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erniedtmac ([info]erniedtmac) wrote in [info]finnigans_rpg,
@ 2014-10-14 20:07:00

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Entry tags:character: ernie macmillan, character: zacharias smith, status: complete

Who: Ernie MacMillan & Zacharias Smith
What: A surprise visit
Where: Ernie's Flat
When: October 14, evening
Status: Closed / Ongoing



Ernie was surrounded by books and pieces of parchment, much as he had throughout most of the week, until it looked like they were covering almost every surface of the flat. He'd had a specific train of thought and had been looking up spells to support it, but almost everywhere he turned, there were dead ends.

The book in his hands looked promising, however, and he tried to temper his excitement, afraid it would be yet another dead end. But the more he read, the more it sounded right until he came across a series of statements that were exactly what he was looking for. He'd found it, and by the looks of it, it hadn't been experimented on much. This spell had such potential for the patients in his ward, particularly those who had been imprisoned by their own minds for years on end.

And this spell could possibly help!

He collected every scrap of parchment that was related to the spell and put them all together, intending to look up a thing or two on the matter before bringing it to his department head's attention. Surely they'd see the benefit of the spell and how it could help. The rest of the mess was quickly taken care of with a spell in the form of a whirlish dervish, and with a spring in his step, Ernie rose to put on the kettle.

This definitely called for some tea.

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[info]unspeakableness
2014-10-15 01:21 am UTC (link)
Zacharias had only been able to avoid his parents for so long, and, in retrospect, he wondered if he shouldn't have just gone to them immediately after the raffle instead of avoiding them. Maybe things wouldn't have escalated. Maybe he wouldn't have been standing outside of Ernie's flat, debating on whether or not to knock. Maybe... He sighed a little and shook his head. The only good thing about this is that it hadn't happened later in the week, when things would have no doubt been worse. However, tomorrow was that ball he'd agreed to attend, and he doubted showing up with a (potentially) broken wrist would be greatly appreciated by Mrs Capper. It'd also make dancer more difficult, and while that wasn't a terrible thought in and of itself, given that the event was a ball, he was sure he'd be expected to dance at least once with some witch. Of course, secretly he hoped that he didn't have to, but he doubted he'd get that lucky.

Sighing, he straightened his robes with his left hand, then smoothed down his hair. He took a few slow, deep breaths, holding them each a few seconds before slowly letting the air out. Ernie had helped him before, he reminded himself. He was a good man, and he was better at diagnosing and fixing injuries than he was himself. Sure, he could do a few minor things, but there was a reason he hadn't been a healer, outside of not having the right kind of personality. It would be perfectly fine. Steeling himself, he raised his good hand and knocked, silently hoping Ernie wasn't busy. If he were.... Well, he'd figure something out when he knew for sure.

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[info]erniedtmac
2014-10-15 01:29 am UTC (link)
The knock came just after Ernie had set the kettle to boiling. "Just a minute!" he shouted out, making certain all was safe before moving to check the peephole. He bit his bottom lip upon seeing who it was, knowing this may likely be a healing call. Putting on his best bedside manner, he opened up the door and offered Zacharias a welcoming smile.

"Hey there! Welcome to Ernie's Palace where the special of the day is Earl Grey tea. I've got the kettle going if you'd like a cup."

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[info]unspeakableness
2014-10-15 01:50 am UTC (link)
For a brief moment, he felt guilty about showing up unannounced, for always going to Ernie to help, even if he didn't ask for it nearly as often as other people asked friends for help -- or that annoying internet who basically had his supervisor doing all his work for him. But that didn't mean he didn't feel guilty. Maybe he'd just stop by for a visit before sucking it up and heading to St. Mungo's.

"A cup would be nice," he said, giving Ernie a small smile. When he was motioned forward, he stepped into the flat, making sure to close the door behind him. Quickly, he glanced around, making sure he hadn't interrupted Ernie entertaining a friend. Or someone who might have been more than a friend. "Busy night?" he asked, nodding to the semi-neat piles of parchment he presumed Ernie had organised. If he were working, Zacharias definitely didn't want to interrupt, especially if it were important.

