[007]

[wavesofjade]

Your Attention Please, Students.

First Of All I Am Afraid That I Am Going To Have To Take Matters To The Headmaster If Another Student Comes Into The Hospital Wing After Falling Through The Ice At The Edge Of The Lake.
It Is Not Strong Enough To Hold Your Weight, Please Do Not Walk On It!

Secondly, I Understand That There Are Important Exams Fast Approaching.
For Those Of You Whose Nerves Are Adversely Affecting Your Studies The Hospital Wing Has Mild Calming Draughts On Hand.
Do Not Hesitate To Approach Us If You Find Yourself Needing Help.


[Private to Kurloz Makara]
Do You Have A Free Period Later This Week, Dear?
Your Help In The Hospital Wing Would Be Appreciated.
I Am Very Impressed With Your Progress So Far.

[Private to Rhys Rhydderch]
Rhys, May I Have A Few Moments Of Your Time?

Comments

[filter]

[innocent_insanity]

i got some free time coming up before motherfu that wicked awesome afternoon tea time tomorrow, miss. :o)

[filter]

[wavesofjade]

You Do Not Need To Censor Yourself For My Sake In Filtered Messages, Dear.

That Would Be Perfect.
Would You Mind Spending That Time Assisting Me?

Re: [filter]

[innocent_insanity]

it isn't polite to use that kind of language to adults - especially the lady ones. :o)

that'd be awesome!

[filter]

[wavesofjade]

Wonderful.
I Will See You Then!

Private

[higherthaneverybody]

ALWAYS.
when?

Private

[wavesofjade]

As Soon As You Are Available.

Private

[higherthaneverybody]

I HAVE AN HOUR FROM ONE TO TWO.
is something the matter?

Private

[wavesofjade]

Nothing Pressing.
I Have One Or Two Things I Wish To Discuss With You.
And Simply Spending Some Time In Your Company Would Not Go Amiss.
If You Have No Objections.

Private

[higherthaneverybody]

OF COURSE NOT.
you know i always appreciate your company, dolores.
SHOULD I FIND YOU
or would you like to come to my rooms?

Private

[wavesofjade]

And I Yours.
I Hoped You Might Say That.
If You Would Not Object To A Visit I Will Come To You.

Private

[higherthaneverybody]

IF I OBJECTED
i wouldn't have invited you.
I LOOK FORWARD TO IT.

[And Rhys will be waiting in his rooms at the appointed hour, curious and pleased.]

[wavesofjade]

[And at one on the dot, there's a gentle tap on the door of his rooms.

She's not quite bold enough to just walk in.]

[higherthaneverybody]

[He opens it immediately, gesturing for her to come in. He's taken off the robes he wears when he's teaching, leaving loose black linen pants and a dark blue-purple tunic top underneath - Rhys tends to dress in the style of his twenties when he's being casual, which had some Muggle influences.]

It's good to see you.

[The tea's already on, of course.]

[wavesofjade]

[There's a quiet 'thank you' murmured as he opens the door and she ducks her head slightly as she passes him. Curled in one hand, she's holding a small potion bottle.]

It's good to see you too, as always.

[A warm smile follows that remark - she's one of the few in the school who might say that and mean it, no doubt.]

I hope you'll forgive me for bypassing small talk but I have something rather.. pressing.. to enquire about before anything else is done.

[higherthaneverybody]

[His eyes flick down to the potion bottle, and then he raises one eyebrow.] Of course. Sit down, and you can tell me what you're here about.

[wavesofjade]

[She sits, and sets the bottle on her knee. It's filled with a blood-red potion.]

The last batch that you made for me.. did you do something different with it?

[higherthaneverybody]

[frowns] No. Why, has it tasted off? [holding his hand out for the bottle so he can examine it]

[wavesofjade]

You might say that.

[She hands it over, looking more than a little worried as she does.]

Rhys, I came this close to considering biting a student. You know I can't work here if I'm a liability.

[higherthaneverybody]

[His frown deepens as he uncorks the bottle and sniffs at it.] What were the circumstances? Had you been hungry, or were there high emotions involved?

[He's not sure exactly how it works with vampires, but he can guess there's biting involved when they're attracted - he had had the marks to prove it. Perhaps it happened when they were angry, as well? But it's hard to imagine Dolores losing her temper.

Dipping his pinky into the bottle, he takes out some of the potion and tastes it, but he can't tell any difference from the usual stuff. And he hadn't done anything to it, far too concerned with matters involving his son to think about trying anything new.]

[wavesofjade]

[She shakes her head.]

Not that I can recall, though I startled myself quite badly.. I hadn't so much as thought about it since.. [Dolores makes a small, embarrassed gesture towards him.]

.. Is there a way to see if it's been tampered with?

[higherthaneverybody]

I can examine it, but it will be difficult to tell if someone's gone to some lengths to hide it. Still, I have contacts in the Ministry who could help.

[looking up at her again, hesitates, then asks] Could that have had something to do with it? Taking some from me? [He has no idea if she's abstained from blood entirely, or if there have been ... willing donors.]

[wavesofjade]

I'd appreciate that, thank you..

[She catches her lower lip between her teeth for a moment, twisting her hands in her lap.]

It's.. a possibility, I suppose. So little is known about vampire physiology, after all, even between ourselves, it seems.. If that's the case then it will be a matter of waiting it out.

[higherthaneverybody]

I'd offer you more, if I thought it would help, but if it's what caused this then that would only make matters worse, I suspect. I can, however, brew something stronger, in the meanwhile? It might take some of the edge off.

[glancing down at her hands, watching them twist, then laying one of his much larger ones over them] You won't be a danger. We'll make sure of it.

[wavesofjade]

[Dolores nods, and one of her habitual unneeded breaths catches in her throat as she curls her fingers around his.]

I do wonder what I would have done without you here, sometimes.

[higherthaneverybody]

You would have gotten the same potion from Miss Mercer, though doubtless it wouldn't have tasted anywhere near so good. [tells her with a crooked smile, teasingly] Though your choices for intelligent conversation would have been much more limited, so I can see why you're grateful I'm here.