, dear. When did you get here?" Molly pulled her into a tight, motherly embrace before starting in. "This short hair, it's really not very becoming, is it? Oh, well. I suppose it can't be helped. Not yet, anyway." She looked around the busy room. "Now, where is that son of mine? Charlie? CHARLIE!"
"It's all right, Molly," Hermione replied with an indulgent smile. "I can find him myself. There's no hurry."
"Nonsense. You two don't get nearly enough time together. Now you stay right here and I'll go get him for you." Turning, she spotted the man himself heading towards them with an embarrassed look on his face. "There you are. Look, dear. Hermione's here."
Molly watched, beaming like a headlamp, as Charlie approached.
"Hiya, Curly." His offhand tone was belied by his embarrassed expression.
"Hi yourself." Hermione, as usual, refused to be bothered by Molly's meddling.
"Oh, go on. No one minds if you give her a bit of a kiss." Molly pushed Charlie at Hermione, and he dutifully gave her a quick peck on the cheek.
"Well, I'd hardly call that a proper kiss," sniffed Molly. Fortunately, her attention was drawn away by the tinkling of broken glass coming from the kitchen.
"I gather she still expects wedding bells?" Hermione asked.
"Apparently we're getting married the minute you finish your training. I've tried telling her, but you know what she's like when her mind's made up."
Hermione shrugged. "We'll deal with it when we have to. Or rather, you'll deal with it. I fully expect to be barred from the Burrow forever more after disappointing not just one, but two of her precious sons."
"Hey, don't count me in there," said Ron, having caught the last part of their conversation. "I wasn't disappointed. We gave it a good go." He slung an arm around Hermione's shoulder and bussed her cheek.
"More of a disastrous go, the way I remember it." Charlie grinned at the memory of the monumental arguments that had characterised Ron and Hermione's brief attempt at dating each other.
"True. But we're still friends," said Hermione. "And Ron is happily married to Luna. That should be what counts."
"In your eyes, maybe, love," replied Charlie. "But when it comes to Mum, there is a world of difference between her 'should be' and yours."
By the time people started leaving, Hermione had been pretty well caught up on the developments in everyone's lives since her last visit, a few months earlier. Minerva had told her about the progress of the final reconstruction projects at Hogwarts, George and Ron had raved about the popularity of their new line of free-elf-made toys, Fleur had bragged about Victoire's accomplishments, and Hagrid had described the latest developments in the treaty negotiations with the centaurs. Even Kingsley had found a moment to ask how her studies were going, to which she gave her usual, innocuous reply. When all the other guests had left and the rest of the family had gone to bed, Harry, Ron, Hermione and Charlie cleared a space out of the party detritus on the old, well-worn kitchen table and sat and talked.
"Tell us what you've been up to," said Harry.
"Well, you remember I wrote you that I'd passed the exams to become a Journeyman."
"Yeah. Those exams sounded like killers," said Ron. "What was it, eight potions at once?"
Hermione waved a hand dismissively. "That was the easy part; it's just a matter of getting your timing right. The oral section was much more difficult. They really try to trip you up with trick questions there. Anyway, now that I've made Journeyman, I have to find a research project. So I've been looking through the official Guild records to see what kinds of projects have been done, and I've found some of the strangest things."
"Strange like people who breathe in too many potion fumes go berserk, or strange like Death Eaters meetings in the Guild Hall?" asked Charlie with a grin.
"The latter. Though thank you so much for that first one. It's nice to finally know what you think of my current profession."
Charlie just kept grinning.
"Not actual Death Eaters, right?" You could always count on Harry to be interested in anything with even a hint of intrigue, especially if there might be Death Eaters involved. Charlie and Ron exchanged a knowing glance, refilled their glasses and sat back to watch the interrogation.
"No. At least, I have no reason to think so. There are just things that don't make sense. For example, there are currently twenty-one Potion Masters. There used to be twenty-five."
Harry's brow furrowed as he considered the implications. "Are you saying someone's been killing off Potion Masters?"
"No. They've all died of natural causes. But they aren't being replaced. There hasn't been a new Potion Master named since the 1970s."
"So what does that mean?"
