Early Afternoon, Just Outside of Puddifoot's


Edgar Carstairs ducked past the dark red flap of the tent that had been erected just outside of Puddifoots, a figure of cream and crimson as he emerged into the light drizzle falling over Hogsmeade this damp spring day. Lights flashed in his face, a racket of cameras catching the performer with his wide mouthed smile and eyes gleaming behind bright yellow sunglasses.

"And not a spot of blood on me!" he exclaimed cheerfully, laughing. The handful of reporters who had come to cover the Ministry's blood drive did not linger much longer after having gotten what they needed.

It was a bit of a formality, having a public figure to help open such events, and Edgar had been happy to oblige the Beings Division in their endeavour to keep the Blood Bank adequately stocked (or rather, to keep their vampire population adequately nourished).

As the general crowd and journalists began to disperse - he had already made a pretty speech before entering the tent - the activity around Puddifoot's fell into the day's intended proceedings.

Young volunteers from Hogwarts, brandishing Being Division badges, were approaching various passersby; trying to entice them to donate a bit of red. Brave souls would be compensated with hot drinks, or freshly baked goods courtesy of Pandora Puddifoot's generous hospitality. A welcome treat indeed in this gloomy weather.

Edgar drew his shearing coat closer to him and made for the establishment. He caught sight of several students from the earlier crowd headed into the tent instead - amongst them, his son Virgil, looking typically morose but determined. Their gazes met briefly and Edgar smiled fondly, making a gesture to indicate they'd speak later.

He entered Puddifoot's, looking forward to sweet tea and a biscuit.

Lexus stood just next to the entrance to the tent in her full healers robes. Her dark hair braided back and out of the way. It was nice to be out in the Wizarding village, a slight reprieve from her hours spent tending to Patients in the Hospital. There had been an open call for Healers to help with the event. She had already been working with IDREAD for a while now and she was only a few weeks away from starting her new position in St Mungo's Potion Department. Volunteering didn't seem too far out of her wheelhouse, especially considering she wasn't able to donate herself. At least this way, she was still contributing. She wasn't entirely comfortable around or even with the thought of vampires, she chalked it up to a werewolf thing as she never had a problem with them when she was younger. However that wasn't going to stop her from performing her duties.

She smiled sweetly to those passing by. She shook her head once or twice as the enthusiastic Hogwarts Volunteers were urging passerbys to donate. When a volunteer had managed to snag someone she opened the flap to the tent and ushered them inside. The procedure itself was quick and simple. The right charm to draw the blood and a vial to keep it in took only moments to perform. It was essentially painless. Some, however, were a little squeamish at the sight of blood and at least one wizard who donated had passed out.

As she exited the tent again to wait for the next donation she spied one of her cousins milling about with the other volunteers. A quick smile and a wave was all that was needed for now. She could catch up with the girl once they were done for the day.

A woozy looking teen exited the tent and Lexus offered a smile and a steadying hand, "Sweets and drinks are over there luv. Fix you up right."

Ayla had made her way over to Puddifoots early with the full intention of donating blood. She thought it was a great cause. Vampires couldn't help who they were, just like werewolves. She felt it would have been hypocritical of her to have fought with SAWS for these past few years and then not try and do the same for the Vampire Community. This was a safe and healthy way for them to keep fed and should in theory cut down on any potential unwanted attacks on humans. Donating a little blood was the least she could do.

Once she had arrived however, she felt a little too squeamish. She wasn't afraid per se, but she wasn't exactly fond of blood. Which was weird considering just how much she had seen on the Quidditch Pitch. She thought she'd have no problem with it but somehow seeing injuries in the middle of a match was completely different than voluntarily removing blood from ones body. As she nervously danced around the issue, hanging around the red velvet tent, one of the workers from Puddifoots had asked if she could help place a tray of pastries out on a table that was set up near the entrance. She supposed they had mistaken her for one of the other Hogwarts Volunteers but she had obliged just the same. As she was setting up the pastries, another person (whom she was sure worked for the Ministry) handed her a Badge to pin to her shirt.

Ayla suddenly found herself working the table, handing out pastries to those that had donated blood and cheerfully letting them know there were hot drinks and more food inside. She kicked herself for not having brought any of her own treats along but it was still in her favour to have the local villagers once again associating her smile with tasty sweets.

