September 27th, 1895 — St. Mungo's

After nearly a fortnight of being cursed, Barnabas decided the home remedies and that one teashop in Hogsmeade weren't going to remove it anytime soon. Rather begrudgingly, he'd gone to the hospital to have proper treatment. It would have been better if the welcome witch hadn't laughed at him, nor at the handprint that he'd left on his own face due to his reaction to her laugh. It still stung; likely a bright red outline of his hand could be seen on his cheek.

His cane clicked against the floor tiles as he made his way to the waiting area. It had been surprisingly empty, only a woman and an annoyingly fussy infant in her arms. Without warning, she rushed at him, blurting some excuse he couldn't quite catch before she took off. Then she was gone and said fussy infant was now in his arm. What the devil? How had... how had she been so bloody fast?

"Ma'am!" He shouted after her, "I don't know who you think I am, but I do not want this!" The shouting seemed to have startled the infant. Its chubby face crinkled up and suddenly it was scream-crying. Barnabas stared at it in complete bewilderment. What was he to do now? Return it, he needed to return it. Though he didn't know if handing it back to a mother who had dumped it in a stranger's arms was the best choice, either. Either way, he carried the surprisingly loud thing in one arm, like a sack of potatoes—having no idea how it was supposed to be held—while using his other arm to maneuver his cane in an attempt to chase the woman down.

Tabitha Chevalier

  

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Barnabas walks with a cane • Set by the lovely Lady • plot with me

Tabi had been on her way back to the Potions ward from the breakroom when a woman went rushing by her and into the lavatory. Uh oh, that probably wasn't good. It was then that the wailing of a small child hit her ears and she hesitated to see which person she should check on first. Hopefully the woman would be alright, so Tabi would circle back. The powder room door was closed anyway, so it wasn't like she could barge in to check.

Making her way toward the waiting area, she saw a gentleman with a young child held awkwardly in his arm. "Oh my," was all she could manage, eyes wide and brow furrowed with concern. "Do you need some help?" Tabi wasn't sure who was more flustered, the child or the gentleman, so she spoke gently, approaching slowly, wildly unsure as to what was causing the upset.

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Barnabas Skeeter

Barnabas wasn't one who drooled after women. They were generally a means to an end, though there had been a few standouts in his life (none of whom were still in his life, notably.) There had been times when he'd made a fool of himself, of course—not that he'd admit it—but for the most part he had his world, and they had theirs. When the most beautiful woman he had ever seen appeared before him. For a moment, everything fell away and the only thing that existed was her. She opened her perfect lips to speak to him (her voice just as soft and lovely as she was.) It was enough to bring him back to himself, holding the still wailing infant.

"I don't know that help is the right word for it," he had to speak at a louder volume than normal just so she could hear him over the racket. What was it he even needed? The mother, who'd run off, for one. And a change of clothes for the other, since the infant had smeared tears and snot and whatever else came out of them all over his pristine sleeve. Perhaps he should offer some clarification. "A strange woman just ran off, tossing her baby at me as she passed by. I've no idea who she is, nor do I know what to do with..." Barnabas glanced down at the noise-maker.

  

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Barnabas walks with a cane • Set by the lovely Lady • plot with me

Tabi was starting to put the pieces together. The woman in the water closet was surely the mother and Tabi could only imagine what was wrong with her to toss her child at a stranger in the waiting room. "I believe I saw the mother run into the washroom." It was concerning to say the least, Tabi ought to have a nurse figure that out for her. That should be the first thing she took care of. She held up a finger briefly and went over to the staff at the desk to ask for a nurse or trainee to come inquire about the woman in the washroom.

Once that was settled and somebody was summoned, Tabi returned to the gentleman. "I can take the baby." She offered, pulling a handkerchief from her apron and reaching for the child. Tabi liked children and tended to be good with them, considering she had three much younger half-siblings.