"There have always been twenty-five, ever since the Guild was founded in the ninth century." She took a sip of her drink and nodded her thanks as Charlie topped up her glass. "And here's another thing. The Guild Hall itself is a powerful magical object, kind of like the way that Hogwarts Castle is. Well, they keep telling us that the Hall has been losing its powers for centuries, but it hasn't. I checked the accounts of Ascension Rites...."
"What are those?" Harry fired off his questions as if Hermione were a suspect. There were times when Hermione wondered if being an Auror wasn't making Harry a bit paranoid.
"Ascension Rites," she explained, ignoring his brusque manner, "are the rituals they perform when a new Potion Master is Called. Anyway, the ceremonies all involved really visible displays of magic by the Hall. There was a ceremony in 1938 that seems to have been just like all the others, but at the next ceremony, in 1946, there was nothing. I don't think the power has been fading, I think something happened in those eight years that damaged it, maybe permanently."
"Which would put whatever happened right around the time of Grindelwald," Harry declared excitedly. "There was a lot of Dark Magic being used during that struggle; that might explain it. But that's nearly sixty years ago. Whatever it was, it's long since over and done with. Why should it matter now? And why would anyone lie about it?"
"First of all, sixty years isn't that long. Remember, Harry, these are wizards, they live a long time. Whoever caused the damage is probably still around. But the thing is, I don't think it is over. What if the damage is getting worse? The Hall Calls the Potion Masters. What if the reason there haven't been any new Potion Masters is that the Hall is breaking down and no longer has the power to Call them? In another fifty years, there won't be a Guild anymore. Oh, and there's one other thing. Severus Snape."
Harry looked puzzled. "Severus? What does he have to do with this?"
"Remember how Slughorn said Severus was a Potion Master? He wasn't. At least there's no record of it. But there's more than that. I couldn't find any record that he was ever at the Guild at all, and I know that's wrong. It was his letter to Potion Master Dunford that got me the trial for my apprenticeship in the first place. So I know he was there, but he's not in the official records."
"Have you asked Dunford?"
"Not yet. He can be pretty touchy about anything which even hints that his House isn't perfect. I'd need a lot more evidence before I'd dare ask him about such a glaring irregularity."
Ron chuckled.
"What?"
"I just think it's funny that you've found a big mystery and Snape's in the middle of it. It's like his whole life has been one intrigue after another."
Hermione rolled her eyes. "Do you still see him?" she asked Harry.
"Not as much anymore. He hasn't needed help in the last couple of years, and he's still not the friendliest of blokes. Do you remember how pissy he was the first time I showed up on his doorstep?"
Returning from the dead, as it turned out, took a considerable toll on the body. Harry's departure had been brief enough that the effect had not been immediately noticeable. In the last stages of the second Battle of Hogwarts and the days that followed, he had attributed his weariness to the strains of the events themselves. It was not until nearly a week later that he recognized that something was wrong.
Severus Snape had spent three full days beyond the veil, so his debilitation was far more obvious. Whilst his mind was unaffected, he had neither strength nor stamina and was barely able to manage the trip to and from the loo on his own. Nevertheless, he refused to stay in St Mungos and frightened off every carer that dared to darken his doorstep. Six weeks into his recovery, Harry showed up at his house.
"What do you want?" Severus struggled to rise to his feet and confront the intruder, only to fall back into his armchair.
"I'm your new carer."
"That's absurd," Severus sneered. "You can barely care for yourself."
"Which is why I'm here. I'm useless for anything else until I'm stronger, but I can manage to make sure you're doing your exercises and take care of our shopping."
Harry's cocky attitude grated on Severus. "'Our?'"
"I'll be living here."
"I forbid it."
"Then throw me out."
Severus glowered. "You know I can't."
"And you know that I don't want to stay here with you any longer than I have to. The minute you are able to take care of yourself, I'll leave, which should be all the incentive you need for a speedy recovery. Until then, you're stuck with me." Harry sat back, grinning in that smug way he knew would drive Snape mad. "Which, by the way, I'm really hoping won't be any more than a year and a bit. Ginny'll be graduating then, and I'd rather not have to bring her here."
Ignoring the presumption embedded in that last comment, Severus asked, "Why you?"
"Because we have a lot to talk about."
Severus stiffened. "We said everything that was needed when you woke me."