She caught sight of her cousin working the Tent and returned the smile and wave. It looked as though they were both working the blood drive now. Perhaps she could catch dinner with the Healer once it was all over. She handed a danish to the woozy teen Lexus had sent over, "There's tea and cocoa inside as well."

“Steady as you go there,” Cepheus[1] gently propped up their most recent donator with both palms against slender shoulderblades. “Well done on your first donation, though! Much easier from now on, and you’ve done a wonderful thing.”

The danish pastry from the volunteer student was just the trick to raise the blood sugar. Over the shoulder of the teen who was now trailing into Puddifoots as suggested, Cepheus gave Ayla Collins a genuine smile.

“You’re doing a fantastic job there, Ayla, thank you.” Always important to remember a name, “Have you had much luck with luring people in?”

1.	Dressed by Nuri

There was no preventing it, not once her dear students had approached. Professor Duerr had come to them in the street to discover what they were all about with their badges, and soon found herself enthusiastically escorted towards the dark red tent outside Puddifoots.

“Well now,” she addressed the tall, dark haired witch at the entrance, and then stopped, tilting her head a little curiously. “My dear, how good to meet you again in more peaceful circumstances[1].” Healer Dale had been a light amongst the dark on that January night when the Three Broomsticks had been attacked by dementors.

“It appears one has been persuaded by my students to step inside and donate.” She glanced away to give her arithmancy students a smile and a nod before looking back to Lexus. “How might I go about this?”

1.	15th January A Denser Darkness - hope you don’t mind me assuming their interaction might have been further on that night?

It had been nice, in a way, observing his father's public appearance from a distance - a subtler performance than any on the stage at Stardust Theatre. But the time for stalling was over; the dreaded donations had to take place and he could think of no reason to keep putting it off.

Resolute, Virgil Carstairs had made a slow and sure beeline for the tent just as school volunteers were going about the business of attracting more victims donations. He was nervous. Giving blood was not initially one of the Slytherin's priorities... in fact, he had pointedly made the decision not to do it after February's kidnappings. The thought of having blood taken from him left a bitter taste in his mouth.

Yet he couldn't stop wondering if he ought to, since a particularly awkward exchange in March[1]. Edgar agreeing to help the Beings Division had been the push Virgil needed. He was going to do this, he was going to overcome it. He had to.

So it was in a state of thoughtful distraction that he'd entered the tent, passing by a dark haired Healer into be ushered to one of many partitioned areas for donors.  The light in here was a vivid crimson - the effect of cloudy sunlight coming through the red tent. Virgil slipped on to a stool, unbuttoning his jacket to tug it off.

He was so absorbed in his own thoughts that he hadn't realised who had come to take his blood, until she was there before him.

"Oh. Dimbleby," the wizard deadpanned in spite of his surprise, "Here to bleed me dry, are you?"

1.	Ready to Go, Heartbeat - 27th March

The opportunity to help in the blood drive had not been lost on Jordyn.  She had donated blood once last summer, when she had been learning how to draw it.  Today, she would have to wait until the end of the event to do so.  She had actually volunteered to help out. 

There was obviously an anxiety in that.  She wanted to be prepared for the following year, she wanted to make sure her skills didn’t dull and that she’d be remembered.  Maybe it wouldn’t matter if she absolutely bombed one (or all) of her NEWTs if she was a memorable applicant with real, applicable skills. 

So, here she was using them.  After several test runs and guidance by the medi-witches, it was finally her turn to do it alone.  Well, sort of.  A very old medi-wizard with thick, bottle glasses followed her along, levitating the tray with the supplies behind her.  “Thank you, Pimms,” Jordyn smiled, lips sealed and awkward. 

”W’a’sat?” he barked at her in his thick accent – Jordyn still could not place where it was from – and she cleared her throat, trying to respect that there were people having medical things done, “Thank you!” she responded more forcefully and Pimms looked maligned, ”You don’t have yell, young lady.”

Jordyn’s face fell.  There was legitimately no way to win in this situation.  Taking a deep breath through her nose, Jordyn steadied herself.  She could do this. 

Well.  Maybe. 

