Dangerous Kind

[Deimos Ares]

Deimos had just left work but immediately apparated to a forest. He had never used this one before for a transformation but he had very little time to plan things out. It was a pity that Deimos had failed to check a map or he would have realized how often people used the forest as a public walkway.
The sky was becoming dark rapidly and the moon was covered by a thick grey cloud. The time was getting near. Deimos found a tree nearby, ready to do what he always did prior transformation. As quick as he could, he took off his clothes and stuffed them into a tree trunk, along with anything else he had on him. The only thing he kept on was a small gold chain necklace. He always wore it for his transformation- It was like a good luck charm as he had never attacked a human while wearing it.

Now the moon was looming above, full but hidden behind a cloud. Deimos, though the transformation had yet to start, could feel all his senses increased. He could hear something nearby and he could smell it too. A sudden strike of panic hit him. It didn't smell like an animal. No, but it sounded about the same size as him. Could it be another werewolf? What happened when two werewolves met and transformed? Would they kill each other?Would he attempt to rip them to shreds? Deimos had never knowingly met a werewolf so he didn't know the signs, the scent, the ways they acted. He could only hope that whoever was almost joining him amongst the trees, could disapparate and quickly.

 

[Dahlia Reynolds]

It was a cool evening, a rare night that Dahlia got to be outside the school actually spending some time on herself. She took some evenings and weekends off, choosing to go home to her small flat. It wasn't as though she had much to go home to - her parents were home in Manchester, and she did not have a boyfriend or husband, or any other family - she'd been so focused on her work that she didn't really have many friends, to be honest. After all, she'd only recently moved to New Zealand and taken this job at the school. She hadn't had time to socialise.

This evening, she'd been away from the school for a purpose, having stocked up on some potions equipment and potions for the Hospital Wing. None of it was urgent, however, so she figured she'd have the night in her own home and own bed, before returning to the school in the morning. She wasn't the only nurse on duty, after all. She didn't have to be at the school 24/7, and she sure as hell wasn't going to be.

As she walked through the forest right near her home, she heard an odd sound near her. Another person...though there was something odd about this person. Curious, Dahlia approached them, to see a man, who looked to be in obvious discomfort. He was clad in nothing but a necklace, and it only took Dahlia one look at the sky to figure out why. "Lycanthropy?" she asked, like it was the most normal thing in the world.

 

[Deimos Ares]

Deimos could hear the person getting closer and suddenly he could see a woman standing before him. It was one thing being caught during a full moon, stark naked, but it was an entirely different thing to have someone click so easily as to the condition he suffered. "I.." If he had not had such dark skin, Deimos's embarrassment would have been visible. He moved quickly to cover whatever dignity he had left. He could try and apparate to another forest but two things kept him here; firstly. he could end up in a worse situation if he left and secondly, Deimos was curious to know who this woman was and how she had known so quickly.

"Yes." Deimos said finally, looking up at the sky. He needed to convince this woman to leave before he transformed. Before he changed into that monster and killed her. "Look, I'm sorry but.. But you have to go. Right now. The moon is almost up and.. and if you don't leave, I'll hurt you." Deimos had not intended this to sound like the threat it did. Immediately, he was stumbling over his words with apologies. "Sorry.. I mean.. It's not safe.. I-"
But before he could finish his words, the clouds around the moon parted. Fear shone in Deimos's eyes. He seemed to have frozen for a moment before.. "Argh!! G-go! Now!" He screamed his words as the pain hit him. Any moment now, the internal transformation would begin.
"Please! Just-" Another scream of pain.

((Sorry for terrible RP. I'm feeling bleurgh. We can abandon at any time if you want to.))

 

[Dahlia Reynolds]

((Tis alright! And sorry for the 'oh, what a coincidence!' I"m assuming he hasn't taken his potion and if I'm wrong, I'll edit.))