"No. I said everything that you needed to hear. You still haven't told me what I need to know."
Despite Severus' best efforts, they had talked. Harry was not only relentless, but utterly ruthless in bringing to bear whatever weapons he had at his disposal.
"What, precisely, do you think that you are doing?"
"Batting my mother's eyes at you."
"Insolent brat."
Harry grinned. "Yes. But you still love her, don't you? How can you deny her only son?"
"Because you are not your mother," Severus snapped.
"Is that why you hate me? Because you weren't my father?"
"What? No!" Severus finally looked directly at Harry. "Is that what you thought? That I desired your mother for myself?"
"Yes, of course. Didn't you? The Pensieve...."
"The Pensieve is a deceptive device. Every human observation is coloured by the perceptions of the observer. In the Pensieve, the distortions are doubled, compounding those of the owner of the original memory with those of the individual experiencing the memory."
"Are you saying you didn't love her?" Harry was genuinely confused.
"No. But there are many kinds of love. Tell me, Potter, do you love Miss Granger?"
"Ye-es," he offered, hesitantly, as if sensing a trap.
"And if she were to die, leaving behind a child, would you feel the need to protect that child?"
"Of course." That was a safe question.
"Then you understand."
"No, I don't." It was neither a trap nor an explanation. "You hated me. And in the Pensieve, you tried to talk her out of liking my dad, and then you told Dumbledore it was all for her. If you weren't in love with her, then what did all that mean?"
"It meant that I loved her. In much the way that you love Miss Granger." Severus stopped there, hoping that the look of bafflement would clear from Harry's face. It didn't. He sighed. "There was one difference. You have many friends. Lily Evans was my only true friend, the one person who ever cared for me without an ulterior motive. Her memory is as precious to me as the sum of all your friendships are to you."
"But you were jealous of my dad when you thought she liked him."
"No. I was concerned for her. He was too reckless. I feared that, were she to become involved with him, she would end up injured. Or killed."
Harry decided to push his luck. "Have you never been in love?"
"I didn't say that."
"You said she was your only friend."
"It is possible, Potter," Severus responded, his nostrils flared and his head thrown back, "to be in love with someone who is not your friend. And that is my final word on the matter." It was. However hard Harry tried, he never managed to get any more out of Severus on the subject of love or friendship.
"But you do see him?" asked Hermione.
"Now and then."
Ron shook his head. "I can't imagine why."
"Maybe because, after living together for most of a year and checking up on him every few days for another two years after that, we got to be friends."
Ron rolled his eyes. "I've never understood that."
Harry shrugged. "Once he got to know me, he found out I was more like my mother than he'd thought. It helped that he wasn't terrified that I'd get killed every five minutes."
"Is that supposed to be why he was such a bastard to you in school? He was worried about you?"
"Apparently. He's not very good at expressing concern."
Ron snorted. "You can say that again."
"Do you remember the first thing he ever said to me? That first day in Potions class?"
"Didn't he make fun of you for being a 'celebrity'?"
"Yeah. But then he asked me what you get if you add asphodel to an infusion of wormwood."
"Really? Was it a message? All that time ago?" Hermione broke in excitedly.
"I think so. Snape's ... obscure sometimes. You have to read really far between the lines."
"I'm not following this. What's the deal with asphodel and wormwood?" asked Charlie.
"It's the base for the Draught of Living Death," said Hermione. "The very first question that Professor Snape ever asked Harry was whether he understood the potion that would save his life the one he needed us to recognise."
"But why ask Harry? He thought Harry would be dead by the time he needed it," asked Ron.
"Not then. That was before he had that conversation with Dumbledore." She turned to Harry. "Do you think that he was already preparing, all the way back when we were first years?"
"Yeah, I do. I think he'd been preparing since the day my parents were killed," replied Harry. "Though I'm not sure whether he knew about the Stone that long ago. I can't get him to talk about any of that stuff."
"That's amazing, if you think about it, spending all those years expecting Voldemort to return, expecting him to kill you and knowing that your only chance to survive it is if a bunch of students who don't even like you can piece together a set of really obscure clues," said Hermione, leaning forward and speaking even more animatedly than usual. "Can you imagine what the temptation must have been to just tell someone, or to leave a note or something? But he never did because he knew it would risk the whole plan. That's real strength of character."
