Salamander blood was a very important ingredient in Invigoration Potion.
Ever since the theory of the four elements had collapsed along with Aristotle's support for geocentrism, the classification of magical creatures and plants had run into a problem. There really were lizards more attuned to fire or frost, yet they could not be classified that way and had to be categorized by color and biological structure instead. Many people were dissatisfied with that.
"Oh, Professor Snape, welcome." Hagrid spoke at once when he opened the door and saw the two of them.
"He's here to help, Hagrid." Pomona smiled at the Potions master. "Right?"
"Spider." Snape said sparingly.
"Oh, are those children still coming?" Hagrid poked his head out through the doorway and looked around.
"They're resting today, so I asked Severus to help. He has nothing to do until the full moon arrives," Pomona said.
He opened his mouth, then finally gave a hypocritical smile.
"I don't think the spider problem is that urgent. There's something else," Hagrid said mysteriously, looking at Pomona.
"What?" she asked.
"A letter," Hagrid said.
The hypocritical smile vanished from Severus's face at once.
"You wrote it yourself?" Pomona asked.
"Wait." Hagrid went into the hut and emerged a while later. "Here."
He openly showed Pomona his "love letter."
Aside from his astonishingly large handwriting and all the spelling mistakes, Hagrid's letter was not very long. It roughly said that Hogwarts welcomed Madame Maxime's arrival, that Hagrid sincerely looked forward to her visit, and then described his own circumstances.
"What do you think?" Hagrid asked.
"Not bad," Pomona said against her conscience.
"So, should I send it to her?"
"I think we can polish it up a little." Pomona entered Hagrid's hut as she spoke.
There was still plenty to write about Hogwarts: the