Feburary 7th, 1888 - Crowdy Library

Winter was, without a doubt, Elsie's least favorite time of year. Fortunately for her, there were lots of good things to happen her in winter, so there was at least that getting her through. The cold however, that could go. Not to mention she was feeling a little under the weather this week. Needless to say, she was not amused, nor was she at the top of her game.

Rather fortunately, during the week, the library was rather quiet. Well, it was always quiet but there was a distinct lack of people in the building today. That said, Elsie was never lacking in things to do. There were always things she could reorganize, clean or put away. It was truthfully one of her favorite things about her job, other than being completely surrounded by books all day. Plus if she did find herself needing something to do, she could always go to the transfiguration section and read up on her animagus studies. Mr. Lovegood was very generous in that respect. The head librarian rarely said anything about one of them stopping to read for a quick moment. Elsie figured it was good for her to have recommendations in each section anyway!

Moving slow, pushing a rather large stack of books to put away from the weekend she had to wonder if she was coming down with something more than a little cold. She was a little achey and couldn't stop sneezing, in addition to the scratchy throat she couldn't seem to soothe. Perhaps she would finish up this aisle and take a short break for a cup of tea, that would certainly help.

Just one more aisle, she could totally do this. Elsie pulled the top book of the closest pile on her very loaded cart and sneezed at the exact same time. In her surprise she dropped the book which fell on the rest, causing the whole pile to go tumbling down from the cart. This in turn caused Elsie to trip as she tried to stop the books from falling and she tried to brace herself on the cart, but only succeeded in missing, pushing the cart down the aisle away from her as she tumbled forward onto the floor to join the pile of books left behind in the cart's wake.

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#ElsiegonnaElsie
@'Percival Adlard Jr.'

  

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MJ always makes her so pretty

With the election over it appeared that the Adlard sisters had finally found few events to drag Percy to. A fact that Percy was quite grateful for. Apparently this was the way the bleak days of midwinter found their redemption in the eyes of the gentleman who so eagerly sought the peace and quiet of a life attributed to a bachelor. He was taking advantage of the lack of social plans to visit the library, a spot he had once haunted quite frequently when he had still lived in London Town. He found it more difficult to make his way there when he lived in Hogsmeade, although he rather felt that he should see more of the fine establishment.

The library greeted him with the peace and solitude he so desired after a long day at work and a deep breathe in gave him the calmly smell that only a library held. Work had been another beast of a day today, cases here and there, and endless tasks mounding on his desk. Yes, this was just what he needed.

He was just turning the corner of an aisle to begin browsing for something new to read when a commotion drew his attention down the opposite aisle. He watched as a young lady knocked a pile of books from the cart she had in front of her as she sneezed. The cart began to move directly in Percy's path, pushed forward as the young lady tumbled to the floor. Percy stepped to the side, reaching out to grab the cart and stop it. Luckily it stopped without much trouble and Percy had abandoned it in moments, moving toward the young lady to make sure she was alright.

"Are you alright?" He asked kindly as he crouched down in front of the young lady with a proffered hand to help her up if she was unharmed.

@'Elsie Beaurgard'

  

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Pretties from Lady <3

Elsie sighed heavily at the destruction she'd just managed to cause. It wasn't as bad as knocking over entire displays in the bookshop, but honestly, it was a miracle she hadn't broken her ankle at this point in her life. She took a moment to just sit there, as she felt a little woozy from the fall and perhaps the cold she was definite was coming on. Elsie ran her hands over her face trying to find the resolution to move and pick up, when a voice interrupted her wallowing.

Startled, Elsie thought she'd at least been alone in the aisle, but apparently that had not been the case! Blushing furiously, she looked up to find a gentleman crouching down right next to her. Oh! How embarrassing! "Yes," She managed breathlessly, horrified at being caught not only tripping, but still just sitting there on the floor! "Yes I'm fine. Just a case of the clumsies, I'm afraid they're fairly common for me." Elsie assured the gentleman, though made no moves to get up; she still wasn't feeling well and didn't trust herself to stand up.

She felt ridiculous just sitting there however, and so he started to gather the books she could reach back into some semblance of order, stacking them together by genre as best she could so that putting them away would be easier after she got them all back on the cart.

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@"Percival Adlard Jr."
You don't have to tag me! They're not working, but I do get alerts when you reply :)

  

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MJ always makes her so pretty

The young lady’s face was a shade of pink that Percy could easily relate to from moments when he found himself embarrassed by a situation. In the past few months there had been plenty of opportunities to find his face warming in odd situations. It was almost as if an unlucky charm had found itself way into his fortunes. But such notions were foolish and foolhardy, easily dismissed as rubbish.

Instead of taking Percy’s hand the young woman began to pick up the books that surrounded her as she explained the situation to Percy. “Ah.” Percy nodded in understanding. He’d been friends with Quin long enough to know awkward situations certainly did tend to follow people. “Here, allow me to help.” Percy began to collect books as well.