Virgil’s voice pierced her ears and she felt a tingle go down her spine.  Of course this would happen.  “Apparently so,” she tried to sound cheerful, “And Pimms will be helping me,” she gestured to the old man before grabbing the gloves.  “You’ll want to roll your sleeves up,” she instructed.  She’d have to check his veins first, and then it’d go quickly from there. 

As he attended to that, Jordyn grabbed the tourniquet off the tray and stretched it a little.  Now or never, she instructed herself.  Now or never.   

Ayla smiled at Cepheus. She vaguely remembered him from the Sex Education Panel that had been held a few months back. Ayla had pretty much blocked most of the conversations out. At the time she just had zero interest in anything that was being asked, especially anything that came out of Bevans' mouth. Not that she had much interest now, mind. She supposed she did retain some of the more important information but she could always recall it as needed. For now all she needed to remember was a name, "Thank you Mr Gamp."

A soft pink lit her cheeks, matching her lip gloss as he asked how she was doing in bringing in donations, "I uh-" She didn't want to mention that she had only accidentally become a volunteer. After all she was enjoying the work and it was all for a good cause. Perhaps, after watching everyone else do it, she'd even be able to donate herself, "I've mostly just been minding the goodies." She passed out another danish and instructed the wizard to visit the shop for drinks and more sweets.

"Do you think everything will go well today? How many donations are you aiming for?" Small talk with adults wasn't exactly one of Ayla's skills but she had been to enough benefits here and there, with both of her parents, to know how to talk politely enough. For her father, she was an example of how International Cooperation benefited the youth. For her mother, she was usually just a pretty face that could easily model her designs, good for PR.

Lexus offered a beaming smile to the older witch, "Very nice to see you again Madame Duerr." While they had met under dire circumstances, the Arithmancy Professor had been quite a help in the situation, especially in offering a calming presence for some of the younger wizarding folk present.

She chuckled, "Smart students. Just follow me."

She ushered the other woman into the tent and over to one of the donation stations, "Just lay down and relax. It only takes a few moments and it barely stings." She left her side to collect up the necessary tools. She nodded to one of the trainee healers that had been saddled with old Pimms, poor girl. When she returned to Camille she laid out the tray she had brought with her and removed her wand.

"Take a deep breath. Sometimes it helps if you close your eyes." Within moments she had performed the spell necessary and began to collect what was needed. She had been to a muggle blood drive once. It took forever. People laid in large lazy boy chairs with a hose in their arm as a bag slowly filled up. It took over an hour to complete. Thankfully, with the aid of magic, it took a fraction of the time.

When she was through she labeled the donation and helped Camille to her feet, "Quick and easy." She gave another smile, "There's pastries outside and some hot drinks in the shop. You may feel a little woozy. If you're feeling faint, make sure to grab a sweet with chocolate in it."

He managed to pull off his pink denim jacket whilst Dimbledy informed him that the old wizard would be assisting. Virgil was wearing short sleeves underneath but he shoved those up as well - hesitating only a moment as he offered his right arm. Being ambidextrous had its charms, he liked knowing at least one side of him would be able and deft.

The thin scar from February's kidnappings was only barely visible in the crook of his elbow.

Virgil had read up on this. His father donated often, so he knew what to expect.... knew that it was quick and practically painless. He clenched his fist as the tourniquet was applied: his blue vein protruding against the pale insides of his arm. Dark rivers.

"Am I your first proper donor today?" he asked, partly to make small talk but mostly because he was nervous. An aspect of him watched darkly from a black dungeon in the Ministry of Magic.

Kelvin had gone to Puddifoot's to get a cup of tea.  Instead, somehow he'd been talked into giving blood.  He didn't have a problem with it, he'd agreed afterall, it just hadn't been in his plans.  The process hadn't been too bad.  But now he was light-headed and a little dizzy.

Not exactly the recipe for a good Hogsmeade day.  Tea sounded like a good idea, and something sweat.  And it looked like Ayla was giving out the treats.

"Ayla, please tell me you can spare two?"  He said as he approached, only to realize that she was talking to the man from the sex ed talks.  The memory of which brought a blush to his face, despite the blood loss.

He grabbed the edge of the table with both hands, he didn't think he was going to take a header, but then again, he'd never given blood before.  And maybe he wouldn't again.

