A Book Review
Aug 18, 2019 22:56:26 GMT -6
Post by Snick on Aug 18, 2019 22:56:26 GMT -6
Jonathan arrived a good ten minutes early for his meeting with Professor Glassman. The normally cheerful Junior was anything but, at this moment. He paced back and forth before the door, waiting for the teacher to arrive. He had already knocked on the door and received no answer and assumed the Professor with the horned rimmed glasses was not in his office yet.
Thoughts running through Jonathan's mind included worry about the secret of the book would be revealed. It was designed to discourage the casual browser by having the cover of the Monster Book of Monsters. It was used for Care of Magical Creatures in the UK for third years and what made it more unique than others was the book itself was a monster of sorts. If one didn't stroke the spine the book would literally try and bite your fingers off or tear other books apart. Jonathan hoped the professor didn't want to risk losing his fingers and just take it at face value. He needed to read the contents of the book the cover disguises. From what he learned this book had the details of a rare ingredient used in the potion Jacob used which put his cousin into a death like state. Jonathan hoped by learning all he could about the rare substance it will reveal to have the right properties to counteract what Jacob used to make his experimental potion.
Stopping his pacing he forced himself to lean against the wall and appear nonchalant. The last thing Jonathan wanted was for Glassman to see him highly agitated. He took a deep breath and pulled up his skill at acting to keep a casual unconcerned air. First step to be a very good liar was to convince yourself what you are saying is actually the truth and thus, not a lie at all.
Glassman let the boy pace awhile before he finally opened the door five minutes after the appointment was to begin. "Come in. Have you been waiting long?" He waited for the boy to sit in the chair across from him-- that appeared to be three inches shorter than the one Glassman was sitting in.
Howard pulled out the paper bag with the book and handed it to Jonathan. "You may start by opening this book in front of me." His eyes momentarily seemed to catch the attention of someone in the back of the room and make a barely imperceptible nod, yet no one was there.
"I knocked a few times," Jonathan said in a neutral tone. He suspected Glassman knew exactly when he showed up and purposely left him out here to sweat it out. Wisely Jonathan felt it best not to get even more on Glassman's bad side by pointing out the obvious. "I wasn't waiting too long, maybe ten or fifteen minutes."
As he sat down he noticed right away the height in the chair was reduced. Intimidation tactics Jonathan realized, thinking Glassman was going out of his way to throw him off. He smirked slightly, not one to be easily intimidated.
When Glassman handed over the bag the book was in, Jonathan put it down on the floor and lifted out the book. Standing he placed it on his lap. The book made a growl and struggled against the belt that held it securely closed. "Are you sure Professor? These books do bite."
Unable to help himself, Jonathan looked towards the corner the Professor was glancing at but didn't see anything unusual. He frowned. Jonathan wondered if this was more intimidation tactics or if the Professor really did have somebody else in the room under the Disillusionment Charm or invisibility cloak? He could find out easily enough but that would mean drawing his wand or throwing the book in roughly where the person may be. Neither option was going to sit well with Professor Glassman and probably make this whole situation ten times worse.
"Well here goes nothing." Jonathan shrugs and runs his hand down the spine of the book. Immediately the book began to purr softly and relax. Jonathan undid the belt holding the book tightly closed and opened it up to a random page. Just as the old saying went, 'Don't judge a book by it's cover' the contents of the book had little to do with magical creatures. By a miracle, the page Jonathan opened up revealed a discussion about the various properties of manticore venom. Anybody reading a little more would see it was just a short discussion on which was more effective in a potion called 'Bloodfire Elixir', the manticore venom or the venom of a Peruvian Vipertooth dragon.
Glassman almost smiled, but the look was a little more frightening than that for its almost pleasant look. It was more of a sneer. Again there was that flash of recognition with that back wall, but no one was there.
"Now pull the inside book out of the Monster Book of Monsters and put the inside book on my desk."
horsefeathers he knows, somehow he knows. The thought runs through Jonathan's mind. He can't avoid the fact he intended to smuggle a book likely to be on the contraband list into school. Refusing to reveal what that books is would just make the situation worse, something Jonathan was very much aware. He sighed.
He pulled his wand and cast the spell that will separate the two books. Putting his wand away he extracted the 'hidden' book and dropped it on the Professor's desk. Jonathan didn't bother trying to hide the title by putting the book upside down or any such foolishness. One glance would be all Glassman would need to read the title, 'Grimoire of Malicious Ingredients and Potions'. An old and hard to find book and one anybody with the knowledge of potions Professor Glassman would have heard of. It wasn't a book one would expect to ever find in the restricted section of a school library, more likely found in the private collections of not so beneficial potion masters.