Judging by the fact that he was out here, alone, trying to be apart from others, Dahlia clicked instantly. He hasn't taken his potion. And by a strange twist of fate, she happened to have some wolfsbane potion with her. He'd have to take some. This was a public park and it was too dangerous to move him right now. And sure, he'd still change, but the effects would be lesser. Quickly, she fished the bottle out of her bag and passed it to the man. "Wolfsbane. Take it. Then move," she stated, authortitavely, pointing towards a hollow that was mostly out of line with the moon. "Don't worry, I'm a healer," she added, the corners of her lips twitching in a slight smile. She'd seen this sort of thing before. At 23, she had been fully qualified, working at St. Mungo's in London, and now she was working at Hogwarts New Zealand. Although she'd been a Hufflepuff, she was as fearless as she was kind. And she kept a level head in emergencies - hence the sternness and calmness she exhibited around this man.

Perhaps it was strange circumstances in which to meet, but Dahlia didn't dwell on that too much. After all, there wasn't much point worrying about that, not when there were bigger things to worry about.

 

[Deimos Ares]

Deimos received the bottle from the stranger. There were, naturally, many reasons not to do as she said, one of which being that Deimos's father had told him never to use Wolfsbane, that the wolf would become enraged at not being free if he did. But then, what did his father know? He wasn't a werewolf. And now it was his father's words against this stranger's words. She was a healer.. Could he trust that? Surely she had no reason to lie?
Without further thought, Deimos tilted his head back, pouring the potion into his mouth. There. He'd done it. He had chosen the stranger's advice over that of his father. Of course he felt a little guilty of betraying his father but, for reasons unknown to him, Deimos had trusted the woman.

He had not a moment longer to dwell on his thoughts as another pain struck him and Deimos dropped the bottle. His internal organs were changing, his heart stopping before it could transform, eyes falling dark, hunched over on the ground. He would only know if the potion had worked when the morning eventually came round. Deimos let out a loud scream which morphed into a howl as claws pushed from his nails, hair thickening over his body, arm bones stretching. The process was incredibly painful and something Deimos had never come to terms with. His eyes turned black.

The wolf looked through it's golden orbed eyes at it's surroundings. It was hungry. There was a scent nearby and the beast tilted it's head slightly, looking up at the human. It managed to find it's feet but only for a moment before the potion had kicked in. The wolf, nearing the woman, stopped suddenly. It was just staring at her. It gave a low snarl before it's eyes rolled in it's head, eyelids snapping shut and it fell to the ground, fast asleep.

 

[Dahlia Reynolds]

Dahlia could sense the hesitation - despite the pressing need to make a decision. It would seem as though he was unfamiliar with wolfsbane, and only now it had occured to her that perhaps he would not like to take it. But the stubborn side of her won out - he needed to take it, she reasoned, because it was proven to make the transition that little bit more comfortable and safer. Not that it had ever been described as a comfortable process. Dahlia watched carefully as he drank, feeling a little horrified as he transformed - but nonetheless, watching all the same. Perhaps it was best to move, but she wanted to make sure the potion worked. For once, she actually felt thankful for that scar on her left side, that burn that prevented her from brewing potions as much as she would usually do. If she hadn't had that incident, she wouldn't have had wolfsbane on her person, and wouldn't have been able to help the man. Of course, it wasn't necessarily her business, but she was, after all, a healer. It was her job to stick her nose in to other people's business and try to help, after all.

She did not panic as the wolf approached her, though she was prepared to apparate at any second. Luckily, the wolfsbane did seem to take effect, and he did not attack her, instead falling asleep. A smile on her face, Dahlia bent down, took a careful look at the werewolf, before heading off home.

---

Early the next morning, Dahlia, before heading back to Hogwarts, had decided to go check on the man. Although she didn't know him - all she knew was that he was a werewolf, really - she felt it her duty to make sure he was alright.

 

[Deimos Ares]

Deimos lay there, curled up and growling in his sleep. He may not have been in his wolf form anymore but he still had dreams of hunting and fighting.
It was not the feeling of being watched which caused Deimos to stir, but the sudden rumbling of his stomach. His eyelids flicked open and her looked around, remaining still. There were no bodies laying around, he was not covered in blood, either. He was unclear of what had happened for a moment or two and he sat up slowly.

His head was spinning and his stomach, empty. "Eurgh." He groaned, leaning against a nearby tree to stand up. Once on his feet, Deimos began to wonder where his clothes were but before he had a chance to look, he froze to the spot. Now his memory was coming back to him and slowly he turned his head round to see who was behind him. "I take it, it worked, then?"