Charlie laughed. "You do know that you don't have to convince anyone anymore, right? Everyone knows he was a hero."
"I know," she replied, blushing a little. "It's just, every time I think about it ...." She turned to Harry. "How is he doing now?"
"He's fine. Really. For the longest time we weren't sure whether he'd ever recover fully, but he has. He's healthy, and his magic is as strong as ever." He gave Hermione a quizzical look. "Is that why you came here? You want his help in solving those mysteries of yours?"
"No! I came here for your birthday." Her feigned indignation matched his teasing.
"But you do want to see him," he replied with a smile.
"Eventually, I might. Not yet. I need to know what to ask him first, and that's going to take a lot more research. There is one favour you could do me, though."
His smile broadened. "What's that?"
"I need to get into the Guild archives, and I can't get permission to use them without explaining what I'm up to."
"So you want the cloak."
"Just for a little while. Would you mind?"
Harry chuckled at her transparency; Hermione was incapable of subterfuge. "There's not much point in owning it if it's just going to sit on a shelf. I'll send an owl with it tomorrow."
"Thanks, Harry. You're the best."
When the conversation finally wound down, Charlie walked Hermione outside. "Want to come back to my place for a bit?"
"I can't. The House Mistress gets up pretty early. I have to make sure I'm in before she notices me missing."
"You know, it's ridiculous for a twenty-four-year-old woman to have bed checks."
"Yes. But they don't exactly know I'm a twenty-four-year-old woman, do they?"
"Next Sunday then?"
"Unless I get in trouble about tonight. I'll let you know."
She gave him a quick peck on the cheek and a squeeze of his bum before Disapparating.
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Latest 25 Reviews for The Potion Mistress
86 Reviews | 7.17/10 Average
I absolutely love this story. Please do continue it! It's one of the best I've read in a while.
I just happened upon this story.
It might well be one of the best fics I've ever read in the Potterverse. And I've read a lot.Hopefully you will one day find the inspiration to continue this. And hopefully it will be soon!
Has this story been abandoned...? I just remembered there was this very original, intriguing storyline that I started enjoying 2 years ago...
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
I hope not. I'm on break from fic, but may get back to it some time.
I love the backstory about the attack on Hogsmeade and Hermione's work with the burn victims. Her relationship with Charlie works, I think. (Frankly, I can see her with just about any of the Weasleys except Ron.) And while I'm longing to see more of Severus, the bit you've shown here is great. The amount of detail you've poured into the world of the Guild Houses is fascinating, and I love the pictures. They add so much.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
I have real trouble seeing Hermione with Molly! ;-)One of the first things Bambu suggested, when this story was just an outline, was that I try to have some bit of Severus in each of the early chapters before he joins the main story line. So I'm giving the backstory of their earlier connection in bits and pieces, rather than all at once. I'm pleased to hear it's not feeling too disjointed for you.I'm having tremendous fun developing the Guild and it's history and traditions. I've got files of notes on all the Houses and a timeline of the Guild and the development of alchemy that mixes Muggle and magical elements, though I'm not sure how much of that will get into the story. It's becoming a very real place for me.You like the pictures! They are my precious babies. I'm still a bit wibbly about not posting on Ashwinder, but I can't cut out my pretty pictures.
Response from firefly124 (Reviewer)
Er, okay, let me reframe that: I can see Hermione with any of the Weasley kids except Ron. LOLI've got files of notes on all the Houses and a timeline of the Guild and the development of alchemy that mixes Muggle and magical elements, though I'm not sure how much of that will get into the story.That does happen. And while probably only a small fraction will ever actually be shown in the story, it's making it a very real place for us readers as well.I'm still a bit wibbly about not posting on Ashwinder, but I can't cut out my pretty pictures.I can understand that. The pictures do add quite a lot.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
I once read a Hermione/Arthur fic, and it was exactly as awful as I'd expected it to be. That was before I learned to be selective in my reading. I can't much stomach her with Percy either, though I can see how there might be an intellectual connection.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
I have real trouble seeing Hermione with Molly! ;-)One of the first things Bambu suggested, when this story was just an outline, was that I try to have some bit of Severus in each of the early chapters before he joins the main story line. So I'm giving the backstory of their earlier connection in bits and pieces, rather than all at once. I'm pleased to hear it's not feeling too disjointed for you.I'm having tremendous fun developing the Guild and it's history and traditions. I've got files of notes on all the Houses and a timeline of the Guild and the development of alchemy that mixes Muggle and magical elements, though I'm not sure how much of that will get into the story. It's becoming a very real place for me.You like the pictures! They are my precious babies. I'm still a bit wibbly about not posting on Ashwinder, but I can't cut out my pretty pictures.
