Year/Job
POTIONS PROFESSOR
Days Since Something Exploded: 0 |
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Post by Mael Gauthier on Jan 30, 2024 18:47:22 GMT -8
Mael hadn't so much as considered brewing since Iola and Ole had tag teamed him after he'd blown up a cauldron. It had been an accident; a slight miscalculation on his part. Still, Ole had made him feel as though he blatantly disregarded the lives of Hogwarts students and professors. All of which was completely untrue, but Mael was in a slump. The past few weeks he'd focused purely on teaching, grading papers and potions, and assisting with those who needed extra help. It wasn't enough. He needed a pick me up. A colleague from Ireland had done just that by sending him an artifact that supposedly housed instructions on a potion long before their time. The only issue: he needed a Curse Breaker to open it. Mael knew none, so the artifact had sat at his home while he corresponded with friends across the world. Eventually, the Potions Professor at Uagadou suggested a woman named Wiley Dempsey. When he'd found out she was local, he'd wasted no time in sending her an owl. They had agreed upon a meeting at the Three Broomsticks. He was excited for the first time in what felt like forever.
Tags: Wiley Dempsey
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Year/Job
Curse-Breaker
Thinking will not overcome fear but action will. |
rouch
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Post by Wiley Dempsey on Jan 30, 2024 19:24:29 GMT -8
Wiley was used to getting requests from random witches and wizards needing a consult on an artifact or tracking down some lost heirloom. She got so many requests in fact that she had an owl post address specifically for letters from people not in her personal book. There were key terms and key names that could bypass the automatic reply turning down the inquiry. The goblins at Gringotts didn't forbid her from taking personal commissions. So long as they didn't interfere with her official duties or conflict with the bank's priorities. She'd earned enough goodwill from her bosses that she was allowed to assess such opportunities on her own. When the name of an old friend from Africa was dropped along with mention of a relic from Ireland, the request to meet with Professor Gauthier ended up on her desk. It was ironic she had just been in Hogsmeade meeting with another professor just a few days ago. In that instance, she was the one with the request though. Wiley hadn't heard from Ole yet. She worried that was a bad sign the Ancient Runes professor was going to shoot down her request like she had to so many through the years. On the other hand, Ole Halley was a Ravenclaw and Wiley knew Ravenclaws better than she knew curses. Overthinking. Considering every option and angle. It could be a week or more before a decision was made. Wiley could wait.
In the mean time, she could entertain herself with the the luck of the Irish. The Three Broomsticks was a bit sterile for her tastes, but didn't complain. They had beer and place to congregate to spin a tale for those who would listen. Wiley let her eyes adjust to the dim light of the pub. She looked up a picture of her mystery man. His platinum hair stood out immediately. Walking up to the small table in the corner, she noted the small amount of privacy the space afforded. Sitting across from him, she smiled. He wasn't bad to look at. Entertaining indeed. "Professor Gauthier?" Wiley said. "Lucky for you, you knew the magic words to get my attention. Some Irish luck, it seems." She'd let him explain his needs and figure out if she had the means to help.
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Year/Job
POTIONS PROFESSOR
Days Since Something Exploded: 0 |
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Post by Mael Gauthier on Jan 30, 2024 20:06:09 GMT -8
By the time Wiley had arrived, Mael had ordered gillywater because he didn't fancy returning to the castle intoxicated. He enjoyed drinking, but he also enjoyed his job. Two years at Hogwarts and he wasn't willing to throw it all away on a few sips from a whiskey bottle. Blue grey eyes were downcast, tracing the multitude of lines carved into the wood by students, pocket watches, and mugs alike. He probably should have been keeping a lookout for the Dempsey woman, but Mael was not known for his attention span. She could have his attention once she arrived, but not before. When someone sat across from him, he raised his head and offered up a welcoming smile. She knew his name, so he was going to take a wild guess and say this was her. She was younger than what he'd assumed. He was expecting someone closer to his eldest sister's age. He wasn't deterred. His fellow Professor would not have recommended someone who would provide subpar work.
Mael extended his hand. "In the flesh," he answered. "Wiley Dempsey, I presume?" Once the formalities were out of the way, he let his hands rest in his lap. She called him lucky, and Mael nodded in agreement. "Kion, excuse me, Professor Wafula, spoke highly of you," he told her. "I have this artifact from another colleague of mine. It came from Ireland as I said in my letter, but there's a curse on it. My skillsets are in potions, not breaking curses. For the safety of myself and of course, those who are in immediate contact with me, I'd rather not tamper with it." Mael knew where his limitations lay. "My hope is that it contains something of value that will benefit the Wizarding world in the long run." He paused, his expression thoughtful. "But of course it may have been sealed for so long that the find is something we consider basic knowledge now. That would be rather disappointing, but I'm willing to test my luck."