 

[Dahlia Reynolds]

Coming across the man, Dahlia smiled when she saw he was intact. Evidently, he had reacted fairly well to the wolfsbane potion, which was good. Dahila wouldn't have been able to forgive herself if things had gone badly. For a healer, she sure had a guilty conscience. Just another thing she attributed to Iris, she supposed. "I guess so. You alright, mate?"

Figuring he'd want a little privacy for a moment, Dahlia turned around and covered her eyes, almost childishly, allowing him to get dressed. "I, well, obviously, didn't get a chance to introduce myself last night. Sorry about that! I'm Dahlia, and I'm a nurse at Hogwarts. What's your name?" she asked. Dahlia wasn't always the most tactful person, but she was curious about who this man was and his affliction. She supposed if he wanted her to go away, he could just say so anyway.

 

[Deimos Ares]

Deimos walked to the tree trunk and pulled out his clothes, tugging his trousers on. When he was shirtless, it was only too obvious that Deimos was a werewolf with the large scars along his back. "A nurse, eh?" Deimos said, pulling his shirt on over his head. "That was lucky. I'm.." He paused for a moment as he checked to see if his gold chain necklace was still around his neck. It was. "I'm Deimos." Now he turned to her and gave her a genuine smile. "Thanks for what you did last night. I'll stock up on wolfsbane in the future." He decided he would tell her why he had doubted it in the place, another time.

He looked to her soft featured face. She was very fair in appearance and he would have been lying to himself if he had said he didn't like what he was seeing. "I swear that if I ever get this condition under control, I'll start a werewolf support group." He half laughed; it was something he had continued doing but Deimos deemed himself unworthy of such a group until he was, himself, coping with the curse.

 

[Dahlia Reynolds]

Now, Dahlia could look at the man - Deimos - and see him for the man he was, not the affliction he suffered. True, she knew well that there was a person behind every injury or affliction, but at the full moon, a werewolf was changed in to someone (or rather, something) completely different from their true self. It was nice to see Deimos at a different time. Plus, now she could appreciate that he was a very attractive man. Stop it, Dahlia, she thought to herself, biting her lip. You're being absurd. Smiling, Dahlia pushed her bag back up her shoulder. "It was no trouble at all. Lucky I happened to have gone shopping," she chuckled. Until she was nineteen, she would've happily brewed it herself. Now, she could still make potions well, and would do so if necessary, but mostly she tried to avoid it, choosing to buy potions instead. That incident had left more than just physical scarring.

"Heh. I hope you get to start that," she said, not unkindly, with a gentle smile. From having seen it before, she knew that werewolves had a lot of difficulty coping with their curse, and were usually quite detatched and uncomfortable. Which was a shame, because the people were, Dahlia believed, all very interesting and had a lot to give to society, but were unwilling to do so because of the negative stigma associated with their curse. "So, Deimos. What is it that you do?"

 

[Deimos Ares]

Deimos rolled his eyes at the ironic answer to her question. "I work in the Regulation of Magical Creatures office." He replied. "Ironic, I know." He smiled at her. This had to be the most conversation he had had with anyone in.. Well, months. Often, Deimos would not take advantage of such an opportunity but it was too good of a thing to pass up. Dahlia understood him, was not scared off by the way he was acting.. But she had only seen him calm. What would happen if she saw him the week before full moon when his mood swings kicked in? Would she run? Would she hate him for being violent? So many things he was worrying about and he hadn't even asked her yet.

"Dahlia," Deimos said, hopeful, "Would you like to.. Would you like to go out for a drink sometime?" There. He had asked it. And now his self-sabotaging side kicked in. "I mean, that is if you don't mind what I am and if you aren't working and.. What am I saying? A beautiful woman like you is bound to be married or engaged or have a boyfriend or something. Sorry. I'll just go." Deimos turned away from her, wanting to kick himself. Why couldn't he just say one thing without ruining his chances? He was scared of being hurt but most of all, of hurting another. He would never forgive himself if he attacked someone.

