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Harry Potter:"Do you really think there's going to be a war, Sirius?"
Sirius Black: "It… feels like it did before."
TURN ON THE LIGHT is a Post- Potter roleplay that takes place twenty-five years after the Second Wizarding War.
We welcome canon and original characters in this (currently) sandbox style roleplay.
In the Alchemy department you'd also find the St Mungos portioners. In the time Damon had worked here there never had been many of them as in due course some went onto other branches of the hospital, others left to have families and never returned and the trainees they got rarely lasted long enough to chose this work.
So right now they'd a team of six and Damon was the most senior. Tonight he stayed a bit longer to update the stock ledger with the withdrawal sheets and the numbers of potions he'd counted up as being bottled today. This just had to be right and once he was satisfied with the books he'd also put them away in the right place. There would be people looking potions even after he left for the night but as long as they left the form on the front desk all was good.
Some potions they brewed in site and others got bought in like Skelligrow. As he also kept up to date with medi-magic periodicals he knew what was newly available. This line of business never stood still and these days you had improved results. He put the ledger down briefly to take more of his mug of tea. He didn't have to rush home as there was only an owl there; once he was home it would get some attention and anyway they looked after themselves.
Looking up at the wall clock from his sitting position he listened. There usually was somebody from the Alchemy side of things here too but they were behind the other partition. He could hear something else and looked towards the door he could see from the corner of his eye.
Post by DELANEY ZABINI on Jan 8, 2023 17:04:33 GMT
Long shifts were never a problem for Delaney. She did them often, except during that time of the month. She had nothing else to do. She would either be at the hospital or home reading something. There was that rare occasion when she would meet up with a friend, but those weren't very often, given the fact that she didn't have many friends to spend time with.
Still, she didn't mind the long hours. It was always better when she had good colleagues on at the same time. There were some people she dreaded working with, if only because they always did the least amount of work possible, which often left her to pick up their extra slack. It was annoying, but she could only do so much about it.
She mainly worked on the third floor (plants and poisonings), though she sometimes worked on other floors when there were staffing issues. She never minded the overtime, and that's probably why they always asked her. And that was what brought her down to the alchemy department. She needed a potion that was late to be administered. The day nurse hadn’t thought to come down and get it, instead waiting for someone to bring it to her.
She knew someone was inside so she opened the door and her eyes landed on a familiar face. she walked further into the room and over to where Damon sat. "Evening. I'm looking for the potion that was supposed to be administered to Mr. Hershel a few hours ago. The day nurse couldn’t be bothered, so here I am," she said with a slight roll of her eyes. It was always expected, but that never meant she liked it. "Please tell me it's down here and still good to use," she added with a hopeful look.
Damon knew Delany by now as she was a semi-regular visitor. Not many people even found their way down to Alchemy bar the nurses who normally had that duty. So she was exceptional as she didn’t seem stuck up and was more like him. He got to his feet, moved a left shoulder to try and get the kink out of his back and that would have to wait for later on.
“Hello Delaney, I should be able to help you with that” he mused seeing her eye roll and hopeful look. He walked over to the pile of parchment that the first person in next morning would sort out. “Hershel, Hershel…” It didn’t take long to locate this and he showed it to Delaney with a little smile.
“It’s in the back room and should still be in date. Just give me a moment” he just needed a little time to locate this potion and bring the small corked bottle out to her. It was his handwriting on the label which told the world what the contents were and its use by date. All was good.
In a muggle hospital this would be a pharmacy staffed 24/7 but there wasn’t enough people here to do that. Even with overtime.
“Do you have time to stop for tea?” he asked in a friendly manner. Like her he also had lunar issues and days he’d be of work after a full moon but werewolves usually couldn’t identify their own kind while untransformed. So they’d both stay blissfully unaware of this state of affairs unless one listened to the rumour mill.
Post by DELANEY ZABINI on Jan 8, 2023 17:56:31 GMT
Delaney offered Damon a smile when he greeted her and told her that he should be able to help her with her inquiry. If anyone could, it would be him, he was likely the most competent down here, but she would never say as much when the others were around. Thankfully, though, they weren’t. "Oh thank Merlin," she said with a soft sigh. It was never that she minded coming down here, but it was that it always seemed that she had to. And it was certainly not her job.