Camille nodded and followed Healer Dale into the tent. She admittedly felt a little anxious about things, just because she wasn’t sure how it all worked, but she had committed now. She paid close attention to instructions and took a seat, slipping off her jacket before she did to set it aside. Fortunately she had opted for a shorter sleeved shirt beneath.

“… Sometimes it helps if you close your eyes.” Camille blinked and gave a little nod in confirmation, remembering how Healer Hollingbury had drawn blood from Johann when they had both visited him at St Mungo’s some months back. Healers did this all the time, it would be easy and quick, just as Healer Dale said. Even so, she did close her eyes and tried to think what she might want to look at shopping in the time after.

“Quick and easy.”
“Quite!” Professor Duerr agreed, holding onto Dale’s arm as she sat up again and glanced down at her arm where the Healer had drawn the blood. “How much was that then?” She asked, reaching for her jacket. “I mean, how many people might you hope to see today?” The Belgian witch asked, admittedly stalling for a little time as she began to feel more herself again.

“How many donations are you aiming for?” Ayla asked, which was a perfectly valid question.

“As many as we can,” Ceph replied as politely as he could, so as not to make it sound like it was an obvious answer, “ideally, we want to be attracting people who haven’t done it before, or haven’t felt motivated to do it in a while. Once we can persuade people that it’s a good thing to volunteer to do, and encourage them to do it regularly, we have more of a regular supply to work with.”

“Ayla, please tell me you can spare two?” Another student asked, approaching, looking a little pasty.

“You look like you could do with sitting down,” Cepheus interrupted, his wand summoning a chair to his left hand so he could place it behind Kelvin. “Here, take a seat, I’m sure Ayla would be happy to help.” He gently touched Kelvin’s right shoulder to encourage him to sit as he held the chair steady with his left. Not exactly the best advert for other potential donors, but if it was easy for everyone, they’d have no issues getting donors. “I’ll maybe see if Healer Dale has a little blood replenishment potion..” 

The small talk with Jordyn[1] did little to soothe his nerves. Virgil knew that this was not going to be similar to what had happened to them on level nine... there was not going to be blood spilled to that extent, no suffocating room to entrap him. Logically, there was no reason for him to feel this way, was there? His heart was making a racket in his chest and all he could focus on was his classmate approaching him with the tourniquet.

Feeling a bit faint, Virgil finished taking off his entire jacket so that the tee below would give her ample room to work with. He extended his arm and made a decision to look away. Then he looked back, compelled. The material slipped firmly around his skinny white arms.

A shiver travelled up his spine. Unpleasantly, the racing of his heart seemed to lodge it right into his lungs because he couldn't breathe, which only made him think of when Cadance had sealed his mouth and oh God he couldn't breathe. "Jord--" Virgil tried to speak but felt a wave of dizziness come over him, like he'd lost all his bones at once.

Maybe he did. That was all he had the time to think of. The crimson light of the tent went black at the corners, than everywhere at once. The prefect barely felt himself slipping off from where he'd been sat up for the procedure.

1.	Skipping, with permission from Jess! <3

“As many as we can,”

"Oh!" Ayla said, a little too surprised than she had meant to be by his answer. She sort of chuckled and waved it off as if to say 'well of course that makes sense'. Although she still felt it was a rather non answer. It was obvious they wanted to bring in as many donations as possible, the more the merrier and all that jazz but that didn't really seem like a realistic goal to her. If they only got say Ten, then they still achieved the same goal than if they had received a Hundred.

Thankfully Kelvin showed up just in time to keep her from word vomiting her conundrum all over Cepheus. The last thing he needed was for some uppity Sixteen year old to start arguing with him about the importance of setting obtainable goals. She turned her attention to Watkins and with a smile offered a second treat as Cepheus conjured up a chair.

Ayla flinched slightly at the mention of her cousin. While she had already seen Lexus and knew she was there it was still strange coming to terms with it. She had practically grown up with Lexus being like a big sister but had fallen out of touch when she moved to London and started attending Hogwarts. It wasn't until a few months ago, well more like eight months ago, that the Healer had moved overseas as well. She gave Kelvin another smile, "Healer Dale's my cousin, she's super good at her job, you'll be fine."