Mael leaned back against his seat. "I'm happy to compensate whatever the cost may be," he told her. Another thoughtful pause. "Would you like a drink? My treat, since I've dragged you away from whatever other pressing matters you may have." His gillywater had remained untouched, and probably would remain that way, seeing as though he'd forgotten it existed.
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Year/Job
Curse-Breaker
Thinking will not overcome fear but action will. |
rouch
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Post by Wiley Dempsey on Jan 31, 2024 18:34:43 GMT -8
Wiley could learn a lot from a hand shake. How firm the grip was. How long it lasted. It was particularly telling to her if their right hand was their wand hand. Did they take it back quickly to draw if they needed to? Or were they willing to be vulnerable, however fleeting. Either a sign of trust or foolishness. She had no aversion to a hand shake. Not since she learned to cast without a wand. Dropping her own grip, she decided the professor wasn't afraid to be wandless, albeit briefly. At least not in the safety of a familiar place. Though, the assessment didn't surprise her knowing he was a potion's master. He was often required to set is wand aside to chop or stir. An occasional incantation was needed, but his science was about precision and knowledge not spells and charms.
The mention of her former mentor brought a smile to her face, "Wafula's idea of a compliment when he trained me was to declare my best effort adequate. It's nice to know deep down he approves," she said, knowing he had been hard on her for her own good. And she was better for it. Wiley listened politely to the reason her help was requested. She had a running list of questions to ask, but would reprioritize them as new details were provided. She thought he'd never ask if if she wanted a drink. "A stout, please," she said, and leaned forward in her seat. "My fee depends on the difficulty and risk. How do you know it's cursed," she asked, not just to make sure she wasn't wasting her time, she needed to know if someone had tried to open it and may have triggered a failsafe of some kind.
Also, depending on the origins of the curse, the possible information being protected, her approach would change. Knowing how he came to posses it would help her find the answer to these questions, not the most important thing to understand. Sometimes the providence was sensitive information. She'd tread carefully. She didn't care much if it came to him through less than upstanding means. He seemed to care most about the potential discovery. Likely not a thief. She appreciated his quest for knowledge, Wiley cared only fleetingly what was being protected. Mostly out of person curiosity if it was old enough to be of druid origin. The prize was his. The thrill was hers.
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Year/Job
POTIONS PROFESSOR
Days Since Something Exploded: 0 |
BLAKE
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Post by Mael Gauthier on Feb 1, 2024 18:14:23 GMT -8
Mael gave an amused laugh. It sounded just like his old friend. Wafula was very tough when it came to his progeny, but there was a method to his madness. Mael admired him for it. He didn't have the heart to be cruel for the sake of perfection. Mael was too soft, as he thought teaching with kindness shaped students just as effectively. The Potions Professor preferred to nurture their talents and find ways to turn their faults into strengths. Maybe it was because he never learned anything by being unnecessarily scolded for each and every mistake. "Adequate is a lot nicer word than he's used with his other students. I don't know any Swahili, but I'm pretty sure I was made aware of every foul word in the book." Mael spoke easily despite he and Wiley being strangers.
He signaled for a waiter and got Wiley's order placed. When the man had gone, Mael answered her question. "My colleague, a Mister Adrian Berne is a Herbologist and sort of an explorer if you will. He does most of his work out of Ireland. It was he who came across the artifact during one of his expeditions." Mael crossed his arms and rested them on the table. "He intended to keep this soon to be prize for himself but recently fell ill and has passed on the artifact to me." His blue grey eyes were alight with excitement at the mere thought of seeing the contents. "Anyway, he said that upon trying to open the box, he lost consciousness. It was two days before anyone found him, and another two weeks before he could remember why he'd been out there to begin with." Mael shook his head. "Whether it was a lapse of judgment or a test of fate, one of his partners attempted to open the box as well. The man suffered the same fate. Loss of consciousness. Loss of memory. You can see why I've no desire to try."
He looked up as Wiley's beverage was placed in front of her. He gave a nod to the waiter and turned his attention back to the Curse Breaker. "There's a strange symbol on the front of the artifact that neither of us have ever seen before," he told her. "And oddly enough, the box itself is almost like a puzzle. Aiden says he'll send over the scrolls he found with the artifact. They apparently contain information that needs to be deciphered, but he believes are connected. Leave it to him to hold out on information." Mael rolled his eyes.