Response from firefly124 (Reviewer)
Er, okay, let me reframe that: I can see Hermione with any of the Weasley kids except Ron. LOLI've got files of notes on all the Houses and a timeline of the Guild and the development of alchemy that mixes Muggle and magical elements, though I'm not sure how much of that will get into the story.That does happen. And while probably only a small fraction will ever actually be shown in the story, it's making it a very real place for us readers as well.I'm still a bit wibbly about not posting on Ashwinder, but I can't cut out my pretty pictures.I can understand that. The pictures do add quite a lot.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
I once read a Hermione/Arthur fic, and it was exactly as awful as I'd expected it to be. That was before I learned to be selective in my reading. I can't much stomach her with Percy either, though I can see how there might be an intellectual connection.
I'm sorry it took me so long to read this chapter, but this is one of those fics where I really want to have time to sit down and enjoy properly!Anyway, once again, I loved this - both the present and, especially, the flashback. I wasn't all too sure about Hermione's sort-of relationship with Charlie before, but with the back story added, it makes perfect sense and was fascinating to read about. (And I also found it believable that there would still be rogue DEs out and about, causing trouble - it's quite unlikely that one battle was all it took for everything to be fine, after all!) And the bits with Snape, weaving him into the tale, were wonderful, too.I rather suspect JJ might have his suspicions about Hermione's identity - one can but hope that Hermione's secret is safe for now!~Kribu
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
I'm so glad you liked the Hermione/Charlie part. I worry that the true ss/hg fans will get turned off by that relationship, but it's an important part of who she is and how she's organized her life at this point in the story. You'll notice I brushed over the Ron relationship rather quickly - there is only so much I can ask my readers to tolerate!Severus has been a bit player in the story so far, but he'll be getting more important very soon, I promise.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
I'm so glad you liked the Hermione/Charlie part. I worry that the true ss/hg fans will get turned off by that relationship, but it's an important part of who she is and how she's organized her life at this point in the story. You'll notice I brushed over the Ron relationship rather quickly - there is only so much I can ask my readers to tolerate!Severus has been a bit player in the story so far, but he'll be getting more important very soon, I promise.
Just read this story today...and I found it quite intriguing in a good way. There is a lot of detail and groundwork laid out for more to come, but I just wish there was just a smig more to go on.Oh, I see the mystery, the questions, and the possibilities, and it's great, but it is just a touch broad for me.Now, it could be me (I'm only a reader), it could be the sheer number of ideas and possibilities that you could be bringing in, or you are about to do something with the story to help me out and I'm just impatient. That's cool! I'm an easy reader.Can not wait for the update! Thank you for writing and posting!~
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
You are quite right, the story is very broad at the moment, with lots of threads, but I promise that I will be bringing them all together eventually. It's going to be a long story, so right now I'm still introducing plot elements. Sorry if that's a bit confusing. I'm very pleased that you are enjoying it, even if it isn't everything you could want just yet.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
You are quite right, the story is very broad at the moment, with lots of threads, but I promise that I will be bringing them all together eventually. It's going to be a long story, so right now I'm still introducing plot elements. Sorry if that's a bit confusing. I'm very pleased that you are enjoying it, even if it isn't everything you could want just yet.
Thank you for continuing this story. I was impressed a few months ago when I found it. It is very interesting. Please remember to write more.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
I can promise I won't forget. RL got a bit busy, but I never abandoned the story. I'm so glad you're enjoying it.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
I can promise I won't forget. RL got a bit busy, but I never abandoned the story. I'm so glad you're enjoying it.
I’m re-reading, because I have a feeling that we’ll get an update soon, and I have to say that I love this chapter even more the second time around.
