[Hogsmeade] Two Healers, One Felon, and a Cat

[Schuyler Grace]

Schuyler should have taken it upon herself to settle in more assuredly, but instead of making it a priority she had done something else. She couldn't even remember what now, but at the time it had seemed a more pressing topic. And that foolishness had her floundering; she didn't even know everyone on staff yet, nor had introduced herself with the other Healer of Hogwarts. Her worry was beginning to reflect itself against her normally clear, collected mind- she had almost given poor Percival Ramsey the wrong antidote to his infected bug bite! Shuddering at the memory, Schuyler walked on, teeth gently probing her lip as she meandered down the streets of Hogsmeade. The lawsuit after that--assuming the parents, while probably forgiving, friendly people, would have been very upset about whatever could have happened to their poor son--would have her flat broke and without a job, because she sure as heck wouldn't have kept it after such an incident. Wouldn't be that she'd quit, she'd just probably get really, really fired.

Startled from the thoughts at her forehead connecting solidly with a pole, Schuyler stumbled back, eyes wide as her hand flew up to rub miserably at the injury. She could already feel the blood vessels breaking underneath the surface, and the bruise that was sure to form afterwards. Ignoring the heckling laughter of her audience she composed herself hastily, ducking down an alleyway to remove herself from the mocking eyes. Still rubbing at her forehead now Schuyler stepped over a few stray rocks and pieces of garbage, softly sliding a ragged stretch of wood out of her path before taking up her walk once again. She wasn't sure how long she kept going, but the dampness of the alley wasn't very inviting, and she made up her mind to get out of there before someone undesirable found her.

Unfortunately undesirable found her in the form of a street urchin, appearing to hobble a ways infront of her. Their face concealed, they cried out in apparent pain, collapsing. Keeping calm Schuyler hurried over, healing instincts kicking in as she kneeled beside them, gently touching their shoulder. "Are you alright? I'm a healer, I can help you." Helping the figure to turn towards her so she could inspect what was wrong, she was surprised to find the blade of a knife pressing awkwardly, but somewhat painfully, at her throat. Her face was unrevealing of this shock, however, and she kept calm, eyes relaxed. "Yes you can help me." They snickered, the tattered hood falling to reveal a broken-toothed, giddily grinning criminal, that was well known for robbing innocent people of their money. He was dangerous though, he had hurt a fair amount of people in his quest for more cash.

"You dont want to do this." Schuyler spoke calmly to him, staring him in the eyes as she attempted to negotiate out of attack. She opened her mouth to try and distract him further but he applied more pressure to the blade, and she felt the sting of warmth trickling from her neck. "Oh really?" He laughed. "I think I really do--" He was cut off at her left forward slamming the weaponed hand away, as her right hand came forward to smash her palm against his face. The felon fell backwards, crying out in surprise, as she jumped to her feet, arms and hands at the ready in front of her. Ignoring the wet feeling trickling slowly down her neck, she made up her mind to try and control her movements to make it bleed as less as possible, before getting out of there. "You bitch!" He snarled, standing up without he knife, as it had flown from his hand. Balling his fingers up he aimed his punch at her face. She sidestepped, forearm out once again as she blocked his strike and twisted around, placing a well-powered side kick against his ribs and sending him flying back once again, gasping for air.[/font]

[Joshua Rowle]

It had been a very long morning. The line of patients seen today could have put St. Mungos to shame. At one point it felt like people were just making excuses to come to the hospital wing. Some of the students he saw didn't even seem all that sick to him. Plus it was sort of odd that most of his patients turned out to be girls. They all giggled when he called them in, and blushed when he spoke to them asking what was wrong. If he didn't know better he would have thought there was some sort of trickery going on. Josh simply let it be, he knew that there were times of the year when more and more people became sick so he chalked it up to the weather and thought nothing more about it. Some pepperup potion and they were all better though their ears would be smoking for a while.

After he had seen his last patient Josh left the hospital wing for a little break in the capable hands of the other healer. The two nodded at each other as Josh left. Another healer started with them recently but Josh had yet to meet her. For whatever reason she was being aloof not introducing herself to him or anyone else from the way the other staff was talking. He also heard about an incident she had with a student, almost giving him the wrong potion. Of course things like that can happen, have happened before but one had to be overly careful when caring for children. One little mistake like that can be fatal to someone who has yet to finish developing.

He didn't need to think about it, this hadn't happened to him and he hadn't been there when it occurred for all he knew it was simply a rumor. Josh's quick strides led him away from the castle in no time. He was in the village with the wind blowing through his sandy blond hair. His blue eyes scanned all around him making sure he didn't spot a disgruntled female waiting for him to show up so she could give him a talking to. The village had become his hunting ground lately and there were a few women out there who didn't receive the owls they were promised. To think in this day in age a woman didn't realize when she was being fed a line by a man. Either they were that daft or he was just a damn good liar.

During his second scan of the perimeter something did catch his eye. A blood curdling sight. The well known Hogsmeade thief had gotten his hand on a woman. Josh didn't have to think he sprang into action, a few minutes too late it seemed for the man was brought down by a kick to the ribs. His victim it seemed wasn't prepared to be a victim. Josh wanted to clap but knew it would only be a matter of time before that man was up again. Walking over he looked at the piece of trash that found it exciting to prey on the innocent and sneered at him. "She should have taken your head off, you deserve nothing less." Pointing a wand at him now Josh said "Incarcerous. You can stay like that until an auror comes for you." Josh looked around "Someone get an auror I'm sure there's one in the Pub."

