Name: potionspartner (Signed) · Date: 05 Sep 2020 05:25 PM · For: from the papers of severus snape

Hey Noelle,

I’m here for your fan non-fiction challenge review.

For the first letter, I was thinking how short it was. Here is Snape who is trying to impress this potion mistress and he barely pens a short note of introduction. Then I was thinking how arrogant it was of him. He assumed the potion would speak for itself and convince her his greatness---oh, how young Snape has much to learn (or perhaps his mind really does run three steps ahead of his quill. If so, he really should read over his writing.) Either way, she answers him, quickly squashing his hopes of fulfilled arrogance. At least she does it rather quickly and writes back the next day so he has time to make changes.

I like her response. She’s obviously well-educated but has a good sense of humor. She corrects him without making him appear the fool (a style he should have adopted himself but obviously ignored.)

The next few exchanges nicely continue this trend. Snape being inflexible and unwilling to open to new ideas and her being equally stubborn, although she had the years of wisdom to back up her opinions. Finally, finally, Snape bends a bit and agrees to change one ingredient and only one ingredient. He knows it’s the only possible solution. 

And once again she stands her ground and wisdom defeats youth and, in this case, a rather rash temper.

And the reader learned a new word: defenestration. Thank you Stella Blue for adding that new vocabulary requirement.

This, however, is Severus Tobias Snape and, even at this young age, he is able to create potion miracles under pressure so he not only creates a potion worthy of earning his mastery, he learns to fly.

I love the end note. Just in case some reader is lacking common sense. (I might suggest not eating dragon teeth too. They don’t sound very tasty.)

Nice job, Noelle. 

Author's Response:

Hi Barbara! This challenge was so fun--thank you for running it :D

Nadia Anguleme recognizes Sev's potential--and that he needs a firm hand to guide him--but not quash him.

And she manages it! He does eventually see things her way and so he is able to create this potion--which I plan to feature in book 2 of the Sevranda trilogy.

You're probably right about the dragon teeth :)

Thank you for this lovely review!

Yours,

Noelle