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Year/Job
Curse-Breaker
Thinking will not overcome fear but action will. |
rouch
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Post by Wiley Dempsey on Feb 3, 2024 10:24:26 GMT -8
Wiley liked the demeanor of the professor. Too many academics were a bit stuffy for her tastes. She had met a few through the years who were grounded in self awareness. Usually they younger ones. She also knew some Hogwarts professors hadn't intended to pursue an academic path, their skill and experience were the only credentials needed. Mael was certainly no Wafula it seemed to her. She had been a recipient of many of those foul words on her journey to an adequate assessment. Pulling herself back from her time in Africa, she listened to the recounting of the how the item in question was found. It would be foundational information. The place and circumstances of how a cursed item was discovered could be more informative than the item itself. She knew quite a bit about druid cursing stones and sacred Celtic land. It could narrow down the potential magic at play. The effects Mael was describing didn't sound like the results of any curse she had come across. That revelation had Wiley excited and cautious at the same time.
The beer was placed in front of her, and she took a small sip. "Cursed land," she said and shook her head. There were plenty of dangers to stumble upon in Ireland if you had a connection to magic. Thankfully, most were hidden from muggles. "Did you know there are thirteen different words for curses in Gaelic? The ancient Celts certainly knew their craft. I can't say this malady you've described is the result a of a curse I'm familiar with. Some curses are tailor-made for the situation. The effects don't sound incredibly malicious, and a puzzle box is certainly a new one for me. I'm curious, professor. Why wouldn't your friend just hold on to it and work it out himself? And what makes you so sure the contents inside are related to potions making?" she asked, trying to determine if there was more to the story that either Mael wasn't telling her or he didn't know. She didn't like that the notion that information was being embargoed, even if it was fleeting. If the scrolls could be useful, they should have stayed with the box. She'd learn a lot if she could lay eyes on the artefact or the symbol he mentioned. Looking him over, she wasn't sure if the item they were discussing was on him or not.
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Year/Job
POTIONS PROFESSOR
Days Since Something Exploded: 0 |
BLAKE
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Post by Mael Gauthier on Feb 3, 2024 14:08:03 GMT -8
Mael gave her a curious look. "Is it now?" That was a peculiar piece of information. "You would think Adrian would find a different region to dig up buried treasure. Or at least stick to his primary profession." Mael gave a small shrug. "Then again, what's the fun in that?" He understood Adrian's desire to do more than study plants. Everyone had their hobbies; himself included. Mael glanced at the door as it opened, and another patron entered. No one he was familiar with, not that he was expecting anyone aside from Wiley. "Ireland must be a treat for a Curse Breaker like you," he said, straying off topic for just a heartbeat. He was a little concerned that she wasn't familiar with the effects of his little puzzle box. In his mind, it meant this would take a while to resolve.
"Like I said, Adrian recently fell ill, so he passed it on to me," Mael told her. He suspected she was fishing for more information, and he happily obliged. He had no secrets to keep. "Potions and Herbology go hand in hand," he informed her. "Adrian likes to explore for treasure. On the rare occasion he discovers a new plant species, he passes it on to me to test its potential as a potion ingredient." Mael was always excited to receive something new from the Herbologist. He had a whimsical expression on his face. "It matters not who gets to the contents first. We both benefit in the end." Adrian would be able to name the plant in question, but Mael would create a useful potion from it. It was a win-win for both men.
"The location where he found the artifact was underground in a sort of potions lab," he told Wiley. "Or that's what the pictures look like. Even if we're wrong, there's bound to be something worthwhile inside." He fetched a stack of photos from inside of his coat pocket. He spread them out on the table. The lab was rundown, part of it covered in earth from a collapse, but what was visible were several cauldrons and a wall filled with jars of dried ingredients. Underneath the table housing the cauldrons were several scrolls. Mael had assumed they were the ones Adrian was sending over. There were strange symbols carved into the dirt floor, and in the very center was the artifact. "That's it," Mael told her, pointing at the box.
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Year/Job
Curse-Breaker
Thinking will not overcome fear but action will. |
rouch
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Post by Wiley Dempsey on Feb 3, 2024 16:24:14 GMT -8
Wiley smiled at the assessment of her homeland. It was special to her for many reasons. "Most people think all the good curses are in the Egyptian pyramids," she said with a laugh and felt a twinge in her side. She rubbed at it, her body reminding her of her last decent into a pyramid. There were some good ones to be found there too. The reputation was well earned. "But I would warn your friend there are plenty of dangers to unearth in our backyard too."