Now he turned his attention to the woman "Are you alright?" he could see that she was bleeding, and a wave of anger shot through him, a man should never raise his hand to a woman in anger, of course Josh wasn't the poster boy for proper male behavior but regardless he knew better than to touch a woman in such a vile way. "Would you like me to heal the wound I work up at the school in the hospital wing." Had she ever introduced herself to him Josh would have realized that he was speaking to his co-worker, but since he didn't he offered to help a pretty lady he met on the street in the village.

[Schuyler Grace]

Stepping back now, startled from her concentration at the sound of another man, her fists clenched as she readied herself to block and counter-attack once again. Though it only took a second or two before she realised this one meant no harm. Relaxing her fingers but not completely falling out of bodily lock-down Schuyler studied him discreetly, careful but not unwanting of his help. She couldn't very well heal herself, at least without some way to look at the wound. Being it was on her neck it would be a bit difficult for her to do that. Watching as he bound the criminal up in ropes and instructed someone to retrieve an auror, she remained calm, her eyes speculative and clear despite the nagging persistence of pain dribbling at her neck. Are you alright? He asked her, and she nodded with a soft smile, her answer guarded but not lacking in warmth. "Yes." Seeming to think better of just a curt answer she added an explanation. "I didn't see his face.. I thought he needed help." And he did; though a different kind she was able to provide.

"Would you like me to heal the wound I work up at the school in the hospital wing."

At this Schuyler's eyes widened ever so slightly, a small tick of surprise, barely noticeable. "Well you could, unless you had a mirror then which I could do it myself." Laughing softly she then continued, "But I'm assuming you dont, so yes, I would love your help." She had managed to keep pressure on the wound, but blood had long soaked through her fingers. It had lessened considerably had she not done so, though, now she just wished she had a cloth or a rag handy to substitute for her fingers. "So.. You work up at Hogwarts." Schuyler probed conversationally, trying to pass the time and make it seem less awkward than it might have been, considering he may find it odd talking to a wounded lady on the street. "I'm sure I would have noticed you." So he was the other healer. Should she introduce herself just yet? Schuyler wasn't sure. He didn't seem to be aware she was his co-worker, and an introduction may disclose that. Smiling to herself and deciding to just play it by ear for a while, she ignored the temptation to wipe her hands on her dress, which probably already had red speckles on it anyway, if not streaks.
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[Joshua Rowle]

Josh was busy paying attention to the attacker, so much so that he barely noticed the woman's reaction. She was poised to strike again though Josh was not there to hurt but to help. Looking at the pathetic man Josh wanted to do something like spit at him, but then that would make him just as rotten as he was. No, instead he needed to focus his attention on what mattered and that was the woman who had been attacked. The woman said she was alright, she thought the bastard needed help.

His offer to help her went unnoticed at first, but when she did answer it was to tell him that she was perfectly capable of healing herself had she a mirror. That was one thing Josh didn't go around carrying with him so he was sad to say that he couldn't do that little bit for her but he could heal her wounds so taking out his wand he did just that. Soon she was perfect just as before that monster came near her.

During their continuing conversation she mentioned that she hadn't seen him around Hogwarts. Josh gave her a once over then, he surely hadn't seen her anywhere because he would have remembered that. "You work up at the school? I haven't seen you around either because if I had I'm sure I would have remembered. I think the aurors are coming to take out the trash, why don't we leave them to it and get ourselves a drink. You've had shake up and I find in times like those a nice drink can really help ease your mind some. What do you say?"

[Schuyler Grace]

As he busied himself with healing her Schuyler's eyes fluttered closed, the tingling sensation of repairing skin rippling at her neck. A calm exhale was followed by her eyes opening once again, witnessing the gears turning in his mind as he fought to recall seeing her somewhere around the school. The resulting expression told her he truly hadn't, but that was alright. Choosing to ignore the once-over, Schuyler instead smiled, almost amusedly, at his request for drinks. "If by drinks you mean alcohol, I must decline. But a water would be nice?" She herself wasn't partial to drinking, despite its calming effects. She would join him, of course, but only water would pass through her lips. In this entire conversation, short in its simplicity, she had forgotten her abandoned introduction. "I'm Schuyler. Schuyler Grace." The healer stated, a hint of wistfulness in her eyes as she spoke her last name. While he would get the Sky-ler of her first name, the spelling was another story. But they would cross that bridge when they came to it.

"Yes, I'm really new though, I'm not surprised you haven't seen me." Stepping carefully over a nail-embedded piece of wood with some suspicious brown splatters on it, Schuyler naturally lead the way out of the alley, carefully maneuvering around slippery puddles and various grunged creatures. When they were out however she allowed him the choice of where to go, seeing as it was his offer for drinks. Her hand crept up to her neck, passing softly over the raised flesh there and sweeping the entire length of the healed cut. It would probably scar, and while it wasn't a horrifyingly disfiguring wound, it was noticeable. That, however, didn't bother her. "How long have you worked at the school?"[/color]