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[info]erniedtmac
2014-10-15 01:57 am UTC (link)
Ernie nodded and went to prepare a second cup for tea. Zacharias had been one of the less openly affectionate Hufflepuffs and Ernie had never pushed him, just tried to be friendly and open and allow him to come along at his own pace. He was definitely not the type to be greeted with a hug.

"I was for a bit, doing some research, but I actually found exactly what I was looking for less than half an hour ago. It's taken me a week or so to trace mentions of this spell, now all I have to do is see how much it's been tried and how. What do you take in your tea?"

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[info]unspeakableness
2014-10-15 02:45 am UTC (link)
"Milk and a bit of sugar, thank you," Zacharias said, taking a few more steps inside the flat. He kept his hands at his side, as casual as possible. He still wasn't sure if he wanted to ask Ernie about taking a look at his wrist, and he also wanted to know what was going on in his life. He did like him, after all. Why else would he feel guilty about asking for help?

"What's the spell? If you don't mind me asking." Some people did in his experience, especially if it were experimental or potentially revolutionary. Hell, he could be that way himself about some things. But he could also be curious, which prompted him to take a couple of more steps, these in the direction of the parchments. He wouldn't touch if Ernie didn't want to discuss what he was working on, of course. He wasn't a child anymore who couldn't restrain himself. Still. He was curious about what kind of spell would need a week's worth of research without (he assumed) any mention of it'd been used before. His instincts told him the spell was likely either very dangerous and thus, erased as much as possible, or a complete waste of time and not worth more than vague mention here and there at best.

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[info]erniedtmac
2014-10-15 02:58 am UTC (link)
The water boiled quickly (the kettle was charmed, of course) and Ernie went about making the cups of tea to each of their specifications - for Ernie it was easy since he tended to take his black. He brought the cups over to Zacharias and handed him one, then motioned over to the sofa before going to sit down. He reached toward one of the piles and picked up a parchment copy he had made of one of the references.

"It's called ruvhesi, and it's used in Zimbabwe." He was really excited about the discovery, but did his best to keep his excitement in check. Not everyone was as interested in healing magic as he was. "They use it to reverse the decay of various plants, to revive them. I'm wondering what would happen if it were used on a person, particularly one with a medical condition that is pretty far along. Could it be possible to reverse it?"

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[info]unspeakableness
2014-10-15 03:02 pm UTC (link)
Zacharias took the cup as gently as a he could, aware of the heat and not wanting to scald himself on hot porcelain. Burns would just be adding insult to injury in his mind, especially since he still wasn't sure he wanted to even bother Ernie with his own stupidity. Especially not since Ernie seemed to be busy research something. He followed Ernie to the sofa, sitting down next to him and taking a careful, small sip of tea. Mouth burns were also not an option. Then he set the cup down to let it cool a bit more as he listened to what information the other had on this mysterious spell.

That was a heavy question, Zacharias realised, though he couldn't tell if it was also rhetorical or not. Regardless, he thought on it, and the information Ernie had found out about this... ruvhesi spell. "I suppose," he began, trying to pick his words carefully so as not to accidentally make himself less coherent, "that anything is possible if you know the rules. For instances, if this spell is made to reverse the decay of plants, it would probably be disastrous to use on a human. Some spells aren't meant to be used in a catch-all sense, especially not ones that change the inherent properties of whatever they're directed at." He picked up his tea and took another small sip, then set it back down.

"I could levitate you, and I could levitate the sofa with the same spell, even if it's meant for only one, because intent is also important. But I'm not changing anything about you or the sofa. It's why transfiguration can be so difficult, which this sounds a bit like; you're actually changing something in that plant that makes it go from decaying to thriving." He paused a moment to further gather his thoughts, also making sure to check that his tone had sounded more interested, more open than potentially damning. He definitely wasn't trying to damn Ernie's idea and desire to help. He was just... cautious.