Nodding at his explanation of his partnership with Adrian, it made sense to her. There wasn't much to dissect about it. Or much of her business to pry. She had found through the years that the most common reaction to learning a person had a cursed object was to pass it along to someone more qualified to have it. It sounded like Adrian didn't know his illness was connected to the box until he'd already given it to Mael, and warned the potion's professor as soon as the suspicions were made. And it was clear Mael had a healthy respect for the potential threat. Nothing about the situation raised red flags to Wiley. Setting her beer aside to get a look at the moving pictures Mael laid out, her eyes scanned for obvious clues that could help them sort out the curse, the puzzle, or the contents.
The fact the artefact was at the center of the chamber surrounded by the strange symbols had her heart beating faster. If she had been there, she would have cleared the room immediately, before anyone could touch a thing. "It looks like your friend is lucky the curse was only on the box. And we should be cautious about the contents inside. This looks like a containment circle. Like someone was worried whatever is inside might get out. Druid curses can be used to protect the unsuspecting. This illness might be the desired affect to warn someone off from solving the puzzle." Picking up the picture with the best view of the box itself, she study every detail. "Looks like a sigil, not a rune," she said to herself. "When will you have the scrolls?" she asked, setting the image down and turning her attention back to the professor. She felt some urgency to learn as much as she could.
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Year/Job
POTIONS PROFESSOR
Days Since Something Exploded: 0 |
BLAKE
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Post by Mael Gauthier on Feb 3, 2024 17:32:28 GMT -8
"Everyone does talk up Egypt," he had to admit. Then a thought occurred to him. "I could be reaching on this, but maybe no one talks of Ireland's curses because they've all met their end." His eyes widened at the idea. "Aiden had best count himself lucky." That was rich coming from the guy who had almost blown his arm off only a few short weeks ago. He gave a respectful nod at Wiley's suggestion. "I'll be sure to tell him to mind his safety." He didn't think Aiden would stop. For as long as Mael had known him, he'd always been just as straight forward when it came to discovering something new. Maybe that was the reason they were both such good friends. Mael was sure that if the two of them had attended school together, they'd have been up to their ears in discoveries.
Mael craned his neck to look at the pictures as Wiley spoke. "You're the expert," he told her. Whatever she suggested, he would obey. Mael was always happy to let the professionals do their work. It would be silly for him to question her, especially when he was the one who had summoned her. He needed her help, and he wouldn't get in her way. Mael examined the circle. So, they had stumbled upon something that was meant to remain buried. This was kind of exciting, but he had to ask. "I know you said we should be cautious about what's inside, but if someone went through all the effort to keep people away, should we have it sealed somewhere safe?" He did not want to go to the Ministry with this, but he would if she thought it was a good idea.
Blue-grey eyes glanced briefly at what she had claimed to be a sigil instead of a rune. "Is that good or bad?" He gave his right cheek a pull as she asked about the timeframe of retrieving the scrolls. "A day or two," he answered. "I'll let you know as soon as I get my hands on them."
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Year/Job
Curse-Breaker
Thinking will not overcome fear but action will. |
rouch
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Post by Wiley Dempsey on Feb 4, 2024 7:38:03 GMT -8
Wiley tapped her fingers on the table. If this was a job for the bank she'd have taken the puzzle box back to a vault and put it in the queue of low priority projects. Something fun they could work on as a team. Independent commissions were different. First, she hated the idea of putting anything in the bank controlled vault that wasn't meant to be in the possession of the goblins. They had a strange sense of ownership. If she took the box there and anyone from the bank participated in breaking the curse there would be an expectation that first grabs at the contents would be those involved in the risks. Second, the bank wasn't likely to assume the risks if the value wasn't obvious. The ministry was even worse, in her opinion. Things that disappeared in the red tape often got lost for good. Especially if there was some expected gain. "I don't think we should move it more than it's already been," she started, hesitant to bring it anywhere through apparition or floo. "We can leave it where it is if it's safe from students," she finally decided, knowing from her experience as a student that things that were off limits were a welcome sign for tampering. "The most industrious students," she emphasized, certain the professor would understand her meaning. If it needed to move, the Knight Bus might be there best option.
