Magical Medicines

[Speed Stark]

It had been a while since Speed had been in a library, which was something the man was not proud of. He often said in his classes that his students should study, and that often meant some crashing in the library. Yet he rarely came here himself. Then again, what did he have to study for? Everything he needs was in his office and he only ventured onto the fourth floor when on duty and patrol, otherwise he was outside, with the creatures or in his office. However, today he decided that he needed to do a little bit of studying, mostly on herbs for personal use. One could never get enough knowledge about New Zealand's natural herbs, especially one working with creatures that could cause some serious damage. And sometimes it wasn't just creatures. The young professor ran his fingers carefully along the books of the books, mentally taking note of each title just in case one caught his eye. Unfortunately, the library of this school was very much a blank in his memory, as he never really needed to come here. Therefore, he never really had.

Deciding that wandering among the bookcases was pointless, he decided to lookout for something else. There were a few librarians in the school, he was sure, so he sought out to find one of them. It wasn't like he could ask one of the students as a vast majority were of the younger years and he doubted they would know much more about the library, especially the kind of book he needed. It probably wouldn't be one a first year would be assigned to get. Fortunately, it did not take Speed long to find one of the librarians. He smiled at the man brightly, and held out his hand in greeting. "Hello, my name's Speed. Um," he looked around the various books and shrugged. "I was wondering if you could help me find a book - a Herbology book. I have no idea how to work my way around a library."
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[Stefan Archer]

Stefan had always been uncertain about why he might end up doing with his life. He had never thought he'd actually have a stable future so he'd never really planned that far ahead. However, despite this, the former slytherin found himself pretty happy with where he'd ended up. He wasn't interested really in returning to his education. He wasn't keen to do any tests or get anything above his small amount. Stefan was content with where he was in life currently. Stefan had always thought it would be fun to teach, but he realised that it had been a silly thought. With his upbringing, standing in front of a class of people he didn't know wasn't his strong suit. So, he was happily now, just working in the library. Having worked at a book store in his local town, Stefan had found that it was a nicely simple and good job. He still worked there every so often, doing the odd weekend, or helping with stock every so often. It was a nice supplementation of their household income. He was working, mostly full time in the Hogwarts Library, and while for most they'd see it as a terrible, menial boring job, Stefan found it quite the opposite. He could split his time between reading, cleaning, and sorting. It was simple work, sure, but it was just what Stefan needed. Smiling to himself as he made his way through the library. It was a continuous sort of all day job, because kids really didn't care about the organisation of books in a library. Stefan was just putting some books away that had been brought back the previous day. He was smiling to himself, enjoying the sort of constant peace that the library had. It was lovely. It was just what Stefan needed. It was those time, when he was just doing his job, in the silence and calm that he realised how much he loved it, and was truly thankful for it. It was why the smile was easily on his lips. Why despite the fact there was a lot of moving involved and this would not be the only time he'd have to do this during this working day, the former slytherin was more than happy. maybe one day he'd be ready for something else. But, for now the boy was just happy to work away.

It was when he turned round and saw a man with his hand out as a greeting that startled the librarian. He hadn't heard the man approaching, and was startled by the sight of him. Although Stefan flinched a little more than most would. He was getting better, but obviously it was not an easy process. Being an adult at school was helping him, he was getting more used to adults and being comfortable around them. More so than he'd ever done while at the school. He smiled politely at the man, and then took his hand as he introduced himself, Speed. "Stefan." Since this man was older, he figured it was one of the professors. Stefan didn't remember him, but then again, he had spent not that much time in this school, in his actual classes. Stefan just smiled politely and nodded as the professor spoke, his smile grew slightly more with what he said. Stefan hadn't really known how libraries worked until he'd worked at the book store. "We use a variation of the dewey decimal system, to account for certain areas that muggles don't have" Stefan explained, though there was little need. He just gathered the books he'd been sorting, "I'll show you where the herbology section is" Stefan gave the professor another smile, before walking away from where they'd been, placing the books he'd been tidying away on the librarian's desk and then heading towards the section of herbology. As the librarian walked he pushed up the sleeves of his jumper, realising that he was actually pretty warm, and if he was going to be helping Speed it might make things easier. It also wasn't like Stefan had anything to worry about, all that was left were old scars. Stefan knew the dewey decimal system pretty well, so it was a lot easier for him now to find the sections easily. There were few issues that his eyesight brought up in a place that he knew well. "Alrighty then" He said warmly, turning back to ensure the professor was behind him. Finally he motioned to the general section in front of him, "This is the start of the herbology section, is there a specific type of herbology book that you are looking for, or just a general herbology book?" Stefan of course had no idea what the professor wanted, and he was sure that Speed knew better, so Stefan though he might be able to help him further, after all, Stefan was a librarian, that was part of his job.
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[Speed Stark]

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He noticed the slightly flinch of the other man upon being touched, and so attempted to remember not to make further physical contact with the librarian out of respect. Speed nodded as the librarian - named Stefan - explained to him the system that the library used. Obviously it was a variation, because Speed was quite sure a muggle library wouldn't have the same sections of this library, unless they were a very open-minded library. He followed Stefan as he guided him to the Herbology section and reciprocated the smile he was given, before leaning against a bookcase and observing Stefan, noticing what appeared to be some scarring on the younger man's arms. Speed himself had some scars from years of being alive and doing various things with little success, as was to be expected by a young man - as well as his current occupation, but they were not quite like Stefan's were.

