challenges involving books, research and analytical thinking had always been Poppy’s favourite Mine, too! I love hopeless academics (being one myself), and you've done a fine job with Poppy and Severus, their quiet similarities, their dry wit, their believable conversations.
I particularly like the scientific details and the characters' compatible joy in research; the way their relationship grows through empirical experiments is clever and effective -- better living through chemistry.
Something to do with all those years of being chased out of villages and accused of eating children, most likely. Ha! Such a Poppy-like reflection; I can really hear her voice here.
"Half of them think I’m a vampire now." As do quite a few Muggle fiction writers. /g/
I love the way you upend expectations, such as Poppy's views on dark ingredients. Merlin knows that some diseases don’t play fair, and they should be combated with whatever ammunition we have. She's absolutely right; just the sort of stance and insight I'd expect of her. She's unflappable in exactly the ways she should be (love that she recognized Hermione's polyjuice at once, but has a good sense of when not to ask questions).
And Argus with his cat-bed christmas gift and brush -- awwww. Wonderfully poignant.
“Albus is difficult to say no to, but one always regrets it the next morning.” “I wonder how many men have said that over the years,” quipped Poppy Haha! I did mention that love your Poppy, right?
I thoroughly enjoyed this inventive, original take on the "botched-potion-causes-uncontrollable lust" trope. I love Severus being attracted to her open mind, and I sincerely hope that the ending is just the beginning.