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Barnabas Skeeter

"Oh," his brow furrowed in bewilderment. Well, at least the mother hadn't disappeared for good... and it seemed he wouldn't need to worry about the safety of the infant, as she had a good reason for it. Likely. There were only so many reasons to dash to a water closet, after all. (None of them pleasant.) Barnabas was unable to tear his eyes from the healer (even if he'd wanted to), tracking her movements as she walked to the desk and then back to him. Merlin she was stunning. As she'd stepped away, the infant had made a grab for his sleeve, turning itself right side up. He'd had to drop his cane to use both hands to catch the thing before he dropped it. (That's all he needed to come of the situation—Barnabas Skeeter the infant murderer.)

Her offer couldn't have come at a better time, as it was now trying to crawl up his chest like an Inferi emerging from the ground. It had stopped screaming at least. Maybe it just hadn't liked being held that way? Did infants have likes and dislikes? At what point did they become more human? "Yes, please," he nodded and tried to pull the infant from him before the thing decided to bite his nose, "I'm afraid I'm out of my element with this one, Miss." Each time he tried to pull the creature away from him, the more it clung its grubby fingers into his clothing and the louder its protests became.

  

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Barnabas walks with a cane • Set by the lovely Lady • plot with me

Tabi stooped to scoop up the fallen cane easily enough, holding it out in trade for the baby. "Come here, lovely." She cooed quietly. Hopefully she could hush the babe, who was probably quite upset by the abrupt departure of their mother. The poor gentleman really did look out of his element, so Tabi didn't feel all that bad about prying the babe away from him. She juggled holding onto the baby and handing back the cane easily enough, using both hands to soothe once she had them back.

"Now, now, it's okay." She said, using her most persuasive voice, which to be honest, was sickly sweet. It wasn't often that she used it on purpose, in fact she often tried for the opposite (with mixed results). Sometimes it helped in stressful situations, when she could get people to comply, but it made her feel particularly disgusted with herself.

Using her handkerchief to clean up the baby's face, he seemed to settle a little for the moment, burying his face in her shoulder as she rubbed his back. "Was there something you needed, before you were entrusted as guardian?" She chuckled, subconsciously bouncing the babe to help soothe away the upset.

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Barnabas Skeeter

For a brief moment, Barnabas thought that she was talking to him. It was rather forward, calling him lovely and telling him to come closer—though he was agreeable enough to the suggestion. Thankfully, before he could make a fool of himself, he realized she'd meant the infant. It was in her arms soon thereafter, and Barnabas found himself impressed that it had simply cuddled up to her and quieted down. He even found himself feeling more soothed.

When she leveled her gaze at him, he felt his cheeks grow warm, a soft blush spreading across his cheeks. "Oh, erm... yes. I was waiting to see a healer. I have an um—" he cleared his throat self-consciously, "a curse, that needs to be removed. You wouldn't happen to have that as one of your clearly many talents?" Embarrassingly enough, he found himself hoping that she did, if only so he had an excuse to continue talking to her. Hopefully, he wouldn't have to reveal the type of curse it was.

  

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Barnabas walks with a cane • Set by the lovely Lady • plot with me

Tabitha was far too familiar with that look on the gentleman's face to know she had accidentally ensnared him too. She tried to make her expression more neutral, especially now that the babe was a little calmer. Still whimpering, but no longer physically fussing, just obviously and understandably upset.

"I'm in Potion and Plant Poisoning, but I can point you in the direction of Spell Damage once I settled this." She offered, motioning to the baby as an obvious obstacle to her taking him to the right ward. "Or I'm sure the welcome witch can get you sorted?" Tabi could sometimes dabble in Magical Bugs, but outside of that, the rest of the wards, barring the emergency department, were not her strong suit. Her affinity for potions had landed her where she was for a reason. "Unless it is urgent? Then I can show you to the emergency department?" It didn't look urgent, but Tabi didn't want to assume.

