(2.00PM, Knocturn Alley)

Knocturn Alley weren't a friendly place t'be at any time of the day but Roger Lemon knew better than to stroll in after sun fall. So it was a bright autumn afternoon when the squib, scruffy as ever, went ambling as discreetly as possible into the shadowy lane. He didn't like it 'ere. Any sane bloke who couldn't use a wand wouldn't.

Still, business was business. No point in stallin'. He dug his hands into the pockets of his leather jacket, hunching over a li'l while stormy blue eyes went peering into grimy shop windows. Tattoo parlour.... ingredients store... nah. Roger snorted, tryin' to picture himself brewin' stuff. He'd be royally fucked.

And then he stopped infront of a window that look kinda cleaner than the others. Potions. That'd be what he were lookin' for t'day. He paused, checkin' around the scarce street before heading indoors out of the cold winds. The door creaked open into merciful warmth and a herbal, medicinal scent that reminded Roger of the one time he'd ever been to St.Mungo's.

Bloody 'ell, look at all 'em shelves. Not paying mind to much else, the boy slowly wandered over to the closest wall, licking his cracked lips as the confusing mass of bottles swam b'fore him like a bloomin' rainbow. This weren't gonnae be easy.

As the door to her shop opened a bell above clanged and Lexus looked up from the Potions book she had been perusing. She was looking for new ideas, though her own repitoire was larger than most standard potion books on the market these days but she was always willing to improve and expand on what she knew. She put the book aside and came out from behind the large mahogany counter with it's glass cabinets holding her more volatile ingredients. She came to the boy's side and gave him a toothy grin.

Most customers that met her for the first time were put off by her appearance but then again if they were expecting anything less they were shopping in the wrong alley. Her eyes were golden and seemed to glow in the low fire light, her silver and gold streaked hair was swept back in a sloppy yet fashionable ponytail and her sharp canines were visible over her crimson lips. The Canadian werewolf looked more the part of the underground world of Knockturn than her brightly coloured clothes would have otherwise suggested.

"What can I do for you today? Toxin healer? Undetectable poison? Invisibility brew? What's your flavour?"

Boggin' fuckin' hell.

Roger nearly backed right into the shelf he was looking at the moment the shopkeeper approached. Ye got all sorts down this end o'town but the lady here was sumfin' else. He stared at her blatantly, taking in the strange eyes and striking looks. Wot was this... a fashion statement? Potions accident? The squib tried to block out his rationale, stammering to attention by sheer force of will.

"J-just lookin' f-fer some healin' stuff," he managed. Stuff. Bastirt that he was- any more vague and they'd be shovin' him into the loony bin. Roger blushed ruefully under his mess of hair. Just 'coz she looked weird, didn't mean she weren't pretty. He was makin' a fool of himself.

"Some ointment, ye know, for gashes or cuts," the clarification followed hastily. "And, um, if ye have it, sumfin' for a bloody right hangover?" His lips twitched into an iffy, joking smile. Jacoba's painkillers worked in a fix but nuffin' beat a good ol' fashioned potion. "Been tryin' some o'that muggle stuff. Ain't as good."

Lexus giggled and a slight blush of her own came to her cheeks. He may have been a right idiot but it was kind of charming. By now she had gotten used to the way people reacted to how she looked, at least it was better them knowing right up front that there was something wrong with her than her having to hide it, it was a freeing experience to say the least.

"Healing stuffs eh?" Her Canadian accent becoming prominent, her words flecked with laughter as he elaborated, "I've got just the stuff."

She made her way behind the counter. After a few minutes of shuffling around and grabbing something off the shelf behind her she came back with a tin and a bottle in her hand. The tin, not unlike one you would find in a muggle pharmacy was a healing salve that was guaranteed to heal and remove any mark, so long as the wound wasn't made by dark magic - that stuff always left scars no matter what you did. The bottle was clear glass though the liquid inside was a brilliant shining blue.

Lexus handed both to the man with a charming smile, "The tin here will heal anything that's not been cursed with dark magic, guaranteed not to leave scars. And the bottle will give you an instant pick me up, my own recipe, it'll wipe the hangover away with a single sip but it's always best to finish the whole thing, give you the energy you need to finish the day."

That weren't a common drawl 'round here. Roger reckoned maybe American. Didn't really matter nuffin 'cause it suited her whichever way she spoke.

