บท 16: Chapter 16
Jamie's intense concentration was abruptly interrupted as she turned her head and let out a loud sneeze that echoed throughout the room. The sudden movement caused the precarious cauldron in front of her to wobble, resulting in a chaotic stream of its contents splashing across the table. The air was instantly replaced by a strong, unpleasant smell, and her once-pristine workstation was now a complete mess.
"Damn it!" Jamie muttered in frustration, her face contorting with annoyance as she cast an exasperated glance at the mess before her. The spilled potion had been her latest experiment, one she had spent hours meticulously preparing, now wasted in an instant.
In the face of this unfortunate event, a sense of suspicion gripped Jamie's thoughts. "Someone is definitely plotting against me!" It was a witch's intuition, she firmly believed. "Hmph! Once I find out who it is, they'll pay!"
After cleaning up the disastrous spill with a deft wave of her wand, Jamie surveyed the remaining ingredients on her workbench. A sinking feeling washed over her as she realized the dwindling supply of moonstone and hellebore, both indispensable components that could only be sourced from Europe.
On top of everything, she was lacking the feathers from the elusive Fwooper, a magical bird native to Africa. The prospect of completing her potion suddenly seemed distant and unattainable. Suppressing her anger and disappointment, Jamie meticulously restored order to her workbench, ensuring that every vial and tool found their rightful place before she ascended from the dimly lit cellar.
Upon returning to her room, Jamie deliberately drew the curtains closed, casting a shadowy veil over the space. The lamps adorning the walls obediently flickered to life, emanating a subdued glow that accentuated the room's mysterious ambiance. With measured steps, she traversed the room, her purposeful stride directing her toward the sturdy wardrobe.
As she swung open its doors, a hushed creak resonated through the air, revealing a hidden compartment at the bottom. Retrieving a large wooden box from its secret confines, Jamie cradled it in her hands, her gaze fixated upon its weathered exterior. The box, though not towering in height, possessed an intriguing aura of significance. She unlatched its brass clasp, revealing a painting that was empty.
"Professor? Are you there?" Jamie called softly, her voice echoing through the silent potion room captured in the painting.
A greasy-haired wizard emerged from the frame, his sudden appearance startling Jamie. He moved with brisk determination, striding purposefully toward the cauldron at the painting's center. The black cloak draped behind him fluttered like bat wings, adding an air of mystique to his presence.
"You better have an important reason to disturb me, Black," the wizard in the painting grumbled, his back turned to Jamie as he approached the cauldron. With a swift turn, his expression darkened, and his piercing gaze bore into her.
"Professor Snape, we've known each other for quite some time. Remember when I helped you escape from the dour Headmistress's office?" Jamie's voice carried a playful tone, accompanied by a gentle smile that graced her lips. The uncanny resemblance of her face to Sirius Black's seemed to irk Snape, as if he wanted nothing more than to draw his wand.
"Get to the point!" Snape's countenance grew even darker, his patience wearing thin. Dealing with another Black, especially the offspring of that damn Sirius Black, was a task he would rather avoid. Nevertheless, Jamie's exceptional talent in potion-making and Harry's request left him with no choice but to lend her his assistance. If it weren't for her exceptional talent in potions, Snape begrudgingly acknowledged, he wouldn't have tolerated her presence.
"I am currently conducting experiments on the Skele-Gro potion with a muggle as the subject," Jamie said, retrieving her notebook and flipping it open. She proceeded to describe Tony's reactions and experiences after consuming the potion.
"If your brain hasn't completely turned to mush, you should know that I'm just a portrait. I can't assist you in improving potions. I'm nothing more than a memory," Snape retorted with his customary coldness.
"Yes, Professor, I am aware of that," Jamie replied, nodding her head. "But I find myself lacking someone to discuss these matters with. Others possess limited knowledge of potions, merely adhering to recipes found in books and following them step by step. I don't necessarily require your expertise to improve my potions. It just feels nice to have someone to talk to."