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Barnabas Skeeter

Sadly, none of the options she'd offered were for her to be his healer, though there were two that would allow him to stay near her person for just a bit longer. He was confident his curse wouldn't act up around her. She seemed sweet and polite and incredibly helpful. (Although that may have just been due to her professionalism.) Barnabas's response was embarrassingly fast: "I'm happy to stay here and wait." He at least had the wherewithal to add, "I feel responsible to see the situation through." He gestured toward the infant in her arms. It was a tiny bit true. Mostly because he wanted an excuse to stay near the healer, but also because he was partly curious what would have made a woman shove her spawn into the arms of a stranger.


Considering they were going to stand together in the hall for a bit longer, he thought now was as good a time as any to introduce himself. He flashed a grin, "Barnabas Skeeter, at your service, miss."

  

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Barnabas walks with a cane • Set by the lovely Lady • plot with me

Tabi was a little surprised by the agreement to wait, but she supposed she really had no say in the matter. She watched a nurse go rushing by, toward the washroom where the mother was holed up, so hopefully she could get to bottom of this soon. Not that she had anything particularly pressing to do at the moment, but she didn't want any of her colleagues to think she'd been lollygagging or taking an extended break when there was always something to be done.

"Tabitha Chevalier," she returned the introduction easily enough. She was used to it at work. Outside she still tried to follow the typical societal expectations, but she was often without a chaperon that wasn't Barnaby, so it didn't always work out the way it should. Plus she was a working woman nearing the age of spinsterhood, at this point it didn't really matter all that much.

She was still soothing the fussing child, though he was calming down a little. "Spell Damage is not my forte but I can try and help if you want to explain your symptoms?" If nothing else, she could give the rundown to the healer that would handle Mr. Skeeter's appointment and fill them in with pertinent information.

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Barnabas Skeeter

Miss Tabitha Chevalier. A beautiful name for a beautiful woman. Did she go by Tabi with those close to her, or did she prefer the entirety of her name like he did? It wouldn't be appropriate to ask, of course, though that didn't stop him from wondering. Such musings were stopped abruptly at her offer. Horrified, he responded with a quick, "Oh no, no. Thank you, Healer Chevalier, but I'm afraid my symptoms are rather... a personal matter." Barnabas's cheeks pinkened.

If he had to admit that the book he had most definitely tossed out multiple times would appear out of nowhere and aggressively thunk him wherever it could reach, he would melt into the floor from sheer embarrassment. Particularly because the book that had cursed him was a second-hand “Gentlewizard’s Handbook” that would punish him whenever he was around women that were rude. It wasn't his fault that they behaved in such ways, but he had the bruises and paper cuts anyway. (It was actually him being rude to them that it was reacting to, though he was either in denial or purposely oblivious to it.) A quick change of subject was needed.

Grey eyes landed on the discarded infant that was tucked into her arms. "He seems to be more comfortable with you than me. Do you have children of your own, perhaps? Siblings? Or are you just naturally gifted with children?" It might strike her as an odd choice, but when one was scrambling desperately away from an awkward topic, there really were only so many options that didn't have to do with her beauty or her hopefully unwed marital status.

  

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Barnabas walks with a cane • Set by the lovely Lady • plot with me

Tabi was momentarily distracted by the child as he chose that moment to tug on a loose tendril of hair. She couldn't help but to chuckle as she loosened his little grip gently. He seemed to have calmed down considerably, which was good. Hopefully that nurse would be able to see to his mother and they could either reunite them or find a more suitable situation where everyone was taken care of properly.

"Of course," she assured him easily. It wasn't like she would be the one overseeing his care. Waiting for the proper provider was completely reasonable. She had offered simply because it would make her colleague's job a little easier if they already had information go to off of. Not to mention it was simply in her nature to be of help, if she could.

The little tyke tucked his head on Tabi's shoulder again, hand now clutching the neck of her uniform instead, a little yawn escaping. The answer to Mr. Skeeter's question was multi-faceted. She thought herself to be naturally good with children, though only Bernard seemed to hold any affection for her at home. Her half-sisters did not strictly care much for her, but she had always done her best to be a present and involved sister. Being away at school for much of their childhood hadn't helped and she was sure Felicity also had something to do with it. The underlying problem was that she couldn't tell if because she currently held a male child, that she was having her typical impact or if that was even a thing with one so young? "Much younger siblings," was the most straightforward answer. "None of my own though," and that was probably for the better. Passing on her own curse to a new generation, though watered down further, wasn't something Tabitha was sure she wanted to do. Not to mention she neared the age of spinsterhood rapidly and that door was probably starting to close slowly. It was all a complicated sort of situation that hadn't played out in her life and so she hadn't been faced with trying to figure out what she wanted in that regard.