He told her that the potion she was looking for was in the back room and should still be in date. The day-shift nurse would be thankful to hear that news. He left and then returned quickly thereafter with a small corked potion bottle. She took him from him and nodded her head as she did. "Thank you so much, Damon. And I am sure Mr. Hershel thanks you too," she told him with a grin.
Damon then asked if she had time to stop for tea and her eyes brightened. "I'd love to have tea. Would you mind terribly if we stopped on the third floor first just so I can give this to Mr. Hershel? Or would you rather me meet you upstairs in the tearoom?" she asked him with slightly raised eyebrows. She was due for a break anyway, so she wouldn't feel bad having tea with Damon.
@damon - if he worked at the hospital 5 years ago, he would know she is a werewolf. she was attacked while on duty by a new and unregistered one. but she still might not know about him unless he told her ♥
Damon liked seeing people being happy. St Mungo’s didn’t always allow it given how serious some of the cases were. The place even had a morgue like another hospital and people died here. He wondered why the hospital wasn't haunted by now.
“Its my pleasure to help. Tea does sound good and I’m practically finished for the day. I could do with a new one any way. That ones half cold” he replied with a smile on his face. There were few things worse than cold tea; the main one being wolfsbane potion. Yet it was necessary to keeping control.
Seeing Delany wanted a break as well was good news to him. He’d still an hour to go before he clocked off but a short break wouldn’t hurt. The alchemist still experimenting in the room could handle things while he was gone.
He briefly mulled this over and adjusted his green lab style coat. He wasn’t a healer but everybody got these. It didn’t make sense for Alchemy and potions to have its own colour scheme.
“That sounds like a plan. Fresh tea after you see Mr Hershel” he added. First the needs of the patient and then tea.
Post by DELANEY ZABINI on Jan 14, 2023 22:04:22 GMT
It was always a breath of fresh air for Delaney when she knew that there were competent people working when she was. She hated having to deal with people who seemed to care more for their title than what the position actually entails. It annoyed her to no end, but she never said a word. What could she even say? The hospital was great to her and her condition, though she sometimes suspects they are as such because they know it was their negligence that caused her to be inflicted with lycanthropy in the first place.
When Damon asked her if she'd care for some tea, she perked right up and told him she'd love to go with him. Of course, she'd have to drop off the potion for Mr. Hershel, but that wouldn't take very long. Dana, the nurse who hadn’t run this errand earlier, was still on duty and would be administering this potion, whether she liked it or not. Delaney wasn't above using her rank to make it happen.
Thankfully, Damon didn't seem to mind that she needed to stop and see her patient first, which made her smile widen. "Then let's get going," she said with a nod as she turned towards the exit of the room. "I'll meet you at the entrance," she said before she slipped out of the room. She hurried to the lift and then set out for the nurse's station, where she found Dana looking as if she'd rather be anywhere else than there. After a very brief discussion, Delaney left the potion with her and then headed back over to the lift.
She stepped out onto the fifth floor and headed towards the visitor's tearoom. It took her only a few moments to find Damon and she smiled as she moved over towards him. "Sorry if I kept you waiting. Dana was a bit defiant at first, but I essentially told her that I was her boss and she had to do it and she shut right up," she said with a grin. She didn't generally pull rank like that, but she did when she needed to.
Damon had been lucky in St Mungo's as when he'd started fresh out of Hogwarts there were people to look after him. Now he did the same for them. He was sure some of them suspected or even knew without him ever saying anything. They didn't either. Rumours alone were powerful. Either way he had the respect of his team and some of the healers here had been been part of Alchemy and Potions before they had moved on to better things.
So when he ran into Delaney on the fifth floor she explained and named the nurse who hadn't been doing her job in the first place. Her smile made him smile in return. "There's no need to apologise. Just sometimes you need to do that. I think I'm spoiled working were I am. I've a good team under me and while some of them are still learning they'll keep the wheels turning long after I'm no longer there".