There was an awkward silence that followed as Percy strove to think of something, anything in which to make the girl feel more comfortable. He was terribly awful with small talk, that had always been Felicity and Catherine’s thing.

“So, er, this happens often then?” Well that wasn’t exactly what could be considered comforting but it was better than silence for the poor girl, wasn’t it?

  

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Pretties from Lady <3

 So focused on not passing out where she sat, Elsie hadn't even noticed that the gentleman had offered to help her up. Had she seen, she would feel even more silly, but with her head swimming and all of the books to pick up, she was a little less perceptive. "Oh you don't have to-" She started to stop him, but couldn't find the energy to refuse the help.

"It's really quite kind of you, thank you." Elsie motioned to the books surrounding her as she inspected one to make sure there was no damage. "I hope I didn't get you too badly with the cart?" She hadn't even thought of that in her tumble that she had might have actually pushed the cart right into him. How additionally embarrassing that would be!

Elsie sighed a little and couldn't help but to shrug. "It is unfortunately. I even tripped during my own debut at Hogwarts." She admitted with a wry smile, rearranging books into piles without much thought. The memory was embarrassing, but the events that had followed were far more memorable and for a wonderful reason. Everything happened for a reason, she supposed.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

“You are very welcome. It is no trouble at all.” Percy smiled at her thanks, still helping to gather the books. He couldn’t very well allow the lady to attempt it on her own, his conscience would be quite irate with him, not to mention his sisters if they were to catch wind of it. “Oh no, it hardly even reached me. I just managed to wrangle it from it’s escape.” He gave her a teasing grin as he might to Cat when she was much younger and prone to adventures that would get the two of them in trouble.

Tripping at her own debut, he could see that being problematic. Had Felicity or Catherine done that they would have been mortified for an entire season, well Lissy would have. Catherine might have been embarrassed but she’d hardly let it affect her. “I am sorry for that. I have a friend who is rather unlucky himself, poor bloke. He once exploded a potion in our dorm room that smelled of roses, sugar, and cats and was the most unfortunate shade of green I have yet to see. You should have seen the way the cauldron flew around the room - it’d but your cart of books to shame.” Granted failed experiments and all Quin had become very successful with his candy business, so there was that. But some of those early days…. it had been quite the adventure.

  

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Pretties from Lady <3

Well, at east she hadn't injured anyone or anything but her own pride in this instance. Still, as ill as she currently felt, she couldn't bring herself to be too worried about it. Pausing in her book stacking to listen to the gentleman's tale of dorm room shenanigans, Elsie chuckled quietly. "Oh my, that does sound quite unfortunate." Still a potion gone wrong was much easier to rationalze than her sheer clumsiness! She could certainly make a mess of things- like that time she'd knocked over an entire display at the bookstore. At least nobody but her own cousin had been around to see that one!

Speaking of, this would be much easier if she were thinking and just used her wand. She pulled the willow wand from her apron pocket and charmed the books to move themselves up onto the cart in an nice, easy order, careful not to get too close to the gentleman in her efforts.

That was settled and now she supposed she should stand up, but she was still feeling a wee bit woozy and though she could use another minute of rest before she attempted to stand. Perhaps she would have to ask the head librarian if she could head home for the day. "Thank you for you help, I'd hate to keep you any longer." She passed him a tired smile from her perch on the floor and wondered just how she would go about getting herself home if she was allowed to go!

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MJ always makes her so pretty

“He did feel rather silly for it. But luckily there was no harm done.” Percy shrugged at the memory of Quin’s shocked face staring at the mess of a caldron smashed into the wall. At least it hadn’t been a window.

The young woman seemed to have grown tired of their task and magically began gathering the books. In Percy’s concern for her he had rather neglected his own wand. He supposed that may have made her life easier if he had remembered it in the first place. The books easily made their way back to the cart in an almost merry line

“It’s quite alright.” He brushed off her concerns of him and frowned. She was still seated on the ground. Knowing his sisters Percy was quite certain it simply was not a thing a young lady did in public - sit on the ground. “Are you sure you are quite alright?” He asked, determining that he would stay to make sure she could stand. She did look quite pale and he wouldn’t want her left alone if she were to pass out!

  

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Pretties from Lady <3

Though she would hate to impose upon the gentleman before her any more than she already had, Elsie had to admit that the answer to his inquiry was a resounding no. He'd been very kind to her already, but perhaps he wouldn't mind if she borrowed him for just a few minutes more. All she needed to do was get to the little office that she shared with her fellow junior librarians. It was around from the front desk and tucked away, which was, unfortunately a bit further from her current spot on the floor than she was ready to brave without assistance.

"To be quite honest, I don't think so. I feel quite lightheaded." Her head was swimming even as she looked at him again. "I must be getting ill." It would explain the sneezing and the dizziness. She'd eaten not too long ago, but was still dreadfully woozy.