"It comes along with the profession, too, I suppose, putting people at ease in a stressful situation." The hospital was rarely a place people went in good times, so she always tried her hardest to accommodate and make people feel comfortable.

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Barnabas Skeeter

She’d answered the majority of his questions–likely without knowing. Of course she would be so unintentionally lovely, her nature clearly very sweet and kind. Her knack for child minding was not from motherhood but sisterhood, although she hadn’t quite cleared up whether she was unwed. He could sort that out later. It was far too early in the conversation to ask such things. This was her workplace, after all.

Barnabas nodded a bit too enthusiastically, though before he could say anything, there was a loud, feminine gasp from the hall just behind Ms. Chevalier. His focus immediately darted to the intruder, who appeared to be a a mediwitch (pushing a cart of gently clinking potion bottles) promptly inserted herself between the two.

“By Morgana’s curls— Barnabas Skeeter? I’ll be! I’d have known that head of hair and short stature anywhere.” Her eyes were bright and her smile friendly, though that didn’t put him much at ease. He had no idea who this woman was and it sounded like he ought to.

”My younger sister has said for years that she owe’s you her life. Padmore Park, the troll attack? You rescued her before she was snatched up. With only a second to spare, from what she says! It’s been what… nearly a decade now hasn’t it? My how time flies!” It was here that she laughed at herself, whilst Barnabas exchanged a bewildered look with Miss Chevalier. ”Miss Cressida Bellweather.”

The woman was nodding like the name ought to mean something to him. His face had grown hot. If it had been just he and the mediwitch, he would have played the humble hero and accepted the ego boost. At least someone remembered his heroic sacrifice. Barnabas felt far too self-conscious to do so in front of the beautiful healer however, so he managed a carefully polite, ”Ah, that was a long while ago. I hope she’s well.”

Apparently, she had much more to say, because she continued with, ”Married with twins now, in fact. Dreadful children, they’re just like their father. Seems her luck ran out. But you! Six years in America, isn’t it?” Barnabas began to grow concerned at this. How did this stranger know so much about his life?

”Erm.. yes,” was all he was able to get in before she continued her yammering. ”Witch Weekly said you’d gotten yourself hitched to an heiress–seems there’s plenty of those across the pond!”

At that, Barnabas coughed in surprise. ”There’s no need to deny it, Mr. Skeeter, everyone read it! Why, I’ll bet you Miss Chevalier did too! And now here you are in St. Mungo’s of all places. Don’t tell me–you’re opening a new ward with your new fortune?”

  

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Barnabas walks with a cane • Set by the lovely Lady • plot with me

Tabitha was momentarily spared finding a response by the arrival of one of her coworkers. Miss Bellweather was very sweet, but incredibly chatty and Tabs never knew quite how to respond to her. Tabitha was a woman of few words, which she chose carefully, to hopefully get her point across in the most concise way possible. She was very much an observer, a preferred wallflower, somebody who watched and acted accordingly so as to make the least impact possible.

The expected long-winded encounter gave Tabitha a moment to check on the child in her arms. He'd calmed down considerably, but he also felt quite warm and she was worried he too might have whatever it was his mother might be dealing with. Gently she placed her cool hand to his forehead, unsure as to whether if was their temperature difference or if he might have a fever. She would have to find that nurse sooner rather than later to see if they couldn't get the two of them check out together, just to be on the safe side.