With a sigh, Jamie settled herself cross-legged on the hardwood floor, her notebook in hand. Leaning against the wardrobe, she continued to write and sketch, finding solace in the act. Despite the limitations of the portrait, she found comfort in having a semblance of companionship, even if it was just a memory of Professor Snape.
Snape paused for a moment, his expression unreadable. He waved his wand to retrieve a leather-bound book from the bookshelf. Opening it with practiced ease, he began to recite in his characteristic monotone, "The powder of moonstone diluted with the juice of billywig wings. . ."
Jamie immediately perked up at the sound of Snape's voice. She hung onto every word that came out as he finished the passage. Without wasting a second, she summoned the "Moste Potente Potions" from her library with a summoning charm and flipped through the aged pages, searching for the exact passage Snape had just recited. She quickly found it and started pouring over it word for word.
Seeing Jamie's engrossed in the book, Snape's usually aloof expression betrayed a hint of curiosity. Closing the tome he had been reading, he let out a cold huff of breath before turning away and disappearing from the frame. All that remained within the confines of the painting were shelves of neatly arranged books and vials of potions.
When Jamie finally emerged from her focused state and glanced up, she realized that the portrait was already vacant. A tinge of disappointment tugged at her features. Carefully, she placed the portrait back into the box, closing it with a soft click. She then returned the box to its rightful place at the bottom of the wardrobe, where she knew it would be waiting for her the next time she sought solace in conversing with the memory of Professor Snape.
The portrait of Professor Snape held a particular significance for Jamie, as it had all started when she was called into the Headmistress's office for breaking the school rules. In front of all the previous Headmasters and her guardian, Harry Potter, a heated argument had ensued, marked by sharp words and a venomous tone.
After the confrontation, Jamie stormed out of the room, leaving Harry with a genuine concern for her well-being. Turning to Professor Snape for guidance, he implored Professor Snape to watch over her. Though reluctant at first, Snape agreed. From then on, he traveled through various portraits within the school, silently observing Jamie as she showcased her talents. When she studied advanced potion-making, Snape would occasionally lend his expertise to her.
As their friendship deepened, Jamie went to teach herself the art of creating magical portraits. One daring afternoon, she sneaked into the Headmistress's office and devoted hours to crafting a potions room and library made specifically for Professor Snape.
Satisfied, Jamie closed the wardrobe and rose to her feet. She strolled over to the window and pulled apart the curtains to look outside. In an instant, her eyes caught sight of a cherry red convertible parked by the roadside. Seated inside was none other than Tony Stark, sporting a pair of sunglasses.
Tony stepped out of the car, casually tossing his sunglasses inside, adjusted his suit cuffs, and approached the entrance of the old three-story building. Pushing the door open, his eyes quickly scanned the empty store before calling out, "Koby, tell your master that I've arrived to settle the bill."
Yet there was no response. He was about to raise his voice again when, out of nowhere, a staircase materialized beside the counter. Tony raised an eyebrow but decided to shrug it off. With a hint of curiosity, he ascended the stairs, making his way to the second-floor lounge where Jamie patiently awaited his arrival. Taking a seat across from her, she couldn't help but comment, "How are you going to pay me, Mr. Stark?"
Tony leaned back, settling into the seat opposite Jamie. He smirked, ready to engage in their usual banter. "We haven't seen each other in at least two days. Why not start with a greeting?"
Amused by his response, Jamie played along and asked, "Oh, in that case, how are you, Mr. Billionaire?"
Tony rolled his eyes at this, "I'm doing just fine, thank you. But before we proceed, let's see if this can cover my payment." He retrieved a small box from his pocket and gently placed it on the table before flipping it open to reveal its contents.
Jamie's curiosity immediately stirred as her eyes fixated on the box's contents. Nestled within was a silver necklace, elegantly crafted and adorned with a mesmerizing dark green gemstone pendant. Encircling the pendant was a meticulously designed silver snake, its tiny ruby eyes glinting with an ethereal allure.
"Intriguing piece, Tony. Where on earth did you come across this? I hope you didn't handle it with your bare hands," Jamie inquired, reaching for a pair of gloves and carefully picking up the box to examine it closely.
. . .
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