To clarify that last statement he added "I'm not planning on leaving soon but you never know the future". So joining the small queue he had a pot of tea in mind and asked her what kind she wanted.
"I've also got a new batch of home brew if you want to sample it later on. A sweet table beer all bottled and ready to go". This hobby was unusual for wizarding folk but he viewed it as an extension of potions. You were just dealing with natural processes instead.
While getting to know Delaney over the past few years she felt like a sister to him. He was an only child of a lone parent and growing up he'd gotten what he needed. He'd offered in the past that Delaney could drop by at his place anytime she felt like it. The offer still stood anytime she wanted to use it.
Post by DELANEY ZABINI on Jan 26, 2023 10:47:56 GMT
Damon didn't seem bothered by the fact that it took Delaney a little longer than she expected it to when she returned to her own floor to drop off Mr. Hershel's potion. In fact, he told her that he understood that things needed to be done, and added in that he was glad to work where he worked because he had a great team. Delaney did too, some of the time, but Dana was not one of them.
Her eyes widened slightly when he said that his department would run smoothly well after he had left the position, but he seemed to realize how it sounded and he clarified that he wasn't planning to leave anytime soon. "I'm glad you clarified that for me. You almost gave me a heart attack," she said with a slight shake of her head. She loved that Damon worked there. It was always nice to have a friend close by.
She joined him in the queue and then glanced at him when he spoke of the homebrew he had made. "That sounds like a good night in with some pizza," she told him with a smirk. It wasn't unheard of for the two of them to get dinner together. They’ve grown quite close over the years they've worked together at the hospital. And them both suffering from the same affliction didn't hurt either. "Maybe this weekend?" she asked with an arched eyebrow.
Damon chose darjeeling when it came their turn to be served. He also didn't take milk with tea whatever the blend. Wizarding folk were used to tea bags by now and this blend was no different. He'd never meant to surprise her like that and he liked Delaney being at St Mungo's too. The times they ran into each other were worth looking forward too. It also helped that were shared the same problem and could help each other out.
She had an idea when home brew got mentioned. Also a time frame. He could certainly do this weekend and his village also had a place that did pizza. They also did kebabs and burgers so that also gave other options. There was advantages to living on the fringe of a muggle village and them being unaware of magic. He could get the pizza and be back before it got cold.
"That sounds like a plan? Have you any particular selections of toppings in mind? They also do stuffed crusts" Add in as much of his home brew as they could consume and it would be a good night.
"The pizza place in Otterby St Catchpole also does kebabs and burgers. So we have options" he added. Choice was usually a good thing as he picked up two of the hospital ceramic cups for them.
Post by DELANEY ZABINI on Feb 1, 2023 20:58:45 GMT
When he had mentioned his home brew, she suggested pizza in to try it out. He seemed to like it and suggested a place near him in Ottery St. Catchpole. She'd heard the name before, from her parents; that was where the blood traitor Weasley family was from. Delaney had never been there, nor had she ever needed to go there until she met and became friends with Damon.
"I'm fine with whatever toppings you want. I can always pick off anything I don't like," she told him. She then remembered one thing she didn't care for and wanted to make sure didn’t touch her food. "But no anchovies or olives, please," she said with a sour look on her face.
He then added in that the place he usually ordered from at home also served kebabs and burgers. She thought for a moment. "I'll have to keep that in mind for the next time we have to try your homebrew," she told him with a grin as she reached for her cup.
By the time they'd reached a table Delaney had selected her cup and advised him about what to avoid. The sour look confirmed it. "I'm thinking two pizzas so there will be variety" he mused adding "I'll leave those off for you". Now seated and taking the tea pot of the tray; then pouring her cup of tea first. By now he knew she'd indicate when he needed to stop. "It always will be an option for next time" Damon futher added. He usually started a new batch every three months when he found a slightly different recipe. He did have favourites that he brewed all the time and what he or Delaney didn't drink he gave out as presents. It did help to get the empty bottles back later.