You’re a wonderful world-builder: I could feel the heart of old Tallinn, in the intricacy of its two worlds, Muggle and Wizarding, both overlapping and apart. The account of Hermione’s daily life as Journeyman is vivid and credible, and it also sheds a retrospective light on Snape’s story, in such details as the brewer’s costume or having to give up one’s wand on joining the Guild.
What is most fascinating for me, though, is the feeling of time-depth you create.Using the model of the Mediaeval Guild was already a brilliant idea, but framing the story between the publisher’s notes and Calpurnia Bagshot’s notes at the end, as if it were already an object of scholarly debate, is both intriguing and moving. It means that Hermione’s deeds were important, even the stuff of legend. That final note, about “the photograph of the very bed cover the Potion Mistress slept under as an apprentice and a Journeyman” suggests there’s deep affection and curiosity about her character.
The note about Sunjata House is also thrilling, especially accompanied by the beautiful photos. On that subject, may I ask how you managed to insert the images in the text?
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
It shouldn't be too long; I'll finish it up as soon as I'm done with the end of semester marking. The world-building is so much fun, but also time consuming. This is true not just for Tallinn, but also the broader world. I'll be continuing to use the footnotes as my version of the Silmarillion - a place outside of the narrative to describe the history and culture of the world in which the story resides. As to Hermione's importance, well, maybe a bit of forshadowing there.To insert images in text, I just use Photobucket. Go to www.photobucket.com, get yourself a (free) account, and upload a picture. It will give you the HTML code you need to insert it into a story. It's very easy, but let me know if you have you any trouble.
Response from duniazade (Reviewer)
I'm very much looking forward to the next chapter. I'm jealous of Tallinn, though, as the location of the story - I'd love to see your evocative powers applied to old Bucharest! But you needed a Hanseatic city. I guess I'll have to deal with Bucharest myself.I have tested the photobucket method, and it seems to work fine - thank you so much for the information!
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
Actually, I had a different reason for choosing Tallin, but it hasn't come out yet. *tries to act mysterious*Glad photobucket's working for you. It's a wonderfully convenient little toy.
Response from duniazade (Reviewer)
A different reason for choosing Tallinn? I'm on tenterhooks!
I love the originality of this story! It would appear that with just a little tweaking it could stand on its own - outside of the Potterverse - as an intriguing *original* story! I look forward to reading more!
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
It is, by far, the most original story I've attempted. There will be plenty of links to canon - Hermione is still very much connected to her friends and family back in Britain - but the main story is separate from that world. I'm glad you are enjoying it, I was worried it was too original to appeal.
Response from starmom (Reviewer)
I guess what I like about it is that it COULD exist in its own world outside of canon and wondered whether you thought to attempt to write this as a wholly original piece. I know that I often wonder if I'd ever be inspired to write something original and be brave enough to actually attempt it if I was... Don't get me wrong - I love writing HP fanfic. It's comforting to write within a universe someone else created. But I always wonder if I can do more....
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
The idea for this story actually started with a discussion of why Severus is referred to as a Potions master, when none of the other professors are given the title of "master". It immediately made me think of the medieval guilds, with their ranks of apprentice, journeyman, and master. We only see a very little of the wizarding world in canon, so there is no reason why there shouldn't be all sorts of different aspects to it outside of Britain, and the education recieved at Hogwarts is clearly not specialized enough or advanced enough to account for some of the professions we encounter in canon.
I suppose this could have been done as an original work, but for the moment I like the challenge of seeing how much of canon I can fit into and explain from this different perspective.
Like you, though, I do think about writing original fic someday. I see this story as a bit of a practice run - seeing if I can manage world-building on my own, but still holding onto that HP framework.
Response from starmom (Reviewer)
And you have SO much to work with, given the Guild-framework! Rivalries! Mysteries! Rituals! Secrecy! It's a perfect framework that uses the foundation of the Medieval Guild system and its peculiarities and then adds magic on top of it. Very cool!
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
I'm sitting here with a big grin on my face, because you've just said exactly what I think of this story. It's ambitious, but if I can pull it off, it should be a lot of fun.
This would be fascinating even without the illustrations - as it is, it is wonderful.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
Thank you so much. "Fascinating" and "wonderful" are truly lovely words.