"There's also the fact that that spell must be difficult to do because of the need for balance. I'd imagine too much one way or another, and the plant wouldn't thrive but become an issue, perhaps taking over that plot and even becoming a parasitic plant, making it impossible for other plants to survive in that area. There's no knowing what it could do to a person, especially since it wasn't meant for people."

He paused again and took another sip of tea. "All that said, I don't think it's impossible that there might one day be a way to help someone with an advanced medical condition where currently it doesn't seem like there's much to do to help. And this spell, ruvhesi could be the first step. It could hold some kind of key. I just think, however, the spell itself would cause more harm than good, but that doesn't mean it can't be studied and dissected, as it were, and tried on plants first." With copious amounts of notes taken, of course. And then it would have to be tweaked and fine-tuned before it could ever be tried out on people. And before people, it might have to be tested on animals to begin understanding how it would work on something living other than a plant. There were a lot of steps to such a spell, and Zacharias thought it'd likely take years before anything solid came about from it. For now, though, he didn't mention it. Ernie would surly understand that, as well as everything else he'd said. He wasn't stupid. Or so Zacharias hoped.

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[info]erniedtmac
2014-10-15 10:38 pm UTC (link)
Ernie was glad he'd brought it up to Zacharias - he had a great mind for bouncing ideas off of and Ernie sometimes needed someone to keep his head on straight and pull him back into reality from his idealism.

"I've been thinking about a few of those. The first, it doesn't seem like anyone's tried using it on people, as if it had been discovered by an herbologist and was assumed to only work on plants. Maybe if it's filtered through something that would make it adaptable for humans, another charm that's person-focused, then it might have some potential."

He took another sip of his tea, thinking on more of what Zacharias had said. "Now from what I've read, it doesn't actually appear to be a transfiguration, more a command to turn backwards or do things in reverse, so the object of the spell isn't becoming just anything - it's going back to a previous state in the exact, specific order in which it changed. Almost like a time-turner." Maybe he should look into time-turner spellwork in case it might have an connection.

He nodded almost absently at Zacharias' warnings. He knew the procedures, had gone over them time and time again while in training. He knew the hazards of trying something new... but where he worked, there was already so little hope for most of his patients that the idea of something no matter how small was momentous. "It's all right, I wouldn't be doing the research work anyway. But I think I'll bring it to the department head, see what he thinks. But thanks for the warning, I appreciate it."

He grinned and relaxed against the sofa cushions. "So, aside from my fabulous tea and interesting research, what brings you to my place? Anything I can do for you, mate?"

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[info]unspeakableness
2014-10-16 01:01 am UTC (link)
If he were honest, something didn't sound right about the spell Ernie was researching. There had to be a reason there wasn't much to be found about it, and, somehow, he doubted it had anything to do with it having originated in Zimbabwe. But he couldn't quite get a handle on what it was about the spell that bothered him. Was it the fact that Ernie wasn't going to do research work? Was it the fact that it sounded similar to the magic in Time Turners but entirely different at the same time? Or was it just his own nature kicking in, to doubt and second guess and question at every turn until he knew what something was? Whatever it was, he decided not to say anything until he had a better handle on it. Ernie seemed happy, excited, about this possibility, and, until he knew more himself, he decided to give him a smile and say, "Just be careful, yeah? Don't want to be visiting you in St. Mungo's with a get well present."

Zacharias took a few sips of tea, taking a moment to buy himself time. That guilt still curled around the bottom of his stomach. Somehow, he doubted Ernie would entirely believe that he'd suddenly had a vision about the spell and wanted to come chat with him about it. Not that he didn't care about Ernie or what was going on in his life. He did. He wouldn't have shown up outside and bothered to knock if he didn't. He wouldn't have noticed things in his flat if he didn't. But he wasn't oblivious to the fact that they weren't the closest of friends. He shifted and put his cup down, then held up his right wrist, suppressing a wince the sight of swelling and a few small bruises forming.

"I banged it up. Thought I felt a crunching, but I thought I'd ask a professional before spending all night in hospital just to be told I'd sprained it." And, for the most part, that was the truth.

