| Details for Prior to Release, a Healer’s Warning |
| Summary: | Healer Jonothan Greengrass comes to visit with his patient. After he gives her a few warnings for when she is at last released from St. Mungo’s, the two chat for a time about books, be they muggle or wizarding. |
| Date: | Tuesday, November 06, 1937 |
| Location: | Spell Damage Ward, St Mungo's |
| Related: | — |
| Characters |
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It is a fall afternoon. The weather is cool and raining.
Spell Damage - St. Mungo's Hospital for Magical Maladies and Injuries - London
This area of the hospital has been set up for a double purpose. At the beginning of the ward are multiple stations meant to deal with transitory cases that only need the attention of Medi-wizards or Healers for a few hours. These stations have a small adjustable bed and a rolling chair and a stand with all the necessary tools to deal with any kind of temporary damage caused by misfiring or misused spells. The back of the ward has been designed to resemble a boarding house with individual rooms for each patient. These rooms are separated from the primary ward by a set of double doors securely locked by multiple charms. Over the doors a large wooden signs reads:
"Spells Damage Ward. Long Term Care Wing."
During the night this ward is illuminated by the ever present light globes floating around the ceiling.
In the serene silence of her private room, nestled at the far corner of the long term care wing, Rhyeline is sitting in bed, propped up by several feather pillows. A cup of coffee warms both her hands as she brings it to her lips.
Watching the steady drizzle through the blurred window panes, falling from the grey autumn sky, a deep contentment has settled in her pale features. Despite the fact that the pallor of her complexion has not faded since she first arrived four months ago, the fatigue that has shadowed her eyes and kept her lips from being touched by any smile has gone.
Several books stand stacked on the bedside table to her left, gifts from her famous author of a father, while across the room by the door stands a vase of twenty one white roses, sprinkled with fresh baby’s breath. An unopened box of chocolates sits next to it, with a note in French from her mother.
One of the handful of people that are permitted to enter these rooms, Jonothan Greengrass is among those who can enter and he's been doing so since the first day that she arrived. Carrying a small clipboard and a quill, the healer strides towards the bedside, "Well hello! I see that you're awake today. How are you feeling? Not too horrid." He says casually as he gets to the bed side and begins making small notations.
“I am feeling better each day, thank you,” Rhyeline says with a nod. The profound trust in her eyes, which has grown over the last few weeks since her darkest hour, shines stronger than ever as she gazes up at him. “I’m looking forward to going outside, to returning to work.”
"Well when you are released you'll need to build back up to things and no long hours for at least a year." Jonothan says looking at her and making a few notations, "If you do then you will undo all of the work we've done and I'm not sure that we'll be able to put you back to rights if you do." He continues making a few notations, "When we release you, you'll still need to come back in to see me so I can give you a potion. Unfortunately, I haven't figured out how to completely negate the curse."
At the warning against working for long hours, Rhyeline’s gaze flickers momentarily down to the cup of coffee in her hands, perhaps a subtle sign of hesitant disappointment. In recent days, the nurses have had to take away her books and stack them at the far end of the room to keep her from staying up all night reading. Food is touched very little when she is distracted by the stories and tales within the leather-bound gifts from her father. “Yes, sir. I understand. I will be careful.”
"Good! Because I wouldn't want you to die on me." Jonothan says grinning a little bit at Rhye as he finishes his notions, "I will keep trying to figure out how to change your situation and make things a little bit easier. Honestly, I am not sure that I will ever be able to totally eliminate the curse. The Curse is very, very complicated and whoever designed it must have been a healer because they know a lot about how to interact magic into the body."
Rhyeline gives a small nod and murmurs, “I trust that if anyone can find a cure to the curse, it will be you. Thank you for-“ the young witch pauses a moment, her gaze flickering away towards the rain spattered windows a moment before peeking back up at him “-for not giving up on me.” A small smile at last emerges in her pale features. “Without you, I doubt I’d have lasted to see the weather grow so charming.” Her dark eyes linger a moment on the dreary drizzle outside before shifting once more to him with a glimmer of ironic mirth.
"Well I am not in the habit of giving up on things. Call it the Gryffindor in me." Jonothan says laughing softly as he looks at Rhye and then continues, "It is lovely weather. I quite enjoy going for walks with my son when the weather's like this and listening to him talk about his latest book from his Aunt Klio." He says chuckling softly, "Sometimes a bit of rain does the body as much good as not." He says casually.
“Your son is interested in books? How old is he?” Canting her head slightly to the side, she asks, “What is he reading at the moment?” As the conversation turns to books, Rhyeline’s eyes begin to shine ever brighter with the life that Jonothan has worked so hard to preserve.
"Oh yes. He spends most of his time with his Aunt Klio and her coworkers at the library. I read the Muggle book Treasure Island with him at night before he goes to bed." Jonothan says laughing softly, "Your friend is also a friend of his. The young woman… Annie Moody." He explains as he considers for a moment, "He'll be eight years old this year." He says pulling out a small wizarding photo of a boy waving towards the camera with a big book under one arm.
As he refers to her friend as Annie ‘Moody’ the young witch’s dark gaze blinks, before she realizes what he must mean. Leaning forward to peer at the photograph, her smile grows. “He looks so much like you. He has read muggle tales as well then?” Looking back up at the man, she rests back against her pillows once more and says, “There are some that are very good. Has he had a chance to read Alice's Adventures in Wonderland or Through the Looking Glass and What Alice Found There? On rare occasion you find a muggle with a peculiar magic of their own. Lewis Carroll was one, in my opinion.”
"His hair is more like his mother's." Jonothan says laughing a little bit, "I think Muggle Tales can be just as wondrous as our own. He tends to brave the more dangerous books that his Aunt has in the library." He says with a bit of a chuckle, "And I don't think he's read those books yet. He might just do so soon." He says shrugging a bit, "I think there's a certain magic that comes from the written word that transcends whether someone is a Muggle or a Wizard." He says smiling at the thought.
“Yes,” she murmurs with a nod. “Be we muggle or magical, deep down we are all human. And a love for stories will forever be intrinsically human.” Closing her eyes in contentment at her statement, Rhyeline brings her cup of coffee once more to her lips for a long, slow sip. “Perhaps there is hope for the coming storm after all,” she murmurs rather softly.
"There's always hope no matter how dark the storm appears on the horizon." Jonothan says grinning, "Remember what they say it's always darkest before the dawn." He says casually, "Besides, no sense on getting worked up just yet. That storm may yet fail to bring fruit."
“Perhaps,” she murmurs with a nod, offering no further comment. Taking a final sip, she sets aside the empty cup upon her bed-side table. “Thank you for everything, Healer Greengrass. Truly, I owe you my life. I’m sure so many here do.”
"That's why I took this position is to save lives." Jonothan says smiling at Rhye, "You feeling tired? If so then you should sleep. It's very, very important that you listen to your body." He adds casually.
Rhyeline is quiet for a moment before at last nodding. “I’ll sleep for a little while then. But promise to let them wake me when Annie comes, possibly with her husband?” she asks, peeking up at him hopefully.
"If she arrives and you've slept long enough I will let her in, but if it is too soon after you fall asleep then I'll have her wait." Jonothan says smiling, "You need to sleep well enough to restore strength."
Rhyeline bites her lower lip, but does not argue. Instead she places her hands on either side of herself and begins to inch down under the covers until she is all curled up with the cozy, burnt orange comforter up over her nose. Peeking out from under it at him, her voice is a bit muffled as she murmurs, “I will sleep now. Fall asleep immediately. Good night.”
It is still early afternoon.