 

[Dahlia Reynolds]

Dahlia smirked at the answer - truth be told, it was a little ironic, but Dahlia didn't mind. It was a job, and a good one at that. She had a decent amount of respect for the Ministry, after all, they did what they could to keep the wizarding world in check - and keep it all secret from the muggles. And the Magical Creatures office did what they could to make sure nobody got hurt by any creatures, and made sure nothing too dangerous had free reign. It helped her job an awful lot. Now, she just hoped someone was dealing with the centaurs in the Forbidden Forest. Specifically the one who had attacked that poor boy.

She couldn't help but blush when Deimos - was he asking her out? He was! And he'd called her beautiful - well, she'd never heard that before. He hadn't seen the disgusting burn marks on her body. Sure, he probably had a few scars of his own...in any case, Dahlia was flattered. Though a little saddened when he turned around. "For one thing, I'm single, and for another, yes, I would love go out for a drink sometime." Company apart from students and the other nurses (who she barely knew)? Company from an extremely attractive man? Dahlia couldn't be happier at the very thought. "How does the weekend sound?"

 

[Deimos Ares]

Deimos turned round, looking stunned. "I.. You.. You really want to?" he asked, making sure. She was single. Praise be. Deimos felt a warmth inside of him. His face seemed to light up at her words. "The weekend would be brilliant," he answered, life finally looking up. "I could take you to this little Italian muggle restaurant, if you like. Serves some great food. But, you know, I'm up for anything." He shrugged a little, casually. He would go anywhere, he wasn't fussy.

Deimos knew that they would soon part ways: He had work to do and potions to buy and he was sure Dahlia had work also. Unless it was the school holidays? Was it? Deimos had no idea. It had been so long since he'd been at school that he couldn't remember. But the lack of students told him that the school was open for the time being. "I might be seeing you at Hogwarts," Deimos said as more of an afterthought, "that is, should I get to work on the centaur case." It was a tragic thing to have happened, yet Deimos couldn't help hoping he would be charged with the job so he could see Dahlia again.

 

[Dahlia Reynolds]

"Is this the face of someone who would lie to you?" Dahlia joked, pointing at her smiling face. It was quite true, Dahlia was by no means a liar. In fact, she found it near impossible to lie. Sometimes her blunt, brutally honest nature was difficult to deal with, but she really meant no harm. She was just truthful. "That sounds great!" Inwardly, she was almost squealing. A date - was it a date? At a nice restaruant...life was just getting better and better. She had a job she liked, and although it was hectic, she wouldn't trade it for anything. And now she had a date with a man who seemed quite lovely. Dahlia grinned.

"Oh, dear," she said, thinking back to the case. She didn't know much about it, but she had to look after those who were affected after it. "Those poor kids," she thought, particuarly thinking of Artemis, and wondering how she was coping. "Nonetheless, it would be nice to see a friendly face again," she said, smiling again. "It gets rather lonely at the school, would you believe?" But thinking of the school reminded her that she had to go. Her face falling once more, she gave Deimos an apologetic look. "Speaking of work, I'd better go...seven o'clock Saturday night work?"

 

[Deimos Ares]

"Yeah. Yeah, that'd be perfect." It was all he could really say as he felt like this warmth inside was spreading fast, excitement flooding him. He had a date. Alright, he had been on dates before but they were more dead-end things which never really seemed to take off. For some reason, Deimos had the feeling that this date would effect the rest of his life, that this woman, a nurse, was the one. Could it really be true? Did he believe in soul-mates? Had he found his happy ending?

"I look forward to seeing you again." He had thought this a friendly enough thing to say but now Deimos was seeing Dahlia in a different way- She was no longer just friend material but now she was possible soul-mate material. Thankfully, Deimos's dark skin hid his blush as he thought further. He didn't want to ruin this. He really didn't. At least she already knew the worst part of Deimos. He turned to walk a little distance from Dahlia, looking back and smiling, opening his mouth to speak but wimping out, disapparating. Her face was the last thing in his mind before he appeared at his home. He thought he ought to half a shower before going out and purchasing potion. Perhaps, as his mood had improved, he could put in a couple of hours at work?