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[info]erniedtmac
2014-10-16 01:24 am UTC (link)
"Aww, I didn't know you cared, Smith," Ernie teased. "I promise, no ending up in St. Mungo's as a patient. I'd make a terrible patient, anyway."

Ernie didn't press when Zacharias took his time answering. He was long used to dealing with auror friends who didn't like to admit they were hurt and patients who were more embarrassed about the circumstances of the injury than they were about the injury itself. When Zacharias finally showed his wrist, Ernie winced at the sight of the bruising. At the very least, it looked like it must hurt.

"What were you doing? Got into a fistfight with a solid wood post?" He pulled out his wand and circled the wrist with a diagnostic spell which glowed bright yellow within seconds. "It's broken," he said simply, his eyes meeting Zacharias'. "I can cast a mending charm that should take a few minutes to do its work. You'll have to stay still, though. All right?" He always did his best to ask permission before beginning a procedure, however small.

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[info]unspeakableness
2014-10-21 01:46 am UTC (link)
"Hah. Not exactly," Zacharias said, giving Ernie a small smile. He kept his arm still as Ernie performed the spell, idly wondering about how, exactly, it worked and who invented it. Obviously it was magic, so it worked with magic, but he found there was always more to a spell than waving it off simply as magic. Maybe one day he'd look into healing magic more, even if he didn't think it'd help him be able to do more than rudementary healing. But that's why they had healers and medi-wizards and witches; someone had to be able to help those who couldn't do it themselves.

"Fuck," he muttered as he heard the diagnosis. Of course it would be broken. Of fucking course. He kept his temper under control and said, "Can't dance very well with a broken wrist." And he doubted he could cling to the wall tomorrow night, either. "But alright. I won't move," he told Ernie, again keeping his arm still. Doing so brought back memories of Quidditch and how dangerous it could be, and about how he'd taken a blow from a bludger during practise on year. He'd sworn it'd been done on purpose, though he kept his silence while Madam Pomfrey looked him over.

He kept his silence about a lot of things.

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[info]erniedtmac
2014-10-21 11:10 pm UTC (link)
"Well, we can't let you go a whole night withoug dancing, now can we." Ernie wove the spells together, enveloping Zacharias' wrist in a lavender glow; one for the bone, one for the bruising, one for pain, and one to protect the muscle and soft tissue from the bone as it healed. Healing magic for Ernie was almost like a dance in itself, the spells coming together and flowing over his patient like a symphony and pushing body parts into motion.

"So while that does its thing, what really happened? Is it anything I need to worry about it?" He smirked. "If it was a fight, I hope the other guy looks worse."

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[info]unspeakableness
2014-10-28 01:59 am UTC (link)
Zacharias watched the physical effects of the spell he could see, the way it glowed around his wrist as he felt the magic doing its job. He didn't know how Muggles survived without magic for certain things, and he knew he didn't want to find out first hand. He'd once considered going to a Muggle accident and emergency, but he didn't think it'd be worth it in the long run. There'd be too many questions from the Muggle medical staff, more than if he just went to St. Mungo's or asked Ernie for help. Although now Ernie seemed to be asking questions, and he wasn't sure he wanted to answer them.

"Naw, the other guy doesn't look worse," he said with a faint smile, keeping his eyes on the lavender light. "He mostly just grabbed my wrist after a stupid disagreement. I tried to pull one way. He pulled the other. His grip was stronger. I think our magic came into play. And.... Here I am," he said. "Nothing to worry about." He looked up at Ernie. As far as he knew, it wasn't anything to worry about it, and it was't anything he wanted Ernie -- or anyone else -- to worry about. It was just his father being disappointed in him again. Nothing new or worrisome there.

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[info]erniedtmac
2014-10-28 03:23 am UTC (link)
"Well, at least it isn't anything a little magic can't fix, not even anything overly complicated. Now if it had been a rare poison, or had been done with Dark Magic, then we'd have complications."