"I would hate to be an imposition, though. If you could perhaps find a co-worker of mine?" Odira was in today, though she had yet to see her best friend other than in passing as they went about their respective responsibilities.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

The young lady did not seem in the least well and Percy found himself concerned even more as she admitted with a sneeze that she felt light headed. “You’re no imposition at all.” Percy assured her, feeling more confident in his conversation skills when it came to achieving something. “Here, let me help you up. I’ll see if we can get you to the library desk. I’m sure one of your co-workers will be there.” Percy offered her his hand again to help her up, intending to allow her to lean on him until they could find a co-worker who could make sure she made it home alright. He didn’t think if she were getting ill that she’d be able to remain at work. Not that it was his call to make but he’d have said the same thing if it were one of his sisters who was working.

  

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Pretties from Lady <3

It really was very kind of him to offer to assist her to the front desk, but Elsie really didn't trust her legs right now. What if she were to pass out on the way there? How dreadfully embarrassing and certainly more than this poor gentleman bargained for. She'd already managed to almost hit him with her book cart, he certainly didn't owe her anything else.

Still it would likely be faster than him trying to locate Odira or Mr. Ainsworth on his own. At least at the desk she could simply sit for a few more moments and pen an owl to her mother, or Adella, to come get her. Apparting or flooing home would not be good choices at this very moment. "It's very kind of you to offer, are you sure you don't mind?" Elsie still had reservations, but she also couldn't very well sit here all day either and so she gathered her wits and did her best to use the bookshelf behind her to stand on very weak legs.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

“Not in the slightest.” Percy said as he reached forward to help her stand, bookshelves only did so much as compared to someone ready to help. It wasn’t like he could leave her on her own in such a state, he’d murder the man who did that to one of his own sisters and if this young lady had a brother he wouldn’t want to be on the receiving end of such wrath. Besides, he wasn’t really in the habit of leaving distressed young ladies to be distressed on their own.

Giving her his arm he held much of her weight as they began to make it down the aisle. Luckily it wasn’t too far to the library desk. “We’re almost there.” He told her as they turned into the main aisle, the desk in sight at the end of it.

  

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Pretties from Lady <3

With his help, Elsie managed to get on her feet and immediately felt her head swim. Not a good sign. If she could just get to to the desk and sit down again, it would be fine. An owl to Adella to come get her and everything would work itself out.

Leaning on her companion probably more than she should, she barely heard him say they were almost to the desk. Her ears had gone fuzzy and her vision was fading. Not good, not good, not good! Elsie tried to stammer out some kind of warning but it was too late, she lost her grip on consciousness and collapsed to the floor.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

Crap. Percy felt the lady’s hold loosen, heard the rustle of skirts as she began her downward descent. He reached out to grab her, only managing to snag her arm just enough to keep her head from hitting the floor. That certainly wasn’t good.

He didn’t make it a habit to carry around smelling salts for when young ladies fainted, he knew some of the blokes at work did when they encountered young women but Percy happened to know a small charm with the same effect. He brought out his wand and with a small mutter waved it under her nose, hoping it might revive the young woman now a puddle of skirts and lace at his feet.

“Miss? Miss?” He called gently. He’d carry her back to the desk once she woke enough to wrap her arms around his neck. Or he’d levitate her. But he’d manage it alright.

  

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Pretties from Lady <3

The thing about passing out was that you had absolutely no idea how long you were out and so when Elsie felt herself starting to wake, she had no idea if it had only been minutes or far longer. Groggy, she heard the gentleman's voice, but it still sounded far away, as if he was across the library from her, instead of right beside her. The second thing she registered was just how absolutely embarrassing this was and that spurred her further into consciousness.

Her eyelids fluttered open cautiously, readjusting to the light. Color flooded her cheeks both from embarrassment and illness as she attempted to gather her wits about her. "I'm alright, I'm alright." She assured him feebly and no doubt any onlookers that had gathered. "I'm so incredibly sorry." She added after another moment of coming to her sense. Her head was still swimming, but Elsie attempted to sit up anyway and managed with a little difficulty, but there was no way she'd trust her legs this time.

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MJ always makes her so pretty

It seemed luck was with him as the young woman stirred. The commotion that had occurred had drawn several people who had been in the library around them but Percy still didn’t see anyone he thought might be staff. The young woman began to turn a shade of red his own cheeks became when he was completely embarrassed. For her sake he waved at the crowd around them. “She’s alright. This situation is being handled.” He told them in his most official ministry employee voice. A few more wary looks at the situation and they dispersed.

He looked at the young woman, “It is alright.” He told her gently. “But I’m going to need you to wrap your arms around me so I can get you to the front desk.” While gentle there was a certain amount of command in his tone. He certainly wasn’t going to trust her to walk again.

  

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Pretties from Lady <3