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?"