I'm very pleased that you liked the illustrations. For canon, being set in Britain, most of us have a pretty good idea of what things look like. We don't need a picture of a British pub to imagine The Leaky Cauldron. I don't think most readers have as clear a sense of what Estonian art and architecture look like, so I wanted some visuals to help the readers form mental images. There will be more of them as we go along.
I was so happy to see an update to your story. Though this chapter is quite different from the previous ones I wasn't disappointed. On the contrary I love the rich background you create for the Potions Guild and the different threads that seem to open up. Very intriguing and I hope to read more soon.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
It is quite different; this chapter is the real beginning of the main story. The prologue was a link to DH and Chapter One introduced the ideas of the Guild and the mystery Hermione has to solve (finding true love along the way, of course), and catching us up on where everyone is in their lives. Now is where it gets interesting. At least, that's what I'm hoping. If you found it intriguing, then it did what it was supposed to do.
awesome! please update soon :)
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
Thank you, but no promises on timing. I've got an exchange piece to write, and I've been told the mods get mean if you slip the deadline.
I'm enjoying the slow reveal of the mystery, and the time you've taken to draw us into the Guild. Looking forward to more.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
Thank you. This is going to be a long story, so there is a bit of build-up here at the start.
dunno about this Charlie-Hermione thing. So Ron married Luna, huh? That's good, because she's so eerily calm that she'd keep his temper and impulsiveness in check. Much better than that Crappy "epilogue." I like the sound of Harry being Snape's "carer." Talk about giving him added incenntive to get back to "normal", LOL (whatever that is).
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
Not to worry, Charlie won't last. You wouldn't want Hermione stuck on a shelf while she waits for Severus, would you? She deserves better than that.
I do think Luna would be good for Ron. She would appreciate his good qualities and let his annoying habits roll off her. And I just couldn't help myself putting Harry and Severus together. They do have so much unfinished business. Plus Harry would push all of Severus' buttons. (And he has so, so many buttons!)
Snape's condition makes perfect sense, as he could "brew glory and stopper death" better than most anyone else. Sounds like a great continuation to what DH termed an ending (of Snape's life, that is). I'm still pissed about his 'death' in DH and appreciate your effort to set things right by Snape.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
I'm so glad you liked my version of saving Severus. I drafted this piece just days after finishing DJ, when I was still feeling really angry about how Severus had been abandoned by both Jo and the characters. This was my attempt to set the story right.
Ohhh, I LOVE that. Seriously. To get Harry to take care of him and become his friend. That's fair brilliant.
And an ancient, medieval Guild. With its own magic and mythology and mysteries. I think I'm in love.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
I figured he and Harry had some unfinished business. Putting them together makes them deal with it so they can then move on with their lives, not to mention letting me skip the annoying "but what will the boys say?" nonsense.
I'm so glad you like my idea of the Guild! It's my very own little world to play in.
SQUEEE! I loved this first chapter. YAY! He's alive.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
I dashed this off pretty quickly after DH came out, so it's not as polished as some of my writing, but I was determined to save Severus as quickly as possible. Yay, indeed.
Interesting story. Looking forward to the next part.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
Thank you.
Holy wow.
I very nearly didn't make it to this chapter. Your first two chapters are full of dialogue which at times feels rushed and flat, and the transitions aren't as smooth as they could be.
This chapter? VERY, VERY different. In fact it's almost as if they're not written by the same writer! This chapter is lush and full and intriguing. Your narrative voice is really fantastic! And oh my god, your knowledge of history and culture is really impressive. A lot of fanfic writers can't be arsed to discover that people don't typically trick or treat in modern day Britain, much less the extent of research you've done. And PICTURES! z0mg!
*is impressed*
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
I'm not quite sure how to respond to this. I'm pleased that you liked this chapter. The previous ones were necessary bridges from DH and the canon settings before the story could move into the Guild. This has a lot more description because it's new territory for the reader. I didn't feel like the Burrow needed describing, nor do we need a lot of explanation to picture Harry or Ron's behavior in a conversation.
As for the history, some is researched and some comes naturally - I'm a historian by trade. There will be a lot more of that as the story unfolds.
