Help PV Méabh Regan Closed

Méabh had, in fact, been in the Potions classroom, dropping off a few things she'd need for her lessons the next day before she headed outside. She spun around at the shout, hand going to her wand, then relaxed slightly as she recognised the kid that was now leaning against the doorframe so heavily as if he needed it to hold him up. Alec Mason, a fifth year Gryffindor; clearly panicked, and bringing some very troubling news.

Her eyes narrowed, and she dropped her hand from her wand as she listened, instead stalking over to a storage shelf. There was none of her usual, easy-going demeanor; her bearing was pure efficiency. Truth was, she couldn't know whether what he said was true or just a prank, but she'd have to operate as if it was serious. He seemed genuine, in any case, and Méabh had always prided herself on being able to read people. "Take this," she said, handing Alec a phial of Draught of Peace. "Drink it. It'll help you think clearly. Then explain slowly. Who, how many, where. What is hurting them. Why are they there."

In the meantime, she turned back to her potions. Hurt children, perhaps dying, she would better come prepared. Revive Potion, Blood Replenishing Potion, Essence of Dittany, Star Grass Salve, Burn Healing Paste... a tiny phial of Felix Felicis, the only one she currently had, just in case. Plucked from the shelf with quick, sure fingers, they all went into different pockets of her robes, stored securely; an emergency kit. Barely a few seconds had passed before she turned, brushing past Alec and motioning for him to come, her steps rapid against the stone floor. There was no time to waste. "Tell me where to go," she commanded. "I'd rather not bring you, so you don't become another person we need to rescue."

Cursing herself for not owning a broom, her eyes would trail ahead, looking for colleagues; she'd go alone if she had to, but if the situation was as dire as Alec made it out to be, she'd feel safer with more hands to help and to heal. Any adult she crossed path would be requested to come along, with a briefing as they went, but Méabh would not slow her pace.

@Alec Mason, @Melisande Lennox, @Caradoc Browne

Tired of spending time sitting at her desk, looking over endless books and assignments, Melisande thought it would be a good idea to take some time to stretch her legs and get some fresh air. It was the height of autumn and she loved this season of the year, the warm colors spread across the grounds were an invitation that she could not continue to ignore and stay instead, locked inside her office.

Looking around there was the usual commotion, students sitting on the floor, on balconies, on seats against the stone walls, chatting, laughing, the usual gossip and antics of their age. The history of magic professor found herself remembering her old times inside that castle as a student. She thought about some of her classmates who she had long since lost contact with, wondering where they were, who they were... Meli was sure she could bet that some wouldn't believe she had ended up being a history teacher. Imagine, who would have thought that Professor Binns would one day leave his Job?

The first thing that caught her attention was the resonant sound of determined and quick footsteps coming from the adjacent corridor. It was possible to identify the urgency in their passage, contrasting with the vibrant and cheerful background that she had been appreciating with nostalgia. Something in her instinct told her that she should move towards whoever was approaching. "... so you don't become another person we need to rescue." Professor Regan's voice rang out in a crescendo as they came closer.

"Méabh?" Melisande worriedly questioned the potions professor she now found herself following, casting a brief glance at the boy she recognized as one of her fifth-year Gryffindors, "What happened?" She could see the expression in the young boy's face telling her that something was really wrong. Melisande listened to every word and explanation that Regan threw in her direction with a frown, trying to concentrate and focus on what would be their best options to help and resolve that situation she was trying to understand. "Mr. Mason, care to give us more details?" Lennox asked, waiting for him to offer a better picture of what was happening with his friends. "I agree with Professor Regan, you should let us handle this and go to the hospital wing, make sure you are seen by our nurse." Melisande told him assertively but with kindness in her tone, she could almost read in his eyes that he wouldn't want to leave his friends and follow reason, she still remembered being young and thinking that her will alone would make her invincible. So she made sure he still felt like he was helping and doing something useful if he decided to go there, taking her advice, "and help her prepare for others who will possibly need healing."