"Sigils are specific, focused on goal. Runes are more general in their uses. It's better for us in the sense there shouldn't be multiple interpretations. Bad for us if this is a unique usage, with a specific counter curse that's been lost to time. There are ways to break curses like that, but it's dangerous and we should tread carefully. No reason to take an action until one is obvious or required," she explained. Something about the whole situation unsettled her. The way the artefact was found placed in circle. The sigil. The unnecessary complication of a puzzle box. "Can we work from your office? When you're not teaching or fulfilling your duties to the school?" she asked. If the answer was no, she'd find a solution in Hogsmeade. It wasn't ideal, but she didn't want to put the professor at odds with his headteacher.
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Year/Job
POTIONS PROFESSOR
Days Since Something Exploded: 0 |
BLAKE
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Post by Mael Gauthier on Feb 4, 2024 19:05:46 GMT -8
He briefly thought back to his school days. If his Professors had brought some forbidden artifact into the school, he would have been the first to check it out. No rock should ever be unturned. No mystery should ever be left unsolved. Mael had gotten into way more than he should have as a student, but he turned out just fine. Still, he could understand her desire to keep students away from the cursed item. He felt the same. "It's in a secure location," he promised. He casually looked around to ensure no one was eavesdropping. He doubted anyone was going to steal from him, but caution was sometimes a necessary step. "And well protected." When Mael had purchased his home, he'd made sure to find a location with a basement. He needed space to work. A year ago, he'd managed to carve out a space on the back wall for keepsakes. Sometimes he had too much time on his hands during the summer months. That's where the artifact lay, protected by reinforced charms.
I laugh in the face of danger. Out of respect for her, he kept that thought to himself. Mael could enjoy the thrill, but he was aware that some things could kill you if you weren't careful. "How long will it take you to figure out if it requires a specific counter curse," he asked. Mael was doing his best to follow along, but it all seemed a little complex. This little artifact was probably going to cost him a pretty penny. His attention snapped back to her as she asked about working in his office. "Considering the possible danger, I'd rather we not," he told her with a serious expression. "Would you accept the counteroffer of using my personal lab? It has enough space to double as an office. There's also no chance of students stumbling upon the information we compile."
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Year/Job
Curse-Breaker
Thinking will not overcome fear but action will. |
rouch
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Post by Wiley Dempsey on Feb 8, 2024 15:39:10 GMT -8
Wiley nodded at the assessment of the professors. It sounded like it wasn't even at the school. That was better. "We need those scrolls before I can say if this is a quick job or not. I'll run the sigil by some colleagues," she said, think it might even be a cause to go home for a visit and see if her family knew if it had druid origins. Something was pulling at her mind. She wasn't sure if there was something in her past that was rising to the surface or if she was just put off my the strangeness of the entire situation. "In my experience the best curse is one that warns people off. It's not often one is invoked simply out of spite or to cause harm. Where people run into trouble is not understanding the warning signs. It sounds like your friend is lucky they just lost some time."
Looking down at the pictures again she pulled on closer. It was a different angle of the full chamber. They'd likely have to visit the site as well. "Your place it is then," she said off handedly. It sounded like the best scenario. "Is this site closed off or are people still sorting through the contents?" she asked, wondering if she shouldn't go make sure it was sealed off until they were certain the only danger was the puzzle box.
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Year/Job
POTIONS PROFESSOR
Days Since Something Exploded: 0 |
BLAKE
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Post by Mael Gauthier on Feb 9, 2024 13:39:11 GMT -8
Mael would talk to Adrian tonight through the floo and make sure he understood that the scrolls were necessary for the Curse Breaker. He had little doubt the man hadn't already sent them. If he was lucky, they would be waiting at his house when he arrived later that evening. That or Adrian was going to call him pushy and impatient. It wouldn't be the first time. Mael almost rolled his eyes at the mere thought.
Wiley was speaking, telling him she'd check in with her colleagues on the matter. He was guessing the sigil was old if she was unfamiliar with it. This was getting a little exciting. He liked a good mystery. Mael's expression changed a bit when Wiley spoke on the use of curses. Warnings sounded a lot better than spiteful curses used to harm people. "We're both lucky like that," he said lightly. "I'd be upset if anything happened to him. He's my best friend after all." Mael looked down and found his untouched gillywater. He picked up the glass and took a few gulps from it.
"Thank you," was his only response when she didn't argue about the location. He was playing with the glass as she looked over the pictures. "Adrian said they closed it off for the time being. If you manage to break the curse, they'll get back to work. He thinks that there's more behind the collapse, but the artifact was their main focus upon arrival. You know, with it being in the center of the room and what not."
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