Glassman picked up the book, a genuine smirk on his face now. "I own a copy of this book. If you had requested it, I would have lent it to you from my own collection and worked with you from it. I am curious as to why you are researching from it. You haven't been one of my advanced potions students thus far. Why the sudden interest?" He still held the book tightly.
Jonathan ran a hand through his hair, debating what to tell the professor. After a few seconds he decided a bit of the truth would be best.
"I am not interested in the potions described in the book itself but more...the properties of some of the obscure potion ingredients. My biggest worry was the book itself may be seen as too..dark to just order openly," he looked at Professor Glassman as he spoke. "I expect even if I tried making any of the potions in this book they would be well beyond my skill level."
Glassman nodded. The boy was lying about much and telling him a little truth. Good strategy. He could use him. Why hadn't Elizabeta recruited him?
"Very well. You may keep the book, but you will keep it in my office. You are correct in that it is too difficult for you to work on alone. Far above your skill level. You will come work with me on the parts you wish to study. When you leave school in two years, the book will go with you. I will expect to see you when you need to work out of the book--when we both can schedule free time."
He had him cornered. "Now, your punishment for not going through proper channels and endangering the school when we are under high security. What do you think is appropriate?"
Tension raced through his body at the idea of trying to work on the contents of the book with Glassman hovering over him. How can he analyse the remains of the potion Rachel drank and see if the ingredients in the potion book could counteract it? Jonathan realized suddenly how it would work and he could still keep the reason behind his research secret. He was only researching the ingredients in the book, he would take notes, Glassman won't be suspicious of that. Jonathan certainly didn't think so.
"I would hate to put you out, Professsor Glassman, I have no intention of making any of the potions, it will strictly be just reading about the ingredients discussed in the book." Jonathan says, giving an air of not wanting to be an inconvenience to the older wizard. "But given the current situation at school I certainly understand your caution. I won't need too much time, perhaps just a few hours, I won't know till I get a chance to look at the book."
He sighs. "Denying my the privileged to return to Salem for a period of time certainly wouldn't be too unfair, given the current security situation. However, as this is my first offense in this area, detention may be more appropriate.'
"Very well. No more trips to Salem for the next three months. When shall I expect you in the potions lab for your first private lesson with this book?" he asked, dismissing the boy.
Thoughts running through Jonathan's mind included worry about the secret of the book would be revealed. It was designed to discourage the casual browser by having the cover of the Monster Book of Monsters. It was used for Care of Magical Creatures in the UK for third years and what made it more unique than others was the book itself was a monster of sorts. If one didn't stroke the spine the book would literally try and bite your fingers off or tear other books apart. Jonathan hoped the professor didn't want to risk losing his fingers and just take it at face value. He needed to read the contents of the book the cover disguises. From what he learned this book had the details of a rare ingredient used in the potion Jacob used which put his cousin into a death like state. Jonathan hoped by learning all he could about the rare substance it will reveal to have the right properties to counteract what Jacob used to make his experimental potion.
Stopping his pacing he forced himself to lean against the wall and appear nonchalant. The last thing Jonathan wanted was for Glassman to see him highly agitated. He took a deep breath and pulled up his skill at acting to keep a casual unconcerned air. First step to be a very good liar was to convince yourself what you are saying is actually the truth and thus, not a lie at all.
Glassman let the boy pace awhile before he finally opened the door five minutes after the appointment was to begin. "Come in. Have you been waiting long?" He waited for the boy to sit in the chair across from him-- that appeared to be three inches shorter than the one Glassman was sitting in.
Howard pulled out the paper bag with the book and handed it to Jonathan. "You may start by opening this book in front of me." His eyes momentarily seemed to catch the attention of someone in the back of the room and make a barely imperceptible nod, yet no one was there.
"I knocked a few times," Jonathan said in a neutral tone. He suspected Glassman knew exactly when he showed up and purposely left him out here to sweat it out. Wisely Jonathan felt it best not to get even more on Glassman's bad side by pointing out the obvious. "I wasn't waiting too long, maybe ten or fifteen minutes."
As he sat down he noticed right away the height in the chair was reduced. Intimidation tactics Jonathan realized, thinking Glassman was going out of his way to throw him off. He smirked slightly, not one to be easily intimidated.