It appeared that Speed had been looking in the wrong section to begin with, which may have explained why he had not found what it was he had been looking for in the first place. He approached when addressed, and looked at the large amount of books before him, before realising that there was going to be a bit of reading to be done. "You can't say the school doesn't prioritise the library," he commented, smiling slightly. It appeared as if the school had brought every book ever published on Herbology. He thought of the answer to the question posed to him, and pursed his lips. "I suppose just an in-depth Herbology book, specialising on New Zealand's natural herbs found in damp, forest-like areas," he explained. "I have to admit that even after taking Herbology, my ability to identify herbs is really lacking."
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[Stefan Archer]

Stefan had never really encountered this particular professor before during his schooling. He knew what he taught, just because Stefan had made a point of learning slightly names and subjects, he just hadn't always connected them to people until he actually met them. Stefan smiled at the man, who didn't appear to be in too much of a rush which was good, since sometimes looking in a library was a task that most better do, when they have nothing else, or have the time to kill. He glanced at the man as he spoke. It was true Hogwarts was generous with their library. Stefan just nodded along, feeling that there was little need for added input from him on that particular subject. He had always loved the library during his own schooling, and he had really loved working at it so far. It was good. It felt good to give back to a place that had given him so much. He was definitely happy to help this professor find the book he was looking for. The herbology section was pretty extensive. It was a good array of books from the first year ones, to more complex ones that NEWT students might tackle. There was so much knowledge held within those books that he stood in front of with Speed, he wasn't sure what this professor would want with a herbology book, but it wasn't for Stefan to really know about. Instead he just listened as the man told him what he wanted more specifically.

Hearing what he said, Stefan realised that this meant actually finding the book the man wanted would be much easier. Stefan nodded with what he last said, "You and me both" As he approached the shelf, and began to scan the numbers, until he reached the right one. "From about here to the middle of the next shelf are books on natural herbs found in Oceanic, both magical and muggle, with obviously specific books for each country on the continent. I'm sure you'll find what you are looking for here." He looked back to the professor with a smile. It wasn't too many books, and he assumed that the man would be more than capable of finding the right book for himself. "Do you want a tea, or coffee?" he asked politely stepping away from him. He was sure that now he'd shown the man the right area Speed would no longer really need his help much. He asked because it was polite and because it was a professor rather than a student. However, knowing he was no longer needed, the man was looking for a way to excuse himself, "If you don't need any more help, I'll just let you get to what you were doing, and if you have any more questions or need any more help, just come and find me again" Stefan would obviously wait until the professor had told him that he was no longer in need of Stefan's help, before he actually went back to doing his own work.
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[Speed Stark]

Speed ran his eyes over the titles of the books, seeing if any one book in particular caught his eyes. He trusted the librarian, Stefan's, opinion, as he worked here and had probably stacked these very books away. He recognised a few books, having used some back when he was a student back in old school. It made him smile slightly, as he thought about the age that some of these books had. The books themselves may not have been old, but the information within them had probably been reprinted numerous times over numerous years. He was just happy that there was not that many. He did not want to think about how many titles he would have had to go through if he had of had a more ambiguous book in mind. He would have had to take a trip to the Herbology professor's probably and, while he was sure both men were perfectly nice and friendly, he didn't want to have to take the travel time and then bother the men with questions that he should be able to answer himself. He had taken herbology.

Speed, now having a hand on a book, turned his head to smile at Stefan at the offer of tea or coffee. "That'd be great. I haven't had a good cup of tea in a while, to be honest." Being horrible in all forms of food preparation himself, Speed often had to rely on others to make something edible. He could work up something good for creatures - that was easy. It was just feeding humans where his weakness lay. He took the book he touched from the shelf, and held it in his arms. "Please, lead the way." He didn't talk to people enough, and it was something the professor was consciously attempting to change. He was sure that tea would definitely hit the spot.
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[Stefan Archer]

Stefan smiled at the professor as he began to look at the different books trying to find the book that he wanted. Stefan wasn't sure that what this professor was really looking for. It was sometimes quite hard he found to find the exact right book. Even for Stefan who spent most of his time in libraries and bookstore, when he was researching various things and he was reading up on it, he took as many books as he could, especially with a tricky subject. This being said, he felt a little awkward just standing behind the professor, but he didn't feel like he could actually leave just yet. Stefan just continued to smile politely waiting for the professor to say something. It appeared however that the man had found the book that he wanted. Stefan was pretty glad that he'd managed to find the book he wanted. It was always better with professors. They seemed to know which they wanted, and unlike students they didn't have enough time to just read a couple. It was a pretty good thing too. The professors at this school, Stefan realised, were incredibly lucky to have this kind of library and full access to it. He knew he was lucky to be working there. It was nice, and there was very little pressure, in the moments when this place was quiet he was able to sit down with a book, and just pay attention to that book. The library was good for that.

Stefan then smiled at the professor as he accepted the offer of tea. Stefan was always keen to get to know those he was technically working along side. Which was a little hard since professors very often just got their book and left. He nodded at him with a small shrug, "I don't know how good the tea is, but I can try my best with it" He told the man with a smile, then leading the way to the little library's staff room, mostly where a lot of books lay waiting to be sorted on to the shelves. He smiled at the man as he opened the door, and just lead him in, however, since Stefan was technically was still on his shift. "Technically I'm not on break, so we'll have to just sit at the library counter, but, the kettle is here. Help yourself to anything in the fridge." he motioned to the magical fridge which was next to where Stefan was standing making the tea, he waited until it was pretty much done, "Do you take any milk or sugar?" Stefan didn't take either, but made the tea to how Speed would like it, when it was finally done, he then handed the man the tea, and lead him the small distance to the desk, where Stefan motioned to a chair and then sat down himself. "You teach Care of Magical Creatures, right?" He asked, wanting to get the conversation started with this man, he was also curious as to why this man was looking for that specific book rather than anything else. "How long have you been teaching?" he asked, Stefan was always curious about if any of the professors he spoke to had taught him when he'd been at the school.
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