He tried not to worry about whoever might have been so strong to do this sort of damage with a simple grip. It did worry him, but he still tried, if only because Zacharias kept deflecting. Though maybe there was a way of letting the other man know he was open to listening without putting him on the spot quite so much.

"I don't see wrist injuries quite like this one all that often, but I remember seeing a few when I training in another ward. This woman came in with the same injury about three times in a month. I thought it was really strange - what was she doing that would have that happen? But she never answered. And then she didn't come in again, but then I saw her name in the Prophet - she'd been killed by her husband. He'd been the one who'd done it, and I don't know, maybe if I'd figured it out sooner, maybe I could have done something." He shrugged helplessly.

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[info]unspeakableness
2014-10-28 04:09 am UTC (link)
Why did Ernie have to push things? Part of him understood he was just trying to help, to make him feel comfortable, that he wasn't really pushing, not like he could. Zacharias decided he needed to figure out how to better cast healing charms or work something out with what he could do in order to avoid needing Ernie again for things like this. If nothing else, he didn't want to be put in this position again, though he also didn't want Ernie to worry.

"It could have made the husband angrier if you had done something. If the authorities had gotten involved... Maybe it would have helped. Maybe it wouldn't have. There's no way to know," Zacharias said. "And you shouldn't beat yourself up with all the what if possibilities. You can only," he glanced down then back up at Ernie, "you can only take it as a learning experience and try better next time." He wondered, then, as he had before, if St. Mungo's ever focused any of its staff training on what to do if they suspects abuse of a patient. Whether or not they did, he didn't know if it would have helped the woman Ernie spoke of. All he could do was hope the husband had been put behind bars and that he could figure out a way to heal himself if something happened in the future. He didn't think his father would kill him, however; his father still needed him. Unless his sister somehow found someone willing to take the Smith family name and she had children. He'd figure out something if that happened.

"You're a good man," he said. "I don't know that you're still focusing on it, but all you can do is try to help those who are still around."

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[info]erniedtmac
2014-10-31 12:25 am UTC (link)
"I do try to learn from it," Ernie said with a nod. "Sometimes that's all we can do when we have those cases that leave us flummoxed. I don't forget them, though. I'm not really focusing on it or beating myself up over it, but I need to remember so at least someone remembers them, remembers the truth. That and hope the next patient that comes along can trust me enough to let me in, because I can't help someone who doesn't want to let me. That's the other big lesson we learn as healers."

He clapped a hand on Zacharias' shoulder and stood up, looking at the fading of the colour around his companion's wrist. "I think I'm going to make myself a snack. Do you want anything to eat? Or maybe play a game of chess or what not?"

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[info]unspeakableness
2014-11-01 11:36 pm UTC (link)
Zacharias wouldn't have known how to let someone in even if he wanted to, whether or not he needed help. Which, he reasoned, he didn't. His father was not like that husband Ernie mentioned. His father was not a killer. His father was not abusive. His father was just strict and liked things to be a certain way. And Zacharias had a way of pushing his buttons. He'd always been able to do that. And it didn't seem to be just his father's buttons he could push, but he decided to push that all out of his mind for now, glancing down at his wrist and the fading light.

"I'm fine, thank you," he said of the offer for food. "But if I'm not interrupting, I could stay for a game of chess or something." He wasn't the best at chess by any means, but he at least wasn't an upset fifth year holding a grudge anymore. If he lost, he could lose with some dignity, especially since Ernie could have turned him away. "That is, if you're not set on getting back to your research," he said, mentally deciding to do a bit of his own to keep an eye out for Ernie's safety. In his mind, it was the least he could do for all the help Ernie had given him over the years.

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[info]erniedtmac
2014-11-02 01:43 am UTC (link)
Ernie smiled at that and bypassed the kitchen to fetch the chess board. He snagged a bag of crisps on the way back and set the board up on a table. The crisps were placed strategically so that they could be easily reached by either of them.

"I'll be white," he offered as he sat down and made his first move. "The next move is all yours."

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