It was hard to keep up with the story, but Tabi looked up quizzically when her name was mentioned. Mr. Skeeter seemed a little uncomfortable with the recognition, but truthfully Tabitha didn't really know much about what the mediwtich was going on about. Something about trolls in the park. Tabitha had been still in Hogwarts at the time and visiting family in France at the time of the attack so had missed everything. It felt like a lifetime ago really. "Oh, I don't really read Witch Weekly much," once in a while when there was truly nothing else going on. Or if she thought she might have gotten herself mentioned somehow. She tried really hard to stay out of the public eye, but such was the nature of her heritage that sometimes it was impossible when people were bent on perceiving and gossiping. "I was still in school at that time, too." Too young to be involved in the social scene, thank goodness.

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Barnabas Skeeter

Thank Merlin’s beard that Miss Chevalier didn’t read Witch Weekly. Whilst there were plenty of flattering articles that mentioned him (he’d even had an entire issue dedicated to his handsomeness and eligibility—and no, of course he did not keep multiple copies of it—and no, he did not have one of those copies folded neatly into his wallet that was currently tucked within his waistcoat.)

It did make him feel rather ancient, however, to know that she was likely quite a bit younger than he, based on the timeline she’d mentioned. Was he really so old that the only eligible, beautiful women were the ones who were roughly a decade younger than he? That was a personal crisis to deal with later. For now, Miss Bellweather’s prattling was taking most of his attention. ”Ah no no, nothing like that,” he replied awkwardly. There was a brief glance at the pretty healer before he added, "Witch Weekly seems to have gotten rather creative with its reporting. I’m not married, nor have I ever been.” Not for lack of trying, although he wasn’t about to get into that right now.

”Of course, of course, they’ll write anything to make a few knuts,” the other woman said sagely, as if she hadn’t just believed everything the paper had claimed. ”Anyhow I must be off—potion samples to deliver for testing—it was good to see you, Mr. Skeeter! I’ll be sure to tell Cressida that you’re well!” And then, the woman unceremoniously turned back to her cart. There was a cacophony of the sounds of bottles clanking together, a cry of surprise from Miss Bellwether, and then both she and the cart were toppling onto the hospital’s floor. Barnabas dropped his cane and pressed forward to grasp her arm to keep her from falling, which he managed to do (just barely), but it had done nothing to save the myriad of glass vials from chattering to the floor in puffs of various shades of smoke, sparks, and steam.

  

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Barnabas walks with a cane • Set by the lovely Lady • plot with me

This whole encounter was rather awkward and Tabitha only thought of herself as a bystander at the moment. Thankfully Miss Bellweather seemed to gather her senses and realize she was supposed to be somewhere (with a cart full of potions Tabs had a hand in brewing).  Only rather than a graceful exit from the otherwise painful conversation, the next thing she knew, the whole cart and mediwitch were both upended. Only Mr. Skeeter's quick reflexes saved her coworker from going down in the mess of glass and potions.

The smell of several potions hit her nose the same time the poor baby's cries hit her ears. The loud crash had startled him, understandably and now he was back to a full wail. It took her a moment to snap to it, but Tabitha had always been of some use in situations like this. She was, after all, a trained medical professional and she had to be able to respond appropriately. "Oh, do step back," she warned gently, stepping forward, pulling her wand from the accessible pocket of her hospital robes. Balancing the crying infant on one hip, she tried to figure out what it was that had been spilled, but there were so many it was hard to tell. The acrid smell of antidotes and anti-venoms hit her nose. They stood out, always some sort of akin to their counterparts in smell and color. Everything mixing together on the floor was a problem... there was a reason that some things were not meant to be mixed together.

As evidenced by the fizzling and smoking that was happening now.

Keeping herself between the mess and the baby she was still carrying, Tabitha ran the options through her head, figuring she needed to get magical maintenance down here quickly before things started sparking. Oh, too late. She turned just in time to keep a spark from hitting the baby, causing it to land on her shoulder instead, even as she moved away from the spill. She squeaked in surprise, then hissed in pain, pulling her her robes as she hurried toward the front desk urgently. The next thing she knew a loud voice was booming through the corridors for the clean up crew to hurry down to the lobby. The baby was still screaming, Tabi's shoulder was now also screaming and this really couldn't get any worse.

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