Questionable Material :: Avery

01 May 1923
7:15 pm

It was a toss up if he would show up. If he was serious, then any minute the boy would walk in the doors looking for information on plants. Dangerous plants… Poisonous plants.

At first, she thought it was more of a passing fancy. Something cool to tell his friends about. Wanting to research the dark and mysterious foliage that could cause great bodily harm. As time went on and the questions got more… specific, she was starting to think maybe this was more than just a passive interest.

Avery was eager. That was for sure. With a true Ravenclaw brain, a thirst for knowledge and the rabid energy of a relentless first year, it was really hard to tell him no. So she didn’t. Instead, she tried to steer him into less deadly paths. Anything she taught him was information readily available, she was just speeding up the process and supplying him with large amounts of knowledge.

It was probably fine.

There was a list of books in her pocket that would help fuel his hobby. A fire she felt on a daily basis. The list included some lesser known books that went into details about plants and their side effects when used in less than savory ways. How you could mask the flavor of some more bitter plants. And three books in the restricted section that would give recipes to potions that he had no business researching.

It was those that gave her pause, but she would see where the research took them…. If he showed up…

Matilda Nordstrom had agreed to help him.

Despite her less-friendly-than-desired response to him in the greenhouse, she had agreed, and he had decided to accept her agreement. They were still on a professional acquaintance basis only, but Avery was willing to reconsider the status of their acquaintance if she proved to be a valuable resource.

All Avery needed was information. He wasn’t asking her to be an accomplice; he’d rather she not be anyway, considering adding an unknown variable like Matilda to his plans could only increase the odds of unfavorable outcomes. With that said, he appreciated her help all the same.

“Hello Matilda Nordstrom,” Avery said as he plopped his book bag down behind the information desk and gave her a polite, polished smile. “What have you got for me? And let me know how I can repay you. I have information as well, you know. Lots of different kinds if you’re interested in any.”

His speciality was livestock management, if she was curious.

But there were a plethora of other subjects he was sure he was smarter than her in.

“Hello Matilda Nordstrom. What have you got for me? And let me know how I can repay you. I have information as well, you know. Lots of different kinds if you’re interested in any.”

She really shouldn’t be shocked by his appearance, the kid was persistent. It seemed that when he had something in his mind, nothing would deter his pursuit. Unfortunately she felt responsible for this current obsession, and her casual mention of poisons and plants that could cause digestive upset.

It was true, she had this information, and mentioned it more in jest, but now she had a first year in front of her that truly wanted to know.

Shit…One of these days it would pay to keep her mouth shut.

”Ok Avery, listen. I know you’re on some mission. Someone wronged you in some way and you want to get back at them. I get it. I’ve been there, but we can’t actually hurt people. Right and wrong and all that.”

Working up to this meeting, she tried to figure out a few options for a good prank. Something that would be annoying, but not detrimental to one’s health. Unfortunately, there were far more that could do actual damage. Those she wouldn’t be sharing. If he wanted to know, he would have to find the information on his own. He was a Ravenclaw, he was smart.

”I have some safe and sane prank style ideas. We can go with uncontrollable laughter, babbling nonsense, loud stomach growling or putting plant extracts into her shampoo to dye her hair. What will it be? Take it or leave it.”

Avery blinked, his mission undeterred by the red-headed girl's attempt to corral him into a much more palatable outcome for her. Matilda hadn't been cornered in the dungeons. Matilda hadn't been called names. Matilda hadn't been slapped across the face in front of the entire mean-girl clique.

She hadn't been attacked in the Great Hall by a bunch of older boys simply because she was someone's friend.

He didn't want to make them laugh. He didn't want to make their stomachs growl or change their hair into a funny color. Those were childish pranks you played on friends. These weren't his friends. They were his enemies and he wanted them to hurt. He didn't care about the ethical implications behind it or that two wrongs didn't make a right.

Those people needed to learn he was smart. A nerd maybe. A chatterbox. But he wasn't a wimp.

"They called me sheep-fucking mudblood." Avery's expression darkened, but he didn't move his eyes from Matilda. "And then Laura's troll boyfriend dragged me out of the Great Hall and beat the shit out of me. So you'll understand why I'm not interested in silly little pranks."

He grabbed his bag and slung it back over his shoulder. She was obviously going to be no help. Gryffindors. They could never see the woods from the trees. "I'll leave it," he said simply. "I can figure it out on my own."

Avery Calder Hale was nothing if not resourceful. He just preferred trying the easier ways first.

Avery’s face didn’t brighten at her ideas. No smiles. No laughs. It was not the reaction she intended.

"They called me sheep-fucking mudblood." Matilda blinked at the young boy. Shocked at the words coming out of his mouth. She hadn’t realized just how bad it was. "And then Laura's troll boyfriend dragged me out of the Great Hall and beat the shit out of me. So you'll understand why I'm not interested in silly little pranks."

To say that she was struck silent was an understatement. There were rules as a hospital wing specialist, but they weren’t in the hospital wing right now. And the herbology Professor had never made her take any sort of oath.

"I'll leave it, I can figure it out on my own." Matilda placed her hand on Avery’s shoulder before he could turn and walk away. The playful look in her eyes was gone, replaced by a darker blue ready for a bit of mayhem.

”Ok, listen. I didn’t know it was that bad. I’m sorry.” She squeezed his shoulder in some sort of anti-bully solidarity, but she knew he didn’t want sympathy.

”Come here.” She said, moving over to her satchel. It was the bag she carried everywhere, filled with all her books, supplies, a random pair of dragon hyde gloves for gardening and a small potions kit for just such an occasion.

”You didn’t get this from me and if you say otherwise I will deny it.” She pulled out the potions kit and opened it to find three different bottles. These were not the typical ones she carried around. She switched them over before meeting with Avery, just in case…

”None of these will cause grievous bodily harm, but they will all cause great discomfort or embarrassment. Venomous Tentacula Juice is a bitch to get, but effective. It causes an intense burning sensation and turns their skin purple. Jawbind Potion will lock their jaw shut. It’s painful and takes a good amount of time for the effects to wear off. This one is an undiluted bubotuber puss. BE CAREFUL with that one. Wear gloves, it will cause painful boils. And this last one, well, is unpleasant. It has the oils of four different plants that help with digestion. On their own it’s nothing, together and we’re talking some major time on the porcelain throne. Painful stomach cramps, explosive diarrhea. All the fun stuff.”

Tilly handed the kit over to Avery, hoping this wasn’t a huge mistake. The bullies deserved everything that would get and more.

Taking a deep breath she went into the instructions.”Don’t do more than one at a time. The bubotuber puss needs to be applied to the skin, so wear gloves then toss them quickly so you’re not implicated. The others can be hidden in any liquid, but can’t be cooked. That’s about all I can do at this point. Don’t use my name. You never got these from me. If a tall brooding Russian asks you about them, just run. Good luck and God Speed my friend.”

With that Tilly grabbed her bag and left. Best thing she could do at this point was to get as far away from the boy and the evidence as possible.