I like the exposition in the chapter. Lots of background, very detailed. Nice.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
Thank you. I was worried it was too much exposition and not enough action. I'm glad you didn't find that a problem.
A very interesting story so far. Love the historian! Looking forward to the next chapter. Good work!
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
Thank you. I'm very please with Calpurnia. As a writer, there is so much you want to tell that doesn't fit in the story. She lets me tell some of it. I'm so glad you like her.
Being a native of Tallinn meself, I was quite delighted with the description, especially as I've been toying with similar ideas and placing the wizarding Tallinn in roughly the same areas as you've done here. Technically though, it's quite some distance from the "nondescript concrete housing" area to the Old Town; and if we assume that until the Middle Ages at least, and (as per your) also afterwards, there used to be closer contacts between the muggle and wizarding traditions, it would have been more appropriate to use German words and terms, or perhaps Swedish (Estonia was under Sweden in 16th-18th century) instead of the French "petit dejeuner" and such. We've had very little French influence up here.Other than that, I really enjoy the story.It made me realize though, how hard it must be for the Brit readers to see their familiar education systems, speech patterns, foods etc mangled by the rest of the world, as we do in HP fanfic. I suppose I may have been a bit more critical towards this chapter than I would have been if it had been set in the UK, or Africa, or anywhere else in the world. (OK, that was not really a review, rather a piece of self-reflection.) Say lehva-lehva to Kribu and I'd suggest to her(?) to look also into Katariina Käik and Katariina kirik for other possible wizarding sites :)
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
Thank you so much for the concrit, it truly is appreciated.
Kribu's found me a particular building that Hermione has her flat in, which she assures me is only about 10 minutes from the Old Town - it will appear in more detail in a later chapter. It's not in one of the major concrete housing areas, but there is enough there that the description should fit.
I'm very pleased that you picked up on the language issue - it's a very complicated one. The question is, how much is the Guild influenced by being in Tallinn, versus how international it is. While they are physically in Tallinn, the Houses each represent a different geographic area or language group, covering the whole world. So there should be linguistic influences from all over. But the Guild is not all of wizarding Tallinn, and the rest is heavily Estonian. I actually chose the French term deliberately, because the House next door is French and to balance using a British term for the evening meal, but I did check first to make sure the types of meals were appropriate for medieval Estonia.
I hope you do write a story set in Tallinn; I'd love to see how another author uses the same spaces.
I love the detailed, rich background you have constructed for the Guild!
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
Thank you. This really is a foundation chapter, that creates the setting for the rest of the story, so I'm very pleased that you found it detailed and rich.
Response from Mint Stick (Reviewer)
There were things that made me go "hmm", but I chalked them up to poetic licence, and also going with the idea of the Wizarding part of Tallinn (and its history) being as separate from the Muggle part as the Wizarding part of London is clearly very different from the Muggle part.
Anything that I might have found odd otherwise can quite easily be explained away, such as the West African apprentices - we can for instance assume that being from a pureblood background, they wouldn't be interested in visiting the Muggle town during any free time (as, well, having black youths seen in real/Muggle Tallinn would be something quite unusual).
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
Don't forget that, in canon, Muggles generally don't notice witches and wizards wandering around in robes, walking through walls, and taking owls through train stations. OTOH, they do notice flying cars. There seems to be some sort of "don't notice me" aura around magical people, which would apply to the Guild members in Tallinn.
Was there anything else that made you go "hmm"?
Response from Mint Stick (Reviewer)
Nothing that I couldn't have reasoned away, really.
And that would make sense. I was mostly thinking that if someone already goes to the Muggle part, they might want to interact with people, too, but I guess that wouldn't be necessary.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
I just realised you're Kribu - I'm sorry, I'd forgotten you use
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
around here. Which explains why you're thinking about West Africans running around Tallinn and makes the whole conversation make much more sense.
If it is rich and detailed, it's because you helped to make it that way. I hope you don't mind if I keep picking your brain every now and then for elements of Tallinn life.
Response from Mint Stick (Reviewer)
Oops, I should probably have reminded you. :-D And pick away, it's what it's there for!
Wonderful and fascinating. I'm enjoying the back story of the various Guilds as well as the pictures! Can't wait to read more.
Response from a_bees_buzz (Author of The Potion Mistress)
Thank you so much.