Alec's eyes widened as he was offered phial, he eyed it hesitantly as Méabh explained it's use, whatever was in this phial would 'help him think clearly'; he wasn't quite sure what that meant, but he didn't have the luxury to be picky when his desperation got the better of him, if there was a chance it would help, he'd take it. Alec downed the phial quickly as if he were poisoned and it was some kind of life-saving cure... Perhaps that wasn't the best analogy, the thought of poison made his mind slip into dark territory as he thought about what might be happening in the forbidden forest. He was trying not to assume the worst, though he sort of had too when Opeila made it a focal point to mention that she thought she was dying. Despite the troubling nature of everything he'd heard, he could feel the way his body began to slow to normalcy, soon he found himself taking steadier breaths as if whatever was making it harder to breathe had suddenly disappeared. Finally his heart stopped feeling as if it were beating out of his chest, it slowed and it was normal once more. She was right... He could think more clearly, maybe he'd actually be able to get some words out. he was surprised she was able to look at him and give him something that helped so immediately but that neither here nor there. It benefited her to have him thinking and speaking clearly. Speaking of... What was she saying?

"-slowly. Who, how many, where. What is hurting them. Why are they there."

Alec bit his lip in thought, trying to think back to what Opeila had said, she had said so much information in so little time he wasn't sure he caught it all but he was going to have to try. Starting with who and how many, she wanted to know who was there and in danger right? “There are five people, Opeila... Xailah, Jack, Howard, and Clark.” There we go, look at that, answering questions like a pro, he could do this. What's next? Where, “They're in the forbidden forest. From- well... they're further into the forest, and finding them might be hard” He lucked out with even knowing they were in the forbidden forest at all and if it was where Opeila was then it was where everyone else was because they're with her. Maybe he could tell Opeila to help them find a better way to make their presence known? It was hard to describe exactly where Opeila was and he didn't know how far off the others were from her. The next question, what is hurting them? That's harder to answer his eyebrows furrowed, “the forest. It's killing them.” As soon as the words came out of his mouth he recognized how ominous that sounded; Alec couldn't help but feel unsettled. Alec watched out of the corners of his eyes as Méabh began hurriedly grabbing potions and storing them in her robe. Méabh was fast and efficient, she didn't waste time and in this case, that was a good thing. For moment he could almost get over his inherent distrust of any figure of authority and see something admirable in her, something heroic. He'd not even been given time to answer all her questions or even one before she was motion for him to follow, follow he did.

"Tell me where to go, I'd rather not bring you, so you don't become another person we need to rescue."


Méabh spoke, her tone was sharp and Alec understood why, but before could get a word in and attempt to give directions and be any more specific than he already had been another professor would show up. Melisande Lennox taught history of magic and she was the one who had shown up and began conversing with the other professor. The more the merrier, they were after all going to need all the help they could get. It wasn't long before she turned his attention to him, asking for more details. You would think explaining that the forest was killing them would be enough but maybe there was more to add there... “Opeila, she thinks she's dying. She's trapped. She said Jack, Clark, and Howard are dying too. She told me she doesn't know where Xailah is, she must not be by the rest of the group or at least not close enough to Opeila for her to know.” This was what Opeila wanted, Alec just had to hope she knew what she was doing, hope that they knew what they were doing.

After saying his peace, adding everything he could, she told him to go to the hospital wing to be seen by the nurse... Alec froze up for a moment, she knew that he wasn't hurt right? He'd never gotten that one hag kiss disease treated but he was sure that fine... Yeah, that was fine. So... why was she sending him off there then? Maybe she'd clocked he was a flight risk, if so that wasn't a terrible assessment. She wouldn't be wrong, he was most definitely a flight risk and would have totally gone off into the forbidden forest to try to help everybody, well, would have, he would have if Opeila hadn't told him not to. It was the only thing keeping him from running there.

Lennox was silent for a moment then spoke up once more, she told him to prepare for others who might need healing. He was sure the healer would not want him there and he would be more of a hassle then a help, still, it was better than sitting around, he couldn't just sit around. Taking a breath, he nodded. He should probably be getting himself out of the way, he was relieved they hadn't asked how he knew what he knew, he wasn't sure if mentioning the binding mark would go over well, there was a reason he kept it covered. Just as he was about to leave someone new would join the pair of professors.

"What's with the sour faces? You look as if someone just died!"

Oh merlin- that's certainly some unfortunate wording. Alec's face scrunched up, he looked down and spoke Lennox's direction, “I'll go to the hospital wing like you said.” Yeah, best to excuse himself now, he didn't want to hear another untimely comment and they had all the information they needed, it was up to them. All he could do was head down to the hospital wing...

leaving the thread unless prompted to answer more questions
@Méabh Regan @Melisande Lennox @Caradoc Browne