He only nodded nervously- the way a prey might, wondering if it had gone unnoticed by a predator... trying t'be as quiet as possible. The squib watched with eyes both admiring and nervous as the strange witch went behind to fetch somethin'. A voice, a bloody nagging voice in his head was wonderin' wot she'd gone done to 'erself.

Prolly not the sorta question ye go around askin' folk on Knockturn. Not if ye wanted t'keep healthy limbs.

When she'd returned with the... stuff, Roger grinned self-consciously at 'er instructions. Magic. Ain't nuthin be'er than that t'help the nights, 'sides a pretty tart. He traced the sides of the tin, knowin' all too well that t'would not be long before he'd have to use the fucking thing.

Roger peered at the woman and, forgetting his caution in a sudden surge of curiousity, went: "S-soz. Ye don't mind me askin' 'bout ye eyes, Miss?"

Oh bloomin' hell, did he just call her Miss? "I-I don't mean nuffin by it, ye look right well," he stuttered in his haste: "Just different is all."

Lexus felt a light flush rise to her cheeks and she chuckled. Damn, he was cute but a little dim. She smirked and gave him a sigh with the hint of a smile in her eyes, "Let's just say it was a potion accident." She ran a taloned fingernail through her hair and twirled a silver streak around it, "You hear about the tainted wolfsbane back in March? Had some bad ingredients and well," She gave him a smile that emphasized her pointed canines, "The change back didn't quite finish."

She moved back behind the counter again the same twinkle in her eyes showing she wasn't upset with his inquiry. It was the best way she could describe it after all. When she woke up in the holding cells at the Ministry there was a fair amount of the wolf still there. She knew that it was common to show some signs after being infected, after her own first transformation her honey blonde hair got a few silver streaks but now with the talons, fangs, blood red lips and glowing yellow eyes she had to admit that the tainted wolfsbane had done something to her system.

"Five galleons, seven sickles and three Knuts."

Shit, and it were an accident too. Roger could feel his fuckin' ears burning as he unconsciously stared at the woman, the way she twirled her hair and looked at 'im like he was a soddin' idiot. He couldn't blame her for it or nuffin', his mouth went on ahead without his brain most days.

Least she weren't angry, which were more than he could say 'bout some other Knockturnites. They'd sooner hex him, they would. Before he could stammer out some sort of apology, it was back t'business again. "Five galleons, seven sickles and three Knuts."

"A-aye," Roger began digging into his pockets clumsily and retrieving odds and ends of coins he'd gone and made from his Gillyweed trade. He plunked them down one by one, countin' along as he did. "Four... five... six...seven...one... eh, fuck."

He swore and peered up at the mesmerizing witch with a self-conscious look. Aye, she looked pretty but she also looked like somethin' that could get into a right temper if she wanted.

"I'm short of a coupla knuts," and prolly even some marbles, he thought ruefully. "I... I'll take just the salve then, unless ye don't mind puttin' that on me tab?"

It took everything Lexus had not to laugh at him. She couldn't help herself, he was so darn clueless it was just adorable. The way his ears reddened and his words stuck in his throat, any other person probably thought he was an idiot (and they may be right) but she thought it was cute. It was definitely a lot better reaction than she normally got. Mot people either ignored it all together or just stayed clear of her. There was something almost charming about how he blurted it all out then had become sheepish about it. Perhaps she was beginning to lose a bit of her mind herself, lack of genuine contact with the world could do that to people.

She scooped up enough coins for the salve but made no motion to take back the tonic, after all he was going to need it, "Tell you what, this one's on the house. After all it's my specialty and I can guarantee you'll be back."

She dropped the coins into the old fashioned till and closed it with a bump of the hip. Then smiled once more at the man. It was never good to turn away business and with the way the muggles had bought up her supply the previous year she had plenty of coins hanging around to more than make up for a sample bottle. After all it wasn't like she was paying rent on the shop or anything. Finders, keepers and all that jazz.

"The name's Lexus by the way, and anytime you need any kind of brew, you be sure to come to me." She had a feeling she'd be stepping on some toes opening a shop in Knocturn (not to mention those of her former supplier Dazmond) but she had to make a living somehow and she needed to prove her worth before even thinking of taking Jonas up on his offer of trying to get her a good and proper job at the Ministry.