When Glassman handed over the bag the book was in, Jonathan put it down on the floor and lifted out the book. Standing he placed it on his lap. The book made a growl and struggled against the belt that held it securely closed. "Are you sure Professor? These books do bite."
Unable to help himself, Jonathan looked towards the corner the Professor was glancing at but didn't see anything unusual. He frowned. Jonathan wondered if this was more intimidation tactics or if the Professor really did have somebody else in the room under the Disillusionment Charm or invisibility cloak? He could find out easily enough but that would mean drawing his wand or throwing the book in roughly where the person may be. Neither option was going to sit well with Professor Glassman and probably make this whole situation ten times worse.
"Well here goes nothing." Jonathan shrugs and runs his hand down the spine of the book. Immediately the book began to purr softly and relax. Jonathan undid the belt holding the book tightly closed and opened it up to a random page. Just as the old saying went, 'Don't judge a book by it's cover' the contents of the book had little to do with magical creatures. By a miracle, the page Jonathan opened up revealed a discussion about the various properties of manticore venom. Anybody reading a little more would see it was just a short discussion on which was more effective in a potion called 'Bloodfire Elixir', the manticore venom or the venom of a Peruvian Vipertooth dragon.
Glassman almost smiled, but the look was a little more frightening than that for its almost pleasant look. It was more of a sneer. Again there was that flash of recognition with that back wall, but no one was there.
"Now pull the inside book out of the Monster Book of Monsters and put the inside book on my desk."
horsefeathers he knows, somehow he knows. The thought runs through Jonathan's mind. He can't avoid the fact he intended to smuggle a book likely to be on the contraband list into school. Refusing to reveal what that books is would just make the situation worse, something Jonathan was very much aware. He sighed.
He pulled his wand and cast the spell that will separate the two books. Putting his wand away he extracted the 'hidden' book and dropped it on the Professor's desk. Jonathan didn't bother trying to hide the title by putting the book upside down or any such foolishness. One glance would be all Glassman would need to read the title, 'Grimoire of Malicious Ingredients and Potions'. An old and hard to find book and one anybody with the knowledge of potions Professor Glassman would have heard of. It wasn't a book one would expect to ever find in the restricted section of a school library, more likely found in the private collections of not so beneficial potion masters.
Glassman picked up the book, a genuine smirk on his face now. "I own a copy of this book. If you had requested it, I would have lent it to you from my own collection and worked with you from it. I am curious as to why you are researching from it. You haven't been one of my advanced potions students thus far. Why the sudden interest?" He still held the book tightly.
Jonathan ran a hand through his hair, debating what to tell the professor. After a few seconds he decided a bit of the truth would be best.
"I am not interested in the potions described in the book itself but more...the properties of some of the obscure potion ingredients. My biggest worry was the book itself may be seen as too..dark to just order openly," he looked at Professor Glassman as he spoke. "I expect even if I tried making any of the potions in this book they would be well beyond my skill level."
Glassman nodded. The boy was lying about much and telling him a little truth. Good strategy. He could use him. Why hadn't Elizabeta recruited him?
"Very well. You may keep the book, but you will keep it in my office. You are correct in that it is too difficult for you to work on alone. Far above your skill level. You will come work with me on the parts you wish to study. When you leave school in two years, the book will go with you. I will expect to see you when you need to work out of the book--when we both can schedule free time."
He had him cornered. "Now, your punishment for not going through proper channels and endangering the school when we are under high security. What do you think is appropriate?"
Tension raced through his body at the idea of trying to work on the contents of the book with Glassman hovering over him. How can he analyse the remains of the potion Rachel drank and see if the ingredients in the potion book could counteract it? Jonathan realized suddenly how it would work and he could still keep the reason behind his research secret. He was only researching the ingredients in the book, he would take notes, Glassman won't be suspicious of that. Jonathan certainly didn't think so.
"I would hate to put you out, Professsor Glassman, I have no intention of making any of the potions, it will strictly be just reading about the ingredients discussed in the book." Jonathan says, giving an air of not wanting to be an inconvenience to the older wizard. "But given the current situation at school I certainly understand your caution. I won't need too much time, perhaps just a few hours, I won't know till I get a chance to look at the book."
He sighs. "Denying my the privileged to return to Salem for a period of time certainly wouldn't be too unfair, given the current security situation. However, as this is my first offense in this area, detention may be more appropriate.'
"Very well. No more trips to Salem for the next three months. When shall I expect you in the potions lab for your first private lesson with this book?" he asked, dismissing the boy.