Damon kind of knew the Weasley's but not that well. He ran into them now and again as the wizarding families all lived away from the muggle village. In fact the Lightfeathers only lived 500 metres away from each other. Grandma, mother and son all had their own space and their own cottages.
Then he poured his own tea and sipped it. You didn't rush your tea break as it was one of those English things you had to savour and enjoy.
Post by DELANEY ZABINI on Feb 13, 2023 16:00:20 GMT
There were times when Delaney couldn't help but think about what her life would've been like if a werewolf had never bitten her. Would she still be living under her parents' rules? Would she be forcefully married by now with children present or on their way? Did she want that? she shuddered to think. she had no experience with boys, and she wasn't sure she ever would.
Damon was like a brother to her, someone she only could have gotten to know because she'd developed lycanthropy. Her eyes had been opened to so many things her parents and former friends had ever taught her. They weren't as bad as they made it seem; she was one of them now, and she hadn't changed.
She offered a smile and a nod of thanks when Damon told her he'd hold off the anchovies for her. Her eyes shifted downward to where he was filling her teacup. She waited until he was near the top to lift her hand to signal him to stop. "Anything but anchovies are always an option for next time," she said cheekily as she lifted her teacup to her lips for her first sip.
So no anchovies or olives. Something Damon needed to keep in mind when the Saturday night came round. He would had had similar questions to ask if he hadn't been a born werewolf. Would his mother have bitten him instead? Given she'd turned Fenrir Greyback down he doubted that would have happened. He'd have been a normal boy but would his life have been better? Perhaps not.
Being a werewolf made him more driven anyway and it led to St Mungo's in the end and where he was now. Delaney had taken the same basic path and became a healer. Being a werewolf didn't change her job either. It didn't stop Maxwell either.
And if Damon might have had children by now even he couldn't answer that question. Even with being a quidditch player for Ravenclaw it was other guys who got the attention and he didn't mind missing out. He was happy being Delaney's brother.
"Then we've got something to look forward too. Roll on Saturday night" Damon cheerfully replied "and not an anchovie in sight".
~~~~~~
So rolling onto Saturday night Damon was getting organised at his cottage. The WWN radio set was on as he checked the temperature of the pizzas. He's settled for a cheese and tomato base that was set up as a meat feast and green peppers. The other was also cheese and tomato based but with mushrooms and peppers.
He'd laid out six bottles of beer if they even needed that much. If they did it was easy to get more.
Post by DELANEY ZABINI on Feb 26, 2023 19:46:25 GMT
Delaney always enjoyed spending time with Damon. It was refreshing to have someone with such a similar situation to hers, even if he'd been born a werewolf and not turned the way she had been. Still, he knew the pain of the transformations and the importance of the Wolfsbane Potion; they would sometimes spend the full moon nights together, laying on one of their floors just waiting for it to pass.
The pair finished their tea and then left to return to where they needed to be, the promise of seeing one another that Saturday given before doing so.
- - - - -
Delaney had to work the first shift on Saturday but made sure she was out by four so she would have time to get home and change before heading over to Damon's. She'd been looking forward to heading to his place since they decided on it and was glad the time had finally come. She apparated just outside his home and knocked on the door. She was sure he should be here, so she pulled her jacket tighter around her while waiting for him to let her in.
It had been a few long days before this free Saturday night came round and he'd make sure it was a good night. Hearing the knock he let her in and smiled. "I'm glad you could make it after all. I ended up with a trainee on Friday. Merlin knows how long he'll last" he said.
The problem being they tended not to stick around in his department. Only about three in ten did as the other seven found other options in St Mungos and even then they'd move on later as potions was on the some of the healers career pathway. Not everyones though. So now she was in the warm of his home he closed the door to keep the draught out. They weren't usually wearing fur suits in the cold weather.
"Everything is ready for you" he cheerfully added. The pizza was shedding steam and the beer glasses were ready along with a bottle opener or if you prefered it your wand.
Long shifts were never a problem for Delaney. She did them often, except during that time of the month. She had nothing else to do. She would either be at the hospital or home reading something. There was that rare occasion when she would meet up with a friend, but those weren't very often, given the fact that she didn't have many friends to spend time with.